Leviathan's Daughter
GoldenEagle
Author's Note: Hey, more! I've had nothing to do all day, so here we go, on with the story! Thanky for the reviews. I'm highly homonal and needed them. These following chapters are starting to focus on the mythology of my story. I kind of have a sequal already forming which will deal greatly with the legend. But, that's still a bit away. On with the story!
Chapter Twenty-Five
She was huddled against a tree, already so far from the floating fortress that it was only a dot in the sky. That is, if you could see it in the sky. It was dark, and, as Folken had promised, he had not come after her. Soon, though, Dillandau or one of the over observant soldiers would realize that she was missing. She had to get away. But where was she to go?
Persephone pulled her form up weakly, cursing herself for being such a fool. To leave so quickly after her recovery? How could she possibly escape Zaibach? Yet she had been pulled, almost unwillingly, from them. She knew that something needed to happen soon, and that it would. Fate seemed to promise her this much.
Her breath was smoke in the air around her and she sighed, her legs stiff and her stomach aching from lack of food. She had also been impulsive enough to forget to bring any water. She growled at her stupidity, before looking to the sky, her old home hanging above her, the same white moon Persephone had grown up accompanying the sphere.
"So," she said loudly and crisply into the air, holding her arms out to no one. "You lead me into the wilderness on pure faith, and now you leave me here? My dear Fate, what a manipulative bitch you've turned out to be!" She yelled out, rage boiling from her, directed at something she couldn't quite catch. She calmed herself and lowered her arms, trudging in what she hoped was the opposite direction of where she had come from.
~What an amusing creature. Perhaps I could have a little fun with you before I devour you, hm?~ Persephone spun around as the voice rumbled through her. On the outside, it was a mere rumbling that shook her ribcage, but in her head, it spoke words.
"Who's there?" She asked of the darkness, drawing her sword. From the shadows stepped a creature, both hideous and beautiful in its magnificence. Ruby scales gleamed in the two moons' light, red eyes focused on her. The creature was enormous, perhaps a few feet taller than an Elephant, but much longer, its sharply tipped tail moving gracefully from side to side. Steam continually seeped from the creature's mouth, and fog seemed to fall off of its body. It was not the same type of dragon which had attacked Folken so long ago. It was more gracefully and beautifully built, scarred yet efficient crimson wings folded against its body. One of the Ancients, her mind told her, though she had no idea what the "Ancients" were. Persephone resheathed her sword.
~Ha! A warrior with a heart, but no brains. And no balls, I see. Hm, a woman. I'm sure her blood will taste the same.~ He growled.
"You would attack me, despite the fact that I have stated my obvious wish for peace. Though a woman, I am sure I can give you a much harder fight than anyone else you have fought thus far." She hissed lowly in the back of her throat.
The dragon tilted its head and she noticed one eye held a long scar over it, showing signs of the slash which had blinded that one crimson orb. ~I have lived for thousands of years, and still survived. I may be far from home, little girl, but that means little to me.~
"I don't care how long you've lived, beast, I will end your life tonight if you push me." She snarled.
The creature looked startled. ~You can truly understand me?~ He asked, blinking.
Persephone gave the creature an odd look. "Of course."
~But... But that is *impossible*.~ The creature sniffed at her in deep, clear breaths. The fowl smelling breath blew Persephone's short hair about wildly around her. The head jerked back suddenly, its eyes widening in a strangely human look. ~No... It can't be.~ He moved his head to the side, his good eye meeting hers. Its pupil flared in a strange dance of colors.
Without Persephone's permission, her eyes lit up, the flame flashing momentarily through them in response. The dragon pulled back before it kneeled quickly, its head to the ground. ~Son... Child of mine... You've returned to me.~
**************
Folken didn't know how to feel, so he just sat, rooted before his paperwork. It could have been hours or only a few minutes that he was that way, his chest feeling empty, cold, lifeless. Someone pushed into the room. He pulled slowly up to see who it was. Dillandau and two of his men strutted in. Folken recognized one of the soldiers as being Langer, the boy he had spoken with at Corinth. "Ah, nothing like the smell of an upcoming battle, hm, Folken?" Dillandau said, mockingly, trying to get to him. "Imagine Fanalia, the dawn after the next, in flames-"
"It's a simple pick up mission. We get the Escaflowne then pull out. Not a battle." Folken said calmly, despite his turbulent spirit.
"Yes, whatever." Dillandau paused with that odd smile, but suddenly frowned, taking in the empty room, besides Folken and his work. "Where's Persephone?" He looked at his superior and noticed his pale complexion, his haunted eyes. A flash of childish panic ripped through Dillandau. "Where is she? Where the hell is she?!" He screamed.
"She left." Folken said plainly. The boy stared at him and Folken could see the conflicting emotions in his eyes.
"She left? What do you mean, she left?" Dillandau's hurt rage had made his eyes shift into that ruby red and he lifted his hand, ready to hit Folken for his treachery.
Folken caught the boy's wrist easily, a cold fire burning in his gaze. "You will never again raise your hand to me, Dillandau. You hear me?" He said coldly.
The teenager jerked away, his wrist ripped from Folken's grasp. "She left me." He hissed and moaned at the same time. "Sister left. Just like... Just like..." Folken was slightly taken back by the tortured insanity in Dilandau's eyes. "I thought... She... She hates me. She hates me!" He murmured in a mad daze.
"No, she loved you. That was the last thing she spoke of. Her love for you." Folken said quietly.
Dillandau growled before laughing. A cold, mechanical laugh. "It's no matter that she does not care for me. No matter that she's turned against me. I'll... Why, I'll just kill her!" Folken's gaze snapped up, but he didn't have a chance to say anything before Dillandau was out the door, his men following him, though Langer seemed a little reluctant.
Persephone's voice filtered through Folken's memories. '...Dilandau will kill me. I know he will. I can feel it. Maybe not today or within the next year, but in the end, it will be him.'
Chapter Twenty-Six
Leviathan, for that was the creature's name, had flown Persephone far above the land, and even farther away from the fortress. She had clinged to his scratched and scarred back, trying to avoid getting cut by its sharp scales. When they had at last landed, she was exhausted from the long flight, but also extremely thirsty. The area of woods which they had landed in was beautiful and lush and green, but there were few creatures that dare wander into the dragon's territory. There was a clear stream, moss and ferns growing at its side. She sank before it and cupped the water to her lips, drinking fully.
The dragon waited patiently behind her, sitting much like a loyal dog may, the crest on its forehead gleaming in the dim light. Persephone stood, so tired she could hardly do so, but her curiosity got the best of her. "Leviathan. I've heard that name before. I grew up in the Church of Christ. I read of a creature named Leviathan in the Bible. A creature that no man could kill or tame, which shot fire from its mouth. Are you...?'
The dragon chuckled. ~I imagine so, perhaps. I am from the Old World. I was there at its beginning. I came here when that planet died.~
Persephone looked at him strangely. "Died? But Earth is a very lush planet in many places."
~Yes, I imagine so. But the soul of it died, faded away. Sickness and disease and constant death fell upon the Old World. Gaea has not yet died.~
She glanced at him in confusion. "But, there is disease and death on Gaea, too."
Leviathan gave a heavy sigh before moving from his sitting position to a laid out position in front of her. ~Yes. Gaea is dying, just as the Old World did. If only the other Three were still alive... Both worlds would be restored.~
"I don't understand."
~You don't know the story of Atlantis?~ He asked, slightly surprised.
Persephone spoke through a yawn. "No."
~Hm. Well, in the beginning, the beginning of all things that are now and that will ever be, there was the Four. They were appointed to watch over all things. But most of all, the humans. They were the only ones that were allowed to be there for the creation, so they saw how it was done, first hand.~
"So these four, they weren't the creators? They weren't the big power? If they weren't, then who was? God?" Persephone asked, falling down beside the dragon comfortably, staring up at the stars.
A smile crossed his scaled lips. ~Yes, though he had a different name at the time. The Four were the most powerful of his creations. Seraphim of the elements. Water, wind, earth, and fire.~ At the word fire, he glanced over at her. She shivered under his gaze. ~There were other angels, as you humans call them, but of weaker form. Sent out among the humans. Though the Creator made them immortal and lacking nothing, the Four had hearts and grew fond of the humans.~
Persephone's eyes widened. "You mean-"
~The blood of the gods and man intermingled. Through this blood was born your line, and in the end, you. You are a descendent of the Four. You do not hold the immense power they had, but you do hold a power stronger than any other creature. Plus, you are the last. The last remnant of the Four.~ He said, a pinch of regret and sadness in his voiceless voice.
She had a hard time swallowing, her face pale. "You're telling me that I'm a goddess?"
~Yes.~ He said plainly. ~There were a few of the lower ranked angels who did the same. And so was born the Draconian line, far weaker than you, but still holding small pieces of their ancestry. The Four soon were called to only protect these few from the growing violence of the humans. And so rose Atlantis, the hidden city. But when the earth died, the city and her secrets started to die along with it. And that is when the Four sought refuge beyond the grasps of mankind, on a land no one could possible hope to find. They brought the humans they trusted with them, along with creatures which were fading from the Old World. And so the restless found refuge among the stars on the planet created by the Four.~
Persephone let out a shaky sigh. "Gaea."
~Yes~
Author's Note: The next section will go on with the legend and we may even see a little bit of Van&Company. Oh, and thanx soooooooo much for the reviews. It's the only thing that gets me through the day *sigh*. j/k
GoldenEagle
Author's Note: Hey, more! I've had nothing to do all day, so here we go, on with the story! Thanky for the reviews. I'm highly homonal and needed them. These following chapters are starting to focus on the mythology of my story. I kind of have a sequal already forming which will deal greatly with the legend. But, that's still a bit away. On with the story!
Chapter Twenty-Five
She was huddled against a tree, already so far from the floating fortress that it was only a dot in the sky. That is, if you could see it in the sky. It was dark, and, as Folken had promised, he had not come after her. Soon, though, Dillandau or one of the over observant soldiers would realize that she was missing. She had to get away. But where was she to go?
Persephone pulled her form up weakly, cursing herself for being such a fool. To leave so quickly after her recovery? How could she possibly escape Zaibach? Yet she had been pulled, almost unwillingly, from them. She knew that something needed to happen soon, and that it would. Fate seemed to promise her this much.
Her breath was smoke in the air around her and she sighed, her legs stiff and her stomach aching from lack of food. She had also been impulsive enough to forget to bring any water. She growled at her stupidity, before looking to the sky, her old home hanging above her, the same white moon Persephone had grown up accompanying the sphere.
"So," she said loudly and crisply into the air, holding her arms out to no one. "You lead me into the wilderness on pure faith, and now you leave me here? My dear Fate, what a manipulative bitch you've turned out to be!" She yelled out, rage boiling from her, directed at something she couldn't quite catch. She calmed herself and lowered her arms, trudging in what she hoped was the opposite direction of where she had come from.
~What an amusing creature. Perhaps I could have a little fun with you before I devour you, hm?~ Persephone spun around as the voice rumbled through her. On the outside, it was a mere rumbling that shook her ribcage, but in her head, it spoke words.
"Who's there?" She asked of the darkness, drawing her sword. From the shadows stepped a creature, both hideous and beautiful in its magnificence. Ruby scales gleamed in the two moons' light, red eyes focused on her. The creature was enormous, perhaps a few feet taller than an Elephant, but much longer, its sharply tipped tail moving gracefully from side to side. Steam continually seeped from the creature's mouth, and fog seemed to fall off of its body. It was not the same type of dragon which had attacked Folken so long ago. It was more gracefully and beautifully built, scarred yet efficient crimson wings folded against its body. One of the Ancients, her mind told her, though she had no idea what the "Ancients" were. Persephone resheathed her sword.
~Ha! A warrior with a heart, but no brains. And no balls, I see. Hm, a woman. I'm sure her blood will taste the same.~ He growled.
"You would attack me, despite the fact that I have stated my obvious wish for peace. Though a woman, I am sure I can give you a much harder fight than anyone else you have fought thus far." She hissed lowly in the back of her throat.
The dragon tilted its head and she noticed one eye held a long scar over it, showing signs of the slash which had blinded that one crimson orb. ~I have lived for thousands of years, and still survived. I may be far from home, little girl, but that means little to me.~
"I don't care how long you've lived, beast, I will end your life tonight if you push me." She snarled.
The creature looked startled. ~You can truly understand me?~ He asked, blinking.
Persephone gave the creature an odd look. "Of course."
~But... But that is *impossible*.~ The creature sniffed at her in deep, clear breaths. The fowl smelling breath blew Persephone's short hair about wildly around her. The head jerked back suddenly, its eyes widening in a strangely human look. ~No... It can't be.~ He moved his head to the side, his good eye meeting hers. Its pupil flared in a strange dance of colors.
Without Persephone's permission, her eyes lit up, the flame flashing momentarily through them in response. The dragon pulled back before it kneeled quickly, its head to the ground. ~Son... Child of mine... You've returned to me.~
**************
Folken didn't know how to feel, so he just sat, rooted before his paperwork. It could have been hours or only a few minutes that he was that way, his chest feeling empty, cold, lifeless. Someone pushed into the room. He pulled slowly up to see who it was. Dillandau and two of his men strutted in. Folken recognized one of the soldiers as being Langer, the boy he had spoken with at Corinth. "Ah, nothing like the smell of an upcoming battle, hm, Folken?" Dillandau said, mockingly, trying to get to him. "Imagine Fanalia, the dawn after the next, in flames-"
"It's a simple pick up mission. We get the Escaflowne then pull out. Not a battle." Folken said calmly, despite his turbulent spirit.
"Yes, whatever." Dillandau paused with that odd smile, but suddenly frowned, taking in the empty room, besides Folken and his work. "Where's Persephone?" He looked at his superior and noticed his pale complexion, his haunted eyes. A flash of childish panic ripped through Dillandau. "Where is she? Where the hell is she?!" He screamed.
"She left." Folken said plainly. The boy stared at him and Folken could see the conflicting emotions in his eyes.
"She left? What do you mean, she left?" Dillandau's hurt rage had made his eyes shift into that ruby red and he lifted his hand, ready to hit Folken for his treachery.
Folken caught the boy's wrist easily, a cold fire burning in his gaze. "You will never again raise your hand to me, Dillandau. You hear me?" He said coldly.
The teenager jerked away, his wrist ripped from Folken's grasp. "She left me." He hissed and moaned at the same time. "Sister left. Just like... Just like..." Folken was slightly taken back by the tortured insanity in Dilandau's eyes. "I thought... She... She hates me. She hates me!" He murmured in a mad daze.
"No, she loved you. That was the last thing she spoke of. Her love for you." Folken said quietly.
Dillandau growled before laughing. A cold, mechanical laugh. "It's no matter that she does not care for me. No matter that she's turned against me. I'll... Why, I'll just kill her!" Folken's gaze snapped up, but he didn't have a chance to say anything before Dillandau was out the door, his men following him, though Langer seemed a little reluctant.
Persephone's voice filtered through Folken's memories. '...Dilandau will kill me. I know he will. I can feel it. Maybe not today or within the next year, but in the end, it will be him.'
Chapter Twenty-Six
Leviathan, for that was the creature's name, had flown Persephone far above the land, and even farther away from the fortress. She had clinged to his scratched and scarred back, trying to avoid getting cut by its sharp scales. When they had at last landed, she was exhausted from the long flight, but also extremely thirsty. The area of woods which they had landed in was beautiful and lush and green, but there were few creatures that dare wander into the dragon's territory. There was a clear stream, moss and ferns growing at its side. She sank before it and cupped the water to her lips, drinking fully.
The dragon waited patiently behind her, sitting much like a loyal dog may, the crest on its forehead gleaming in the dim light. Persephone stood, so tired she could hardly do so, but her curiosity got the best of her. "Leviathan. I've heard that name before. I grew up in the Church of Christ. I read of a creature named Leviathan in the Bible. A creature that no man could kill or tame, which shot fire from its mouth. Are you...?'
The dragon chuckled. ~I imagine so, perhaps. I am from the Old World. I was there at its beginning. I came here when that planet died.~
Persephone looked at him strangely. "Died? But Earth is a very lush planet in many places."
~Yes, I imagine so. But the soul of it died, faded away. Sickness and disease and constant death fell upon the Old World. Gaea has not yet died.~
She glanced at him in confusion. "But, there is disease and death on Gaea, too."
Leviathan gave a heavy sigh before moving from his sitting position to a laid out position in front of her. ~Yes. Gaea is dying, just as the Old World did. If only the other Three were still alive... Both worlds would be restored.~
"I don't understand."
~You don't know the story of Atlantis?~ He asked, slightly surprised.
Persephone spoke through a yawn. "No."
~Hm. Well, in the beginning, the beginning of all things that are now and that will ever be, there was the Four. They were appointed to watch over all things. But most of all, the humans. They were the only ones that were allowed to be there for the creation, so they saw how it was done, first hand.~
"So these four, they weren't the creators? They weren't the big power? If they weren't, then who was? God?" Persephone asked, falling down beside the dragon comfortably, staring up at the stars.
A smile crossed his scaled lips. ~Yes, though he had a different name at the time. The Four were the most powerful of his creations. Seraphim of the elements. Water, wind, earth, and fire.~ At the word fire, he glanced over at her. She shivered under his gaze. ~There were other angels, as you humans call them, but of weaker form. Sent out among the humans. Though the Creator made them immortal and lacking nothing, the Four had hearts and grew fond of the humans.~
Persephone's eyes widened. "You mean-"
~The blood of the gods and man intermingled. Through this blood was born your line, and in the end, you. You are a descendent of the Four. You do not hold the immense power they had, but you do hold a power stronger than any other creature. Plus, you are the last. The last remnant of the Four.~ He said, a pinch of regret and sadness in his voiceless voice.
She had a hard time swallowing, her face pale. "You're telling me that I'm a goddess?"
~Yes.~ He said plainly. ~There were a few of the lower ranked angels who did the same. And so was born the Draconian line, far weaker than you, but still holding small pieces of their ancestry. The Four soon were called to only protect these few from the growing violence of the humans. And so rose Atlantis, the hidden city. But when the earth died, the city and her secrets started to die along with it. And that is when the Four sought refuge beyond the grasps of mankind, on a land no one could possible hope to find. They brought the humans they trusted with them, along with creatures which were fading from the Old World. And so the restless found refuge among the stars on the planet created by the Four.~
Persephone let out a shaky sigh. "Gaea."
~Yes~
Author's Note: The next section will go on with the legend and we may even see a little bit of Van&Company. Oh, and thanx soooooooo much for the reviews. It's the only thing that gets me through the day *sigh*. j/k