Chapter three
Clarissa sat one of the rooms of the ship with most of the crew teaching them how to play poker.
"Now, listen to me closely. These are called cards. They have numbers on them from 1 to 10. These are called face cards, this is a Jack, this is a Queen, and this is a King. This is an Ace. The values of each cards differ between each type of game you play. Hey, you, there, what did I just say?"
"Dunno."
"Does anyone know what I said?" Clarissa asked.
There were a couple of grunts and then one guy said, "I knows what yous said. Yous said there's cards that have numbers on thems from 1 to 10 and a Jack, Queen, King, an Ace."
"Yeah, exactly. Now, did you all get that?"
There was a lot of yeahs.
"Ok, good," Clarissa started, "In the game of poker; there are different positions you can get when you have certain cards in your hand. You only get five random cards from the deck. Does anyone have paper?" Someone gave her a sheet. She drew on it twenty-five cards in rows of five.
"For the first set," she explained, "This is a strait, or that's what they call it, it can be any combination of cards, but they have to be in an order like 1,2,3,4,5 or7, 8,9,10, Jack. They can't skip numbers, ok? The next set is called two pair; this is like its name. It is two pairs of cards. One pair has the same numbers, the other pair can have the same numbers as the first pair, but the two cards in the pair have to have the same number, got it? Ok, the next set is a Royal Strait. This is like a strait, but it has to have this exact order. The next set is a Full House, this is a pair with a set of three numbers, like a straight, but with only three cards. The final set is a pair. It is two cards that have the same number. Ok? Any questions? Good!" Clarissa wrote the names of each set, and their definition beside them. They all sat at a huge round table while Clarissa shuffled the cards. In a second, everyone had five cards and they all got into it easily. After a while, Clarissa started to teach them blackjack.
"The next game is called blackjack. The object is to get twenty-one points out of your cards. I give each person two cards. One of the cards is face up; the other is face down. You are the only one supposed to see the one card face down. Number cards are the number on the card, and face cards are 10 points. Aces are either 1 or 11 points, you choose. The object it to get as close to twenty-one points as possible. Black Jacks are automatic wins. To get another card, say hit me. If you don't want another card, say stay. You are out if you go over twenty-one points, and uh yeah just--"
"Sorry if I interrupted anything, Clarissa," Allen said as he came in.
"No not at all. I was just playing with the guys. Hey, they're kind of cute; do you think I could take one of them back with me?" Clarissa asked.
"I don't know, they seem too eager for you. They're not your type, trust me." Allen suggested. Then Clarissa burst out laughing.
She finally got to calm down and said, "Sorry guys, I can't take you home. So, Allen, you came here for something?"
"Clarissa, I wanted to talk to you," he beckoned. She followed him out of the room. "Clarissa, things are different now."
"What do you mean, Allen?"
"In Austuria, there's a difference from Fanelia. It's a big city, not what you're used to."
"Don't worry, Allen I live in a big city."
"There's a lot of people in Palace that might get you, for any reason."
"Allen, I'll be fine."
"Clarissa," he said as he put his hand on her arm, "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Since when did you feel obliged to protect me?" She asked madly.
"Clarissa, I just do, I mean you're a young woman, shouldn't I protect you?"
"I can protect myself, thank you very much."
"Clarissa, you don't understand. I want to warn you."
"Well I do understand. I'm sorry, Allen, I just want to feel independent. But, I guess it would be wise to have someone to protect me."
"Clarissa, I'm sorry, too. God, now I'm acting like Vaughn."
They sat there for a while, just thinking, not talking.
"What about Millerna? And Celena?"
"Millerna, she turned me down again, and Celena isn't happy when someone isn't around her. It hasn't been the same since Hitomi left."
"Yeah. Well, I know that Millerna doesn't want you to be too overprotective of her. She just wants to be with the fun-loving, smiling, charming person she feel in love with. And Celena needs someone to care for her. You know she cries each night in bed, because she knows she'll never find someone to love her."
"Really? But, how'd you know that?" Allen asked.
"What? Sorry, I wasn't really listening. I must have trailed off. I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked you haw you knew that."
"Knew what? I don't remember saying anything to you since I apologized for my independence, you must be angry about-----" and then she fell to the floor with a thud.
~~*~~
"She just was delusional; she'll come around in no time." Clarissa heard someone say as she lifted her eyelids up from her heavy head. She sat upright in one of the soft beds. Slowly her vision came into focus and she looked around.
"Uh, Hi?" She said to no one in particular.
"See what did I tell you," said a young girl about Clarissa's age.
"Clarissa? Are you ok?" Asked Vaughn.
"Yeah, I feel fine, I just, uh, I guess I fainted. Uh, can I get up? I really don't want to sit here forever."
"Sure, go ahead," said the girl about Clarissa's age. Clarissa swung her feet off the side of the bed and pushed herself up. She walked up to the girl. "Hi, I'm Clarissa."
"I'm Millerna, hi," she said, "Welcome to Austuria." She pulled Clarissa off own the hall.
"Let me guess," said Clarissa, "I need a dress." Millerna pulled her into one of the rooms in the hall.
"Here, let me see, blue maybe? Are you sure you don't mind it? Hitomi used to hate it."
"No not at all, it doesn't make a difference to me what I wear."
"Oh, ok. Here, try this." Millerna threw her a light blue dress.
After Clarissa was dressed, Millerna said, "Good. I thought I wouldn't find a dress that would fit you since you're taller than I am, but good. Here, I'll have one of my servants through these clothes away for you."
"No, wait. Don't throw them away! Those clothes have sentimental value."
"What?" Millerna asked, "It's like Deja vu."
"Huh?" Clarissa asked.
"What you said about not throwing the clothes away. It's like Deja vu," Millerna said again.
"I didn't say anything like that."
"That's weird because I remember Hitomi saying something like that."
"I don't know what wacko mind you have, but I swear I didn't say anything like that. I'll keep my clothes, though." Clarissa put her clothes in her backpack.
"Anyway, dinner is supposed be really soon. Come on, I'll show you where it is." They walked down the hall to the big room at the end where dinner was. Vaughn and Allen were already sitting there. As she came into the room, Clarissa could already see Vaughn gapping at her. She smiled back at him, and sat across from him.
"So, Clarissa. Have you ever been to Austuria before?" Millerna asked as the food was brought out.
"No, it's my first time in Gaea," she said. Shit, she cursed herself, I wasn't supposed to tell her I was from the Mystic Moon. I meant Austuria, not Gaea! "Sorry I meant Austuria," she quickly corrected herself.
"Gaea? You're from the Mystic Moon?" Millerna said astonished.
"Yeah, tell everyone. I'm the crazy girl from the Mystic Moon."
"Sorry, I was just surprised."
Then they all ate their meal in silence.
When it was finished, and the dishes had been cleared. Clarissa got up to go somewhere, anywhere, away from these people.
"Clarissa, I want to talk to you," said Vaughn behind her.
"What do you want?" Clarissa asked impatiently. Vaughn led her into the room nearest to them.
"You know Clarissa; things have been really strange around here with you around. It's like your Hitomi and your reliving her experience."
"Why's that?"
"Well, first of all the Great War has started again. And then we took the Crusade, and we went to Palace. It's the same."
"Yeah, Millerna said it was like Deja vu. She said something about me saying something she remembered Hitomi saying, but I swear I didn't say it."
"I think it's strange. I mean the concept of Hitomi's words with you, and you've never heard about Gaea and her experience. It's just strange. Half of me wants to learn more about you, but the other half just wants to cling on to Hitomi. I can't help it if I'll be too over protective of you in the next couple of days. I'm sorry, I just feel compelled to protect you since you're so much like Hitomi. Although I can tell you one thing, you a hell more attractive than Hitomi was."
"Uh-huh. Just one question, Vaughn. Do you love me because you're still holding on to the memories of Hitomi, or do you love me because of me?"
"I love you because you're like Hitomi, but you have more qualities that I like."
"Well, let me tell you, I play hard to get. Sorry, Vaughn, but you can't have me. I know you're just yearning to kiss me all over, but I wouldn't sleep with you if we were he last people on Gaea, and the whole population depended on us. Can't heal your pain," she said to him, "Oh yeah, I just wanted to let you know that your in my room. Now, get out of here, or do I have to drag you out?" Vaughn slammed the door on his way out. Now that guy, I want, thought Clarissa, He's definitely got the looks, and the charm. I just like to play hard to get. It makes him more of what I want in the end. The she laid back on the bed and fell asleep.
~~*~~
The next morning was bright and sunny, and Clarissa felt fresh and rejuvenated. She got up and went down the hall to the table where they ate dinner at last night, pulling her notepad out of her backpack. She wrote on it: And he gapped as I walked towards him, knowing what I'd become. The most--
"What are you writing?' Allen asked from behind her.
"Oh, you know. I just let my hand flow, when the music is slow, and the letters dance, on the page in a trance. While the tranquil sounds, fill the room around, not knowing what to write, without their sight. To fly away, with the birds today, singing the notes, While I boast and boast, and my eyes glow, when I just let my hands flow. Heh, what do you know, that's pretty good why don't I write it down," then Clarissa looked down at her notepad, "Only if I didn't write this evil poem about Murky waters of the north Atlantic while I was drowning in that poem. Oh well, what did you want to say, Allen?"
"Nothing, I was just coming to breakfast."
"Me too, but there was nothing to else to do but rhyme. It just gives me the creeps, how I'm thinking of something, and writing something different. Happens to me lots of times. Has that ever happened to you?" Clarissa asked.
"No not that I can think of."
"Oh, I thought that happened to everyone." Then Allen started laughing.
"You must be joking right?"
"What? Seriously I thought everyone could move things with their mind, until everyone got freaked out at me. Then I realized everyone's different." Clarissa told with a straight face.
Then Millerna and Vaughn came in to have breakfast. Vaughn sat across from Clarissa, looking sad, while Clarissa just sat there happy smiling at him. Then she said, "Sorry Vaughn," when the food had been brought out.
~~*~~
After breakfast, when Clarissa was just about to go outside, Vaughn caught up with her.
"Clarissa, please let me talk to you."
"Why would I object?"
"Well, after last night, I thought you would. Listen Clarissa; I really do love you. Why can't you see that?"
"Vaughn, what you can't see isn't behind your eyes, it's right in front of your nose."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that the game isn't over, no one's called checkmate yet. The pawns are still set out, and the game is yet to be played."
"I'm sorry but I still don't know what you mean."
"Vaughn, it's only been a day since I arrived, and in that one day, you seemed to have fallen in love with me. Do you really know what love is?"
"Yes, but--"
"Vaughn, come back to me when the game's done, when someone has called checkmate, and then see if you really love me."
"Clarissa, I don't want to wait forever."
"Vaughn, the game of chess doesn't take forever, but it also doesn't take one day. Learn something from it, will you. Come back to me when someone's called checkmate." Then she walked off from the castle. A sigh of relief came over Clarissa. And the game is just getting started.
Vaughn looked up at her figure, back turned towards him, her hair glowing in the sun. Too bad, Clarissa, too bad, Vaughn thought as he walked back into the castle. Someone grabbed his arm just as he entered the castle. He turned around, suspecting it to be Clarissa, but it was a boy, only about the age of thirteen.
"Lord Vaughn," as he spoke, he gasped for air, "The castle has been destroyed alone with the city. They now lie in ruins. The enemies are headed for Palace." Blood seeped at his side.
"Millerna! Millerna!" Vaughn yelled. Millerna came rushing towards him. "He needs medical attention, fast." They carried him the Hospital as quickly as possible.
"Vaughn, what did he say?" Allen asked.
"My castle and the city now lay in ruins, and the army that evaded them is now coming towards Palace."
"And if he got here that fast, that must mean that--"
"The army is close behind."
"We have to get out of here. Hey you," he called to on of the servants standing near, "Tell the people at the docking bay to get the Crusade ready for departure." The servant scurried off on his business.
"We have to get everyone out." Vaughn said.
"Millerna, we have to leave." Allen commanded her.
"I can't, I have a patient here."
"Millerna we have to leave. If you stay behind, then the army will kill you and your patent. Millerna!" Allen yelled at her.
"What about Clarissa?" Vaughn asked.
"What about her, isn't she coming?"
"I don't know, she went on one of her walks right before I got this news. We have to find her." Vaughn panicked.
"Ok, well we'll meet you at the Crusade." Allen suggested. Vaughn ran out the front door to find Clarissa.
He ran down the path she took yelling her name as he ran, until he came to the city. People filled its streets, and he tried his best to spot he over the huge crowd. Vaughn was all out of ideas, but then he saw something, Clarissa's dirty blonde hair glistened in the sunlight.
He ran through the street to where he had spotted her, only to find that when he got there, she had disappeared. He looked all around, and saw her to his left. He ran over to her and grabbed her arm. She turned her face, and Vaughn let out a sigh of relief. It was her.
"You know, Vaughn, it's still too early to call checkmate."
"Yeah, well no one's called checkmate yet. Clarissa, we need to leave."
"Why? I personally like it here."
"Clarissa, I'll explain it to you when we get back." He pulled at her arm, and started to run back to the castle. When they finally made it to the docking bay, the Crusade wasn't closing its hatch, this time; they were waiting for them, no leaving without them.
Chapter four
"Well, we're here; did you want to tell me that you still love me?" She asked Vaughn.
"No time for it, Lover boy. We have to get moving," said someone from behind. She had blond hair, and looked a lot like Allen.
"Oh, I see, Vaughn, this is your new girlfriend, isn't it?" She said.
"No, I just--"
"No buts about it, I understand."
"Who cares, Celena?" Vaughn finally said.
"Well, we were waiting for you. Now, come on, we're ready to leave." They all got on the Crusade, just as the hatch was closing.
"Celena?" Clarissa asked.
"Yes, I'm Celena."
"Yeah, well I'm the crazy girl from the Mystic Moon, ok?"
"She doesn't believe me does she?" Celena asked Vaughn.
"She believes you, she's just telling you she's from the Mystic Moon."
"Yeah and I'm from Snuffalupagus Land. Vaughn; stop saying crazy things like that. The last girl that was from the Mystic Moon was Hitomi, it won't happen, not in another a thousand years."
"No I really am, I'm from the Mystic Moon. Nice to meet you, I'm Clarissa."
"Oh, I see. You only like her because she's from the Mystic Moon."
"Celena, I don't like her."
"Denial, and when --"
"Celena, would you please go away, you're taking the fun out of all of it." Clarissa said.
"Yeah, when Clarissa gets mad, her Telekinesis gets out of control, then you never know what will happen next." Then Celena stomped off.
Vaughn and Clarissa both laughed. "Sorry, Vaughn, I'm still not taking, even if I'm stuck here forever."
"That's ok, I like watching Celena fear. It's sort of fun when she bugs you a lot."
"Oh, well you know, I think that army is coming after us," Clarissa changed the subject, " There's no use in running from them, 'cause sooner or later, they find use, and when they do, they'll get use. Except if we run from them, then they'll just lose more people battling the cities along the way, but anyway, what's the point."
"The point is to keep you alive, Clarissa. The only reason I'm running is because I don't want you to get hurt. It's my fault that you're in all this mess, and I'm sorry."
"Well, it's my turn, and I'm not sure what to do next. Uh, sorry, Vaughn, but no." She push his hand away from hers and walked away from him. She walked down the hallway.
~~*~~
Clarissa once again sat at the same table playing cards with the guys.
"You guys remember me don't you?" She asked.
"Yeah," said one of them.
"Then you remember how to play some card games I taught," Clarissa pulled out a deck of cards from her backpack, "Here, you play." She walked out of the room, trying to find some peace and quiet.
"Clarissa, I'm sorry."
"I don't want to talk now; I'm not in the mood."
"Clarissa I'm really sorry. I didn't need...or want to bring you to this."
Clarissa stopped in the corridor and turned around to look at him, "Vaughn, I don't need this now. Please, Vaughn." She turned back around and started walking again. Vaughn pulled her hand and twisted her back around.
"Clarissa, listen, I...uh," he started. They were standing so close together that they're bodies were almost touching. Clarissa looked up at him. His eyes sparkled as they looked into hers. "Clarissa, uh, I'm sorry, I know you're mad, but it's not right for the invading army to just leave us for dead."
She looked up at him again, "Vaughn, it's all my fault, I'm the one who came here and caused this. You can't say you're sorry for nothing' you did." He looks so strong and responsible. And sad, that too, or hopeful, I can't tell the difference. His eyes are just staring at me wondering, hopeful, yet sad. I can't seem to take my eyes off of him. He looks so strong. It's like I just want him to hold me and kiss me.
"No, Clarissa, you can't blame it all on yourself, it's not your fault, you don't know what you're saying." Vaughn was still holding her hand. She looks so beautiful, just standing there so close to me, just wanting something from me. A kiss, maybe? Before they could think any longer, their lips were locked. For a full minute they just stood there kissing.
Clarissa let go of the kiss and they both said at the same time, "I'm sorry I kissed you."
"Wait, you kissed me? I thought I kissed you," Vaughn said.
"Shut up, just kiss me again," Clarissa said, but there was no time for another kiss, because Allen came rushing down the hall.
"We'll be landing in a few minutes for fueling purposes. It might give you guys a chance to get some fresh air," he said. Does he know anything? Clarissa thought, I hope not. But I'm still not going with Vaughn. He's too, too... uh, serious. I think.
"Yeah, I better get going, then," Vaughn said.
"Me too," Clarissa said. They both went opposite directions down the hallway, leaving Allen to attend to his duties.
As Clarissa got halfway down the hall she started to think, Maybe Allen does know something. Maybe he was spying on our one first kiss. It still sticks to my lips, fresh as spring rain. I never want to wash it off. Am I thinking like those little cheerleaders from high school? Never mind, who cares anyway, I'm never going back there. Anyway, am I falling for Vaughn? Sweet lips, cute eyes, most-- no, I can't fall for him now. Too much, besides it wouldn't work out anyway. During this war, love just gives it a kick. He doesn't like me, does he? Gotta stop thinking about him. That kiss is getting to my head. "Oh come on, Clarissa, there's other things to worry 'bout," she said to herself. As she was nearing the end of the hallway, Clarissa turned around. Allen had left, and Vaughn was still heading down the hallway. She ran down it, pulling up her dress as she went so she wouldn't trip.
Finally she reached Vaughn, "Vaughn," she whispered.
"Clarissa, I thought you weren't accepting me," he replied looking at her.
"I guess you've just got to accept sometime," she shot back and sighed, "Vaughn, I'm sorry. I guess my emotions just took over me. I can't stop it. I know you're a king and all, but seriously, Vaughn, you gotta get over Hitomi. I'm nothing like her, as I think you've already noticed."
Vaughn looked surprised, but then let it go, "Ok, Clarissa. I know Hitomi's gone. Maybe it was just the war that made me love her, or maybe I am really taking it out on you, but the fact is, Clarissa, I never thought I could love anyone else."
"Maybe it's just because you haven't kissed anyone in two years, or maybe I'll be you're next love during this war," Clarissa said furiously. She turned around and ran back down the hall, with tears streaming down her face.
"Clarissa, wait, I didn't mean that, I, just wait," Vaughn yelled down the hall.
She ran to the hatch, yearning to get outside before Vaughn stopped her. The Crusade landed, and she ran out of the aircraft into, great another city for the sieging army to kill us in. Clarissa walked over to the white railing, and stood enjoying the view from the landing pad. It overlooked the city and she could see people roaming the streets to anywhere they might be going. It made her smile to see such happy faces shaping the market.
"This is Melaso. A city with high standards," Allen said as he leaned against the rail beside me, "The country has always been neutral in these kinds of attacks. It won't let armies inside the gates. So I guess we're safe."
"For now," she said under her breath.
"Oh, Clarissa!" Millerna said. Clarissa was lead off into the castle. She was pulled into one of the rooms. "Clarissa, there's a lot happening."
"What'd you think?" She was about to say, but then I wouldn't be being nice to Millerna.
"Clarissa, today is the king's birthday."
"Who?" She asked. Well you have to know which one.
"King Basram of course! You have to go, too. I couldn't make it through the party without someone there to talk to."
"But I don't have anything to talk about."
"Clarissa, don't you see? You need to be there. Do I have to beg you to go?"
"All right, but don' make me talk to everyone. I can't stand' it."
"We have to get you a new dress."
"A new one? What's wrong with this one?"
"It's old and filthy. You need one of your own."
"Ok," Clarissa accepted.
Clarissa stood tall while one of the servants measured her. She didn't know why all of this is necessary. She already had a dress.
"The light pink shade would look good. And this design with the red ribbons. I'd like to put in green ribbons to bring out your eyes, but it doesn't match." Millerna said.
"Do many people around here have green eyes?"
"No, a lot of people have blue eyes, though. Not many people have brown eyes, now that's something special, I wish I had brown eyes, but I'll guess I'll have to live with blue."
"That's weird, 'cause back home brown eyes are dominant genetic trait. Not many of my people have blue eyes, green either."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Ok, now," she paused for a moment, "Yeah, that will be good." She paused a second,
"Wait a sec. My contacts making' my eyes dry." Clarissa put her finger up to her eye and moved around her green colored contact. As she moved it around, you could see her brown eyes as she moved it around. "Ok, I'm fine."
"You have brown eyes? You said you have green ones."
"If they're colored green, then they're green. I have different colors besides green."
"Ok, but that's kind of scary. I'll have your dress ready in about two hours."
Clarissa dressed into her gown that evening. Guess I'll have to live with the green ribbons. Rhinestones are better. She held back her hair while she put in her rhinestone earrings, and then brushed her hair and let it fall into its natural curl at the bottom. Then there was a knock at the door.
"Clarissa, you have to be ready soon, I can't leave without you," Millerna said.
"I'll be ready soon," she replied as she put on her wet-look lip stick, reminding herself that people in Gaea don't wear make-up like this, so she went lightly on it, choosing a color that matched her lips. Another knock at the door. "Just sec," she yelled. The door opened.
"Clarissa," she turned around immediately, not expecting it to be Vaughn, what an asshole.
"Vaughn, I don't care. I don't want to be made fun of anymore by you."
"Clarissa, I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry. I mean you're really beautiful. You have pretty hair, and pretty green eyes, and--"
"They're brown."
"Brown? That's unusual, but still beautiful. The point is, Clarissa, I'll try to be nicer to you next time. I didn't mean it; I really didn't, Clarissa, really."
"Vaughn, I know," was all she said. Clarissa walked around him and out the door.
"Now we can leave," Millerna said. They walked down the corridor to the huge banquet hall. "Clarissa, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what?"
"Well, you know how you and Vaughn are around each other all the time. What about that? Well, what I mean is, well, do you really like him?"
"Like him? Don't know. I mean, I guess he's kinda cute an' all, but no I don't think I like him. He's too serious."
"Ok, just making sure. Well, this guy, King Basram, is seventeen years old, too. And he might be cute."
"Millerna, you know I have a boy back home, don't you?"
"No, but who said you where going home."
"Who said I wasn't?"
"Ok, fine." They entered the banquet hall. Hardly anyone was there. "Most of the people are coming later. I let you come early so I could introduce you to the king."
"You can't do that to me! Not know I'm not ready, no you can't," Clarissa furiously said as they walked up to him. She turned around and put a smile on her face as they stood in front of him.
"King Basram," Millerna said.
"Ah, yes, Millerna, it's a pleasure to have you here."
"It's a pleasure to be here. I've always loved the city of Melaso."
"Not that you don't love your own city as much," he replied, "And who's this you have here," he turned to Clarissa.
"Hi, I'm Clarissa. Back home they call me Rissi, but you know, here I like my own name."
"Well, Clarissa, I'm glad to have you here."
"Well, that's cool, because I like being here."
"So, Clarissa, I know they call you Rissi back home, but I don't know anything about you. I've never heard of you before. Where are you from?"
"Well, I'm not surprised you haven't heard of me. I haven't been here long."
"Of course, you just got here, I mean after the incident with Palace and the Fanelia castle, but still I haven't heard of you, I should have if you know someone as great as Millerna," he said.
"Well, the thing is I haven't been in Gaea long. I'm from the Mystic Moon," she said nonchalantly.
He looked shocked, "So that's why I haven't heard of you. Well I know why you have that pendent know. It's really been intriguing me. I mean Vaughn has he same one."
"Yeah, I know. I got it from my grandmother. That's when I started trying to find out more 'bout Gaea."
"Well, I have other guests to talk to, but I'm sure I'll talk to you later."
"Oh, yeah, Happy Birthday," Clarissa said. Just then, more people stared arriving.