Chapter 6 ~ And so, it begins…
As soon as Kari and Folken exited the infirmary, they were assaulted by the council and Fanelian royalty.
"What is going on?" Leviticus, the leader of the council asked.
"The king is alive for now. There are some things my sister and I need to take care of." Folken informed them all.
"My lord, you are the provisory ruler of Fanelia." Leviticus informed him.
"No, I'm sorry, but my sister and I have some very important business to take care of. Please send an urgent message to Allen Schezar. He must become the provisory ruler, and you will agree.." Folken informed them coldly.
"Where will you go?" the minister of external affairs asked.
"We have to go in search of our parents." Folken told them.
"But sire, we have men more experienced that can do that!" Leviticus argued.
"No, it must be us. This is my final decision. You will obey it. Now, I want a courier to leave with a message to Allen in the next 20 minutes!" Folken yelled.
Immediately, the mass of people scurried away to their business leaving the two royals alone.
"Come, let's go to the library. Maybe there will be some books that could help us." Folken directed Kari.
His sister looked up at him with a thoughtful glance. The clock was ticking, and they didn't know where to start. Her hand quickly went to her neck. Kari brushed her fingers past her mother's pink pendant.
"No, there won't be any books. We have to use the pendant." Kari told him quietly.
"How?" Folken asked.
"Come, let's go to the gardens. I think mom taught me this once before." Kari instructed.
Once seated in the Fanelian gardens, Kari closed her eyes, and pictured the swinging pendant in her mind. "Please, direct us to someone that knows where the other two pendants are!" she silently pleaded. The pendant began to swing back and forth. Glowing warmly, the stone projected a picture in Kari's mind. It was a picture of a tall blonde person. She was thin and skinny with deep blue eyes. Then the picture shifted. The same blond hair remained, but her eyes changed to a cold red, and a weird tiara appeared on her forehead. The pendant swung one more time, and the picture disappeared. Kari opened her eyes.
"Well?" her brother inquired.
"Well, I think the pendant showed me Allen's sister." Kari told him.
"Lady Celena? What would she know of this?" Folken asked surprised.
"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it was her. I recognised the blond hair and thin figure. Maybe it's something from her past. I understand that she has a cloudy background. Maybe she knows something we don't." Kari reasoned.
"Well, it's worth to give it a try." Folken agreed.
"It's the best lead we have. I guess we're going to Asturia then."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Folken was about to add something more, when Merle approached them.
"There you were!" she exclaimed.
"What is it aunt Merle?" Kari asked.
"Well, I wanted to know what conclusion you two have reached." She told them.
"What do you mean?" Kari inquired.
"I saw you use Hitomi's pendant. I feel it necessary to tell you something. That pink glowing stone is very dangerous. Don't wish anything of it, for it will change the fate of Gaea. It will bring forth unhappy outcomes. Use it only as a guide, but rely on your own intuition, and do not wish for anything, you hear?" Merle told them.
"Ok. We won't, but we'll have to leave now. I hope the council is busy." Folken told Merle.
"Don't worry. I've prepared a carriage. It's waiting for you outside the gates. Go now, I'll take care of things here!" she hurried them.
"Thank you aunt Merle! Please take care of our father, and please keep the council in check!" Kari hugged the cat-woman, and ran to her room to pack.
"Yeah, thanks a lot auntie!" Folken hugged her also, and ran after his sister.
Merle watched them disappear, and sighed. They were in for an adventure. She wished she could go with them, but her place was here with Gaddes. It was very important that she keep a watch on the council. They were always suspicious of Lord Van's ancestry, as well as his children's. This confusion came at the worst time. Gaea was trying hard to keep out of corruption, and this new darkness only made things worse. Merle hoped that Folken and Kari would take care of it. After all, they were their parent's children. She sighed again, and went inside.
~~~~~
The droplets of rain were running on the side of the carriage. Folken looked outside, his green eyes filled with worry. It had been two days since they had left Fanelia. Two days since his mother had been kidnapped, and two days since that evil woman had issued her price for his family's freedom. Folken could feel the darkness settle in on Gaea. Ever since he had felt the conversation between his sister and that woman, his senses had become more sensible. An uneasy feeling rested in his stomach. Ever since he had been little, he had always had his sister with him. As he was watching the rain drain down the carriage's window, Folken could feel their immediate separation. He had no doubt that in order to reach both pendants in time, they would have to separate. He didn't like that. Whenever he was away from her, he felt like he was only half a person. They had always been together through the thick and the thin. Always by the other's side, they were unbeatable when together. Could this be the woman's trap? Their separation? He didn't know, but he knew he didn't like it.
"I know, but it's necessary." Kari told him slowly.
Folken wasn't surprised. His sister often read his thoughts. It was all part of the special link they shared. He could feel her fears also. Within her mind, Folken sensed the dim hope that they might not have to separate. Maybe somehow they would make it within the timeline and stay together. Ever since her nightmares, Kari had been afraid of being alone. Folken knew that. Although she bravely fought against it, she was afraid. However, she knew that time was of the essence and willing to conquer her fears. Kari was also afraid that she made the wrong decision. Folken knew the truth.
"Don't worry. It was the right decision. I just hope we can make it out of this all right." Folken told her quietly.
Kari looked in her brother's green eyes, and saw trust, warmth and determination. She knew he was determined to accomplish the challenge.
"Yeah, I know. Let's just hope that we have enough time." Kari said.
"We will. But for now, we have to find Lady Celena."
"How about you go inform Millerna and Dryden of what's going on, and I go find Celena?" Kari suggested.
"Sound like a plan." Folken agreed.
Half an hour later, the Fanelian carriage entered the Asturian palace. Kari and Folken jumped down and greeted Lady Marlene. Marlene was the oldest child of Millerna and Dryden. She was six years older than he and Kari, yet they got along great.
"Marlene! It's so good to see you. Are your mother and father home?" Folken asked.
"Yes, to what do we owe this visit?" she asked graciously.
"There are important matters we must discuss with your parents. May I see them?" Folken asked.
"Sure, right this way." Marlene led them into the palace.
Kari followed Marlene until they entered the castle, and then went in search of Lady Celena. Marlene told her that she was in the library. Kari hurried to the west wing, where the library was located. She slalomed through the people in the hall. The faster she talked to Lady Celena, the faster she would get an answer. Just then, Kari bumped into a tall dark haired stranger.
"I'm sorry." She said looking down.
"Why don't you watch where you're going girl?" he asked obviously upset, and grabbed her arm.
"I said I'm sorry, now what do you want?" Kari asked, looking up. She found herself staring into the familiar blue eyes, and black hair.
"Kari?" Duncan asked surprised by the coincidence. He hadn't recognised her in her street clothes. She didn't look like a princess, but rather like an intriguing chocolate-eyed girl.
"Duncan?" Kari asked surprised. It was rather uncanny that she happened to bump into him. At the rate she was running through the halls, she didn't even recognise the young prince. He looked rather different in normal clothes. For a moment there, she could almost put their rivalry aside and consider him a person. Then the memory of their kiss came back to Kari. She should have slapped him for doing that, however, she was too surprised. Somehow, he always managed to get past her defences and annoy her. Kari's fingers itched to slap him, but she knew that wasn't very politic. They needed the Asturian support in order to find the pendants. Another time, she would pay him back.
"What are you doing here?" Duncan asked rather rudely. He didn't expect to see her there so soon after the banquet. She would probably slap him, for his courage. As he looked down, he saw her stormy chocolate eyes and expected the worst. Somehow, she always managed to get past his barriers and bring out the worst in him.
"None of your business you insolent fool! Now let me pass!" she retorted bitterly. "Damn it," Kari thought, "I didn't want to start this way!"
"Right, of course." Duncan let go of her arm, and got out of her way. He didn't want to have anything to do with this little wench. He was right when he had called her that three years ago. She was nothing more.
Kari brushed past him madly, and started running through the halls again. Duncan looked after her worriedly. What could have brought the proud Fanelian princess all the way to Asturia? Well, he would find out later. For now, he was late for his sparring practice.
Kari entered the library fifteen painful minutes later. She knew that an encounter with Duncan would be impossible to avoid, but she really hoped that she wouldn't see him so soon. The memory of his short, but fiery kiss had been recalled in her mind again. Kari could feel her stomach turning upside down. What's this nonsense? I'm on a mission here. I'm not supposed to think of some pathetic kiss that was a result of some stupid bet! My parents are all that matters! Kari pushed all thoughts of Duncan's disturbing kiss aside, and proceeded on searching for Lady Celena.
"Lady Celena! Lady Celena?" Kari called out loudly.
"Ssh, this is a library, not Town Square! Who calls for me?" a blonde skinny woman came out of nowhere.
"Lady Celena?" Kari inquired.
"Yes, that's me. Who calls?" the woman asked. She was wearing a simple black robe.
"My name is Yukari Fanel. I came here to ask a favour of you. Can we go talk somewhere private?" Kari asked.
"Sure, come this way girl." Celena led her to a small study, filled with candles. Kari could smell the strong scent of incense. "Take a seat." Celena pointed to a small table.
Kari sat down. "Thank you for taking this time to see me."
"No problem. What is it girl?" the woman asked.
"There's an evil woman back on Gaea. She has my mother, and has locked my father in his mind. As a price for their freedom, she wishes to get the remaining two tear-shaped pendants." Kari began.
"How does this involve me?" Celena asked.
"She gave me the third pendant as a guide to find the other two. When I asked it to show me who knows the location of the other two pendants, it showed me you." Kari explained.
"I don't know anything. Are you sure?" Celena asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. It was you. It showed me you as you are right now. The same skinny figure, same blond hair, same blue eyes. Then it showed me you when you were younger. You had same stature, only you were wearing a tiara, and had red eyes. Please help me!" Kari pleaded, taking the frail woman's hands in her own.
Celena was silent. She was studying the face of this teenager in front of her. The girl seemed desperate. How will she explain that it wasn't her she saw, but Dilandau? Celena saw her chocolate eyes sparkle with anticipation and hope. Did she dare let this girl down? Did she dare not help? For years now Dilandau had not surfaced in her, and Celena had learned to leave him alone when he did that. Sixteen years had passed since she and Dilandau had become one. He decided to let her live her life. Sometime they chatted, but most of the time, Dilandau was quiet. Almost as if he was meditating. Celena could feel that he had changed. He wasn't the cold killer she knew. He had become docile and friendly. It was a pity they were locked in the same body. Celena had never married. There was too much mystery surrounding her life, too much she didn't care to explain. She lived a quiet existence helping the poor. Sometimes, just sometimes she would let Dilandau take over her body. It was interesting to be the observer from within. It was a game Celena liked to play. However, Dilandau had disappeared over the last couple of years. Did she dare reawaken him? Celena knew the feelings and urges that awakened with him. She took another look at the girl in front of her. She could see that she was in a desperate situation. Celena didn't want to have the blood of her family, and the blood of many other innocents on her hands. They were already stained as they were.
"I'll do it." Celena informed Kari.
"Thank you very, very much!" Kari jumped up and hugged the woman.
"However, I need a day. I shall give you the answer tomorrow morning, is that ok?" Celena asked.
"That's fine, we were going to rest here until tomorrow anyway!" Kari jumped up, thanked the woman once more and then went in search of her brother.
Celena looked after her, smiling bitterly. "I guess it's time for a change!" she whispered.
~~~~
Later that night, Kari was sitting outside on the veranda, looking at the stars.
"Peaceful night, isn't it?" A voice said behind her.
Kari jumped startled. In her reverie, she had not heard Duncan sneak up on her. "Duncan! Don't do that! You scared me!" she yelled breathing harshly. It had been quite a scare.
"Ooh, poor baby is scared now!" Duncan said bitterly. "Damn it, why am I always so mean around her?" he asked himself.
"Shut up! What are you doing here? Came to annoy me some more?" Kari asked defensively.
"No, I actually came out for some fresh air, but now I see that there's pollution everywhere." he snapped.
"Oh, well I guess I don't want to disturb your peace!" Kari said madly and got up.
"Ooh, the little pampered princess is running away!" Duncan said mockingly.
Kari turned around, thunder in her eyes. "Maybe if you'd stop being such a self centred egotistical jerk, you could see that life is not all about playing. Maybe if you'd stop looking in the mirror and admiring yourself you might see that there are others worth caring about. In this world there's more than yourself you jackass." She told him madly.
"I don't think you're the one to give me life lessons. You're an annoying spoiled brat. Why are you here? Your parents got tired of you?" Duncan asked taking a few steps towards her.
All of a sudden, Kari's hand came slashing down. "Don't you dare say anything about my parents!" She spun on her heels and left in a hurry.
Duncan was left there dumbfounded. She had slapped him. A mighty slap it was too. His cheek was throbbing like mad. Duncan was sure he had a bruise. "Well, I guess I deserved that more or less. What is it about her that gets me so worked up and unable to think?" Duncan wondered furiously. He then went inside to get a cold compress for his cheek.
~~~~*~~~~
Celena was laying down on the bed, candles and incense surrounding her. She closed her eyes and wished herself into the depths of her mind. All of a sudden, she felt her descent stopping. Celena opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a small room. Taking a look around, Celena noticed a small desk, with some candles on it, and a bed in a corner.
"I've been waiting for you." The familiar voice came from a dark corner. Celena spun around and saw his figure contour out of the shadows.
"Dilandau, you know?" she asked.
"Yes, I know, and I shall tell you, for the sake of Gaea." He said and came out of the darkness. His figures had also matured with time. His red eyes were glowing warmly. Celena felt tingles run through her as she neared him. This always happened when they met. It was almost like, almost like they were magnetically drawn to each other.
"The sake of Gaea? What do you mean?" Celena asked.
"Evil has found us again. The pendants hold great power. You see, they were created by the Atlanteeans. Separately, they are pretty powerful, but when brought together, all three, the pink, the green and the blue pendant have immense power. They can shift time, and create new universes. It is very dangerous to bring them all together. Worlds can be wiped out, as if they never existed." Dillandau told her.
"I need to know where they are. Do you know?" Celena asked.
"Yes, as soon as they are found, they must be destroyed. Before Dornkirk died, he found the location of the blue and green. He was going to destroy them, but then Hitomi came to the Phantom Moon, and other priorities took over. They must be destroyed you hear?" Dilandau came up to Celena and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her thoroughly.
"Yes, please tell me where they are." She said weakly. His presence so close to her was sending shivers down her spine. Dilandau had a very weird effect on her. Although he was her alternate personality, he never shared his thoughts with her. However, Celena felt like she could always read them. What was wrong with her? This was all in her mind. However, the firmness of his body sent shivers down her spine.
"One of them is at Dragon's Nest, in Zaibach, and the other is in the Everglades." He whispered in her ear.
"Thank you." Celena whispered hoarsely. All of a sudden, her whole throat went dry.
"You're welcome, my dear Celena." Dilandau said softly.
"Thanks." She said and prepared to depart, when Dillandau grabbed her hand, and drew her towards him. He took a deep breath, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Do come back on other occasions. I would love to talk to you some more." he told her softly.
Celena nodded bewildered, and left the room.
Back to reality, Lady Celena took a deep breath and awakened, deeply shaken by what had happened. However, she decided to put it out of her mind. "I know now," she whispered softly and then fell asleep from exhaustion.
Little did she know, that in her mind, a tall strong figure was watching her sleep, with loving eyes.
*Author's Note*
Hello, sorry it took me so long to post this, but I was on vacation. Now I'm back, and powered up. I hope you didn't find this too confusing and long. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, and what I did with dilly. I have big plans for him. Heheh, I do hope you can see where I'm sorta going with this. Heheh. The action will start in the next chapter, and a lot more things are going to happen. Until then tho, please read and review this chapter. I really struggled to put out a really really really interesting one. I hope this was mysterious/interesting enough. I also struggled to make it more detailed and stuff, cuz I was reading my work, to refresh my memory, and the last 2 chapters sorta sucked! I really hope I made up for it with this one! What did you think? Please r&R it would mean the world to me to hear what you gots to say about this story!!! Don't worry, I'm hoping to post next chapter tomorrow late in the night! Until then, all the best to you, and I'm BACK AND BETTER THAN B4!!!!! Lol, now I need some suga! Cya on the other side!
