" What am I going to do now? " Zidane quietly asked into the dark silky hair of the woman he loved with all his heart that laid unconscious in his arms.
Steiner frowned and then sheathed his sword as he walked over to the spot where Esmeralda and 'the bad man' had disappeared. The rest of the Knights of Pluto glanced around the royal chambers uneasily, looking around for anything that 'the bad man' might have left behind, but there was nothing.
Zidane pulled his face away from the scent of vanilla and peered down into the slightly pale face of Garnet. Her small pale rose lips trembled as did her chin. She looked like she was going to cry, probably cry because Zidane let her baby get kidnapped. He wouldn't blame her if she had kicked him out or something.
It was all his fault.
" It's all my fault... " Zidane whispered as he looked around before bringing his eyes down to rest on Garnet's crimson stained stomach.
That's when he stood up with her in his arms and walked over to the bed to lay her down gently, afraid of hurting her more then she already was hurting. Steiner slowly turned around from the window he glanced out of and watched his King, his friend.
" What's the matter, Sire? "
Zidane looked up at him and then looked at each face of the Knights of Pluto. He blinked a few times and then ran a hand over his face. " Stay with Dagger, Steiner... Knights. I'm going to get Dr. Tot from his room in the lower chambers. Don't worry... she'll be alright... " he assured them before he left the room in only a pair of blood soaked boxers...
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Naria glanced around the room that Khalid had locked her up in. She spotted the small window in the far corner of the room and then stood up from the chest that she had sat on after Khalid had left. Naria crossed the room in silence, making her way towards the window, crossing her fingers that the window wasn't nailed shut.
She was almost there when soft and scared sobs floated into the room from underneath the door. Naria stopped in her tracks and whirled around to peer into the darkness that consumed her room, looking for whoever was sobbing like they were.
" Hello? Where are you? Why are you crying? " she whispered lightly, making her way towards the door, her right hand outstretched in front of her feeling around in case she walked into the corner of her dresser again.
The small sobs grew louder and more persistant. Naria's hand came in contact with the cool metal of the door and she bent forward, pressing her ear to it. The sobs stopped. Almost as if silenced completely by something or someone.
" Hello? Are you still there? Speak to me! " Naria demanded as she pounded on the door, the sound echoing throughout the hallway outside the door and inside the small room she was occuping.
The door suddenly flew open and Naria was thrown back, landing on a few feet away, the small of her back connecting with the side of the metal bedframe that went all around it, and large, intense bolts of pain flying through her body. She cringed and then cried out, her hand immediately going to clutch her bruised back as someone tall and powerfully built stepped into the room, the sobs filling the room as well.
Naria grimaced and tried to sit up higher, but her back had been hit hard and she fell back against the bedframe of the bed. Khalid couldn't help but grin sardonically at the poor sight of the woman half laying and half sitting against the bedframe. In his hand was a little girl's wrist.
Naria looked at the evil, eerie shadows that played across Khalid's face and tried to back away from him, but the bedframe prevented him from doing just that. Instead, she ended up sitting up straight to welcome the small bundle that was warm and trembling.
" I... I want my daddy... " the small plea came from Naria's lap, causing her to stare down into the small heart-shaped face that peered up at her.
" E-essie?! " Naria nearly cried out in disbelief.
Esmeralda sniffled and wiped at her brown eyes, only to have another batch of fresh tears spring to the little Genome's eyes. She nodded her head vigoriously. " Y-yes! **Nessie? That you? "
Naria nodded and reached down to brush aside some strands of hair from the little girl's eyes. " Yes, babe... it's me. How'd you come to get here? "
Esmeralda began to cry again as she lifted her arms and threw them around Naria's neck, hugging her hard and holding onto her since she was the only one left there for her. Naria's arms automatically went around the little half Genome and half Summoner's slim waist and she held her just as hard.
There was a low snickering that made Naria snap her head up. She found herself staring into a pair of glowing violet eyes. She shook her head and closed her eyes as she shifted the child in her arms so that she was in front, protecting her from what was going to happen...
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' Maybe what she had said before had been true... maybe my baby brother is still out there... ' Drakan thought to himself as he stood outside the front door to the underground castle.
' I have to find him... I have to find little Vivi! What if he doesn't remember who I am? What am I going to say to him then? ' he continued to think.
Drakan sighed heavily and then blinked as he scratched his chin that was covered by the shadows of his large, long pointed hat. He glanced around the cave and then frowned deeply as he listened to the water dripping down from the jagged rock roof above.
There was a small noise and he nearly jumped out of his black and red pants from the sound. Man, he was starting to get a little more jumpy everytime there was a small noise around him. Drakan shook his head to clear it and then slowly pushed off the wall of the castle.
He then turned around and was about to go back inside, but there was a soft whispering that seemed to make his eyes droop with sudden fatigue. Drakan whirled around clumsily and just about fell flat on his face as his right foot caught on something sharp, tearing a hole in his shoe.
Drakan let out a low cry of surprise as he stumbled to the ground, the right side of his face scraping along the rough rocks on the floor of the cave. The whistle came out again only this time more persistant and demanding. Drakan blinked a few times and shook his head as he picked himself off the floor slowly.
" I've got to not fall for it. I can't let it get the best of me! " he muttered under his breath as his slowly stood up with the help of the wall.
Drakan looked around after he ran a hand over his face slowly, trying to push aside the uneasy feeling that he got in his mind and his body. There was soft padding noises coming from his left and he whirled around to see who was there, but something lashed out at him and struck him just above his left eye, knocking his hat from his head and him to the ground.
He managed to open an eye and he glanced up at who had struck out at him, the tall figure towering over him, grinning slyly before reaching down to grasp Drakan by the collar.
It was then when Drakan slipped unconscious...
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" My Lord... what do you say happened to her? " Dr. Tot asked as he tried to keep up to the fast pace of the Genome.
Zidane slowed his gait down and frowned, plowing a hand through his hair, trying to calm his erratic thoughts. " She's bleeding badly, Doc! The front of her nightgown is completely soaked and even I don't know what's going on, what's happening to her, " he replied almost frantic now.
" Alright, my boy. Just calm down. Breath! In and out... in and out. You have to stay calm in a situation like this one, Sire.... " Dr. Tot spoke softly to him as he brushed past him to push open the doors to the royal chambers.
Steiner whirled around from the bedside and glanced at Zidane before glancing at Garnet's deathly pale face. He shook his head slowly and sadly before backing away to let Zidane see her bloody form completely...
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" Khalid... just let her go! " Naria pleaded, crawling along the floor towards the little girl that had been flung through the air, landing hard against the wall and coming to a rest in the corner, all huddled together.
" She did nothing to you! "
Khalid snorted and shot out his hand, grabbing the collar of Naria's gown, lifting her up into the air effortlessly, bringing her face up to his. " Don't make me any more madder, Lydia... just shut up and be still. " he shouted into her face, throwing her onto the bed a few feet away.
The back of her head hit the metal headboard and then fell to a rest on the pillows. Naria groaned lightly and then placed a hand to her head as she tried to sit up. Esmeralda whimpered from the dark corner she was huddled in and then began to sob again.
" Nessie... do s-omething... "
" She can't do anything, you pathetic little child... she's worthless to you, but perhaps not to me... " Khalid let his voice trail off in a soft, husky whisper as he positioned himself on top of Naria who still had her eyes shut, trying to will the pain away.
Naria groaned and then slowly opened her eyes to see the outline of a shadow over top of her. She let out a scream and began to punch at it, but it grabbed her wrists and grabbed some rope from the drawer in the small nightstand beside the bed and then tied her wrists together before tying them to the metal headboard.
" You will co-operate, won't you? You promised me something and now I want it.. " Khalid whispered softly, bringing his mouth to her face, his warm breath fanning over her face, down her neck and then down the front of her gown as he slowly trailed his tongue all over her upper half.
Naria sucked in a sharp breath and felt Khalid lower his lower half to hers. She felt him hard and ready, crying out to her, begging for release. She shook her head and then began to struggle against the rope around her wrists as soon as she heard Esmeralda's soft whimpers.
" Khalid... let her out. Don't make her sit here and watch... this! It isn't right... " Naria hissed at him, feeling warm tears brim her eyes.
Khalid ignored her and went completely still, his face somewhere above her breasts. Naria glanced at the trembling form in the corner and she felt her heart ache greatly. It just wasn't right for a small child to have to watch what was going to happen. It was wrong. Naria turned her head back around so she was facing up towards the ceiling.
Khalid was still quiet and not moving. Naria feared to breath. She feared that if she breathed, he would pounce on her and take her whole, ravage her body without concern, nothing. She licked her lips and closed her eyes, struggling once more against the bounds before her back was arched off the bed, her lower half lifted completely into the air, her back bent backwards in a painful angle.
Naria let out a light cry of pain as she felt the stabs of needle-like pain consume her entire back as she felt Khalid's callused fingers running the tips along her spine, pushing inwards as he clamped his mouth down onto her neck, nipping at the flesh, wanting to bruise it completely.
His hands went everywhere. The first thing they did though was grasp the collar of her gown and then rip it open, exposing her creamy coloured breasts and her stomach that sloped downwards. Khalid licked his lips in anticipation as he ripped the gown from her hips, extracting a small cry of pain.
Esmeralda sat there in the corner, watching as the 'bad man' tore at Naria's clothing. She clamped her hands over her ears and then turned her head to the side, closing her eyes shut tightly, not wanting to see him hurt her anymore. Naria slowly opened her eyes and then closed them shut tight against the pain and yet the pleasure he was giving her.
Khalid smirked against her smooth neck as he felt her becoming more and more wetter as he cupped her down there, slipping two fingers into her flower, spreading the slick petals aside for easier access. As soon as he slid two more fingers in, Naria's back arched off the bed as a loud scream of pain tore from her throat.
Khalid trailed soft, petal-like kisses down to her collar bone where he swirled his tongue along the defined bone and then ran his tongue along her chest, making sure that he teased her greatly. He wanted to have her begging for him, he wanted to make her his forever.
Naria swallowed thickly and then arched her back off the bed as she felt Khalid's hot moist mouth take in her entire left breast, stiff pebble-like nipple and all. She felt his tongue swirl over the bumpy surface of her aroerle. Esmeralda bit her lip down, trying to drown out the weird sounds that the two adults were making on the bed.
" I want my daddy! " she muttered lightly to herself as tears began to fall once again....
_____________
Zidane felt his heart stop. He looked at Steiner and watched as the Captain shook his head again, slowly backing out of the room, head bowed in respect, followed by the rest of the Knights of Pluto. Dr. Tot rushed over to te bedside and checked for a pulse, pressing his fingers to Garnet's neck.
Zidane swallowed thickly and managed to stumble over to the side of the bed. As soon as the front of his thighs hit the soft quilt, he collapsed at the bedside, desperately clutching Garnet's hand within his, bringing it to his lips and then to his forehead as he felt another batch of tears brim his eyes.
" She's not gone... she can't be gone... " he murmured softly, shaking his head against her hand.
Dr. Tot pressed his fingers down harder and then gasped, causing Zidane's head to snap up, his tear streaked face facing Dr. Tot's. Tot managed to smile wryily and then nod. " She's alive, my boy... she's alive! Just do this for me... grab me some old rags, a bowl of warm water, a cup of cold water, and my herbal bag which is sitting on my desk in the far corner of my studies. Can you do that while I get out of this blood soaked gown and under the covers? "
Zidane nodded. He pressed Garnet's hand to his lips, kissing each fingertip tenderly as he bent over to place his mouth to her ear, kissing it tenderly as well as he reached up to smooth back some strands of dark hair that were bathed in sweat. " My Dagger... you'll going to be alright... you're going to live and so is the baby. Do me a big favor, my precious Dagger... don't die on me while I'm gone for a few minutes, I swear it to you here and now, I will be back this time, and besides... it's only down the hall and then down to the dungeons... " he whispered softly into her ear before kissing it again and then running from the room once again in only a pair of blood soaked boxers.
Dr. Tot frowned lightly, looking at the door that Zidane had just run out of in a hurry. He then glanced down at Garnet's pale and trembling form before reaching out to brush aside some beads of sweat that began to decorate her brow that was knitted together in a look of pain...
____________
" I'm dead... "
" ...I've died... "
" ...I'm no more... "
All around, it was hot, yet cold. Bright, yet dark. Loud, yet quiet. Garnet couldn't figure out where she was and who she was with. She could feel another presence beside her, but she didn't know exactly who and what it was until she opened her eyes, but she didn't want to open them, she wanted to stay asleep forever.
" Sarah..."
" Sarah... "
Garnet slowly opened her eyes and then groaned as the bright glare of the bright lights around hit her square in the face, causing her to shut her eyes immediatletly.
" Sarah... "
" Go away... leave me alone... let me sleep... " Garnet mumbled in response, flipping over onto her side.
" Sarah... "
" Stop! Stop calling me that... "
" Why? It is your name, isn't it? "
Garnet slowly opened her eyes and then sat up, looking around to see who was calling her name, but she found no one, no soft voice that was so tender, just... silence. She frowned lightly and then stood up, looking around at her surroundings. " Where am I? " she wondered outloud, hugging her arms to her chest.
" Where are you? You're with me... " the soft voice spoke right next to her now, causing her to jump.
Garnet whirled around to find herself facing someone that looked exactly like her. She knitted her brows together. " W-who are you? How did you know my real name was Sarah? Only few people know that... "
The person standing in front of her smiled impishly and tilted her head to the side, their long flowing dark hair swaying to the side in a light breeze that wasn't really there, their dark eyes sparkling with mischief that Garnet remembered seeing in a certain person that she loved with all her heart.
" You haven't answered me... "
" I don't know how to answer you.... "
" Just tell me! How did you know my real name was Sarah? "
"...my mother told me. She told me the story about the Summoners, how her name was Sarah, how she came from the far away place called Madain Sari... everything."
" Y-your mother?! " Garnet croaked out, blinking.
" Yes... "
" Alright.... then where are we? " Garnet asked, turning around in circles, looking at her surroundings again.
" We are... dead... mother... " the girl simply replied, the sparkle fading rapidly as did all light.
Garnet knitted her brows together and then lunged for the girl who was just standing in front of her, but her arms passed through nothing but air and more air. She fell on the ground hard. Garnet groaned lightly and then opened her eyes to find herself staring up at a white ceiling.
' Where am I now? ' she wondered.
" My Dagger... you'll going to be alright... you're going to live and so is the baby. Do me a big favor, my precious Dagger... don't die on me while I'm gone for a few minutes, I swear it to you here and now, I will be back this time... "
Garnet whirled around, trying to figure out where that voice was coming from. She knew it from somewhere, it was the one thing that always made her toes curl with excitement, with new feelings as it spoke tender words to her, shouted encouragements while giving birth. Everything in that voice was pure and as pure as pure could get.
She felt her lower lip tremble and she placed a hand to her stomach. " Z-zidane... oh, Zidane! This is all a bad dream and I'm going to awaken from it to find myself in your arms, asleep, your face buried into the crook of my neck, your warm breath tickling my neck, traveling down the front of my gown... " she whispered, her voice breaking instantly from the memories.
Tears, wet, warm, salty slowly slid down her cheeks as the bright white around her grew brighter. Garnet shook her head and then spun around to run away, run away from all the pain that she was experiencing at the moment, it was all too much for her to handle. She kept a hand to her stomach, not paying any attention to the warmth that began to spread quickly.
She suddenly stopped and then glanced down at her stomach, feeling her insides churn wildly as she finally spotted the crimson staining the front of her gown greatly, quickly spreading to the back as well, she could feel it on her skin. Garnet shook her head and then went to strip herself of her gown, but she ended up whirling around and then she found herself falling.
The wind rushed past her face quickly, and the pain in her stomach that was there before increased, causing her to scream out in pain as she heard the wails of a baby fill the air besides for her screams of pain. Images of disfigured children, the limbs not in the right spots, some attached to their heads, some attached to their stomachs, their chests.
It was all too much for her that she shut her eyes tight against the images and then let a loud scream slip past her lips as she continued to fall...
____________
Zidane quickly rushed back into the room, herbal bag in hand, rags in the other, two maids behind him, both carrying the hot and cold water in hand. They set it down on the nightstand beside Dr. Tot and then bowed before leaving, shutting the door behind them. Zidane rushed over to the closet, grabbed a robe and slipped it on, not bothering to tie up the front. (that would be a really sweet image to get your hands on... but only if he didn't have the blood soaked boxers... ^.~)
Dr. Tot immediately fished around in his bag as Zidane came up to the bedside and sat on the bed beside his love, his soulmate, his Dagger. He reached down and ran his fingers along her forehead, down her cheeks, over her lips, everywhere. Garnet's body twitched every now and then as if having convulsions of it's own.
Zidane glanced at Tot and gave him a worried look, but Tot was too busy looking for something that would probably save her life. He pursed his lips and then brought his gaze down to Garnet's face. (*sharp scary music plays*)What he saw made him jump away from the bed, his tail sticking out from underneath the robe, swaying back and forth as if it were warning her to stay away.
Dr. Tot blinked and then looked at Zidane before looking at(*sharp scary music plays again!*) Garnet's face and then jumping away from the bedside himself, the herbal bag toppling to the floor, the contents spilling out all around.
" My God... what's wrong with her, this is quite extrodinary... " Tot murmured, slowly inching his way to the bed, never taking his eyes off of Garnet's face.
Zidane blinked and then tried to calm his erratic heart that had made it's way into his throat and was beating like a wild drum against the walls of his throat. He swallowed and then walked over to the bed, keeping his eyes on Garnet's that were as wide as saucers, her mouth slightly open as if she were screaming at someone or something.
As soon as Zidane sat down on the bed beside her again, his eyes trained on her face, Garnet blinked, her mouth closed but then reopened immediately, a loud scream of pain tore past her lips as her body shot up into a sitting position, her arms wrapping themselves around Zidane's neck, her face buried in the crook of his neck.
Zidane cried out in surprise and happiness as he felt her warmth, her life pressed against his body. He automatically wrapped his arms around her as he brought the blanket around her bare body, holding her close, bringing her onto his lap, tears of pure joy streaming down his cheeks as he buried his face into her shoulder after he had grabbed her face and showered her with kisses.
Dr. Tot blinked and backed away from the bed to go around it and then stand in front of them. He looked at Zidane and then at Garnet before his eyes trailed down to her stomach.
" Zidane... lay her down gently and don't for one second, leave her side! " he ordered his king through clenched teeth as he disappeared from the room, leaving Zidane by Garnet's trembling form...
To Be Continued...
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