Chapter 20- The Fight Would Soon Begin
"Heaven help me for the way I am
Save me from these evil deeds
before I get them done
I know tommorow brings
the consequence at hand
But I keep living this day
like the next will never come" ~Fiona Apple
Serryn's eyes, half lidded, traced their way up the centric carving that wove up the panels of the domed ceiling. There was a skylight placed in the middle of the ceiling, flooding gray light into the large room. It was daylight, and she'd been staring at it for some time.
She didn't know how long she'd been awake, long before Dilandau was. She'd spent some time watching the young general sleep. It amazed her how calm and harmless he appeared while unconscious. But she knew all to well it was a mask.
Despite that fact she had to try hard to resist the urge to run a finger over his scar, or brush the few stands of silvery hair that hung over his closed eyes. But she didn't dare, for fear of waking him.
Hearing the sudden change in his breathing, Serryn sank back down into the bed, her eyes closed. She had no present wish to converse with the red eyed boy, and hoped he wouldn't see through her act.
Whether he bought it, or just didn't care to speak to her either, the Zaibach general rose, without saying a word. He dressed and left shortly afterwards. Serryn sighed, turning to lay and her side.
"Why am I afraid to speak to him?" she asked herself. She should have known confusion would set in the moment she woke. 'What have I done?'
It was a weak question, she knew perfectly well what she'd done. "But..." Serryn felt the blood rushing to her cheeks at the memory of the previous night, "It wasn't bad..." A shiver ran up her spine, "I can't believe I feel this way about him, it's totally irrational..."
Serryn felt tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She cursed her own foolish heart. She'd never been in love before, and of all people she had to pick. "Stop it," she hissed at herself, "you brought this on yourself, now deal with it."
She climbed out of the bed and began dressing herself.
****
A nice hot bath. That was all she wanted right now. Serryn wrapped her arms around her shoulders, her pace quickening, but a voice brought her to a halt.
"Serryn! You're back!"
The princess turned around, a small smile finding its way to her face, "Hey Celena."
The blue eyed girl grinned wrapping her arms around Serryn, "I'm so glad you're ok! I was so worried when you didn't come back the other day."
"Yeh," Gatti added coming up behind Celena, "you should have seen Lord Dilandau, he threw a fit when Celena told him you never came back with her."
Serryn suddenly noticed the bluish hue Celena's nose and left eye had adorned, "Oh gods Celena! What happened?"
Celena smiled sheepishly, "Like Gatti said...Lord Dilandau was at bit upset."
Serryn's eyes widened with anger, "Why that..." she gritted her teeth.
"So where were you heading?" Celena questioned, changing the subject, "You looked kind of upset, are you ok?"
Serryn blinked and nodding, "Yes... I'm fine. I was just heading to the washroom for a bath. I really need one..."
"Yeh I'll say," Celena agreed grinning, "I'll join you, I just finished my morning training and I'm absolutely disgusting!"
"I'll come too!" Gatti exclaimed, a big smile plastered on his face.
"Ohhhh no you don't mister," Celena scolded, "Just cuz she let you do it once doesn't mean Serryn wants you to ogle her as a daily routine."
Serryn covered her mouth to hide her smile as Gatti faced flushed red. "Besides Serryn and I have things to talk about, boring GIRL things a boy like you wouldn't be interested in, so GO shoo!" Celena made a waving motion with her hands.
Gatti shrugged as if suddenly disinterested, 'Fine fine, have it your way," he mumbled stretching his arms out behind his head as he walked away.
Celena and Serryn watched as he went. "You think he'll be back?" Celena asked, crossing her arms.
"Most definitely," Serryn replied.
"Lock the door?"
"You bet."
****
Serryn sighed, letting the hot water soak into her skin. She sank into the pool, letting the water rise above her head, not coming up for air until her lungs burned for it.
"So you're sure you're ok, right?" Celena asked for what seemed to Serryn to be the hundredth time.
"Yes, I'm fine," she replied hissing at little as she climbed up on the edge of the pool and began removing her bandages, which were staring to bleed through when she got them wet. "All except for this."
"Yeh, I heard about that from Naria and Eryia," Said Celena, 'it'll probably leave a scar."
"Probably? You mean definitely..." Serryn replied.
"It must have been exciting, having Dilandau rescue you like that," Celena remarked, smiling slightly.
Serryn scowled, "Exciting wouldn't be the word I would choose to call it."
"So how was he?"
Serryn eyes snapped up, her mouth widening in surprise. "What is THAT supposed to mean??" she demanded.
"Well, I already know what it's like to sleep with him from his point of view, you know," Celena shrugged, "cuz I used to be him... I was just wondering what it was like from your point of view."
Serryn was shaking her head, "How did you KNOW??"
"How could I not?? I know there are only two things that make Dilandau this cheerful and to my knowledge, no one's died and nothings exploded since your return..."
Serryn was near hysterics by now, "Does EVERYONE know???"
Celena caught on to her friends distress then, "No no, unless he's told anyone, which I doubt, I'm the only one who knows, and I swear its only because I know him so well. To tell you the truth I wasn't even sure myself until I saw your reaction," she assured Serryn, "And telling from that, I'm guessing this wasn't planned..."
"Planned???" Serryn exclaimed, "I never intended to do ANYTHING with him! I just...I...well...I DON'T know!" Serryn was aware at first that she was crying. She turned away wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I'm...sorry," Celena said softly, "I'm so stupid, I didn't think about what this must mean to you..."
"It...it's all right. Don't apologize, it's not your fault. I just don't know how I'm going to deal with this..."
"Maybe you should talk to him," Celena offered.
"OH Yeh, sure. THAT will work real well. 'Ok Dilandau, now that you've fucked me what do you plan to do about it?' " Serryn replied, her tone bitter. "Sorry," she added catching Celena's hurt expression, "I'm just so scared, I have this feeling he thinks its all just a game..."
"It is a game...to him."
This didn't surprise Serryn. She hadn't expected anything less. It seemed so obvious now, and suddenly she didn't feel like talking about it anymore.
"I think I'm finished," she said after a moment, wrapping a towel around her, "I'm gonna go now."
Celena nodded, looking like she wanted to say something, continue the conversation, but decided against it. Serryn was relieved. She need to think, and be alone for a while. Pulling some clothing from one of the shelves, she dressed and exited the room
****
The look on Chesta's face as Dilandau tossed him the sparring sword brought a wicked grin to the red-eyed general's face.
"S-spar??" the blonde haired slayer stuttered regarding his commanding officer in shock, "But Lord Dilandau-"
"But what, Chesta? You are my best swordsman and I wish to spar with you...is that a problem?"
"N-no, Lord Dilandau, of course not! I just thought you...well, considered me out of you're league."
Dilandau drew his own sword then, and Chesta was unable to catch the movement before the blade was inches from his throat.
"You ARE out of my league Chesta, I just really feel like kicking someone's ass right now."
The next few minutes would probably end up being one of the most exhilarating, and most painful moments of Chesta's life. Although there was no question that he would lose, which of course he did. Yet, as he lay on the matted floor, bruised and bleeding from a few small wounds, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Lord Dilandau had complemented him, in his own unique way.
He watched as he commander sat crossed-legged sharpening his blade, a satisfied smirk in place. Chesta was slightly confused. Usually Lord Dilandau only picked fights when he was in an angry, destructive mood, but today he seemed almost cheerful.
"You need work on your defense and your reflex," The silver hair general spoke up then.
Chesta blinked, "Sir?" he asked, and almost instantly flinched, but the slap never came.
"Your defense and reflexes. You're too slow and you're not paying good enough attention to where my blade is at all times. Perhaps if you train harder you won't get quite as many bumps as you did today."
Chesta nodded, not knowing exactly what to say in reply, too surprised to actually think of anything. Except...
"Lord Dilandau," he started, "um, if don't mind me pointing out, you seem, er, pleased about something. I suppose you're retrieval of the princess went well last night?"
Dilandau's grin was wolfish, "Yes Chesta, it went very well indeed."
"And Serryn? She's all right, isn't she?"
"I'm just fine Chesta."
Both Chesta and Dilandau's heads snapped up at the reply coming from the door of the sparring room. Serryn stood in the doorway her arms crossed starring daggers at the red eyed general.
"Hello there Princess," Dilandau greeted her as he rose to his feet, "nice to see you're finally awake. I suppose Folken's feline lackeys must have slipped you one to many sedatives."
"Chesta..." her voice came out in a low growl, "would you please excuse us? I have some things I need to discuss with Lord Dilandau." Her tone was enough to convince the blue eyed slayer.
"Sir?" he asked, glancing at Dilandau. A sly smile played upon his commanders lips as he regarded the princess in amusement.
"Yes, Chesta, the Princess and I do have some things to 'discuss' ...you're dismissed."
Neither the princess, nor the general's eyes followed the slayer as he exited the room. The two regarded each other for a moment in silence, before the princess stepped all the way into the room, closing the door behind her.
"So what are we going to do now, Dilandau?" she demanded, locking eyes with him.
Dilandau raised an eyebrow. "Well, Princess, this room's a little public, but I suppose if you're that eager, what the hell?"
Within seconds he had crossed the room and backed the green eyed girl against the closed door, his mouth closing over hers.
She made a surprised muffled noise, shoving him away from her. "That is NOT what I meant!!" she screamed at him, her face flushed with anger.
Dilandau's hand shot out grasping her throat and immediately cutting off the scream. "I know what you meant princess," he replied smiling darkly, "and I intend to do nothing. Now that I've claimed you as my own, there's nothing I need to do." He squeezed his hand tighter as she tried to speak again.
"Oh and if you think I'm going to take it easier on you then the rest of my soldiers just because I fucked you, you're VERY wrong."
He released his grip on her throat then, and she gasped, her hands flying to her neck. Tears were trickling from her eyes as she rubbed her throat, although her face was expressionless.
"I thought it would be different... I thought you loved me," she muttered, glaring at the floor," But now... I don't think you even know what love is." With that she broke away from him, disappearing out the door.
Dilandau scoffed, still gazing at the spot the princess had occupied moments before, "You're wrong princess, I know what love is. It's a weakness I won't tolerate." His smile was cold as he turned away from the door.
But suddenly his expression was changed drastically, his eyes widening as he became aware of a scream outside the room. A scream that belonged to Serryn. There was no thought as Dilandau dashed into the hallway.
The silver haired general cursed, fury raging in his eyes at the sight that greeted him once out of the room.
****
Dum dum DUUUUU....Cliff hanger! What's is going on? Is Princess Serryn in danger? Why is Dilandau so alarmed? And will he continue to play the role of a flaming asshole for the remainder of the story?? Find out in the next action packed chapter!! teehee, don't you love me?? ^.~
Oh...My...GOD!! Chanla' Bing! HA, kidding, but yikes it's been awhile since I posted last! Sorry about the delay, but I'm sure most of you know what it's like to have a typhoon of obstacles obstructing your purpose in life. Up...work...home...TV...bed has been my cycle for the past two weeks, and Fanfic.net being down until recently didn't help by much.
Not only that but I've suffered my first real case of writer's block, and E'gads that was scary! But as I told my sister when she asked me for advice on the matter: 'If all else fails... add a new character...^-^ have I gotten you guys wound up enough yet?? well don't fret, the next chapter will be out very shortly, so until then, May the schwarts be with you!!!!!! ok...I'm gonna go take some sedatives now...
~Sarah~
