::peeks around corner: HA! I bet you guys thought I was gone, huh?? Fooled you!! ^-^ Actually I am in Michigan like I said I would be, but me dearest mum surprised me and brought her laptop YAY! Plus as a bonus, we drove all the way up here so that means I had plenty of car time to think of what's to happen to Serryn, Dilly and all the other bright eyed and bushie tailed occpants of the Vione. ::cackles maddly watching all the characters sweat drop:: The only problem will be finding time to write, with picnics here, boat outings there, and the occasional Diablo obsessed brother strangling me because he just got the expansion pack and can't WAIT a friggin 15 min.....Ok ok, got a little carried away. I do realize the chapters are getting shorter, but sorry bear with me. I'll be concentrating very hard and I might just have the next chapter up very soon. It contains a slightly...herm...*intense* scene between Dilandau and Serryn *hint hint ^.~* so I'm gonna have to work extra hard. Ok I'm going to shutup and let you fine people read now, tata!
~Sarah~ (Who's just lonely and has no one to talk to so she must ramble shamelessly)
Chapter 12- Delaying Tragedy
"straight up,
what did you hope to learn about here
if I were someone else,
would this all fall apart
strange, where were you,
when we started this gig,
I wish the real world,
would just stop hassling me"~ MatchBox 20
Three days come and gone found the silver haired general sitting at his throne, a furious expression evident on his features.
"Come again, Gatti?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Gatti, who had already broken out into a sweat the moment he had first read the parchment he held gulped.
"Sir, General Adelfous has reported that our team of spies was delayed in their stake out at the country of Therra's capital city due to frequent flooding. He has ordered a weeks delay on the invasion," he repeated, wishing he could bolt out the door at that moment.
Dilandau looked like he wanted to throw something. So he did. Gatti cried out and dodged to the right as a half emptied bottle of red wine flew past his head and smashed against the opposite wall.
"FUCK!" the red eyed boy's holler echoed throughout the room, "How can he do this to me??? FLOODING?? Of all the pathetic insignificant excuses..." Dilandau growled, his eyes flashing like glittering rubies.
"Sir..." Gatti started hesitantly, "We ARE in the northern part of Gaea and the fall season here does tend to bring very violent storms-" Gatti's voice cut off as Dilandau rose from his throne and in three steps was eye to eye with the beige haired Dragonslayer.
"Gatti, I don't care if there's a goddamned ocean out there, this is a whole WEEK I'm going to have to sit up here in this floating rock with absolutely NOTHING TO AMUSE ME!!!"
"Sir I-"
Dilandau let his hand fly, backhanding Gatti half way across the room. Gatti groaned getting to his feet. 'Should have expected that,' he thought bitterly wiping a trickle of blood from his lip.
"Get out," Dilandau hissed, turning his back on the slightly dazed slayer, "Get the HELL out of my sight."
Gatti didn't have to be told twice. He bowed his head and quickly retreated, leaving his commander to brood in peace. Or maybe not entirely in peace.
"Damn IT!!" Dilandau growled kicking over the entire table at the side of his chair, sending glass and wood flying in all directions. His expression now resembled one of an extremely disappointed child.
"One week," he muttered, flopping back into his chair, absently stroking his scar. It seemed like an eternity to wait. Waiting did not become Dilandau Albatou.
He craved the blood and battle, and he craved it NOW. Not just the simple beatings he gave his soldiers during their training, or sometimes simply for the hell of it.
No...he wanted to kill. He wanted to charge the enemy's stronghold and burn it to the ground. He wanted his sword to drip with human blood. To hear the terrified screams of innocents as he hunted them down one by one.
A wide disturbing smile had crept across the Zaibach general's face. The memorized images he had made for himself were almost enough to sate his bloodlust. Almost...
Dilandau grabbed his dagger from where it had clattered across the floor during his previous outburst. He studied his reflection in the polished steel. The thought of bloodlust led him to thinking of another kind of lust. And a particular green eyed princess.
He chuckled recalling the surprised and slightly horrified expression on her face when once again he'd captured her mouth with his own. She had acted like she didn't know what he was talking about when he had told her he knew of her intentions, but Dilandau was no fool. She would pay for making the mistake of taking him for one.
Not with her life of course, but in other more interesting, and certainly more amusing ways.
****
"What? We're not going to battle for another week?" Migel exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
"Woah Migel, calm down a bit," Gatti replied, going back to polishing his sword, "You can go beat up one of the 'melef technicians again if you need to vent or something."
The entire room exploded in laughter, and Migel's face turned beat red. The other day, Migel hadn't been to happy when one of the technicians accidentally backed a supply cart into his Alseides unit, leaving a huge dent. And Migel had had expressed his unhappiness pretty clearly.
Serryn laughed as well, but partially for a different reason. She wouldn't have to fight just yet. Relief had washed over her like a wave when Gatti had delivered the news to them that evening where they all gathered in the larger of the two sparring rooms. It wasn't much of a delay in her opinion. A week seemed like an incredibly short amount of time, but it was something.
The laughter died down a bit, and Migel dropped back down to a sitting position looking quite disgruntled.
"But you guys should have seen the look on Lord Dilandau's face when I read him General Adelfous's letter," Gatti snickered," It was priceless! I almost died laughing."
"Yeah, right after you pissed your pants Gatti??" Dallet jeered, elbowing Gatti's side. This time it was Gatti who flushed red, but he covered it up by tackling Dallet to the floor.
"Well," Celena spoke, raising her voice so as to be the center of the room's attention once again, "I think this short wait will prove to be useful. Serryn here still needs some polishing up before she kicks a little enemy ass, right Serryn?
Serryn smiled if a little weakly, but nodded in agreement. She was glad she would have a chance to improve on her skills. She was already getting better at attacking, and was learning some more effective defense moves. Ones where she wouldn't risk a broken arm or two. But on the inside the princess was balking at the thought of helping Zaibach defeat yet another country.
"Yes, it will be nice having a few more days to train," she replied, but a thought crossed her mind, "Do you guys think, you know since it'll be a few days, I might be allowed to go look for my sister? You think Lord Folken would let me?" She glanced around the room, her expression hopeful.
Celena and the Dragonslayers exchanged looks. "Well..." Gatti started, "I don't see why not, but Lord Folken wouldn't be the one to ask."
"Why not?" Serryn asked, her heart sinking slightly.
"Because he only give orders to his own personal soldiers, and sometimes to Dilandau if they come directly from Emperor Dornkirk." Dallet said, when he noticed Gatti conflicting on whether to tell her or not.
"So...you're saying I have to ask Dilandau, aren't you..."
"Yeah."
Serryn cursed. She should have known. It figured Dilandau would always be making her life miserable, standing in the way of the things she considered more important the her own life. Aria was the only reason she was still in existance for that matter. It just wasn't fair.
Chesta suddenly jumped to his feet. "Woah! Speaking of Lord Dilandau, we're supposed to be meeting in his throne room for a briefing. He'll maim us if we're late, come on guys!"
The rest of the Dragonslayers instantly jumped to their feet as well, and began heading for the door. "Sorry Serryn! We'll talk later," Gatti called over his shoulder. Serryn smiled. At least he cared. She had been so relived when she found out he wasn't mad at her for screaming at him like she did.
"Yeah!" Dallet added, poking his head back into the room, "Good luck with you request Princess, Don't let the MAN get ya down!!" An arm reached around the door, cuffing Dallet's jacket. "Bye Celena!!" he called as Gatti dragged him out of the room and the door slid shut.
Celena and Serryn burst into a fit of giggles.
"You've really got them fighting for your attention," Serryn commented.
"Yeh," Celena agreed, "they've always been curious about me. Ever since I made my first surprise appearance." The blue eyed girl laughed at the memory," You should have seen it, Dilandau wouldn't come out of his room for two days. I guess it shook him up a little, learning he used to be a girl and all."
Serryn nodded, "I'm surprised he's still right in the head after all that." A strange expression crossed Celena's face at that comment, but it was gone the next moment.
"So are you going to ask him?" She asked Serryn, making sure her sword was free of marks before returning it to its scabbard.
Serryn's content expression faded, "I don't know," she admitted, sighing, "There doesn't seem to be much of a point now."
"Why not?"
"Because he'll say no. He's such an asshole, he'd do it just to spite me."
Celena shrugged, "You don't know that for sure. Besides, it's not like you have anything to lose."
"My dignity?"
Celena snorted, "OH please, Like that didn't go flying out the door the first time he beat the crap out of you."
Serryn glared at the other girl,"Thanks alot..." but she sighed again. Celena was right after all. "I just don't think it'll be worth it."
"Well, do it for Aria."
Serryn looked up at the blue eyed girl, blinking, but she nodded. "All right."
