A JOURNEY OF FIRE AND SHADOW: PART FOUR by Feye Morgan
Dilandau walked full-force into the king. Van Fanel backed away, an apology automatically falling from his lips. Then he paused.
~Oh my god~ Dilandau thought, panicking. He must not be discovered this soon.
Van stared at Dilandau, who was looking down, hiding his bright crimson eyes from view and holding his katina behind his back. Van -knew- he had seen the worker from someplace before...
"Excuse me, but have we met?"
Dilandau paused.
~There's no one around. Maybe I could just kill him right here and be done with it. I could hide his body, and no one whould know until it was too late...~
Dilandau discarded the thought almost as soon as it entered his head. Tempting though it was, Dilandau realized that Van would be missed before the voyage was done. Furthermore, killing someone involved spilling blood, especially if a sword was involved. If someone walked by while Dilandau was cleaning up the mess, his charade would be over, and his Dragonslayers' lives forfeit.
He also wanted to make Van suffer before he died.
"No, my lord. I do not believe so." Dilandau said, trying to disguise his voice. As soon as the words fell from his lips, the albino winced inwardly. His voice was too distinctive to be changed.
Van frowned.
*That voice...I've heard that voice before...*
"Dilandau..." Van whispered. The name was almost inaudible.
~Damn~
Dilandau held his breath, his hands tightening on his katana.
Van shook his head.
*No, Dilandau is dead. I made sure of that. This fellow simply looks similar to him*
Dilandau held back a sigh of relief when the king waved his hand dismissively.
"I am sorry to have kept you from your duties." Van nodded at Dilandau and walked on, apparently having dismissed him from his mind.
Heart pounding in his chest, the albino slid into some dark shadows by a corner, and attempted to calm his thoughts. Holding himself back from killing Van had taken all of his energy. As soon as the dark-haired boy's face had clicked in his mind, the whispering had come back.
Ghosts of the underworld. They were reminding him of why he had returned to the living.
~But did I really come back just to kill Van, or did I come longing only for a second chance?~
The last vision Dilandau had endured in the realm of shadow would suggest the latter, but Dilandau was still torn.
The albino bowed his head, the taunting mists threatening to overwhelm him.
|One step at a time, Dilandau|
The calm, deep voice of Folken reached him from somewhere deep in the recesses of the boy's mind.
~One step at a time. That's right. Get my Dragonslayers free. THEN I will decide what to do next~
With Folken's wisdom holding the ghosts at bay, Dilandau continued down the halls of the Crusade.
Seven soldiers in battered blue uniforms sat huddled in a small cell. Three guards armed to the teeth paced back and forth, stretching their legs. Had the prisoners not been in an airship cell, the guards would have broken up their huddle long ago. But as it was, they saw no need to keep the seven from talking to one another. After all, there was no escape from an airship.
"We came all this way, just to die again," Guimel sighed.
Gatti frowned. "That's not true. We saved Dilandau-sama, didn't we?"
The slayers' eyes flicked briefly over to the guards, hoping none of them had overheard.
Refina nodded. "Do you think he's very angry with us?"
Dalet grinned. "Furious, I'll bet. Especially with you, Refina. Don't think he didn't get a glimpse of red hair before you knocked him out."
The fiery-haired slayer gave a weak grin.
"I hope he doesn't try to come after us," Guimel said.
"Knowing him, he will," Migel muttered. He sighed, and then shook his chestnut head. "There's nothing to worry about, though. This cursed ship took off before he could ever track us down. Besides, if he had made it here, they'd probably have caught him, and we'd have heard about it."
This seemed to make sense to the rest of the slayers.
"Yes, Dilandau-sama is safe."
"I wonder where he'll go?"
"Probably to hunt down that blasted Dragon."
Refina's eyes narrowed at the mention of the hated king. She smiled unpleasantly. "Dilandau-sama will get him. I'm sure of it."
The friends spent some time discussing the possible 'interesting' modes for demise that their leader might have in store for his archenemy. Their sadistic laughs rang eerily off the cell walls.
The guards, judging by their expressions, were quite unnerved, so that when a knock came at the prison door, they were more than happy to answer it, secretly hoping that replacements had come to relieve them. The slayers paused in their discussion to view the visitor.
It was a worker, probably an engineer. The pile of clothes in their arms hid their face.
"Here, I'll help you with that," one guard offered. There was a muffled reply from behind the clothes. The guard leaned forward, trying to catch what the person was saying.
The slayers heard a dull thud, and the guard's eyes rolled back in his head. He slumped unconscious to the ground.
"What the-" the guards stammered.
"DILANDAU-SAMA!"
The two remaining guards froze, unsure of what had just happened. The moment's hesitation was all Dilandau needed. He spun swiftly, kicking one guard in the head with his foot. He went down. The other guard backed away, hand fumbling for his sword. Dilandau swiftly unsheathed his katina, and held the point firmly against the man's throat. Eyes wide with fear, the guard held his hands shakily above his head.
"W-who are you?" he asked in a terrified whispered.
The albino smiled wickedly. He removed his glasses and tossed his head back, letting his hair fall into some of its usual, distinctive style.
The guard's eyes opened even wider. He went white as a sheet.
"Albatou."
"Now, you just keep quiet, and you won't get hurt. Understood?"
The man nodded as best he could with a sword at his throat.
"Good," Dilandau purred. "Now, unlock the cell door. No, the one with -my- soldiers in it, you idiot. Don't try me."
The cell lock opened with a click, and Dilandau cracked the hilt of his katana against the remaining guard's temple.
Smiling, Dilandau looked up into the faces of his soldiers.
To his surprise, they did not look happy to see him.
"Dilandau-sama..." Shesta whispered, face filled with horror.
"What?" Dilandau snapped, annoyed.
~Am I cut? Bleeding? What the hell is the matter?~
Dilandau growled.
"Dilandau-sama, you shouldn't have come after us," Gatti said.
Dilandau's ruby eyes narrowed into slits. "What did you say? Second-in-command, you forget your place. Don't you dare to presume what I may or may not do. You remember what I told Folken? I. Do. Not. Leave. My. Soldiers. Behind. Got it?"
"B-but Dilandau-sama!" Refina cried, stiffening for the slap she knew was to follow. "You could get killed!"
Dilandau stormed over to her, his face inches from her own. Refina forced herself to meet his eyes.
"You were certain to be killed. Do you think I am stupid enough to walk in here without a plan? You have more sense in your head than that, Refina. Do not disappoint me." Dilandau held her gaze for another long moment. Abruptly he straightened, and bent to gather the scattered engineer uniforms he had 'borrowed'.
"You will all remove your uniforms and wear these instead. Your faces are relatively unknown, so you will be overlooked in these clothes." The general tossed a uniform at each slayer. "Now."
While his slayers changed uniforms, Dilandau tore strips of cloth from the guards' sleeved outer tunics and bound their hands and feet securely. Careful not to jar them awake, he then lifted them and placed them inside the cell, which he locked. The albino smiled evilly and pocketed the keys.
"Everyone ready?"
"Hai."
"We will all separate into pairs once we exit this door. A group of eight attracts much more attention than a couple of workers. When the ship lands, get out as soon as you can. I will be by the damaged wing, pretending to examine it. I know enough about airships to pass as an engineer if I am questioned. From there, we will plan what to do."
Dilandau replaced his glasses and ruffled his hair once more.
"If I hear one peep out of any of you, you'll wish I'd never shown up," he growled.
The eight 'engineers' walked casually out of the prison sector, branching off into the shadows of the corridors.
Van paced the bridge impatiently.
"We will be arriving in Palas shortly, Van," Allen Schezar said curtly. His argument with the young king had touched off both tempers.
"It's about time," Van growled. Allen frowned disapprovingly, and then sighed. Van had been irritable ever since Hitomi had left. According to Van, just after the Fate Alteration Machine had been destroyed, she had mysteriously vanished out of his very arms. It was generally accepted that her time on Gaea had expired, and she had gone home to her Mystic Moon.
::I wonder if I'll ever see her again:: Allen thought.
Van's sharp voice broke the knight's musings.
"How soon can we get the trial underway?"
Allen sighed. "Almost immediately. The people are flushed with their victory over Zaibach, and they are eager to see the remnants of their military might destroyed. I am sure that Millerna-hime and Eires-hime will push for a trial as soon as possible."
Van smirked. "Good."
"Why do you wish for their deaths so vehemently, Van?"
Van spun, fury twisting his features. "They destroyed my entire COUNTRY, Allen! Fanelia! All of it! Gone! Burnt to ashes!"
"You killed Dilandau. Isn't that enough?"
"No."
Allen closed his eyes and turned away to gaze out the helm window. The sun was rising over Palas, bathing the city in a golden glow.
::How deceptively divine. Looking at that city, one would not guess that seven children are to meet their untimely deaths there::
Allen frowned.
::But, they aren't children, are they? No, Zaibach made them all grow up far too quickly. Zaibach ruined them, just like they ruined Serena. Oh, Serena. How I wish you were not lost to me forever!::
Allen glanced at Van. The arrogant king was pacing once again, eyes fixed on the approaching capital.
::Hitomi, if only you hadn't left Van. You brought out what good there was in him. Now I fear that all there is left is anger. He will never be satisfied. He was not even satisfied with the death of Dilandau, and the death of my dear sweet sister::
Allen Schezar steeled his mind, and gazed stoically at the shining golden city of death rising to meet him.
Dilandau and Migel strode down corridor after corridor, looking for the exit.
~This ship -can't- be this big. It doesn't -look- big from the outside...~
Dilandau growled with frustration.
"Migel," he hissed, "do you remember which way you came in?"
Migel studied the hallways. Dilandau gritted his teeth, and resisted the urge to slap his soldier.
"That way, I believe, my lord."
"You had better be right, Lavariel."
"Yes, Dilandau-sama."
Dilandau's ruby eyes narrowed into slits. They walked for several minutes without encountering a single soul. Migel grew increasingly nervous, well aware of his commander's short temper. But, just as Dilandau was about to verbally assault his companion, he paused suddenly, and held out a hand, motioning for Migel to stop as well.
"Listen," Dilandau whispered.
The pair could hear cranks and groans emanating from the mechanics of the ship. Wings furled and landing gear churned down.
~We have arrived~
Dilandau braced himself for the jar of impact. To his surprise, he barely felt the ship sway.
~Whoever is piloting this craft is good~
Migel looked questioningly at his commander. Still, Dilandau motioned for both of them to remain still. The albino's ears pricked when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Another engineer walked briskly past them, not even giving them a second glance.
"Now," Dilandau said quietly, once the engineer was out of hearing range, "we just follow him." The engineer, like his fellows, would be heading towards the exit.
Dilandau smiled, and pondered his sweet revenge was he took step after step to freedom.
Shesta and Refina breathed in deeply, tilting their heads back to let the sunlight bathe their faces.
"Free," Shesta murmured.
"Well, not quite free yet. They're bound to find the guards and our discarded uniforms in the cell. Dilandau must have 'borrowed' these engineers' clothing from somewhere. We have to get out of here before they put two and two together. Do you see Dilandau-sama, Shesta?"
Shesta squinted, letting his eyes adjust to the bright sunlight.
"There, by the damamged wing, like he said he would be."
The two slayers went to greet their commander. Migel was there, as was everyone else.
"You're late," Dilandau said, his voice and face cool and emotionless.
Shesta and Refina bowed their heads. "We're sorry, Dilandau-sama."
Dilandau gazed at them for a moment before replying.
"Fortunately, not too late. Come on. Let's go." Dilandau took the lead, walking away from the Crusade. No one saw them leave. Everyone was already preoccupied with either checking the ship or greeting the huge crowd of jubilant welcomers who were presently occupied in swarming the airship.
"Where are we going, Dilandau-sama?" Guimel asked curiously.
"You were under the impression that we would be taking a guymelef out, weren't you?"
Guimel turned red, knowing that he looked foolish in his lord's eyes.
"Hai, Dilandau-sama."
"A guymelef would attract too much attention. With both the Escaflowne and Scherezade nearby, we would not get far. Especially not with the pathetic models Asturia uses. They can't even fly." Dilandau snorted contemptuously.
The Dragonslayers were silent, not wishing to provoke their leader by asking too many questions. But Dilandau must have sensed their curiosity, for he smiled slightly, and continued.
"We will be taking horses, Guimel. If I remember correctly from the layout map in Zaibach, there should be a stable somewhere nearby. It's a large one, so large that they won't miss eight horses until we are a good distance away."
"But, Dilandau-sama," Gatti questioned, "won't they be able to track us, even on horses?"
Dilandau pursed his lips, frowing.
~Van~
Suddenly his features lit up. His mouth twisted into the infamous grin he usually wore when he was about to char an object...or person...into cinders. An insane light shone in the albino's blood-red eyes.
"D-Dilandau-sama?" Viole asked hesitantly.
"Yes, they will be able to track us. Van will be able to track us. And he will come. Oh yes he will. And when he catches us, we will be waiting for him."
The Dragonslayers smiled slowly, digesting their lord's plan.
"Where shall we lead them to, my lord?" Gatti asked.
Dilandau grinned. "Fanelia."
"My lord!" Gaddess burst into the helm, breathing heavily, face pale.
Allen frowned. "What is it?"
"The prisoners...they're gone!"
"What?"
"And so is that little girl who came aboard!"
Allen's eyes narrowed. "What little girl?" he asked.
"There was a girl, about fifteen, I'd say, who approached the Crusade while it was being repaired on the battlefield. She was looking for her father. She said he'd been in the war, and she couldn't find him."
Allen's mind turned.
::A girl? There should be none on the battlefield. How did she get there? Unless...::
"Gaddess, what did she look like?"
Gaddess frowned slightly at the sudden urgency in his lord's voice.
"Oh, she was tall, slender, with short grey-ish hair and brilliant blue eyes. She had a standard banner wrapped around her. I think she was cold."
"Did she seem lost? Confused? As if she didn't know where she was?"
Gaddess thought. "I believe she did look a bit confused, my lord."
"Serena..." Allen breathed.
Gaddess looked up sharply. "Serena? Who...do you mean your sister, Boss? But, she's been missing for ten years!"
Allen barely seemed to hear his sergeant's words.
"Van? Where is Van?" Allen grabbed Gaddess by the collar.
"Whoa, Boss, take it easy! He's gone. I think he left in Escaflowne to follow the prisoners."
::Serena::
Allen released Gaddess roughly and fairly sprinted to the hangar.
::I must catch Van before it's too late!::
The ride to Fanelia was long and quiet. The eight travellers were engrossed in their own thoughts, Dilandau included. Dilandau was puzzled with himself. He knew that he wanted to kill Van more than anything at the moment.
~Or do I? Is his death really necessary?~
Dilandau supressed a shudder and the ghosts' whispering brought back the memory of his vision of the Angel of Death, himself. All that destruction and chaos was his fault. He no longer felt guilty, however. Those crimes were in a past life. He was reborn with a new chance, and had no intention of repeating his actions.
~But do I really want to taint my new life with the blood of yet another enemy?~
Dilandau bit his lip, frustrated. He hated Van with a passion. He knew that for certain. So why was he hesitating?
|If you are not happy now, Van's death will not make you so|
The familiar calm voice crept over his mind like a warm blanket. Mist swirled.
~Folken. How nice to hear from you again~ Dilandau thought wryly.
|You wish for revenge, don't you, Dilandau?|
~Brilliant observation, Strategos~
Silence.
Dilandau growled silently. ~Sorry, Strategos~
Folken's presense radiated amusement. An apology? From the cold, stony General of Zaibach? How interesting.
Dilandau fumed.
|Remember, Dilandau, you have faced and overcome your crimes. Van, however, has not yet faced his own|
~What are you saying, Strategos?~
|Van will continue to hunt you down. He has embraced his wrongdoings; he has 'shouldered the burden of war' as he once phrased it|
~...~
|Puzzle it out, Dilandau. How painful was it for you to see all the lives you had ruined?|
Dilandau's mind lit with the glimmerings of understanding.
~But Folken, how-~
|Ah, this part you would not know. Do you recall Hitomi Kanzaki?|
~That girl from the Phantom Moon?~
Folken's presense nodded. |She had a pendant, one made partially of drag-energist, and partially of a still-unknown substance. In her hands and in Van's it had the ability to bring on visions|
~Visions...~ Dilandau pondered this for a moment. ~But Folken, then I'd have to find the blasted girl, and I haven't got time for that!~
|She had returned to the Mystic Moon, where she belongs|
~Oh that's just peachy~
|When she felt the light pulling her out of Van's arms in the Fate Alteration Machine Control Center, she gave him something to remember him by|
~Should I care?~
|She gave him her pendant|
~...oh. And so I suppose the sentimental idiot has taken to wearing it, then?~
There was no response.
~Folken? FOLKEN! Why do you always disappear like that?~
But Dilandau smiled in spite of it. He now had his answer.
"My lord." Shesta's voice brought Dilandau back to the present.
"We have arrived."
Dilandau looked ahead. Down an uneven slope before him were the ruins of Fanelia. The once proud country's buildings were hollow and broken, the ground still black and dead. Here and there, however, the purple blooms of the fireweed plant poked around shattered columns and walls, assuring the return of life in the future.
Dilandau rode down through the ruins, memories of fire and shadow flashing through his mind. He shrugged them away as they came. His past life would not burden him. He had known nothing but pain then. But now, now was his second chance.
Eventually, they came to a stop in front of what had once been the palace building. It was the only building in relatively good condition, taking into consideration the state that the rest of the country was in. Dilandau could still make out the Fanelian crest upon the broken doors.
~What a perfect place to settle this~ Dilandau grinned. The irony was almost too much.
"My lord! Look!" Migel pointed at the sky. Dilandau turned, knowing what he would find.
A single speck of light, too bright for a daytime star, shone from the direction of Asturia. It grew brighter.
"Come for me, Van. Come."