I don't own Escaflowne or any of the song lyrics I randomly put here. Oh, and
the cult scene and the description of Daamian was based of an experience in the book
Summoning Forth Wiccan Gods and Goddesses; The Magick of Invocation and Evocation by
Lady Maeve Rhea. Please R/R.
Memories of a Forgotten Angel
Chapter Two: Running Against Myself
"...I know my heart is in the right place
But my head is somewhere else
What I wouldn't give to give to quit this race
I'm running against myself..."
-Ben Wakeman, "Running Against Myself"
The muscles in Hitomi's body throbbed in protest after being used so strenuously after so
many years, but she ignored the pain and continued towards her destination. It seemed like
forever, but Hitomi finally reached Tokyo Bay, the salty air searing her nostrils and stinging
her eyes.
"Just why the hell am I here?" Hitomi muttered, realizing she had just ran 5 miles from her house for no reason at all. It was like a voice in her head had yelled, "Go! Go! GO!", but now no trace of that urge remained. Hitomi was about to turn around and catch the next bus, repeating how stupid she was, when a feminine hand gently tugged at Hitomi's arm. "You seem lost. Do you need help finding your way?"
"No, I'm fine. I just-"
"You ARE lost," the stranger from behind interrupted. "I can sense it your soul."
Sighing in irritation, Hitomi faced the woman who had stopped and gasped audibly. Ankle-length pale blond framed a ivory face, nary a strand falling into light gray eyes. A deep violet sash reminiscent of the sunset clashed with the woman's homely woven cornsilk robe. Hitomi unconsciously backed away in awe, asking, "Who...who are you?"
Smiling solemnly, the woman bowed, "I am the right hand of High Priest Daamian of the Holy Gaian Order, Sister Flora. Our chapel is nearby, and it would be my pleasure to invite you if you care to join us, for we welcome those who seek us. Oh, excuse me for being so straightforward. May I inquire your name and perhaps why you are lost?"
"My name is Hitomi Kanzaki," Hitomi replied, still a little wary of the offlandish woman, and reluctantly admitted, "and I'm lost because of because I was looking for you because of your claims of traveling to Gaia. The truth is....I went to Gaia a couple of years ago and,.....and I want to go back ."
"You were able to astral travel by yourself?! How wonderful!" Flora exclaimed gleefully, clasping Hitomi's hands in her own. "Daamian would definitely wish to request your presence, as well as the others of the order. Please, come!"
Hitomi could hardly say no with Flora looking at her so earnestly, but as she agreed, she could feel a small shiver run up her back. Flora didn't seem to notice Hitomi's uneasiness as she led her to a warehouse so run down Hitomi highly doubted that even rats would even live in. Yet to Hitomi's surprise, the interior of the building was furnished exquisitely, with lush fabric drapes hanging from the walls, stained ornate furniture, and too many flickering candles to count. Others were there, wearing similar outfits to Flora's, their conversations mingling together into a soft hum. Offering Hitomi a seat on a plush silk pillow, Flora bowed again and explained, "Please wait here for one moment as announce your arrival to Daamian."
Before Hitomi could complain at the prospect of being alone, Flora disappeared into the adjacent room. Rubbing her pounding temples, Hitomi cursed under her breath. Her mind reminded her how obvious it was that she was in way over her head coming here, and should leave quietly if the chance arose. But the thought of the possibility of going back to Gaia tugged at her heartstrings and awakened past feelings she didn't realize she still had. So she stayed, compelled to sit until Flora returned with the man called "High Priest Daamian'.
"Good evening Sister. It certainly is a surprise that you partake in the ceremony tonight."
Hitomi looked into the cool piercing blue eyes of a foreboding man who she believed to be Daamian from the admiration he received from the others. She instantly feared the man as she squeaked, "C-ceremony?"
Daamian nodded and spread his massive arms out, similar to an eagle taking flight. "Yes, for tonight, we shall embark on our voyage to the promise land!"
The cheers echoed of the walls, and Daamian faced Hitomi, grasping her hand and kissing it. "That is, if you are willing to help us, Sister Seraphina."
Barely disguising her disgust, Hitomi removed her hand from Daamian's grip. "Who is Seraphina?"
"Why, that's you! Every Brother and Sister is christened with their holy name by the person who inducted them," Flora responded nonchalantly, "and since I inducted you, I chose the name Seraphina, for I thought is suited you."
Breathing in deeply, Daamian shouted, "Now we will begin! Everyone, gather together around the circle and chant after me, 'Those above and those below, allow us what we wish to know. In the sky and in the sea, allow us what we wish to be.'"
"Wait, I never agreed-" Hitomi started, only for her protest to be drowned out by the voices. The pace of the incantation became faster and faster, the words jumbling together until incoherent babble, whipping the group into an hysterical frenzy. Hitomi squatted down, trying to block her senses from the sounds as well as the sights, for many in their crazed state of mind began to chew on their own bodies and draw blood. Among the chaos, Daamian motioned to Flora, who came willingly with a tall candle. Suddenly, everyone was silent as Daamian took the candle from Flora as she laid down on her stomach on the ground, her robe pulled down to expose her whole back. Daamian raised the candle and asked loud enough for everyone to hear, "Sister Flora, will you carry the pains of our people in order for the pilgrimage to Gaia?!"
"Yes," Flora mumbled, clenching the ground for a reason Hitomi was unsure of, until Daamian tipped the candle over. The guttural screams that escaped from Flora's mouth resonated off the walls, and Hitomi felt sick at the sight of the hot wax sticking to the burnt flesh. That was all could she handle she determined, jumping up and fleeing from the scene, Flora's howls still ringing in her ears.
As much as Hitomi tried to prevent it, the bile rose, burning her throat and mouth before it splattered to the ground. She couldn't stop shivering, and images swarmed in front of her. Daamian's grim eyes, the crazed look on the others, and Flora's pain...
Hitomi threw up again, and leaned against a street lamp, gazing at the stars in the clear night sky. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing, "What the hell is wrong with me?! Why am I here?! Just where do I belong?! Can't anyone tell me?! PLEASE SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY!!"
The only response came from the cries of seagulls and a ship's foghorn off in the distance, not exactly what Hitomi considered divine intervention. Holding onto the lamp pole for support, Hitomi faced the sky again and quietly begged, "Please, just take me where I belong. Please."
Something glimmered around the moon, forming the outline of what seemed to be another planet.
"G-gaia?" Hitomi questioned incredously. Beams of light shot down from the newly visible planet, one landing on Hitomi and dragging her up. She tried to cling to something, shouting, "No! This can't be real! Stop!"
But struggling was useless Hitomi realized as she let go, and let herself zip up into the sky.
Chapter Two: Running Against Myself
"...I know my heart is in the right place
But my head is somewhere else
What I wouldn't give to give to quit this race
I'm running against myself..."
-Ben Wakeman, "Running Against Myself"
"Just why the hell am I here?" Hitomi muttered, realizing she had just ran 5 miles from her house for no reason at all. It was like a voice in her head had yelled, "Go! Go! GO!", but now no trace of that urge remained. Hitomi was about to turn around and catch the next bus, repeating how stupid she was, when a feminine hand gently tugged at Hitomi's arm. "You seem lost. Do you need help finding your way?"
"No, I'm fine. I just-"
"You ARE lost," the stranger from behind interrupted. "I can sense it your soul."
Sighing in irritation, Hitomi faced the woman who had stopped and gasped audibly. Ankle-length pale blond framed a ivory face, nary a strand falling into light gray eyes. A deep violet sash reminiscent of the sunset clashed with the woman's homely woven cornsilk robe. Hitomi unconsciously backed away in awe, asking, "Who...who are you?"
Smiling solemnly, the woman bowed, "I am the right hand of High Priest Daamian of the Holy Gaian Order, Sister Flora. Our chapel is nearby, and it would be my pleasure to invite you if you care to join us, for we welcome those who seek us. Oh, excuse me for being so straightforward. May I inquire your name and perhaps why you are lost?"
"My name is Hitomi Kanzaki," Hitomi replied, still a little wary of the offlandish woman, and reluctantly admitted, "and I'm lost because of because I was looking for you because of your claims of traveling to Gaia. The truth is....I went to Gaia a couple of years ago and,.....and I want to go back ."
"You were able to astral travel by yourself?! How wonderful!" Flora exclaimed gleefully, clasping Hitomi's hands in her own. "Daamian would definitely wish to request your presence, as well as the others of the order. Please, come!"
Hitomi could hardly say no with Flora looking at her so earnestly, but as she agreed, she could feel a small shiver run up her back. Flora didn't seem to notice Hitomi's uneasiness as she led her to a warehouse so run down Hitomi highly doubted that even rats would even live in. Yet to Hitomi's surprise, the interior of the building was furnished exquisitely, with lush fabric drapes hanging from the walls, stained ornate furniture, and too many flickering candles to count. Others were there, wearing similar outfits to Flora's, their conversations mingling together into a soft hum. Offering Hitomi a seat on a plush silk pillow, Flora bowed again and explained, "Please wait here for one moment as announce your arrival to Daamian."
Before Hitomi could complain at the prospect of being alone, Flora disappeared into the adjacent room. Rubbing her pounding temples, Hitomi cursed under her breath. Her mind reminded her how obvious it was that she was in way over her head coming here, and should leave quietly if the chance arose. But the thought of the possibility of going back to Gaia tugged at her heartstrings and awakened past feelings she didn't realize she still had. So she stayed, compelled to sit until Flora returned with the man called "High Priest Daamian'.
"Good evening Sister. It certainly is a surprise that you partake in the ceremony tonight."
Hitomi looked into the cool piercing blue eyes of a foreboding man who she believed to be Daamian from the admiration he received from the others. She instantly feared the man as she squeaked, "C-ceremony?"
Daamian nodded and spread his massive arms out, similar to an eagle taking flight. "Yes, for tonight, we shall embark on our voyage to the promise land!"
The cheers echoed of the walls, and Daamian faced Hitomi, grasping her hand and kissing it. "That is, if you are willing to help us, Sister Seraphina."
Barely disguising her disgust, Hitomi removed her hand from Daamian's grip. "Who is Seraphina?"
"Why, that's you! Every Brother and Sister is christened with their holy name by the person who inducted them," Flora responded nonchalantly, "and since I inducted you, I chose the name Seraphina, for I thought is suited you."
Breathing in deeply, Daamian shouted, "Now we will begin! Everyone, gather together around the circle and chant after me, 'Those above and those below, allow us what we wish to know. In the sky and in the sea, allow us what we wish to be.'"
"Wait, I never agreed-" Hitomi started, only for her protest to be drowned out by the voices. The pace of the incantation became faster and faster, the words jumbling together until incoherent babble, whipping the group into an hysterical frenzy. Hitomi squatted down, trying to block her senses from the sounds as well as the sights, for many in their crazed state of mind began to chew on their own bodies and draw blood. Among the chaos, Daamian motioned to Flora, who came willingly with a tall candle. Suddenly, everyone was silent as Daamian took the candle from Flora as she laid down on her stomach on the ground, her robe pulled down to expose her whole back. Daamian raised the candle and asked loud enough for everyone to hear, "Sister Flora, will you carry the pains of our people in order for the pilgrimage to Gaia?!"
"Yes," Flora mumbled, clenching the ground for a reason Hitomi was unsure of, until Daamian tipped the candle over. The guttural screams that escaped from Flora's mouth resonated off the walls, and Hitomi felt sick at the sight of the hot wax sticking to the burnt flesh. That was all could she handle she determined, jumping up and fleeing from the scene, Flora's howls still ringing in her ears.
As much as Hitomi tried to prevent it, the bile rose, burning her throat and mouth before it splattered to the ground. She couldn't stop shivering, and images swarmed in front of her. Daamian's grim eyes, the crazed look on the others, and Flora's pain...
Hitomi threw up again, and leaned against a street lamp, gazing at the stars in the clear night sky. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing, "What the hell is wrong with me?! Why am I here?! Just where do I belong?! Can't anyone tell me?! PLEASE SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY!!"
The only response came from the cries of seagulls and a ship's foghorn off in the distance, not exactly what Hitomi considered divine intervention. Holding onto the lamp pole for support, Hitomi faced the sky again and quietly begged, "Please, just take me where I belong. Please."
Something glimmered around the moon, forming the outline of what seemed to be another planet.
"G-gaia?" Hitomi questioned incredously. Beams of light shot down from the newly visible planet, one landing on Hitomi and dragging her up. She tried to cling to something, shouting, "No! This can't be real! Stop!"
But struggling was useless Hitomi realized as she let go, and let herself zip up into the sky.