Disclaimer: I dont own the names of the characters used in this story.However, I do own the story. That means I can do whatever I want with them. And this is obviously OOC. If you have complains, then post it.

Chapter 9: Bondless

As the light slowly fades away to give way to the night, a confused soul stood in grim silence. From the door behind him, he could hear her pained moans and the clinking of chains, begging him to free her from her imprisonment. A part of him wanted to rush in and save her, but the opposition seemed more logical.

How can he be so attracted to a woman he barely knew? What made him save her the first time they met? Why did things turned up like this? And just what did she meant by 'Beloved'? Does that mean, she knew him before? But if so, then why does he have no recollection of her?

'Why can you not remember me?' Her hoarse voice echoed throughout his body. 'Was it because I lived a human life? Was it because I had stained my dignity by living as a mortal?' Her voiced faded into broken sobs. The sound of chains being tugged at stopped. And so has her weeping.

"If you want to see her, you are free to do so. But I am warning you; the scent of her blood fills the air of that room. You may not be able to control your urge." It was Heine, standing in the gloom of the shadows. He was sucking on a candied apple on a stick. "Do you want one?"

He turned his back and ignored the offer. His mind is full of questions right now. He has no time to sit idly by and chitchat with some weird vampire.

'If you want to leave the premises, you are free to go. We are not going to hold you back or ask for your participation.' His usual sarcasm was absent from his speech. Had the incident earlier affected him too?

A simple disgusted scowled turned his offer down. 'You sure? I mean, it might be made by one of Lacus' mortal servants, but it is really good. Not unless you still prefer the sweetness of the crying candy inside…' Tracing the lines of the locks that bounded the door, Heine playfully unhitched one of the locks.

But he didn't reply. Instead, he turned his back and left Heine and his candied apple. 'If that is your choice…' A hurt smile touched Heine's face as he unlocks the last lock, opening the bound door quietly.

'It seems our labors might be standing on the shaky ground after all…' The strong scent of the moonflower invaded his senses as he entered the room. Everything inside was encased in red crystals. The armoire, the fancy bookshelves and tables, the windowpanes and the curtains, the bed, and the chains that bounded the poor princess.

'If I could only send you back into an eternal sleep…this way, you won't need to suffer…' He touched her bruised lips with the candied apple he was offering to the young prince. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her, but he couldn't. Otherwise he might lose control and fall into the throes of sin. But, seeing her in this pitiful state…

Hands bound in chains, feet shackled, neck wrapped in blood soaked bandages, face smeared with dried blood, eyes covered, and her once shoulder long hair, has now lengthened to twice it's length, cascading carelessly on her bloodied dress. Even though this seems cruel, he knew that this is to be expected. Ever since Athrun took her out from that crystal coffin, she had lost control of her vampiric senses and started to claw her own throat open, claiming that there were insects inside her skin. Her Amber eyes were flashing fiercely, as she continued to mutilate her own body. Lacus had to perform a binding spell on her just to stop her from killing her self. Then they had the human servant patch her up under his supervision. It was sickening to watch those filthy humans touch the sacred blood of a Pure Blood, but what can he do? As a vampire who craves the sweetness of her blood, he cannot risk being in close distance with her in that state. He also wanted to have that Prince tend to her, but he was into such a shocked daze, he could not even move a single muscle.

'Please…Kill me…'

"If only I can, then I will…"

'Athrun…save me…Kill me…'

'I thought we came into an understanding that no one is allowed to enter this room?' it was Lacus, sucking on a chocolate covered strawberry. Her eyes seemed exhausted from the incident earlier, and her bandaged hands were the proof of the task. Garbed in a simple off shoulder lilac dress, with her hair tied in a simple knot. Waving her chocolate snack, she smiled.

'I wanted to see how she is fairing.'

'Mmmm…Is that so? What did the Prince said about this?'

'Nothing. He just left.' Heine touched her forehead with the same candied apple as a motion of saying goodbye before exiting the room.

'Left? Are you certain about that?'

'No. But he did left. Do not worry. We still have the Exiled Prince, remember?'

'Yes but…Athrun is her—'

'We do not have much of an option now, do we?'

'I am aware of that, but I am worried that he might not accept her.'

'Ah. Such thoughts. Yes, there is that possibility that he may reject her, and if he does, then it would mean her death. But the way I see it right now, there might still be a chance.' A grim smile briefly made appearance before he took the last bite from the candied apple. 'Now then, we must prepare for the arrival of the Exiled Prince.'

'Of course.' Her voice had the heavy tone of doubt and anxiety. If she has to, she will break another law, and commit another unforgivable sin. If it means she could save this poor innocent princess. For whatever consequence her action may bring, she is ready to take the responsibility. Taking a deep breath, with a pained smile touching her lips, she went inside the room, loosening the spell around the pitiful princess.

"Can you smell the air, Sting? It reeks of the sweet smell of a Pure Blood." A hooded figure emerges from the shadows of the old Atha Mansion. "I now this scent anywhere."

"Don't go ballistic on me, Loussier. We're here to observe, not to go on a killing spree. That mission is for Orga's team. Not ours."

"I know, I know. But it's boring! I want to see that child's face again. I wanna see her face writhe in pain and pure agony! Watch her eyes turn dim as blood empties from her veins. I want to watch her die and bathe in her blood!" The hooded figure began to tremble in ecstasy. "You do not know how long I have waited to see that child awaken!"

"Of course I do. Everyday, Everyday, you go about ranting about that Pureblood! I'm tired of hearing how you plan on killing her and how you'll play with her corpse. I'm so sick of hearing those lines."

"Then you'll understand if I leave you and join Orga's group?" An innocent smile formed on the porcelain face of the hooded figure, as it stepped out from the darkness. Shrugging the heavy hood of her shoulders, a cascading falls of golden blonde came to sight. A pair of pale red eyes glimmered, as her fangs shimmered against the dim light.

"As if I can put a leash on you. Stellar."

"Then I shall take my leave now." Stellar stepped back into the darkness, and under the shadows, her figure changed. From a heavily mantled human form into a shape of a great black dog. It gave a long howl before in faded into nothingness. The man named sting gave an exasperated sigh as he looked up into the dim night sky.

"Again. Damage control. What a pitiful life I live."

Alone in the cold darkness, the wounded soul of Cagalli has slowly fallen in the depth of despair. Her pitiful form lay limp on the immaculate white linens, stained with the redness of her blood and pieces of the red crystals. Even with her eyes covered, she could tell that she has been left alone in this melancholic room. Her chest feels heavy from both the chains that wraps around her and from the horror of finding out that the person she had long for to see has already forgotten her.

Was it her fault? For having her memories sealed?

Yes. That must be it. It is her fault. If only she had been more honest with him. If only she had told him the truth behind her identity. If only she was able to tell him everything before she left. If only…

If only…

Another wave of searing pain rocked her body. The sound of the chains rattling as her body shook against the pain seems to taunt her. As if it was laughing at her. Yes.

Laugh at me. I deserve to be ridiculed. I deserve to be punished.

A drop of tear managed to roll down her pale cheek. Just when she thought she does not have any more tears to shed, this drop comes rolling over. She wont beg for help anymore. Or plead for anyone to loosen her chains. She will wait for death in this bed. Alone. She does not deserve the sympathy of others. Let her have a miserable death.

After all, she was the one who brought her own parents' demise. She betrayed the trust of a dear friend. All because she was too selfish. Her selfishness has brought everyone their downfall.

Another episode of pain ravaged her body. This time, the pain is more intense, robbing her of breath as she braces against it. It was like her insides are being twisted, her bones being crushed, and her mind being raped. Her body spasmed, her back arching in pain. She could only gasp for breath, trying to suppress the overwhelming urge to scream out her pain. The clinking of chains seems to have dulled as she tugs at them for support.

This is her end.

Yes. There's no mistake in it.

And in this silence, her breath will soon be robbed. She will disappear forever…soon.

And the only thing she regrets is that she was not able to tell him her feelings; that she was not able to regain her memories sooner. There is so much she wanted to tell him, but… it seems they will forever be unheard…

Also, she was not able to apologize to her dearest friend, Stellar. For the treachery she had committed.

'Athrun-sama…can you remember…the stars we used to look at?' A weak smile formed at her lips, as she loses consciousness. And the last thing she saw in her mind was his smiling smile, warm and comforting, just like the Spring Sun.

"So this is where the Lost Imperial Princess has been hiding?" A shadow formed out of nowhere, carrying a silver scythe.

"Are you sure this is it? She looks pitiful. Really pitiful." Another figure emerged from the shadows, and approached the limp form on the bed. "She is unconscious. Can we wake her up and torture her?"

The figure with the scythe loosened his hood. "Let us wait until Clotho secures the area. Then you can do what you want with her. Just be sure to save her blood. The Emperor has ordered us to bring her blood back."

"Meh. Clotho's a slowpoke. It will take an eternity before he finishes with the spell. And you do know I am an impatient person right?" A grim smirk appeared behind the hood, as the figure traced on of the dangling chains that bound the Princess. "I'd say let's start now, Shani." The shadow flicks the chain, making it quake with such intensity, tugging at the bound arms of the Princess.

"You fool, Orga! Clotho's not done yet!"

"Like I care!" Orga grins flipping off his hood. He touched the quaking chains, this time; it sprouted thorns around its links, thrusting its spikes deep into the Princess' flesh as it tugs hard. A breathless gasps of pain reached Orga's ears. He turns to face the Princess. Her blindfolded face is a picture of pain, with her beautiful visage contorting in pain.

"I want to hear you scream! Beg for your life! Princess! Make it fun for us!!" Orga's maniac laughter cackled loudly, as a mass of spiked chains appeared out of thin air, enveloping the Princess's body.

"So it is true. The scent of a Caelian Pure Blood is the most intoxicating you can ever breath. No wonder the Emperor wants her blood." Shani watch in dull amusement as Orga began playing with the Princess' body. "This will be interesting…"

A/N: I'm a little bit pissed with someone. There's this person who gave me a review with one of my story, complaining that I ruined his/her image of Athrun, saying that I turned Athrun into a maniac or whatever. I"m like, this is fanfiction. I can do whatever I want. Why're you so mad at me? It's not like I ruined ruined Athrun's image by doing other introverted things on him, or turning him into a yaoi maniac or whatever. /I do not have anything against yaoi GSD, this is only an example/ If you're going to bash me, then do it up front. Use you e-mail, not signing up as an anonymous crap. If you got problems with my work, then dont read them. It's not like I"m begging you to. My works are posted here in the mature section because they have mature contents. That should be ebough to warn you. And I did have my sum up, so that should give you an idea. ...

I'm really upset. I'm ok if you're going to criticize my grammar or anything that's helpful to the story, not some totally unrelated things, that are all based on your POVs. I do hope you know how to respect other people's work.

/shrugs shoulders/

/this will be all the update for this week/ month.Got tons of work..may take a while before uploading spree begins...till then../