*~Summoner of Escaflowne's Mystic Eyes~*
Chapter 10
Ten of Swords -someone stabbing you in the back; can also mean a tragic end to
a situation.
Was it all just a dream....or maybe a vision? No it was real. Van asked
us to meet him outside the catacombs, saying he had something to show us.
When we followed him through the numerous graves of the Fanelian family I
realized something was wrong with him. But it was too late...
"I don't think I said we were there yet but since you seem so eager to get
back I believe we can start the show early." sneered the creature that moments
ago was a replica of Van.
"Hey how'd you do that? What are you anyway?" came the startled
questions from Yobi.
"I'm sure the Lady Hitomi knows what I am. After all she was the cause
of my only family's death." Replied the creature with venom in its voice.
Hitomi could feel Yobi's eyes on her back but her own remained on the
creature in front of her. "I-I-I didn't know he had a family and I didn't kill him,
Zaibach did." stammered Hitomi, her eyes glued to the being before her.
"He's the one who tried to kill us first!" exclaimed an angered Merle.
"Shut up! This doesn't involve you!" hissed the creature, to the cat girl.
"Hitomi, what is that thing!?" persisted Yobi, who remained a few yards
behind her. Allen now stood between Yobi and Hitomi to protect the young
man. He knew that if he went closer to get to Hitomi he'd be of no use at all.
At least Hitomi had her psychic powers, some of which remained a mystery, to
protect her.
"He's a dofelganger. Remember what Van and I told you Yobi? He has
many faces, but none of them are his own." She repeated the words she had said
so long ago as she stared at the creature standing in the now emerging rays of
moonlight.
"I may be of the same race as my uncle but I am not so naive. I shall and
have learned from my uncle's mistakes. This time you will not be the victor,
M'Lady." hissed the dofelganger as he became one with the cave wall and
disappeared from their sight.
"Let's get out of here. I don't want to find out what he had planned."
Stated Merle as she headed for the mouth of the catacombs.
Allen turned to follow her. Celena walked in front of him and Yobi
walked behind him. Hitomi was at the end of the line. Just as they began to
walk again, a fog surrounded them. Merle's scream again pierced the silence of
the catacombs. They were there. Standing in the middle of their path to the
exit stood the two triclopes' themselves.
"So we meet again, Savior." declared one of the twins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The old man woke with a pain in his head. He looked around him to find
that he was being held in an enchanted chamber. He could feel the power
around him. He then noticed a young creature. It was not a man, which was
obvious from its fox like appearance. It turned to face him and began talking in a
gruff voice.
"So you're finally awake. Who are you, old man, and why are you in this
area of the forest?"
The man spoke after a few moments had passed. He had not seen
another soul for months and thought he may have lost the ability to speak or
forgotten how. The words came slowly and in a hoarse voice. "I am no one. I
was one of the greatest rulers this planet had ever seen but now I am no one. I
now call myself Furousha." replied the aged man.
"Why are you in this area old man?" asked the creature skeptically.
"I have been wandering around for many months and was just looking for
something to eat. I have not done anything to you so release me from this cage
of yours."
"That won't be happening too soon. You claim that you do not know
where you are but any Katagatamouchou knows better than to believe your
people." replied the creature.
*Well this cannot be too bad. At least I now have shelter and hopefully
they will provide food for me.* thought Furousha.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rikou aren't you finished yet?" questioned Van impatiently. He and his
councillors were sitting at the table and listening as Rikou continued on about
the danger the country was in. The three councilmen seemed to agree that it
was best if Van was kept indoors and surrounded by guards to ensure his safety.
"I can't believe you called me here to listen to this! I'm not the one in danger
here and my duty is to protect Fanelia not go into hiding like a coward. I am a
samuri and I will not turn my back on an enemy and run away!!" exclaimed the
King, using words that were all too familiar to his people.
"Your Majesty, we are merely concerned about you. You are still young
and the country is still recovering from the Gaeaen War. You have neither a
regent nor any kin so your survival is essential for Fanelia to thrive. As Lord
Allen said long ago 'You are Fanelia's king. As long as she has a King and a
people, Fanelia has a future.' You cannot endanger yourself." replied Shinbou.
They were determined to make their rash king think about the affects of his
actions.
"For the last time I am not the one that needs protection! If you want to
guard someone then guard Hitomi. She is the most important person right
now." *and not just to Fanelia* replied Van hastily. "Now if you'll excuse me I
have guests to attend to." The young king then left his councillors to ponder
over his words.
Van emerged into the great hall of the castle to find it empty. "You
there!" he called to a passing servant "Where are Lady Hitomi, Lady Merle,
Lord Allen, Lady Celena, and Yobi?"
"Sire, they left for the catacombs two hours ago, to meet you, like you
asked." replied the baffled young woman.
"What are you talking about. I did no such thing! Are you sure they left
to the catacombs?"
"Of course, Sire. I saw Lady Merle head over there with the whole party,
declaring they were to be meeting you."
"Very well. I suppose I forgot and now I am late. Carry on with your
work." said Van uneasily. He did not want to reveal his suspicions to his
servants, of all people. *What's going on here. I'm sure I didn't tell them to
meet me at the catacombs! Something is not right. Merle would've known if it
was an imposter. I better go see if they're all right.*
As Van left the hall he felt a strange sensation. Almost as if something
was reawakening inside of him. *Escaflowne!*. Van quickly changed his
destination and headed toward the shrine. He didn't know why he went there
but something was calling out to him and deep in his heart Van knew it was the
Escaflowne. Some part of him sense that his friends were in danger and that the
only way to help them was with the Escaflowne.
As he stepped into the center of the shrine where the remains of his
father, mother, and brother, rested he called out. "I Van Fanel, King of Fanelia,
bound myself by blood pact to thee Escaflowne. Now sleeping dragon,
reawaken!"
Escaflowne descended from above as magically as it did the first time
Van had called upon it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What do you two want?" hissed Merle, her eyes glued to the beings
before her.
"Nothing you will be able to provide, Cat!" spat Sou.
"We long ago realized that you turned your back on your people and
embraced the humans." remarked Seiji
"You share the same fate as them." continued Sou. The two always
seemed to finished the other's thoughts.
"The rest of you, unfortunately, will not be able to find out what that fate
is."
"But you should be comforted by the thought that your friend, Lady
Hitomi, shall live to see that."
"She will be the one who condemns her own race." cackled both, at once.
The twins then joined hands and began their spell. Cold winds blew past
them but they did not move. Allen moved toward them, sword drawn, when...
A/N: Hi everyone! *ducks all the vegetables thrown at her* I know you
all hate me for taking so long with this. Well it'll take even longer next time
since I promised Nuriko I'd work on our FY one more. Sorry!! So did you enjoy
this chapter?? Is it more exciting?? Boring? Slow? Fast? Am I annoying??
Lilygirl sorry about the cliffhanger. I just couldn't resist! Nuriko.....LONG
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....ok?? I'm glad people
are liking this so far....let me know when you hate it ok??...well I really don't
have too much to say today. So u know what to do! Bye!!! Cheerios! Fruit
Loops! Whatever cereal you like! Ta ta!!
~IndianBabeIII~
