Chapter 10: (Wow, I wrote ten chapters in only one week)

A woman all dressed up in white stood on a hill next to the city. It was higher than the place where the capital was placed. So she had a perfect view over the whole chaos underneath. She always stood there, watching the city and awaiting the inevitable. Today it seemed that it was time for exactly this inevitable. At first there was a loud crash then people began o scream. Awaken Mary looked down. Then something was heard behind her at the horizon. In the dark night sky she was able to recognize the silhouettes of flying demons, their wings covering the full moon. There was no time anymore to build a holy barrier around the city and so the devils stormed into it. Only an hour afterwards the whole city burned with bright yellow orange flames which were meters high. The people who managed to get out of the city walls were fleeing away, taking the way which lead to the southeast. "So it finally has begun." Mary mumbled sad. "Do your job well, Rosette. Or our kingdom will fall."

--

The soldiers led Rosette, Joshua, their mother, Azmaria, Sathella and Florette through the burning corridors and hallways. They were supposed to take the way through the catacombs to get out of the city. That was the safest way. The entrances to the catacombs were well hidden and therefore the demons wouldn't be able to find them so soon. One of these entrances was in the library. It was behind a smaller bookshelf, more exactly the sixth bookshelf on the left. You had to push a special stone in the brick wall so the shelf should swung open like a door. Well, what would a middle-aged palace be without some secret ways and corridors, he? But at first they had to know where these secret ways were and where the entrances were. One of the soldiers told them quickly where to find it and how to open it – Just in case they would be separated.

Because the palace was so big they needed a lot time to run to their destination. Plus everywhere there were demons, devils and monsters. They blocked the way and the group had to take another way. Slowly the amount of soldiers and guards who should protect Rosette's family and the others reduced. One time Sathella was too close to one of the enemies. So she aimed and kicked him in the stomach. He bowed down and groaned.

"Yay for high heels!" Sathella cheered before hurrying away to catch up with the other who were already some meters away. Unluckily their time ran out by every second they would stay in the palace. The fire spread out fast. Plus the houses in the neighbourhood were already burning. The attackers also brought new fire and burned down some other parts of the city. One of their favourite aims was the palace and the cathedral.

The corridor the group was running through was already burning at some parts. The ceiling beams already made some croaking sounds. They would break soon. Therefore there weren't so many demons in this area. Then there was another corridor which lead into the corridor Rosette and the others were running along.

Suddenly Rosette stumbled and cursed. She jumped on her feet again. Just in this moment a burning beam from the ceiling crashed down between her and the rest of the little group. The beam blocked the way and separated her from her family and friends. She heard her mother scream her name, but the flames already were so high that the blonde wasn't able to see through them on the other side.

A devil came from the left. Rosette recognized him, she would always recognize him. He was tall, had wings, a tail and lizard skin. It was the monster who had kidnapped Chrno years ago. By the sight of the devil tears started to prickle in her eyes. She felt a rage coming up in her.

The devil roared at her. The girl was unarmed; she couldn't do anything at the moment. So she did the only possible thing: Screaming loudly, spinning around and running away. The devil pursued her. It chased her down different ways. Rosette didn't know where the ways were leading to, she just ran ahead. Behind her she heard the scratching of the devil's claws and wings at the walls and the floor. It was an unpleasant sound, just like someone was scratching over a blackboard with her or his fingernails. Quickly Rosette shot some glares over her shoulder. The demon didn't want to stop chasing her. But he never came too close to her. He was about five meters away from her and it always stayed in this distance, although Rosette wished that there were more distance between them.

But in any case the devil's behaviour was really strange. Then the blonde found the sense in that. He tried to chase her to a special place. Soon she found herself running through some big doors into the yard. She tried to close the door before the monster was coming, but with only on slap he beat the door open and the girl staggered back. He roared again and began to chase her one more time. He led her towards the garden. There was nobody, everybody tried to flee away and so everybody tried to get out at the front door or some smaller door at the sides. But here in the centre of the palace was of cause nobody. They all knew that they would be trapped in here.

Great so nobody was there to help her and she saw herself already lying dead in the garden. She shook her head and tried to have some optimistic thoughts. She could make it. The probability wasn't very high, but it was there. The devil behind her roared again and Rosette speeded up. Then she arrived in the garden. The way was bordered by a brick wall on the one side and by tall bushes on the other side. Perhaps she could jump through the bushes away from the monster? But at a closer look the bushes seemed too thick. In the time she needed to go through them the devil would have already caught up with her. Suddenly a loud sound was heard behind her. The blonde shot a glare over her shoulder while continuing running.

There was a fallen burning tree trunk between her and the monster. It had just crashed down and had stopped the demon. But why didn't he use its wings to fly over the tree? Instead of doing that he turned around and left in the other direction. Alriiiight, either the devil was really really really stupid or it was his job to her to this place. She, who was still running, turned her head around again to look there she was running. Exactly to the right time she stopped. She came to stand and rowed with her arms to keep balance.

A white sword was pointed at her. Only centimetres were missing until it would touch her throat. Heavily breathing she looked to the one who was holding the sword. It was a young man with dark shoulder long hair and glowing golden eyes. On his forehead were three rubies. Two long ivory horns stuck out of his head. On his back there were two big spread black bat-wings. His clothes were dark as well; he was wearing some long trousers and a shirt without sleeves. He held the sword relaxed in his left hand. Uh? He was left handed? His face was with not emotion. Rosette couldn't tell what he was thinking. But she knew what SHE was thinking. And that was that she was really afraid now because he would kill her in less than a minute. Both didn't move for a while. The palace was burning in the background, some screams and roars were heard. But they just didn't move.

Suddenly the demon narrowed his eyes and strained his muscles. Rosette closed her eyes tightly, awaiting the final strike.

As nothing happened she opened her eyes again. The demon had lowered the sword and was looking to his left on the ground while his hair covered his eyes. Rosette didn't believe what just happened. Did he just… let her go?! She took a step away from him. He didn't move. She went on the right side around him, the only way which was left since the other was blocked with a burning tree. He still didn't move, but their eyes met and that stopped her for a second. There was something in his eyes, she couldn't tell what it was. A loud crash which came from a building close to them brought Rosette back to reality and she started running away. He turned around to watch her running. Then he flew away.

Rosette hurried through the garden. Panting she placed her hand on her waist. That was way too much running, especially with a stupid corset with which she couldn't breath right.

Because there weren't any enemies at the moment she slowed down for a while. Fortunately she knew where she had to go now. As she reached at the door she had been looking for she noticed shocked that everything was burning. She took all her courage and kicked the door open. Behind it was the library. Yellow and orange flames were eating the expensive books. The air was already dark because of the smoke. The girl pulled a handkerchief out which she had with her. She placed it in front of her mouth and entered the room. It was difficult so see something here. Luckily she didn't have to search for long. She found the right bookshelf only after some seconds. With her fist she hit some stones in the wall and finally she found the right one. The secret door swung open.

Next to the door where was a torch. Rosette took it and held its tip into some of the flames. After the tip was burning she went heavily coughing into the secret corridor and closed the door behind her again. She had absolutely no idea where the way led to, she simply followed it. Unfortunately the hidden ways and corridor were like a labyrinth. Sometimes she heard some sounds or the sound of fire from the other side of the wall and she hurried quickly away. After a while she saw that she was in the underground of the city and there were no sounds anymore. That meant except for the sounds her shoes made on the ground and her coughing which was caused by the smoke earlier in the burning library. Eventually after some hours of losing her way she saw the dim moon light coming through an exit. In front of the exit there were some plants growing. There was something like a little cave. Outside was the forest.

Panting she fell on her hands and knees. She had made it, she really had made it. She was out of the catacombs, out of the city, out of the chaos. The full moon shone through the leaves of the big trees surrounding her and it gave everything a silver-blue colour. Some other parts which stayed in the shadow were totally black. At the horizon was lightened up a little. But that was because of the fire at home. Exhausted Rosette looked around in the unknown forest.

Nobody was there. Perhaps the others had taken another way out? Maybe there was another exit they had used. Or they thought she was already dead and had continued their way. That was possible as well. Perhaps it would be the best for the blonde to stay here until there was daylight again. In the dark forest it was easy to stumble, fall down and hurting something. She also didn't know where to go. Because she had no other idea she sat down in the shadow of a big tree.

There she rested her head on her arms which were wrapped around her knees. Nevertheless she refused to fall asleep. Who knows if not a demon had followed her or what dangerous animals were there. She fought hard against the urge to sleep. But in the end she lost this fight, lay down next to the tree trunk and then she was slowly drifting into dream land where everything was still okay.

The night went on and changed into morning. The sky was darker and some rains drops were falling down. One hit Rosette on her nose and a second one, which fall onto her face as well, woke her up. She leaned on her arms, blinked with her eyes and pushed the blanket away. Yesterday had been a hard day. Moment! She had a blanket?!!! Stunned she looked at the black cloth she had obviously used as a blanket. But where the heck did it come from?! She absolutely didn't remember having one when she had fallen asleep. Now it was there, that was no doubt. She jumped to her feet and brushed the dirt off her dress. Then she took a closer look at the 'blanket'. Actually it was a black cloak. On its back it had a hood and in the front there was a golden buckle. The cloth the cloak was made of seemed to have a good quality.

Rosette took some steps forwards and looked around. Nobody was seen. But the cloak had to belong to someone. "Hello?" She called. The only answer she got was the twitter and chirping of some birds.

Some steps were heard behind her on the forest ground.

"Good morning, Rozetto."

--

One more song:

Somewhere

Lost in the darkness, hoping for a sign.

Instead there is only silence,

can't you hear my screams?

Never stop hoping.

Need to know where you are,

but one thing is for sure,

you're always in my heart.

Chorus:

I'll find you somewhere.

I'll keep on trying until my dying day.

I just need to know whatever has happened,

the truth will free my soul.

Lost in the darkness, try to find your way home.

I want to embrace you and never let you go.

Almost hope you're in heaven so no one can hurt your soul.

Living in agony cause I just do not know

where you are.

Repeat chorus

Wherever you are, I won't stop searching.

Whatever it takes, I need to know.

Repeat chorus

By Within Temptation

AN: Phew…. That chapter was difficult to write. I needed some more time than for the others, but therefore there's more action in it =D And I again couldn't stop hearing Within Temptation XD

Aaaaaaaaaaand today's my B-day XDDD