New dangers are near, as Hitomi is again subjected to a terrible vision of things to come

New dangers are near, as Hitomi is again subjected to a terrible vision of things to come.

How many more of these visions can Hitomi experience without permanent damage to her fragile soul? 

Chapter 21    Visions of Fire and Death.

Lord Lawrence sits in the palace in Bosram.  The information he has received from the doppelganger has pleased him.  His spy has remained undetected as part of the crew.  The time is almost a hand to proceed with the first part of the plan.  Just a little while longer.  The General of the Bosram army brings Lawrence out of his musings.  He is still the power behind the throne, but the stupid man believes he is destined to rule all of Gaea.  As his trusted advisor Lord Lawrence has assured him it will be so.

Lawrence: "Work at the new dragon grave yard is progressing.  Soon your entire fleet will be equipped and ready for battle."

General: "Those fools will soon see that Ziabach was a child's game, and Dornkirk a fool."

Lawrence: "We must beware of the King of Fanilia's dragon, my sores tell me he is on the move and is traveling in Bosram at this very moment."

General: "I don't fear that boy king or his mechanical dragon.  Let him come and I will squash him!"

Traveling in a Levi ship can get down right boring after a while, Nathen is still staying in the cargo hold, by his choice.  Even with Hitomi assuring him that she isn't under a spell, he is weary of his traveling companions.  The one bright spot in his day is the visits from Merle.  She's funny and furious, quick to temper if he says anything about the King.  And she wants to know everything about him and life in the cat village.

Today they are sitting together when Hitomi joins them.  As she sits, Goldie leaves her shoulder to perch in the rafters and sleep.

Hitomi: "Do you mind if I stay here with you two for a while.  Everyone keeps getting really quite every time I get near; I can feel all their emotions, and it's getting to me."

Merle: "Sure we were just talking about Nathen's village.  He is going to tell me some of the legends.  You know kitten stories."

Merle winks at Hitomi and elbows Nathen in the ribs.

Nathen: "Ok, but you're the biggest kitten I've ever seen.  I could tell you a legend about people from the Mystic Moon."

Merle starts to giggle, looking at Hitomi.  The giggling turns to laughter, and Hitomi starts to shake her head.

Merle: "I know it's about way spooky people who dress and act weird."

Hitomi: "That's enough Merle."

Hitomi can't hold back anymore, she starts laughing with Merle.  Nathen has no idea what those two find so funny.  Women.

Nathen: "What's so funny, I don't get you two at all."

Merle: "I'm sorry, I know a lot of those kind of stories, what about dragon stories.  Oh I'm sorry Hitomi, we could…"

Hitomi: "No, It's ok Merle.  I would like to hear about dragons."

Nathen: "There is one you might like, My grandfather is one of the oldest Elders in the village, and he would tell us, Kala and I, about a legend, one about the first dragon, and the princess from the Mystic Moon.  It's a very old tale, but I always loved it."

Hitomi: "Ok, that sounds good to me."

Merle: "Well go ahead, we're all ears."

Nathen: "It's about the guardian of the energist, the heart of the first dragon born with the birth of Gaea.  It tells of a princess brought from a far away place by the light of the angles."

Hitomi: "The Dragon Prince and the Stone."

Darkness surrounds Hitomi, and she hears a heart beat.  The sound is all around her, in her head, and thru out her body.  Fire erupts everywhere. 'Why is it so hot?' There is  a red guymelf flame shooting  from its clawed hand and there is laughter. 'Burn, burn, burn.'

Again darkness surrounds Hitomi and then a shrouded figure appears he is talking to someone Hitomi can't see. 'Your fleet will be ready soon, the workers are almost finished at the graveyard General'

'Splendid Lord Lawrence.'

Darkness then energists surrounding energists, long arms of metal bringing the energists together.  And then white blinding light.  Hitomi is engulfed in it her body searing as she screams.

Merle and Nathen are looking at Hitomi.  She whispered something about a stone then stood up.

Hitomi: "Why is it so hot?"

Merle knows what's happening to Hitomi, the blank stare means she is having a vision.

Nathen: "What's wrong with her?"

Hitomi starts to glow, her body changing into the green dragon her clothes ripping as she grows.  She trumpets wildly then starts to change again back to the dragon woman.  She screams as her clothes burst into shreds the pieces igniting, burning as they fall.  Then she passes out her body hitting the floor.

Merle: "Oh no, she really is the Green Dragon.  Stay with her Nathen, I have to get help."

Nathen: "The way she screamed the whole ship will be here any minute."

Merle: "Your right, still you stay I'll keep them out till Van and Millerna get here,"

Merle runs for the door as Nathen bends over Hitomi to check her.

Nathen: "Merle hurry, I don't think she's breathing."

Merle bursts thru the door and into the first of the crew to arrive.

Merle: "Millerna, where's Millerna?"

Millerna: "I'm here what was that, what's wrong?"

Merle: "Hurry, it's Hitomi, she's not breathing."

Van has arrived along with everyone else pushing his way thru to Merle.

Van and Millerna enter the hold, but Merle blocks the way not allowing anyone else to enter.  Not that anyone would try, one look at Merle's stance is enough to keep them out.

Inside the bay Nathen sits on the floor, cradling Hitomi's head in his lap.  She is unconscious, her clothes in tatters, and the smell of burnt fabric in the air.  Millerna bends down to check her.

Millerna: "Her hearts stopped again, Van.  Get back and give him some room Nathen."

Van kneels next Hitomi, Nathen has moved and she is lying flat on the floor.  He places one hand over her heart and covers it with his other.  Rhythmically he pushes down on her chest again and again.  He is pushing in time with his own heartbeat. 

Van: "Come on Hitomi, please I don't want to loose you."

It seems that to Van that an eternity passes as he pushes and pushes. Though it is only a few minutes.  Sweat is dripping down Van's face, stinging his eyes.   He is growing so tired, but he doesn't stop.  Finally Hitomi gasps her dilated pupils contract as her own heart resumes it job.

Hitomi: "Dilandau is returning.  Energists will burn the world."

Van holds her as she continues to cry softly.  He wants more than anything to take away her pain.  But this is her own private hell, one she never asked for and may never live without.  Why is it always her to suffer?  Again Hitomi's eyes close, this time though she has fainted.

As Hitomi wakes, she is back in her room, the light is low only a single candle illuminating the darkness.  She sees Van smiling at her, but his emotions are a roller coaster, almost overwhelming Hitomi.  Fear, concern, and so much love, she concretes on the love to keep the other emotions at bay.   The dragon inside her is pushing for dominance it wants to take over control.  There is something tainted for it to destroy the power of death is boiling.  'Oh please don't let it take me now.'

Van can see Hitomi is struggling with something; her body starts to glow and then fade only to start to glow again.  What is it that is happening to her?  He reaches for her, cupping her face in his hands, and with out thought he kisses her.  His kiss has a calming effect on Hitomi; the struggle in her seems to subside.  She relaxes and reaches up to pull Van closer allowing him to deepen the kiss blocking out all but the feeling of his lips on hers.  But as in all things the kiss must end, there are questions to answer.  Van sits up drawing Hitomi with him. 

Van: "Welcome back, I'd thought I'd lost you, was it that bad?  You said Dilandau has returned, but how?"

Hitomi: "The balance that holds all together is breaking down more and more.  The balance that held Celena is about to be shattered the rest of the way.  Nothing will be able to stop it, but that is not the greatest danger."

Van: "The dragon is trying to take control from you is that it?"

Hitomi: "Yes it is, but because the danger is near us, here in Bosram.  We need to talk, all of us Van, if we don't do something now, we won't have to worry about the Prophecy."

Hitomi leaves the bed and goes to her duffle bag.  She removes her Tarot cards and then takes out her own clothes. She can't go on destroying Millerna's gowns, besides, they are uncomfortable, always rubbing against her scales.  Forgetting that Van is watching, she slips on her brown shorts, and starts to struggle with a peach string shoulder t-shirt,

Hitomi: "Damn these wings."

Van walks up behind her and begins to untangle the strap from her wing.  When he finishes he wraps his arms around her and leans close to her ear.  He whispers to her his breath warm and soft.

Van: "A long time ago I learned to hide my wings, but that day at the energist mine when you fell, I had to show them, I remember thinking that your reaction would be the same as the people here in Gaea, that I am one of the cursed people a draconian, hated and feared.  But you looked at me and I saw myself reflected in your eyes, as you saw me, with beauty.  You told me that my wings were beautiful, after that moment I saw them as you do, I think that was the day I started to love you."

Van lightly kisses the bridge of her back at the junction of her wings and lets her go.  Hitomi smiles, tears brimming in her eyes.  Without a word, for none are needed, she finishes dressing, putting on her running shoes and straightening, she is ready to leave.

Hitomi: "Yukari ought to get a kick out of this, a dragon in running shoes."

Dilandau returning!  Death and destruction are close at hand in the country of Bosram.  What exactly is Lord Lawrence's plan?  Is the General to be ultimate ruler of Gaea, or is he just another pawn in the Dark Lords bigger plan.  Action is at hand.

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Fanilia