Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the plot line of Escaflowne. I do, however, own the new DS, Kat, Narisia, Blue, and Jewel. So if you wish to use them, please ask me know first!
Author's Note: wow, 50 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! Okay, in this chapter things might get a little confusing. Sorry if that happens, I'll try to make it as clear as possible without ruining the story. And things should get clearer in the next couple of chaps. I promise! Okay, now on to the story!
Chapter Fifteen: Questions but No Answers
Kat leaned back against the many pillows that were stacked up behind her. She sighed as she flipped through a book that was leaning against her legs. It was almost a week later. She had abandoned the library with a strange knowledge that she didn't need the information there. She hadn't been able to help Jewel so far.
Except that she had located Folken's journals. She had found them in Zaibach's basement, at the bottom of a crate stuck in the farthest corner. Almost as if they didn't want people to find it. But even though Kat had found it, it was no help. She had gone through every single one, but nothing was even remotely related to Jewel.
She sighed and closed the book. Instead she had retired researching and looking, and had just gone on the knowledge that someone around here would know. So she had just been reading myths and legends for fun, feeling very guilty about slacking off when she was supposed to be helping Jewel. She glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.
Two in the morning. Dilandau hadn't come back from interrogating Van yet. That, for some unknown reason, bothered Kat. Sure Dilandau might've been the better fighter, sure he might be quicker then Van, and sure he might be stronger, but for some reason Van just gave Kat a weird feeling. She knew, in some corner of her mind, that Van was supposed to be dead.
"I know he's dead. I remember his funeral, how happy Dilandau was," she whispered into the darkness of the room. But... Why was he back? How could he be back?
Suddenly the room doors slid open. Kat turned to see Dilandau walk in. She smiled at him, suddenly very relieved that he was back. He paid no attention to her however. Before the doors closed Blue came running in. He ran up to Kat and jumped onto the bed, happily licking her face. Kat pushed him away gently and watched Dilandau with concerned eyes.
He ignored her and went over to the dresser. He took out his flask and put it to his lips. He guzzled it and then stared at the mirror. Kat was slightly worried about this behavior. What was going on?
****
Jewel sat on her bed, looking at her window. It was a perfect night, clear, cool, and starry. Usually she would've been outside, lying on her back staring up at it. But no, this was Zaibach; she couldn't do that. Not without getting them mad at her and possibly taking her over.
Her blood began to boil at that thought. How dare they do that to her! How dare they... She trailed off. As much as she didn't like Zaibach, and now as she hated them, she just seemed like she couldn't stay mad at them. Why? She wondered as she stared at the sky. Why?
No answer came to her. No answer, no possible answer, nothing. She sighed and continued to stare out the window. Time would tell, time would tell.
****
A slim figure watched from a dark room. A full-length mirror stood before her, reflecting both Kat and Jewel's forms. The figure sighed and brushed her long lavender hair back, her golden eyes flashing. Oh, this Van would pay. He had messed everything up.
She stood, her dark cloak flowing around her. Oh, this Van would pay. She hadn't killed him the first time for nothing. He was back, how she didn't know, but he would die, just like his predecessor. And she would make sure that he stayed dead this time.
She looked at the mirror thoughtfully, almost as if she was observing something that no one else could see. Something complicated, something advanced, and so obscure it was almost impossible to think. Suddenly an insane smile lit her face. "So that's your secret, Van," she whispered, her voice silky and soft.
She closed her eyes and remembered when she had first seen his arrival. She had been angry with herself for not finding him sooner, but she had also been shocked at this sudden event. Sure she was as powerful, maybe even more, then the Fates, but not even she had seen this.
She had gone to him and tried to kill him. But once she set eyes on him she had known he wasn't the same Van she had killed three years ago. He was different... Not the same soul, the same look in his eyes. He was an imposter, a powerful one at that. She had tried to banish him, but he had somehow been able to deflect her attacks and turn them against her.
She had barely escaped that fight alive. She was lucky to even survive it. But still, how Van had come here and how he had been able to almost kill her was a mystery. One that She would figure out. One that she would reveal.
"For this I'll have to work beside the Dark Protector-Kat was her name? Yes... Kat... I'll have to work with her," she whispered. "But I can't go to her now. No, I'll have to bring her to me. I hope I can do that... I'm still so weak." She narrowed her eyes and brought her hands together. "No matter. I will bring her to me."
****
Kat was still watching Dilandau from her spot on the bed. He was sitting on the end of it, drinking his flask. He didn't seem to notice her there. Which was strange...
Suddenly Kat felt a pull deep inside of her. It was strong, knocking the breath out of her and sending her reeling. She leaned forward and gave a loud, pain filled moan. There was another sharp pull, harder and deeper inside of her this time. She opened her mouth to scream as pain ripped through her.
But she didn't get a chance to scream. Suddenly she faded from her spot on the bed, without a sound. Just simply faded from the spot. Dilandau turned at stared as Kat finished disappearing, a sad look inside his crimson eyes.
Blue jumped up onto the bed where Kat had been and sniffed frantically around. Once he knew that she wasn't there, he looked at Dilandau expectantly. Dilandau shook his head. Blue suddenly looked like a young, lost child. He lifted his head to the sky and let loose a heart-yanking howl. It started from a low growl to a loud howl.
As Blue continued this behavior, Dilandau soon joined in. Soon both were howling heart-wrenching notes. Both felt the pull deep inside of them. The pull of a loved one lost forever. Of one you know you'd never see again.
****
Kat looked up from her spot on the ground. She was in a new room, a dark room. There was almost nothing in the room except for a long table pushed up against the room with vials and all sorts of herbs and potions on it, a full-length mirror, and carved chair. And one person wearing dark cloths and a black cloak, with long lavender hair and pain-filled golden eyes...
"Rika Avalon," Kat breathed. So many a time had she dreamed of the great Rika Avalon, the one who had killed Van, the one who had the powers of a Fate, the one who was almost a Fate herself. The golden eyed woman looked up at Kat.
She was weak, that much was clear. But why would she risk almost killing herself to bring Kat to her... "Kat, I need your help," Rika whispered.
"That much is obvious. Let me help you."
Kat stood and walked over to Rika. She helped her up and into the carved chair. But as she did so, Kat had a feeling that she knew what this was about.
*~~*
TBC...
Author's Note: So sorry for the short chapter. I need the next one to be longer. But, thanks for all who have reviewed! Oh, and Rika Avalon belongs to me. I know she looks a lot like Victoria from "To Gaea Again" by CrimsonFire, but I promise you that she belongs to me and that she is stylized after CrimsonFire, who I put in my fic "Gemini". So I didn't steal her. Okay, with that said, I'd like everyone to know that I won't post chapter 16 until I get at least 65-70 reviews. Yes, yes, I know. How can I leave you off at a cliffhanger? Well, I'm sorry but I need something to keep y'all interested, don't I? Yes, I am evil, as many will say. But don't worry, the next chapter is ready to be posted once I get enough reviews! So review, and watch for the next chapter!
-ShadowKat
Author's Note: wow, 50 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! Okay, in this chapter things might get a little confusing. Sorry if that happens, I'll try to make it as clear as possible without ruining the story. And things should get clearer in the next couple of chaps. I promise! Okay, now on to the story!
Chapter Fifteen: Questions but No Answers
Kat leaned back against the many pillows that were stacked up behind her. She sighed as she flipped through a book that was leaning against her legs. It was almost a week later. She had abandoned the library with a strange knowledge that she didn't need the information there. She hadn't been able to help Jewel so far.
Except that she had located Folken's journals. She had found them in Zaibach's basement, at the bottom of a crate stuck in the farthest corner. Almost as if they didn't want people to find it. But even though Kat had found it, it was no help. She had gone through every single one, but nothing was even remotely related to Jewel.
She sighed and closed the book. Instead she had retired researching and looking, and had just gone on the knowledge that someone around here would know. So she had just been reading myths and legends for fun, feeling very guilty about slacking off when she was supposed to be helping Jewel. She glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.
Two in the morning. Dilandau hadn't come back from interrogating Van yet. That, for some unknown reason, bothered Kat. Sure Dilandau might've been the better fighter, sure he might be quicker then Van, and sure he might be stronger, but for some reason Van just gave Kat a weird feeling. She knew, in some corner of her mind, that Van was supposed to be dead.
"I know he's dead. I remember his funeral, how happy Dilandau was," she whispered into the darkness of the room. But... Why was he back? How could he be back?
Suddenly the room doors slid open. Kat turned to see Dilandau walk in. She smiled at him, suddenly very relieved that he was back. He paid no attention to her however. Before the doors closed Blue came running in. He ran up to Kat and jumped onto the bed, happily licking her face. Kat pushed him away gently and watched Dilandau with concerned eyes.
He ignored her and went over to the dresser. He took out his flask and put it to his lips. He guzzled it and then stared at the mirror. Kat was slightly worried about this behavior. What was going on?
****
Jewel sat on her bed, looking at her window. It was a perfect night, clear, cool, and starry. Usually she would've been outside, lying on her back staring up at it. But no, this was Zaibach; she couldn't do that. Not without getting them mad at her and possibly taking her over.
Her blood began to boil at that thought. How dare they do that to her! How dare they... She trailed off. As much as she didn't like Zaibach, and now as she hated them, she just seemed like she couldn't stay mad at them. Why? She wondered as she stared at the sky. Why?
No answer came to her. No answer, no possible answer, nothing. She sighed and continued to stare out the window. Time would tell, time would tell.
****
A slim figure watched from a dark room. A full-length mirror stood before her, reflecting both Kat and Jewel's forms. The figure sighed and brushed her long lavender hair back, her golden eyes flashing. Oh, this Van would pay. He had messed everything up.
She stood, her dark cloak flowing around her. Oh, this Van would pay. She hadn't killed him the first time for nothing. He was back, how she didn't know, but he would die, just like his predecessor. And she would make sure that he stayed dead this time.
She looked at the mirror thoughtfully, almost as if she was observing something that no one else could see. Something complicated, something advanced, and so obscure it was almost impossible to think. Suddenly an insane smile lit her face. "So that's your secret, Van," she whispered, her voice silky and soft.
She closed her eyes and remembered when she had first seen his arrival. She had been angry with herself for not finding him sooner, but she had also been shocked at this sudden event. Sure she was as powerful, maybe even more, then the Fates, but not even she had seen this.
She had gone to him and tried to kill him. But once she set eyes on him she had known he wasn't the same Van she had killed three years ago. He was different... Not the same soul, the same look in his eyes. He was an imposter, a powerful one at that. She had tried to banish him, but he had somehow been able to deflect her attacks and turn them against her.
She had barely escaped that fight alive. She was lucky to even survive it. But still, how Van had come here and how he had been able to almost kill her was a mystery. One that She would figure out. One that she would reveal.
"For this I'll have to work beside the Dark Protector-Kat was her name? Yes... Kat... I'll have to work with her," she whispered. "But I can't go to her now. No, I'll have to bring her to me. I hope I can do that... I'm still so weak." She narrowed her eyes and brought her hands together. "No matter. I will bring her to me."
****
Kat was still watching Dilandau from her spot on the bed. He was sitting on the end of it, drinking his flask. He didn't seem to notice her there. Which was strange...
Suddenly Kat felt a pull deep inside of her. It was strong, knocking the breath out of her and sending her reeling. She leaned forward and gave a loud, pain filled moan. There was another sharp pull, harder and deeper inside of her this time. She opened her mouth to scream as pain ripped through her.
But she didn't get a chance to scream. Suddenly she faded from her spot on the bed, without a sound. Just simply faded from the spot. Dilandau turned at stared as Kat finished disappearing, a sad look inside his crimson eyes.
Blue jumped up onto the bed where Kat had been and sniffed frantically around. Once he knew that she wasn't there, he looked at Dilandau expectantly. Dilandau shook his head. Blue suddenly looked like a young, lost child. He lifted his head to the sky and let loose a heart-yanking howl. It started from a low growl to a loud howl.
As Blue continued this behavior, Dilandau soon joined in. Soon both were howling heart-wrenching notes. Both felt the pull deep inside of them. The pull of a loved one lost forever. Of one you know you'd never see again.
****
Kat looked up from her spot on the ground. She was in a new room, a dark room. There was almost nothing in the room except for a long table pushed up against the room with vials and all sorts of herbs and potions on it, a full-length mirror, and carved chair. And one person wearing dark cloths and a black cloak, with long lavender hair and pain-filled golden eyes...
"Rika Avalon," Kat breathed. So many a time had she dreamed of the great Rika Avalon, the one who had killed Van, the one who had the powers of a Fate, the one who was almost a Fate herself. The golden eyed woman looked up at Kat.
She was weak, that much was clear. But why would she risk almost killing herself to bring Kat to her... "Kat, I need your help," Rika whispered.
"That much is obvious. Let me help you."
Kat stood and walked over to Rika. She helped her up and into the carved chair. But as she did so, Kat had a feeling that she knew what this was about.
*~~*
TBC...
Author's Note: So sorry for the short chapter. I need the next one to be longer. But, thanks for all who have reviewed! Oh, and Rika Avalon belongs to me. I know she looks a lot like Victoria from "To Gaea Again" by CrimsonFire, but I promise you that she belongs to me and that she is stylized after CrimsonFire, who I put in my fic "Gemini". So I didn't steal her. Okay, with that said, I'd like everyone to know that I won't post chapter 16 until I get at least 65-70 reviews. Yes, yes, I know. How can I leave you off at a cliffhanger? Well, I'm sorry but I need something to keep y'all interested, don't I? Yes, I am evil, as many will say. But don't worry, the next chapter is ready to be posted once I get enough reviews! So review, and watch for the next chapter!
-ShadowKat