Leviathan's Daughter
GoldenEagle
Author's Notes: Haha! Some of you thought it was over! Like I could ever rationally end with good timing! So, please read and review!
Chapter Forty-Eight
"Persephone disappeared."
"I know. She was with us. Is she not back yet?" Allen asked as he strode onto the Schezerade, the young princess that had just spoken to him trotting to keep up.
"She was with you? I haven't seen her at all." Millerna said, her face slightly concerned and puzzled at the same time. Allen sighed, gritting his teeth. She was strong, he told himself. She'd be back by dawn.
"Where's Hitomi?" The young Fanalian king asked as he joined Allen at his side. Though his exterior was bold and cool, there was the slightest bit of fear, of longing for a loved one's touch written across his face.
"Her and Merle are in her room. Hitomi seems to be upset about something." Millerna answered. No sooner had the words left her mouth that the king increased his pace and rounded the corner heading to that room. Allen followed. "Perhaps you could clean up before seeing the girls?" The princess said, her eyes flashing over the two of them and their bloodied forms. She was passed by unheard.
The moment Van entered the room, he knew something was wrong. The two girls sat on the large bed, Merle at one end, Hitomi at another. The catgirl looked lost, as if she was unsure of what to do, while the girl from the Mystic Moon sat, her arms around her knees, her face pale, eyes wide. "Hitomi...?" Van took a hesitant step forward.
A sob could be heard and then she was flying into his arms, her head against his chest, her body trembling violently. He stood there, staring down at her back, shocked and unsure of what to do. Slowly and hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her before placing his chin on her head. "Hitomi... What's wrong?" He whispered, feeling awkward and yet comfortable at the unfamiliar feeling of her pressed against him.
"I tried to stop her, but she went! She left anyways!" Another sob broke through her. "And now... Now she's dead and everything... Gaea... The cards promised a happy end!" She cried out against his chest. "What happened to the happy ending?"
Allen's hand shot forward, gripping her arm, and he pulled her, without thought, from Van. "Who's dead? What are you talking about?" She stared up at him with glazed eyes, panting, before her legs gave out and she fell forward. The knight caught her easily before laying her down on the bed, Merle scampering out of the way.
"She's been talking about it all night." Merle murmured. "Lord Van..." She muttered, looking up at him with wide, scared eyes. "I... I don't think she is well."
He looked at her before placing his palm on Hitomi's head. It burnt with fever, her face alight with a warm flush. "She has a fever." He stated, his eyes soft.
"All of you... You need to leave." Van, Allen, and Merle turned quickly, surprised, as the young yet suddenly heavy voice reached them. Princess Millerna stood, her form bent and weary, her eyes shining in defeat.
"What are you talking about?" Allen asked, his brow furrowed.
"She has the fever. It's been popping up from all over the ship, something I've never seen before. I... I think it's highly contagious. We've spoken to neighboring countries when it first showed up, and they're experiencing it, too. It's a plague. No one... No one has made it through the night thus far..."
*****************
Amy bowed before her window seal, her hands clasped together in prayer, her eyes closed as she started to say the prayer she had learned from her mother and father. Her chubby five year old face bent in concentration as she tried to remember the words. She spoke them, unheard by anyone around, and would anyone care what the child would say among the New York streets below? I doubt so.
"Dear God, up above, God of patience, God of love. Please protect me while I sleep, until I'm yours to forever sleep. You gave us light in the day, you gave us the moon to make it okay. You made the shining, twinkling stars. You hung them up, safe and far. And if the sky fell tonight, please take me home, please make it right. Amen." Her big round eyes opened and she looked up. Her small, open mouth fell into an "o" shape as she looked above.
There, shining in the night sky, were *two* moons, one green and blue, like earth, except not quite. She blinked. It was only a dim outline, but as she watched, a veil seemed to be lifted and the extra planet shone brightly in the night sky. It seemed to overshadow the previous moon and the white, glowing orb was cast in a deep, dark color. "Mommy!" Amy cried out as she pushed herself from her knees, her bare feet scampering across the floor. And she ran into her parent's room, crying and blubbering about the two moons, and how the old one had turned red.
****************
Leviathan screamed as he flew, screamed because of the pain that pounded into him, screamed because of the emotions that filled his mass, scaled chest. He was drawn to her corpse, called out by her spirit, which no longer receded in her body. And so he flew, over accumulating clouds where tornadoes and squalls brewed, searching. Searching for her body.
**************
"You're a fool!" Dillandau screamed out as he turned and left. "If you want to stay here and rot with all these corpses, go ahead!" And then the boy was gone.
Folken sat, stunned, his eyes glazed over, her blood on his hands. He felt nothing. He felt dead. He pulled the sword from her body, slowly, as if in a dream. He slowly lowered himself to his side, his head resting in sitting blood, her blood, cold blood. Pulling her to him, hoping... Maybe, if she was by him, if she was shrouded in the heat of his body... She wouldn't be so cold... Why was she so cold...?
And he lay there, her stiffening body in his arms, his eyes wide as he tried to comprehend what was happening. Not possible. This couldn't be real. A bitter smile crossed his face as the first tears started, and then it was contorted as a sob tore through him, racking his entire body. No... Not like this... He never imagined it would end like this...
Perhaps he fell asleep, perhaps he was so emotionally torn that he forgot the time that passed, but when he became aware of his surrounding once more, the first rays of light were coming over the scene. Her form was still pressed against him, the lips white and ice cold, blood dried about her lips. He stared at her, wondering what had broken him from his reverie, when again it came. The slightest tremor. Carrion birds, vultures, crows, rose from the battle field with cries of warning. They screamed and Folken pulled away from the corpse even further, sitting up, his pale skin and hair stained with blood.
And then the actual thing hit. A shaking, quaking, no, seizuring of the ground beneath him, shaking him to the ground, destroying his senses. He looked up and caught sight of the two moons dimming in the sky, one that of the mystic moon, the other one... The other one blood red, crimson. The world tilted, and then was calm once more. He gripped the ground, his eyes wide, him having rolled farther from Persephone's body. A few moments passed where he stayed there, on his knees, frozen, before the earth pushed upward, split open. He cried out as the earth cracked and steam arose from the crevices. Without thought, he grabbed her body. If it took his life, he'd have her burried respectfully.
Fire seeped and sputtered through the cracks in the earth... No, not fire, Folken noted. Liquid, hot... magma? Volcanic activity? In this hemisphere of Gaea? The shaking stopped once more, though the lava seeped through the deep gashes in the earth. Folken caught the sound of wings, flapping, and then a hard thud as something hit the ground and made a landing. His first thoughts were of Escaflowne. Yet, why would Van come here? In search of her, perhaps?
But when he looked up, the steam and heat burning his eyes, he saw a real dragon, not of metal and machine, but of scales and blood and flame. He stumbled to his feet, her corpse behind him. He reached to draw his sword, but remembered that he had dropped it earlier, in a place that was neither remembered nor within reach. Instead he stood tall, protectively, between the beast and the remains of his love.
A noise that sounded much like a grinding of stones upon stones emitted from the dragon. Leviathan was laughing at him. Had Folken the natural ear that Persephone once had, he would have heard the noises that next came from the dragon as more than animal, but actual words. ~So, this is your lover, Daughter? He has either great courage or even greater stupidity, I can not yet tell which. Yet... He does have love for you, to protect you even after you are dead.~ The creature took in a deep breath. He could smell the instinctive fear from the man, and he could also see the look of one with bad memories on that pale face. ~So, is that how you lost your arm, boy?~ He asked, although he knew that he could not understand him. To get his point across, he rose a huge hand and tapped at Folken's mechanic arm with a long talon before the man could react. He jumped back, taken by surprise.
"I won't let you take her. She will be respected in death, not devoured and digested like some king of animal." Folken growled, taking up his stance once more.
A roar issued from Leviathan, his hot, steaming breath meeting Folken's face, whipping around his crimson stained hair. ~Eat my own flesh and blood?! Cursed creature! I should destroy you now. She is not here to protect you, murderer of my kind, weakling Zaibach bastard-~ He stopped his growling and snarling as he took in another breath, and smelt something new. Like a bird, but more... Feathers. He could smell it on the boy, a heavy scent. ~Draconian. A Draconian hybrid. Even if I wanted to kill you, the blood in you're veins is too rare to spill.~ He snarled. ~Out of my way, boy!~ His tail lashed out, knocking Folken to the side a few feet away, dangerously close to one of the deep chasms in the earth. Leviathan moved quickly and pinned him down roughly with one of his back feet, almost knocking the air from him. He hovered over her corpse, looking at her with his good eye. A glow issued from deep within him, radiating through the scales on his chest slightly in the awakening day, much as a flashlight might do through someone's cheek when on. ~It's about time we won this war of the worlds, Daughter.~ The world around Folken exploded, flame engulfed him.
Author's Note: Soooo... Is Hitomi going to die? What's up with Earth being able to see Gaea? And what the HELL is up with Leviathan?! Stay tuned for the next installment!
GoldenEagle
Author's Notes: Haha! Some of you thought it was over! Like I could ever rationally end with good timing! So, please read and review!
Chapter Forty-Eight
"Persephone disappeared."
"I know. She was with us. Is she not back yet?" Allen asked as he strode onto the Schezerade, the young princess that had just spoken to him trotting to keep up.
"She was with you? I haven't seen her at all." Millerna said, her face slightly concerned and puzzled at the same time. Allen sighed, gritting his teeth. She was strong, he told himself. She'd be back by dawn.
"Where's Hitomi?" The young Fanalian king asked as he joined Allen at his side. Though his exterior was bold and cool, there was the slightest bit of fear, of longing for a loved one's touch written across his face.
"Her and Merle are in her room. Hitomi seems to be upset about something." Millerna answered. No sooner had the words left her mouth that the king increased his pace and rounded the corner heading to that room. Allen followed. "Perhaps you could clean up before seeing the girls?" The princess said, her eyes flashing over the two of them and their bloodied forms. She was passed by unheard.
The moment Van entered the room, he knew something was wrong. The two girls sat on the large bed, Merle at one end, Hitomi at another. The catgirl looked lost, as if she was unsure of what to do, while the girl from the Mystic Moon sat, her arms around her knees, her face pale, eyes wide. "Hitomi...?" Van took a hesitant step forward.
A sob could be heard and then she was flying into his arms, her head against his chest, her body trembling violently. He stood there, staring down at her back, shocked and unsure of what to do. Slowly and hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her before placing his chin on her head. "Hitomi... What's wrong?" He whispered, feeling awkward and yet comfortable at the unfamiliar feeling of her pressed against him.
"I tried to stop her, but she went! She left anyways!" Another sob broke through her. "And now... Now she's dead and everything... Gaea... The cards promised a happy end!" She cried out against his chest. "What happened to the happy ending?"
Allen's hand shot forward, gripping her arm, and he pulled her, without thought, from Van. "Who's dead? What are you talking about?" She stared up at him with glazed eyes, panting, before her legs gave out and she fell forward. The knight caught her easily before laying her down on the bed, Merle scampering out of the way.
"She's been talking about it all night." Merle murmured. "Lord Van..." She muttered, looking up at him with wide, scared eyes. "I... I don't think she is well."
He looked at her before placing his palm on Hitomi's head. It burnt with fever, her face alight with a warm flush. "She has a fever." He stated, his eyes soft.
"All of you... You need to leave." Van, Allen, and Merle turned quickly, surprised, as the young yet suddenly heavy voice reached them. Princess Millerna stood, her form bent and weary, her eyes shining in defeat.
"What are you talking about?" Allen asked, his brow furrowed.
"She has the fever. It's been popping up from all over the ship, something I've never seen before. I... I think it's highly contagious. We've spoken to neighboring countries when it first showed up, and they're experiencing it, too. It's a plague. No one... No one has made it through the night thus far..."
*****************
Amy bowed before her window seal, her hands clasped together in prayer, her eyes closed as she started to say the prayer she had learned from her mother and father. Her chubby five year old face bent in concentration as she tried to remember the words. She spoke them, unheard by anyone around, and would anyone care what the child would say among the New York streets below? I doubt so.
"Dear God, up above, God of patience, God of love. Please protect me while I sleep, until I'm yours to forever sleep. You gave us light in the day, you gave us the moon to make it okay. You made the shining, twinkling stars. You hung them up, safe and far. And if the sky fell tonight, please take me home, please make it right. Amen." Her big round eyes opened and she looked up. Her small, open mouth fell into an "o" shape as she looked above.
There, shining in the night sky, were *two* moons, one green and blue, like earth, except not quite. She blinked. It was only a dim outline, but as she watched, a veil seemed to be lifted and the extra planet shone brightly in the night sky. It seemed to overshadow the previous moon and the white, glowing orb was cast in a deep, dark color. "Mommy!" Amy cried out as she pushed herself from her knees, her bare feet scampering across the floor. And she ran into her parent's room, crying and blubbering about the two moons, and how the old one had turned red.
****************
Leviathan screamed as he flew, screamed because of the pain that pounded into him, screamed because of the emotions that filled his mass, scaled chest. He was drawn to her corpse, called out by her spirit, which no longer receded in her body. And so he flew, over accumulating clouds where tornadoes and squalls brewed, searching. Searching for her body.
**************
"You're a fool!" Dillandau screamed out as he turned and left. "If you want to stay here and rot with all these corpses, go ahead!" And then the boy was gone.
Folken sat, stunned, his eyes glazed over, her blood on his hands. He felt nothing. He felt dead. He pulled the sword from her body, slowly, as if in a dream. He slowly lowered himself to his side, his head resting in sitting blood, her blood, cold blood. Pulling her to him, hoping... Maybe, if she was by him, if she was shrouded in the heat of his body... She wouldn't be so cold... Why was she so cold...?
And he lay there, her stiffening body in his arms, his eyes wide as he tried to comprehend what was happening. Not possible. This couldn't be real. A bitter smile crossed his face as the first tears started, and then it was contorted as a sob tore through him, racking his entire body. No... Not like this... He never imagined it would end like this...
Perhaps he fell asleep, perhaps he was so emotionally torn that he forgot the time that passed, but when he became aware of his surrounding once more, the first rays of light were coming over the scene. Her form was still pressed against him, the lips white and ice cold, blood dried about her lips. He stared at her, wondering what had broken him from his reverie, when again it came. The slightest tremor. Carrion birds, vultures, crows, rose from the battle field with cries of warning. They screamed and Folken pulled away from the corpse even further, sitting up, his pale skin and hair stained with blood.
And then the actual thing hit. A shaking, quaking, no, seizuring of the ground beneath him, shaking him to the ground, destroying his senses. He looked up and caught sight of the two moons dimming in the sky, one that of the mystic moon, the other one... The other one blood red, crimson. The world tilted, and then was calm once more. He gripped the ground, his eyes wide, him having rolled farther from Persephone's body. A few moments passed where he stayed there, on his knees, frozen, before the earth pushed upward, split open. He cried out as the earth cracked and steam arose from the crevices. Without thought, he grabbed her body. If it took his life, he'd have her burried respectfully.
Fire seeped and sputtered through the cracks in the earth... No, not fire, Folken noted. Liquid, hot... magma? Volcanic activity? In this hemisphere of Gaea? The shaking stopped once more, though the lava seeped through the deep gashes in the earth. Folken caught the sound of wings, flapping, and then a hard thud as something hit the ground and made a landing. His first thoughts were of Escaflowne. Yet, why would Van come here? In search of her, perhaps?
But when he looked up, the steam and heat burning his eyes, he saw a real dragon, not of metal and machine, but of scales and blood and flame. He stumbled to his feet, her corpse behind him. He reached to draw his sword, but remembered that he had dropped it earlier, in a place that was neither remembered nor within reach. Instead he stood tall, protectively, between the beast and the remains of his love.
A noise that sounded much like a grinding of stones upon stones emitted from the dragon. Leviathan was laughing at him. Had Folken the natural ear that Persephone once had, he would have heard the noises that next came from the dragon as more than animal, but actual words. ~So, this is your lover, Daughter? He has either great courage or even greater stupidity, I can not yet tell which. Yet... He does have love for you, to protect you even after you are dead.~ The creature took in a deep breath. He could smell the instinctive fear from the man, and he could also see the look of one with bad memories on that pale face. ~So, is that how you lost your arm, boy?~ He asked, although he knew that he could not understand him. To get his point across, he rose a huge hand and tapped at Folken's mechanic arm with a long talon before the man could react. He jumped back, taken by surprise.
"I won't let you take her. She will be respected in death, not devoured and digested like some king of animal." Folken growled, taking up his stance once more.
A roar issued from Leviathan, his hot, steaming breath meeting Folken's face, whipping around his crimson stained hair. ~Eat my own flesh and blood?! Cursed creature! I should destroy you now. She is not here to protect you, murderer of my kind, weakling Zaibach bastard-~ He stopped his growling and snarling as he took in another breath, and smelt something new. Like a bird, but more... Feathers. He could smell it on the boy, a heavy scent. ~Draconian. A Draconian hybrid. Even if I wanted to kill you, the blood in you're veins is too rare to spill.~ He snarled. ~Out of my way, boy!~ His tail lashed out, knocking Folken to the side a few feet away, dangerously close to one of the deep chasms in the earth. Leviathan moved quickly and pinned him down roughly with one of his back feet, almost knocking the air from him. He hovered over her corpse, looking at her with his good eye. A glow issued from deep within him, radiating through the scales on his chest slightly in the awakening day, much as a flashlight might do through someone's cheek when on. ~It's about time we won this war of the worlds, Daughter.~ The world around Folken exploded, flame engulfed him.
Author's Note: Soooo... Is Hitomi going to die? What's up with Earth being able to see Gaea? And what the HELL is up with Leviathan?! Stay tuned for the next installment!