The carpet of dry hay was the only comfort I had right now. I felt so numb my body did not feel like my own. It would not obey my command to stand, to run or to scream. My fragile mind refused to process that past day's events, to accept what has happened. So here I sat, in the rat-ridden dungeons of Fanelia. The other prisoners all eyed me with lust or glared with sinister intentions. Nothing could penetrate this blanket of numbness which now enveloped me.

A tall figure piereced the golden rays of the sun pouring in through the slits in the walls. All I could register were the screeching and clanging of metal as keys were picked to unlock my door, and someone held out a hand to me. Jumping back in fear I would rather die than leave my cell. A pair of sympathetic blue eyes looked at me sadly.

'Hitomi, it's alright, I have settled the matter. You can come with me.'

'Allen I…'

He spoke so softly, his gentleness will crush whatever strength I still miraculiously possessed. Following him up the stone steps, the sound of leering prisoners promised to come and find me when they get free. Outside the birds sang and the heavens were clear of clouds. A clear blue sky with nothing in the way. Maybe this is a good omen?

'Let's get married.' I said to Allen.

He simply shook his head, taking my hand in his. 'No, I won't do that. Because you need time to grieve for your parents.'

'Yes but…. We should do something happy to go against something bad, right?'

Even though it was sunny, that familiar cold chill threw a coat of goose bumps all over my skin. I refused to turn around. Allen wrapped his arms around me, stroking my matted hair.

'In time…. We shall marry when it's right, but now's not the right moment, do you understand?'

I broke down in tears, allowing the grief to engulf me.

Days have gone by since I left the dungeons. Or has it been weeks? I have lost count. Since I now have nothing, I owe Allen everything, for letting me stay with him and for looking after me. He has been so, so patient, I know not another saint like him. If people recognise me as Tanaka Kanzaki's daughter, they will surely know of the alleged accusations of treason. Allen will defend my honour and not exactly ignore them, but he has a way of answering their curiosity without giving away too much. The garden is a quiet place, a little spot where me and his sister Celena can talk about the usual things that we girls talk about. It helps to take my mind off of things.

'So there was this guy…. He's sooo handsome! Hitomi you will not have seen the greenest eyes or the cheekiest smile ever! As soon as I saw him my heart began to melt…' She swooned.

'Do you know his name yet?'

'Ah – no. You know it's unlady-like to ask a guy what his name is. Since brother is busy with his own affairs, I have asked Gaddes to try and find out his name for me, and then perhaps….' We both giggled at the possibility.

'And what would you two lovely ladies be whispering about?'

'Oh nothing, nothing brother.' Celena told Allen.

Celena mentioned that she made cup cakes and went inside to bring them out. Allen brushed a stray hair off my face. I could be hypnotised by eyes so blue and gentle… a soft wind blew past me. Maybe it was just my mind, or did it carry a silent message? I looked to my left and saw the giant oak tree casting a heavy shadow. I knew what it meant, but instead I clung to Allen and he held me close, not asking any questions.

Allen brought up the subject of Freid. He said they have healing powers that could put my feares to rest, whatever they were. Van Fanel may be a creature of the night, and I may have feelings for him, but he has not spent more than a minute with me, every time we meet. At least with Allen, he can give me security and safety. Telling him about how I often felt like I was being watched, but then there was no one there, I was afraid he would leave me and label me a mad woman. I needn't have been so worried. As Celena returned with the cup cakes and tea, we sat and talked about my visit to the Cloud Temple, and when we would travel to Freid. He began telling me about a man they called Plaktu, who may be able to help me understand why this nocturnal being was stalking me. In mid-conversation I began to drift off… did I want Van Fanel to stop being there? What was it that I felt for him?

That evening a vivid dream was plaguing my sleep. A grainy voice was guiding my spirit towards the garden. There, in the middle of the field was a tall, lone figure. I knew it was him straightaway. In the blink of an eye he was beside me. As always, our meetings begin with silence and long eye contact.

'Finally I can see you.'

'What do you want Van? I finally get a grip on things, and even going along a path which will make me happy and yet – yet here you are.'

'Why is this the only way I can see you? To speak with you and to be with you? For so many days I have tried to get in touch, but something is keeping me away.'

Van sounded hurt and strangely it hurt me too. Reminding myself that I was doing this for my own good, and for my future with Allen Schezar I tried to put this weird feeling aside. Van gazed at me with quizzical eyes, holding my shoulders as if afraid I might fly away.

'I can't read your thoughts anymore... so please tell me what you are thinking.'

Removing his hands from me, I decided it was best to go back. Again he appeared in front of me, but this time there was a brief flicker of pain on his beautiful face. I ached to comfort him but willed myself to carry on before he even took my resolve. He called after me and I froze, for a split second.

'Good bye Van Fanel.'

He repeadedly called my name like it was the only word he knew. Cold tears stung my cheeks as I forced my feet to move, one in front of the other until I reached the back door of the cottage. My whole body felt stiff, so I was walking like a tin toy soldier. Still his voice reached me. Why couldn't he just let me go? I had to face facts; even if we were together, there was no way we could stay that way, for he and I are different. For different reasons. Allen on the other hand… we are more compatible.

'If you must know….'

'I know, it's your parents right? I was there! I tried to warn you and save you, but I just couldn't get near you.'

Even though I was at the cottage now and he was at the bottom, close to the open fields, I could hear him perfectly.

'Please Van, just let go.'

'I can't, I -'

'Goodbye Van.' I said again, now running inside.

My feet were heavy like I was wearing lead-fiiled boots. Each step was made with a huge effort until I reached my room and threw the covers over my head. It was late and I should sleep. But I was not to be so lucky. There was a presence in the room, then it disappeared. Instinctively I opened the window and was not surprised to see him standing there, waiting for me. Sitting back on my bed, he should go but there was something… nice about being like this.

Before I knew it I was telling him my life story. About the past few days and how I was still struggling to make sense of it all, how I missed my parents. I envied Yukari for being engaged and happy to someone she is allowed to be with, and even of Celena, of her blissful ignorance and innocence of things like arranged marriages. Basically I just kept going on and on and on about what made me miserable. Van didn't try to interrupt me, instead he simply nodded at the right times. After I had run out of steam, we talked about other things. I told him about seeing a dragon mating ritual for the first time and telling him it was both bewitching and frightening made him chuckle. He told me a little about his life in darkness, being the only one awake all night and feeling as though it was just him on the whole of Gaea, of watching things grow and the stars twinkle. Van made it sound like another world.

I must have drifted off at some point, because I awoke to the sun shining in my eyes. I found myself rolled up in the covers like a cocoon. Celena knocked and when I failed to answer, she poked her fair head around the door. A stray curl fell into her lavender eyes and she brushed it away. Something about a dress caught my ear, but mentally I was still thinking about last night. Did I really go out into the garden, in the middle of the night? Or was it just a dream? Celena had placed a new yellow dress on my bed, and a maid was waiting to help me dress. Even the sharp pain of the corset being tightened wasn't enough to make me come back to reality. Wasn't the Nocturnal spell meant to have kept Van Fanel away? If so then how was it possible I was able to see, let alone talk with him last night?

Celena lead me downstairs to the breakfast room, where I vaguely acknowledged Allen saying good morning and kissing me on the cheek. Stifling a yawn I apologised for being away with the fairies.

'It's ok Hitomi! Here, try some of this.'

As a maid was pouring some wonderful smelling liquid into my cup, Allen told me about the preparations for going to Freid. We would leave right after breakfast, as the maids were packing our things as we spoke. Celena wanted to go and see Princess Millerna, as they were old friends. Something about her worried me…. And I haven't even met her yet.

Finally the Leviship heads heavenwards after the last case was loaded into the cargo hold. We glided through the clouds like angels with a mission, cutting through time and space. I stayed at the front of the ship with Allen. I felt like a small fish in the giant ocean, and this little part was my oyster. My heart was at peace for now, my mind clear. Gaddess and the other men did what they do best and kept the Leviship running smoothly. I watched as Celena gazed into the distance, lost in her own day dream. Another year or so and she too will have her own admirers, brave and gallant young men wanting to win her hand. This fair maiden will have her pick of who is worthy of her attention. Celena breaks off from her reverie and pulls me aside, whispering like conspiritoral agents. She asks me what it is like to be in love and to be with someone you care about. Looks like I will have to teach this would-be little sister sooner than I thought.

All too soon we were preparing to land. The Duke of Freid, a young boy not a day over the tender age of ten years old, came to greet us. While exchanging pleasentries my heart skipped a beat as I thought I saw something in the corner of my eye. No…. it's just my imagination. The Duke himself greets me personally after greeting Allen, expressing his sorrow for my loses. It appears he is good friends with Allen, and knew my father well. As I turned to look at the monks who followed Duke Chid wherever he went, loyal, religious men who shaved their heads save for a ponytail, someone is pulling my arm. A hand clamps over my mouth and everything begins to fade away. In a panic I lunge to tug Allen but all that can be heared was Celena's scream. All eyes were on me and things were semi-dark by now. I knew that in another second I will be in the 'Twilight' like before, and anything can happen there.

"Hitomi!'

'Allen!' I bit Van's hand and managed to shout Allen's name.

'Let me go Van!!'

He cackled with such coldness I feared that I would never feel warmth again. His grip on me tightend and I watched in horror as the world I knew faded away more and more. The more I struggled the more I found it hard to breath. What was going on?! As if sensing my thoughts he answers me in the same way that Van does.

'Who said I was Van Fanel?'