'What do you mean 'missing'?' Gatti asked. Viole looked at him in annoyance.
'I mean, he ain't here. We was hoping he'd come back 'fore the mornin', but he
never did.' Gatti looked at the faces of Viole, Guimel, and Shesta. They were
expecting an answer from him. They would always come to him if Dilandau wasn't
there, though Gatti didn't really know why. After a pause, he said,
'He might have just stayed a little longer at his girlfriend's than he thought.
Knowing Dante, he probably fell asleep.' Gatti kept his tone light, trying to
ease the anxieties of his fellow Dragon Slayers. Guimel looked at Viole, and
shrugged.
'You might be right,' Guimel said. 'But Dante's going to have a fun time
explaining his absence to Master Dilandau.' He and the taller Southlander
walked off, leaving Gatti, Shanti, and Shesta.
'Gatti... what if something bad has happened to Dante? What if he's in
trouble?' Shesta's blue eyes widened. 'What if he was captured?' Gatti had
thought of that as well, but he hadn't wanted to mention that to his friends.
Shanti, who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, suddenly spoke.
'Dinna worry so much, Shesta,' he said with a warm tone Gatti hadn't heard him
use before. 'I am sure that Dante is fine.' Shesta didn't seem convinced.
'You really think so?' The Highlander gave the shorter boy a rare smile that
even calmed Gatti's nerves.
'I know so. I bet you that Dante is having the time of his life.'
*****
Dante was not having the time of his life. Since the whip had cut deep marks
into both side of his body, he was forced to sit up in order to feel somewhat
comfortable. Mikyla's mother had felt he was too prone to passing out, and had
piled pillows all around him to keep the Slayer from falling down.
And so he sat, moving in and out of a feverish semi-consciousness. Mikyla hated
seeing him like this. One minute the boy would be crying silently in pain, the
next muttering something about Dilandau. His skin had a deathly grey colour to
it, his eyes and two-toned hair losing any sparkle they had. It was as if his
soul was broken, Mikyla thought. All that was left of him was a wretched,
hollow shell.
He was sleeping now. The girl stood and stretched, noticing herself in a
mirror. Her dark eyes were red from crying and a sleepless night, with dark
circles under each one. Her dark violet hair, normally wound up into neat
dreadlocks, hung limply at her shoulders. Mikyla stuck her tongue out at her
reflection, then decided to check on Migel. She felt guilty for neglecting her
patient...
She knocked on his door, and peered in. He was, as usual, reading the book her
mother had bought for him. Mikyla thought the chestnut-haired boy could
probably recite the entire novel word for word...but they couldn't afford to
buy him another book.
'Migel?'
When he looked up, that delighted look came to his grey-green eyes. He set his
book down and motioned for her to sit down beside him, which she did.
'Are you feeling any better?'
Nod.
'That's good. Mama says that we'll be able to take your tube out very
soon...maybe tomorrow.'
That delighted look in his eyes seemed to flicker, but he gave her a smile. The
girl tilted her head to one side. Her mother had told her that patients could
get addicted to the medicines they gave out. Maybe he was getting too used to
his tube, and the painkillers they gave him.
'You have to get it out, you know. You can't stay here forever.' Migel's eyes
became clouded; that tortured look appearing in them briefly before he looked
away, as he always did whenever she mentioned anything about him leaving.
Mikyla voiced a thought that suddenly crossed her mind.
'You don't want to leave, do you?' Looking alarmed, Migel blinked and nodded
with an expression clearly stating that of course he wanted to leave! Mikyla
lifted a brow at him, trying to read his eyes to see what he really wanted.
With another blink, Migel put on a mischievous look and tugged one of her
dreadlocks.
'Ow! Silly!' The doctor-in-training glared at him, and he instantly put on an
innocent expression. The boy looked so silly trying to appear nonchalant that
Mikyla shook her head and laughed. Migel joined her with his own silent
laughter until they were interrupted by a strangled cry from the next room.
'Dante's awake...' Mikyla stood up and went to the door.
'I'll talk to you later Migel, alright?' Turning, she saw the boy looking
deflated. With a slight nod, he put on a forced smile. As Mikyla left the room,
she couldn't help but wonder if maybe...maybe he enjoyed her company a bit too
much.
*****
She must have an endless supply of patience.
Gatti watched Shesta talk to Shanti animatedly, and wondered if the small boy
admired the Highlander. The blond boy would flick his hair -Hair cut with a
bowl, Gatti thought- in the same manner as Shanti, as well as try and mimic
some of 'his' gestures. Gatti guessed the little Slayer was trying to make
Shanti laugh. He hoped he succeeded...he couldn't remember ever hearing the
pretty Dragon Slayer laugh.
Pretty? Where'd that come from? Gatti blinked. I can't be thinking
like that... He watched as Shanti's thin frame shook with silent laughter
as Shesta gave a sarcastic remark about something. The sunlight poured down on
both of them, creating an almost golden halo on Shanti's fiery hair. Gatti
smiled.
Even though she IS pretty,
'Shesta!' Dilandau's voice pierced through the air. 'Come here!' The boy stood
up from the fallen log he had perched upon, and dusted off his uniform.
'Nice talking to you, Shanti!' he said with a smile, which Shanti returned.
Sending a grin Gatti's way, the boy disappeared through the shrubs into the
main clearing to see what his master wanted. As soon as he was gone and all was
silent, Gatti went over and sat down beside Shanti.
'He's a very pleasant fellow,' she said with a fond tone. 'Almost like a wee
little brother.'
'Shesta's everyone's little brother. It's very hard to be unhappy around him.'
Gatti nudged Shanti with a grin. 'Looks like he managed to make you smile a
bit. That's good. You're more pretty when you smile. I mean...' Realizing what
he had just said, Gatti blinked in embarrassment and looked away. When Shanti
didn't say anything, he snuck a glance and saw a delicate blush colouring her
pale face.
'Gatti, you canna... can not talk like that. What if the others hear?' Although
she was trying to be serious, Gatti saw that the Highlander was pleased.
Feeling a bit daring, he gently pulled one of the red strands of hair that fell
from her forehead.
'The others aren't here now, are they?' he said quietly. As Shanti's hazel eyes
blinked and looked into his own, Gatti's hand moved slowly to touch the other's
face.
'Gatti...' He froze.
What am I doing?? The boy jerked
his hand back and stared at the Highlander, whose eyes suddenly widened as she
inhaled sharply. His confusion turned to concern as he saw her wince in pain.
'Gatti! Shanti!' Shesta come sprinting through the shrubs. Gatti looked up at
him, then glanced back at Shanti. She seemed to have recovered from whatever
had happened. His attention was drawn back to the small Slayer, who paused for
breath, then looked up at them with a strange look in his eyes. 'We've been
ordered back to the Vione.'
'Why is that, Shesta?' Shanti asked, her voice now seemingly normal. The boy's
blue eyes widened as he spoke,
'Master Dilandau said Lord Folken ordered it. I think,' his voice went soft. 'I
think we're going to war.'
***
Shanti was strangely quiet during their trip back to the floating fortress,
Vione.
I mean, she's always quiet, Gatti thought. But even more so this
time... Nestling into his protective shell of liquid metal and gears, his
thoughts turned back to what had happened only hours ago.
Idiot. What are you doing, saying things like that? How is Shanti going to
keep her secret if you can't keep your hormones under control? His grey
eyes narrowed. The last thing she needs is for you to mess up.
Especially if Dalet is acting so strange.
Dalet.
On a whim, Gatti opened the private comm-link he and Shanti shared.
'Shanti? Are you there?' No answer. He knew she was listening, however... he
could hear her breathing amidst the soft crackling of static.
'About Dalet...I think you need to-...'
'Dalet is not going to kill me. Not yet.' Gatti jumped as her voice appeared,
interrupting him. 'I am not sure, but I do not think Dalet is acting on seeing
us... There's something else, I can feel it. He might be using that as an
excuse.'
'That' she calls it? She won't say she kissed me.
'Something else?'
'Yes,' she replied simply. Gatti sighed.
'But it doesn't make sense, Shanti!' He shook his head. 'Why would Dalet want
you gone?'
Shanti stared into the distance from her Alseides unit, thinking about how to
reply. She didn't know if Dalet was trying to kill her or not...he'd had a
chance, but didn't take it.
He's trying to find something out about me, to use against me,. A
thought crossed her mind. What if it's deeper than that? What if... Her
thoughts were interrupted by a sudden flash of pain shooting through her body.
'N...nani...?' The muscles in her back throbbed as small jolts of pain seemed
to shoot through her veins.
'Shanti?' Gatti's voice sprang to life on the open link. The Highlander's hands
left the controls to try and clutch at her sides in the liquid metal.
What's - what's happening to me? A new wave slammed through her body and
she gave a short, strangled cry. Gatti's voice was immediately alive again, his
guymelef pulling up close beside her own.
'What's wrong? Shanti, answer me! What's happening?' Gatti listened intently
for a reply, and heard her gasping for breath. Something was horribly wrong.
'Shanti, listen to me. We are almost at the Vione. Just hang on...' He heard a
chilling cry of pain from her end, then spontaneous sobs.
What is going on? Gatti's heart started racing as he tried to think of
what to do. Was this what was happening to her back at the clearing? He noticed
her guymelef losing altitude and maneuvered his own Alseides unit underneath
hers to keep it steady; a dangerous move, he knew.
'Shanti...can you hear me? We're almost there, just put your hands on the
controls. You'll be alright...just concentrate!' Out of the corner of his eye,
Gatti saw Guimel's guymelef pull up beside him.
'Gatti, what're you doing? You-'
'Something's wrong with Shanti.' Gatti cut him off. Guimel's voice turned
instantly serious.
'Should I tell Master Dilandau?'
'I... I don't know,' The Dragon Slayer faltered. 'We need to get a medic
ready... see if you can get a message to the Vione.' He looked into the
distance and saw the dark form of the floating fortress materialize.
'Done. A medic should be waiting for us there.'
'We're only a few minutes away. We'll tell Master Dilandau when we arrive.'
Gatti switched back to Shanti's line. 'Shanti? Hold on, we're almost there.
There'll be a medic waiting for you.'
'N-no.' her voice sounded weak. 'I-I'll be... be fine...' Gatti heard her try
and strangle a cry, and shook his head.
You're in pain. Stop trying to act so tough,
'Shanti, listen to me. I don't know what's happening to you, but I'm sure a
medic can help.' The girl made another weak protest, which Gatti ignored. After
what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the Vione. As the ash-blond
boy coaxed his friend into moving her guymelef into the hanger, he heard a dull
thud from her end of the link. The guymelef staggered and slid unceremoniously
across the floor of the hanger, sending Dragon Slayers who had already left
their Alseides running in a panic to avoid being crushed by the large machine.
Docking his guymelef, Gatti opened the cockpit, jumped down onto the floor and
ran to Shanti's fallen unit.
'What's going on?' Shesta asked as Gatti sprinted past him and climbed to the
other cockpit. The other Dragon Slayers gathered around, watching in confusion
as Gatti tried to pry open the machine.
'Shanti!' he was yelling. 'Shanti, open up! Come on...' He felt someone move
beside him, and gaped in amazement as Dilandau moved to help him open the
cockpit.
'Don't just stand there, idiot.' The pale commander snapped. With a nod, they
both put all their effort into moving the metal until there was a hiss and the
'head' of the Alseides slid back. Liquid metal poured onto the ground as Gatti
peered inside to see Shanti's form huddled amongst the gears and machinery. He
realized the thud he had heard was her head hitting the controls. She was
unconscious.
'Shanti, wake up!' The Slayer and his commander both reached down and pulled
the limp body from the metal cocoon. A team of medics arrived with a stretcher,
which the two set the Slayer down in. As Shanti was whisked away, Dilandau
glared at Gatti.
'I don't know what the hell happened, but you had better figure out what.'
'Yes, Master Dilandau.' Gatti bowed his head and, as the tall leader yelled at
the other Dragon Slayers, muttered his thanks. As he went to climb down the
machine, he glanced inside the cockpit, and something caught his eye. Peering
closer, the boy's eyes widened as he pulled the object from the guymelef.
'What the...?' His hands started shaking as he looked at the object in his
hand.
A black feather.
***
'Get away!' Shanti tried to push a medic away from him, and looked for a means
of escape. Escape, however, would be hard...he was too weak to stand, let alone
make a break for the door. Two medics grabbed his arms and pushed him back down
onto the bed; another two trying to grab hold of his legs. Shanti felt his
strength draining from him as the medics pinned him down. He had woken up in
the infirmary, stripped of his Dragon Slayer jacket. The only thing preventing
the medics from finding out he was a she was a loose-fitting black shirt.
'Hold him steady.' A fifth medic hovered over the Dragon Slayer, holding a
needle. As soon as he caught sight of the syringe, Shanti began to struggle
with a new fury.
'Let me go! Let me go!' The Highlander had always been deathly afraid of
needles, though could never remember an exact reason why. Either way... 'Let me
go!' for added emphasis, Shanti kicked a leg and caught the medic in the gut,
who inhaled sharply and let go.
'Someone go get restraints!' the needle-holding medic ordered. As the kicked
medic left the room, someone slipped in after him.
'Gatti!' cried the Highlander joyfully. The Dragon Slayer gave a slight,
troubled-looking smile, then looked sternly at the medic holding the syringe.
'What's that for?' he asked, motioning to the object. The medic replied in a
slightly condescending tone.
'It's a medicine to ease the pain and calm him down. It should stop whatever is
causing these spells he's going through.' Shanti's eyes went to Gatti, hoping
he would argue against the needle. To his dismay, the ash-blond boy nodded his
head.
'But...!' Their eyes met, and Gatti gave a sympathetic look in apology.
'It's for your own good.' he said, moving to kneel down beside Shanti's bed.
The medic moved closer as well, taking Shanti's arm and moving the needle to
his arm. As the Highlander struggled in protest, Gatti silently reached up and
took the other's hand, holding it tightly. Momentarily pre-occupied with this,
Shanti stopped struggling long enough for the medic to administer the drug. The
other medics let go of his arms and leg, and left.
'We'll be back to check on him soon.' the medic who had given the shot told
Gatti, then left as well, leaving them alone. Shanti sighed and looked at the
small red spot on her arm with a frown. Gatti noticed this and looked at her
apologetically.
'I know you don't like needles, but it was for your own good.'
'Not all needles are good...' the Highlander replied in a strange, cold voice.
Gatti had the feeling she'd had a bad experience in the past. The past of which
he knew absolutely nothing about.
'So, are you feeling any better?' Shanti shook her head, and curled up into a
fetal position facing him. They were still holding hands, Gatti realized.
'I wish I knew what happened,' the girl said in a distant voice, sounding as if
the drugs were starting to kick in. On a whim, Gatti stuck his free hand in a
pocket and felt the softness of the feather... He had kept it, hoping to ask
Shanti about it. Just as he was about to mention the object, the door burst
open and a sudden chill spread across the room as four dark figures entered.
Both Dragon Slayers paled as they recognized the long, black cloaks, with dark
purple collars that curled outwards.
The sorcerers of Zaibach. Four of the most dangerous men to ever live. Gatti
felt the other start to shake violently.
'What- what do you want...?' he heard the Highlander ask. The shortest one, a
bald man with rounded glasses perched on his nose, glared at him and made a
motion to the others. Two of the sorcerers approached and, before Gatti could
make any movement, grabbed the red-haired Slayer by the arms. They roughly
pushed him off the hospital bed onto his feet.
'Let go of me!' Shanti struggled, though it was useless. The drugs were making
him weak and tired... very tired... The Slayer looked at Gatti, who could only
stand there helplessly and watch. He couldn't fight against the
sorcerers...even Master Dilandau tried to avoid them. To fight was only to
prolong the inevitable.
'Gatti!' Shanti fought to keep his eyes open... to focus on Gatti... Suddenly
he felt the familiar pain shooting through his body and let out a small cry.
The bald sorcerer saw this.
'The subject seems to be reacting. We must make haste.' The soft, cold words
chilled Gatti. As quickly as they had appeared, the sorcerers, and Shanti,
left. Alone in the room, the Slayer's mind reeled as the words of the one
sorcerer repeated in his head.
Subject?