Chapter 14: Demon's Angel
Standing atop the crenulated castle wall Eries watched cool night pass around her. In the distance, clouds rose like steam from the sea and blotted out the stars above and dimmed the glow of the mystic moon. The only stars to be seen were from the countless pinpricks of light that were the torches lit in the buildings below, and the only useful light was from the castle at her back. It was late but the city did not sleep. Worry kept them awake and made the air thick with tension; their loved ones were leaving soon. They wanted to keep close to them in these last few hours, so faces they might never see again would not be forgotten.
Eries stood with her toes at the very edge of the wall and gazed out over the stardusted city. Asturia seemed vast and proud in the dark like it had been before she'd helped to destroy it. The ruins would be visible once again in the morning, she didn't know if she would be able to bear the sight again. The winds of a coming storm greedily tore at her hair and skirt pulling them into the darkness before her. They whispered to take one more step and go over the edge. It would be so easy. Just one more step and she'd be free. She wouldn't have to deal with Aston's love. Just jump and fall and die.
"I don't want to," she whispered. "I don't want to die, but I don't want to live like this either." She wouldn't jump, she knew she wouldn't, but she looked down into the darkness anyway and wondered how long it would take before she hit the ground. How long it would take before they found her. How much would it hurt to hit the ground. She wouldn't jump.
"Going to jump, Hime?" A voice mocked behind her, a mirror of her own thoughts.
Eries didn't have to turn to know the voice. "If you want me dead, Meiden, you could always push," she said coldly.
She heard his footsteps come towards her and saw the dark figure at her feet peer over the edge of the wall. "It'd be quite a fall, Hime, but I doubt as bad as the one you're about to take."
"What are you talking about?"
"When everyone finds out you poisoned your father you'll wish you had jumped now. I have the proof, Hime. There is no escape. Look at what I have." She looked down at what he held in his hand, and saw the dim light gleaming off the corners of a glass vial filled with an evil green liquid. "All I have to do is place this in your room and send some guards up to find it."
"It won't prove anything," Eries said.
"But I'll be able to testify that I saw you put it in King Aston's drink. But you'd told me it was medicine. We'll be able to prove differently."
"So you're setting me up?" It sounded odd considering she really had poisoned Aston.
"By morning I could have you sitting in a jail cell. Unless..."
"Unless what? Unless I jump?"
She felt Meiden's hand play with the hem of her skirt. "You know what I want."
Eries kicked at his hand and backed over to the next crenulation. "Your son is going to be king, Meiden. Leave it at that."
"True. But I could get awfully rich myself with a woman of your position."
"Aren't you rich enough?" Eries crouched down so she stood eye to eye with the merchant. "I would never be your wife."
"I don't want a wife," Meiden laughed. "I was married once before and didn't much care for it. Besides my son is going to be king there's no stopping that. This deal is no longer about that, so just consider my offer. I'd get richer off the deal but you'd benefit too. I treat my mistresses well. I'd bring you all sorts of pretty bobbles from far off places."
"This is blackmail. I don't bend to such things, Meiden."
"Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer the exchange of goods and services." Eries's jaw dropped. "I do what I must to get what I want. I think you're the same way. You need me to keep my mouth shut and I will. As long as you obey my wishes."
"How dare you even suggest such things? I won't be treated like some whore!"
Meiden grabbed her around the legs. "You don't have much choice. I know your dirty secret. Submit or you'll be dead soon enough."
Still holding her legs he pushed her a little closer towards the black void below. Eries screamed and clutched at his cloak.
"What will it be, Hime?"
Eries tightened her grip on his cloak. If he were going to push her, she'd drag him over the edge too. "Go ahead and push me."
"I won't push you but I will have a noose put round your neck and throw the switch myself. You'll die disgraced in front of your whole country, be buried in the grave of criminals, and people will only remember you with the utmost hate."
Eries paused for a moment. A disgrace. The word stuck in her head. She felt Meiden's eyes boring intently into her and looked down to meet that expectant face eye to eye. "No. I'd rather die with everyone hating me than lower myself to you. At least I'd still have some dignity."
Meiden was furious. "I still get what I want." His hands slid up her legs beneath her skirt and he tried to pull her forward. She screamed again and tried to push him away but the merchant was surprisingly strong.
"Leave her be," a deep voice commanded.
The struggle paused, and Eries looked up to see Folken half hidden in the shadows. There's was a dark and angry look on his face and his hand resting upon the undrawn hilt of his sword. "Folken!"
Meiden let go of her legs and turned to consider the formidable man standing behind him. "This doesn't concern you. Leave." He reached back to grab at her again and Eries took a step back to avoid him. A silent scream emerged from her throat. There was no more wall waiting back there and Eries wavered for a moment trying to grab at the air to keep from falling backwards to her death.
Meiden grabbed at her skirt and missed.
"Eries!"
Folken ran forward out of the shadows calling her name. His hand outstretched to take hers.
The castle roof slipped away; Eries still reached out to take the hand she could no longer see. She fell instead through the darkness toward the hard ground below. Screaming silently. He'd been too late. She was going to die.
Up above a dark figure dove off the roof after her. In a moment strong arms were around her waist and she clung desperately to him, her arms around his neck. It was Folken. Why? What was he thinking? They were both going to die now.
And then she felt something very strange, something soft, something beating at the night air at Folken's back in a steady rhythm and she felt their fall slow. The things on his back, she knew what they were. Wings. Folken was... a Draconian.
Unceremoniously they hit the ground. Hard, but slowed enough by the wings to survive. The impact with the hard ground and the crushing weight of Folken above her ripped the wind out of her. She felt Folken try to get up and she sucked in a few desperate lungfulls, but she still didn't let go of him. She should be dead.
"Are you alright?" Folken asked.
She nodded slowly still stunned.
"Scared?"
She nodded again.
"Of me?"
She blinked a few times staring up at a dark featureless face only inches from her own. "No, I'm not. I was scared I was going to die. You saved me."
"Draconian's are cursed. You should be scared."
"You're much less scary than Meiden. And I'm already cursed. Since the day I was born. That's probably why I hit the ground first."
"I apologize there wasn't much time to check our fall. But you seem uninjured so you can probably let go now. We have landed."
"Sorry." She let go and Folken rolled over to lie in the grass beside her his wings still unfurled. Eries gently touched the soft feathers and felt the wings tremble beneath her fingers. They didn't say anything for a while, just lay in the cool darkness. The back of her head was sore where she'd hit the ground and she could feel it throbbing.
Even more she feel the time slipping away. Soon enough someone would come looking for them. And Folken would have to leave or be thrown in prison; Asturia had a history of treating Draconians poorly. It'd be best if they left before anyone showed up, but Eries didn't feel she had the strength left to move. And something was bothering her. It wasn't the wings. She'd always been taught Draconians were bad, but those wings had saved her life. Folken had saved her life. It was something about Folken though and question emerged to lurk in her mind.
"Folken? It's not that I'm not grateful for you saving me because I am." She saw him sit up. "But why were you on the castle roof just then? Something tells me it wasn't just a coincidence."
"I heard you scream," he said and after a long pause added: "But you're right it wasn't coincidence. I was looking for you."
Up above the clouds broke for a moment around the Mystic Moon and its soft glow was cast down upon them. For the first time she could see him clearly. The top of his uniform hung about his legs exposing his bare chest and the black wings that had enfolded from his back. His hair was a windblown mess, falling over his forehead and into his eyes.
"Why were you looking for me?" Eries asked curious. He paused again for some time just looking at her from behind his pale blue locks.
"I wanted to apologize. For what happened earlier. I mislead you. That was wrong."
"Wrong? What? Holding me or what you said?" She felt angry again. He didn't need to tell her again he didn't love her. "Stop playing games and speak plainly."
"Don't you see?" He gestured to his wings.
"I don't care if you're a Draconian." She sat up. "I'm a cat-girl."
"I'm dying, Eries. Don't you understand? My wings have turned black. My fate is sealed. I'm going to be dead soon." He paused as the words sunk in. "I've hurt you again, haven't I? I shouldn't have said that. I don't want you to be sad."
"You're dying?"
"I don't have long left."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." The clouds covered closed again taking the light and making it dark again. "You tried to tell me before didn't you? But I didn't listen. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. It is because I messed with fate that I die."
"We may all be dead soon, with the coming war," Eries whispered. "I don't want to die. I don't want you to die!" Her hand came to rest on his. "Shouldn't we live while we still have the chance? Shouldn't we say the things that need to be said? Folken, even if you don't love me I want you to know I still love and care about you."
In the darkness she could hear Folken chuckle to himself. She felt crushed again. "You laugh at my feelings?"
"No," he apologized. "It's just ... she was right. People return your feelings."
"Return your feelings?"
"Eries, I love you, too. It's taken me a long time to realize it, there was so much that held me back. But being so near the end, and loosing them, and almost loosing you - I've been such a fool. I never wanted to see you hurt, and yet I kept on doing just that. Now that I'm dying and now that I've told you and now you are going to get hurt again." All his eloquence was gone and his words held no flow. But Eries only heard one thing.
"You love me?" The tears fell freely down her cheeks.
"Do you hear what I'm saying? If you love me you're going to get hurt."
"I am willing to accept that hurt, Folken, because I love you," she said. "Nothing can be worse than all the years I've spent unloved; I'll always know that you loved me now." She wrapped her arms around his chest holding him so tightly. His arms came around her holding her back. He kissed her tears away and gently touched her lips with his own.
"Hime! Eries Hime!" Many voices were calling for her. Meiden's included. "Get some torches out here!" "Where you think she landed?" "I had just come out on the roof when I saw her jump." "Think she's dead?" "You sure it was her?"
Folken rose and pulled her to her feet. His dark wings dissipated into the night. "They're coming to look for you. I guess Meiden didn't mention me."
"Thank goodness. Let's not be found out here. I couldn't bear trying to explain all of this. Come on, I know a way we can get into the castle without the guards seeing us." She wrapped her arms around Folken again holding him while she could.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
"I've been in my room all night. I don't know what you're talking about." Eries said to the castle guard standing outside her door. It would be simple enough to get rid of him. He was young and easily intimidated and blushing furiously at the sight of his princess wearing only her bathrobe.
"Lord Meiden said he saw you fall from the roof of the castle."
"Do I look I've fallen off the roof of the castle?" Eries tapped her foot impatiently.
"No..." He didn't leave and kept on not looking at her in a way that meant he really was looking at her because the blush kept on getting deeper and deeper.
"I'd like to finish my bath. Is there anything else you want?"
"No, my lady. I apologize for disturbing you."
He wasn't sorry in the least, but Eries nodded sharply and shut and locked the door on him. Well, that was one problem easily solved. Meiden's lies to save himself had also saved her. She grinned and turned to face Folken in her bed. He was looking at the smashed mirror and broken chair and Eries thought back to everything that had happened that night. Quickly she brushed Aston and Meiden from her mind she didn't want to think about them now. She didn't want to think about the fact Folken was going to die. He was here now. He loved her. And that was all that mattered.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+
AN: There were a few interesting fact in my reviews that I thought I should share here. According to Ice Princess: "you know that Eries was a tribe of indians thats symbol was the cat or more precisely the panther. So now in some languages Eries means 'panther' or 'sly panther'" This was also backed up by Goddess in Disguise who said: . "Eries" means the "cat people" in some Native American tribe language. Ironic, ne?" Very ironic, but a nice find. I have no idea if this was intentional since I've never seen any reference to Eries actually being a catgirl, but it works out mysteriously nice. Ah, well, thanks for sticking the story out this long. Even though I don't have a lot of time to devote to writing I'm certainly enjoying it and I hope you are too. Only three more chapters til we reach the series end and the end of Neko Hime, too. I'll try to make them good ones!
Standing atop the crenulated castle wall Eries watched cool night pass around her. In the distance, clouds rose like steam from the sea and blotted out the stars above and dimmed the glow of the mystic moon. The only stars to be seen were from the countless pinpricks of light that were the torches lit in the buildings below, and the only useful light was from the castle at her back. It was late but the city did not sleep. Worry kept them awake and made the air thick with tension; their loved ones were leaving soon. They wanted to keep close to them in these last few hours, so faces they might never see again would not be forgotten.
Eries stood with her toes at the very edge of the wall and gazed out over the stardusted city. Asturia seemed vast and proud in the dark like it had been before she'd helped to destroy it. The ruins would be visible once again in the morning, she didn't know if she would be able to bear the sight again. The winds of a coming storm greedily tore at her hair and skirt pulling them into the darkness before her. They whispered to take one more step and go over the edge. It would be so easy. Just one more step and she'd be free. She wouldn't have to deal with Aston's love. Just jump and fall and die.
"I don't want to," she whispered. "I don't want to die, but I don't want to live like this either." She wouldn't jump, she knew she wouldn't, but she looked down into the darkness anyway and wondered how long it would take before she hit the ground. How long it would take before they found her. How much would it hurt to hit the ground. She wouldn't jump.
"Going to jump, Hime?" A voice mocked behind her, a mirror of her own thoughts.
Eries didn't have to turn to know the voice. "If you want me dead, Meiden, you could always push," she said coldly.
She heard his footsteps come towards her and saw the dark figure at her feet peer over the edge of the wall. "It'd be quite a fall, Hime, but I doubt as bad as the one you're about to take."
"What are you talking about?"
"When everyone finds out you poisoned your father you'll wish you had jumped now. I have the proof, Hime. There is no escape. Look at what I have." She looked down at what he held in his hand, and saw the dim light gleaming off the corners of a glass vial filled with an evil green liquid. "All I have to do is place this in your room and send some guards up to find it."
"It won't prove anything," Eries said.
"But I'll be able to testify that I saw you put it in King Aston's drink. But you'd told me it was medicine. We'll be able to prove differently."
"So you're setting me up?" It sounded odd considering she really had poisoned Aston.
"By morning I could have you sitting in a jail cell. Unless..."
"Unless what? Unless I jump?"
She felt Meiden's hand play with the hem of her skirt. "You know what I want."
Eries kicked at his hand and backed over to the next crenulation. "Your son is going to be king, Meiden. Leave it at that."
"True. But I could get awfully rich myself with a woman of your position."
"Aren't you rich enough?" Eries crouched down so she stood eye to eye with the merchant. "I would never be your wife."
"I don't want a wife," Meiden laughed. "I was married once before and didn't much care for it. Besides my son is going to be king there's no stopping that. This deal is no longer about that, so just consider my offer. I'd get richer off the deal but you'd benefit too. I treat my mistresses well. I'd bring you all sorts of pretty bobbles from far off places."
"This is blackmail. I don't bend to such things, Meiden."
"Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer the exchange of goods and services." Eries's jaw dropped. "I do what I must to get what I want. I think you're the same way. You need me to keep my mouth shut and I will. As long as you obey my wishes."
"How dare you even suggest such things? I won't be treated like some whore!"
Meiden grabbed her around the legs. "You don't have much choice. I know your dirty secret. Submit or you'll be dead soon enough."
Still holding her legs he pushed her a little closer towards the black void below. Eries screamed and clutched at his cloak.
"What will it be, Hime?"
Eries tightened her grip on his cloak. If he were going to push her, she'd drag him over the edge too. "Go ahead and push me."
"I won't push you but I will have a noose put round your neck and throw the switch myself. You'll die disgraced in front of your whole country, be buried in the grave of criminals, and people will only remember you with the utmost hate."
Eries paused for a moment. A disgrace. The word stuck in her head. She felt Meiden's eyes boring intently into her and looked down to meet that expectant face eye to eye. "No. I'd rather die with everyone hating me than lower myself to you. At least I'd still have some dignity."
Meiden was furious. "I still get what I want." His hands slid up her legs beneath her skirt and he tried to pull her forward. She screamed again and tried to push him away but the merchant was surprisingly strong.
"Leave her be," a deep voice commanded.
The struggle paused, and Eries looked up to see Folken half hidden in the shadows. There's was a dark and angry look on his face and his hand resting upon the undrawn hilt of his sword. "Folken!"
Meiden let go of her legs and turned to consider the formidable man standing behind him. "This doesn't concern you. Leave." He reached back to grab at her again and Eries took a step back to avoid him. A silent scream emerged from her throat. There was no more wall waiting back there and Eries wavered for a moment trying to grab at the air to keep from falling backwards to her death.
Meiden grabbed at her skirt and missed.
"Eries!"
Folken ran forward out of the shadows calling her name. His hand outstretched to take hers.
The castle roof slipped away; Eries still reached out to take the hand she could no longer see. She fell instead through the darkness toward the hard ground below. Screaming silently. He'd been too late. She was going to die.
Up above a dark figure dove off the roof after her. In a moment strong arms were around her waist and she clung desperately to him, her arms around his neck. It was Folken. Why? What was he thinking? They were both going to die now.
And then she felt something very strange, something soft, something beating at the night air at Folken's back in a steady rhythm and she felt their fall slow. The things on his back, she knew what they were. Wings. Folken was... a Draconian.
Unceremoniously they hit the ground. Hard, but slowed enough by the wings to survive. The impact with the hard ground and the crushing weight of Folken above her ripped the wind out of her. She felt Folken try to get up and she sucked in a few desperate lungfulls, but she still didn't let go of him. She should be dead.
"Are you alright?" Folken asked.
She nodded slowly still stunned.
"Scared?"
She nodded again.
"Of me?"
She blinked a few times staring up at a dark featureless face only inches from her own. "No, I'm not. I was scared I was going to die. You saved me."
"Draconian's are cursed. You should be scared."
"You're much less scary than Meiden. And I'm already cursed. Since the day I was born. That's probably why I hit the ground first."
"I apologize there wasn't much time to check our fall. But you seem uninjured so you can probably let go now. We have landed."
"Sorry." She let go and Folken rolled over to lie in the grass beside her his wings still unfurled. Eries gently touched the soft feathers and felt the wings tremble beneath her fingers. They didn't say anything for a while, just lay in the cool darkness. The back of her head was sore where she'd hit the ground and she could feel it throbbing.
Even more she feel the time slipping away. Soon enough someone would come looking for them. And Folken would have to leave or be thrown in prison; Asturia had a history of treating Draconians poorly. It'd be best if they left before anyone showed up, but Eries didn't feel she had the strength left to move. And something was bothering her. It wasn't the wings. She'd always been taught Draconians were bad, but those wings had saved her life. Folken had saved her life. It was something about Folken though and question emerged to lurk in her mind.
"Folken? It's not that I'm not grateful for you saving me because I am." She saw him sit up. "But why were you on the castle roof just then? Something tells me it wasn't just a coincidence."
"I heard you scream," he said and after a long pause added: "But you're right it wasn't coincidence. I was looking for you."
Up above the clouds broke for a moment around the Mystic Moon and its soft glow was cast down upon them. For the first time she could see him clearly. The top of his uniform hung about his legs exposing his bare chest and the black wings that had enfolded from his back. His hair was a windblown mess, falling over his forehead and into his eyes.
"Why were you looking for me?" Eries asked curious. He paused again for some time just looking at her from behind his pale blue locks.
"I wanted to apologize. For what happened earlier. I mislead you. That was wrong."
"Wrong? What? Holding me or what you said?" She felt angry again. He didn't need to tell her again he didn't love her. "Stop playing games and speak plainly."
"Don't you see?" He gestured to his wings.
"I don't care if you're a Draconian." She sat up. "I'm a cat-girl."
"I'm dying, Eries. Don't you understand? My wings have turned black. My fate is sealed. I'm going to be dead soon." He paused as the words sunk in. "I've hurt you again, haven't I? I shouldn't have said that. I don't want you to be sad."
"You're dying?"
"I don't have long left."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." The clouds covered closed again taking the light and making it dark again. "You tried to tell me before didn't you? But I didn't listen. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. It is because I messed with fate that I die."
"We may all be dead soon, with the coming war," Eries whispered. "I don't want to die. I don't want you to die!" Her hand came to rest on his. "Shouldn't we live while we still have the chance? Shouldn't we say the things that need to be said? Folken, even if you don't love me I want you to know I still love and care about you."
In the darkness she could hear Folken chuckle to himself. She felt crushed again. "You laugh at my feelings?"
"No," he apologized. "It's just ... she was right. People return your feelings."
"Return your feelings?"
"Eries, I love you, too. It's taken me a long time to realize it, there was so much that held me back. But being so near the end, and loosing them, and almost loosing you - I've been such a fool. I never wanted to see you hurt, and yet I kept on doing just that. Now that I'm dying and now that I've told you and now you are going to get hurt again." All his eloquence was gone and his words held no flow. But Eries only heard one thing.
"You love me?" The tears fell freely down her cheeks.
"Do you hear what I'm saying? If you love me you're going to get hurt."
"I am willing to accept that hurt, Folken, because I love you," she said. "Nothing can be worse than all the years I've spent unloved; I'll always know that you loved me now." She wrapped her arms around his chest holding him so tightly. His arms came around her holding her back. He kissed her tears away and gently touched her lips with his own.
"Hime! Eries Hime!" Many voices were calling for her. Meiden's included. "Get some torches out here!" "Where you think she landed?" "I had just come out on the roof when I saw her jump." "Think she's dead?" "You sure it was her?"
Folken rose and pulled her to her feet. His dark wings dissipated into the night. "They're coming to look for you. I guess Meiden didn't mention me."
"Thank goodness. Let's not be found out here. I couldn't bear trying to explain all of this. Come on, I know a way we can get into the castle without the guards seeing us." She wrapped her arms around Folken again holding him while she could.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
"I've been in my room all night. I don't know what you're talking about." Eries said to the castle guard standing outside her door. It would be simple enough to get rid of him. He was young and easily intimidated and blushing furiously at the sight of his princess wearing only her bathrobe.
"Lord Meiden said he saw you fall from the roof of the castle."
"Do I look I've fallen off the roof of the castle?" Eries tapped her foot impatiently.
"No..." He didn't leave and kept on not looking at her in a way that meant he really was looking at her because the blush kept on getting deeper and deeper.
"I'd like to finish my bath. Is there anything else you want?"
"No, my lady. I apologize for disturbing you."
He wasn't sorry in the least, but Eries nodded sharply and shut and locked the door on him. Well, that was one problem easily solved. Meiden's lies to save himself had also saved her. She grinned and turned to face Folken in her bed. He was looking at the smashed mirror and broken chair and Eries thought back to everything that had happened that night. Quickly she brushed Aston and Meiden from her mind she didn't want to think about them now. She didn't want to think about the fact Folken was going to die. He was here now. He loved her. And that was all that mattered.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+
AN: There were a few interesting fact in my reviews that I thought I should share here. According to Ice Princess: "you know that Eries was a tribe of indians thats symbol was the cat or more precisely the panther. So now in some languages Eries means 'panther' or 'sly panther'" This was also backed up by Goddess in Disguise who said: . "Eries" means the "cat people" in some Native American tribe language. Ironic, ne?" Very ironic, but a nice find. I have no idea if this was intentional since I've never seen any reference to Eries actually being a catgirl, but it works out mysteriously nice. Ah, well, thanks for sticking the story out this long. Even though I don't have a lot of time to devote to writing I'm certainly enjoying it and I hope you are too. Only three more chapters til we reach the series end and the end of Neko Hime, too. I'll try to make them good ones!
