E3 Jovan's Story E3
One of my little sisters pulled on one of the golden ropes around my neck, in a sucsessful effort to wake me up. I angrily rolled over ignoring her. Then out of the blue Shimi came and threw me over. I looked at him angrily "I was sleeping!!" I said angrily.
"But your dear little sister needs your help!" Shimi said snickering. Most likely the tyce asked Shimi for help, but he refused so the kid came to me.
I rolled over and looked at my sister, "What do you want?" I asked impatienely. She merely pointed to a cut on her forehead. I brushed away her hair then soaked a rag in a nearby jar of water, and cleaned it off. "There, now scat!" I said as I shook my head and went back to bed.
My family was less then normal. I had a lot of little sisters's they were all born by my fathers seccond wife, also fondly reffered to as 'the useless hump of flesh' she couldn't even have a son, how very sad. Myself and Shimi were the oldest, and the only born of my father's first wife. My brother Shimi was older then me, but a lot less liked. A lot of people even joked that I would get the inheritence instead of him! It was very unlikely, but still a nice gesture. Shimi and I practically raised our other siblings, the step mom was a bust in all areas. But at least I did manage to get out of the babysitting once and a while, to go to my fathers classes. They were ment for the prince, and the prince alone, but we were good friends and he insisted I study with him. Another advantage of charisma.
Later I felt another tug on one of my rings, "The rag is still in the water jug! Clean up yourself kid!" I said waving my arm in dismissence.
I felt a pressure on my arm as someone grabbed it tightly.
"Did that Camel kick you in the head again?" The prince joked as he squeezed my arm.
"You bet!" I said hapily as I removed the soft gray locks from my forhead revealing a very large bruise. "Why else do you think I'm stuck in here?" I asked, then felt the effect of his squeezing sink in "Jeeze, Yami! Lay off! I happen to like that hand!" I said as I pulled it away with my other hand and rubbed the sore spot.
"Your so predictable! Comon! Lets go down to the market!" Yami said enthusiastically.
I kracked my neck and got up "Sure, but if my father finds out, its your fault!" I said jokingly
Yami laughed "Weak to the end!"
I wraped my arm around his shoulder "What I lack in strength I make up double in charisma!" I said and laughed as we left for the market.
As we neared the market I quickly hid my gold strings under my shirt, Yami was already in street clothes, and I was close enough to pass for a normal, loyal subject.
We looked around the stalls, but there wasn't anything new since the last time we were here. There must not have been any travelers comming through, or else there would have been at least one new thing.
As we where looking throguh the items in search of something interesting a golden transport fit for royalty made its way past us on its was to the palace. On seeing it Yami quickly grabbed my by the arm and hid both of us behind one of the stalls as it passed.
"I can't believe this! I completely forgot they were comming today!!!" Yami said as his heart pounded so hard I could practically feel it.
I looked at him puzzled, and was about to ask him who was comming, but he grabbed me again before I could say anything and he took off for my house as fast as could with me trailing behind.
We baerly made it in time, and quickly changed and managed to sneak inside the palace before whoever it was arrived. I eagerly waited as the doors opened and we were greeted by a small group, and by the look of them - a very important group of people. As they entered in, I noticed one in paricular. My jaw must have fallen to the floor as I starred at her radiant beuty. I couldn't keep my eyes off her, it felt like love at first sight.
She must have seen my starring, because she came over to where we were. She looked at me inquisitively "I'm Rebecca, who might you be?"
'Rebecca...what a beutifull name for such a beutiful girl' I thought as I continued to stare, then realized she had asked me a question "Oh, uh me? Why I'm...I'm...um...I know this, don't tell me...I'm..." I carried on trying desperatly to remember my own name.
Seeing my predicament Yami took mercy on me and stepped in "Rebecca, This is my friend Jovan!" Yami told her.
"Well then 'Jovan' I guess I'll be seeing you around." She said as she walked away from us.
"Yea..guess so..." I said, and waved weakly as she left the room.
Yami tapped his foot impatietly, "Oh, thank you sooo much, Yami! Everything just went...blank! Sorry 'bout that..." I said as a deep red tinti shone on my face.
Yami looked me straight in the eye, "You know, Jovan. Shes my sister." He said in a stern and serious voice.
I nearly chocked "Um, uh. Woah! I'm sorry! Uh...don't kill me!" I blurted out in my surprize.
Yami shoved my aside, playfully, and started laughing. "You should have seen your face!" He said as he contined on laughing.
"So...shes not your sister?" I asked, hopefull.
"No, but I really don't mind! I know if things got ugly, you would be the one walking away brusied not her!" He said and broke out into another fit of laughter.
My face dullled, "Yep, your REALLY funny, Yami!" I said sarcastically.
Yami smiled as he swiped a tear from his eye "Hey, you have to admit, it was pretty funny! Especially when you forgot your name!" Yami said, still smiling.
I flopped my head back in disgust, "I guess I'm never living this one down!" I said.
Yami snickered "I should probably attend to the geusts! I'll see you later!" Yami said as he left me for the same room Rebecca and the others had exited to.
'Jovan and Rebecca Muran...I like the sound of that.." I smiled at the thought, then turned around to see a very unhappy father. I quickly remembered I was supposed to be at home in bed. "Um hi! I have a perfect explanation!" I said trying to stall so I could have time to think of one.
He looked at me, not at all amuzed. "You are supposed to be at home! I don't care if you have the best explaination ever made! You return to bed, now! We'll have a little chat when I got home!" he said angrily.
"Yes father..." I said as I slunk down my head, then quickly ran home.
I changed out of my robe and ploped down on my bead. Now that I was alone, and everything was silent I could feel the stricking pain of the sore on my forehead. I lifted my hand to my head to try and coax the pain. It took a lot of effort, but I did finally get some sleep.
The next morning I got up of my own will to see one of my sisters standing over me. I blinked as she smiled inocently "You need something?" I asked.
She quickly revealed a doll wiht its hand hanging on by a thread in one arm, and in the other a theaded needle. I rolled my eyes, and quickly repaired the doll. She squeeled hapily and ran to play.
I got up and yawned as I went twards the window to see where the sun was. I soon discovered it was already high noon. I moaned as I leaned on the window sill, does my father expect me to stay indoors another day?
I looked onto the street and begain sulking. I spent the rest of the day watching the monotony of everyday life. But by the time my father got home, I was well asleep. I woke up as he rubbed his hand over my head.
"Wake up, Jovan." I heard him say softly.
I took a deep loathesome breathe and turned around to face him. "Fa-" I started, but he singled for me to hush.
"What am I ging to do with you? You never do anything I tell you too! What would happen if the circumstances were serious? You know I only want whats best for you, so why don't you ever listen to me?" He asked, truely concerned.
I quickly looked the floor feeling ashamed. It really meant a great deal to him that I left, and for what? To look at some things I had seen before, and meet the visitors one day sooner? I felt horrible, "I-I'm sorry..." I said
To my surprize he brushed away my hair to look at the injury on my brow. I flinched as he brushed his hand over it. "Looks like it will scar, serves you right I suppose..." He said rather bluntly, then moved his hand away from my face. "I also suppose you'll want to come to my lesson tomarrow?" He asked.
I quickly looked up at him, "Well, uh, yes?" I said trying a weak smile to help it go over smoother.
He chuckeled and rubbed my hair again "What am I ever going to do with you?" He said hapily, shaking his head "Do me one favor would you?"
"Yea anything!" I said enthusiastically.
"Don't sleep on the window sill anymore!" He said as he left the room.
I blushed slightly at that, but things did seem better now. 'I'll just have to try harder next time!' I thought as I went back to my bed.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
Since then things are basicaly back to their normal dull selves. Yami's sister, Rebecca, was going to stay in the kingdom! Giving my a change to get to know her. And today I was going to do just that. With a little help from Yami I set up the perfect setting. We were all going to the harvest festible sh was even going to bring a friend. I planned on when we got there I would try to sneak in a conversation with her, maybie set up a more lonely outing - with just the two of us.
The evening started off without a hitch, she didn't suspect a thing! During the middle of the ceremony I found the perfect time to make my move. It was one of the more quieter parts, and the mood was set perfectly with the dancing flame of the large bon fire. I sat up close to her and wraped my arm around her.
"Why hello there!" She said jockingly.
I smiled at her "What do you think of the ceremony so far?" I asked.
"Its nice, but you've seen one harvest festival, you've sen them all!" She said somewhat unimpressed.
I saw my chance and went for it "Well, then. What do you say to you and me leaving early, and...go make our own fun?" I asked with all the charm I could muster.
"oooh, what do you have in mind?" she asked, playefully.
Then when I was about to come up with something sickingly romantic, Shimi came up behind me and touched my on the shoulder - scaring me half to death. "Shimi?!?! Whats wrong with you??" I protested.
"One of our sisters was playing outside the kingdom, and fell down a well! No one else can fit - you have to come with me!" Shimi said genuinly concered.
Most of the men in the kingdom had a larger build then I, and I knew Shimi would never lie to me. I turned to Rebecca "Maybie we can do something another time, but I really ave to go!" I said, and she seemed surprised. But I couldn't abandon my sister, so I went with Shimi out to where the well was.
A few other people were gathered around it, and the hole did seems pretty small. As I neared it, it looked like I might be able to just fit. As I started to go down, Shimi handed me a dagger. It was intriquetly carved and apeared very old.
"Just in case, we have no idea what could be down there! I'll throw you down a torch once you enter!" He said.
I nodded, and squized my way through, and droped to the floor, "Okay, you drop the torch now!" I yelled up, and moments later Shimi did just that.
When I held up the torch I could see that it didn't look much like a well at all. The room was pretty large, and square. It seemed very odd, but there was no time to think about that - my sister was down here somewhere. I held the torch up as high as I could and followed one of the walls. A trick my father had taught me, if I would follow that one wall dilligently I could always follow it back to the entrance if I got lost.
I kept on following the wall untill I thought I heard something, I moved the toch around to get more light, and saw something shine in the darkness. An unescapable horror gripped my very soul, as I saw two glints of light emerge from the darkness. I was frozen in fear as I heard an unearthy growl emerge from it, then four more glints of light apeared under the others I could just make them out in the poorly lit room - they were fangs.
"Jovan!! Please help me! The kitty wants to eat me!!" My sister yelled out from somewhere in the darkness.
My eyes twitched at her words 'kitty?' I thought as the best roared, disterbed by her screams. I summmoned up as much courage and confidence as I could and yelled back "Don't worry! Just stay out of its way, and everything will be allright!!"
I threw the torch at the beast, blinding it for a moment. While it was perocupied I gripped the dagger so hard that the jagged edge of the handle ripped through my own skin and I thrust it with all the strength I had at the beasts head. A small eye-shaped jewel on the handle growed as I did so, but what came next I could've never expected.
The dagger went strait through the head on the lion, not leaving a scratch! I looked into the lions eyes unable to move, and barley able to breathe. I was so close that I could fell its breath as it growled, and much to my surprise it started to whimper and ran off! I fell to my knees in shock. I breathed heavily as I felt my heart pound so hard it ached.
After a few moments my sister came out of hiding gasping "That was amazing! It was all ROOOAR, and you were all like take that!! and then it was all whimper whimper!"
I laughed still a little weezy from the scare. She appenrently had no idea just how much danger she was in. I picked up the torch, and led her back to the opening by folowing the wall.
When we made it back to hole I yelled up "Hey! I found her!! Could you help us out of here!?!"
Shimi looked down, and grimaced. One of the older men there lent a hand and I threw the torch down, and helped my sister up to him, then took his hand myself.
At the top I discovered a few more people had come including my father, and he approached me. He put his hand on my shoulder "That was a very stupid thing you did! Brave, but horribly stupid!! You should have wait-" he began, but for some reason stopped.
"Father?? Is something wrong??" I asked, it wasn't like him to stop mid-sentence. Then I noticed he was starring at something. I looked down to see the dagger dripped in my blood. I quickly droped it onto the ground, shocked by its appearance. I quickly looked at my palm. I couldn't believe how deep the cuts were! In the cave I had barley noticed, but now I started to really feel it!
My father picked up the dagger, while my brother snickered and grabbed my ingured hand. Before I realized what he had done he slapped down a sopping rag down on my hand and drug it through one of the cuts. I yelped as an unbearable shock of pain ran through my body. I tried to get away, but I couldn't. It wasn't until he swiped that infernal clothe through every one of my cuts that he let go and shoved my to the ground. I coldled my hand and grit my teeth as I waited for the unbareable pain to pass.
"Wouldn't want it to get infected! Its is an old rusty dagger you know!" He snickered and walked away. He seemed almost happy that he had caused me so much pain. I don't know why he would be, though, I know he can be quite competitive, but I had never done any thing to him to warrant THAT!
My father only watched in disgust at what Shimi did, but he seemed a lot more interested in the dagger then my injuries from it.
I looked at him, "What so important about that dagger? I could have gotten infected and DIED you know!" I said, angry at his lack of care for my well being.
He gave me an anoyed look and shook his head "THIS dagger couldn't kill a fly!" he said, and threw my a rag of his own.
This one was thankfully dry. I wraped it around my hand firmly. I could still feel the sting from whatever Shimi put on it, but now it had died down. I looked over to my father and the dagger, which he had cleaned off. "What do you mean it couldn't kill a fly? It sure made short work of my hand!" I said.
"Come, I'll show you at home." He said
I felt so confused by all of this, what could this wierd dagger be? It didn't look like anything special to me. And why on earth was Shimi so mad at me? Was it because of the dagger? Manny questions flooded through my mind as I reluctantly followed my father home.
At home he set the dagger down on he table, and instructed me to sit oposite him. He looked me strait in the eye, and started "This morning Shimi confronted me, somehow he had found out that I had the Millenium Dagger here. He was so sure he was worthy of its power, but when I let try to use it, he failed. Shimi was so angry that he ran off with the dagger. Then after your sister fell in the well..." He said.
At that I shook my head.
He looked shocked, "What? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"It wasn't a well.." I said quietly.
"What was it?" My father asked, now concered at my tone.
"A lions den."
"What??? What gave you that idea???"
I looked him strait in the eye. I felt scared to tell him, I didn't know eactly what happened there, and I had no clue how to go about explaining it. I took a deep breath, "The lion."
He jumped back, clearly worried over what I just said. "How did you get out?"
I knew he would ask that. I looked down at the dagger and tried to colect my thoughts in the least crazy manner. I looked back up to him "It was preocupied for a moment, and I tightly grabbed onto the dagger, and I...I thrust it at the lion....and..." I started and then stopped. I looked back down at the dagger unable to finish the story.
"And it went right through the lion." My father finished for me.
My eyes widdened and I quickly looked up at him, "H-how?!?!" I asked.
My father smiled and put his hand on my shoulder "Don't be scared. This is a great gift! Only a few people have ever been able to controll the power of the Millenium Dagger! It has the power to change a very soul!" He seemed very happy and enthusiastic over my 'gift'.
I stood up in shock and took a step away. My breathing became stressed, and I began to tremble uncontrollably as looked at my father like a frigtened rabbit. I just wanted to run, run as fast and far as I could away from that THING!! But it felt like my feet were glued down to the floor. I couldn't move a musle.
"Jovan..." My father said in a compashinate, worried voice. But as soon as he stood up I bolted for the roof. I locked the door tight behind me.
I heard my father pounding on the door after me as I sat down near the ledge "Jovan! Open this door!" I heard him yell as he pounded. I don't think I could've opened the door even if I wanted to. I was trembling so much now. It was all I could do to sit there trying to breathe.
After a while my father stopped pounding on the door. I held tightly to my legs, and burried my head into them. So manny thoughts came swelling up I didn't know what to think.
I could still see the Harvest festival, and I could just hear it on the breeze. I wished I was still there that none of this had happened. I wished even harder as the wind began to grow cold, and sent a chill down my spine. It grew colder and colder as the night went on, and my robe wasn't exactly made for cold weather. I tried to keep warm, but I couldn't. I squeezed my eyes shut after I felt my legs go painfully numb.
After a few more moments I heard the door rattle, then I heard it fall open. My father must have shimmied the lock. I felt what I think was his hand on my arm, I could'nt feel much through the numbness.
"Your freezing cold! Please come inside, Jovan!" He pleaded with me.
"I-I c-can't feeel m-my leegss" I barley got out through the cold.
"Oh, my! Lets get you inside right now!" He said as he quickly picked me up and took me inside, and put me in front of the fire.
He got out a warm blancket and wraped me up in it. I looked up at him "I'm sor-" I started, but he motioned for me to hush, and he sat down next to me "Its my fault too" he wispered as he rubed my arm, trying to make it warmer.
I closed my eyes as I began to feel the blissfull heat start to touch my frozen skin. My father smilled, "Sleep now, everything will be allright.." he said. I leaned up against him, and did just that.
I woke up as the sunlight was reflected at my eyes. I moved my head away from the light and slowly clenched my fist, as the effects of the cold were not completely gone. I pushed myself up as my joints fought against it. I sat upright and looked around to see that it looked pretty deserted. I tried to get to my feet untill I heard someone behind me.
"Stop! Daddy said you should be sleeping now!" She said as she entered the room.
I looked at her in disbelief "When exactly did Daddy tell you this?"
"Right after the doctor came, silly!" She replied.
"The doctor...?" I asked.
"Oh, right, you were sleeping! Daddy got the doctor after you didn't wake up, and the Doctor told Daddy that you should'nt be moved for a week! nuh uh!" She said and emphatically shacked her head.
I couldn't help but laugh at her overzeolous acting skills "And when exactly did the doctor tell 'daddy' this?" I asked.
"six days ago." she said calmly.
"Six days?!?!" I asked in disbelief. It felt like I had just fallen asleep a few moments ago.
"Yep!" She said as she enthusiastically nodded "Oh, and Daddy also told me to tell you, that you should'nt sleep on widowsills! Whatever that means..." She said, barley interested.
I instantly remebered the first time something like this happened. I reached for my forehead. and for where that camel had left a scar. I closed my eyes, knowing full well that this was one of those 'serious' circumstances. I laid back down and looked up.
My sister walked over twards me "Your going to sleep now?" she asked. I nodded. "So I can go now?" she asked. I nodded, again. "Yay, now I can go play! Sleep well Jovan!!" she said as she left me alone in the room.
I smiled as she left. I looked around the room, it felt odd to sleep in here. But I suppose doctor's orders can be a force to be recconed with... At least there was only one day left. I think I could handle one day. I clossed my eyes and went back to sleep.
I felt a subtle pulling sensation from one of my golden strings. I pushed myself up and turned around to see my father, "You too?" I asked.
He laughed, then smiled weakly "How are you feeling?" he asked.
My joints still felt a little weak, "The important part is that I am feeling, right?" I asked.
He laughed and ruffled my hair "Well, its been a week, you are free to go!"
I smiled and quicly got ot my feet, but a few seconds after I lost my balance. Luckily my father caught me.
"Looks like you stood up to fast!" He said, then helped me up. He looked me in the eyes, "I don't want to force this upon you, but it is very important, you know that right?" He said trying to help me understand.
I looked back at him worriedly "I know...its just so much...I mean...why does it have to be me?" I asked him.
He looked at me compashinatly, "I know it must be a big strain on you. But this is what destiny has chosen! I just wish I could help you understand..."
I wanted him to understand me too, "I just...it frightens me. What it did to the lion! It can change a soul. I just....I don't want to make some kind of mistake and do something horribly wrong."
"Don't worry! You won't make a mistake! Thats not like you!" He started, then saw the expression on my face "You don't have to use it if you don't want to. Just please keep it with you. I know its meant for you" He finished, deciding on something of a comprimise.
I thought hard about it. I knew I didn't want to use it, but if it would make him happy...I guess there was no harm in just having it. I took a deep breath "Sure" I said hoping I had made the right desicion.
He smiled, "Thank you"
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
I loathed having it with me, but Yami said it looked great. At least my father didn't bug me about it. I suppose it wasn't so horrible having it around...Once I shinned it, it wasn't so bad looking. Other things were turning for the better too. Rebecca and I got really close. I even propsed, and she exepted! Well, who could'nt with these charms? Shimi only got worse, though. A few months ago he left, said he had some important things to do...but last week I recieved a message from him telling me to meet him today, maybie things will start to look up with him too...
I was just preparing to leave as Rebecca came up behind me.
"Hey stranger!" She said waving.
"Hey! Are you here to send me off?" I asked.
"Hardly, I'm here to come with you!" she replied.
"Its a long journey you know!" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"If you can make it, then so can two year olds." She teased.
"ouch!" I commented.
She smiled at me and then started off. I smiled to, and walked after her. It didn't take us too long to reach the spot where Shimi said he would meet us. It wasn't that far from the kingdom, you could still see it over the horizon, but it was far from earshot. A nice quiet place.
It took a seat on a nearby boulder. There was no sign of Shimi. "I guess we beat him here...what to sit down?" I asked.
She smiled, then took a seat next to me "sure"
It was only a few minutes after Shimi arrived. I smiled and ran up to him. "Hey, Shimi! It has been too long!" I said hapily as we approached each other.
"Indeed it has, little brother." He said in a different voice then I remember. It was so dark and full of pain.
I looked into his eyes, "Shimi?!? Are you okay??" I asked worried.
He took another step forward and sent a shiver down my spine. He seemed a lot taller, and now that we were standing so close I could the anger in his eyes. The pure bloodlust showed like a full moon on a starless night. He leaned down and smiled. It was menacing and full of evil. I was paralysed in fear as he starred so deeply into my eyes.
He grabbed me by the arm "I'm fine, but you won't be soon."
He held me so tightly blood came running from where his fingernails dug into my flesh. "What wrong, Shimi?!?! Your really scaring me!" I yelled in fear.
His smile widdened, "good." He said, he was taking so much pleasure from this. I could hardly believe he was my brother. "Ahhh, Rebecca!" He said looking behind me.
My eyes widdened as I turned to see her still sitting on the rock, "Rebecca! Get out of here, Save yourself!!" I yelled out to her.
"Jovan, nobler words have never been said! But you speak in vain! For I'm not the one in trouble here!" She said snickering as she walked up to Shimi, and kissed him.
It felt as if someone had stuck a searing hot pocker through my heart. I tried desperatly to stop it, but Shimi held me back. "H-how could you you??" I asked.
Her smile made me wish to just die. She walked up to me "You see, You may have Charisma, friends, and all those cute little 'values' on your side, but a girl like me needs power! REAL power!!" She said then laughed. She took a step closed to me "Well, its not like you were a total waste! We did have some good times, your just....not my type!" She said smiling, and tried to kiss me, but I pushed her away with my free hand. Then she slapped me "You little runt! How dare you!!"
I narrowed my eyes at her, but didn't say a word.
"Just finish this off Shimi! I don't want to see his stupid scared little eyes again!!" She said angrily.
I couldn't believe my ears, I gave everything to her, and she couldn't even say my name. Shimi gave me hardly any time to think of it as she dug his nails farther into my arm, I screamed in pain as he picked my up, by his nails alone.
"Yell all you want, little brother, no one can hear you here!" He said then laughed as he threw me aside like a rag-doll.
I slowly got to my feet, but no sooner had I done that, the world around seemed to melt away as a thick fog enveloped the three of us. I looked to Shimi to see he now had a ring around his neck. "Don't look so shocked, dear brother! Did you really think yours was the only magic available? There are far more powerfull. and evil magics just waiting to be possesed!!" He hissed.
I looked around to see if there was any chance of escape, any way to leave this place, but there was nothing I could see.
Rebecca smiled "Theres no escape from here! Shimi has this all planned!" She said smiling, then gave Shimi a long passionate kiss.
I had to look away as the anger swelled up in me. I clenched my fist as I felt tears form. I felt so much anger, hatred. I couldn't believe this. My own brother trying to kill me with the help with my love? I remembered my Dagger. I wished so hard I would never have to see their smiles again. I took it from my belt and held it as tightly as I could in my hand. I felt the same cuts runnthrough my flesh, even though I had smoothed out the handle. The cuts felt somehow different then before, more powerful...more evil... I ran twards them, while they still engoyed their embrace. I swiped the dagger strait through the both of them. I felt a much larger drain then before, I fell to the ground along with Rebecca. But Shimi was still standing. He caused the black fog around us to fade away.
He looked down at Rebecca and smiled at her as she sat on here knees catching her breath.
Then he came over me, he picked me up by the five ring around my neck, and smiled. "Now were even" He wispered in my ear.
My eyes widdened as he dropped me back to the ground. He laughed as he left us both on the ground. I looked on as Rebecca continued to catch her breath. I had no idea what I had done. What the results would be. All I knew was the power that was taken from me.
"Shimi?!?!" she cried out after him, but she recieved no answer. She got up and rubbed her head. Then she looked down at me. She starred for a few minutes without saying a word. I just looked up at her as a few tears fell. "What did you do?!?!" She screamed.
I looked up at her "I don't know..." I said in fear of what I had put her through.
As she looked at me with so much hate, I slowly realized what I had done. The smile was gone, just as I wished. But so much more then just that smile, every smile she would ever have. I stole her joy. I started to tremble "no..." I said weakly as I started at her. What she had done, and what I had done. I had no measure on which to place these two. the pain she caused me...and the pain I had caused her. If only I could take it back.
She slapped me once more across the face, as she must have realized what happened as well, and she went off running.
An hour or so I got up, and made my way back.
I entered into my own home at made my way to table where I folded my hands on its top, and leaned my head upon them. My father entered the room.
"How did it go with Shimi?" He asked.
I didn't say a thing. After a few moments, I dropped the knife. I klancked a few times on the table before it stopped moving. My father saw the blood and gasped.
"What happened?!?!" He asked worridly. He held my hands in his.
I told him the whole story. He brushed away my tears, "You get some sleep now. I'll see if I can find a way to reverse it."
I nodded, I couldn't deny that I needed rest. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I still wanted to help out some how. "Can't I help?" I asked.
He brushed my hair from my face and looked into my eyes "Theres nothing more you can do. You did the right thing by telling me." He said and smiled. I weakly smiled back "Now off to bed with you!" He ordered.
I wearily made my way to my room and fell onto my bed, instantly asleep.
The morning came with a nock at the door. I was surprised to see Yami. "Uhh, hi!" I said.
He came at me and pinned me against the wall. I was still weak from the day before, not that I was a match for him normally. "What did you do to my sister!!" He exclaimed.
I looked into his eyes. I had never seen him so angry, I didn't even know he could get angry "I'm sorry, but it'll be okay! My dad said he knew a way to reverse it."
He peered deeply into my eyes "Thats all well and good, but it gives you no right to do it in the first place!" He said angryly.
"You don't understand! There was-" I was about to tell him why, when we both heard a loud crash come from the castle.
Yami let go and rushed outside, and I wasn't far behind. As we both neared the palace we could see it lit up in flames. I ran past Yami and into the palace itself. I ran as fast as I could to where my father would be, but I was far to late. The fire was raging out of controll, the fire was so fierce I couldn't get anywhere near. I fell to the ground right in front of the fire. I couldn't save him. There wasn't anything I could do.
To my surprise I was pulled away, I turned to see one of the palace guards holding on to my arm.
"Master Jovan, you must leave now!" He demanded.
"No, I won't leave without my father!" I screamed. I tried to go back, but he grabbed me and dragged me out of the palace.
Outside he quickly tied my arm to the palace gate, so I couldn't go back into the palace. But he went back in himself to see if he could save any one else. I tried to break free of his binds, but they were to tight. I wanted to go back and try something, anything to save my father, but I couldn't. I starred at the entrance to the palace longingly, and out of the corner of my eyes I saw Yami. He was being confronted by two other people. I didn't recognize them. He took a step away from them, and revealed a small golden pyramid, which he preceded to throw upon the ground. As it shattered, it emitted a bright light. Then he disapeared. The same thing happened to the other men. Then I looked to my dagger. The red jewel was shining brightly and.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
E3 Jovan's Story E3
One of my little sisters pulled on one of the golden ropes around my neck, in a sucsessful effort to wake me up. I angrily rolled over ignoring her. Then out of the blue Shimi came and threw me over. I looked at him angrily "I was sleeping!!" I said angrily.
"But your dear little sister needs your help!" Shimi said snickering. Most likely the tyce asked Shimi for help, but he refused so the kid came to me.
I rolled over and looked at my sister, "What do you want?" I asked impatienely. She merely pointed to a cut on her forehead. I brushed away her hair then soaked a rag in a nearby jar of water, and cleaned it off. "There, now scat!" I said as I shook my head and went back to bed.
My family was less then normal. I had a lot of little sisters's they were all born by my fathers seccond wife, also fondly reffered to as 'the useless hump of flesh' she couldn't even have a son, how very sad. Myself and Shimi were the oldest, and the only born of my father's first wife. My brother Shimi was older then me, but a lot less liked. A lot of people even joked that I would get the inheritence instead of him! It was very unlikely, but still a nice gesture. Shimi and I practically raised our other siblings, the step mom was a bust in all areas. But at least I did manage to get out of the babysitting once and a while, to go to my fathers classes. They were ment for the prince, and the prince alone, but we were good friends and he insisted I study with him. Another advantage of charisma.
Later I felt another tug on one of my rings, "The rag is still in the water jug! Clean up yourself kid!" I said waving my arm in dismissence.
I felt a pressure on my arm as someone grabbed it tightly.
"Did that Camel kick you in the head again?" The prince joked as he squeezed my arm.
"You bet!" I said hapily as I removed the soft gray locks from my forhead revealing a very large bruise. "Why else do you think I'm stuck in here?" I asked, then felt the effect of his squeezing sink in "Jeeze, Yami! Lay off! I happen to like that hand!" I said as I pulled it away with my other hand and rubbed the sore spot.
"Your so predictable! Comon! Lets go down to the market!" Yami said enthusiastically.
I kracked my neck and got up "Sure, but if my father finds out, its your fault!" I said jokingly
Yami laughed "Weak to the end!"
I wraped my arm around his shoulder "What I lack in strength I make up double in charisma!" I said and laughed as we left for the market.
As we neared the market I quickly hid my gold strings under my shirt, Yami was already in street clothes, and I was close enough to pass for a normal, loyal subject.
We looked around the stalls, but there wasn't anything new since the last time we were here. There must not have been any travelers comming through, or else there would have been at least one new thing.
As we where looking throguh the items in search of something interesting a golden transport fit for royalty made its way past us on its was to the palace. On seeing it Yami quickly grabbed my by the arm and hid both of us behind one of the stalls as it passed.
"I can't believe this! I completely forgot they were comming today!!!" Yami said as his heart pounded so hard I could practically feel it.
I looked at him puzzled, and was about to ask him who was comming, but he grabbed me again before I could say anything and he took off for my house as fast as could with me trailing behind.
We baerly made it in time, and quickly changed and managed to sneak inside the palace before whoever it was arrived. I eagerly waited as the doors opened and we were greeted by a small group, and by the look of them - a very important group of people. As they entered in, I noticed one in paricular. My jaw must have fallen to the floor as I starred at her radiant beuty. I couldn't keep my eyes off her, it felt like love at first sight.
She must have seen my starring, because she came over to where we were. She looked at me inquisitively "I'm Rebecca, who might you be?"
'Rebecca...what a beutifull name for such a beutiful girl' I thought as I continued to stare, then realized she had asked me a question "Oh, uh me? Why I'm...I'm...um...I know this, don't tell me...I'm..." I carried on trying desperatly to remember my own name.
Seeing my predicament Yami took mercy on me and stepped in "Rebecca, This is my friend Jovan!" Yami told her.
"Well then 'Jovan' I guess I'll be seeing you around." She said as she walked away from us.
"Yea..guess so..." I said, and waved weakly as she left the room.
Yami tapped his foot impatietly, "Oh, thank you sooo much, Yami! Everything just went...blank! Sorry 'bout that..." I said as a deep red tinti shone on my face.
Yami looked me straight in the eye, "You know, Jovan. Shes my sister." He said in a stern and serious voice.
I nearly chocked "Um, uh. Woah! I'm sorry! Uh...don't kill me!" I blurted out in my surprize.
Yami shoved my aside, playfully, and started laughing. "You should have seen your face!" He said as he contined on laughing.
"So...shes not your sister?" I asked, hopefull.
"No, but I really don't mind! I know if things got ugly, you would be the one walking away brusied not her!" He said and broke out into another fit of laughter.
My face dullled, "Yep, your REALLY funny, Yami!" I said sarcastically.
Yami smiled as he swiped a tear from his eye "Hey, you have to admit, it was pretty funny! Especially when you forgot your name!" Yami said, still smiling.
I flopped my head back in disgust, "I guess I'm never living this one down!" I said.
Yami snickered "I should probably attend to the geusts! I'll see you later!" Yami said as he left me for the same room Rebecca and the others had exited to.
'Jovan and Rebecca Muran...I like the sound of that.." I smiled at the thought, then turned around to see a very unhappy father. I quickly remembered I was supposed to be at home in bed. "Um hi! I have a perfect explanation!" I said trying to stall so I could have time to think of one.
He looked at me, not at all amuzed. "You are supposed to be at home! I don't care if you have the best explaination ever made! You return to bed, now! We'll have a little chat when I got home!" he said angrily.
"Yes father..." I said as I slunk down my head, then quickly ran home.
I changed out of my robe and ploped down on my bead. Now that I was alone, and everything was silent I could feel the stricking pain of the sore on my forehead. I lifted my hand to my head to try and coax the pain. It took a lot of effort, but I did finally get some sleep.
The next morning I got up of my own will to see one of my sisters standing over me. I blinked as she smiled inocently "You need something?" I asked.
She quickly revealed a doll wiht its hand hanging on by a thread in one arm, and in the other a theaded needle. I rolled my eyes, and quickly repaired the doll. She squeeled hapily and ran to play.
I got up and yawned as I went twards the window to see where the sun was. I soon discovered it was already high noon. I moaned as I leaned on the window sill, does my father expect me to stay indoors another day?
I looked onto the street and begain sulking. I spent the rest of the day watching the monotony of everyday life. But by the time my father got home, I was well asleep. I woke up as he rubbed his hand over my head.
"Wake up, Jovan." I heard him say softly.
I took a deep loathesome breathe and turned around to face him. "Fa-" I started, but he singled for me to hush.
"What am I ging to do with you? You never do anything I tell you too! What would happen if the circumstances were serious? You know I only want whats best for you, so why don't you ever listen to me?" He asked, truely concerned.
I quickly looked the floor feeling ashamed. It really meant a great deal to him that I left, and for what? To look at some things I had seen before, and meet the visitors one day sooner? I felt horrible, "I-I'm sorry..." I said
To my surprize he brushed away my hair to look at the injury on my brow. I flinched as he brushed his hand over it. "Looks like it will scar, serves you right I suppose..." He said rather bluntly, then moved his hand away from my face. "I also suppose you'll want to come to my lesson tomarrow?" He asked.
I quickly looked up at him, "Well, uh, yes?" I said trying a weak smile to help it go over smoother.
He chuckeled and rubbed my hair again "What am I ever going to do with you?" He said hapily, shaking his head "Do me one favor would you?"
"Yea anything!" I said enthusiastically.
"Don't sleep on the window sill anymore!" He said as he left the room.
I blushed slightly at that, but things did seem better now. 'I'll just have to try harder next time!' I thought as I went back to my bed.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
Since then things are basicaly back to their normal dull selves. Yami's sister, Rebecca, was going to stay in the kingdom! Giving my a change to get to know her. And today I was going to do just that. With a little help from Yami I set up the perfect setting. We were all going to the harvest festible sh was even going to bring a friend. I planned on when we got there I would try to sneak in a conversation with her, maybie set up a more lonely outing - with just the two of us.
The evening started off without a hitch, she didn't suspect a thing! During the middle of the ceremony I found the perfect time to make my move. It was one of the more quieter parts, and the mood was set perfectly with the dancing flame of the large bon fire. I sat up close to her and wraped my arm around her.
"Why hello there!" She said jockingly.
I smiled at her "What do you think of the ceremony so far?" I asked.
"Its nice, but you've seen one harvest festival, you've sen them all!" She said somewhat unimpressed.
I saw my chance and went for it "Well, then. What do you say to you and me leaving early, and...go make our own fun?" I asked with all the charm I could muster.
"oooh, what do you have in mind?" she asked, playefully.
Then when I was about to come up with something sickingly romantic, Shimi came up behind me and touched my on the shoulder - scaring me half to death. "Shimi?!?! Whats wrong with you??" I protested.
"One of our sisters was playing outside the kingdom, and fell down a well! No one else can fit - you have to come with me!" Shimi said genuinly concered.
Most of the men in the kingdom had a larger build then I, and I knew Shimi would never lie to me. I turned to Rebecca "Maybie we can do something another time, but I really ave to go!" I said, and she seemed surprised. But I couldn't abandon my sister, so I went with Shimi out to where the well was.
A few other people were gathered around it, and the hole did seems pretty small. As I neared it, it looked like I might be able to just fit. As I started to go down, Shimi handed me a dagger. It was intriquetly carved and apeared very old.
"Just in case, we have no idea what could be down there! I'll throw you down a torch once you enter!" He said.
I nodded, and squized my way through, and droped to the floor, "Okay, you drop the torch now!" I yelled up, and moments later Shimi did just that.
When I held up the torch I could see that it didn't look much like a well at all. The room was pretty large, and square. It seemed very odd, but there was no time to think about that - my sister was down here somewhere. I held the torch up as high as I could and followed one of the walls. A trick my father had taught me, if I would follow that one wall dilligently I could always follow it back to the entrance if I got lost.
I kept on following the wall untill I thought I heard something, I moved the toch around to get more light, and saw something shine in the darkness. An unescapable horror gripped my very soul, as I saw two glints of light emerge from the darkness. I was frozen in fear as I heard an unearthy growl emerge from it, then four more glints of light apeared under the others I could just make them out in the poorly lit room - they were fangs.
"Jovan!! Please help me! The kitty wants to eat me!!" My sister yelled out from somewhere in the darkness.
My eyes twitched at her words 'kitty?' I thought as the best roared, disterbed by her screams. I summmoned up as much courage and confidence as I could and yelled back "Don't worry! Just stay out of its way, and everything will be allright!!"
I threw the torch at the beast, blinding it for a moment. While it was perocupied I gripped the dagger so hard that the jagged edge of the handle ripped through my own skin and I thrust it with all the strength I had at the beasts head. A small eye-shaped jewel on the handle growed as I did so, but what came next I could've never expected.
The dagger went strait through the head on the lion, not leaving a scratch! I looked into the lions eyes unable to move, and barley able to breathe. I was so close that I could fell its breath as it growled, and much to my surprise it started to whimper and ran off! I fell to my knees in shock. I breathed heavily as I felt my heart pound so hard it ached.
After a few moments my sister came out of hiding gasping "That was amazing! It was all ROOOAR, and you were all like take that!! and then it was all whimper whimper!"
I laughed still a little weezy from the scare. She appenrently had no idea just how much danger she was in. I picked up the torch, and led her back to the opening by folowing the wall.
When we made it back to hole I yelled up "Hey! I found her!! Could you help us out of here!?!"
Shimi looked down, and grimaced. One of the older men there lent a hand and I threw the torch down, and helped my sister up to him, then took his hand myself.
At the top I discovered a few more people had come including my father, and he approached me. He put his hand on my shoulder "That was a very stupid thing you did! Brave, but horribly stupid!! You should have wait-" he began, but for some reason stopped.
"Father?? Is something wrong??" I asked, it wasn't like him to stop mid-sentence. Then I noticed he was starring at something. I looked down to see the dagger dripped in my blood. I quickly droped it onto the ground, shocked by its appearance. I quickly looked at my palm. I couldn't believe how deep the cuts were! In the cave I had barley noticed, but now I started to really feel it!
My father picked up the dagger, while my brother snickered and grabbed my ingured hand. Before I realized what he had done he slapped down a sopping rag down on my hand and drug it through one of the cuts. I yelped as an unbearable shock of pain ran through my body. I tried to get away, but I couldn't. It wasn't until he swiped that infernal clothe through every one of my cuts that he let go and shoved my to the ground. I coldled my hand and grit my teeth as I waited for the unbareable pain to pass.
"Wouldn't want it to get infected! Its is an old rusty dagger you know!" He snickered and walked away. He seemed almost happy that he had caused me so much pain. I don't know why he would be, though, I know he can be quite competitive, but I had never done any thing to him to warrant THAT!
My father only watched in disgust at what Shimi did, but he seemed a lot more interested in the dagger then my injuries from it.
I looked at him, "What so important about that dagger? I could have gotten infected and DIED you know!" I said, angry at his lack of care for my well being.
He gave me an anoyed look and shook his head "THIS dagger couldn't kill a fly!" he said, and threw my a rag of his own.
This one was thankfully dry. I wraped it around my hand firmly. I could still feel the sting from whatever Shimi put on it, but now it had died down. I looked over to my father and the dagger, which he had cleaned off. "What do you mean it couldn't kill a fly? It sure made short work of my hand!" I said.
"Come, I'll show you at home." He said
I felt so confused by all of this, what could this wierd dagger be? It didn't look like anything special to me. And why on earth was Shimi so mad at me? Was it because of the dagger? Manny questions flooded through my mind as I reluctantly followed my father home.
At home he set the dagger down on he table, and instructed me to sit oposite him. He looked me strait in the eye, and started "This morning Shimi confronted me, somehow he had found out that I had the Millenium Dagger here. He was so sure he was worthy of its power, but when I let try to use it, he failed. Shimi was so angry that he ran off with the dagger. Then after your sister fell in the well..." He said.
At that I shook my head.
He looked shocked, "What? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"It wasn't a well.." I said quietly.
"What was it?" My father asked, now concered at my tone.
"A lions den."
"What??? What gave you that idea???"
I looked him strait in the eye. I felt scared to tell him, I didn't know eactly what happened there, and I had no clue how to go about explaining it. I took a deep breath, "The lion."
He jumped back, clearly worried over what I just said. "How did you get out?"
I knew he would ask that. I looked down at the dagger and tried to colect my thoughts in the least crazy manner. I looked back up to him "It was preocupied for a moment, and I tightly grabbed onto the dagger, and I...I thrust it at the lion....and..." I started and then stopped. I looked back down at the dagger unable to finish the story.
"And it went right through the lion." My father finished for me.
My eyes widdened and I quickly looked up at him, "H-how?!?!" I asked.
My father smiled and put his hand on my shoulder "Don't be scared. This is a great gift! Only a few people have ever been able to controll the power of the Millenium Dagger! It has the power to change a very soul!" He seemed very happy and enthusiastic over my 'gift'.
I stood up in shock and took a step away. My breathing became stressed, and I began to tremble uncontrollably as looked at my father like a frigtened rabbit. I just wanted to run, run as fast and far as I could away from that THING!! But it felt like my feet were glued down to the floor. I couldn't move a musle.
"Jovan..." My father said in a compashinate, worried voice. But as soon as he stood up I bolted for the roof. I locked the door tight behind me.
I heard my father pounding on the door after me as I sat down near the ledge "Jovan! Open this door!" I heard him yell as he pounded. I don't think I could've opened the door even if I wanted to. I was trembling so much now. It was all I could do to sit there trying to breathe.
After a while my father stopped pounding on the door. I held tightly to my legs, and burried my head into them. So manny thoughts came swelling up I didn't know what to think.
I could still see the Harvest festival, and I could just hear it on the breeze. I wished I was still there that none of this had happened. I wished even harder as the wind began to grow cold, and sent a chill down my spine. It grew colder and colder as the night went on, and my robe wasn't exactly made for cold weather. I tried to keep warm, but I couldn't. I squeezed my eyes shut after I felt my legs go painfully numb.
After a few more moments I heard the door rattle, then I heard it fall open. My father must have shimmied the lock. I felt what I think was his hand on my arm, I could'nt feel much through the numbness.
"Your freezing cold! Please come inside, Jovan!" He pleaded with me.
"I-I c-can't feeel m-my leegss" I barley got out through the cold.
"Oh, my! Lets get you inside right now!" He said as he quickly picked me up and took me inside, and put me in front of the fire.
He got out a warm blancket and wraped me up in it. I looked up at him "I'm sor-" I started, but he motioned for me to hush, and he sat down next to me "Its my fault too" he wispered as he rubed my arm, trying to make it warmer.
I closed my eyes as I began to feel the blissfull heat start to touch my frozen skin. My father smilled, "Sleep now, everything will be allright.." he said. I leaned up against him, and did just that.
I woke up as the sunlight was reflected at my eyes. I moved my head away from the light and slowly clenched my fist, as the effects of the cold were not completely gone. I pushed myself up as my joints fought against it. I sat upright and looked around to see that it looked pretty deserted. I tried to get to my feet untill I heard someone behind me.
"Stop! Daddy said you should be sleeping now!" She said as she entered the room.
I looked at her in disbelief "When exactly did Daddy tell you this?"
"Right after the doctor came, silly!" She replied.
"The doctor...?" I asked.
"Oh, right, you were sleeping! Daddy got the doctor after you didn't wake up, and the Doctor told Daddy that you should'nt be moved for a week! nuh uh!" She said and emphatically shacked her head.
I couldn't help but laugh at her overzeolous acting skills "And when exactly did the doctor tell 'daddy' this?" I asked.
"six days ago." she said calmly.
"Six days?!?!" I asked in disbelief. It felt like I had just fallen asleep a few moments ago.
"Yep!" She said as she enthusiastically nodded "Oh, and Daddy also told me to tell you, that you should'nt sleep on widowsills! Whatever that means..." She said, barley interested.
I instantly remebered the first time something like this happened. I reached for my forehead. and for where that camel had left a scar. I closed my eyes, knowing full well that this was one of those 'serious' circumstances. I laid back down and looked up.
My sister walked over twards me "Your going to sleep now?" she asked. I nodded. "So I can go now?" she asked. I nodded, again. "Yay, now I can go play! Sleep well Jovan!!" she said as she left me alone in the room.
I smiled as she left. I looked around the room, it felt odd to sleep in here. But I suppose doctor's orders can be a force to be recconed with... At least there was only one day left. I think I could handle one day. I clossed my eyes and went back to sleep.
I felt a subtle pulling sensation from one of my golden strings. I pushed myself up and turned around to see my father, "You too?" I asked.
He laughed, then smiled weakly "How are you feeling?" he asked.
My joints still felt a little weak, "The important part is that I am feeling, right?" I asked.
He laughed and ruffled my hair "Well, its been a week, you are free to go!"
I smiled and quicly got ot my feet, but a few seconds after I lost my balance. Luckily my father caught me.
"Looks like you stood up to fast!" He said, then helped me up. He looked me in the eyes, "I don't want to force this upon you, but it is very important, you know that right?" He said trying to help me understand.
I looked back at him worriedly "I know...its just so much...I mean...why does it have to be me?" I asked him.
He looked at me compashinatly, "I know it must be a big strain on you. But this is what destiny has chosen! I just wish I could help you understand..."
I wanted him to understand me too, "I just...it frightens me. What it did to the lion! It can change a soul. I just....I don't want to make some kind of mistake and do something horribly wrong."
"Don't worry! You won't make a mistake! Thats not like you!" He started, then saw the expression on my face "You don't have to use it if you don't want to. Just please keep it with you. I know its meant for you" He finished, deciding on something of a comprimise.
I thought hard about it. I knew I didn't want to use it, but if it would make him happy...I guess there was no harm in just having it. I took a deep breath "Sure" I said hoping I had made the right desicion.
He smiled, "Thank you"
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
I loathed having it with me, but Yami said it looked great. At least my father didn't bug me about it. I suppose it wasn't so horrible having it around...Once I shinned it, it wasn't so bad looking. Other things were turning for the better too. Rebecca and I got really close. I even propsed, and she exepted! Well, who could'nt with these charms? Shimi only got worse, though. A few months ago he left, said he had some important things to do...but last week I recieved a message from him telling me to meet him today, maybie things will start to look up with him too...
I was just preparing to leave as Rebecca came up behind me.
"Hey stranger!" She said waving.
"Hey! Are you here to send me off?" I asked.
"Hardly, I'm here to come with you!" she replied.
"Its a long journey you know!" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"If you can make it, then so can two year olds." She teased.
"ouch!" I commented.
She smiled at me and then started off. I smiled to, and walked after her. It didn't take us too long to reach the spot where Shimi said he would meet us. It wasn't that far from the kingdom, you could still see it over the horizon, but it was far from earshot. A nice quiet place.
It took a seat on a nearby boulder. There was no sign of Shimi. "I guess we beat him here...what to sit down?" I asked.
She smiled, then took a seat next to me "sure"
It was only a few minutes after Shimi arrived. I smiled and ran up to him. "Hey, Shimi! It has been too long!" I said hapily as we approached each other.
"Indeed it has, little brother." He said in a different voice then I remember. It was so dark and full of pain.
I looked into his eyes, "Shimi?!? Are you okay??" I asked worried.
He took another step forward and sent a shiver down my spine. He seemed a lot taller, and now that we were standing so close I could the anger in his eyes. The pure bloodlust showed like a full moon on a starless night. He leaned down and smiled. It was menacing and full of evil. I was paralysed in fear as he starred so deeply into my eyes.
He grabbed me by the arm "I'm fine, but you won't be soon."
He held me so tightly blood came running from where his fingernails dug into my flesh. "What wrong, Shimi?!?! Your really scaring me!" I yelled in fear.
His smile widdened, "good." He said, he was taking so much pleasure from this. I could hardly believe he was my brother. "Ahhh, Rebecca!" He said looking behind me.
My eyes widdened as I turned to see her still sitting on the rock, "Rebecca! Get out of here, Save yourself!!" I yelled out to her.
"Jovan, nobler words have never been said! But you speak in vain! For I'm not the one in trouble here!" She said snickering as she walked up to Shimi, and kissed him.
It felt as if someone had stuck a searing hot pocker through my heart. I tried desperatly to stop it, but Shimi held me back. "H-how could you you??" I asked.
Her smile made me wish to just die. She walked up to me "You see, You may have Charisma, friends, and all those cute little 'values' on your side, but a girl like me needs power! REAL power!!" She said then laughed. She took a step closed to me "Well, its not like you were a total waste! We did have some good times, your just....not my type!" She said smiling, and tried to kiss me, but I pushed her away with my free hand. Then she slapped me "You little runt! How dare you!!"
I narrowed my eyes at her, but didn't say a word.
"Just finish this off Shimi! I don't want to see his stupid scared little eyes again!!" She said angrily.
I couldn't believe my ears, I gave everything to her, and she couldn't even say my name. Shimi gave me hardly any time to think of it as she dug his nails farther into my arm, I screamed in pain as he picked my up, by his nails alone.
"Yell all you want, little brother, no one can hear you here!" He said then laughed as he threw me aside like a rag-doll.
I slowly got to my feet, but no sooner had I done that, the world around seemed to melt away as a thick fog enveloped the three of us. I looked to Shimi to see he now had a ring around his neck. "Don't look so shocked, dear brother! Did you really think yours was the only magic available? There are far more powerfull. and evil magics just waiting to be possesed!!" He hissed.
I looked around to see if there was any chance of escape, any way to leave this place, but there was nothing I could see.
Rebecca smiled "Theres no escape from here! Shimi has this all planned!" She said smiling, then gave Shimi a long passionate kiss.
I had to look away as the anger swelled up in me. I clenched my fist as I felt tears form. I felt so much anger, hatred. I couldn't believe this. My own brother trying to kill me with the help with my love? I remembered my Dagger. I wished so hard I would never have to see their smiles again. I took it from my belt and held it as tightly as I could in my hand. I felt the same cuts runnthrough my flesh, even though I had smoothed out the handle. The cuts felt somehow different then before, more powerful...more evil... I ran twards them, while they still engoyed their embrace. I swiped the dagger strait through the both of them. I felt a much larger drain then before, I fell to the ground along with Rebecca. But Shimi was still standing. He caused the black fog around us to fade away.
He looked down at Rebecca and smiled at her as she sat on here knees catching her breath.
Then he came over me, he picked me up by the five ring around my neck, and smiled. "Now were even" He wispered in my ear.
My eyes widdened as he dropped me back to the ground. He laughed as he left us both on the ground. I looked on as Rebecca continued to catch her breath. I had no idea what I had done. What the results would be. All I knew was the power that was taken from me.
"Shimi?!?!" she cried out after him, but she recieved no answer. She got up and rubbed her head. Then she looked down at me. She starred for a few minutes without saying a word. I just looked up at her as a few tears fell. "What did you do?!?!" She screamed.
I looked up at her "I don't know..." I said in fear of what I had put her through.
As she looked at me with so much hate, I slowly realized what I had done. The smile was gone, just as I wished. But so much more then just that smile, every smile she would ever have. I stole her joy. I started to tremble "no..." I said weakly as I started at her. What she had done, and what I had done. I had no measure on which to place these two. the pain she caused me...and the pain I had caused her. If only I could take it back.
She slapped me once more across the face, as she must have realized what happened as well, and she went off running.
An hour or so I got up, and made my way back.
I entered into my own home at made my way to table where I folded my hands on its top, and leaned my head upon them. My father entered the room.
"How did it go with Shimi?" He asked.
I didn't say a thing. After a few moments, I dropped the knife. I klancked a few times on the table before it stopped moving. My father saw the blood and gasped.
"What happened?!?!" He asked worridly. He held my hands in his.
I told him the whole story. He brushed away my tears, "You get some sleep now. I'll see if I can find a way to reverse it."
I nodded, I couldn't deny that I needed rest. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I still wanted to help out some how. "Can't I help?" I asked.
He brushed my hair from my face and looked into my eyes "Theres nothing more you can do. You did the right thing by telling me." He said and smiled. I weakly smiled back "Now off to bed with you!" He ordered.
I wearily made my way to my room and fell onto my bed, instantly asleep.
The morning came with a nock at the door. I was surprised to see Yami. "Uhh, hi!" I said.
He came at me and pinned me against the wall. I was still weak from the day before, not that I was a match for him normally. "What did you do to my sister!!" He exclaimed.
I looked into his eyes. I had never seen him so angry, I didn't even know he could get angry "I'm sorry, but it'll be okay! My dad said he knew a way to reverse it."
He peered deeply into my eyes "Thats all well and good, but it gives you no right to do it in the first place!" He said angryly.
"You don't understand! There was-" I was about to tell him why, when we both heard a loud crash come from the castle.
Yami let go and rushed outside, and I wasn't far behind. As we both neared the palace we could see it lit up in flames. I ran past Yami and into the palace itself. I ran as fast as I could to where my father would be, but I was far to late. The fire was raging out of controll, the fire was so fierce I couldn't get anywhere near. I fell to the ground right in front of the fire. I couldn't save him. There wasn't anything I could do.
To my surprise I was pulled away, I turned to see one of the palace guards holding on to my arm.
"Master Jovan, you must leave now!" He demanded.
"No, I won't leave without my father!" I screamed. I tried to go back, but he grabbed me and dragged me out of the palace.
Outside he quickly tied my arm to the palace gate, so I couldn't go back into the palace. But he went back in himself to see if he could save any one else. I tried to break free of his binds, but they were to tight. I wanted to go back and try something, anything to save my father, but I couldn't. I starred at the entrance to the palace longingly, and out of the corner of my eyes I saw Yami. He was being confronted by two other people. I didn't recognize them. He took a step away from them, and revealed a small golden pyramid, which he preceded to throw upon the ground. As it shattered, it emitted a bright light. Then he disapeared. The same thing happened to the other men. Then I looked to my dagger. The red jewel was shining brightly and.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
One of my little sisters pulled on one of the golden ropes around my neck, in a sucsessful effort to wake me up. I angrily rolled over ignoring her. Then out of the blue Shimi came and threw me over. I looked at him angrily "I was sleeping!!" I said angrily.
"But your dear little sister needs your help!" Shimi said snickering. Most likely the tyce asked Shimi for help, but he refused so the kid came to me.
I rolled over and looked at my sister, "What do you want?" I asked impatienely. She merely pointed to a cut on her forehead. I brushed away her hair then soaked a rag in a nearby jar of water, and cleaned it off. "There, now scat!" I said as I shook my head and went back to bed.
My family was less then normal. I had a lot of little sisters's they were all born by my fathers seccond wife, also fondly reffered to as 'the useless hump of flesh' she couldn't even have a son, how very sad. Myself and Shimi were the oldest, and the only born of my father's first wife. My brother Shimi was older then me, but a lot less liked. A lot of people even joked that I would get the inheritence instead of him! It was very unlikely, but still a nice gesture. Shimi and I practically raised our other siblings, the step mom was a bust in all areas. But at least I did manage to get out of the babysitting once and a while, to go to my fathers classes. They were ment for the prince, and the prince alone, but we were good friends and he insisted I study with him. Another advantage of charisma.
Later I felt another tug on one of my rings, "The rag is still in the water jug! Clean up yourself kid!" I said waving my arm in dismissence.
I felt a pressure on my arm as someone grabbed it tightly.
"Did that Camel kick you in the head again?" The prince joked as he squeezed my arm.
"You bet!" I said hapily as I removed the soft gray locks from my forhead revealing a very large bruise. "Why else do you think I'm stuck in here?" I asked, then felt the effect of his squeezing sink in "Jeeze, Yami! Lay off! I happen to like that hand!" I said as I pulled it away with my other hand and rubbed the sore spot.
"Your so predictable! Comon! Lets go down to the market!" Yami said enthusiastically.
I kracked my neck and got up "Sure, but if my father finds out, its your fault!" I said jokingly
Yami laughed "Weak to the end!"
I wraped my arm around his shoulder "What I lack in strength I make up double in charisma!" I said and laughed as we left for the market.
As we neared the market I quickly hid my gold strings under my shirt, Yami was already in street clothes, and I was close enough to pass for a normal, loyal subject.
We looked around the stalls, but there wasn't anything new since the last time we were here. There must not have been any travelers comming through, or else there would have been at least one new thing.
As we where looking throguh the items in search of something interesting a golden transport fit for royalty made its way past us on its was to the palace. On seeing it Yami quickly grabbed my by the arm and hid both of us behind one of the stalls as it passed.
"I can't believe this! I completely forgot they were comming today!!!" Yami said as his heart pounded so hard I could practically feel it.
I looked at him puzzled, and was about to ask him who was comming, but he grabbed me again before I could say anything and he took off for my house as fast as could with me trailing behind.
We baerly made it in time, and quickly changed and managed to sneak inside the palace before whoever it was arrived. I eagerly waited as the doors opened and we were greeted by a small group, and by the look of them - a very important group of people. As they entered in, I noticed one in paricular. My jaw must have fallen to the floor as I starred at her radiant beuty. I couldn't keep my eyes off her, it felt like love at first sight.
She must have seen my starring, because she came over to where we were. She looked at me inquisitively "I'm Rebecca, who might you be?"
'Rebecca...what a beutifull name for such a beutiful girl' I thought as I continued to stare, then realized she had asked me a question "Oh, uh me? Why I'm...I'm...um...I know this, don't tell me...I'm..." I carried on trying desperatly to remember my own name.
Seeing my predicament Yami took mercy on me and stepped in "Rebecca, This is my friend Jovan!" Yami told her.
"Well then 'Jovan' I guess I'll be seeing you around." She said as she walked away from us.
"Yea..guess so..." I said, and waved weakly as she left the room.
Yami tapped his foot impatietly, "Oh, thank you sooo much, Yami! Everything just went...blank! Sorry 'bout that..." I said as a deep red tinti shone on my face.
Yami looked me straight in the eye, "You know, Jovan. Shes my sister." He said in a stern and serious voice.
I nearly chocked "Um, uh. Woah! I'm sorry! Uh...don't kill me!" I blurted out in my surprize.
Yami shoved my aside, playfully, and started laughing. "You should have seen your face!" He said as he contined on laughing.
"So...shes not your sister?" I asked, hopefull.
"No, but I really don't mind! I know if things got ugly, you would be the one walking away brusied not her!" He said and broke out into another fit of laughter.
My face dullled, "Yep, your REALLY funny, Yami!" I said sarcastically.
Yami smiled as he swiped a tear from his eye "Hey, you have to admit, it was pretty funny! Especially when you forgot your name!" Yami said, still smiling.
I flopped my head back in disgust, "I guess I'm never living this one down!" I said.
Yami snickered "I should probably attend to the geusts! I'll see you later!" Yami said as he left me for the same room Rebecca and the others had exited to.
'Jovan and Rebecca Muran...I like the sound of that.." I smiled at the thought, then turned around to see a very unhappy father. I quickly remembered I was supposed to be at home in bed. "Um hi! I have a perfect explanation!" I said trying to stall so I could have time to think of one.
He looked at me, not at all amuzed. "You are supposed to be at home! I don't care if you have the best explaination ever made! You return to bed, now! We'll have a little chat when I got home!" he said angrily.
"Yes father..." I said as I slunk down my head, then quickly ran home.
I changed out of my robe and ploped down on my bead. Now that I was alone, and everything was silent I could feel the stricking pain of the sore on my forehead. I lifted my hand to my head to try and coax the pain. It took a lot of effort, but I did finally get some sleep.
The next morning I got up of my own will to see one of my sisters standing over me. I blinked as she smiled inocently "You need something?" I asked.
She quickly revealed a doll wiht its hand hanging on by a thread in one arm, and in the other a theaded needle. I rolled my eyes, and quickly repaired the doll. She squeeled hapily and ran to play.
I got up and yawned as I went twards the window to see where the sun was. I soon discovered it was already high noon. I moaned as I leaned on the window sill, does my father expect me to stay indoors another day?
I looked onto the street and begain sulking. I spent the rest of the day watching the monotony of everyday life. But by the time my father got home, I was well asleep. I woke up as he rubbed his hand over my head.
"Wake up, Jovan." I heard him say softly.
I took a deep loathesome breathe and turned around to face him. "Fa-" I started, but he singled for me to hush.
"What am I ging to do with you? You never do anything I tell you too! What would happen if the circumstances were serious? You know I only want whats best for you, so why don't you ever listen to me?" He asked, truely concerned.
I quickly looked the floor feeling ashamed. It really meant a great deal to him that I left, and for what? To look at some things I had seen before, and meet the visitors one day sooner? I felt horrible, "I-I'm sorry..." I said
To my surprize he brushed away my hair to look at the injury on my brow. I flinched as he brushed his hand over it. "Looks like it will scar, serves you right I suppose..." He said rather bluntly, then moved his hand away from my face. "I also suppose you'll want to come to my lesson tomarrow?" He asked.
I quickly looked up at him, "Well, uh, yes?" I said trying a weak smile to help it go over smoother.
He chuckeled and rubbed my hair again "What am I ever going to do with you?" He said hapily, shaking his head "Do me one favor would you?"
"Yea anything!" I said enthusiastically.
"Don't sleep on the window sill anymore!" He said as he left the room.
I blushed slightly at that, but things did seem better now. 'I'll just have to try harder next time!' I thought as I went back to my bed.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
Since then things are basicaly back to their normal dull selves. Yami's sister, Rebecca, was going to stay in the kingdom! Giving my a change to get to know her. And today I was going to do just that. With a little help from Yami I set up the perfect setting. We were all going to the harvest festible sh was even going to bring a friend. I planned on when we got there I would try to sneak in a conversation with her, maybie set up a more lonely outing - with just the two of us.
The evening started off without a hitch, she didn't suspect a thing! During the middle of the ceremony I found the perfect time to make my move. It was one of the more quieter parts, and the mood was set perfectly with the dancing flame of the large bon fire. I sat up close to her and wraped my arm around her.
"Why hello there!" She said jockingly.
I smiled at her "What do you think of the ceremony so far?" I asked.
"Its nice, but you've seen one harvest festival, you've sen them all!" She said somewhat unimpressed.
I saw my chance and went for it "Well, then. What do you say to you and me leaving early, and...go make our own fun?" I asked with all the charm I could muster.
"oooh, what do you have in mind?" she asked, playefully.
Then when I was about to come up with something sickingly romantic, Shimi came up behind me and touched my on the shoulder - scaring me half to death. "Shimi?!?! Whats wrong with you??" I protested.
"One of our sisters was playing outside the kingdom, and fell down a well! No one else can fit - you have to come with me!" Shimi said genuinly concered.
Most of the men in the kingdom had a larger build then I, and I knew Shimi would never lie to me. I turned to Rebecca "Maybie we can do something another time, but I really ave to go!" I said, and she seemed surprised. But I couldn't abandon my sister, so I went with Shimi out to where the well was.
A few other people were gathered around it, and the hole did seems pretty small. As I neared it, it looked like I might be able to just fit. As I started to go down, Shimi handed me a dagger. It was intriquetly carved and apeared very old.
"Just in case, we have no idea what could be down there! I'll throw you down a torch once you enter!" He said.
I nodded, and squized my way through, and droped to the floor, "Okay, you drop the torch now!" I yelled up, and moments later Shimi did just that.
When I held up the torch I could see that it didn't look much like a well at all. The room was pretty large, and square. It seemed very odd, but there was no time to think about that - my sister was down here somewhere. I held the torch up as high as I could and followed one of the walls. A trick my father had taught me, if I would follow that one wall dilligently I could always follow it back to the entrance if I got lost.
I kept on following the wall untill I thought I heard something, I moved the toch around to get more light, and saw something shine in the darkness. An unescapable horror gripped my very soul, as I saw two glints of light emerge from the darkness. I was frozen in fear as I heard an unearthy growl emerge from it, then four more glints of light apeared under the others I could just make them out in the poorly lit room - they were fangs.
"Jovan!! Please help me! The kitty wants to eat me!!" My sister yelled out from somewhere in the darkness.
My eyes twitched at her words 'kitty?' I thought as the best roared, disterbed by her screams. I summmoned up as much courage and confidence as I could and yelled back "Don't worry! Just stay out of its way, and everything will be allright!!"
I threw the torch at the beast, blinding it for a moment. While it was perocupied I gripped the dagger so hard that the jagged edge of the handle ripped through my own skin and I thrust it with all the strength I had at the beasts head. A small eye-shaped jewel on the handle growed as I did so, but what came next I could've never expected.
The dagger went strait through the head on the lion, not leaving a scratch! I looked into the lions eyes unable to move, and barley able to breathe. I was so close that I could fell its breath as it growled, and much to my surprise it started to whimper and ran off! I fell to my knees in shock. I breathed heavily as I felt my heart pound so hard it ached.
After a few moments my sister came out of hiding gasping "That was amazing! It was all ROOOAR, and you were all like take that!! and then it was all whimper whimper!"
I laughed still a little weezy from the scare. She appenrently had no idea just how much danger she was in. I picked up the torch, and led her back to the opening by folowing the wall.
When we made it back to hole I yelled up "Hey! I found her!! Could you help us out of here!?!"
Shimi looked down, and grimaced. One of the older men there lent a hand and I threw the torch down, and helped my sister up to him, then took his hand myself.
At the top I discovered a few more people had come including my father, and he approached me. He put his hand on my shoulder "That was a very stupid thing you did! Brave, but horribly stupid!! You should have wait-" he began, but for some reason stopped.
"Father?? Is something wrong??" I asked, it wasn't like him to stop mid-sentence. Then I noticed he was starring at something. I looked down to see the dagger dripped in my blood. I quickly droped it onto the ground, shocked by its appearance. I quickly looked at my palm. I couldn't believe how deep the cuts were! In the cave I had barley noticed, but now I started to really feel it!
My father picked up the dagger, while my brother snickered and grabbed my ingured hand. Before I realized what he had done he slapped down a sopping rag down on my hand and drug it through one of the cuts. I yelped as an unbearable shock of pain ran through my body. I tried to get away, but I couldn't. It wasn't until he swiped that infernal clothe through every one of my cuts that he let go and shoved my to the ground. I coldled my hand and grit my teeth as I waited for the unbareable pain to pass.
"Wouldn't want it to get infected! Its is an old rusty dagger you know!" He snickered and walked away. He seemed almost happy that he had caused me so much pain. I don't know why he would be, though, I know he can be quite competitive, but I had never done any thing to him to warrant THAT!
My father only watched in disgust at what Shimi did, but he seemed a lot more interested in the dagger then my injuries from it.
I looked at him, "What so important about that dagger? I could have gotten infected and DIED you know!" I said, angry at his lack of care for my well being.
He gave me an anoyed look and shook his head "THIS dagger couldn't kill a fly!" he said, and threw my a rag of his own.
This one was thankfully dry. I wraped it around my hand firmly. I could still feel the sting from whatever Shimi put on it, but now it had died down. I looked over to my father and the dagger, which he had cleaned off. "What do you mean it couldn't kill a fly? It sure made short work of my hand!" I said.
"Come, I'll show you at home." He said
I felt so confused by all of this, what could this wierd dagger be? It didn't look like anything special to me. And why on earth was Shimi so mad at me? Was it because of the dagger? Manny questions flooded through my mind as I reluctantly followed my father home.
At home he set the dagger down on he table, and instructed me to sit oposite him. He looked me strait in the eye, and started "This morning Shimi confronted me, somehow he had found out that I had the Millenium Dagger here. He was so sure he was worthy of its power, but when I let try to use it, he failed. Shimi was so angry that he ran off with the dagger. Then after your sister fell in the well..." He said.
At that I shook my head.
He looked shocked, "What? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"It wasn't a well.." I said quietly.
"What was it?" My father asked, now concered at my tone.
"A lions den."
"What??? What gave you that idea???"
I looked him strait in the eye. I felt scared to tell him, I didn't know eactly what happened there, and I had no clue how to go about explaining it. I took a deep breath, "The lion."
He jumped back, clearly worried over what I just said. "How did you get out?"
I knew he would ask that. I looked down at the dagger and tried to colect my thoughts in the least crazy manner. I looked back up to him "It was preocupied for a moment, and I tightly grabbed onto the dagger, and I...I thrust it at the lion....and..." I started and then stopped. I looked back down at the dagger unable to finish the story.
"And it went right through the lion." My father finished for me.
My eyes widdened and I quickly looked up at him, "H-how?!?!" I asked.
My father smiled and put his hand on my shoulder "Don't be scared. This is a great gift! Only a few people have ever been able to controll the power of the Millenium Dagger! It has the power to change a very soul!" He seemed very happy and enthusiastic over my 'gift'.
I stood up in shock and took a step away. My breathing became stressed, and I began to tremble uncontrollably as looked at my father like a frigtened rabbit. I just wanted to run, run as fast and far as I could away from that THING!! But it felt like my feet were glued down to the floor. I couldn't move a musle.
"Jovan..." My father said in a compashinate, worried voice. But as soon as he stood up I bolted for the roof. I locked the door tight behind me.
I heard my father pounding on the door after me as I sat down near the ledge "Jovan! Open this door!" I heard him yell as he pounded. I don't think I could've opened the door even if I wanted to. I was trembling so much now. It was all I could do to sit there trying to breathe.
After a while my father stopped pounding on the door. I held tightly to my legs, and burried my head into them. So manny thoughts came swelling up I didn't know what to think.
I could still see the Harvest festival, and I could just hear it on the breeze. I wished I was still there that none of this had happened. I wished even harder as the wind began to grow cold, and sent a chill down my spine. It grew colder and colder as the night went on, and my robe wasn't exactly made for cold weather. I tried to keep warm, but I couldn't. I squeezed my eyes shut after I felt my legs go painfully numb.
After a few more moments I heard the door rattle, then I heard it fall open. My father must have shimmied the lock. I felt what I think was his hand on my arm, I could'nt feel much through the numbness.
"Your freezing cold! Please come inside, Jovan!" He pleaded with me.
"I-I c-can't feeel m-my leegss" I barley got out through the cold.
"Oh, my! Lets get you inside right now!" He said as he quickly picked me up and took me inside, and put me in front of the fire.
He got out a warm blancket and wraped me up in it. I looked up at him "I'm sor-" I started, but he motioned for me to hush, and he sat down next to me "Its my fault too" he wispered as he rubed my arm, trying to make it warmer.
I closed my eyes as I began to feel the blissfull heat start to touch my frozen skin. My father smilled, "Sleep now, everything will be allright.." he said. I leaned up against him, and did just that.
I woke up as the sunlight was reflected at my eyes. I moved my head away from the light and slowly clenched my fist, as the effects of the cold were not completely gone. I pushed myself up as my joints fought against it. I sat upright and looked around to see that it looked pretty deserted. I tried to get to my feet untill I heard someone behind me.
"Stop! Daddy said you should be sleeping now!" She said as she entered the room.
I looked at her in disbelief "When exactly did Daddy tell you this?"
"Right after the doctor came, silly!" She replied.
"The doctor...?" I asked.
"Oh, right, you were sleeping! Daddy got the doctor after you didn't wake up, and the Doctor told Daddy that you should'nt be moved for a week! nuh uh!" She said and emphatically shacked her head.
I couldn't help but laugh at her overzeolous acting skills "And when exactly did the doctor tell 'daddy' this?" I asked.
"six days ago." she said calmly.
"Six days?!?!" I asked in disbelief. It felt like I had just fallen asleep a few moments ago.
"Yep!" She said as she enthusiastically nodded "Oh, and Daddy also told me to tell you, that you should'nt sleep on widowsills! Whatever that means..." She said, barley interested.
I instantly remebered the first time something like this happened. I reached for my forehead. and for where that camel had left a scar. I closed my eyes, knowing full well that this was one of those 'serious' circumstances. I laid back down and looked up.
My sister walked over twards me "Your going to sleep now?" she asked. I nodded. "So I can go now?" she asked. I nodded, again. "Yay, now I can go play! Sleep well Jovan!!" she said as she left me alone in the room.
I smiled as she left. I looked around the room, it felt odd to sleep in here. But I suppose doctor's orders can be a force to be recconed with... At least there was only one day left. I think I could handle one day. I clossed my eyes and went back to sleep.
I felt a subtle pulling sensation from one of my golden strings. I pushed myself up and turned around to see my father, "You too?" I asked.
He laughed, then smiled weakly "How are you feeling?" he asked.
My joints still felt a little weak, "The important part is that I am feeling, right?" I asked.
He laughed and ruffled my hair "Well, its been a week, you are free to go!"
I smiled and quicly got ot my feet, but a few seconds after I lost my balance. Luckily my father caught me.
"Looks like you stood up to fast!" He said, then helped me up. He looked me in the eyes, "I don't want to force this upon you, but it is very important, you know that right?" He said trying to help me understand.
I looked back at him worriedly "I know...its just so much...I mean...why does it have to be me?" I asked him.
He looked at me compashinatly, "I know it must be a big strain on you. But this is what destiny has chosen! I just wish I could help you understand..."
I wanted him to understand me too, "I just...it frightens me. What it did to the lion! It can change a soul. I just....I don't want to make some kind of mistake and do something horribly wrong."
"Don't worry! You won't make a mistake! Thats not like you!" He started, then saw the expression on my face "You don't have to use it if you don't want to. Just please keep it with you. I know its meant for you" He finished, deciding on something of a comprimise.
I thought hard about it. I knew I didn't want to use it, but if it would make him happy...I guess there was no harm in just having it. I took a deep breath "Sure" I said hoping I had made the right desicion.
He smiled, "Thank you"
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
I loathed having it with me, but Yami said it looked great. At least my father didn't bug me about it. I suppose it wasn't so horrible having it around...Once I shinned it, it wasn't so bad looking. Other things were turning for the better too. Rebecca and I got really close. I even propsed, and she exepted! Well, who could'nt with these charms? Shimi only got worse, though. A few months ago he left, said he had some important things to do...but last week I recieved a message from him telling me to meet him today, maybie things will start to look up with him too...
I was just preparing to leave as Rebecca came up behind me.
"Hey stranger!" She said waving.
"Hey! Are you here to send me off?" I asked.
"Hardly, I'm here to come with you!" she replied.
"Its a long journey you know!" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"If you can make it, then so can two year olds." She teased.
"ouch!" I commented.
She smiled at me and then started off. I smiled to, and walked after her. It didn't take us too long to reach the spot where Shimi said he would meet us. It wasn't that far from the kingdom, you could still see it over the horizon, but it was far from earshot. A nice quiet place.
It took a seat on a nearby boulder. There was no sign of Shimi. "I guess we beat him here...what to sit down?" I asked.
She smiled, then took a seat next to me "sure"
It was only a few minutes after Shimi arrived. I smiled and ran up to him. "Hey, Shimi! It has been too long!" I said hapily as we approached each other.
"Indeed it has, little brother." He said in a different voice then I remember. It was so dark and full of pain.
I looked into his eyes, "Shimi?!? Are you okay??" I asked worried.
He took another step forward and sent a shiver down my spine. He seemed a lot taller, and now that we were standing so close I could the anger in his eyes. The pure bloodlust showed like a full moon on a starless night. He leaned down and smiled. It was menacing and full of evil. I was paralysed in fear as he starred so deeply into my eyes.
He grabbed me by the arm "I'm fine, but you won't be soon."
He held me so tightly blood came running from where his fingernails dug into my flesh. "What wrong, Shimi?!?! Your really scaring me!" I yelled in fear.
His smile widdened, "good." He said, he was taking so much pleasure from this. I could hardly believe he was my brother. "Ahhh, Rebecca!" He said looking behind me.
My eyes widdened as I turned to see her still sitting on the rock, "Rebecca! Get out of here, Save yourself!!" I yelled out to her.
"Jovan, nobler words have never been said! But you speak in vain! For I'm not the one in trouble here!" She said snickering as she walked up to Shimi, and kissed him.
It felt as if someone had stuck a searing hot pocker through my heart. I tried desperatly to stop it, but Shimi held me back. "H-how could you you??" I asked.
Her smile made me wish to just die. She walked up to me "You see, You may have Charisma, friends, and all those cute little 'values' on your side, but a girl like me needs power! REAL power!!" She said then laughed. She took a step closed to me "Well, its not like you were a total waste! We did have some good times, your just....not my type!" She said smiling, and tried to kiss me, but I pushed her away with my free hand. Then she slapped me "You little runt! How dare you!!"
I narrowed my eyes at her, but didn't say a word.
"Just finish this off Shimi! I don't want to see his stupid scared little eyes again!!" She said angrily.
I couldn't believe my ears, I gave everything to her, and she couldn't even say my name. Shimi gave me hardly any time to think of it as she dug his nails farther into my arm, I screamed in pain as he picked my up, by his nails alone.
"Yell all you want, little brother, no one can hear you here!" He said then laughed as he threw me aside like a rag-doll.
I slowly got to my feet, but no sooner had I done that, the world around seemed to melt away as a thick fog enveloped the three of us. I looked to Shimi to see he now had a ring around his neck. "Don't look so shocked, dear brother! Did you really think yours was the only magic available? There are far more powerfull. and evil magics just waiting to be possesed!!" He hissed.
I looked around to see if there was any chance of escape, any way to leave this place, but there was nothing I could see.
Rebecca smiled "Theres no escape from here! Shimi has this all planned!" She said smiling, then gave Shimi a long passionate kiss.
I had to look away as the anger swelled up in me. I clenched my fist as I felt tears form. I felt so much anger, hatred. I couldn't believe this. My own brother trying to kill me with the help with my love? I remembered my Dagger. I wished so hard I would never have to see their smiles again. I took it from my belt and held it as tightly as I could in my hand. I felt the same cuts runnthrough my flesh, even though I had smoothed out the handle. The cuts felt somehow different then before, more powerful...more evil... I ran twards them, while they still engoyed their embrace. I swiped the dagger strait through the both of them. I felt a much larger drain then before, I fell to the ground along with Rebecca. But Shimi was still standing. He caused the black fog around us to fade away.
He looked down at Rebecca and smiled at her as she sat on here knees catching her breath.
Then he came over me, he picked me up by the five ring around my neck, and smiled. "Now were even" He wispered in my ear.
My eyes widdened as he dropped me back to the ground. He laughed as he left us both on the ground. I looked on as Rebecca continued to catch her breath. I had no idea what I had done. What the results would be. All I knew was the power that was taken from me.
"Shimi?!?!" she cried out after him, but she recieved no answer. She got up and rubbed her head. Then she looked down at me. She starred for a few minutes without saying a word. I just looked up at her as a few tears fell. "What did you do?!?!" She screamed.
I looked up at her "I don't know..." I said in fear of what I had put her through.
As she looked at me with so much hate, I slowly realized what I had done. The smile was gone, just as I wished. But so much more then just that smile, every smile she would ever have. I stole her joy. I started to tremble "no..." I said weakly as I started at her. What she had done, and what I had done. I had no measure on which to place these two. the pain she caused me...and the pain I had caused her. If only I could take it back.
She slapped me once more across the face, as she must have realized what happened as well, and she went off running.
An hour or so I got up, and made my way back.
I entered into my own home at made my way to table where I folded my hands on its top, and leaned my head upon them. My father entered the room.
"How did it go with Shimi?" He asked.
I didn't say a thing. After a few moments, I dropped the knife. I klancked a few times on the table before it stopped moving. My father saw the blood and gasped.
"What happened?!?!" He asked worridly. He held my hands in his.
I told him the whole story. He brushed away my tears, "You get some sleep now. I'll see if I can find a way to reverse it."
I nodded, I couldn't deny that I needed rest. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I still wanted to help out some how. "Can't I help?" I asked.
He brushed my hair from my face and looked into my eyes "Theres nothing more you can do. You did the right thing by telling me." He said and smiled. I weakly smiled back "Now off to bed with you!" He ordered.
I wearily made my way to my room and fell onto my bed, instantly asleep.
The morning came with a nock at the door. I was surprised to see Yami. "Uhh, hi!" I said.
He came at me and pinned me against the wall. I was still weak from the day before, not that I was a match for him normally. "What did you do to my sister!!" He exclaimed.
I looked into his eyes. I had never seen him so angry, I didn't even know he could get angry "I'm sorry, but it'll be okay! My dad said he knew a way to reverse it."
He peered deeply into my eyes "Thats all well and good, but it gives you no right to do it in the first place!" He said angryly.
"You don't understand! There was-" I was about to tell him why, when we both heard a loud crash come from the castle.
Yami let go and rushed outside, and I wasn't far behind. As we both neared the palace we could see it lit up in flames. I ran past Yami and into the palace itself. I ran as fast as I could to where my father would be, but I was far to late. The fire was raging out of controll, the fire was so fierce I couldn't get anywhere near. I fell to the ground right in front of the fire. I couldn't save him. There wasn't anything I could do.
To my surprise I was pulled away, I turned to see one of the palace guards holding on to my arm.
"Master Jovan, you must leave now!" He demanded.
"No, I won't leave without my father!" I screamed. I tried to go back, but he grabbed me and dragged me out of the palace.
Outside he quickly tied my arm to the palace gate, so I couldn't go back into the palace. But he went back in himself to see if he could save any one else. I tried to break free of his binds, but they were to tight. I wanted to go back and try something, anything to save my father, but I couldn't. I starred at the entrance to the palace longingly, and out of the corner of my eyes I saw Yami. He was being confronted by two other people. I didn't recognize them. He took a step away from them, and revealed a small golden pyramid, which he preceded to throw upon the ground. As it shattered, it emitted a bright light. Then he disapeared. The same thing happened to the other men. Then I looked to my dagger. The red jewel was shining brightly and.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
E3 Jovan's Story E3
One of my little sisters pulled on one of the golden ropes around my neck, in a sucsessful effort to wake me up. I angrily rolled over ignoring her. Then out of the blue Shimi came and threw me over. I looked at him angrily "I was sleeping!!" I said angrily.
"But your dear little sister needs your help!" Shimi said snickering. Most likely the tyce asked Shimi for help, but he refused so the kid came to me.
I rolled over and looked at my sister, "What do you want?" I asked impatienely. She merely pointed to a cut on her forehead. I brushed away her hair then soaked a rag in a nearby jar of water, and cleaned it off. "There, now scat!" I said as I shook my head and went back to bed.
My family was less then normal. I had a lot of little sisters's they were all born by my fathers seccond wife, also fondly reffered to as 'the useless hump of flesh' she couldn't even have a son, how very sad. Myself and Shimi were the oldest, and the only born of my father's first wife. My brother Shimi was older then me, but a lot less liked. A lot of people even joked that I would get the inheritence instead of him! It was very unlikely, but still a nice gesture. Shimi and I practically raised our other siblings, the step mom was a bust in all areas. But at least I did manage to get out of the babysitting once and a while, to go to my fathers classes. They were ment for the prince, and the prince alone, but we were good friends and he insisted I study with him. Another advantage of charisma.
Later I felt another tug on one of my rings, "The rag is still in the water jug! Clean up yourself kid!" I said waving my arm in dismissence.
I felt a pressure on my arm as someone grabbed it tightly.
"Did that Camel kick you in the head again?" The prince joked as he squeezed my arm.
"You bet!" I said hapily as I removed the soft gray locks from my forhead revealing a very large bruise. "Why else do you think I'm stuck in here?" I asked, then felt the effect of his squeezing sink in "Jeeze, Yami! Lay off! I happen to like that hand!" I said as I pulled it away with my other hand and rubbed the sore spot.
"Your so predictable! Comon! Lets go down to the market!" Yami said enthusiastically.
I kracked my neck and got up "Sure, but if my father finds out, its your fault!" I said jokingly
Yami laughed "Weak to the end!"
I wraped my arm around his shoulder "What I lack in strength I make up double in charisma!" I said and laughed as we left for the market.
As we neared the market I quickly hid my gold strings under my shirt, Yami was already in street clothes, and I was close enough to pass for a normal, loyal subject.
We looked around the stalls, but there wasn't anything new since the last time we were here. There must not have been any travelers comming through, or else there would have been at least one new thing.
As we where looking throguh the items in search of something interesting a golden transport fit for royalty made its way past us on its was to the palace. On seeing it Yami quickly grabbed my by the arm and hid both of us behind one of the stalls as it passed.
"I can't believe this! I completely forgot they were comming today!!!" Yami said as his heart pounded so hard I could practically feel it.
I looked at him puzzled, and was about to ask him who was comming, but he grabbed me again before I could say anything and he took off for my house as fast as could with me trailing behind.
We baerly made it in time, and quickly changed and managed to sneak inside the palace before whoever it was arrived. I eagerly waited as the doors opened and we were greeted by a small group, and by the look of them - a very important group of people. As they entered in, I noticed one in paricular. My jaw must have fallen to the floor as I starred at her radiant beuty. I couldn't keep my eyes off her, it felt like love at first sight.
She must have seen my starring, because she came over to where we were. She looked at me inquisitively "I'm Rebecca, who might you be?"
'Rebecca...what a beutifull name for such a beutiful girl' I thought as I continued to stare, then realized she had asked me a question "Oh, uh me? Why I'm...I'm...um...I know this, don't tell me...I'm..." I carried on trying desperatly to remember my own name.
Seeing my predicament Yami took mercy on me and stepped in "Rebecca, This is my friend Jovan!" Yami told her.
"Well then 'Jovan' I guess I'll be seeing you around." She said as she walked away from us.
"Yea..guess so..." I said, and waved weakly as she left the room.
Yami tapped his foot impatietly, "Oh, thank you sooo much, Yami! Everything just went...blank! Sorry 'bout that..." I said as a deep red tinti shone on my face.
Yami looked me straight in the eye, "You know, Jovan. Shes my sister." He said in a stern and serious voice.
I nearly chocked "Um, uh. Woah! I'm sorry! Uh...don't kill me!" I blurted out in my surprize.
Yami shoved my aside, playfully, and started laughing. "You should have seen your face!" He said as he contined on laughing.
"So...shes not your sister?" I asked, hopefull.
"No, but I really don't mind! I know if things got ugly, you would be the one walking away brusied not her!" He said and broke out into another fit of laughter.
My face dullled, "Yep, your REALLY funny, Yami!" I said sarcastically.
Yami smiled as he swiped a tear from his eye "Hey, you have to admit, it was pretty funny! Especially when you forgot your name!" Yami said, still smiling.
I flopped my head back in disgust, "I guess I'm never living this one down!" I said.
Yami snickered "I should probably attend to the geusts! I'll see you later!" Yami said as he left me for the same room Rebecca and the others had exited to.
'Jovan and Rebecca Muran...I like the sound of that.." I smiled at the thought, then turned around to see a very unhappy father. I quickly remembered I was supposed to be at home in bed. "Um hi! I have a perfect explanation!" I said trying to stall so I could have time to think of one.
He looked at me, not at all amuzed. "You are supposed to be at home! I don't care if you have the best explaination ever made! You return to bed, now! We'll have a little chat when I got home!" he said angrily.
"Yes father..." I said as I slunk down my head, then quickly ran home.
I changed out of my robe and ploped down on my bead. Now that I was alone, and everything was silent I could feel the stricking pain of the sore on my forehead. I lifted my hand to my head to try and coax the pain. It took a lot of effort, but I did finally get some sleep.
The next morning I got up of my own will to see one of my sisters standing over me. I blinked as she smiled inocently "You need something?" I asked.
She quickly revealed a doll wiht its hand hanging on by a thread in one arm, and in the other a theaded needle. I rolled my eyes, and quickly repaired the doll. She squeeled hapily and ran to play.
I got up and yawned as I went twards the window to see where the sun was. I soon discovered it was already high noon. I moaned as I leaned on the window sill, does my father expect me to stay indoors another day?
I looked onto the street and begain sulking. I spent the rest of the day watching the monotony of everyday life. But by the time my father got home, I was well asleep. I woke up as he rubbed his hand over my head.
"Wake up, Jovan." I heard him say softly.
I took a deep loathesome breathe and turned around to face him. "Fa-" I started, but he singled for me to hush.
"What am I ging to do with you? You never do anything I tell you too! What would happen if the circumstances were serious? You know I only want whats best for you, so why don't you ever listen to me?" He asked, truely concerned.
I quickly looked the floor feeling ashamed. It really meant a great deal to him that I left, and for what? To look at some things I had seen before, and meet the visitors one day sooner? I felt horrible, "I-I'm sorry..." I said
To my surprize he brushed away my hair to look at the injury on my brow. I flinched as he brushed his hand over it. "Looks like it will scar, serves you right I suppose..." He said rather bluntly, then moved his hand away from my face. "I also suppose you'll want to come to my lesson tomarrow?" He asked.
I quickly looked up at him, "Well, uh, yes?" I said trying a weak smile to help it go over smoother.
He chuckeled and rubbed my hair again "What am I ever going to do with you?" He said hapily, shaking his head "Do me one favor would you?"
"Yea anything!" I said enthusiastically.
"Don't sleep on the window sill anymore!" He said as he left the room.
I blushed slightly at that, but things did seem better now. 'I'll just have to try harder next time!' I thought as I went back to my bed.
E3 E3 E3 E3 E3 E3
Since then things are basicaly back to their normal dull selves. Yami's sister, Rebecca, was going to stay in the kingdom! Giving my a change to get to know her. And today I was going to do just that. With a little help from Yami I set up the perfect setting. We were all going to the harvest festible sh was even going to bring a friend. I planned on when we got there I would try to sneak in a conversation with her, maybie set up a more lonely outing - with just the two of us.
The evening started off without a hitch, she didn't suspect a thing! During the middle of the ceremony I found the perfect time to make my move. It was one of the more quieter parts, and the mood was set perfectly with the dancing flame of the large bon fire. I sat up close to her and wraped my arm around her.
"Why hello there!" She said jockingly.
I smiled at her "What do you think of the ceremony so far?" I asked.
"Its nice, but you've seen one harvest festival, you've sen them all!" She said somewhat unimpressed.
I saw my chance and went for it "Well, then. What do you say to you and me leaving early, and...go make our own fun?" I asked with all the charm I could muster.
"oooh, what do you have in mind?" she asked, playefully.
Then when I was about to come up with something sickingly romantic, Shimi came up behind me and touched my on the shoulder - scaring me half to death. "Shimi?!?! Whats wrong with you??" I protested.
"One of our sisters was playing outside the kingdom, and fell down a well! No one else can fit - you have to come with me!" Shimi said genuinly concered.
Most of the men in the kingdom had a larger build then I, and I knew Shimi would never lie to me. I turned to Rebecca "Maybie we can do something another time, but I really ave to go!" I said, and she seemed surprised. But I couldn't abandon my sister, so I went with Shimi out to where the well was.
A few other people were gathered around it, and the hole did seems pretty small. As I neared it, it looked like I might be able to just fit. As I started to go down, Shimi handed me a dagger. It was intriquetly carved and apeared very old.
"Just in case, we have no idea what could be down there! I'll throw you down a torch once you enter!" He said.
I nodded, and squized my way through, and droped to the floor, "Okay, you drop the torch now!" I yelled up, and moments later Shimi did just that.
When I held up the torch I could see that it didn't look much like a well at all. The room was pretty large, and square. It seemed very odd, but there was no time to think about that - my sister was down here somewhere. I held the torch up as high as I could and followed one of the walls. A trick my father had taught me, if I would follow that one wall dilligently I could always follow it back to the entrance if I got lost.
I kept on following the wall untill I thought I heard something, I moved the toch around to get more light, and saw something shine in the darkness. An unescapable horror gripped my very soul, as I saw two glints of light emerge from the darkness. I was frozen in fear as I heard an unearthy growl emerge from it, then four more glints of light apeared under the others I could just make them out in the poorly lit room - they were fangs.
"Jovan!! Please help me! The kitty wants to eat me!!" My sister yelled out from somewhere in the darkness.
My eyes twitched at her words 'kitty?' I thought as the best roared, disterbed by her screams. I summmoned up as much courage and confidence as I could and yelled back "Don't worry! Just stay out of its way, and everything will be allright!!"
I threw the torch at the beast, blinding it for a moment. While it was perocupied I gripped the dagger so hard that the jagged edge of the handle ripped through my own skin and I thrust it with all the strength I had at the beasts head. A small eye-shaped jewel on the handle growed as I did so, but what came next I could've never expected.
The dagger went strait through the head on the lion, not leaving a scratch! I looked into the lions eyes unable to move, and barley able to breathe. I was so close that I could fell its breath as it growled, and much to my surprise it started to whimper and ran off! I fell to my knees in shock. I breathed heavily as I felt my heart pound so hard it ached.
After a few moments my sister came out of hiding gasping "That was amazing! It was all ROOOAR, and you were all like take that!! and then it was all whimper whimper!"
I laughed still a little weezy from the scare. She appenrently had no idea just how much danger she was in. I picked up the torch, and led her back to the opening by folowing the wall.
When we made it back to hole I yelled up "Hey! I found her!! Could you help us out of here!?!"
Shimi looked down, and grimaced. One of the older men there lent a hand and I threw the torch down, and helped my sister up to him, then took his hand myself.
At the top I discovered a few more people had come including my father, and he approached me. He put his hand on my shoulder "That was a very stupid thing you did! Brave, but horribly stupid!! You should have wait-" he began, but for some reason stopped.
"Father?? Is something wrong??" I asked, it wasn't like him to stop mid-sentence. Then I noticed he was starring at something. I looked down to see the dagger dripped in my blood. I quickly droped it onto the ground, shocked by its appearance. I quickly looked at my palm. I couldn't believe how deep the cuts were! In the cave I had barley noticed, but now I started to really feel it!
My father picked up the dagger, while my brother snickered and grabbed my ingured hand. Before I realized what he had done he slapped down a sopping rag down on my hand and drug it through one of the cuts. I yelped as an unbearable shock of pain ran through my body. I tried to get away, but I couldn't. It wasn't until he swiped that infernal clothe through every one of my cuts that he let go and shoved my to the ground. I coldled my hand and grit my teeth as I waited for the unbareable pain to pass.
"Wouldn't want it to get infected! Its is an old rusty dagger you know!" He snickered and walked away. He seemed almost happy that he had caused me so much pain. I don't know why he would be, though, I know he can be quite competitive, but I had never done any thing to him to warrant THAT!
My father only watched in disgust at what Shimi did, but he seemed a lot more interested in the dagger then my injuries from it.
I looked at him, "What so important about that dagger? I could have gotten infected and DIED you know!" I said, angry at his lack of care for my well being.
He gave me an anoyed look and shook his head "THIS dagger couldn't kill a fly!" he said, and threw my a rag of his own.
This one was thankfully dry. I wraped it around my hand firmly. I could still feel the sting from whatever Shimi put on it, but now it had died down. I looked over to my father and the dagger, which he had cleaned off. "What do you mean it couldn't kill a fly? It sure made short work of my hand!" I said.
"Come, I'll show you at home." He said
I felt so confused by all of this, what could this wierd dagger be? It didn't look like anything special to me. And why on earth was Shimi so mad at me? Was it because of the dagger? Manny questions flooded through my mind as I reluctantly followed my father home.
At home he set the dagger down on he table, and instructed me to sit oposite him. He looked me strait in the eye, and started "This morning Shimi confronted me, somehow he had found out that I had the Millenium Dagger here. He was so sure he was worthy of its power, but when I let try to use it, he failed. Shimi was so angry that he ran off with the dagger. Then after your sister fell in the well..." He said.
At that I shook my head.
He looked shocked, "What? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"It wasn't a well.." I said quietly.
"What was it?" My father asked, now concered at my tone.
"A lions den."
"What??? What gave you that idea???"
I looked him strait in the eye. I felt scared to tell him, I didn't know eactly what happened there, and I had no clue how to go about explaining it. I took a deep breath, "The lion."
He jumped back, clearly worried over what I just said. "How did you get out?"
I knew he would ask that. I looked down at the dagger and tried to colect my thoughts in the least crazy manner. I looked back up to him "It was preocupied for a moment, and I tightly grabbed onto the dagger, and I...I thrust it at the lion....and..." I started and then stopped. I looked back down at the dagger unable to finish the story.
"And it went right through the lion." My father finished for me.
My eyes widdened and I quickly looked up at him, "H-how?!?!" I asked.
My father smiled and put his hand on my shoulder "Don't be scared. This is a great gift! Only a few people have ever been able to controll the power of the Millenium Dagger! It has the power to change a very soul!" He seemed very happy and enthusiastic over my 'gift'.
I stood up in shock and took a step away. My breathing became stressed, and I began to tremble uncontrollably as looked at my father like a frigtened rabbit. I just wanted to run, run as fast and far as I could away from that THING!! But it felt like my feet were glued down to the floor. I couldn't move a musle.
"Jovan..." My father said in a compashinate, worried voice. But as soon as he stood up I bolted for the roof. I locked the door tight behind me.
I heard my father pounding on the door after me as I sat down near the ledge "Jovan! Open this door!" I heard him yell as he pounded. I don't think I could've opened the door even if I wanted to. I was trembling so much now. It was all I could do to sit there trying to breathe.
After a while my father stopped pounding on the door. I held tightly to my legs, and burried my head into them. So manny thoughts came swelling up I didn't know what to think.
I could still see the Harvest festival, and I could just hear it on the breeze. I wished I was still there that none of this had happened. I wished even harder as the wind began to grow cold, and sent a chill down my spine. It grew colder and colder as the night went on, and my robe wasn't exactly made for cold weather. I tried to keep warm, but I couldn't. I squeezed my eyes shut after I felt my legs go painfully numb.
After a few more moments I heard the door rattle, then I heard it fall open. My father must have shimmied the lock. I felt what I think was his hand on my arm, I could'nt feel much through the numbness.
"Your freezing cold! Please come inside, Jovan!" He pleaded with me.
"I-I c-can't feeel m-my leegss" I barley got out through the cold.
"Oh, my! Lets get you inside right now!" He said as he quickly picked me up and took me inside, and put me in front of the fire.
He got out a warm blancket and wraped me up in it. I looked up at him "I'm sor-" I started, but he motioned for me to hush, and he sat down next to me "Its my fault too" he wispered as he rubed my arm, trying to make it warmer.
I closed my eyes as I began to feel the blissfull heat start to touch my frozen skin. My father smilled, "Sleep now, everything will be allright.." he said. I leaned up against him, and did just that.
I woke up as the sunlight was reflected at my eyes. I moved my head away from the light and slowly clenched my fist, as the effects of the cold were not completely gone. I pushed myself up as my joints fought against it. I sat upright and looked around to see that it looked pretty deserted. I tried to get to my feet untill I heard someone behind me.
"Stop! Daddy said you should be sleeping now!" She said as she entered the room.
I looked at her in disbelief "When exactly did Daddy tell you this?"
"Right after the doctor came, silly!" She replied.
"The doctor...?" I asked.
"Oh, right, you were sleeping! Daddy got the doctor after you didn't wake up, and the Doctor told Daddy that you should'nt be moved for a week! nuh uh!" She said and emphatically shacked her head.
I couldn't help but laugh at her overzeolous acting skills "And when exactly did the doctor tell 'daddy' this?" I asked.
"six days ago." she said calmly.
"Six days?!?!" I asked in disbelief. It felt like I had just fallen asleep a few moments ago.
"Yep!" She said as she enthusiastically nodded "Oh, and Daddy also told me to tell you, that you should'nt sleep on widowsills! Whatever that means..." She said, barley interested.
I instantly remebered the first time something like this happened. I reached for my forehead. and for where that camel had left a scar. I closed my eyes, knowing full well that this was one of those 'serious' circumstances. I laid back down and looked up.
My sister walked over twards me "Your going to sleep now?" she asked. I nodded. "So I can go now?" she asked. I nodded, again. "Yay, now I can go play! Sleep well Jovan!!" she said as she left me alone in the room.
I smiled as she left. I looked around the room, it felt odd to sleep in here. But I suppose doctor's orders can be a force to be recconed with... At least there was only one day left. I think I could handle one day. I clossed my eyes and went back to sleep.
I felt a subtle pulling sensation from one of my golden strings. I pushed myself up and turned around to see my father, "You too?" I asked.
He laughed, then smiled weakly "How are you feeling?" he asked.
My joints still felt a little weak, "The important part is that I am feeling, right?" I asked.
He laughed and ruffled my hair "Well, its been a week, you are free to go!"
I smiled and quicly got ot my feet, but a few seconds after I lost my balance. Luckily my father caught me.
"Looks like you stood up to fast!" He said, then helped me up. He looked me in the eyes, "I don't want to force this upon you, but it is very important, you know that right?" He said trying to help me understand.
I looked back at him worriedly "I know...its just so much...I mean...why does it have to be me?" I asked him.
He looked at me compashinatly, "I know it must be a big strain on you. But this is what destiny has chosen! I just wish I could help you understand..."
I wanted him to understand me too, "I just...it frightens me. What it did to the lion! It can change a soul. I just....I don't want to make some kind of mistake and do something horribly wrong."
"Don't worry! You won't make a mistake! Thats not like you!" He started, then saw the expression on my face "You don't have to use it if you don't want to. Just please keep it with you. I know its meant for you" He finished, deciding on something of a comprimise.
I thought hard about it. I knew I didn't want to use it, but if it would make him happy...I guess there was no harm in just having it. I took a deep breath "Sure" I said hoping I had made the right desicion.
He smiled, "Thank you"
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I loathed having it with me, but Yami said it looked great. At least my father didn't bug me about it. I suppose it wasn't so horrible having it around...Once I shinned it, it wasn't so bad looking. Other things were turning for the better too. Rebecca and I got really close. I even propsed, and she exepted! Well, who could'nt with these charms? Shimi only got worse, though. A few months ago he left, said he had some important things to do...but last week I recieved a message from him telling me to meet him today, maybie things will start to look up with him too...
I was just preparing to leave as Rebecca came up behind me.
"Hey stranger!" She said waving.
"Hey! Are you here to send me off?" I asked.
"Hardly, I'm here to come with you!" she replied.
"Its a long journey you know!" I said, raising my eyebrows.
"If you can make it, then so can two year olds." She teased.
"ouch!" I commented.
She smiled at me and then started off. I smiled to, and walked after her. It didn't take us too long to reach the spot where Shimi said he would meet us. It wasn't that far from the kingdom, you could still see it over the horizon, but it was far from earshot. A nice quiet place.
It took a seat on a nearby boulder. There was no sign of Shimi. "I guess we beat him here...what to sit down?" I asked.
She smiled, then took a seat next to me "sure"
It was only a few minutes after Shimi arrived. I smiled and ran up to him. "Hey, Shimi! It has been too long!" I said hapily as we approached each other.
"Indeed it has, little brother." He said in a different voice then I remember. It was so dark and full of pain.
I looked into his eyes, "Shimi?!? Are you okay??" I asked worried.
He took another step forward and sent a shiver down my spine. He seemed a lot taller, and now that we were standing so close I could the anger in his eyes. The pure bloodlust showed like a full moon on a starless night. He leaned down and smiled. It was menacing and full of evil. I was paralysed in fear as he starred so deeply into my eyes.
He grabbed me by the arm "I'm fine, but you won't be soon."
He held me so tightly blood came running from where his fingernails dug into my flesh. "What wrong, Shimi?!?! Your really scaring me!" I yelled in fear.
His smile widdened, "good." He said, he was taking so much pleasure from this. I could hardly believe he was my brother. "Ahhh, Rebecca!" He said looking behind me.
My eyes widdened as I turned to see her still sitting on the rock, "Rebecca! Get out of here, Save yourself!!" I yelled out to her.
"Jovan, nobler words have never been said! But you speak in vain! For I'm not the one in trouble here!" She said snickering as she walked up to Shimi, and kissed him.
It felt as if someone had stuck a searing hot pocker through my heart. I tried desperatly to stop it, but Shimi held me back. "H-how could you you??" I asked.
Her smile made me wish to just die. She walked up to me "You see, You may have Charisma, friends, and all those cute little 'values' on your side, but a girl like me needs power! REAL power!!" She said then laughed. She took a step closed to me "Well, its not like you were a total waste! We did have some good times, your just....not my type!" She said smiling, and tried to kiss me, but I pushed her away with my free hand. Then she slapped me "You little runt! How dare you!!"
I narrowed my eyes at her, but didn't say a word.
"Just finish this off Shimi! I don't want to see his stupid scared little eyes again!!" She said angrily.
I couldn't believe my ears, I gave everything to her, and she couldn't even say my name. Shimi gave me hardly any time to think of it as she dug his nails farther into my arm, I screamed in pain as he picked my up, by his nails alone.
"Yell all you want, little brother, no one can hear you here!" He said then laughed as he threw me aside like a rag-doll.
I slowly got to my feet, but no sooner had I done that, the world around seemed to melt away as a thick fog enveloped the three of us. I looked to Shimi to see he now had a ring around his neck. "Don't look so shocked, dear brother! Did you really think yours was the only magic available? There are far more powerfull. and evil magics just waiting to be possesed!!" He hissed.
I looked around to see if there was any chance of escape, any way to leave this place, but there was nothing I could see.
Rebecca smiled "Theres no escape from here! Shimi has this all planned!" She said smiling, then gave Shimi a long passionate kiss.
I had to look away as the anger swelled up in me. I clenched my fist as I felt tears form. I felt so much anger, hatred. I couldn't believe this. My own brother trying to kill me with the help with my love? I remembered my Dagger. I wished so hard I would never have to see their smiles again. I took it from my belt and held it as tightly as I could in my hand. I felt the same cuts runnthrough my flesh, even though I had smoothed out the handle. The cuts felt somehow different then before, more powerful...more evil... I ran twards them, while they still engoyed their embrace. I swiped the dagger strait through the both of them. I felt a much larger drain then before, I fell to the ground along with Rebecca. But Shimi was still standing. He caused the black fog around us to fade away.
He looked down at Rebecca and smiled at her as she sat on here knees catching her breath.
Then he came over me, he picked me up by the five ring around my neck, and smiled. "Now were even" He wispered in my ear.
My eyes widdened as he dropped me back to the ground. He laughed as he left us both on the ground. I looked on as Rebecca continued to catch her breath. I had no idea what I had done. What the results would be. All I knew was the power that was taken from me.
"Shimi?!?!" she cried out after him, but she recieved no answer. She got up and rubbed her head. Then she looked down at me. She starred for a few minutes without saying a word. I just looked up at her as a few tears fell. "What did you do?!?!" She screamed.
I looked up at her "I don't know..." I said in fear of what I had put her through.
As she looked at me with so much hate, I slowly realized what I had done. The smile was gone, just as I wished. But so much more then just that smile, every smile she would ever have. I stole her joy. I started to tremble "no..." I said weakly as I started at her. What she had done, and what I had done. I had no measure on which to place these two. the pain she caused me...and the pain I had caused her. If only I could take it back.
She slapped me once more across the face, as she must have realized what happened as well, and she went off running.
An hour or so I got up, and made my way back.
I entered into my own home at made my way to table where I folded my hands on its top, and leaned my head upon them. My father entered the room.
"How did it go with Shimi?" He asked.
I didn't say a thing. After a few moments, I dropped the knife. I klancked a few times on the table before it stopped moving. My father saw the blood and gasped.
"What happened?!?!" He asked worridly. He held my hands in his.
I told him the whole story. He brushed away my tears, "You get some sleep now. I'll see if I can find a way to reverse it."
I nodded, I couldn't deny that I needed rest. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I still wanted to help out some how. "Can't I help?" I asked.
He brushed my hair from my face and looked into my eyes "Theres nothing more you can do. You did the right thing by telling me." He said and smiled. I weakly smiled back "Now off to bed with you!" He ordered.
I wearily made my way to my room and fell onto my bed, instantly asleep.
The morning came with a nock at the door. I was surprised to see Yami. "Uhh, hi!" I said.
He came at me and pinned me against the wall. I was still weak from the day before, not that I was a match for him normally. "What did you do to my sister!!" He exclaimed.
I looked into his eyes. I had never seen him so angry, I didn't even know he could get angry "I'm sorry, but it'll be okay! My dad said he knew a way to reverse it."
He peered deeply into my eyes "Thats all well and good, but it gives you no right to do it in the first place!" He said angryly.
"You don't understand! There was-" I was about to tell him why, when we both heard a loud crash come from the castle.
Yami let go and rushed outside, and I wasn't far behind. As we both neared the palace we could see it lit up in flames. I ran past Yami and into the palace itself. I ran as fast as I could to where my father would be, but I was far to late. The fire was raging out of controll, the fire was so fierce I couldn't get anywhere near. I fell to the ground right in front of the fire. I couldn't save him. There wasn't anything I could do.
To my surprise I was pulled away, I turned to see one of the palace guards holding on to my arm.
"Master Jovan, you must leave now!" He demanded.
"No, I won't leave without my father!" I screamed. I tried to go back, but he grabbed me and dragged me out of the palace.
Outside he quickly tied my arm to the palace gate, so I couldn't go back into the palace. But he went back in himself to see if he could save any one else. I tried to break free of his binds, but they were to tight. I wanted to go back and try something, anything to save my father, but I couldn't. I starred at the entrance to the palace longingly, and out of the corner of my eyes I saw Yami. He was being confronted by two other people. I didn't recognize them. He took a step away from them, and revealed a small golden pyramid, which he preceded to throw upon the ground. As it shattered, it emitted a bright light. Then he disapeared. The same thing happened to the other men. Then I looked to my dagger. The red jewel was shining brightly and.
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