Uhm, yeah, so I went a little bit overboard… So you guys don't even know what I'm referring to, huh? Thank goodness…
So this chapter is more on Saya and Diva. Yes, I'm quite aware that you want something else to happen. But while I'm working on the preceding chapters, I made this one for you guys to read while waiting. Well, this part of the story isn't that important. I mean, it's just another boring ol' chapter.
If you don't feel like reading it, it's okay. If you plan to read it, it's okay, too. Either way, I'll just remind you that this chapter doesn't contain much. I kind of actually made this before the comments that you gave…and I don't really want to change it or remove it 'cause I somehow like it…and I don't want to waste my effort for staying up late at nigh just to write this…
So while I'm still making the other chapter, you could read this for the meantime…
Chapter XII
The Forgotten
…
"Hey, Saya!" Kai called, waving at her from a distance. "Come over here! The food is great!"
"And Dad even cooked your favorite!" Riku joined in.
"I'm coming!" Saya said. She struggled to walk. The large, heavy chains on her wrists and feet were slowing her down. "It's getting…hard to move…" she said softly.
"Saya," a familiar, stoic voice said behind her. Saya spun around and saw Haji.
"Haji…" she said. "It's you."
"Why did you call me, Saya? Did you need something?" Haji inquired.
"I didn't really call you…but could you do me a favor and remove all these chains for me?"
"I cannot," Haji answered.
"Eh? Why not?"
"Because it is far too impossible for you to escape."
"Huh?" Saya was confused. "What do you mean, Haji?"
Haji was gone.
"Haji!" Saya called.
"…I am Karl Fei-Ong." A figure stepped forward. It was the Phantom. "Remember my name, Saya…"
"Karl…?" Saya repeated.
"Remember me and I shall be yours…"
…
Saya awoke from her dreams. Her eyesight was still blurry. She stared up blankly at the ceiling. Her dream…She just awoke from her strange dream. Then again, dreams are always strange. Nothing is ever right in dreams…no matter how good or bad they are.
"Kai," Saya said softly. "Riku…and Dad…Haji…" She recalled all of them. Another person flashed in her mind. "…Karl." That was it. Karl. He was the last person to appear before her.
"Remember my name, Saya… Remember my name and I shall be yours." Karl's voice echoed in her head.
"Karl," she repeated blankly. "Karl…Fei-Ong."
"You can remember my child's name quite well, sister," Diva remarked beside her.
"'Child's name'?" Saya was unable to think properly of the situation she was in. For a few moments, she made no reaction. However, when the realization dawned upon her, she sat up at once. "D-Diva? You were awake the whole time?" she asked, startled.
"Wow. You're pretty slow," Diva remarked dryly. "Of course I was. Otherwise you wouldn't be asking me if I was awake this whole time."
"Erm," Saya looked away. "You…heard what I said?"
"Of course I did. Why wouldn't I?" Diva smiled slyly. "If you liked him that much and go on daydreaming about him, you might as well just go and tell him straight."
"I don't like him!" Saya said.
"You don't?" Diva crawled over to her. "Why not?"
"He…freaks me out."
"But that's what makes him special," Diva reasoned.
"I'm not into stuff like that like that, okay?" Saya said. She leaned back into the pillows.
"Aww, why not?" Diva sat up and looked down at her. "He's a good little boy." Her expression changed into a look of irritation. "Though he could sometimes be very stubborn."
"Diva," Saya said with a sigh. "Why are we even talking about him anyway?"
"I don't know," Diva answered with a small shrug. "Who else do you want us talk about?"
"I never meant to make it seem that way, Diva," Saya said.
"Do you still want Haji to be with you?" Diva suddenly inquired.
The question was unexpected. "What?"
"Do you wish your little chevalier to always be by your side?"
"Of course I do," Saya replied. "However…"
"How do you see him, onee-chan?"
"He's family."
"Really?"
"How else should I see him?" Saya asked, feeling uneasy.
"I thought you would have far deeper feelings for him," Diva said. "After all, he's the only human you've turned into a Chevalier."
"I do not have any feelings for him!" Saya said. Her face was red with embarrassment.
"You're so defensive, onee-chan," Diva said, amused. "It was just a thought. I never said that it was true. And why is your face so red?"
Saya hid her face under the blanket. "I'm not blushing."
"I did not say anything about you blushing."
"Well, that's…" Saya was unable to say anything. She was always at difficulty when conversing with Diva, especially when it comes to reasoning.
Diva was clearly amused. She was always capable of making Saya say things without even making her how or why she had said such. It was one thing she enjoyed doing with her when she was bored. "Well, no matter how you see it, it's far too impossible to have babies with him."
"What?" Saya was surprised when Diva said that. Her head popped out from under the sheets.
"You can't have babies with Haji, onee-chan," Diva repeated. "The only ones who are able to do so are my children."
"How do you know?" Saya asked.
Diva giggled. "It's a little secret I cannot tell you." Her eyelids drooped half-way in boredom. "Your child is so boring and plain. I wish you had a more exciting Chevalier whom I could have for myself."
Saya reacted slightly.
"That's why I should think Karl would be perfect for you."
"I don't like him," Saya said. She placed the blanket over her head once more. "And I'm not interested in having a family of my own."
"Aww." Diva pouted. "You're so boring," she said. "How could we be sisters if you're so different from me?"
"'Don't know, 'don't care," Saya answered from under the sheets. She stifled a yawn.
"Maybe you're so sleepy, that's why you can't give a proper answer."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too."
Saya grunted as a response.
Diva thought for a moment. A mischievous grin spread on her face when an idea reached her. "Well, since you're so sleepy, maybe I should make things a little livelier myself."
"What are you—" Saya wasn't able to continue since Diva nudged her in the ribs. "Hey, s-stop that!" Saya cried, unable to suppress her laughter as Diva went on tickling her.
"Not until you're as awake as I am," Diva answered with a wide grin.
"W-wait!" Saya laughed harder, trying to escape from the younger twin's tickling. She rolled to the edge of the bed. "'Can't breathe!" she gasped.
"That won't work on me, onee-chan." Diva continued to tickle her, this time at the sides.
"N-no! Seriously, w-wait!" Saya suddenly pulled away from the younger twin. Her movement was so quick and forceful that she was unable to control herself from falling off from the bed.
Thud.
Diva burst into cruel, childish laughter. "That's so funny!" she cried, falling back in the bed.
"Ow," Saya groaned in pain and sat up. She rubbed the back of her neck and struggled to get up.
Diva continued to laugh hysterically in the bed, holding her stomach. "So funny!" she repeated.
"Haha. It was funny alright," Saya agreed sarcastically. She unsteadily got to her feet and stared down at the younger twin.
Diva laughed harder. She was unable to breathe properly due to her laughter.
"Stop laughing," Saya said.
"Okay, okay." Diva struggled to hold down her laughter. She gasped, taking in large amounts of air. "Okay, I had my fun."
The door opened. "It's quite noisy in here in such an early morning," Nathan remarked, poking his head inside the room. "What happened here?" he asked curiously.
"Nathan," Diva said. She laughed again and said, "You should have seen onee-chan. She fell from the bed."
"Oh my," Nathan said with a smile. "She did?"
"I did," Saya replied. "Thanks to someone here." She glanced at Diva.
Diva giggled. "It wasn't my fault. Honest." She tried to appear innocent.
"Yeah, right." Saya rolled her eyes.
"Setting that aside," Nathan said. "I had Karl get your breakfast. He'll be here in just a few minutes. So you two should get up now."
"Okay," the two girls said in unison.
-ns-
"I'm tired of just staying here in this boring, old house," Diva said after they had had breakfast.
"Well, we've gone to Paris, haven't we?" Saya said. "Isn't that enough?"
"No; it's not." Diva folded her arms. "Nathan," she turned to the blond man.
"Yes?" Nathan said, raising his eyes from the book he was reading.
"Can Saya and I go to the ruins?" Diva asked.
"Why, if you feel like it, nothing's going to stop you," Nathan answered. "You're free to go if that is what you wish."
"By ruins, you mean…the Zoo?" Saya asked.
"Yes." Diva saw a troubled look on Saya's face. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing," Saya forced a smile.
"Do you wish Karl to accompany you?" Nathan asked. Karl was seating just nearby and was strangely quiet all throughout the hour. He showed little reaction when his name was mentioned.
"We don't need him," Diva answered flatly.
Saya glanced at Karl and saw a pained look on the Chevalier after hearing Diva's reply. She was slightly feeling sad for him after seeing how cold Diva had been treating him. But she said nothing to pursue the matter.
"Well, if you say so. You could go. Just be careful."
"You hear that, onee-chan?" Diva looked at Saya. "C'mon! Let's go!" She grabbed Saya's wrist and pulled her along.
"There's no need for such a rush," Saya said, following the blue-eyed twin.
As the two left, Karl eyed them warily and stood up as well.
"Where are you going?" Nathan asked.
"I'll watch over them," was Karl's blunt reply.
"Diva said she doesn't need you," Nathan stated.
"It's no longer your concern," Karl snapped.
"If it involves my Queens, then it will always be a matter of concern." Nathan looked up from his book and stared at Karl. "My good man, do not do anything foolish." His voice held vague threat. "Not only would our dear brother Amshel be upset, you'll also anger our mother."
"You know nothing of what I am to do," Karl told him.
"Really now?" Nathan shrugged and continued to read his book. "I won't be pulled into the scolding."
-ns-
Saya and Diva were walking in the forest, heading off towards the ruins of the Zoo.
"So you're sure you know where you're going?" Saya asked.
"Trust me," Diva said. "I've known this place for a long time since then." Saya felt suddenly felt uneasy. She felt strange…and somehow afraid on what's to come.
"You know, you didn't have to be so frank with him," Saya said, trying to ignore the bothering feeling she had.
"What then? So you wanted me to lie?" Diva returned.
"That's not what I meant," Saya replied mildly.
"Why do you keep on defending him anyway?" Diva stopped walking and turned to face her twin. "You keep on denying the fact that you like him, and yet your actions clearly show otherwise."
"I don't like him!" Saya said. "It's just that you aren't being too nice."
"Does it bother you so much?"
"No…not really."
"Then just shut up."
-ns-
Saya and Diva had soon arrived at the ruins. They stood there for a moment at the entrance to the forest. Saya held Diva's hand tightly as she stared at the high tower that loomed ominously over the rest of the buildings. Diva glanced at Saya curiously. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing." Saya shook her head.
"Come on." Diva did not seem to care at the least. She was much too excited to mind or think over her sibling's situation. She pulled Saya along into the Zoo's territory. Saya reluctantly followed her. The soil was then covered with cobblestones as they went around. Now that Saya was here in this very place, she was feeling much more uncomfortable. Her twin paid not much attention to her to notice how troubled she was.
"So what now?" Saya asked as they looked around.
"I know." Diva faced Saya. "Let's play a game!"
"What game?"
"Hide and seek."
"You like that game very much," Saya said, giving a wry smile.
"Of course," Diva answered. "Especially since you're the 'it'."
"But I said nothing about being the 'it'!" Saya protested.
There was a giggle. Diva was gone.
"She didn't even give me a chance to see who the real 'it' is here," Saya said to herself. "This is place is wide…not to mention with so many buildings." Could I really find her in such a large area? She thought. She glanced at the gloomy tower and felt a chill run down her spine. Ignoring the lingering fear she was starting to have, she turned and tried to concentrate on looking for her twin instead.
-ns-
Saya looked around. She was somewhere in the estate, lost. Where am I? She wondered. Somehow she had ended up in a wide area. At the side of the old, stone road were statues of lions. Her gaze wandered around and her eyes soon fell on an old, crumbled fountain. Saya easily recognized where she was. This is… She took a step toward it. A scene flashed in her mind. The large, burning flames continued to consume everything. She halted and closed her eyes for a few moments. It's going to be okay, she assured herself. She slowly headed for the fallen fountain. She saw her own reflection in the water. Long hair. Beautiful earrings. An elegant dress. And her face…which was ridden with childish curiosity.
There were plants and vines growing on it. She studied it for a moment and then walked around it and then realized there were some wild, pink roses growing nearby. She bent down and picked them. How beautiful… She brought it close to her nostrils and inhaled the faint scent from the flower. She had soon forgotten that she was looking for Diva, that she was still playing the game 'hide-and-seek'. What was then occupying her mind was the place she was then in.
Saya stood up and saw the remains of what used to be the mansion. The large, wide staircase was still intact. But the rest have already crumbled away. The ruins were black. The flames were consuming everything. Everyone lay dead. Among the flames stood a lone figure, holding Joel, her father, in her arms…
Saya shook her head. What's happening to me? She ran her hand across the concrete railing of the stairs. The hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood up. Unknown fear twisted her guts. Saya spun around. She was sure somebody was standing a little way behind her. She didn't know what to do. It wasn't safe for her to stay there anymore. She continued on her way, quickening her pace as she left the ruins of the mansion behind her.
As she walked through the forest, something else flashed in her mind.
"Saya, you don't have to run," Haji said calmly.
"I have to see if there are still some of Joel's favorite lilies left," she said, running ahead of him. She held her skirt as she ran to prevent herself from stumbling on her beautiful dress.
"There is no need to rush. We'll get there," Haji said.
"But somebody could get it before I could."
"Saya, we're the only ones living here other than Joel, Amshel and some of the maids and menservants."
Saya blinked and shook her head, as if to clear away the scene. Why am I…remembering all these? The trees had lessened as she moved forward and she soon learned why.
The grass was soft and green and the blue skies above her were filled with large clouds. A wind blew by. Saya walked over to the edge of the cliff. At the side of the cliff, quite far below her were two red lilies. Haji reached out and grabbed the lily. The edge where he was holding on to broke off and he lost his grip on the rocks. "Haji!" she cried, watching helplessly as the young man plummeted down the cliff. She reached out to him, but it was too late…
"Haji!" Saya cried. She returned to her senses and realized she was holding out her hand to the edge of the cliff. "Huh?" She got up and dusted herself. What was that? She lifted her gaze and surveyed the land before her. From her standing, she could see the familiar, gloomy tower peering at her. She shivered. I should get going…
Another wind blew by. There was a sudden giggle in the air. Saya had heard it, but was unsure if it were real. Was it my imagination? She wondered. There was another giggle, which proved that what she had heard was real. Saya spun her head around, trying to search the location from where the giggle came from. She was unaware that Diva was just nearby, hidden among the trees and bushes.
"Onee-chan!" a familiar, melodic voice sang.
"Diva?" Saya twirled on her heels. The moment she did, she saw Diva already leaping towards her.
Thud.
"My…back…" Saya struggled to say under Diva's weight. She gave a small groan of pain. Diva hugged her and giggled again.
"It is I who found you," Diva said. "Not you who found me."
"I…" Saya grimaced. "I could see that…"
Diva—fortunately—got up to allow Saya to sit up straight. The red-eyed twin rubbed her back.
"You were taking so long in looking for me that I had to search for you myself," Diva said.
"So you were the one who was following me all along?" Saya asked.
Diva stared at her. "What are you talking about? I wasn't anywhere near you." She pointed at the tower. "I was down there, waiting for you. But you didn't come so I had to trace your whereabouts."
"But I sensed someone following me," Saya said.
Diva shrugged. "It was just your imagination. I bet you were lost in your world of thought that's why you get to see things."
"Don't say that," Saya said.
"I say what I want to say." Diva pulled Saya by the wrist. "C'mon. Let's go to the tower."
Saya remained firmly in her place. Diva looked at her curiously. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"It's nothing," Saya lied, deciding it was best to just follow after her sister.
-ns-
Saya stared up at the tower. Its height intimidated her. There was a hole on the floor and she saw the waterway. On the tower itself was another hole. "Out of the way," Diva said, flinging her roughly to the side. She smashed against wall with such force that the impact had actually created a large hole. Through there, she came through and was falling from the tower. She landed heavily on the ground. "Saya!" Lewis called to her. Before she could get up, the ground gave way and she fell straight into the sewage below…
Saya shook her head. Diva was already up on the tower by then for she went ahead of her. In the silence that was beginning to overcome the area, a song ensued. Saya looked up at the tower again. The song emanated from the ancient walls, filling the empty space in the air. It was ghostly, haunting song that held her in place. A wave of nostalgia brushed over her. She closed her eyes, wanting the voice to wrap her in its own world of mystery. However, another scene flashed in her mind.
She was running down the hallway, toward the large door that came between her and her newfound friend… She held the key in her hands and with it, she unlocked the gate… The lock gave way with a low 'click' and fell on the cold floor… Saya shook her head, trying to keep the scenes away. But they just kept coming in. As she ran down to the mansion, she was frantic. ''Haji! Haji has been..." her voice trailed off. People lay around everywhere, all dead. Everything was in flames.
"Make it stop! Please… Please make it stop…!" she cried, falling to her knees. Amongst the flames stood a lone figure… She narrowed her eyes on her and saw her twin sister… She was holding Joel, her father, in her arms…biting into his neck…slowly drinking away his life. As she fed, her eyes were glowing brightly, both with hatred…and satisfaction.
Saya's cries had alarmed the younger twin. She was in front of Saya within a few moments. "Onee-chan?" she said curiously.
Saya stared up at her, wide-eyed. Diva stood before her, wondering what was going on. She was standing among the large flames, a cruel smile across her bloodied face… "No…"
"Saya?" Diva took a step toward her.
"No!" Saya got to her feet and turned to run away. The blue-eyed Queen was faster than her and in a moment was behind Saya. Though Saya tried to run away, she stumbled into Diva's very arms instead and pulled away. Diva quickly caught her in her arms.
"Onee-chan, what's wrong?" Diva asked.
"No! Stay away from me!" Saya cried, trying to break away from Diva's grasp. But the younger queen held her firmly.
"Onee-chan?" Diva saw fear filling Saya's eyes. It was one thing she wanted to see in her. But Saya looked different. She was horrified. She was not just scared. And seeing that, Diva did not know how she would react. However, she knew she had to do something.
"Let me go!" Saya cried. "Let me—" she was stunned when she felt a warm embrace.
"What's wrong, onee-chan?" Diva asked softly. "Why are you scared?" She pulled Saya closer.
"Diva…" Saya couldn't say anything. Feeling guilty, she merely cried into Diva's shoulder. "I'm sorry!" she sobbed. "I'm sorry, Diva! I didn't know…"
Diva tightened her embrace on Saya. It wasn't really in her to do this. But seeing Saya so scared…Diva didn't know what to do. She didn't want to see Saya this way. She once saw a little girl crying loudly. She saw her older sister kneel in front of her and hug her. "Don't cry, Keisha. It's going to be okay because I'm here. So don't cry…" That was what she heard the older sister say as a means of comfort to her younger sibling as she embraced her. Diva saw how it had succeeded in comforting the little girl, so she thought it would work with Saya as well.
Saya leaned heavily on Diva. Both sank to their knees.
"Onee-chan…" Diva said softly.
"I keep on seeing all these things…" Saya sobbed.
"Onee-chan, it's okay," Diva said gently. "It's okay…"
"It's not!" Saya cried. "I didn't want to see those memories anymore… I don't want to…"
Diva heard a chuckle of amusement nearby. She easily recognized who it was. She glared over her shoulder, into the forest where the stranger stood. Stay away, she snarled at him. The shadowed stranger backed away in surprise for he never expected to be seen. Then, recovering from his surprise, he gave another chuckle and vanished.
-ns-
Saya was quietly sitting back in the sofa with Diva at her side and Nathan facing them, sitting on the other sofa opposite them.
"So you say you saw scenes and images from your past?" Nathan said.
Saya merely nodded.
"Well, I can't say I could help you," Nathan replied. "But it is quite strange why you are going through this at such a time."
"Where's Karl?" Diva suddenly asked. Her voice was low and ominous and she had said the name as if it were some accursed thing.
"I don't know," Nathan said. "He said he'd watch over you both."
"He did that?" Diva's face darkened. "Nathan, I'm fed up with him. Tell him to get back to where he belongs, back to Vietnam."
"My, what's this all of a sudden?" Nathan said, surprised.
"He is the reason why Saya is so troubled. He caused all those horrid things on onee-chan while I was not yet there." Diva placed a hand on Saya's.
"I did…feel his presence while I was out walking," Saya said.
"Why didn't you come back?" Diva inquired.
"I…didn't feel like it. I don't think I could. You weren't around…"
"You could have just told me when I was with you," Diva sighed.
"I didn't know…sorry."
"Your 'sorry' wouldn't change anything," Diva said dryly. She turned her attention back to Nathan. "Make him go back, Nathan. I—" she stopped half-way through her sentence.
Karl came walking in. He had a strange, sickeningly contented smile across his lips. Diva glared at him. The Chevalier flinched inwardly but tried to hide away his fright by keeping the smile on his face.
"Why do you stare at me like that, Diva?" he asked coolly.
"You're a daring, stubborn little child, aren't you, Karl?" Diva said.
"And you're a star when it comes to acting, too," Nathan added.
Karl cast him a quick, piercing look. He turned to Diva. "I don't think I disobeyed you in any way, my Queen," he told her, dipping his head respectfully.
"I see that you are also a liar," Diva observed. "You do know that no one other than me could lay a finger on Onee-chan. It is only I who could do what I want with her, be it the hurting, the playing, and even the killing." Saya felt a chill run up her spine. Diva was aggressively possessive when it came to her. She remained silent.
"I did not hurt her in any way, my Queen," Karl answered Diva.
"Really?" Diva smiled slyly. "Someone was stalking my dear Saya a while ago, troubling her with her old memories and the like. You wouldn't happen to know who that person was?"
"No, my Queen," Karl answered. "I know nothing of that."
"Nathan told me you went after us as soon as we left," Diva stated. "Is that true?"
Karl bit his lip. "It was, my Queen." He paused. "But I figured it was best that I would not follow you so I did not."
Diva frowned. "Where were you then?"
"It was somewhere where you need not bother thinking over, my Queen."
"Then go back to that 'somewhere' so that I would not have to bother thinking about you and that place," Diva said dryly.
Karl, looked up at her, stunned by her words. "Diva—"
"Leave," Diva cut in.
"Diva, that's too much," Saya said.
"Stay out of this," Diva snapped at her.
"If that is your wish," Karl said, lowering his head even more. Saya looked at him. The Chevalier gave her a sharp, threatening glare before reluctantly leaving.
"He won't be too far," Nathan said nonchalantly, already busy reading his book.
"He would be a wise child to keep his distance," Diva muttered. Saya saw something in her eyes. Was Diva really protective with good cause? Was she really concerned in the matter or was it just another game she wanted to indulge in as her means of amusement? Saya could not answer the question. She had been with Diva for the past months, but even up to now, she could still not unveil the younger twin's true motives.
"I'm bored," Diva avowed after a moment. She easily dismissed the issue from a while ago and held Saya's hand. "I want to play outside, onee-chan."
"Oh, sure…" Saya meekly followed the younger twin outside.
"Goodness, this story is so lame," Nathan avowed when he was alone in the room. "Who's the author of this book anyway?" He glanced at the cover of the book. "No wonder…" he muttered after reading the name printed in front. He stood up and stretched. "I better watch over those two…" he told himself, heading outside.
So there we have it! Pretty boring, huh? Not much to read, not entertaining, yes. I agree.
So anyway, if you did read this chapter, thanks. I'd really appreciate it if you did so.
And about the review thing, I'm sorry if I'm making it seem like an obligation. I take your reviews as a sign that I should continue to write. And I wouldn't really know if someone read the chapter if no one said anything about it, right?
But all the same, I don't want to force you to do what I'm asking. Though I could say that just even one review in a chapter is enough to inspire me to continue with what I've started...
So please wait for the next chapter. It's the one that's important…I think.