"Lady
Aileen! Come back here this instant!" A woman's cry comes from the
open door.
"Uh
uh… Not till you agree to stop calling me 'Lady Aileen' and
just call me Aylee!" The brown haired girl who had just run out of the
doorway yells back.
"I
shall agree to no such terms! Your mother would forbid it!" The Maid
yells stepping into the doorway.
"Heh."
The girl smirks, "Well then I guess I should go somewhere where people
will listen to me!" The girls brown eyes flash with mischief.
"Lady
Aileen!" The woman cries in shock, "Please start acting like a
young lady and come in the house!"
"Nope!
Nothin doin…" The girl Shakes her head, turns around, and runs away
from the mansion.
"Lady
Aileen!" The woman yells after her. "Oh dear. The mistress will not
be very pleased." She turns and retreats back into the mansion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The
Wheels of Destiny are starting to turn once again," Says a woman standing
near an open window of her atelier.
The
boy standing across the room looks at her, "What's that supposed to
mean, Lady Leknaat?" He says and
tucks his dirty blond hair behind his ear.
"The
108 Stars are starting to gather." Leknaat tells her apprentice, "You will soon be needed
again Luc."
"Oh
perfect," The boy says sarcastically rolling his eyes. He walks across
the marble floor to Leknaat's side.
"Who is it this time?"
"A
person about the age of 17. Quite a rebel. Ran away from home just because she
didn't like being called 'Lady Aileen'" Leknaat says to the boy and pulls the hood of her robe over her
long black hair.
"Wait
a second!" Luc exclaims looking at his master, "Are you trying to
tell me the leader of the Stars of Destiny is a girl this time?"
"Yes,"
Leknaat says simply,
"But it's not time for us to approach yet." She turns and
walks down the stairs to one of the lower levels leaving Luc staring after her.
He
turns to the window, "A girl huh…" He shakes his head and
looks up at the stars, "I just hope she's up to the
task…" He turns around and runs after Leknaat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aylee
sighs and slumps back against the wall of the town Sanro. It had been two whole
days since she had run away, and dress she was wearing was in tatters. Not that
she liked wearing the dress anyway. She closes her eyes from lack of energy and
next thing she knows someone is shaking her awake.
"Mmmm…"
She mutters opening her eyes and blinks for a few seconds. Then she looks at
the person who woke her up. He has dark brown hair and is rather big.
The
bear like man grins and gets to his feet. "Are you alright?" He
asks her. She nods. "Good. Can you get up?" she nods again and gets
to her feet. He laughs and she just stares at him with wide eyes.
"Hey
Victor!" A voice comes from behind them. "Who's this?"
Says a man coming up next to them. He looked like he was in his late 20's
and he wore a blue bandana and a blue cape.
"I
don't know Flik. I found her sleeping outside the city gates." The
man called Victor says.
"Aylee
looks up a the sky and notices it's starting to get dark. She must have
been asleep for hours! She looks back at the two men, who were now looking at
her.
"Can
you speak?" Victor asks.
"Obviously."
Aylee replies.
"Hmmm…"
Victor says, "She's got an attitude…"
Aylee
glares at him.
Flik
laughs, "She doesn't seem to like you much Victor!"
"Mmmm…"
Aylee says and closes her eyes with a cross look on her face.
"Doesn't
look like she's to pleased with you either Flik." Victor retorts.
"If
you really care, I'm not really in the mood to put up with either of
you…" Aylee says crossly. Victor laughs.
"Figures…"
Aylee says and leans against the wall again.
"Where're
you from?" Flik asks.
"None
of your business." Aylee replies.
"Hmph,"
Victor says, "She reminds me of someone…" He turns toward the
town.
"What
do you mean?" Flik asks him.
"I'll
tell you later. For now lets get a room at the inn…" He says and
yawns. Then he turns toward Aylee, "You can come too… We'll
get you a separate room if you want."
"Fine,
whatever. Just as long as I don't have to pay…" Aylee says
and they walk towards the inn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How
long is finding her going to take you! Oh wait, I forgot you and your whole
team are idiots!" A dark brown haired lady was yelling. Standing next to
her, or rather kneeling, was the chief of police.
"W-We
may have a lead mistress…" The man says.
The
woman paces back and forth across the room long enough to make the chief very
nervous. She stops in front of him. "Fine, go then and find my
daughter!" The woman yells at him. "And on your way out tell that
maid to get up here!"
"Y-Yes
Mistress!" the man says very relieved… He hurries out of the room
as fast as he possibly could.
"If
they don't find her fast enough my plans will be ruined!" She
mutters under her breath and resumes pacing back and forth. Soon she hears
someone knocking faintly on her door. "Come in, come in!" She says
impatiently.
The
door opens and the woman Aylee was talking to before she left the Mansion comes
in. "Y-Y-You wanted to s-s-see me mistress?" She says quietly.
"Why
do you people always stutter around me? Oh well…" The woman
dismisses the comment with a wave of her hand, "Tell ma why exactly you
let my daughter leave the mansion in the first place…"
"I-I-I'm
sorry mistress. I-It's just she ran off so fast!" The maid says
hurriedly.
"And
you decided not to run after her?" The older woman says to her servant.
She walks over to the window behind her and parts the curtain with her hands.
"B-B-But
I…"
"But
you what?" The woman asks. She lets the curtain fall back into place.
"What did you do Lisibeth? Nothing. You just stood there and watched my
daughter, Aileen, run off to who knows where! I believe that deserves
punishment! Neglecting your job after all…" Some guards come into
the room. "Arrest her." The woman says and points to Lisibeth.
"P-P-Please!
Mistress! I-I-I'm sorry! Please mistress!" Lisibeth cries as
she's pulled from the room.
"That
takes care of her…" The woman says and picks up a peach of her
table and bites into it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Footfalls
echoed through the empty, winding stairway of Leknaat's tower. Luc looked up
the moment they began, forest-colored eyes flashing. He began to stand, but
Leknaat stopped him with a simple command.
"It
appears my guests have arrived," she mused quietly.
Soon,
the voices of the visitors could be heard, echoing through the structure.
"Why
on Eden does this place have so many stairs?" came a musical voice with a
lilting accent that was almost musical. "Geez, I'll bet the castle doesn't
have *half* as much of 'em as this place! I have half the mind to--"
"But
you're not going to," a second voice interrupted. "Fold your wings
in, Azrael."
"Pfft!
We could've smoked these stairs in seconds. Why didn't I think of this
before?"
"Azrael--
Azrael!"
"Kids,"
a third voice chimed in, amused. "Never listen to their younger brothers.
Come on, Michael, let's go. He had the right idea."
"This
is not Eden; the buildings were not built to allow flying. I am *not* going to
put myself in any danger flying in this enclosed space!"
Teasingly:
"I'll glomp you and carry you up. One way or another, we're both taking
the shortcut up. Now, listen to your older brother and let's go."
"Gabriel,
for the last-- H-hey! Stop it! Gabriel!"
A
figure clothed in white alighted at the head of the stairs, snow white wings
flared around him. It was a young man--a boy, really--who couldn't be older
than fifteen. His pale face was flushed, gold-flecked silver eyes shining as
his immaculate feathers folded around him in a sort of cloak. His clothes were
a myriad of colors, the combination one it seemed only he could pull off.
Two
more youths came moments later, one in the other's arms, looking rather
undignified in the position, furious and struggling to free himself. The three
looked exactly alike, but for their hairstyles--the first had feathers braided
into the thin plaits strewn among his silver tresses; the other one who was
standing had his hair pulled back neatly in one braid, while the boy in his
arms had his hair completely unbound.
Silver
eyes flared into a bright gold suddenly. "Gabriel Silberwickeln
Shirotsuya, unhand me *at once*!"
The
youth was cheerfully miffed as he obeyed, folding his wings in a similar
fashion to the first young man. "That's what you get for not listening to
your elders, Michael." Then he stepped forward and gave a low, sweeping
bow to Leknaat and her apprentice. "My Lady Leknaat, we have made haste
from our world Eden to your call. How is it that we may aid you?"
The
woman smiled. "Gabriel Silberwickeln, Azrael Todesengel, and Michael
Shoenleicht Shirotsuya. I bid you three welcome." She gestured to Luc, who
nodded acknowledgement, forest green eyes watching them coolly. "This is
Luc, my apprentice. Luc, these three are your charges. You are to travel with
them to she who shall gather the Stars of Destiny together."
Gabriel
grinned at him and patted Michael's head in response to something that seemed
to pass silently between them. Azrael gave a sultry smile, which caused Luc to
make a mental note to tread lightly around the playboy. The youngest triplet
was too busy glaring daggers at Gabriel to make a response.
Luc
sighed inwardly. 'This is going to be quite the experience...'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aylee
followed the men reluctantly. What other choice did she have. Certainly
sleeping in the dirt covered streets ravished by rats and other fowl creatures
couldn't do her much good. She said nothing.
"So..."
said Victor throwing a look over his shoulder at aylee "You planning to
tell us anything at all about yourself, little missy?"
"No"
she answered resentfully "And do not call me 'little missy'."
"C'mon
Vic, y'ain't gonna get nothin' outta this one i'm tellin' ya. She's hard as
stone."
"Stone!
Ah... thats just terrible Flik. Have a heart. She's more like a, like a, a
walnut if yaz ask me. Hard on the outside. But y'know what, if ya work at it
for long enough you'll get to the good stuff on the inside." Victor said
with a smile.
"Ya
i'z s'pose" Flik replied with a quizzical glance at the Aylee.
"Well
now. At least give us a name, eh?" added Victor with a somewhat false
pleading look.
"Ah...
Fine if I must. Call me Aylee if you need call me anything."
"Well
i think that'll work just ducky, don'tcha think, Flik?" Flik nodded. They
finally approached a somewhat rundown looking tavern, with two stories, the
second obviously for the inn.
They
entered the building only to be surrounded by the dirtiest, roudiest bunch of
men aylee had ever seen. They were drunk, rude, and smelled highly of tobacco
smoke which loomed in a thick fog in the enclosed little room.
They
quickened pace and went to the back of the room to where a small mousy look man
sat somewhat unstably behind a desk littered with papers and shooter glasses.
"A
room for the young lady if y'don't mind sir" asked Victor.
"A
room! Well i must say we have enough of them don't we fellas!" he ended
this outburst wiht a loud hiccup and a chuckle to himself. "And for such a
pretty little thing I think we should just let her go right on up for FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"
The three of them covered their ears as the small man screamed and spun madly
on his stool.
Once
the man had found the room key after at least 15 minutes of searching, telling
stories and hiccupping, they made there way up a flight of stairs.
"Now
if yaz need anything just come tell me and ole Vic alright?" Flik smiled
his blue eyes dancing with a parents warmth. "Goodnight, y'hear. We'll be
just across the hall if y'need us." He and Victor exitted her room and
closed the door.
Aylee
settled down to sleep only to be woken drenched in cold sweat and breathing
hard. What had that dream been about? A man, something about... stars? He had
said something. He wanted her dead! she didn't know.
She
looked to the clock on the wall. According to it it was 5:42am. She went around
the room gathering soap shampoo towels coffee and what not. Who knows when
she'd need it. With that she opened the door quietly took one last glance at
Victor and Fliks room and walked down the stairs. The small mousy man was asleep
(or more likely passed out) on his desk and she made sure not to wake him. She
went out of the door and into the dimly lit street.
She
walked down the empty streets. She didn't know where she was headed. A cold
hand landed on her shoulder and she spun around quickly.
"Hey,
where y'think you're going?" said a girl who couldn't be any older than
aylee. Her gray eyes shone with excitement and adventure and her red brown
hair, tied back in a ponytail, adorned by braids and beads, swung happily
behind her head. Her clothes however looked to be in worse condition than
Aylee's.
"Whats
it to you?"
"Well
I ain't ever seen you around these parts ever. I know everyone who walks these
streets. I've lived on them all my life. I'm Saiyuki. Nice to meet you."
She smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luc
glances at the three angels walking behind him. Then shifts his attention back
to the road. Why did Leknaat have to stick me with them? He asks himself. He
sighs and walks slightly faster.
Behind
him the three angels are arguing…
"I
doubt it… If that were true why would we be here?" Says Azrael,
"I mean if she really didn't…"
"Well
it is…" Gabriel tells his brother, "Why do you think she put
him in charge of us?" He motions to Luc.
"How
can you tell?" Azrael asks.
"Simple…
did you see the look on her face when she talked to us? I mean if you trust a
person you don't look at them like that…" Gabriel tells him.
"Well I think Leknaat trusts us completely…" Michael says.
"And
why, may I ask, is that?" Gabriel says.
"Well
did you see her when she mentioned we were to be traveling with her apprentice?
You could tell she thinks highly of him… And I doubt she would let us
come with him if she didn't trust us…" Michael replies.
"In
my opinion, he's not too happy that she stuck us with him…"
Azrael says. "I mean look at him! He looks back here about every ten
minutes and he looks rather annoyed…"
"True…"
Gabriel says. "Although I don't think he really likes anyone except Lady
Leknaat…"
Michael
glances at Gabriel, "Why's that?"
"Because
he's just not the type to make friends easily… And have you noticed
his attitude?" Gabriel answers. "Anyway, we can't forget our
orders…"
Azrael
sighs, "How much longer?" He asks.
"About
twenty more minutes for me… I don't see why she wants him to do
this alone…" Gabriel replies.
"Dunno…"
Michael says.
Luc
glances back at them again. I wonder what's so interesting that a
conversation could go on that long! He thinks and shrugs. Then he turns his
attention back to the road. I also don't see why I couldn't just
Orb us there… It would have been much faster… those three really
get on my nerves… Well… the youngest seems okay but his brothers!
What idiots! I wonder what Leknaat had to say to them before we left… Oh
well… must not be too important… And why did she tell me that that
girl isn't going to give me her real name? Now that's odd… he sighs and looks at
the angels again. They were arguing again.
"I
don't see why I have to!" Michael complains.
"Because
I said!" replies Gabriel, "Not like you have a choice anyway. They
were orders…"
"Yeah…
For some reason Lady Leknaat wants him to meet this girl on his own. Although I
don't see the logic in it myself, but… Well orders are
orders…" Azrael says.
"Well
fine, but I wanted to meet this girl…" Michael replies.
"You
will! Just
not now…" Gabriel tells his youngest brother.
"Fine…"
Michael mutters…
"Anyway
it's time for me to leave…." Gabriel says. "I'll
see you two later alright? Well by then…" Gabriel stops walking and
walks away into the trees…
"Must
he be so dramatic about it?" Michael says.
"You
know how Gabriel acts… He tries to show off…" Azrael sighs,
"But who he has to show off to is beyond me…"
"So
how long to you leave?" Michael asks.
"About
10 minutes…" Azrael sighs. "We're nearing the
city…"
"Oh…"
Michael looks at the ground. Why do we have to leave? What is it Leknaat
wants her apprentice to do? He asks himself. He sighs and looks up again.
Luc
looks back at them and notices that Gabriel is gone. "Hey…"
He says stopping. "Where'd your bother go?" "Azrael
looks at him. "I don't know… I'll go find
him…" He says. "He looks at Michael "Okay so
we're gonna be ahead of schedule… so what!" He mutters and
then flies off.
"I
won't ask…" Luc says and continues walking… Michael
catches up with him. "What?" Luc asks.
"Nothing…"
Michael shakes his head. Luc sighs and rolls his eyes. About twenty minutes
later, Luc looks behind them. "They're still not back
yet…" He says.
Michael
sighs, figuring it's about time for him to leave. "I'll go
find them…" He says, "Knowing them, they're probably at
some bar somewhere…" He sighs.
Luc
looks suspiciously at him. "Well alright but hurry up…"
Michael
nods and flies off to, supposedly, find his brothers. "Why do I have a
feeling Leknaat put them up to this?" Luc asks himself. He yawns and
looks at the road ahead. A town is coming into view. It seems somewhat small,
but probably isn't. Mountains hide most of the town… Luc sighs and
starts to walks quickly to be able to reach it before nightfall.
Soon
he reaches the town. He stares at it. Oh gee… It just had to be here
didn't it? He thinks. He sighs and walks sullenly inside…
