A/N: Ok, you're warned. This chapter has four deaths in it and all of them are pretty gruesome. Don't read it if you don't want to … Gee~ the title of this chapter sounds like at the airport or something ... Lol!!! The over all story is dedicated to my best Teki, Rachel (ElvenChild) … but I decided to dedicate each chapter to a certain person or people … so it will be dedicated to let's say "ElvenChild and …" I'm dedicating this chapter to ElvenChild and all the people who were going to be characters but now aren't because this is the revised version … Uhm~ Melissa is after TigerCat and Mark after Magicman … I'm not adding many other characters though~ only the ones who play MAJOR parts …
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of their characters' …. I'm just using them to make this fic!!!
Chapter 16: Arrivals and Departures
Victoria looked at Hitomi and whispered sharply.
"You listen to me, Kanzaki ... You stay quiet and do as I tell you or I will slit your throat … understood?!"
Hitomi gulped and nodded her head slowly. Victoria grinned and walked out, in front of Van's view.
"Van Fanel! I have Hitomi Kanzaki, and if you do not come out of the Escaflowne and fight me I will kill her …" she shouted.
Van froze and turned around. In the middle of the temple stood a tall, slim girl with long, lavender hair in a Zaibach uniform.
"Oh no," Van gulped … Balgus had just given his life to protect the girl and had given he had his word to return her to the Mystic Moon. "I won't let his sacrifice be in vain …" he thought and jumped out.
"Let her go …" he growled. Victoria just laughed and pulled a long coil of thick rope from her boot. She tied Hitomi securely to a pillar, stuffing some white fabric in her mouth to keep her quiet.
Just when Victoria turned to face Van she saw two people in Fanelian uniform in front of his guymelef. One was tall, slim girl that looked about 17 with blue-green eyes, and shoulder-length, curly brown hair. She held a bow and arrow out in front of her. She had a deadly look in her eyes that told the world she would protect the King of Fanelia to the death. She stood perfectly calmly.
"My name is Melissa!!! I am Van Fanel's finest archer. I will defend him to the death!!!" she shouted with pure confidence.
The next was a boy that looked about 16 or 17. He had brown eyes and wore glasses. His hair made Victoria look for a while … It was just like Slayer Guimel's, except brown. He was fairly tall, and you could tell by the look of him that he was a great strategist. Victoria took a deep breath in. They were not to under-estimated.
The boy told her that his name was Mark and that he was the head of Van's council. They were the ones who negotiated and planned attacks. So she was right. It would not be as easy as she thought. These people were the deadly, loyal type that made people fear the name of Zaibach … except they were only for Fanelia. Victoria drew her sword and felt to make sure she had a hidden dagger or two. She respected these people, but they had to die if they were to interfere with her.
"I am ready Mark, and Melissa. Prepare to defend your country to the death."
Mark got a sly look in his eyes and told Melissa something Victoria couldn't quite hear. It had to be some kind of plan. Victoria readied herself. Melissa put her bow and arrow behind her back and drew a sword. Apparently she was going to have a fair one-on-one sword fight. She charged Victoria with great speed and strength. Victoria was caught of guard and barely had time to dodge. Melissa alone would be enough to keep her occupied. Victoria flipped backwards and looked around. Where was that boy, Mark?
She saw him running to the pillar where Hitomi was tied. So that was his plan … it was obvious now that Melissa didn't care for Hitomi but Mark did and they planned to both save each separate person. Victoria growled and knocked Melissa's sword across the room. Her eyes shut and she flinched ready for Victoria to strike her down, but it never came. She opened her eyes to see Victoria fighting Mark off away from the pillar to which Hitomi was tied. Melissa drew her arrow and bow, but it was too late. Victoria slashed his head off, good and clean. His pain only lasted a second as his eyes closed in death. He died smiling. He gave his life for Hitomi. Melissa cringed.
"You ruthless Zaibach scum!!!" she screamed and sent an arrow flying across the room.
She had deadly aim, but Victoria had great speed. Still, the arrow's sharp point sunk into her shoulder. A large patch of crimson blood soaked into her blue uniform, turning the shoulder purple. Victoria smiled a pulled it out slowly. It made a sick sound. She broke the arrow in half and sighed sadly.
"I didn't want to kill your friend … and I don't want to kill you. But, you interfere with my plans. I cannot fail." she told her.
"And you threaten to take the life of my King, so I cannot step out of your way." she said equally as sure to come out the victor.
"Then we cannot agree, too bad ..." Victoria sighed sadly and cleaned her sword off.
Melissa and Victoria moved to the center of the temple, circling each other. Each with about equal strength and talent. Van cowered in the corner of the temple watching with weary eyes. His life, as well as Hitomi's rested on the shoulders of his loyal soldier, Melissa.
Melissa jumped high up into the air holding her sword straight down to bring it down to plunge into the Zaibachian soldier's heart. But, she was not there! She landed on her feet like a cat and looked around. She could not have disappeared! She twirled around to meet the hate-filled eyes of a ruthless killer but instead met the sad, golden eyes of some one just like her, only wanting to save the life of some one dear to her.
"I'm sorry …" Victoria whispered and stabbed her through her heart. A tear slipped down her face as she pulled the sword out. She fell to the floor and gasped. She was losing blood quickly.
"I-I am sorry my King," she whispered "I have failed you … forgive me."
Her pain did not last long either. Victoria's was now the life of a soldier. A killer, loyal to her country. Melissa and Mark were two people she would not forget. They were both like her. It was a shame they had to die. She turned to the cowering king. He was now standing tall and shivering in rage.
"Melissa … Mark … YOU B----!!!" he screamed.
Now was the moment Victoria had waited so long for.
"I'm gonna make you pay, Van Fanel" she said, and then charged. Van barely had any time to deflect Victoria's sword before she was attacking again. She arched her sword and swung downwards, Van jumped back. She swung at his middle, Van jumped to the side. She charged and swung at his neck, he rolled away.
Victoria growled and then tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear calmly. "Avoiding me, Fanel? You will pay for that mistake ..." she growled and then charged again, more confidant and the rage building. Van jumped to the side again but not before she was able to slash his arm. He screamed in pain as the blade touched his skin, leaving a deep cut. He got to his feet and pulled his sword out of its scabbard. Victoria's face contorted into a look of pure hatred.
"That won't help you," she said.
With one flick of her wrist her blade sliced through Van's sword, right at the hilt. Van dropped the handle of the once proud sword. He then went into a fighting position.
"Again, that won't help you. I will kill you today, Van Fanel. You will die by a Dragon Slayer's hand ... by killing you I will prevent the death of the Dragon Slayers and you will do no harm to Lord Dilandau ..." She yelled angrily as she charged him, sword ready.
She sliced his already damaged arm off in a single swipe. Van looked at his stump of his arm and began to scream in pain.
"That's only a fraction of what the Dragon Slayers would have felt!" Victoria yelled at him.
She charged again and Van stumbled backwards. His blood was now freely spilling from him useless arm like a stream. To Victoria it was absolutely beautiful. She took off his legs next with a single swipe. Again he screamed in pain.
"Like it? Do you like the pain, Fanel?!" She screamed as she slashed again.
This time it took out Van's other arm. Van screamed again, only his scream was fading fast. Tears of pain were running down his face, his own blood covered him like a second skin. He lay in his on pool of blood. Victoria smiled evilly.
"I'll make you suffer. This is how much pain you would have put Lord Dilandau in for ruining his beautiful face! This is how much pain you would have put the Dragon Slayers through when you would have killed them ... this is for them," she hissed.
She took her blade and slashed across his chest. Van could no longer fight back or scream. Victoria smiled as she watched his blood pour freely from his numerous wounds. Even if she left him now, no one would be able to save him. That thought lit up her face in a crazy grin. She watched him for a long time, spitting up his own blood and rolling in it.
"Listen to me, Fanel. Your executor's name is Victoria Townley. You'll take that name to your grave, I'm afraid ..." Victoria shouted as she raised her sword above her head.
She brought the sword down on Van's neck. He never got to finish what he was whispering. His head rolled off his neck and laid in his blood. It stared with dark eyes at its body. Victoria took this all in with lavish. Then she began to laugh. It was a high, crazed sounding laugh. But in it there was a note of triumph.
Victoria stopped laughing long enough to bring her blade up to her mouth. She licked the blood off it, savoring the taste. Van's blood. She licked the sword clean, and then began to laugh again. She laughed for another couple minutes, and then dug into a pocket. She pulled out a book of matches she had retrieved from her bag and threw it onto his dead body. She inhaled deeply the scent of his burning flesh and turned around to Hitomi.
She was shaking all over and tears leaked from her eyes, soaking into the piece of cloth in her mouth. Victoria laughed cruelly and stalked over to her. She crouched down and looked into her afraid, emerald eyes. Victoria pushed her head side ways and took off Hitomi's pendant, twirling it around her fingers.
"Hitomi Kanzaki, listen to me. If you or Van Fanel were to live you would have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of loyal, good men. This is for the good of Gaea. I hope you understand." Victoria told her pulling out a short, but deadly dagger.
Hitomi tried to muffle a scream through the cloth but to no avail. Victoria slit her throat and wrists and burned her as well.
2nd A/N: I warned you~ bloody and brutal. I'm sorry to you Van and Hitomi fans, TigerCat and Magicman, and all those who do not like the death and killing. It's just that they were responsible for the Slayers deaths so don't you think the Slayers felt the same thing and that Van and Hitomi were ruthless murderers?! To Magicman & TigerCat you were both characters and got to die defending them so I hope that you are partially happy … sorry I killed you, but you said where your loyalties lied … This is why I changed the rating to R … The scene where I killed Van does not totally belong to me. It was written by ShadowFox in her fic, Gemini. I just took it (with her permission) and changed it, adding some of my own details. Also, I don't care if Hitomi was from earth too … she's responsible for the Slayers' deaths … or would have been … Well, E-mail me and tell me what you think!!! ~CrimsonFire
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of their characters' …. I'm just using them to make this fic!!!
Chapter 16: Arrivals and Departures
Victoria looked at Hitomi and whispered sharply.
"You listen to me, Kanzaki ... You stay quiet and do as I tell you or I will slit your throat … understood?!"
Hitomi gulped and nodded her head slowly. Victoria grinned and walked out, in front of Van's view.
"Van Fanel! I have Hitomi Kanzaki, and if you do not come out of the Escaflowne and fight me I will kill her …" she shouted.
Van froze and turned around. In the middle of the temple stood a tall, slim girl with long, lavender hair in a Zaibach uniform.
"Oh no," Van gulped … Balgus had just given his life to protect the girl and had given he had his word to return her to the Mystic Moon. "I won't let his sacrifice be in vain …" he thought and jumped out.
"Let her go …" he growled. Victoria just laughed and pulled a long coil of thick rope from her boot. She tied Hitomi securely to a pillar, stuffing some white fabric in her mouth to keep her quiet.
Just when Victoria turned to face Van she saw two people in Fanelian uniform in front of his guymelef. One was tall, slim girl that looked about 17 with blue-green eyes, and shoulder-length, curly brown hair. She held a bow and arrow out in front of her. She had a deadly look in her eyes that told the world she would protect the King of Fanelia to the death. She stood perfectly calmly.
"My name is Melissa!!! I am Van Fanel's finest archer. I will defend him to the death!!!" she shouted with pure confidence.
The next was a boy that looked about 16 or 17. He had brown eyes and wore glasses. His hair made Victoria look for a while … It was just like Slayer Guimel's, except brown. He was fairly tall, and you could tell by the look of him that he was a great strategist. Victoria took a deep breath in. They were not to under-estimated.
The boy told her that his name was Mark and that he was the head of Van's council. They were the ones who negotiated and planned attacks. So she was right. It would not be as easy as she thought. These people were the deadly, loyal type that made people fear the name of Zaibach … except they were only for Fanelia. Victoria drew her sword and felt to make sure she had a hidden dagger or two. She respected these people, but they had to die if they were to interfere with her.
"I am ready Mark, and Melissa. Prepare to defend your country to the death."
Mark got a sly look in his eyes and told Melissa something Victoria couldn't quite hear. It had to be some kind of plan. Victoria readied herself. Melissa put her bow and arrow behind her back and drew a sword. Apparently she was going to have a fair one-on-one sword fight. She charged Victoria with great speed and strength. Victoria was caught of guard and barely had time to dodge. Melissa alone would be enough to keep her occupied. Victoria flipped backwards and looked around. Where was that boy, Mark?
She saw him running to the pillar where Hitomi was tied. So that was his plan … it was obvious now that Melissa didn't care for Hitomi but Mark did and they planned to both save each separate person. Victoria growled and knocked Melissa's sword across the room. Her eyes shut and she flinched ready for Victoria to strike her down, but it never came. She opened her eyes to see Victoria fighting Mark off away from the pillar to which Hitomi was tied. Melissa drew her arrow and bow, but it was too late. Victoria slashed his head off, good and clean. His pain only lasted a second as his eyes closed in death. He died smiling. He gave his life for Hitomi. Melissa cringed.
"You ruthless Zaibach scum!!!" she screamed and sent an arrow flying across the room.
She had deadly aim, but Victoria had great speed. Still, the arrow's sharp point sunk into her shoulder. A large patch of crimson blood soaked into her blue uniform, turning the shoulder purple. Victoria smiled a pulled it out slowly. It made a sick sound. She broke the arrow in half and sighed sadly.
"I didn't want to kill your friend … and I don't want to kill you. But, you interfere with my plans. I cannot fail." she told her.
"And you threaten to take the life of my King, so I cannot step out of your way." she said equally as sure to come out the victor.
"Then we cannot agree, too bad ..." Victoria sighed sadly and cleaned her sword off.
Melissa and Victoria moved to the center of the temple, circling each other. Each with about equal strength and talent. Van cowered in the corner of the temple watching with weary eyes. His life, as well as Hitomi's rested on the shoulders of his loyal soldier, Melissa.
Melissa jumped high up into the air holding her sword straight down to bring it down to plunge into the Zaibachian soldier's heart. But, she was not there! She landed on her feet like a cat and looked around. She could not have disappeared! She twirled around to meet the hate-filled eyes of a ruthless killer but instead met the sad, golden eyes of some one just like her, only wanting to save the life of some one dear to her.
"I'm sorry …" Victoria whispered and stabbed her through her heart. A tear slipped down her face as she pulled the sword out. She fell to the floor and gasped. She was losing blood quickly.
"I-I am sorry my King," she whispered "I have failed you … forgive me."
Her pain did not last long either. Victoria's was now the life of a soldier. A killer, loyal to her country. Melissa and Mark were two people she would not forget. They were both like her. It was a shame they had to die. She turned to the cowering king. He was now standing tall and shivering in rage.
"Melissa … Mark … YOU B----!!!" he screamed.
Now was the moment Victoria had waited so long for.
"I'm gonna make you pay, Van Fanel" she said, and then charged. Van barely had any time to deflect Victoria's sword before she was attacking again. She arched her sword and swung downwards, Van jumped back. She swung at his middle, Van jumped to the side. She charged and swung at his neck, he rolled away.
Victoria growled and then tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear calmly. "Avoiding me, Fanel? You will pay for that mistake ..." she growled and then charged again, more confidant and the rage building. Van jumped to the side again but not before she was able to slash his arm. He screamed in pain as the blade touched his skin, leaving a deep cut. He got to his feet and pulled his sword out of its scabbard. Victoria's face contorted into a look of pure hatred.
"That won't help you," she said.
With one flick of her wrist her blade sliced through Van's sword, right at the hilt. Van dropped the handle of the once proud sword. He then went into a fighting position.
"Again, that won't help you. I will kill you today, Van Fanel. You will die by a Dragon Slayer's hand ... by killing you I will prevent the death of the Dragon Slayers and you will do no harm to Lord Dilandau ..." She yelled angrily as she charged him, sword ready.
She sliced his already damaged arm off in a single swipe. Van looked at his stump of his arm and began to scream in pain.
"That's only a fraction of what the Dragon Slayers would have felt!" Victoria yelled at him.
She charged again and Van stumbled backwards. His blood was now freely spilling from him useless arm like a stream. To Victoria it was absolutely beautiful. She took off his legs next with a single swipe. Again he screamed in pain.
"Like it? Do you like the pain, Fanel?!" She screamed as she slashed again.
This time it took out Van's other arm. Van screamed again, only his scream was fading fast. Tears of pain were running down his face, his own blood covered him like a second skin. He lay in his on pool of blood. Victoria smiled evilly.
"I'll make you suffer. This is how much pain you would have put Lord Dilandau in for ruining his beautiful face! This is how much pain you would have put the Dragon Slayers through when you would have killed them ... this is for them," she hissed.
She took her blade and slashed across his chest. Van could no longer fight back or scream. Victoria smiled as she watched his blood pour freely from his numerous wounds. Even if she left him now, no one would be able to save him. That thought lit up her face in a crazy grin. She watched him for a long time, spitting up his own blood and rolling in it.
"Listen to me, Fanel. Your executor's name is Victoria Townley. You'll take that name to your grave, I'm afraid ..." Victoria shouted as she raised her sword above her head.
She brought the sword down on Van's neck. He never got to finish what he was whispering. His head rolled off his neck and laid in his blood. It stared with dark eyes at its body. Victoria took this all in with lavish. Then she began to laugh. It was a high, crazed sounding laugh. But in it there was a note of triumph.
Victoria stopped laughing long enough to bring her blade up to her mouth. She licked the blood off it, savoring the taste. Van's blood. She licked the sword clean, and then began to laugh again. She laughed for another couple minutes, and then dug into a pocket. She pulled out a book of matches she had retrieved from her bag and threw it onto his dead body. She inhaled deeply the scent of his burning flesh and turned around to Hitomi.
She was shaking all over and tears leaked from her eyes, soaking into the piece of cloth in her mouth. Victoria laughed cruelly and stalked over to her. She crouched down and looked into her afraid, emerald eyes. Victoria pushed her head side ways and took off Hitomi's pendant, twirling it around her fingers.
"Hitomi Kanzaki, listen to me. If you or Van Fanel were to live you would have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of loyal, good men. This is for the good of Gaea. I hope you understand." Victoria told her pulling out a short, but deadly dagger.
Hitomi tried to muffle a scream through the cloth but to no avail. Victoria slit her throat and wrists and burned her as well.
2nd A/N: I warned you~ bloody and brutal. I'm sorry to you Van and Hitomi fans, TigerCat and Magicman, and all those who do not like the death and killing. It's just that they were responsible for the Slayers deaths so don't you think the Slayers felt the same thing and that Van and Hitomi were ruthless murderers?! To Magicman & TigerCat you were both characters and got to die defending them so I hope that you are partially happy … sorry I killed you, but you said where your loyalties lied … This is why I changed the rating to R … The scene where I killed Van does not totally belong to me. It was written by ShadowFox in her fic, Gemini. I just took it (with her permission) and changed it, adding some of my own details. Also, I don't care if Hitomi was from earth too … she's responsible for the Slayers' deaths … or would have been … Well, E-mail me and tell me what you think!!! ~CrimsonFire