D
Chapter Three
Vione, infirmary
"Huh? Where...where am I?" The girl cried out. She was confused and scared. She had no idea where she was or why she was there. The girl didn't even remember her own name for that matter.
"You're awake then?" Said a voice to her left. She turned her head and looked at the tall boy that had crept up to her. He had silver-grey hair with midnight blue streaks extending to the tips of his bangs that fell over; and almost covered garnet--coloured eyes that shone, even in the darkness of the small room they were in. His clothing--though finely tailored and mended with great care--were well worn. he gave her a weak smile and started to walk away.
The girl stretched out her hand and took his. "Wait! Um, what's your name?" He looked startled that a girl would stop him like that.
"Dak. Dak Gallia."
"Oh, I'm...I'm," she stopped to think a bit. Who was she? "Calliean Kalleas," she blushed slightly as he gave her a bigger smile. He turned to leave again. And again the girl stopped him. "Dak?"
"Hmm?"
"I have to leave. Now." he whirled around. The firelight made the girl's features eerie. She looked so scared. "Help me Dak." There was something strange about her.
"Why?" He tried to be nonchalant to the girl's pleading green eyes but they burned holes into him. "Why should I disobey orders and help you?" She didn't answer. Her eyes burned even more now and Dak felt himself give in to her. "Why do you need to go?"
"My father. He's ill. I need to go to him...I can't get there myself." Dak felt his heart being pulled two separate ways; one told him to follow orders, the other told him to help this scared, innocent girl. He shook his head violently as he realized what she was doing to him.
"Draconian," he murmured. The girl stopped dead. She dropped Dak's hand and glared at him, and evil glint to her emerald eyes. "You Draconian bitch! You tried to manipulate my thoughts! DILA--" The last thing Dak saw was Calliean's long black skirts floating out the door before he passed out cold.
****
"Dak? Dak--hello? Are you Ok buddy?" Gatti leaned over his friend, who looked a little green in the face. Dak's eyes slowly opened and he looked up at the ceiling. "What happened? Where did the girl go Dak?" His face was so desolate...there was no emotion there. Gatti involuntarily shivered.
"To go to her father..." Dak's face twisted in pain. His throat was black and blue and a drop of blood trickled down his bare chest. "Can I have my shirt?" Gatti tossed the soft purple undershirt to Dak who carefully slipped it over his head. "My throat..."
"Shhhh, sorry, I shouldn't have let you talk in the first place. That girl...she did a shit load of damage to you friend...your throat is bruised, some of the stuff in there is broken or whatever..." he lowered his voice, meaning to talk only to himself, "just like Migel..." Dak heard him.
"Migel? He was strangled?" Dak asked quietly. Gatti gave him a 'don't go there' glare, but it was no use. "How did it happen?" The boy asked in a scratchy voice. Gatti looked at the floor, then back at Dak.
'It wouldn't hurt...he deserves to know why he's here...but, God! Why does it have to be me that tells him?' "Migel was strangled to death." Gatti took a deep, shaky breath. "By a Doppleganger named Zonghi..." he went on with the story. Dak looked appalled when Gatti finished the tale. "Any other questions?" Gatti asked a bit sarcastically. Dak shook his head and turned over on the bed he was lying on to face the wall. Gatti left the boy to himself.
****
Woods skirting Palas, Asturia
Calliean had been traveling north for the past two hours. She wondered if those Ryuugekitai had followed her, or had even started looking for her yet. Though she felt bad about it, the damage she had caused the boy; Dak Gallia, had been critical in her escape. She had needed a diversion, and he had been perfect. She consulted a map, hooked to a length of twine that was tied around her neck and tucked into her blouse. "Hmmm, Where should I go now?" She traced a finger along the long brown line that symbolized the road she had currently been following. "Palas? In Asturia little map? Are you sure?" The wind ruffled the corner of the piece of parchment and Calliean laughed, then clutched her side as a sharp pain shot up her back. "Yes, I suppose we should stop by there. Perhaps they'll have a medic..."
****
Calliean stood at the gates of Palas, the capital of Asturia, ruled by King Aston; took three steps forward and collapsed to the ground.