Her hand moving silently over the clothing Hilde frowned at it in confusion. She had decided to study the clothes here so that she could have a better idea of how they were made. They never seemed to rip or to tear and as she had nothing better to do it was ideal.
Normally at this time of day she was outside pruning her nimble fingers working quickly over the bushes and plants. Today though she had awoken with a severe disappointment as she had planned on getting the center of the garden finished today. But alas it was not to be done, for it had rained.
Not the gentle rain that comes in the spring this was the harsher, colder winter rain that came in torrents. The sky was light by the fierce lightning and the thunder threatened to bring the castle down to its knees with every loud boom. That was a silly thought of course for no mere thunder and lightning could bring down the sturdy walls of the castle. Yet the notion was not completely idle either.
And so with the normality of the day taken from her she was now doing something she really didn't think she would be caught dead doing. She was trying to figure out how to clothe something and how it was made. Her mother had been an excellent semester's herself and her sister had made many of her fine garments that many o girl had been envious of. She had had not interest in it as a child though and would often go exploring in the woods instead of taking her lessons on that particular subject. That was the first case when her mother had truly decided that her daughter was un redeemable. That had also been the first time Hilde had shown her stubborn will of course it didn't help much that her sister could embroider everything from flowers to landscape by the time she was six.
Putting the cloth down with a sigh Hilde shook her head; this was getting her no where quick. And since she had no patience for that sort of thing she did what she always did. She moved on to something a little more interesting. Her room she had searched for every nook and cranny in the first few days but she had yet to explore the entire castle.
Opening the door she looked around for a moment and closed her eyes letting her senses go, sensing no one she quickly headed down the hall.
She had by some accident or just by luck found that she had that little trick up her sleeve. It seemed to her that the more and more she stayed in the castle the more interesting her gift became. Just yesterday she had caught a glimpse of blond hair. She wasn't sure if she had imagined it or not but a few seconds after that Quatre had entered the room. She could also find Duo no matter where he was, all she had to do was close her eyes and concentrate on the thought of him. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing just yet but she did know that it not allow him to sneak up on her anymore. It was like some little buzzer went of in her head when he came close, that and that non stop tug at her, one day she would find out why that was and stop it.
Reaching an outlet in the castle wall she looked at the candles carefully, careful as she did not want to pick Wufei up, and because you never knew what the silly thing would do. She had once tried to pick on up and it had yelled up at her.
"Just what do you think you are doing? I am working over here."
To say the least she had been more than careful after that when she picked up the candles. Certain that at least this candle was not going to jump out of her hands or start lecturing her, that later being Wufei's specialty, she reassumed her journey. The hall was no better lit and she not longer had the notion that she was going to trip over something in the floor.
Castles were generally not very bright and cheery as very little light got into them. Though this one had more windows than, of this she had only been told, was the norm in case of attack. But because of the rain outside one had to use a candle for the light was completely blocked, except for that of the lighting. But it was far too infrequent for her to use as an actual light; it was also far too inconvenient. Smiling softly to herself at the fact that no one had discovered her yet she continued on her way through the castle.

~~~



Sighing softly Duo watched the rain, as it made tiny rivets in the window in his room. Closing his eyes in pain he smiled painfully. Would this madness ever come to an end? It had been a day much like this so many years ago when that enchantment had been placed on him and his friends. Why? Because he had refused to marry that beast of a women's daughter. Now he had his best friends were condemned to this life if this tiny girl did not accept him. Sometimes he wondered why fate did this to him.
"DAMN HER."
"I hope you do not mean Miss Hilde." Quatres smooth voice broke into his thoughts causing him to whip around. "I know not why she should evoke that type of response to you."
"I was thinking of the women who did this to her." Duo growls his voice harsh with anger. It was not directed at his friend though and after all the years of companionship the two had shared, he knew that Quatre knew that as well.
"Forget her. She can only bother you if you let her." Trowa offered softly his dark eyes emotionless as ever. He had lost a sister to the bitch and was not likely to forget.
"I know but sometimes..."
:"We know Duo we know." Heero intoned softly. "You will have to trust her and much as we are able."
"Sorry to interrupt the little love chat guys." Sally's soft voice rang into the room air, "Are you all decent?"
"Of course women what else would we be?" Wufei demanded his dark eyes flashing.
Shrugging Sally walks in amusement on her features. "I don't know but it is always better to ask than to walk in un prepared."
A snort from Duo brought them all back to face him though Quatre had to use a discreet cough to hide his laughter. A thousand years of enchantment and Sally still goaded them to a tee. Watching the way Wufei scowled at her though, his dark eyes watching as well as glaring, he was glad that some things never changed.
"You have something to say Sally?" Heero questions.
"Yes, it's stirring."
Heads snapping up the guys gape at her.
"How can that be?" Duo breathes softly. "Heero and I locked it up."
"I am not sure unless she has something to do with it." Sally says a thoughtful expression on her features.
"It is difficult to say really and unless Ann and Trieze would like to supply answers, which I doubt they will, I will have to make an educated guess."
"So start guessing."
Rolling her eyes Sally sits down on one of chairs her light eyes soft with thought. She was what they called back in the old days a seer. Though her expertise really ranged more in the area of knowledge and how to use and control magic than anything. She had also never actually gotten a promotion that she could remember though Wufei swore up and down she had told them things that had saved there lives on numerous occasions. She would believe it until she heard herself say it though.
"This day is so much like they day that this place was turned it could be just disturbing her. That would be my first guess."
"Your first guess?" Heero repeated a frown on his features.
"Yes that is right."
"That is logical." Quatre says his face thoughtful, "But what else could there be?"
"I don't think you will like it." Sally warns, the candle light flickering across it giving her a slightly ghostly expression.
"Anything that involves that subject is not going to be liked Sally you might as well start your theory." Wufei snaps irritation and worry on his features.
Rolling her eyes at him she winks before once more becoming serious.
"Something has aroused it. Not intentionally I think for it would have awoken the whole thing and not just a little at a time. Once the process began it found something it could feed off of. A dream, a thought anything what so ever as long as fear was in the air. I also belive that because the castle is coming alive it is feeding off that life." With each word she spoke her voice was getting distant until it was almost like she was in a trance her entire body was relaxed and her eyes were closed. "It is not going to stop until it has consumed that life source. It has also gotten stronger since the last time we fought it."
Blinking at her in confusion all the guys waited for her to go on but the only sound that was heard was that of her gentle breathing. Leaning down Wufei snaps his fingers in front of her causing her to jerk. "What did I say something?" She questions confusion on her face.
"No, Sally." Wufei interjects before the others can say anything. "You were just leaving."
Looking at him with a raised brow she nods a thoughtful expression her face before heading out the door.
"What was that?" Duo questions.
"I believe the sage in Sally just came out." Heero says in his usual tone of voice.
"Yes," Wufei says with a nod. "She has those moments more now since the castle came to be then before but she was the always the best I had seen."
"Uh?"
"Sally gets those little bits of information a lot, more than any other sage or seer I had ever been around." Wufei explains. "Sometimes their in her sleep and sometimes she can just be talking to you and start spouting about this stuff. Its infrequent but has yet to go wrong as long as I have known her."
"Oh."
'So then it would be a safe bet to say that all magical people in the castle are in danger." Quatre says his face thoughtful.
"Ya."
"We will have to go with the presumption that it will go after the most powerful in the castle first." Heero says thoughtfully. "It won't go after Duo for specific reasons but it might go after Sally, so Wufei I want you to stick with her and report anything unusual." At the mans nod he continues. "Quatre you stick with Trowa. I am not sure if it will go after mind magic but she might go after your other gift." Nodding his head Quatre shrugs.
"I had stuff I needed to do with Trowa today anyway."
Nodding his head Heero sighs. "And Trowa."
"I know she might decide acrobats is a great gift." Amusement glinting in his eyes he smirks. "I shall remain close to Quatre for protection."
"That leaves just me but I don't think battle tactics is something she might want. Everyone clear then..."
"What Heero there is one more thing." Wufei says horror dawning on his features.
"What?"
"Miss Hilde isn't her gift Life?"

~~~

Pulling the huge door open Hilde giggled slightly to herself. She had found the dungeon by some strange series of events. She had always wanted to explore one and see for herself the things her father had mentioned in bed time stories. She had been a gruesome little girl but now she was past that stage even though her interest in dungeons had yet to shrink or diminish by any size shape or standard.
"Gloomy down here." She mumbles more to here the sound of a human voice than anything.
Walking around slowly she shook her head when she saw more stairs. They certainly made this place deep down here.
Peeping into cell after cell she frowned with disgust when she came upon a pack of rats that had nested in a human skull.
"Poor thing it should at least have peace in death not have rats in the remains of there brains." She mutter to herself.
Shutting the door quickly she continued her walk down the dungeon doors blatant curiosity was the only thing that was really keeping her going. It was dark it was damp and it was murky and somehow she knew that it would only get worse. There had not been anyone in these dungeons for hundreds of years and so there really was no reason to keep them up. The only prisoners that been held in this kingdom was those like herself that were held there against there will but in comfort. For no man would put a women he had forced into his castle in the dungeon. Or at least she hoped that was so she didn't fear that from Duo but one could never tell really what a man would do when he was in a temper.
Her soft footfalls barely made a sound on the hard floor leaving her with the eire feeling that she was not the only person in the dungeon.
Reaching the final door in the dungeon she cocked her head to one side there was a strange light glowing from underneath it. Opening the door slowly she peeked in before shrugging and walking in. The moment she entered the door a strange noise and a gray light surrounded her.
IT IS HER A strange voice hissed in her ear. The next thing Hilde knew someone was once again trying to rip her soul out and a pain filled scream erupted from her lips.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO." She screamed the sound of it echoing around her like a clock as something deep within her clicked it was almost felt like the final piece of the puzzle had been entered and something warm and soft filled her. Her eyes snapping open it was like she could see through the gray mist and there was something there something horrible and it wanted her. Closing her eyes as fast as she opened them she bit her lip as that strange light once more surrounded her. In outrage the thing through her against the wall before picking her back up and hurling her once more against the opposite wall.
Her head pounding Hilde mentally tried to fight off the bonds that were trying to wrap around her. It wasn't really her that it was trying to take over but something else she wasn't quiet sure. It was vital to her thought she knew that as she breathed, and so she fought that gray bond somehow bringing the white light to existence every time the gray got to close. She was loosing slowly though. The thing was slowly starting to beat down her defenses weak as they were it was not much of a fight. And then suddenly something black wrapped around the gray and it screamed as it was banished back into the dark. Once the presence of the gray dispersed Hilde did the only thing left to her. She fainted.

~~~



"Will she be okay?" Duo questions.
Looking up at him Sally sighs. "I don't know Duo I don't know how long the thing had her."
Frowning Duo took to pacing again as the others watched him. His features were still contorted with fury but there was more worry in there than there had been earlier. Their biggest fear had been that they would not get there in time. Right after Wufei had made his point her scream had reached there ears. It had sounded like it had come from her very soul and had scared him nearly to death.

Watching him for a moment Sally heads back into the room with Hilde to check on her.
"The idiot, the girl should know better than to go about dungeons." He snarls, all the while praying that the girl would be okay.
"No one told her not to." Quatre points out only to have Duo snarl something at him.
"She is awake." Sally says her voice soft and quiet her face gray.
"Sally what is wrong?" Wufei questions softly. His eyes taking in her pale face and form.
"She saw me." She breathes.

"WHAT?" Duo questions his voice just as shocked as the rest of the group, everyone expression mirroring the rest.

"She saw me." Sally repeats slowly as if she were speaking to three-year-olds.

"Impossible." Quatre breathes. "That has to be impossible."