The winged angel or the fire beast

A/n thank you so much for your reviews and thanks again Saint's Lunch Box for your healthy criticism. At least I tried to alter my spelling mistakes. Please continue reviewing everybody, not just to boost ego but it really does help with confidence. ^^

Don't have an open mind, otherwise your brains will fall out.

Chapter 4

'Leading an influential life'

Her head throbbed with a pulsating pain, as if something was knocking into her head. She winced at the little light around her, and began rubbing her eyes to unblur her vision.

'Are you alright?' Helena jumped at the sound of a friendly voice. 'Be careful not to move your arm too much.' She searched her surroundings for the voice. 'Maybe I'm just imagining things' she told herself.

The cell-like room was dark and the little light there was, was barred by the cell window. It was evidently raining outside by the harsh rush of water on the side of the cell, as water seeped in down the cold stone walls from the caged window. Following the water flow from the window, it ran down through to another cell opposite hers. Finally her eyes rested upon the raven-haired boy on the other side of the bars.

He looked at her closely as if trying to read her thoughts from her reaction to him. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around her legs. Her white sleeves had exchanged their colour for blood stained and were torn. Her shorts were covered with dirt and her legs shivered with the cold air around her. Her long brown hair had definitely seen better days, and her blue eyes were loosing colour as if reflecting the life that was being drained out of her.

A faint smile crept across his face. It was warm, melting the imprinted image of Dilandau's cold smirk that stained her mind. They watched each other. Neither was intimidated by each other. They just had little to say or they were just unsure what to say.

'Titanic.' Helena sat upright, proud of her statement whilst Van sat confused.

'What's that supposed to mean?' He inquired.

'It always breaks the ice.' Helena laughed to herself, something she had wanted to do for what seemed ages; even if it was a lame joke. But she soon stopped, noticing Van remained in silence. 'Probably thinking I've just gone mad,' she thought, telling herself off for her stupidity. 'Um….never mind.' Was Helena's brief explanation of her private joke.

'Ok.' Van replied with his also brief understanding of the joke, smiling at her need to apologise.

'You must be Van, yes?' Feeling more in control with the conversation.

'How did you know?' straitening his back, he leaned towards the bars facing Helena from his slouching position against the wall.

'That Lord Dilandau guy was complaining about you a lot.'

The smile flickered from his face, like a candle blown in a sudden wind. His face turned cold as he leaned back from the bars and on to the stone walls. 'Is he ok? He seemed happy a second ago. Maybe saying Dilandau's name wasn't such good idea' she scolded herself again, feeling guilty.

Wishing to know more of Van's change in mood, she continued. 'So, why are you here and why were you fighting Dilandau?' Van flinched at the sound of Dilandau's name. Helena decided not to continue, as if any sudden movement she made would break Van's now icy mood. But it was too late to stop the anger that now flowed through Van's veins. His tone now turned shallow as did his eyes follow, 'Dilandau is a murderer! That's why I'm here.'

Helena sat in silence. ' That was unexpected. What am I supposed to do now?' Helena thought to herself, scrambling for a reply. Van continued however, seemingly talking to himself rather than her. Either way, Helena listened eagerly.

'He destroyed Fanelia, my kingdom. As ruler, I should have been able to save my people!' He paused as tears welled up, smudging his brown eyes. 'He was brutal, merciless. He burnt it all. The kingdom, the people. Even the children! He's a monster, a fiery beast that must be stopped!' He paused again so not to choke on his tears of anger and sadness.

Calming down, he continued, 'I could do nothing. I was told to take a guymelef and leave. They said that if I took the Escaflowne, he would spot me and surely kill me. They told me that they would protect the Escaflowne.' His teeth became clenched as he banged his head back on the wall. 'The bastards. The stupid bastards. They wrote their own death sentence.'

Helena rocked back and forth, nearly in tears herself. He was ruler of a kingdom, no older than she was. 'With so much guilt and a burden to carry for so many lives,' she thought to herself, wanting to reach out to him.

They sat for a while contemplating what had been said. Van leaning against the wall looking upwards, seemingly trying to look through the ceiling to the stars. Now and again he would murmur to himself, but too quietly for Helena to hear.

Whilst Van fought with his feelings, Helena looked down at her pendant which now rested in the palm of her hand. It felt cold and the bright, rosy pink it used to glow was faint. She shivered. 'Everything is so cold around here. It feels like home. I wish I could help Van, but I can't even help my own problems.' Rebellious tears rolled down Helena's face as she turned to hide her feelings from Van, but he had taken this action out long before she had.

They both sat facing opposite walls, watching the rain roll down the walls as tears fell down their cheeks. Helena sniffed, using her sleeve to wipe her face. Van noticed her crying and turned to face Helena's back.

'I heard one of the guards say that you were from the Mystic Moon. Is it true?' Helena turned quickly to Van's relaxed and comforting voice. Recovering herself she began playing with a strand of her long, brown hair, trying to hide her embarrassment. 'I guess so.'

'How did you get here then,' ignoring Helena's show of emotion.

'Well, that's along story and you'll probably think it's boring anyway.'

'No, I really want to know. Especially if you got from one planet and ended up on another, it's gotta be interesting.' Van's bad mood had disappeared as he sat bolt upright, waiting to be told Helena's story.

'Ok,' as she sighed.

Letting her hair fall limp at her side, she began.

A/n sorry, I told you that I was going to do her past but I didn't. I promise I will for the next chapter.

Thank you for reviewing and I hope you continue to, thank you.

Lady whitewolf

xXx

Ladywhitewolf_inabluemoon@hotmail.com