Draconian Chronicles 2:
Part Three Future Visions of the Past
Darkness.
Only darkness surrounded her, it was all she knew. Hitomi saw Van across the room being beaten. She felt his pain, experienced his agony. Tears fell down her cheeks as she looked into his deep brown eyes, begging for mercy. She wanted to get loose, get free, so she could run to her true love and protect him from that which caused him so much suffering. But she couldn't. Strong arms held her back, preventing her from any action. She tried to hold it in, but it was no use.
Conflicting emotions caused her chest to begin to glow. She saw a similar light from Van's chest. The glow grew and reached the ends of the room, illuminating their captor in the far corner.
Folken.
The blood of her love, Van's own brother, smiled as the treasure inside the two captives was freed. The Rhinestone of Life was hidden in two halves, one in Van's, and the other in Hitomi's. It moved to the middle of the room where it combined into one, once again.
Folken held out a hand and the stone came to him as if pulled by an invisible force. At contact, the stone morphed into a dark purple color. One Folken planned to use in order to gain power.
Hitomi opened her mouth in horrified shock. "No! The stone!"
Then darkness made its way back into her life.
"No! The stone!" Hitomi shouted and sat up quickly.
"Shhh. You're okay. You're safe." A voice said. Hitomi turned towards the voice, and out of the shadows came a familiar cat boy. Blue hair and blue eyes, with peach skin, gave him a handsome look.
Hitomi narrowed her eyes at the figure. "What are you doing here?!" She said though gritted teeth.
The figure, Reeko, knelt besides Hitomi. "I'm sorry for putting you through so much pain, but I had no choice. They would've killed all those people." Reeko explained.
"Where am I?" Hitomi asked looking around.
"I brought you to a safe place where you will be able to recover. When Merle and I found you…"
"Where's Van?"
"He's resting besides you."
Hitomi turned and saw Van resting on the same blanket as she. "Van!" She moved closer to him and moved his head into her lap. "Oh, Van." She whispered.
"He's okay. Just unconscious. Whatever happened to…"
"Where's Merle." Hitomi interrupted.
Reeko sighed. She obviously wasn't going to forgive him, let alone trust him. "She went out to get food. She'll be back soon." He reached into his pouch and pulled out some food. Hitomi sat rigid and still, her light brown eyes never leaving his hands. Reeko held out his hand to Hitomi. "Here take it. It isn't much, but you won't starve."
Hitomi stared at Reeko for a moment, decided what she should do. Ultimately, her hand slowly came out and accepted the food. Her other hand never leaving Van's side.
She's
very protective of him. Reeko
thought. If only I had someone.
Reeko sighed. "Anyway." He said standing up. "I'll be over here if you need me." He pointed to the corner, which was illuminated by a single candle. By it were a few of Reeko's belongings.
Hitomi slowly pulled her hand in, still holding the food, and nodded. Reeko then walked back to his "camp" and laid down to rest.
Hours later, Hitomi found she still couldn't sleep. She had eaten half of the food that Reeko had given her, but saved the other half for Van, whom was still unconscious. Hitomi again tried to close her eyes and let the peaceful silence of sleep calm her worries. When she closed her eyes, though, she sensed something. Opening her eyes she tried to locate the source. Her gaze scanned the room until they fell upon the sleeping form of Reeko. Besides him, Hitomi saw, was a small brown book. Peering at it closely, Hitomi saw it possessed a faint glow.
Gently
placing Van's head down on the floor, Hitomi crawled over to where Reeko
slept. The candle still burned and the
light played across his features, giving him a youthful, innocent look. Hitomi looked at him now in a new light. His clothes were torn in several places and
his face was smudged with dirt. I shouldn't
be so hard on him. He's had a hard
life.
Hitomi reached over and carefully picked up the book. She moved back to her spot, next to Van, and slowly opened the book. The inside cover read:
To my dearest grandson,
May
this book and it's contents,
Lead
you to your destiny.
-Hishona
I thought Reeko had no family. Hitomi thought. Turning the page, Hitomi was surprised to see hand written passages by the woman Hishona.
Dearest Journal,
I
had that vision again. My grandson,
Reeko, runs into a young cat girl, about his age. Her eyes twinkle with a joyful expression. Then a large dark shadow appears and towers
over them. Reeko protects the girl, but soon the shadow grows and the girl
holds her hands over her heart. When
the shadow advances, the girl opens her hands and two white angle feathers come
out and turn into two angels. The
angles circle around the shadow and it disappears.
-Hishona
Hitomi glanced up from reading the book. What could that vision have meant? Who were the people? Was it Merle, Van and me? If so, who was the shadow? Hitomi looked down and started reading.
Dearest Journal,
I've thought
about the vision and have come to an understanding. The cat girl I saw, will lead my grandson to the angels, whom
will be able to destroy the evil that will our family and neighbors.
-Hishona
Dearest Journal,
The
evil has come, yet the girl has not. The evil is in the form of the Ziaboch Empire. My time is short, for they have begun to search each home, tearing
apart families, and indoctrinating young men into their armed forces. I fear the worst for Reeko and plan to send
him to an underground safe house. His
parents, along with me, will attempt to hold off the Ziaboch as long as we can,
for him to get away.
To
my grandson, head my vision and watch out for the cat girl, for she will bring
salvation to our people in the form of two angels. Good-bye grandson. I wish
you luck and ask one thing. Follow your
own destiny. Do not bow down to any
other force, but that of your own heart.
-Hishona
Hitomi read the last journal entry and everything fell into place. Merle brought them to Reeko, in a way, and she and Van were to rid the Ziaboch Empire from Petite Beau. Free its people from their tyranny.
But does Reeko know who we are
yet?
Hitomi's contemplation was interrupted by far off footsteps. She quickly replaced the book by Reeko's side and moved protectively in front of Van.
"Reeko?" The voice called.
Hitomi knew that voice. "Merle?"
"Hitomi!" Merle came running into the light. "You're awake!"
Hitomi smiled. "Yes. How are you?"
Before she could answer, Reeko began to stir. He slowly opened his eyes, and upon seeing Merle, smiled. "You're back."
Merle smiled. "Yep!" She took a pouch off her back and opened it up, revealing a variety of foods. "Mission accomplished."
Reeko stood up and walked over to him. "Very good. Old Man Marly?"
Merle nodded. "Never even saw me."
Reeko stroked his chin in mock thought. "Hmmm. She did something right. The end must be near."
Merle growled, dropped the food bag, and tackled him. They wrestled in the dark room, each trying to pin the other. Reeko would win, then Merle would get up and pin him. Hitomi giggled to herself, until she heard someone groan. She turned and saw Van stir and wake up. "Van!" Hitomi exclaimed and ran to his side.
Merle and Reeko froze their game, and looked over at Van.
"Lord Van!" Merle exclaimed and ran over to him. Reeko reluctantly followed, and soon all were crowded around the dark hair youth.
Van smiled as Hitomi gently stroked his hair. "How are you feeling?"
Van's smile faded as he searched for the right word. How did he feel? Detached? Separated? Different? "Incomplete." He replied.
Hitomi nodded solemnly, knowing exactly what he meant. She, too, felt incomplete, as if a part of her was missing. A void remained in her heart where the stone once was. She hung her head down in shame. "I'm sorry."
Van sat up and tipped Hitomi's chin, so she met his gaze. "It's not your fault. Don't think it is."
Hitomi shook her head. "I should've been stronger than that. Now Folken has the stone and who knows what he's planning to do with it."
Reeko frowned. "You lost me. What stone?"
Van ignored Reeko for the moment. "I can still get it back, but only with your help. Will you help me?"
Hitomi smiled. "I will. What's the plan?"
Van lightly laughed. "I don't know yet, that's the problem. We'll need Reeko to get back inside the castle…"
"What?! Back in?! It was hard enough getting you out! You want to go back?!"
Hitomi looked seriously at Reeko. "We have to. We have to get the stone back."
Merle looked at Reeko and gave him the biggest puppy eyes. "Please?"
Reeko took one look at her and sighed. "Alright. But first you have to explain all of this to me."
Van stood up and helped Hitomi up. "On the way. Let's go."
Hitomi put her hand on Van's shoulder. "Van we're both still weak. Let's eat a bit and rest to regain our strength. Then we can go and get the stone back."
Van nodded. "Alright."
Merle jumped for joy. "Yay! I'll make supper!" She ran off, grabbed the pouch of food, and started making a fire.
"Wait for me!" Reeko said chasing after her. "I'll help!"
Hitomi smiled and laid her head on Van's shoulder. "They make a cute couple don't they?"
Van nodded. "They really do."