Leviathan's Daughter
GoldenEagle
Author's note: I'll make a pathetic attempt to correct my mistakes in the last chapter through this one. Make sure to read prologue, chapter one, and chapter two before reading this. My computer just reset when I was almost done with this installment, so I'm slightly pissed. Anywho...
Chapter Three
Queto put up with the small boy's rantings about not being able to stay in the false form of him older self. Queto had heard of the boy through prophesy around the time of the girl's misfortune. It had been no surprise to him when the child had become part of Zaibach's growing empire, seemingly appearing out of no where. Though just a child, he had the hate planted into him, and with the training that he was receiving, it was no doubt that he would rise high in the empire. Yet, still, the boy had been too young, and small, to be intimidating to the girl, so Queto granted him a short vision of himself as someone older. Now the child was complaining about not having the older body of moments before.
"Why can't I?" He wailed.
"It is a trick of the mystic moon. Plus, you will grow into that form." Queto said impatiently as he picked up the unconscious girl, a large knot and bruise forming on her forehead.
Dilandau looked at the girl curiously, his eight year old eyes wide with taking in the girl. He then stuck out his lower lip as he noticed his new toy in such a vulnerable state. "I thought you said she was special. She doesn't look at all threatening to me."
Queto smiled slightly at the child's lack of experience. "We haven't taught her to master herself yet."
**********
Persephone stirred slightly on a soft, velvety material. "Mmm..." She let out a low moan, her head throbbing with a pain she had never known before. "Why's it so cold?" Her words slurred together, making note of her thoughts that someone in the dorm should have turned the heater on and that she should have closed the window...
But she had gone outside where everyone stared, and there was the girl, and then- Persephone bolted up as she remembered her capture, but she cried out as the pain in her head exploded, and she fell back down onto the bed. She opened her eyes, and far above, maybe twenty feet, she looked through the ceiling, which was made of glass. Two moons shown down, casting an eerie light into the dark room. One moon looked peculiarly familiar...
The lights to the room erupted suddenly, and Persephone squinted her eyes. She sat up and struggled with the chains on her wrists and ankles momentarily before looking up across the great room. A child stood there, two guards at either side of him. He looked vaguely familiar, but-
Her eyes widened as she recognized him as the boy who had captured her, but, younger? He smiled at her reaction. "I see you're awake. I'll have some clothes sent down to you, and then you'll be led up to the conference chamber. There I will introduce you to your new master." Persephone felt like spitting at the boy, but couldn't, a strange intimidation passing over her from the boy's age.
Persephone sighed, looking around. Where the hell was she? Perhaps she had been taken to be held for ransom and was now in some strange building. Not that anyone would ever come for her... A cold shiver ran up her spine. She glanced up again and studied the moons. The moons. Two moons. One was white, illuminating and reflecting. The other was blue and green, as if... Persephone gasped. Earth? Her earth? "Where am I?!" Persephone wailed out as fearful tears fell across her face.
"You are on Gaea." A voice said as a small, heavy woman came in, carrying a package. "Over Corden's land, to be more specific."
"Gaea?" Persephone muttered, glancing back at the two moons above her.
"Here, let me get those chains off of you. I don't understand why a person would put chains on such a modest looking girl." The woman said as she unshackled Persephone. "I'm Zenla."
"I'm Persephone," she said quietly as she rubbed her wrists and ankles. She looked oddly up at the woman. "Why am I here?"
The woman chuckled warmly as the guards closed the door behind her, one standing on the outside, one still on the inside. "'Twas fate, child. Everything is of fate. But, if you wonder why Queto was interested in you, I am unsure."
Persephone sighed and eased herself off the bed, but almost fell, her limbs cramping from what she had figured out must have been a very long rest. Persephone thought her calmness was a little odd. She felt as if this was quite normal, being kidnapped and traveling to other planets. Perhaps that is the way she deals with shock. Who knows?
"How long have I been asleep?" Persephone mumbled as the woman handed her the package. She opened it slowly, as if something dangerous hid within it. But what met her eyes made her release a slow, controlled breath. A long, elegant dress made of emerald green and blue feathers shone up at her.
"You've been out for a couple of days, milady." The older woman came and looked at the dress. "It is made from peacock feathers. You know of peacock's, do you not? They are from your moon, afterall."
"They don't have peacocks here?" Persephone asked, stunned. A new respect washed over her for the dress.
"Oh, no, no, my dear. Whoever brought you such a dress went to great lengths to do so. It is priceless."
"Oh." Persephone said, speechless. "I can't possibly wear this!" She hissed out suddenly, dropping the dress onto the bed. Priceless dress? On her? She wanted to laugh out loud in complete disbelief. She didn't even deserve one thread off the dress!
"Child, you must!"
"You're very kind, but-"
"No," Zenla interupted. "I mean you must. If Lord Dornkirk wishes to see you in the dress, you must be in it. If you wish to survive in the Zaibach empire, you must follow Dornkirk's wishes." Zenla's voice had grown less kind and took on the tone of a threat. Persephone took a step back, stunned, but realized she had nowhere to go. "Now get dressed, child." The voice was normal again, full of kindness.
Persephone glanced nervously at the guard as she picked up the dress. Zenla didn't seem to notice. "Um... Excuse me?" Both Zenla and the guard looked up at her when she said this. "Could the... um... guard please turn around or something?"
They both stared blankly at her before the guard went back to his usual position, ignoring her request. "He must watch you at all times." Persephone frowned at the woman. What's up with them, she thought, shaking her head and trying to hide the redness that crossed her face because of her shame. It's not like I'm going to attack them!
"My gods, child! What happened to your back!" Zenla yelped out as her shirt came off. Persephone threw on the dress quickly, trying to hide the one thing she wished no one to ever see. Embarrassment and more shame engulfed her and tears stung her eyes. The scars from her broken childhood blazed across her back, where she had been burnt in the fire worst. Persephone wiped away her tears angrily, before turning around, her face cold and expressionless. The servant knew not to push for any more answers. "Here, child, let me do your hair and then we can be off, hm?" She said quietly, more out of fear than sympathy now.
Go ahead, fear me, Persephone mused. Fear me.
***********
Persephone walked where the conference would be held on delicate, silk-materialed slippers. She was the only one in such garb and she felt out of place as people stared. They always stared. As she entered the cold, metallic room, she held her head high. But her mask of self confidence faltered as the doors shut behind her and everything went black. Then, a strange, flickering light filled the room and something like a movie projection covered the wall she was facing. An old man, his white hair slightly curly, his face covered with a beard and mustache looked back at her. Almost as if he really could see her...
"Is that the girl?" He asked. The child came out of a dark corner, unnoticed by Persephone until then.
"Yes, Lord Dornkirk. This is the girl." His voice sounded so strange, so cold and professional for such a small child.
"Step forward." Persephone hesitated, her mind reeling. But, after a pause of a few seconds, she moved forward shakily and silently, her arms held down stiffly by her side. She stared at the ground before looking up. The man seemed to be studying her. "What is your name, child?"
"Per-Persephone, Lord." She said, remembering the title that had been used on him.
"Hmm... Persephone. You begin training tomorrow." With that, that projection disappeared, leaving the room eerily dark.
The lights snapped on. "You may go back to your room." The man which had aided the child in her capture said.
"Tha-That's it? I got dressed up and everything just to have a thirty second talk with a projection?"
"We'll send you some food." The man said, ignoring her question. Persephone gaped at him before storming off.
As she exited the room, she watched the child do the same. He yawned largely and rubbed his ruby-red eyes. He met her gaze and gave a small, childish smile. Persephone was surprised, this being the first sign of a child nature in the boy.
As Persephone entered her room, she realized that the boy had followed her. "Stay outside." He said to the guards before they shut the doors. The boy then went to a large chair and sat down. "I guess you're wondering why you're here, hm?" His voice had picked up a mocking tone and Persephone sighed patiently.
"Yeah, slightly." She muttered.
"We, meaning the Zaibach empire, have a large interest in you, Persephone of the Mystic Moon." He said, smiling that strange, intelligent smile.
"I know what the Zaibach empire is, slightly, but who are you?" She asked, looking at the boy as she let her waist length, curly red hair down. It wooshed and dangled, the air picking it up and making it dance.
"I am Dilandau, Lord Dornkirk's chosen." He said with pride.
"Oh, really." She muttered, not really paying attention as she pulled off her slippers, slightly remembering that he had introduced himself before. There was no reply and she could feel the boy's gaze on her. Silence issued for a few moments before Persephone began to hum a tune she could remember from somewhere, on a world far away. A few minutes passed as she got her bed ready to sleep in when she turned around.
The white haired boy sat in the chair, his head tilted over, his eyes closed, his breathing deep. A strange feeling passed over Persephone as she walked over to him. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts and cursed herself for her own heart before picking the child up. As she headed for the bed, the boy in her arms, he mumbled out something. She stopped and focused fully on his voice and heard his words. He snuggled close to her chest, seeking her warmth. "Brother." He muttered. Persephone wanted to laugh as he called her by the name, but stopped as he said something else. "I love you."
She was shocked. She sat the boy down on the bed, pulling up the blankets to his chin and watching him stir in his sleep. She stepped back and sat in the chair he had just been in, her eyes wide. Stunned. How long...? How long had it been since she had heard anything remotely similar to this boys words? Pained tears streamed down her face as she put her head in her hands. He didn't fear her.
Zaibach had hooked her by accident, gaining her loyalty by the words of a child.
GoldenEagle
Author's note: I'll make a pathetic attempt to correct my mistakes in the last chapter through this one. Make sure to read prologue, chapter one, and chapter two before reading this. My computer just reset when I was almost done with this installment, so I'm slightly pissed. Anywho...
Chapter Three
Queto put up with the small boy's rantings about not being able to stay in the false form of him older self. Queto had heard of the boy through prophesy around the time of the girl's misfortune. It had been no surprise to him when the child had become part of Zaibach's growing empire, seemingly appearing out of no where. Though just a child, he had the hate planted into him, and with the training that he was receiving, it was no doubt that he would rise high in the empire. Yet, still, the boy had been too young, and small, to be intimidating to the girl, so Queto granted him a short vision of himself as someone older. Now the child was complaining about not having the older body of moments before.
"Why can't I?" He wailed.
"It is a trick of the mystic moon. Plus, you will grow into that form." Queto said impatiently as he picked up the unconscious girl, a large knot and bruise forming on her forehead.
Dilandau looked at the girl curiously, his eight year old eyes wide with taking in the girl. He then stuck out his lower lip as he noticed his new toy in such a vulnerable state. "I thought you said she was special. She doesn't look at all threatening to me."
Queto smiled slightly at the child's lack of experience. "We haven't taught her to master herself yet."
**********
Persephone stirred slightly on a soft, velvety material. "Mmm..." She let out a low moan, her head throbbing with a pain she had never known before. "Why's it so cold?" Her words slurred together, making note of her thoughts that someone in the dorm should have turned the heater on and that she should have closed the window...
But she had gone outside where everyone stared, and there was the girl, and then- Persephone bolted up as she remembered her capture, but she cried out as the pain in her head exploded, and she fell back down onto the bed. She opened her eyes, and far above, maybe twenty feet, she looked through the ceiling, which was made of glass. Two moons shown down, casting an eerie light into the dark room. One moon looked peculiarly familiar...
The lights to the room erupted suddenly, and Persephone squinted her eyes. She sat up and struggled with the chains on her wrists and ankles momentarily before looking up across the great room. A child stood there, two guards at either side of him. He looked vaguely familiar, but-
Her eyes widened as she recognized him as the boy who had captured her, but, younger? He smiled at her reaction. "I see you're awake. I'll have some clothes sent down to you, and then you'll be led up to the conference chamber. There I will introduce you to your new master." Persephone felt like spitting at the boy, but couldn't, a strange intimidation passing over her from the boy's age.
Persephone sighed, looking around. Where the hell was she? Perhaps she had been taken to be held for ransom and was now in some strange building. Not that anyone would ever come for her... A cold shiver ran up her spine. She glanced up again and studied the moons. The moons. Two moons. One was white, illuminating and reflecting. The other was blue and green, as if... Persephone gasped. Earth? Her earth? "Where am I?!" Persephone wailed out as fearful tears fell across her face.
"You are on Gaea." A voice said as a small, heavy woman came in, carrying a package. "Over Corden's land, to be more specific."
"Gaea?" Persephone muttered, glancing back at the two moons above her.
"Here, let me get those chains off of you. I don't understand why a person would put chains on such a modest looking girl." The woman said as she unshackled Persephone. "I'm Zenla."
"I'm Persephone," she said quietly as she rubbed her wrists and ankles. She looked oddly up at the woman. "Why am I here?"
The woman chuckled warmly as the guards closed the door behind her, one standing on the outside, one still on the inside. "'Twas fate, child. Everything is of fate. But, if you wonder why Queto was interested in you, I am unsure."
Persephone sighed and eased herself off the bed, but almost fell, her limbs cramping from what she had figured out must have been a very long rest. Persephone thought her calmness was a little odd. She felt as if this was quite normal, being kidnapped and traveling to other planets. Perhaps that is the way she deals with shock. Who knows?
"How long have I been asleep?" Persephone mumbled as the woman handed her the package. She opened it slowly, as if something dangerous hid within it. But what met her eyes made her release a slow, controlled breath. A long, elegant dress made of emerald green and blue feathers shone up at her.
"You've been out for a couple of days, milady." The older woman came and looked at the dress. "It is made from peacock feathers. You know of peacock's, do you not? They are from your moon, afterall."
"They don't have peacocks here?" Persephone asked, stunned. A new respect washed over her for the dress.
"Oh, no, no, my dear. Whoever brought you such a dress went to great lengths to do so. It is priceless."
"Oh." Persephone said, speechless. "I can't possibly wear this!" She hissed out suddenly, dropping the dress onto the bed. Priceless dress? On her? She wanted to laugh out loud in complete disbelief. She didn't even deserve one thread off the dress!
"Child, you must!"
"You're very kind, but-"
"No," Zenla interupted. "I mean you must. If Lord Dornkirk wishes to see you in the dress, you must be in it. If you wish to survive in the Zaibach empire, you must follow Dornkirk's wishes." Zenla's voice had grown less kind and took on the tone of a threat. Persephone took a step back, stunned, but realized she had nowhere to go. "Now get dressed, child." The voice was normal again, full of kindness.
Persephone glanced nervously at the guard as she picked up the dress. Zenla didn't seem to notice. "Um... Excuse me?" Both Zenla and the guard looked up at her when she said this. "Could the... um... guard please turn around or something?"
They both stared blankly at her before the guard went back to his usual position, ignoring her request. "He must watch you at all times." Persephone frowned at the woman. What's up with them, she thought, shaking her head and trying to hide the redness that crossed her face because of her shame. It's not like I'm going to attack them!
"My gods, child! What happened to your back!" Zenla yelped out as her shirt came off. Persephone threw on the dress quickly, trying to hide the one thing she wished no one to ever see. Embarrassment and more shame engulfed her and tears stung her eyes. The scars from her broken childhood blazed across her back, where she had been burnt in the fire worst. Persephone wiped away her tears angrily, before turning around, her face cold and expressionless. The servant knew not to push for any more answers. "Here, child, let me do your hair and then we can be off, hm?" She said quietly, more out of fear than sympathy now.
Go ahead, fear me, Persephone mused. Fear me.
***********
Persephone walked where the conference would be held on delicate, silk-materialed slippers. She was the only one in such garb and she felt out of place as people stared. They always stared. As she entered the cold, metallic room, she held her head high. But her mask of self confidence faltered as the doors shut behind her and everything went black. Then, a strange, flickering light filled the room and something like a movie projection covered the wall she was facing. An old man, his white hair slightly curly, his face covered with a beard and mustache looked back at her. Almost as if he really could see her...
"Is that the girl?" He asked. The child came out of a dark corner, unnoticed by Persephone until then.
"Yes, Lord Dornkirk. This is the girl." His voice sounded so strange, so cold and professional for such a small child.
"Step forward." Persephone hesitated, her mind reeling. But, after a pause of a few seconds, she moved forward shakily and silently, her arms held down stiffly by her side. She stared at the ground before looking up. The man seemed to be studying her. "What is your name, child?"
"Per-Persephone, Lord." She said, remembering the title that had been used on him.
"Hmm... Persephone. You begin training tomorrow." With that, that projection disappeared, leaving the room eerily dark.
The lights snapped on. "You may go back to your room." The man which had aided the child in her capture said.
"Tha-That's it? I got dressed up and everything just to have a thirty second talk with a projection?"
"We'll send you some food." The man said, ignoring her question. Persephone gaped at him before storming off.
As she exited the room, she watched the child do the same. He yawned largely and rubbed his ruby-red eyes. He met her gaze and gave a small, childish smile. Persephone was surprised, this being the first sign of a child nature in the boy.
As Persephone entered her room, she realized that the boy had followed her. "Stay outside." He said to the guards before they shut the doors. The boy then went to a large chair and sat down. "I guess you're wondering why you're here, hm?" His voice had picked up a mocking tone and Persephone sighed patiently.
"Yeah, slightly." She muttered.
"We, meaning the Zaibach empire, have a large interest in you, Persephone of the Mystic Moon." He said, smiling that strange, intelligent smile.
"I know what the Zaibach empire is, slightly, but who are you?" She asked, looking at the boy as she let her waist length, curly red hair down. It wooshed and dangled, the air picking it up and making it dance.
"I am Dilandau, Lord Dornkirk's chosen." He said with pride.
"Oh, really." She muttered, not really paying attention as she pulled off her slippers, slightly remembering that he had introduced himself before. There was no reply and she could feel the boy's gaze on her. Silence issued for a few moments before Persephone began to hum a tune she could remember from somewhere, on a world far away. A few minutes passed as she got her bed ready to sleep in when she turned around.
The white haired boy sat in the chair, his head tilted over, his eyes closed, his breathing deep. A strange feeling passed over Persephone as she walked over to him. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts and cursed herself for her own heart before picking the child up. As she headed for the bed, the boy in her arms, he mumbled out something. She stopped and focused fully on his voice and heard his words. He snuggled close to her chest, seeking her warmth. "Brother." He muttered. Persephone wanted to laugh as he called her by the name, but stopped as he said something else. "I love you."
She was shocked. She sat the boy down on the bed, pulling up the blankets to his chin and watching him stir in his sleep. She stepped back and sat in the chair he had just been in, her eyes wide. Stunned. How long...? How long had it been since she had heard anything remotely similar to this boys words? Pained tears streamed down her face as she put her head in her hands. He didn't fear her.
Zaibach had hooked her by accident, gaining her loyalty by the words of a child.