Chapter 16

Judgement*

Confessions of an Immortal

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice….

(Fire and Ice by Robert Frost) This is purely intentional foreshadowing, representation, and teasing about what might happen in this story, since Dilandau is Fire and Hiero is Ice, and the combination of them will only bring chaos.

~

Alessa stood alone on the cliff, the rain pouring down madly, cold on her skin. She was soaked, staring at the lone figure standing at the cliff's edge. He was nothing but a silhouette, hunched over and sobbing. She felt sorry for him, and took a step towards the figure, hoping to comfort him.

No sooner was she a foot away from him, the figure started to laugh insanely, chilling her very blood. She cringed, lightening flashing all around as he slowly straightened and turned around.

"Hiero?" she uttered fearfully, feeling sick as the scent of fresh blood assaulted her. He was in the Dragon Slayer armor, most of it drenched in blood, the rain not even touching him. His eyes were wild, flashing different colors and shapes rapidly. As she looked more closely, she inwardly wretched. His stomach was slashed open, the intestines hanging out like gore stained tendrils. He was smiling at her, as if he'd lost his mind, pain becoming a foreign concept to him.

"We….are waiting." He said, but it wasn't his voice, more like a garbling of many. It gave her the utter creeps, so she started to back off. He was on her in a moment, grabbing her violently by her arms. "Some of us are true, some of us are cruel, some of us hate him, some of us love him, some of us use him, and some of want don't want to lose him." He said, cocking his head to the side as his eyes became golden slits, then black, green, and then only white.

"I….Hiero, I don't understand. Who are you talking about? IEE!" she asked timidly, then yelled as his fingers dug into her flesh, the gloves he was wearing ripping under the horrid black claws.

"Hiero is the master, Hiero holds heaven and hell inside his soul. We are many, but we are one with him, and its such a lonely number. Forsake us, and forsake him" he let out and licked her face before throwing her to the ground, his intestines spilling onto her feet. She threw up after she kicked them off the cliff, retching again when she saw Hiero gore infested innards that remained inside the flapping hole in his gut.

"Understand what he is, and get past it, lest the world will die. The course of true love never did run smooth.** Yet, one is never really in love unless they act, dancing about the issue is useless, secrets you don't understand are no reason to fear. Understanding must not die because of this….you are his only hope. You are Gaia hope, Angel of Love. Without you, Death and Power will never merge properly." He said, his voice feminine then masculine, then childish, his eyes rapidly changing again.

"I don't understand….why am I so important? I nearly got them all killed and Hiero….what happened to you? How did you survive?" she yelled.

The Hiero before her stopped smiling and started to step backwards, a river of blood trailing from him as he went. It ran under her, warm and cold to her skin at the same time, her eyes watching his every movement. "Listen to Hiero's story….listen and learn, and if you have the courage to love beyond what he is, love for him, not pity, not fear, but love as true as Gaia's wishes, love from your heart and soul, the destiny of doom can be avoided. You will ultimately decide Gaia's fate within their hands….you are their beacon, their sense, their guardian. Do not forget your heart, follow it, not your fear. Follow your heart….for him. He needs you more than you could ever dream." He uttered, then gave her a slight wave.

She shouted at him as he neared the edge of the cliff, the wave finishing as she got up, slipping around perilously on the blood soaked grass as he fell off the cliff smiling, spreading his arms out wide. "HIERO!" she screamed, reaching out for him even though he was already gone. The blood at her feet came alive seconds later, wrapping about her tightly, getting in her mouth, her throat and lungs, choking her with its metallic embrace.

"HELP MEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" she screamed, everything coming out bubbling and choked, her world going red.

~

"Help me, Mama. Please, help me." A sad child's voice whimpered.

Alessa opened her eyes slowly, a small child in white robes crying on a lovely white marble floor. They were both in what looked like a beautiful mansion, tapestries, awnings, doors, doorknobs, stairways embroidered with gold. The boy was sitting just in front of the stairway, crying his eyes out while a lovely woman with long blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. The boy had the same color eyes, only more angular, and his hair was the same familiar color, despite the long, face cradling bangs.

"Hiero….as a child? But that's not Queen Hitomi, that's not the same woman in the painting in the castle. And he looks….so different." Alessa gasped, watching the mock look of affection on the woman's face.

It was a fake look, Alessa had seen it many times before on those of boy's that were put on dares to ask her to dances at the orphanage. It was also the way the head mistress and most of the nuns and brothers of the orphanage looked at the kids, that artificial affection that was a simple mask that could be taken off whenever one pleased.

"Hiero….what is it now?" she said, her voice very sweet, but condescending. The boy looked up, letting his small hands fall in his lap, his pathetic and saddened expression nearly moving Alessa to tears. He didn't look like Hiero, he looked like a boy who cried out for the world's sadness with no hope of reprieve, no hope at all. He looked utterly defeated, and alone. His cheeks had bruises on them, a little blood trickling from his small quivering mouth.

"Corsa and her brothers beat me up today. That's practically everyone at the school now, beating me up, during school, before it, after it, even when school is out, they won't leave me alone. They call me a freak, Mama, a monster, ugly, an abomination. Why do they have to be so cruel to me, I haven't done anything." He wept. To this, his mother only sighed, as if it were a waste of her time.

"My son is not a freak, you should know better than listen to dirty commoners. We Vendetta's are the richest family in all of Terrian aside from the royalty. My son will be a duke someday, not a whining child over a few little childish scuffles. Ignore them, child. You pain your mother so when you cry." She told him.

"But Mama…." The child tried, but she shushed him. "No but's, no son of mine will give in to such silly things. You will hold your head high because you are a Vendetta, you are rich, you will have power, and you will not bow down to anyone. You are above them," she told him harshly, then smiled," Do it for your mother. You love me, don't you?"

The boy stood, nodding vigorously, a little blood splashing on the floor and on the woman's dress. She groaned in frustration. "OH, now look what you did to mother's dress….and our expensive floor. Dear me, now I must have it cleaned again. You're so dirty, Hiero. Go wash yourself up before you even touch the floors again, or me. I will not allow my son to be filthy with such things as blood and dirt. How rude." She scoffed, and walked off, calling to servants that appeared out of multiple doorways, bowing to her haughty whim.

"Mama, I'm so sorry, Mama. I'll be better. I'll make them sorry, for you, all for you, Mama. I won't let our name be stained. I won't be a freak, I won't fail. I will, Mama, I will be great for you. I promise." The little boy called, reaching out for her even as the servants picked him up, scrubbing his face with clothes as they took him up the stairs.

"Oh….how could she….that was her….own son. How….HOW COULD SHE BE SO COLD!!??" Alessa screamed, the dream shattering at her cries, her body shaking violently as it faded away.

~ Dryden's Mansion ~

"Lady Alessa, control yourself!" It was Dalet, shaking her madly by her shoulders, her bare shoulders. He looked worried, but he wasn't wearing his Dragon Slayer attire, he had on what looked like a white blousy shirt and dark pants, boots up to his knees. He even smelled like soap, not sulfur like last night, like they all smelled. She didn't smell sulfur on herself either, and she blushed.

Dalet seemed a bit confused, but at least he wasn't hitting on her, right now. "Control myself? What did I do?" she uttered, noticing she was in a sleeveless nightgown, a lovely lavender one, and she was sitting up in a nicely furnished bed," And how did I get in this thing?"

"Those merchant ships Migel saw….the night before last, that light took us to them. They belong to the Asturian merchant mogul, Dryden Fassa. He had his servants clean you up. We woke up before you did, so his lady servant cleaned you up cause, well, you didn't smell very good. None of us did, but there were no male servants to help us. I didn't do anything to you." he sniffed.

She blushed again, but managed to nod. "What about Hiero and Dilandau?" Dalet squirmed. "I don't know about Hiero. Not since I woke up. We're near Freid now, we slept the entire trip to his estate near the Karsa Mountains, and it's not far from the capital of Freid, Godashim. Lord Dilandau just woke up this afternoon, he's probably still bathing all the filth we all picked up in Asgard. I haven't seen him since he started screaming at Dryden's servants." He told her.

She pulled her sheets up a bit, inspecting the room. It was even better than the one she'd been given in Fanelia, a ivory encrusted stain-glass window that shown the warm sunshine into her room. It even had fine tapestries, furnishings, a full length mirror with a gold frame, her bed with a canopy the same color as her hair, the sheets warm and with a fluffy white quilt, which Dalet was sitting on cross-legged. He had finally let go of her, his hands now in his lap and his brown hair lacking dirt of any kind, not a ratty hair within it. His lavender eyes were staring at her though, a little too low for her tastes.

She cleared her throat, and his eyes zipped to her face. He bit his lip and blushed at being caught, but it didn't last long, as his eyes wandered again. "Then what do you know about where Hiero is. They had to have told you something." She said harshly, crossing her arms over her chest to dash all hopes of a view.

Dalet soured his lips, then shrugged. "I haven't seen him, but Dryden said he was looking at his 'favor,' whatever that means. No one has told us where he is. All of us but you and Lord Dilandau woke up this morning, but according to Dryden, Hiero woke up on the ship….screaming. Then he got quiet until the ships arrived at Dryden's estate, asked for his 'favor' and then no one saw him afterwards. Why are you bothering to think about that weirdo? He's not human….only demons come back to life like that. You should be thinking about normal, handsome, and well mannered guys, like me." Dalet said suggestively, raising his eyebrows.

"Because you're a Dragon Slayer and I won't allow such things, Dalet." Dilandau voice sounded. Alessa jumped a bit, look past a very scared looking and sweating Dalet, and saw Dilandau standing in the doorway. He was dressed the same way as Dalet, with subtle differences.

He was wearing black shirt, not blousy at all, and black pants and boots all the way up to his knees. It was like looking at Death itself, those terrifying garnet eyes fastened on her hatefully, not Dalet. 'Oh, no way he's blaming Dalet's flirting on me.' She thought, and frowned at the Dragon Slayer general. The pentagram marking wasn't on his forehead anymore, and neither was his gold headband. His silver hair was perilously wafting about his pale features, glittering a little in the light of the room. The only other hint of color other than his eyes was the ring she had given him, the jade stone and silver band glittering slightly in the afternoon sun.

Dalet got off the bed, keeping his head down and arms tightly at his side, trying not to shake. Dilandau finally seemed to remember him, and glared with a frown. "Dalet, you did your job, she's awake, Now get out of my sight and look for Hiero before I beat you to death." He yelled. Dalet nodded quickly and ran out, which stunned Alessa. Normally the guy would hit his Slayers, or something, not just yelling. 'Or else he's saving it for me. Damn, maybe it would have been better if Dalet were still here, this guy is dangerous.' she thought, hugging the sheets closer to her body as Dilandau stared her down, stepping closer.

When he got to the right side of her bed, his garnet eyes still upon her, she involuntarily scooted back, which to her disgust made him smile cruelly at her. "What do you want?"

He seemed to consider this question, raising his eyebrows to look mockingly interested. He stroked his scar a moment, looking up at nothing, then slit his eyes back at her with a grin. "Get dressed, woman. You are going to help me right now." He said playfully. She blushed a bit, unsure of what he was asking. His expression hadn't changed, but he had back up considerably, near the dresser in the room.

"I am not changing with you in the room. Get out." She spat. He seemed unbothered and turned around. "Make me, woman." He returned, his voice utterly condescending.

She threw her covers off in anger, not caring if he saw her in the nightgown, which she was secretly grateful for being long. She was ready to grab him, but stopped. 'He hates me, he's only trying to piss me off. Not like he'd look, he has no interest in me except to bug the fucking hell out of me.' She thought harshly, and opening the drawers. She looked up at Dilandau, who was as pale as ever and in the same position as before.

Then she looked in the drawer. "Dresses? Damn, I hate dresses. And they're all wrinkled too." She sulked, and turned beet red when Dilandau snickered. "I made it a personal request that you be dressed….elegantly, and that silly Princess Ravine let it seep out that you danced at the coronation with Hiero. They are wrinkled because of Fassa's advisor. He rather had quite a petty fit over it all. Considering…." Dilandau uttered, but he wasn't laughing. He sounded a little amused at first, until he mentioned Ravine, then his voice was cold.

She stared at him, shrugging out of her nightgown and grabbing up the first dress her fingers touched, a light blue one. It wasn't terribly puffy, more like Princess Millerna's attire, in fact exactly like it, complete with a white top part instead of black. She pulled the dress on as she asked, trying not to sound curious," Considering what?"

Dilandau stiffened a moment, his expression out of her line of view. "No one told you, I guess. I guess even Hiero lies more than once, or rather withholds information."

"What is it?" she near shouted at him, buttoning up the back of her dress quickly. He seemed to hear her struggled and turned slightly, smirking. "Orla and Hiero were arranged to be married when they were children. His advisor says the wedding will be on once this Zaibach thing is settled." He told her.

Alessa wanted to die. Dilandau wasn't helping, staring at her with his cold, angry eyes. "Married?" she asked, her gaze falling to the floor," Where is he?"

"That's what you are going to help me with. Gatti is waiting at the end of the hall for you to aid in the search. Hiero and our….ingrate host Dryden Fassa are nowhere to be found. You will aid in the search instead of being dead weight all the time." He sneered out, walking out. He didn't even look back at her as he added," Oh, and don't try getting hysterical. His mother was so good at that it was almost too pathetic. I'll slap you to death same I would anyone else for hindering our progress."

When he was gone, Alessa just stared after him, not knowing what to do or say. When her legs finally remembered themselves, they walked stiffly, taking her slowly into the hall. 'Married? Why would he try and kiss me….and be engaged to someone else?' she thought, numbly reaching Gatti, who was dressed up the same as Dalet.

~ The Dungeon ~

'I hope I hurt her, little Mystic Moon bitch, she deserves it. No one yells at me, no one. It may be true, but I know Hiero. That little fluff princess isn't his type, he'll pursue the jinx instead. He's just that way….but while they contemplate where Hiero is hiding, I'm going to create some pain. I needed to hurt her, I need to be myself. I need to kill, but not her. He'll hate me if I do that. Despite what Hiero kept to himself….I don't need him hating me.' Dilandau mused, walking down the stairs of the mansion, down further into the depths of the fortress-like estate.

He'd seen Fassa's guards hauling off some vicious looking men. The guards informed him they'd tried to kill Dryden's ailing father recently, and were being locked up until sentencing in Asturia.

Dilandau followed later, checking the security. The dungeons far below the mansion were much like Zaibach, dark, metallic, and cold with only a few torches to light it. It was a shame really, such abuse to lovely fire, so little air to let them breath wildly, to live. There were no guards down below, the place was built well and escape was impossible. Guards with weapons would only give prisoners ideas of escape, people around could be used as hostages. He knew that very well, Zaibach had one of the best prisons in the world, ones the only thing prisoners had to look forward to once stepping in was dying quickly.

He smiled, remembering how many prisoners he got to maim and torture when he was there, the first time. How they screamed, begging for death, death Dilandau drew out until he was satisfied, all five minutes after death he was satisfied, then another would be on the slab. Now he had a chance to have a little fun, fun he gathered Hiero would discover, but he didn't care. Hiero had his interests, his little secrets, and Dilandau would have his interests. He had no secrets, not anymore, and it was nice that way.

Dilandau stepped quietly through the dark hall, cells on both sides, most of them empty. His garnet eyes scanned each one for signs of life, something to play with, but for a good five minutes, there was nothing, not even a single rat, only dying torch flames.

As he neared the back wall of the place, he heard something trickling a ways off, a sound he most disgustingly knew. He'd heard it numerous times when Folken dragged him into the cells back on Eden to punish him, before he started to punish his Slayers, the sound of prisoners relieving themselves on the walls. His nose crinkled, the smell of the acrid liquid making him ill. He'd stomached those horrible odors when he was trapped in a boy body, throwing up only once that first terrible night. He still couldn't stand it, it was filthy, beneath him. He'd enjoy killing these men, he'd even drag it out, just to get back at them for making him ill.

Dilandau finally reached the end of the dungeon and saw a pair of men with their backs to him, blood on their clothes and puddle by their feet. "Disgusting creatures. This will be a service to humanity….no, more a service to me." He grumbled, getting the men's attention. They adjusted their pants, their grimy faces eyeing Dilandau hungrily. 'Oh please….filthy and perverts.' He thought, taking a few steps away, so he was standing in the center. He heard movement behind him, and looked casually to it, smiling wickedly. Two other burly and bald men were in there, waking up from the cold metal floor and eyeing him in the same manner.

"Hey, pretty boy, come to see the big bad assassins? Wanna play some games with us while we wait for old man Fassa to lose his death sentence on us?" said the other men, the one's Dilandau had looked at first. They had hair, but it was ratty and brown, like a rat's nest from hell. One was taller than the other, but they were all pretty average in build. Not much of a challenge to Dilandau, but he wasn't here for that. He was here to have fun.

"I was actually going to let you out. Who wants to be first? And how badly do you want it?" Dilandau said sweetly, putting his best grin on as he cracked his knuckles.

The tall one backed up a bit, probably seeing Dilandau's expression wasn't very nice. 'What do I care…back up if you want, it'll just hurt worse.' He thought, delighting in both men moving backwards, at least halfway into the cell.

"I do. I dare you to get me out of here without killing you. I want out now, pretty boy, and don't think you can stop me from breaking your neck once you do." The tall men uttered, trying to put strength into his voice.

Then Dilandau started to laugh, and it soon became a cackle, Dilandau unable to help himself, his hands on his hips and his head thrown back as his eerie cackle filled the air. Hen he finally stopped, only chuckling wickedly in his throat as his ducked his head down, then his garnet eyes raised, flashing dangerously. He grinned and held out his hands, only a foot from the bars that held the disturbed men. "Oh, you'll kill me? Sorry….no, I'm not sorry. I'm going to enjoy this." He snickered, drawing up his stolen hatred that the light silenced on Asgard. The light that robbed him of his revenge on Folken and his lackeys, he knew what fueled it, his emotions, his soul. He felt the air about him crackle, growing warmer as wisps of flames surrounded him.

The men tried backing further away, to yell for help, but the roar of tendrils of flames that whirled about Dilandau's body made all sound die. Dilandau felt good, like a fire, alive and wild with eternal power and vitality, his hair lifting a little as the air began to stir even more violently.

It all happened in a flash, the snaking tendrils of fire shooting out of their dangerous spin, through the bars like ghosts and grabbing at the tall man, who was screaming bloody murder. Dilandau thought it, wanting to grant this man his request all the more, wanting more fear, more suffering. "Come out and play, bastard! BURN!!!! BURN!! BURN!!!!!" he shouted, laughing wildly as his mind forced the flames to pull the man forward, slamming him into the bars repeatedly. Blood spattered, but not a drop touched Dilandau, the flames blocked his body from each spurt of crimson, dancing and snaking about his body with each time.

The man was screaming, muffled and bubbly, but screaming, his cell companion cowering terror in the urine stained corner, eyes wide with fright. Dilandau's mind pulled again, and the dying man's body started to squish through. Dilandau grinned widely, pulling harder and harder. The man was still alive until he got halfway through, bone fragments and pulpy muscle dropping onto to the floor. Dilandau gave one finally pull, and the man came all the way out, a pile of bloody crap before Dilandau's boots. The flames seemed to devour the blood, leaving nothing but a dry husk of flesh there.

Dilandau eyes danced with the flames, then he licked his lips hungrily. "That was fun, a lot of fun," he smirked, stomping down onto the dry pile, pounding it into to dust, then looked at the cowering man," Next."

~ Orla's Room ~

Orla brushed her hair, trying to ignore her father's advisor. He was talking about her wedding, the one planned against her wishes to Hiero, and against Hiero's wishes. The doddering little fool was just like her grandfather, too eager to join royalty again. Her mother was dead, she's been a part of royalty, but now she was gone, thanks to Zaibach. Her mother, grandfather, and the advisor all wanted her to marry the sole heir to Fanelia, but Hiero didn't love her. He'd said as much at the coronation, and she didn't love him either. He'd gone off with her father to check on Hiero's favor and some other matters early in the morning, an hour before that scary silver-haired youth had woken up.

It wasn't much to hope for, with this rat-faced idiot trying to prepare for something neither youth wanted. She wanted him to leave, for her sister to stop telling her that she'd "grow" to love Hiero. She wanted an escape, anything but this idiot's rambling. 'Someone, rescue me.' She thought, stifling a tear.

The knock at her door nearly made her leap up with joy, it made that idiot stop talking. He waddled over to the door, wiggling his nose a bit as he opened it. Orla nearly lost her breath as the young man stepped in. His sky blue eyes regarded the advisor first, asking him something quietly. His voice was so soft and deep, she felt her heart flutter.

He had his long black hair in a ponytail, two dangle curls on each side of his face and pleasant complexion. He was wearing one of the servant boy's shirts, the ones her father had given out to each of the young men that Hiero of Fanelia had appeared with, all but the silver haired one. He took a black shirt from her father's room and cut the long ends off with his nasty looking sword. This one was probably another subordinate of that one, but he was quieter, like the blonde and silvery blonde haired ones, but less timid than the blonde was and not as facially expressive as the other. He just looked delicate to her, like pure of heart knight.

He seemed to notice her staring at looked up. He blushed as his light blue eyes met with her eyes and nodded to her. "May I speak with your lady of the house, sir. Since she is….engaged to Hiero, she might be able to aid in our search. Privately." He said, his voice utterly dreamy.

She smiled at him and he smiled back. The advisor didn't catch this, but gave off a skeptical look. "Oh, please leave. I would be most pleased to help this young soldier in his search. I have much to consider for the wedding, now don't I? You have no taste in such matters. You nearly ruined mother and father's wedding with your choice of green dresses."

"But Mistress…." The advisor whined, but she waved her hand at him, dismissing him. "I am the eldest female of the house by three minutes, Advisor. When father isn't around, I am in charge. Now go….both the cook or something or I shall have the guards escort you to Asturia. Grandfather could use you more than I could." She replied casually.

The little man threw a fit, but it was short lived when she stomped her foot. He left, grumbling all the way, shutting the door quietly.

"I am Lady Orla, sir Knight. And who are you?" she asked pleasantly. The young man cocked his head to the side, his curly bangs springing a bit. "Ryuon Ravi Viole, Dragon Slayer marksman. I am no knight, I am higher than that, an elite, Lady Orla," he said, not stiffly, rather pleasantly, bowing his head to her," Why did you….throw your advisor out?"

He was blushing again, still standing near the door. 'How cute. A Dragon Slayer? I've never heard of that group. Maybe before I was born….Daddy did say a lot of groups exist past Asturia.' She thought and stepped a little closer to him, her smile bright as her brown hair swivel on her shoulders. "He's an annoying little toad, all he can talk of is this stupid marriage. Neither Hiero or myself got a say in this, and we still have the same opinion about it, sadly no one shares it."

"What opinion is that?" he asked, curious and taking a step forward himself. He was smiling, pleasant and true, like a shy little boy. "Hiero and I don't love each other, our parents, well mostly my mother, not my father, arranged this when we were just kids. We think of each other as friends, really, Hiero got a little angry about our family advisor asking him questions about it the entire time he was here. Hiero left this morning to check on his lovely favor that Daddy made for him years ago, payback for Hiero's fortune dousing, and talk about the marriage thing. He said he was going to settle this once and for all, so no one would be hurt."

His eyes lit up, vaguely aware she was inched from him. "You know where Hiero and Dryden are?"

Her heart sank a bit. He was just looking for Hiero and father. She let her smile fall, but his faltered as hers did, concern filling his eyes. She felt her arms grow goose pimples when his bare hand touched hers. "Did I offend you, Orla?" he asked, forgetting her title.

"I….no, nothing. Yes, I do know where they are. It is not far from the mansion, and underground bio-garden, well partially. There is a glass dome atop it, hidden in the forest near our home. Hiero requested it after Lady Celena's death, the Atria De Celena Garden, a sort of tribute or something, Sir Ryuon." She said plainly. He smiled again, shaking his head.

"My friends call me Viole. And no more of this 'sir' stuff. Sir is for old men and old ladies to address one another. You're far too young and beautiful to use such terms. Relax." He uttered playfully, his eyes sparkling towards her.

"Oh, you flatter me." She blushed, ducking her head shyly. He chuckled lightly, and tilted her face up a little, his eyes and smile making her melt. He gave her a little kiss on the cheek, still smiling.

"That's good, you're smiling again. It would be a shame to let such a pretty sight fade because of me. I may be a Dragon Slayer, but I still know what true beauty is." He chuckled.

Orla blushed brightly, looking at his smiling mouth. She licked her lips, looking up at him for a fleeting moment before she grabbed his face and kissed him full on the mouth. She heard him mumbled something, probably "Hey!" or "What," but the stiffness he had initially had in his mouth was fading, softening, his hand sliding up her silken caressed arm, his other on the small of her back. He was kissing her back, gentle as rose petals, tasting her lips sweetly.

She wanted it to last forever, but her wish was not granted. "VIOLE! What are you doing?" She felt him stiffen, his lips slowly pulling away. At least he wasn't too quick to give up, she had to be glad for that, but suddenly she felt like giggling at the sight of her pink lipstick stuck to his mouth, all smeared up.

"G-Gatti!! Lady Alessa! Uh, what are you doing here?" Viole asked, a little breathy. The young man known as Gatti just stared at them, blushing. The maiden Alessa, now in one of her old blue dresses, was staring, and almost smiling. "Looking for Hiero, and why are you kissing Fassa's daughter? Hiero's fiancée…." Gatti asked, not terribly stern, more afraid than anything.

"I was….asking where Hiero is. She knows where he is….I….I….just like her. She's very sweet." Viole let out, making Orla blush again. Gatti just shook his silvery blonde head, his stormy eyes fuming. "Don't let Lord Dilandau see you like this, lipstick on your face. Be more discreet or he'll slaughter you both. For your own sake, please, don't let him find out." Gatti pleaded.

'So this is more out of concern than anger, that's good too. And who's Dilandau, that silver-haired kid? He's no older than I am….I've never heard of him though. Maybe father has.' She thought, rubbing her lipstick away, Viole doing the same to his mouth.

"But….at least we now know here Hiero and Fassa are. We would be most grateful of you would lead us to this place, Lady Orla. We must inform our patron of this immediately." Gatti added, looking to her now.

She nodded, letting Viole leave the room before her. She eyed him up and down quickly as he did, biting her lip to hold back a whistle. 'Cute, sweet, and handsome as an angel. This visit might be better than I thought.' She mused happily, running out to them in the hall, smiling all the way.

~ Atria De Celena Garden ~

"This is the entrance, follow me." Orla said quietly, leading Migel, Gatti, Chesta, Alessa, Dilandau and Viole into the cavern entrance that led to the bio-garden. It was a well kept secret within her family from what she said, and Alessa wondered what it looked like all the more that Orla talked about it. How special it could be to be kept a secret from all but Hiero and Orla's family played on her mind, as a light came to her eyes as they neared the bio-garden itself.

Getting out of Dryden's mansion was a lot harder than getting to this cavern was. Dalet and Migel had been having spat with the guards outside the mansion, so they could not aid the rest of them in locating Chesta or Dilandau.

They found Chesta lying facedown in the library, apparently asleep, deeply asleep with a book in his hand. It took a lot of shaking and the dumping of water vases to rouse him, but he could barely stand up for several minutes, saying he'd been reading. He said he didn't know why he had the sudden urge to read everything in the place, but he did, and upon closing the last book, he felt light headed and that was the last thing he recalled.

They brushed it off as Chesta just being tired from so much walking around for the past week. Then the task of locating Dilandau came, and was seemingly hopeless until a guard carried him up from the dungeon stairwell, unconscious. The man had said he had tripped over the young man heading down to the dungeons. He'd been ordered by Dryden's advisor to check on the assassins, but found only Dilandau and quartette of red dust piles. The assassins were gone, not a single trace of escape or forced entry anywhere.

Dilandau woke up at least a half an hour later, giggling about playing with his toys. He didn't comment further on it, only smirking each time the assassins' disappearances were mentioned. She didn't feel like asking him about it, as she never felt much like asking him about anything. He might take offence to her speaking in general, so she dared not risk it.

Dalet and Migel were still fighting outside and Guimel had been in the kitchen watching the cook's work, dipping his little fingers in when he was sure no one was looking. He'd been caught when she, Orla, and Gatti wandered in while Chesta, Dilandau and Viole went to find Dalet and Migel. Orla had been a lifesaver in getting Guimel without a reprimand, telling the most colorful little lie that Guimel was a cook in training for Freid. The cook barely bought it, but Orla was the lady of the house, so what could he really say against her word, but nothing?

They finally left when they found Dilandau hitting Dalet and Migel for fighting with weaklings, and doing a sloppy job of it in his opinion. It hadn't been too far away from where Dryden's mansion was at all, only a few miles away. She could, though, see from the mansion before they entered the forest a large set of peaks in the distance, and almost sandstone colored structure nestled inside them. The structure looked like a tower, much like the one in the legend of Babel, the tower that the Babylonians tried to build to reach God Himself. Its top was at least a house distance above the tops of the peaks, mists swirling about each structure.

She wondered if it had been a temple, but only Hiero would know for sure. He had led them to all the other temples, why not another? As strange as Hiero was becoming to them, he still was the guiding force among them. She just wanted to hear from his mouth what he was hiding, what he really was.

Alessa's train of thought dulled as they entered the Atria de Celena, the sight before taking her breath away. It was like a forest grove from a fairy tale, a waterfall and lagoon a ways off, lush, emerald green grass spreading out all over the ground, trees of nearly every kind she could imagine.

There were weeping willows, oaks, birches, pines, peach, apple, rose, and there were spreads of flowers every other place, like roses, wildflowers, daisies, crocuses, lilac bushes, and more of almost every color of the rainbow. Currently they were shaded in a lovely brush of rose and lilac bushes and some dark evergreens, each of them gasping at the lush bio-garden.

"Like home….the gardens of Zaibach." Migel uttered softly. She looked at him, seeing his eyes watering a small smile on his face. Chesta and Guimel were next to him, smiling with wide eyes, touching the flowers carefully, as if they'd break at the slightest touch. Viole was batting Orla's hands away from his hips, his eyes terrified and aimed at Dilandau's back, and Dalet was trying not to laugh at this.

Dilandau was unnaturally unexpressive, staring off through the greens, crimsons, and lavenders, stepping past where everyone else was. Alessa followed him, swearing silently each time the stupid dress got caught on the rose thorns. He moved on quietly, his silver hair glinting almost platinum as a few rays of sunlight pieced the dark canopy of emerald above them.

When he finally stopped, it was so sudden she bumped into him. She heard him growl, and tried to move away, but it was too late. He'd gotten a hold of her arm and pulled her to her knees just beside him.

"Silence, woman. I've found him." He hissed, his garnet eyes not even glancing at her, only ahead through the thinning brush, what looked like a strawberry bush, or what looked like strawberries. They were pale in comparison to Dilandau's blood drop eyes, and no where near and belittling or frightening to her.

She looked away from him, following his line of vision to what he was regarding so carefully, two figures sitting in front of what looked like a large and fancy grave, the lovely stone carved head of a woman atop what looked like a stone coffin. It was made completely of gray marble, with gold embroidered on the fluted edges and rims.

She could make part of an angel wing carved into the coffin, the rest obscured by the young man leaning against it, a small, white baby dove balanced carefully on his left hand.

"Hiero….and who's that man?" Alessa whispered, and nearly yelped when Dilandau squeezed her arm hard.

"Shhh!" he hissed, letting the pressure subside when she nodded. "That's Dryden….it looks like he gave Hiero better clothing than us. That's a Zaibach uniform shirt. It looks like Folken's old shirt did." Dilandau said very quietly, so much in fact she barely got it all.

The shirt was different, looking much like those that the Dragon Slayer's wore, near as she could tell. She'd never seen this Folken guy, so she couldn't compare. The pants were just like all the others the guys were wearing, pitch black and black boots all way up to his knees. His pendant was dangling from around his neck as always, not glowing at all, just reflecting sunlight. His sword and dagger were on his hips, the sheaths of royal blue like pools water against the emerald grass.

Hiero's face and hair were exactly the same, same scars, same style, same strange double colored eyes, but his mouth was formed into a breathless smile. The bird on his finger twitched slightly as Hiero watched it with his glazed eyes, almost adoringly, while his other hand had a feather pen in it, writing something one a piece of parchment, Dryden was holding down.

Hiero looked dully at the paper a moment, then finished writing whatever he'd been writing, the gave the pen casually to Dryden. With a push of his long brown hair with his free hand, he signed the parchment too, then rolled it up and pocked the pen.

"Glad we are in agreement about this whole marriage thing. I wouldn't want there to be any harsh feelings about all this. Maybe your late advisors and my wife wouldn't agree, but I know you and Orla agree on this. That's all that matters, your highness." Dryden spoke, his voice very laid back and matter-of-fact. Hiero just nodded once in response.

The young king's focus was on the barely stirring bird, his fingers splaying out slightly to play with the air. "It's just Hiero, Dryden. I am not my father. I am not my mother. Father and mother were overprotective, hysterical, and smothering royal parents, I am not. I am doing what I want, not what they want. I can love them from the world of the living my own way, it's all I'll ever have, but that doesn't mean they will rule me from the grave. Certainly not." Hiero uttered, his voice quiet and sad.

The bird peeked its head out when Dryden spoke again, looking a little startled, right at Dryden, and then at where Alessa and Dilandau were crouched. It was positively adorable the way it was swiveling its head about, but Alessa felt in a childish way it was staring at them.

"Well, for a kid who loved his parents, you really are a sassy one. Even your father wasn't so sarcastic and rambunctious when he was your age. You remind me more of me than him. But that's good, we need more wonderful guys like myself in the world, am I right? Hah Haah!" Dryden chuckled. Hiero smiled at that momentarily, then noticed the bird had become quite agitated. It was starting to thin up its body, chirping and flapping like mad.

"My, my, what's up with your tweeter, kid?" Dryden asked, scratching his head.

Hiero ignored the question, watching the thing flap frantically on his fingers. He blinked once, then smirked, releasing the bird into flight. The thing flapped about in a hazardous manner, trying to stay low to the ground. It flew right into the bushes with Dilandau and Alessa, making Dilandau fall out, dragging Alessa with him, or rather throwing her out and away from him, the bird attacking her head.

It was a brief little attack, the bird losing interest the moment Dryden started laughing and flew off, the sounds of rapid footsteps and rumbling brush sounding afterwards. "Lord Dilandau!" Chesta voice rang out, him and Gatti lifting a grumbling Dilandau to his feet.

"Lady Alessa. Let us help you." It was Dalet's voice, all the more encouragement she needed to get up on her own. She did so swiftly, only getting minor grass stains on her dress. Alessa dusted herself off, giving death glares towards a smiling Dalet, Migel standing a few feet away with Migel. Viole and Orla came out of the brush last, a rose stuck to his hip, one he didn't seem to notice, he was too busy looking at Orla.

She looked back towards Dryden and Hiero, Dryden who was still laughing his ass off, but Hiero was still. He almost looked afraid. 'He knows what we want to hear, I guess. He reads minds enough, he should know what we're thinking about. How bad can his reason be, really?' she wondered, noticing him look down, almost ashamed.

"You pry too much, Hiero." She said, sorry she said it once his face fell again. "Your thoughts were loud. I couldn't help it, it's not like I have complete control….," he said quietly, then looked up solemnly, past her, past the others to Viole and Orla," Naughty girl, you told on me."

Orla made a giggle. "Sorry, no one told me not to tell. They all seemed very anxious to find you, especially that silver haired one. Dilandau was it?" she piped.

Alessa felt a little sick when Dryden's face paled a bit, his laughing choked off. He looked at Dilandau, cocked his head to the side, examining him. Dilandau met the gaze fiercely, growling a little before turning his head away and crossing his arms violently over his chest.

"You're pretty young for your age. Weren't you fifteen over twenty years ago? The Zaibach Dragon Slayer General that King Van fought in the Great War?" Dryden asked, actually casually, not a hint of fear in his face.

Dilandau turned his head back slowly, an arrogant smile across his pale lips. Alessa felt at any moment he'd snap and tear Dryden's face off for being so calm, so heroic. Yet, Dilandau just went on smiling, a small smile erupting no Hiero's face suddenly.

"I am Celena Schezar's son, Dilandau Albatou, and yes, I fought Van in the Great War. I aged….gracefully, far better than that cowardly king. I was the Zaibach General, but the Dragon Slayers are mine. We do what we want, Fassa. Don't you forget it."

"Don't push it, Dilandau." Hiero said huskily, which wiped the smile off Dilandau's face.

"Excuse me, people. Try and remember that we were looking for those two. What are you doing out here without telling us?" Alessa spoke up, sick of the macho fight. Hiero smiled apologetically, and pointed at the rolled up parchment that Dryden was still holding.

"Annulling my arranged marriage to Orla. Without my advisors around, and sadly, with Lady Fassa around, Dryden and myself are in charge of that old affair, so I have had it annulled. I told those stuffy old men I wouldn't marry a woman I didn't love and a woman that didn't love me. Everyone has a right to choose who they want to be with, not their parents. They had no right." Hiero said simply, Alessa catching a breathy titter from Orla.

"But….,"Alessa asked, trying not to sound eager," Your parents wanted it. Aren't you like, dancing on their graves with this?"

Hiero shrugged. "I never asked for it. Love is sacred to me, even if I withhold the truth at times, that doesn't mean people have a right to make me do things I don't want to do. I won't be controlled again." Hiero let out heatedly.

"What do you mean?" she asked, then Hiero looked away from her to Dryden. "This is a private matter, Dryden, why don't you take Orla back to the mansion and get this ready to be announced fully at dinner? I'll bet that rat advisor of yours will turn a million colors before he chokes to death when you tell him the wedding crap is off." Hiero said seriously.

Dryden nodded, his small sunglasses slipping down his nose a bit, then he stood up, brushing off his tan robes. He was at least a foot taller than all of them, maybe more. To Alessa, he looked like an aged rock star, the sunglasses, his laid back stance and voice, and that little teasing smile of his. Faintly, she wondered if the guy sang.

"I guess it won't hurt. Yeah, that old feeb need a little color in his beady eyed little face. Father will find out later on, but not like he has any influence with you unless he starts trading with Fanelia again. He's better with working Asturia and Freid, you're not as spineless as Aston, pardon my bad manners. That old man nearly cost every country their freedom for his behavior, but he sure is easy to sell to. Makes me proud to be a merchant," Dryden said coolly with a grin, pocketing the parchment in his shirt," Come on, Orla, time to make your grandfather lose a little more hair."

"Viole, Dalet and Guimel can escort you back. They don't have to be here for this, they can be informed later." Hiero added loudly, smiling slightly. Alessa turned to see why, finding Viole blushing a little.

"How come? They are my Dragon Slayers. They should be here for your little discussion." Dilandau spat, but Hiero wagged his finger at him.

"Your name is still famous as a Zaibach war general that destroyed Freid and Fanelia. Best they remain at the mansion with him to ensure that his advisor, the untrustworthy little rat that he is, doesn't get any ideas. Doesn't that sound better?" Hiero smoothed out.

"Fine, but don't presume to give orders to them on a daily basis." Dilandau grumbled, gesturing the three mentioned away. Viole, Dalet, and Guimel bowed, their faces unreadable, Viole walking out front with Orla and Dryden behind him, then the other two followed into the dark green brush.

Alessa waited until they were gone before bringing her eyes back to Hiero, who was still sitting in the same perpetual slouch against the stone coffin, but Dilandau was next to him. The Dragon Slayer general was just standing there, looking at the carved woman's head atop the coffin. He was touching her stone features, eyeing it rather curious as Alessa got closer. Gatti, Chesta and Migel were standing in front of Hiero, probably waiting for Dilandau to give them permission to sit, but Dilandau seemed a little too occupied to give orders. She'd never seen him look so….curious, like a child finding something new and interesting.

"You made this place….for her." he suddenly let out, blankly, looking at Hiero finally. Hiero seemed to smile gently up at the psychotic general, his expression serene.

"I knew Allen would never let me set foot in the graveyard her ashes were kept in, he hates me too much. I had Dryden make this place for me, knowing that this was as close as I'd get to paying my respects to her. I really haven't been here till recently, father and mother were so….smothering. You like, I suppose?" Hiero replied. Dilandau nodded dully, backing away a bit before sitting down slowly.

The remaining Dragon Slayers took small breaths of relief before sitting down themselves, all but Gatti, who went to Alessa. "You need help with that?" he asked in his big brotherly voice. She nodded, as she'd never had to struggle with sitting in a dress. Getting off the ground had been a humiliating enough chore in this dress, sitting down would just make look even more foolish.

He carefully put his a hand to her back and one on her hip, lowering her gently to the grass silken ground. Dilandau sneered at her, but she ignored it. At least not all Dragon Slayers were utter assholes or perverts, some were actually pretty nice, something she wasn't entirely used to with any boy she'd known here or on Earth. Gatti sat down to her left once he got her situated.

Hiero stretched a bit, the slight muscles on his arms tightening a little. When he was done, his double colored eyes regarded them meekly, looking a little ashamed again. "Well, even if I avoid the question you all have on your minds now, you won't stop asking, so I'll get this out of the way. Just no telling anyone about besides the Dragon Slayers. No one can know I can't die." Hiero said quietly, getting nods from all.

~

Hiero hated this discussion, it always made his skin crawl. He had hoped to keep his secrets hidden in this world, the ones that needed time to explain, like his eternal life and what he really was. Magic wasn't so bad to show off, people would either think he was blessed or cursed and leave it at that, but not being able to die was another matter.

He was sure Alessa probably hated him, thinking him a freak, too panic stricken to delve any further into her mind to find out. He felt Dilandau and the others wished to understand, but he really didn't want to know what she thought. She was normal, she was beautiful, and he loved her to death, but he figured it was too late now. She must think he's a demon, which wasn't to far off. He thought it, why shouldn't she?

'Well, tell them what you want them to hear, and then let her decide. At least they won't have to see every memory like last time. I'll just explain why I am destined to never die, not what else it did. Yeah.' He thought nervously, leaning back against the stone coffin again.

"So why can't you die? I saw your damn guts seeping onto your hands when we dueled. I know I did." Dilandau said, his garnet eyes regarding him almost thoughtfully. Hiero looked at him dead on, biting his lip a bit.

"I'm not….fully human. I'm not even from Gaia, not truly anyway. I was born through Queen Hitomi and King Van, but only because I was chosen to be, not by random birth. I was born on two other planets before this one." Hiero answered.

"Not from here? Where are you from? No one can be born three times, you'd have to be very old at that." Migel scoffed.

"Exactly, Gaki, exactly. I am older than I look, much older. I was reborn on the last world 5,729 years ago." Hiero replied, feeling a little giddy. The questions to him were stupid, but at least a stupid person was asking them, not Dilandau or the others. Migel was cute and had some brains, but his common sense still wasn't up to par. Hiero had heard these questions many times back on Val's world from his old family and friends. 'Shouldn't be so cruel to him about this, like he's ever met an immortal like me. Nah, I like teasing him.' Hiero thought, smiling slightly.

"You're over 5,000 years old?" Gatti asked, his stormy eyes bugging out of his head. Hiero started to giggle, then it became hysterical laughter. "That's nice of you to consider me so young but not. That's not enough time for one world really, it was cut so violently short by a sadistic goddess that fell for me there. Had to leave in a hurry….but not, I'm much older."

"How old already? Stop dancing around the damned issue!" Dilandau growled, but Hiero didn't stop laughing. "Would you believe 55,934 years old, and counting?" Hiero stifled out, his laughter dying gradually when he saw Alessa's stunned face. He sniffed a bit, then rubbed at his eyes before getting serious again.

"Yeah, that old." He added, looking at the ground. He'd been so fitful before, so nervous about saying it he'd given into his hysteria by laughing. The question always triggered his unstable brain the wrong way, but at least he hadn't thrown a fireball fit like he had against Justin Saillune when he wouldn't stop asking stupid questions.

"Yeah….that's very old….but you don't look it. Still," Alessa was saying, shivering slightly," How is it that you can go on that long and never die?"

"I guess I've avoided that question long enough, might as well fess up. But, no interruptions or I won't say anymore. I swear it. I've had to explain this twice already full length, and numerous times on the last world cause some idiot prince of justice was too thick headed to understand. Ok now?" Hiero said plainly.

Alessa and Dilandau nodded together, then came Gatti, Chesta, and after a bit of squirming, so did Migel.

"Fine then, as I said, I've been born three times, but I was truly born only one, on the dead world of Terrian. It was a world full of bigotry, you were either normal or you weren't, and….I wasn't normal. My mother saw to that with her great vanity, her arrogance of our family line. Her name was Narcissa Vendetta, sole duchess and heir to her family's fortune, one she wanted to give to the one child she would procure, but she was greedy. She wanted perfection, she wanted a child to rival all beauty, all talent, all skill and brilliance, one she would be proud to give her estate up to." He began.

Hiero took another breath, cringing at the memories, then went on. "She had a priest use a forbidden spell, one only used on those who were born with the blessed touch of our planet's Mother Goddess, Moriun, and her only son, Delphine. But you have to be a saint for this spell, or find a sniveling coward of a priest to perform it with a hefty bribe. You can tell which method she used, she even bribed the man that got her pregnant to do it. Nine months later I was born, and she got what she wanted, perfect looks, intelligence, quick learning, strong, everything she could ever hope for….but since I wasn't chosen for such a blessing of all magics, there was a price. My hair and my eyes were….different"

"On my planet, you either had gray, blonde, black, red, or shades of brown hair and your eyes had to be perfectly round like all others, or else you were a freak of nature. That's what I got out of life, being beaten up, spit on, yelled at, blamed, hated, the works. I couldn't go outside and lay with the other kids, they thought I was a demon, because my eyes were like that of one, even if they were pure blue then. It didn't matter to them, my hair was blue, so I was instantly ridiculed for six long years, when I finally had had enough. I know it was my fault though, all my fault….but I was very young, and hurt, no one, not even my own mother loved me because of what I was. She hated me for ruining her figure. Then it was her beauty, for being better looking that her and my freakish appearance apparently tarnished her reputation as an esteemed duchess," he breathed, feeling like he was about to cry as he remembered that night he heard his mother claim her hate upon him," I ignored her words. I went on thinking that she still loved me, I was her son, I thought she had to love me. I did everything for her, but got nothing back, no love, only given to servants to be cleaned and cared for. I was very desperate, so I went to do something that would make everyone sorry they ever teased and hurt me, to make my mother love me."

He looked up on that, Alessa looking close to tears, but she held them in well. Dilandau looked a little taken aback, almost thoughtful, staring at Hiero's hands. The others looked stunned, Chesta's mouth open like a hungry baby bird. It was cute, but he knew it wasn't meant to be for that. It wasn't everyday an immortal from another world told 'how I became this way' story. He was just glad they weren't saying anything. The silence was a little encouraging, and in his mind, no noise was better than a lot of it, mostly a lot of negative noise.

"I had bought a demon sword when I was a little younger. I don't know why, I just wanted one to learn how to be a swordsman on tope of being a mage. I'd already mastered everything in the kingdom and beaten all the knights and my peers in the Mage School, so I thought I was the best, but I wanted more. Power is no good when there's nothing to fall back on, like love and friendship, people respecting you. I wanted that, I wanted what everyone else had and I wanted it then and there. So….I went to our most sacred temple to Delphine, the night he was to appear and bless the harvests and the newly born, all that holy crap. I trashed his temple before he got there and tried to kill him, I wanted respect so badly even fearful respect was better than nothing. I stabbed him with my sword, he was so amused a child was trying to kill him, he didn't see it coming. If….only I hadn't touched him…."Hiero said, breaking off slightly as a tear escaped his eye.

No one moved to comfort him, no one spoke either. He didn't want comfort for his greatest sin, murdering a godling for the longing for love and respect, the love he'd never ever received from his long dead mother, love he'd never gain from any of his peers. It had been in vain….the whims of a distraught and lonely child who foolishly threw his life out of the hands of fate and into hell, all for the sake of respect.

He jumped a bit when he felt a cool hand touch his own, just a light touch, the hand pale and lithe. He looked up a bit, seeing Dilandau's garnet eyes staring at him.

"What happened then?" Dilandau asked quietly, plainly curious, but sad. Hiero was ready to stop telling them things, he'd said he would if anyone spoke, but the way they were all staring at him, such sadness in their eyes, he couldn't deny them. He'd said too much already, they'd bug him to no end now.

"There was another sweet little side effect to my creation, that spell also creates magic absorbers, a sort of a joke race Moriun played with for a while. They are called a lot of things, many things I found in ancient texts during my eternal travels. Soul Drinkers, Body Snatchers, Demon Race, Fallen Angels, vampires, etc….etc…..I was one of them, but I didn't know it, no one did until….I touched Delphine, to ease the pain of death I hope to deliver upon him. If I'd never touched him, he would have killed me. Simple as that, but I touched him and absorbed him. It left me unconscious for a while….but when I woke up, I was sold into slavery, being told that my homeland was nothing more than a memory, a flattened stain. The reaction of absorbing Delphine….caused some kind of deadly power to release….and it vaporized everyone, and everything. Nothing remained, not my mother, not our home, not the bullies, the knights, not even damned insects. Everything was gone, all because I was a stupid….little….brat." he let out, another tear falling," I was a slave until I was slightly into my twenties, and I died for the first time. Impaled, I always seem to be dying that way my first time, this world and the last one. I think it's a sick little joke of Delphine's, he likes to play with me, like he used to in my sleep. He was trapped inside since the day I touched him, so he told me I would live forever when I thought I was finally free of my guilt, that I was finally going to see my mother again. He dashed all my hopes, saying I was his slave for all times. And that's how it all started. When I die, I stay stuck at that age, I could never grow older. Maybe my hair grows a little, but that's as far as change goes. I don't age past that day, and nothing kills me. Believe me….I've tried everything."

Dilandau sat back, his hands in his own lap, Alessa was deep in thought with the rest of them. "Can we ask questions?" Chesta asked, almost sounding like a child.

Hiero looked at him, rubbing at his eyes a bit, and managed to nod, pressing his thumb on his scar. He rubbed it while they looked at him, trying to hold back his tears.

"What did he do to you? How were you his slave?" Chesta asked.

"I had to do whatever he said or he'd whine to his mother Moriun, and she'd punish me by punishing other, death and plagues on the innocent. She sent a large set of fiery balls down at a schoolhouse full of kids the first time, all because I wanted to cover my hair, so no one would point and jeer at me. I learned at that moment to do as he said," he sighed, rubbing his scar a little harder," I was not allowed to have free will, love, friends, or be happy in any such way. If Delphine was stuck with me, I had to do as he said or people near me, even people I didn't know….would suffer. I'll kill people, I admit it, I would if they deserved it or got in my way, or were just too stupid to live….but what he asked of me was petty sometimes. He was worse than me when I was still a child, a damned spoiled brat."

Chesta nodded, looking a little disturbed, a hint of pity in his eyes. "So you never fell in love?" Alessa piped, sounding almost hopeful. Hiero frowned slightly, and shook his head. "I fell in love a few times, but I never got to be with them on Terrian, never as I wished. Delphine told me who to sleep with, what lines to protect and strengthen. First woman I slept with I didn't even love, but if I didn't…..Delphine would have whined to his mother, and people would die. I had no choice….I never had a choice there. I only fell in love on my home world truly once, and I had to give her up."

"Tell us….what happened, if you don't mind?" she asked.

"It's not happy, you might not like what I say. It's not a perfect romance either. I hated myself for falling in love with her….I still do." He spat out, angrier than he had intended. She jumped back, and he lifted his hands up a bit apologetically.

"Sorry, its just a touchy part of my damned life, but ok…., you asked for it," he replied, a little softer," Her name was Veda, and I saved her and her brother from a village that had been slaughtered by vampires. I was to simply raise them up to be a knight and mage, and that was it….but, as she grew older, I grew more used to having people around, people that liked me and didn't think I was a damn freak. It was new, and I started to fall for her. After a lot of suicides I performed on myself out of guilt, and getting drunk a few times, I finally confessed my love to her, and she loved me right back. I had….been so happy, I forgot about Delphine's warnings….forgotten how much he despised me being happy….how I belonged to him….I only got a few kisses from Veda….and the same day….Moriun….she…."

Hiero couldn't say it, he didn't want to, it hurt too much. He'd loved Veda so much, as his protege and his beloved, that day was a horrible dark stain upon his mind, he hated recalling it. It broke his heart to see the images of Veda, her brother weeping over her body, the blood, so much blood, all because he cared for her. Hiero choked a bit, lowering his head and digging his fingers harshly into the ground, enough to tear patches out of the grass.

"She was killed. And you found her body." Dilandau uttered, his tone rather hollow. Hiero looked at him strangely, a little surprised by Dilandau's words.

"Yes, I did….Moriun sent….she sent a bolt of lightening into Veda's brain. Delphine laughed at it, laughed at her, at me, but gave me….a sick little choice to save her soul from burning in hell as Moriun wanted. I had to commit genocide, to promise to wipe out two races completely to quell Delphine's jealous rage against me, so she could live. Yet, she would live forever hating me, not remembering we loved each other, nothing. I'd be nothing but the ugly myth everyone feared and hated. It was either that, or she would stay dead and her soul suffer in hell. It broke my heart, but I chose for her to live, without remembering me. Was the hardest decision I ever made. So you see why I don't like remembering her…." Hiero replied, stifling a sob.

"That….bastard. How dare he make you do such a thing." Gatti huffed, a tear running down his cheek, his fists all balled up and pressing hard against the ground. Chesta was looking up at Celena's head sculpture, judging from the angle of his head, biting his lip. His little turquoise eyes were trembling, but he didn't cry. Migel looked at a loss for words, opening and closing his mouth, silently wording things to say then deciding against them. Alessa was crying softly, her eyes quite wide with shock.

"He was a god, still is, he could do as he wanted. I was his alone, no one else's. He was punishing me for betraying him. I never really loved another as much as I did her after that, and as the millennia went by, my emotions died, I didn't care. Those that wanted me, I felt nothing, I didn't want to. Then the world ended after 50,000 or so years, and….I was sent to a new world to be reborn….that world expected things of me too, but I got my ultimate wish….my other wish was impossible." Hiero shrugged.

"And that was?" Migel asked, his voice a little shaken. "My impossible wish was for my death, but Delphine will never leave me, he can't, it's just can't be done. My other wish was more realistic, people to love, a family, a life….I got a mother and father, I wasn't a freak anymore, I was on a world where I wasn't seen as different for my hair. My eyes took some getting used to, but it wasn't as bad as Terrian."

"Did you finally find love there?" Chesta asked, still looking upwards. "Yes….three times…., but two of them….met bad ends. My fault as well. I never seem to be able to keep anyone." He began, but Migel cut him off.

"ONLY THREE!?" Migel spat, near laughing. Hiero shot him an annoyed look. "What are you laughing about? It's not that funny….What?" Hiero asked defensively

"As old as you are, and you got to spend 5,000 or so years there, why didn't you try for more?" Migel quipped. Hiero had to blush. Val had asked him that on numerous occasions, why he suddenly became too picky about dating women, about marriage.

"Cause I can't keep them." He said simply.

"What do you mean? You're all powerful and stuff, why couldn't you keep the women you loved?" Alessa asked, her voice climbing a bit.

"I am immortal, you guys, I don't age, but the people around me do….get the picture!" he replied, but when he got blank expressions from them he shook his head," They grow old and I don't, I have to watch them wither away. I had to watch those I loved, friends and wives, die before my eyes, there and on Terrian….it's….going to be the same here. It never changes. I always lose everyone." He was shaking, sounding hysterical and shouting it, but he didn't care. It was his burden to deal with it, to always be alone. True, Val would be with him forever, but Val wasn't a woman. He loved Val, but it wasn't the same what he felt for Veda, and Leila….and now Alessa. He'd have to watch her fade and wither away someday too.

SLAP!

Hiero grabbed his scarred cheek, now sore and red, but did not yelp in pain. It cleared his thoughts, this wasn't such a bad pain, and he'd had worse, like the guillotine, being torn apart or blown up. Now that hurt. He just looked at Dilandau, whose eyes were fuming, his lips frowning and his right hand upturned from the slap he'd delivered.

"You said you'd never be hysterical like your mother. Don't make yourself an even worse damn liar. You will not be weak, not in my presence! You will not regret! If you hadn't done what you did, we'd all be dead, whoever you helped on the last world would be dead, and a lot of lives would have taken turns for the worse if you had died all those thousands of years ago. Dying is easy, Hiero, living is much more difficult. All those times, you told me not to fear death, and all you want is to be taken by it like some cowering child. So what if you don't grow old, you can never die, you can never be challenged. If not for you, my mother never would have known she was going to die, she would have been afraid if not for you. I'd be Folken's slave if not for you. Your past is dead and gone, and yes, you'll always remember it, but it won't repeat itself. It won't, and you know it!" Dilandau yelled, slapping Hiero again across the other cheek.

Hiero took it and stared, thinking all the while. Dilandau had a point. He was not on Terrian, never would be again. It had blown up over 5,000 years ago. Val's world was gone too, even if L-sama wasn't. His past was dead and gone, all he had were the memories to teach him not to make the same mistakes. Delphine was dormant and Moriun was long dead, the godling could only contact him in his dreams from time to time, like he did in the fear dream, if it had even been the real Delphine. He was Hiero Fanel now, not Vendetta, not Inverse, not anything but Fanel, the King of Fanelia, the dragon….the destined Angel of Power. He had a new fate.

Hiero stayed silent a few moments, his cheeks healing slowly from the blows, then locked eyes with Dilandau, smiling. "You're cute when you're angry." He snickered. Dilandau face faulted, dropping his hand and blushed faintly, the red spots almost resembling freckles.

"Just trying to make sure you're listening….thanks," Hiero chuckled, rubbing his cheeks a little," I needed that. Even if it is all true, I needed that. You're right, if not for me, Gaia might be dead by now, and the gods only know what would have become of all of you. I guess….everything has purpose, even a demon like me."

"We all have our inner demons, just try not to weaken it. They can be quite powerful. I bet even the little jinx has a few demons inside her sorry soul." Dilandau snickered, making Alessa turn red. She raised her hand to hit Dilandau, who was smiling, almost inviting it.

'Crap….' Hiero thought, and shoved Dilandau aside, taking Alessa's slap in the nose.

"Ow…." He yelped, blood seeping from his nose," Damn, you hit nearly as hard as he does. Thank the gods he never aims for the nose. Yeesh!" He sounded very nasally, the blood dripping out of his nose as he pinched it closed.

"Oh….shit, I'm sorry." She gasped, but she looked a little miffed. She had probably wanted to hit Dilandau like that. He was glad he took it instead, or she'd be headless now. "Such language…..heh, oh, that hurt. Don't worry, I heal fast. All part of being eternal…can't be hindered for long. Boy, does it sting though….heh, sorry, shouldn't have said that." He let out.

"Well, now that we know your secret, we can continue on with our journey. Hmmph, its no fun to have an enemy you can't kill….you're lucky you're a comrade, Hiero Fanel." Dilandau uttered, now standing and dusting himself off as he send daggers from his eyes at Alessa. Migel was stifling a little comment of his own about her, but the moment Hiero turned to stare at him, he stopped. His eyes seemed to glaze over, his nose twitching, as if sniffing for something. Hiero shrugged, the pain subsiding in his nose. He took his hand away and rubbed the blood off on the ground.

"Yes, ain't life grand….see, all better. Not that I don't deserve a few swings to the face for what I've done. Sorry I didn't tell you, I was just hoping this time I wouldn't have to tell anyone, that I could live a normal life, but, that's not who I am. It is my destiny to protect the fates of others, to decide what's best when I can. And, try and enjoy my life for all times, as best I can. Nothing wrong with living, even if I live longer than most."

"Just an old man in a young body living it up, huh?" Gatti teased, which made Hiero smile. He was about to respond when Migel started speaking, and sniffing.

"Turkey…..mmmm" Migel mumbled, making everyone look at him.

"Who are you calling a turkey?" Hiero griped, shoving at Migel, but Migel just righted himself and stood up, sniffing more feverishly. "And spices, cider, vino, vegetables, and dessert sweets. I can almost smell it bubbling over the pot." Migel was saying, then started to stagger when he stopped sniffing, falling to his knees as he gripped his head.

"Migel!" Dilandau uttered, the other Slayers rushing to his aid. They righted him and Migel seemed to just hang limply in their arms, then started to sputter. "What? Why are you guys holding me?" he asked, righting himself against Gatti.

They let go, looking a little bewildered. "You were sniffing and talking about smelling food, then you fell over."

Migel looked thoughtful a moment, rubbing his chin. "Its just like when I was flying, when my eyes took on a life of their own, seeing what I normally couldn't see. There's no food in here, but I know they were cooking stuff back at Dryden's palace. Guimel wouldn't shut up about how hungry he was. I smelled it….from here. But there are so many flowers in here, how could I get past that over the miles to smell dinner, let alone see the Castle Eden hundreds of miles away.

"You're the Angel of Light." Hiero replied, all eyes on him.

"What do you mean?" Migel asked.

"I mean Light, beyond sight, beyond comprehension, you can sense beyond the norm. Your senses must have been enhanced when you became the Angel of Light. Like Chesta could understand my Japanese words without me telling him, but only after he became the Angel of Wisdom . It's….a working theory. I was wondering why you passed out in mid-flight until you told us what happened. We can discuss it at dinner….I'm starved, I need to know if the same thing has happened to the other awakened angels. I'm too hungry to discuss anything more now." Hiero replied, rather childishly. His appetite was one thing he delighted in ever since he reached Val's world. To eat as much as he wanted and never gain an ounce. It still applied here, he'd always eaten heavily as he grew here, and the rules of the last world were still. He liked that, to enjoy food like he never had. It was something he'd never lose, but it was a sad substitute for love.

Hiero was still hungry nonetheless, but he had blood on his nose. That, and he wanted to speak privately with Alessa, just for a few minutes. "Fine then….it has been a while since we've had any fancy food. I was getting used to primal meals, I could still stomach it, but it never hurts to be rewarded with what nature can't offer….like fresh vino." Dilandau giggled, starting to walk towards the dark emerald brush, but stopped and looked back at Hiero," Coming?"

"Give me a bit. I'll be right out, have to wash my face. Go on…." Hiero let out lightly, walking backwards towards the gentle waterfall," Alessa, you seem have a little on your face. You should wash up too."

Alessa, of course, only had a few dots of blood on her face, but she didn't know that. The others were all behind her, so they didn't notice either, just nodded and walked out through the dark brush.

Alessa walked towards him, and he finally turned his back to her and continued the rest of the way to the falls. He stuck his head under them, rubbing his face clean. His pendant got caught up in the flow, dancing about against the current like a pink lightening bug.

As he brought his soaked head out, he saw Alessa looking at him, staring solemnly. He smiled weakly at her, rubbing the water from his sapphire hair. He reached for her face, which she did not withdraw from his fingers. She let him wipe the blood drops off gently with the pad of his thumb, the tips of his fingers. 'She's so soft….so pretty….' He thought, a smile creeping up his lips.

"What do you want to say?" she said suddenly, her voice breaking his thoughts gently. "Just wanted to hear your opinion. Of me….that's a lot to take in, what I just told you. I gather you must think I'm a murderous, dirty old man." He said, taking his hand away, but she grabbed it and held it there. She frowned at him, her icy blue eyes full of cold fury.

"Stop kicking yourself like that, you said you had no choice. I believe you….that's not something….well, I think anyway, that someone would lie about. The way you spoke about Veda, you sounded so sad. She must have been very special to you…..for you to give up so completely on your life. I don't want you doing that. You remind me of myself, feeling sorry all the time for things you couldn't help. Don't you do that, don't you dare." she said heatedly, letting it soften on Veda's name.

He nodded, flinching his hand a bit to move it to her face, cupping her cheek in his warming palm. She leaned against it for moment, then tried to pull out. He shook his head and stepped closer, taking her other hand in his.

"She did, she was special because she was very loving, very caring to others no matter who or what they were. She made me feel human….but….she's dead now. She's gone, but even if I feel sad knowing what happened between us was cut short, I treasure the good she gave me, the hope. I really spit on her grave in forgetting it, or making myself forget. I gave up for a long time, Alessa, but I won't do that anymore. I won't give up my emotions again to heartache, ok?" he told her, rubbing her cheek with his lithe fingers. He smiled as a cute pink blush worked up her cheekbones under his touch, but went on caressing her skin.

"That's….gasp….good. I'm glad to…..hear that." she said, leaning in a little. "And I should try and be happy, to enjoy my life, for my sake and that of others. I may be older than most planets, but I like living for others and myself by choice. Like Dilandau," he said, not knowing whether to laugh or grimace when she frowned," The Slayers, but especially for you."

"Why me….?" She asked, her voice with a breathless quality, her eyelids shutting halfway as he got closer and closer until his chest was against hers. He could feel her heart hammering through the fabric, almost strong enough to shove him a few times. He smiled gently at her as one of his damp bangs fell softly across his eyes, leaning his face deathly close to hers, her warm breath licking at his lips.

He felt like her eyes were icy pools, pure and serene, a blue he couldn't quite describe, like a robin's egg or the sky at first light, it was so incredible, so endless, and endless crystalline dream pulling him in. "Because….I love you, Alessa." He said quietly, his lips brushing up against hers petal soft.

He closed his eyes, leaning in fully to take her lips. He didn't care if she hit him, he just wanted to kiss her, to show her how he felt. He loved her so much, she'd been the one he worried most about hating him, but she didn't. Thank the gods, she didn't hate him. He just wanted to feel her, even if it was the only time. He felt her lips on his, softer than silk, the warmth burning through his skin.

"HEY! Hiero! Hurry up, Lord Dilandau will not be kept waiting because you want to suck face!" Migel's voice yelled.

Hiero wanted to scream, Alessa pulled right out of his grasp, blushing madly at Migel, who looked rather pleased with himself. Hiero narrowed his eyes, then looked at Alessa, who was still bright red, even more red than the strawberry bush's parcels were.

"That's it, some people deserve to die. Come here, you! Let me finish what Zongi started!" Hiero said matter-of-factly, then tore off after Migel. Migel ran as fast as he could, with Hiero at his heels, and Alessa trying to keep up in her fancy dress.

'Why? What's wrong with this damn world? Why can't I get one lousy kiss? Oooo, Fate is a vengeful bitch….' He thought, running right past Dilandau and the others as he chased Migel all the way back to the mansion.

~ Dryden's Mansion ~

- Dining Hall -

"You sure you don't want some ice for those black eyes?" Dryden asked, Migel mumbling out another 'No,' before sending a dirty look at Hiero. He shoved another wad of turkey in his mouth, his black eyes looking terribly greasy and sore. Hiero just ignored him, shoveling his food down a mile a minute.

"Gluttony is a sin you know." Alessa warned him, and he did stop eating a whole loaf of breath when she said it, eyeing her like a naughty child that had been caught at his sport. He bit the part of the beat that was in his mouth, swallowed and smiled. "I'm no angel, despite what I have to go through tomorrow. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your food, Alessa, I just need more than most." He replied evenly, then stuffed the rest of the bread in his mouth and took another plateful of turkey.

"That kid's been eating like that since he was knee high to most of us and he only seems to get taller. He's a damned bottomless pit, darlin'. Hiero packs more away than the entire Crusade crew can in one day.

"He's still eating too much, even if he's used to it….huh, what do you mean tomorrow? Where are we going, Hiero?" she asked.

Hiero smirked, shoving a wedge of gravy drenched cheese in his mouth with his bare hand, his gloves laid neatly beside his plates. "Are you calling me fat or something?" he said crossly after he swallowed, and took another wedge and drowned it in gravy.

"Stop avoiding the question. What's so special about tomorrow?" she sniffed, banging her fork against her plate. Dilandau and the Slayers had stopped eating, the general himself eyeing her with annoyance, then all looked at Hiero.

He finished the wedge swiftly, then wiped his mouth with a terribly overused napkin, setting it down before looking back. "While you were all asleep….I took a little flying cruise around the area. Dryden told me that a tower was seen in the Karsa Mountains near here. It's at least half a day's travel there, and another half a day to reach the Duchy of Freid. The tower is the thing. I went near it and it opened a stairway leading down through the roof for me. There was giant symbol on the roof too, it looked like a thorn on a stem^^, all etched in black. We have to leave early tomorrow to reach it. It's obviously my turn to awaken."

"You told damn Dryden about this!?" Migel screeched, sitting up angrily. Hiero shrugged.

"Hey, 'damn Dryden' happens to be listening, junior." Dryden let out crassly, leaning his head on his hand lazily.

"He helped us, that and he'd never tell on us, especially to Allen. Bad blood….if you catch my drift. He's also replenishing our rations, he fixed your armor, and got all that sulfur, blood, and shit off our bodies. I owed him that much, and he performed my favor." Hiero interjected, shooting Migel a dirty look and displaying his fist. Migel grumbled and sat down, muttering a few profanities.

"So, there will be no snapping at me for this. I do as I like, not like any of you can do anything to me that's permanent. And you didn't hear that Dryden." Hiero added, shoving his chair away from the table. Dryden gave a faint nod, a confused look on his face and went back to eating. Hiero left the room quietly, his face hidden from everyone's view the entire way out.

Alessa wanted to follow, but Dilandau beat her to it, making sure his chair went behind hers when he shoved his away. "Damn, he's so rude. What's his rush?" Alessa muttered, not hungry anymore. She stared at the door where Hiero and Dilandau had disappeared through crossly, then back at her half-eaten meal.

"You'd think I killed one of them or something." She muttered. She jumped a bit as she felt a soft hand touch her arm. She looked up to see Gatti smiling down at her, reassuring and kind. "Forgive Lord Dilandau, he's never had a….real friend before." He told her.

"Friend? Who'd want to be anything with Dilandau? Aren't you guys supposed to be his friends already?" she sniffed, held in Gatti's stormy eyes.

He just shrugged. "Hiero does, he seems to like our patron very much. We weren't friends to Dilandau the first time, we were merely his soldiers, his men. We were nothing until we met him, Lady Alessa, nothing but little boys with stupid dreams, some with bad lives and some not. Migel had a good family, so did I, Viole and Guimel did too. Maybe Chesta and Dalet got a bad deck in life, but they were made into somebody's same as we were."

"If you had good lives, why become his lackeys?" she asked curtly, and felt bad when she saw his eyes become sad. He looked down a bit, his eyes quivering. "I can't remember anymore why. I know I lost my family for the Dragon Slayers, we all did, by choice or not, it didn't matter. Even then we couldn't fully remember our families, but this rebirth brought them back. I don't know why we left them, truly, but we have no regrets about being under Lord Dilandau's command. He made us into what we are, without him, we'd be nothing. He's never had a person like him as Hiero does, to accept him without treating him differently. It is new for him. It'll probably happen to him again if and when he falls in love."

"Him? In love? You can't be serious." She sputtered.

"Everyone deserves love, even Lord Dilandau, just not now. Give him time and he will find it. Forcing him into something he isn't used to might get a person killed, doing it subtly is the key, but on his own. I would sooner fall on my sword than steer him toward some poor maiden. We both might get slaughtered. Heh, heh…." He chuckled, giving her shoulder squeeze before backing off.

"I guess….but I'll believe it when I see it," she said, then held her arm out," Care to escort me to my room, just in case I bump into your precious patron in the halls. I've had enough 'fun' for one day. Since you're not eating either, could you take me there?"

He nodded with a light smiled and took her arm carefully. All the way to her room, she wished it was Hiero instead, but she wouldn't get that right now. He was somewhere blowing off steam again. About what, she had no idea. Migel's insults were pretty rude, but not enough to make a person leave. Hiero was Hiero, was all she could think of, older than time in the body of a young king. 'Young and kind'a handsome king….No….can't think that. There's no time for that….no time, not for me. Just a little more time….Let him and Dilandau talk….maybe it'll keep that nutcase albino away from me.' She thought sullenly throughout the brightly lit halls.

~ Atria De Celena Garden ~

Hiero stared at Celena's stone bust, every contour perfect in her marble hair, just the wrong color. If it had been painted, it might look too real. He had told the truth about this place, it was all in her honor, all the flowers and plants she liked that Hiero could recall from when he entered her mind.

She'd liked swimming near waterfalls, to plunge underwater and swim against the force to see how long she could keep it up. She'd been such a happy person when she thought she got her life back, then Allen ruined it by being too protective, scheduling who she would see and not see, everything she did was supervised.

It was no wonder one night she decided to run off, to swim in her favorite lagoon one last time before she would leave Allen forever, so she could be free. She was free now, she was dead, all because of her stupid brother and his stupid Uncle Folken. Hiero swallowed his tears back, touching the stone cheek of the dead woman's face.

"No one can hurt you anymore. I'm keeping the promises I made to myself, to you. I'm watching and protecting them as best I can. I won't be an Allen, or a Van or even my mother Hitomi. No more being an overbearing moron. Alessa doesn't want that….I trust them, they are all strong, but it doesn't hurt to help, does it?" he asked it, as if he expected a response. He cocked his head to the side and patted the cheek lightly.

"No, it isn't." said a voice, but not Celena's.

"Thanks for saying so, Dilandau. Why'd you follow me all the way out here?" Hiero asked, turning about to sit before the stone coffin. He leaned his head back and took a breath, looking up at the starry night sky through the clear dome room, listening dully to the approaching footfalls.

He only looked ahead when they stopped, finding Dilandau sitting in front of him, an angry smirk on his face. "You weren't telling the truth and dinner. There was more about that Temple of Power than you're letting on….stuff you didn't want Dryden to hear. I heard it n your voice, I'm good at mapping people out. Maybe I can't get every little detail, but I know when I'm not hearing everything." Dilandau said crisply.

"Yeah, maybe I was….even if I can trust him, who knows what his advisor might do. He didn't take the annulment very well," Hiero replied, rubbing the back of his head," The Temple of Power….I was going to go in alone, but the door said not to or I'd suffer for eternity. I may not be able to die, but I can sure be tortured for the rest of time."

"What did this door say?" he asked.

"Something weird….The angel or power must immerse in the maw of power as death must ascend on wings of flame before the heart is broken. It'll probably make sense when I get in there, but it talked about death, maybe you have to go in with me, like I got dragged in during Gatti's test. Hopefully you won't have to….feel like a little prick like I did." Hiero sniffed.

"Preferably, but I can take it. I'll save my newfound powers for something amusing. As fun as they are to play with….I did not appreciate the after effects of passing out on my handsome face," Dilandau smirked, stroking his scar gently as the smirk became a wicked little grin," Swordplay I know well. And it is screaming for blood."

"It already had mine, I guess being eternal doesn't make my blood very filling." Hiero quipped lightly, noting a slight look of distaste in Dilandau's eyes. The silver-haired general crawled over next to him, and looked up his mother's bust, smiling wistfully.

"She was almost as beautiful as me, but she was my downfall. This time things will go better, this time I'll get to play more. We'll play together, Hiero, just like you promised. Chaos and war, together." He said lightly, draping his arm about Hiero's shoulders in a friendly clasp.

Hiero returned it and flicked at one of Dilandau's sharp bangs. "Yes, it will be fun to fight for myself once more. That was always….a blast." He said, shoving at Dilandau with a grin.

Their shoving match went on until they got bored and tussled, rolling around on the soft grass before the memorial. After a bit, they stood up, watching each other with keen eyes. Hiero flashed a devilish grin.

"You thinking what I'm thinking," Dilandau uttered, clutching the hilt of his sword with a smirk.

Hiero grinned widely, blowing at his sapphire bangs sharply before licking his lips, his hand on his own sword. "Playtime, a requiem duet for Lady Celena. To show our love for her, a final dance of steel and lightening." Hiero chuckled, pulling his sword free.

"Yes….for mother, let the games begin….for love." Dilandau said lucidly, drawing his own blade lightening fast as he rushed forward, Sparks danced across the bust as steel against steel littered the air. No creature dared interfere that night, as the angels clashed in darkness and the shimmering and silent moonlight.

To Be Continued….

*The Judgement card represents Hiero letting the other judging him for his true sins. He is taking a stand since he has no other alternative having his day of reckoning.

** This is quote from Shakespeare. Get used to it, he has some good quotes on love, and Hiero's going to need them to combat with Chid.

^^The symbol mentioned is one of many Elder Futhark Runes known as Thurisaz, the Thorn or Giant. Underlined are the points that pertain to the Angel of Power, Hiero's, gifts. It stands for reactive force, directed force of destruction and defense, conflict. Instinctual will, vital eroticism, regenerative catalyst. A tendency toward change. Catharsis, purging, cleansing fire. Male sexuality, fertilization.

Runes already used in this story are:

Tiwaz, for the Angel of Courage Val Schezar, which looks like an arrow pointing upwards. Its represents the Sky God Tyr. The run itself represents honor, justice, leadership and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's true strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success in any competition or in legal matters.

Dagaz, for the Angel of Light Migel Lavariel, which looks like an angular hourglass on it's side, one rune of a few that can't be reversed and signifies the dawn or day. It represents breakthroughs, awakenings, and awareness. Daylight clarity as opposed to night-time uncertainty. A time to plan or embark upon an enterprise. The power of change directed by your own will, transformation. Hope/happiness, the ideal. Security and certainty. Growth and release. Balance point, the place where opposites meet.

Sowilo, for the Angel of Truth Gatti Maateo, stands for the Sun, and looks like a slanted and backwards "Z." Success, goals achieved, honor. The life force, health. A time when power will be available to you for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success. Contact between the higher self and the unconscious.

Teaser: The Angel of Power must fight through the beastly belly of his temple. Dilandau and Hiero fight together to unlock his potential, but Zaibach is coming. Best yet, Hiero teaches Zaibach a lesson in magic.