AN: Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry this is so late. I've been quite busy this week. I went to my friend's on Tues. and stayed the night then I had to babysit Wed. night and Thursday. This would have been longer today but, I had to babysit again all day and I didn't have much time to think. Sorry to keep you waiting. Hope you enjoy what's underneath. Sorry again!
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The sun had finally set when Van and Hitomi left the castle. They had left alone so that they could surprise their enemy. Being totally prepared they snuck quietly through the woods in search of the cabin where Faith was being kept.
"I actually feel my like my old self again. Looks like my powers are being reawakened. It's this way." Hitomi said, pointing down a dark path. The pendant around Van's neck had begun to glow a soft pink hue giving them the light they needed.
Van stopped in mid step when something shining in a tree caught his attention. Hitomi had been so busy concentrating that she didn't notice it until it came flying out of the tree and straight toward her.
"Hitomi, look out!"
Van had run to her and pushed her out of the way before the spear had a chance to pierce her. She sat on the ground in shock, staring at the weapon that would have killed her on the spot. A groan to her left averted her gaze from the spear and over to Van.
"Van, are you ok?" She asked, rushing to his side.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said. She ripped a piece of cloth off of the shirt she was wearing and tied it tightly around the cut he had received while trying to save her.
"We've got to watch where we're going. He's probably got traps all over the place." She said. He shot her an 'I could have told you that' look.
"Don't give me that look Van. I wasn't expecting an ambush of pointy spears to fall on us. I said my powers were reawakening not fully functional. Let's keep going." She said, standing.
"We should stay close." He said.
"I don't have a problem with that." She said with a smirk. Van took her hand and they began to walk again, with determination.
~~Cabin~~
"So, they're finally on their way. Took them long enough. I suppose the seer is a little rusty. I knew Fanel would catch onto my traps." The gray haired man said as he mixed some potions together. He walked over to Faith and felt her forehead.
"Here, if you wish to be better soon you must drink this." He told her. She opened her eyes and looked at him curiously.
"My Mommy told me to never take anything from strangers and you are as strange as they get." Faith said.
"Do you want to get better?" He asked. Faith nodded and cocked her head to the side.
"What are you doing?" He asked. She took the cup in her tiny hands and drank it's contents.
"That wasn't so bad now was it?" He asked as she curled back up on the small cot he had fixed for her.
~Stupid child. You'll have to do a lot better than that to read my thoughts.~ He snickered as he continued mixing the potions like he had been.
~I managed to create an open link to her mind so, now I'll be able to see and hear what they plan to do. She doesn't even realize the power she has. Maybe I can use this child for something after all.~
~~Forest~~
"I think we're almost there Van." Hitomi said, slowing her pace.
"Don't worry Hitomi, we'll get Faith back." He reassured her. They walked in silence again until they came to the cabin.
"Finally, I didn't think you'd ever get here!"
"What was that?" Hitomi asked. Van looked around trying to find the source of the voice but, nothing came in view.
"Stay close to me Hitomi." He said, drawing his sword.
"I don't wish to fight you here Fanel. Welcome to my humble home. I believe I have something that you want. If you want her that is. Please, do come in."
Hitomi began to walk toward the cabin but, Van reached out and grabbed her arm.
"It could be a trap Hitomi. We can't trust him." He stated.
"Trust him or not, he's got Faith in there and I'm not going to stand here debating on whether or not to go in there. We've got to go Van. Trap or not. I want to make sure she's alright." Hitomi said.
"You should listen to her Fanel. She knows what she's talking about."
Van growled and reached for Hitomi's hand.
"We do this together Van. Don't be rash, we don't know what we're up against remember? Together." She said as they walked into the cabin. Van grabbed the door handle and cracked the door opened. His eyes widened at the sight in front of him.
"What is it Van? What do you see?" Hitomi asked. He pushed the door opened further for her to see. There, standing in a dark corner was Faith. Her emotionless eyes staring at them as they entered the room. The door was thrown shut and a man stepped up beside Faith.
"It's you! Van, it's the man I saw at the gathering. He..."
"Yes, that was me. I'm glad you could see through my disguise. I knew you would eventually figure it out. You amaze me my dear. To think such beauty could possess such brains." He said.
"What did you do to Faith?" Van demanded.
"Patience Fanel, she'll show us in time." He said as he step away from Faith's side.
"What do you want from us? What did we do to you?" Hitomi asked.
"What did you do to me? What did you do!?! You destroyed my chance at happiness so now I tend to destroy yours!" He yelled.
"How did we destroy your happiness? We don't even know you!" Van yelled back.
"Think back Fanel! When she came back here! Why did she come here?" He asked, pointing at Hitomi. Van looked at Hitomi then back at him again.
"It can't be! We trapped him so that he could never cause harm again!" Hitomi exclaimed.
"Exactly right! You trapped him and I am not him!" He yelled again.
"Then, who are you? What does this have to do with that?" She asked.
"Everything! That old man, the one you condemned, was my father!"
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TBC.
AN: Sorry, I'm leavin' yah all hangin' again aren't I? I'm an evil bad person that I know. I hope you like this. Sorry if it sux. I need to think of my next move now. I kinda lost my vision. I'll post another chapter tomorrow. I need to have a dream sequence or something. Tell me what you think. Reviews always help. ^__^
