Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of it's characters
Chapter9: Lurking Evil
After a while of silence Allen looked over at the man next to him observing him closely and critically with his blue iris's.
"You care for Hitomi do you not?" Anthony's eyes sparked and a smile formed on his lips
"What kind of question is that? Of course I care; I love her" upon hearing those words Allen began to give a protective glare though it went unnoticed as Anthony continued to speak
"From what I have been told Hitomi has been alone for some time Allen; she has a wonderful spirit, a beautiful smile, and a great heart. She deserves some happiness in her life" Allen sighed and agreed about what he had said about Hitomi, but he had yet to understand what he meant by she was alone.
"How did you meet her?" Allen inquired
"Well let me see it started out as a normal morning I was on my way to work, and I saw the most beautiful girl crossing the street. I was admiring her features, when all of a sudden she just collapsed. I remember only seeing the car barreling towards her, with no doubt in my mind it would kill her. So without another thought I dove out, gripped her shoulders and rolled out of the way. When I saw she had passed out I took the liberty of taking her home, where we actually first met" Allen was still silent he understood most of what the man had said, but some of the words did not fall into place like the word car and so on. What was clear though is he had saved Hitomi from death.
"I'll tell you one thing Allen, I never would have imagined that I would be on another world right now"
"That reminds me of something I wished to ask you" Allen inserted
"And what would that be?"
"Do you have any idea how you were brought here, brought to Gaea?"
"It had to do with a boy he brought us here" Anthony replied. Allen raised his eyebrows in curiosity
"A boy?"
"Yes, I suspect that he is the one responsible for the violent attack on Hitomi to"
"Do you know him?" Allen asked as the feeling of anger he had felt earlier when he had first seen Hitomi's beaten form began to rise. His thoughts went to the so-called boy who had done this and how he would pay greatly for his crime.
"No I had never seen him before, but Hitomi knew him. He vocalized his want for revenge on her very clearly"
"What, what's the name?" Allen asked impatiently
"I don't remember it wasn't the thing I was concentrating on at the time if you know what I mean" Allen's eyebrows crinkled in thought
"Who could have hated Hitomi so much to have done such a thing?" He whispered
The crashing of glass was heard throughout the halls, and thunderous footprints echoed behind them
"What in the?" Van burst through the shadows stopping at Allen and gripping the older mans shoulders
"It's him! It's impossible! I know it can't be, but it is" He spouted
Allen gazed inquisitively into Van's chestnut eyes that were now emitting more emotion than they could normally hold
"Van what the hell are you talking about?"
"It's him Allen he didn't die in the war, It's Dilandau, Allen Dilandau has come back!" The knights eyes widened and his face paled
"How do you know this?"
"Hitomi was having another vision, she was yelling that death was coming on the back of a demon and several times she said that Dilandau was here, and that it was to late. That's all I could get out of her before darkness claimed her again."
"We need to call a meeting the King will wish to know of this immediately. If this is true an attack on either of our country's is a most probable future" Van said nothing just ran passed them towards the main hall followed by Allen leaving Anthony alone.
"I missed something didn't I?" He whispered to himself before following the two disappearing men in hopes to find answers two an ocean of questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The meeting hall was packed with the Austorian council, King Dryden and Millerna. The generals and other influencial's who were all listening intently to the words spoken from their new consular's mouth
Myden Fassa stood and placed his hands firmly on the table in front of him
"Enough! I've heard enough. Do you think you can call all the members of this court into a state of alert for an outrageous excuse as this? That girl was trouble from the moment she came to our world 3 years ago and you want me to believe that there is a possible attack on Astoria just because of the delirious babble of a girl in a nightmare? This is absolute poppycock."
"Hitomi has never been wrong you are a fool to..."
"A fool am I! Let me remind you young man that you are a guest in this country and should be aware that you are rapidly approaching the limits to your welcome!"
"Silence!" Dryden shouted slamming his fist to the table. You could hear a pin drop as complete stillness and quiet fell over the room no one daring to breath
"This is a serious matter I do not wish to listen to quarreling children!"
"But your majesty"
"No! That means you to father. You never trusted the girl that is because you seek the welfare of your self and the money in your pockets, but I have seen past that state of mind into the greater picture, the welfare of my people."
Myden sat down his expression that of a whipped puppy, no longer did he sit tall in his chair.
"No I did not have as much time with Hitomi as Did Van Fanel, or Allen Schezar but I will be the first to say I believe every word that comes from her lips and if she uttered the words 'Dilandau has returned' by God he has"
Van nodded to Dryden his thanks for the interruption, which brought a knowing smile across the Kings face
"Now if we may continue I wish to discuss a plan of action" The table began to erupt with ideas which would surely mean the security of they're country, but none of them were aware of the listening ears that sat atop the rooms skylight, his eyes dancing and a amused grin crossing his lips
"Tonight they'll be ready to fight, but to day they'll be easy prey" Dilandau watched the men passing suggestion this way and that every idea imprinting itself on his mind. His eyes stayed on one man unparticular his red iris's following every movement of the raven haired King
"Van do you even know how easily I could kill you now? I wouldn't even have to try" Dilandau's finger twitched impatiently on the trigger of his cross bow, which was pointed with deadly accuracy at the young king.
"But that would leave your killer unknown to you and I want the last thing you see before you die to be me, to know that I was the one who beat you." He hissed vengefully braking his gaze and lowering the weapon to his side.
"Death will come soon enough Van Fanel and I am the one who shall bring it"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hitomi awoke to a warm body curled next to her she smiled to see Merle sleeping in a ball beside her on the bed, which brought comfort to her pain. Hitomi out-stretched a hand slightly and brushed a strand of pink hair out of the young cat's face. Merles eyes snapped open and she pounced back landing at the bottom edge of the bed her ears up in alert and surprise. Hitomi giggled as she watched the movements of her friend.
"Hitomi I..." Merle's eyes began to water and she came back towards Hitomi wrapping her arms around her neck and hugging her gently letting the tears spill over her cheeks
"Merle?"
"Oh Hitomi I missed you" came a muffled explanation. Hitomi smiled softly and tightened the embrace
"I missed you to Merle; I missed you a lot"
Merle looked up into Hitomi's face while backing away
"Lord Van was worried we thought you were going to die last night"'
"Never" she whispered back
Hitomi smiled a reasuring smile at the younger girl and let out a sigh
"You've changed so much, I suspect you all have. You're so grown up now"
Merle smiled back and let her eyes sparkle
"You can't stay a child forever...but you also can't grow up either. Don't let me deceive you to much though Lord Van says I'm the one who keeps the castle alive and on it's toes" She spoke her words proudly standing tall on the bed as if she were a noble. Hitomi giggled as Merle lost balance and her feet came out from under her sending the cat to the mattress in a heap
"Maybe you haven't changed at all" Merle gave her a toothy grin and sat Indian style in front of her
"You've changed to you know I almost didn't recognize you but I could smell you a mile a way" Merle announced holding her nose with her fingers
"I don't smell that bad!" Hitomi fumed teasingly throwing the nearest pillow her way. Merle dodged and laughed but quickly went serious at Hitomi's expression of pain.
"Hitomi are you all right?" She asked quickly aiding her.
"I'm, I'm ok I just forgot I was injured for a moment" she gasped slightly while laying completely still on the mound of pillows behind her
"I'm sorry" Merle whispered
"Why? There's no reason to be" Merle relaxed and smiled leaning back on the pillows beside Hitomi
"Will you stay this time Hitomi?" Hitomi looked over into the lavender pools that stared at her
"I don't know Merle it's not up to me" She whispered and in her mind hoped that Van would ask her to stay. Merle sighed at Hitomi's words 'Its not up to me' did she mean it's up to Anthony to decide because they were together? Merle frowned at the thought. Lord Van would not be happy if that were the case.
Merles ears perked to the sound of a scratching noise at the door and an occasional thud and click of the knob. The door opened a crack and a black nose appeared from behind it before it pushed it open enough for the rest of the furry body to enter the room.
Vision trotted to the bed and jumped landing on the other side of Hitomi and plopping down beside her
"Vision I was wondering where you had gone off to" Hitomi giggled while petting the dog's head.
"Lord Van locked it out of the room" Merle explained. Hitomi looked over at Merle inquisitively
"Why did he do that?" Merle grinned at the question
"Promise not to tell?"
"I promise"
"You're positive" Merle checked
"Yes, I promise I won't tell a soul"
"Well Lord Van is scared of it"
"What?" Hitomi laughed
"He said that it growls at him and shows its teeth when he comes near you. He locked it out of the room first chance he got"
"Vision you didn't" Vision looked up and gave a sad innocent look with her eyes while cocking her head to the side and letting out a pathetic groan.
"She was just being protective I'm sure" Merle nodded and reached across to pet the strange animal.
"She's cute; did you name her Vision?"
"No I didn't, Anthony did. He's the one that gave her to me"
"He seems to like you a lot Hitomi"
"Yes. He's a good friend" Hitomi smiled. Merle rejoiced inwardly at the word friend maybe she would stay for Van after all.
-----------------------------------------------------
AN: sorry this chapter is so short but I've been battling writers block and I just can't seem to get these as long as my other stories, but hay look at it this way at least I'm writing:) Please review I want, I need to know what ya think.
Dragon heart
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------