Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.

Author notes: I am so sorry it took me so long to get this out. I try to have a chapter out every Friday but I have been so busy lately I just didn't have time. I also promised a longer chapter and I keep my promises, so here it is hope its ok it was a little rushed.

Chapter Four

"What's the matter?" Allen started his concern growing "Has something happen…happened to Celena?" he asked drawing closer. "I can't lose her too," he added to himself. Fear rising in his heart at the thought of losing everyone he holds dear flooded his mind "What does Alizon have to do with this?" his voice inadvertently rising in anger. Causing Van to place himself between the bed and Allen.

Placing her hand on Van's arm she began slowly "I don't know if anything has happened to Celena. I just know we need to go that monastery and now! That is all I can say for sure." she insisted. Allen stared into her eyes the scared, befuddled yet determined look he saw there told him she was leaving something out. What he knew without doubt he would find out soon enough. With a nod he turned to leave "I will be waiting at the Crusade whenever you're ready" he stated leaving the room.

On the Crusade…

"That's it ahead Allen" Van stated pointing toward a clearing they were slowly approaching.

As they drew closer to the clearing a strange feeling came over Hitomi. "I have a bad feeling about this" Hitomi sighed as she held onto Van's arm.

Van turned to look at his beloved. She had changed into a blue and white skirt and shirt outfit that slightly resembled her school uniform. It always amazed him how beautiful she looked even when scared as she was now. He held her closer to him "Is this the place in your vision Hitomi?" he asked softly lifting her chin to face him

"Yes" she responded in a whisper.

As they drew closer to the clearing they could see signs of fire on the gate. "Gaddes take us down!" Allen ordered his tone loud and concerned. "Yes Commander" Gaddes replied as he barked orders to the men below. Hitomi looked out the windows of the Crusade. A sense of dread surrounded Hitomi the closer they got the worse the scene before them became. The Crusade landed just beyond the gates to the monastery. The group filed out one by one lead by Allen they approached the gates that stood slightly ajar.

Entering the monastery "Van?" Hitomi gasped at the sight before them. "We are too late." She responded to the air as she shuddered at the grisly sight before her. The entire monastery lay in ruins every building destroyed. She could see the charred remains of the monks only partially covered by debris. There bodies recently burned for smoke still rose from them giving off a smell that made her stomach turn. She turned hiding her face in Van's chest. "Not again" she whimpered into his shirt "This is horrible" she sobbed as tears escaped her eyes.

"What…what happened here? Who would attack a monastery? Why?" Van asked in confusion lowering his eyes slightly as he held Hitomi close. "Hitomi, stay here" he ordered. "I have to look for survivors if we are going to get answers for what happened here." He concluded. Receiving a nod from Hitomi he headed toward the remains of the monastery.

They began the search for survivors. Allen searches frantically all the will feeling he had lost his only remaining family. His thoughts became grim as he passed body after lifeless body. Until.

"Over here!" he heard Gaddes shout pulling him from his distrait thoughts.

The group ran to Gaddes hoping he had found Celena alive and well. The group reached his location quickly. He huddled over a small form. "Celena?" Allen asked immediately as he approached in a run.

"No it's not Celena" Gaddes stated slowly as everyone surrounded him. Allen froze with a look of deep disappointment evident in his strong features. He looked down to see the person Gaddes had found that was not his sister. In his arms he held a small older woman with silver brown hair. Her clothes resembled those of a healer even in their tattered condition.

"What happened to Celena?" Allen asked hastily desperately needing to know she was not among the charred corpses. The woman's eyes grew large at the question. As if some part of the question scared her to her very soul. Her bottom lip began to quiver as she attempted to respond.

"She did this" her response came out in a low gasp. " She did this" she repeated her voice rising. She and her demon child!" she screamed the last part before her life left her and she fell limp in Gaddes's arms.

Allen's eyes furrowed as his anger grew at an alarming rate. "What the hell was she talking about, Celena didn't have a child. She couldn't have" his thought searching for an ounce of reason. Something anything to explain the last words the women uttered. "She has only been gone a month it's not possible" he pondered looking toward Hitomi who was slowly approaching the group. He followed her expressions when the woman came into view. The look of surprised recognition covered her face like a shroud. At that point he knew he had to know was what she said true. He knew Hitomi held the answers, which he was going to get right now. He turned to face her when she confirmed his idea in one phrase.

Hitomi's hands came up covering her mouth in surprise. On closer inspection to her dismay she recognized her. "She's the woman form my vision" she thought out loud causing all eyes to turn to her. She regretted her statement the instant it escaped her lips. The look in Allen's eyes told her she would have to tell him everything she saw in her vision even though she new it would hurt him to hear it. Slowly she told her vision from beginning to end never pausing even as she heard Allen's sharp intake of breath at the mention of the birth of Celena's child. The baby boy she believed to be the son of Alizon, possibly even Alizon himself reincarnated. How he could have such power was terrifying in itself. "She is alive Allen" she assured him. "I know she is. He won't hurt her, he needs her." She concluded. Turning toward Van "The temple holds the answer. I know that the reason he is back and how to stop him can be discovered there." She stated with such confident that Van nodded in agreement before facing Allen.

"We will find the answers we need at the temple. We will find Celena." He stated in a serious tone that brought Allen from his thoughts to look him in the eyes.

"Yes Van, I will." He stated walking past the group toward the gate. "Are you coming?" he shot over his shoulder at Van. "We want to get to the Temple before sundown." He concluded in a gruff tone exiting the gate on his way to the Crusade.

To be continued…

Thank you to everyone for the reviews. It pushed me to get this chapter out. I know it doesn't have a lot of information, but the next chapter will define Hitomi's role in the story. Hope you like. Oh and please review I have this thing for e-mail.