-----------------------------------------------Chapter Eight-------------------------------------------------
The Black Slayer
Even More Surprises
Jessica
dilly_freak7_7@hotmail.com
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I wasn't tired enough to sit in my room until training, so I went and found myself a large, empty room to practice in. I pulled out my sword and it started glowing. I shrugged and got in my fighting stance, since fighting cleared my mind more than anything.
I sliced at the air in controlled, precise movements, first with a downward arch, then with a spinning slice while dropping to one knee and kicking out with one foot. It was really a double attack. My sword would slice across the knees or stomach, and my foot would take down the opponent. After I completed this move, I jumped up again and charged forward. I imagined the block, and attacked again and again, so fast I could hardly follow it. I went on fighting myself for about twenty minutes before I stopped, but I didn't do it.
When I was in the middle of another charge, a scene flashed itself in front of my eyes. A battlefield, covered in blood and dead bodies. I was surrounded by dead and dying men, and my hands were covered in blood. Then out of nowhere, someone plunged a sword into my chest. I put up my sword to block it but for once I was exhausted. I gasped at the pain as I heard the evil laughter that numbed my mind. Then I was back in the room, and about to crash into the wall because of my momentum. I instinctively put my foot down, but it landed on the wall. I ended up doing a flip to stop myself.
I walked out of the room and was almost to mine when Dilandau came running up from behind. Then he shook his head, as if to clear it.
We're under attack! Follow me!' he said. I hadn't noticed anything different. We ran to the melef hangar again and met the chaos forming from the fighting. Flashback! I thought. The same melefs were fighting each other. Ok, first, take out the melefs, second, take out the people on the ground. My fighting sense was kicking in and my mind was turning up ways to fight. One really surprised me. Turn into a dragon and take everyone out at once' my mind told me. What? I thought. I can't do that unless.....This ability really surprised me. If Van said I was also called the Black Dragon, then that must be why. So I concentrated. The first thing that happened was I felt my wings burst from my back once again. Why, I don't know. Then the weirdest sound came from my throat. It was a growl. This blinding red light surrounded me and expanded, pulsing the whole time. My wings turned leathery and I felt claws growing from my hands. With one last pulse, the red light seemed to explode, and there I was. I was now a huge black dragon with red stripes down my back. I looked down at my hands, no, claws and I thought I could hold about two people in each one. Everyone had stopped fighting to notice the red light and were now staring in either utter amazement or utter horror at what was before them. I roared a challenge at Van's and Allen's guymelefs and stepped forward, giving the hangar a bit of a shake.
I roared again and they both left the Slayers they were fighting and turned to me. I dropped out of the vione and folded my wings to get them away from the hangar. I opened my wings and heard a loud boom at the wind resistance. Van dropped out of the hangar, his Ispano melef now in dragon mode, followed by Allen. I pumped my wings and flew up to meet them. I roared again just before I crashed into Van's melef. I latched my three foot long teeth onto the energist of Escaflowne and slashed the wings with my claws. We plummeted down until I finally let go and the melef continued dropping. Allen was waiting on the ground so I flew behind and above him. I folded my wings and extended my claws and dove toward him, like a hawk to its prey. He saw me before I got to him and he put up his sword to stop my attack. I altered my course and landed next to him instead of on him. He attacked and I dodged and swung my powerful tail at his legs, slashing at the cockpit with my claws and snapping at his sword hand with my jaws. The first attack worked and his legs gave way under him. The slash got as far as barely scratching the metal of the cockpit, and I succeeded in catching his sword hand in my teeth. I clamped down and did not let go, despite the pull against me from his fall. I heard something behind me and quickly switched my teeth with a claw and swung around to see the attacker. My other claw stopped the deadly blow from Escaflowne just in time. Seeing as Van had probably slain dragons before, I thought it best to do everything as differently as possible. In other words, using attacks I would use with a sword. I squeezed down on the hand and heard the metallic crunch that meant I was crushing something. I also heard the crack of his hand from the blood pact he had made with his melef. I smiled in what looked like a snarl, but it was really an evil grin. His sword dropped from his hand and I could hear him trying to hold back a scream of pain. I did the same to Allen's sword hand. Now that I had disabled them both for some time, I could go. With a snarl I launched myself into the air and hovered about a hundred feet above them. I roared again and this time, I felt a weird heat come from my stomach, and a fireball, about twenty feet wide, shot from my mouth and ignited the trees surrounding them. I snorted in surprise and flew back up to the vione where the Slayers were having a bit of trouble with the last of Allen's men. I simply roared, and without their leader to guide them, they ran.
The Slayers were still gawking when I turned back into myself. Suddenly, I was tired like I had been fighting all day! I swayed a bit before I fell to the ground, asleep once again.
I woke up and I was back in my room. I was still exhausted, but I could sit up this time. When I did, I noticed my pounding head. Oi! What a headache! I groaned involuntarily and looked around my room. Folken was standing in the shadows near the door and I thought he may have just come in. I laid back down not wanting to deal with him right now. He walked over and stood at the foot of my bed. I glared at him and he smiled.
Go away' I said.
Why?' he asked. He didn't really look surprised and I guessed he expected that.
Because, I have a really bad headache, I just realized I'm cut up pretty bad, and you're the last person I want to see right now' I answered. I had barely noticed the several small, and a few large, cuts on mostly my torso. I pulled the blanket over my head.
Go away' I said again. Much to my surprise, he did. I fell asleep from the exhaustion that was still in control of my body.
When I woke up the second time, I felt fully refreshed and Migs was asleep in a chair near the door. I crept over to my bags, careful not wake Migs, and pulled out some clothes and my shower stuff. I really needed a bath. So I took a shower and dressed in the bathroom since I didn't know who would be on duty when I got out. I came out toweling my hair and in one of my favorite outfits. It was a red shirt with a guitar on the front with sleeves that reached to my elbows that had strings hanging off of them. I had tight black pants on that had red stitches all over them. I pulled on my sword belt and tied up my hair. I put in my earrings and snapped on my necklace before I turned to see who was waiting at the door.
Dilandau was leaning against the door frame, though the door was closed. He looked like he had refreshed' himself too. I smiled at him before I yawned. Then my stomach let me know it had been quite awhile since I had eaten. I smiled again and so did Dilandau. I followed him to the dining hall, where lunch was being served.
Fell better?' he asked in the halls.
Much so' I answered. How long was I asleep?'
Three days' he answered casually. Whoa! I thought. I must've been tired. We got to the hall and the rest of the Slayers looked anxiously at my face to see if I was all right. I smiled at everyone, pausing longer at Dalet who smiled back. We all sat down and started eating. The rest of the Slayers were talking amongst themselves, so I leaned over to Dilandau and asked,
So what have I missed?'
Not much really. But you don't know how badly you tore up Van and Allen. I'm sure pretty boy didn't have much experience in dragons, but Van did. They won't be able to fight for quite some time with the way you took them out' he reported.
How do you know how bad they'd been hurt? You didn't see the fight and they had left............' Then it hit me. I smiled at him to show that I knew what he meant. You must have some very efficient....'ears' to get into Fanelia' I said. I continued eating the gruel that was known as lunch around here. One day, I'm going to have to cook for you' I said. How about tonight? Let me cook dinner. I have just the thing in mind' He shrugged and nodded, not seeing any reason not to let me. Who cooks your meals anyway?' I asked.
It's part of the Slayer's duties. They have to cook at least three times a week. Usually three of them go at it at once' he answered. I shrugged and finished my meal.
When lunch was over, We all had a rest time to relax before afternoon training. I went to my room and flopped down on my bed to read a book. When I had been reading for about ten minutes, Folken came in my room, without knocking of course.
What?' I asked, already irritated.
We have a new Slayer joining the group and we don't have anymore rooms. We need yours' he said.
Why can't you just put the new slayer in with the rest? Don't they share rooms anyway?'
Yes, but I don't want to put him with the boys yet. I don't want to put you with the rest of the Slayers either, because of your rank, so you're going to room with Dilandau so you're not bowing to each other every other second' I shrugged and started to throw all my stuff into my bags in no particular order, I was good at that. I was ready in about ten minutes and had everything down to three bags that I could handle by myself. Folken led the way to Dilandau's room though I vaguely remembered where it was. He was sharpening his dagger when Folken walked in. He held open the door for me and left. Without saying anything. Dilandau stood up and took one of my bags with a puzzled look on his face.
There's a new Slayer and they need my room' I explained. They're putting me with you so he doesn't have to stay with any of the guys until he's used to them' I added. I piled all my stuff in a corner and sat in a chair until some sort of bed had been brought in. Someone knocked on the door and Dilandau answered it. It was Gatti and Miguel with my bed. I shoved the table out of the way so they could get it to the right spot. They put it next to the wall opposite Dilandau's bed. Then they bowed to both of us and silently left. It was only a little more cramped because his room was rather large, but there was considerably less space. We both just stood there, not quite sure what to do. I shrugged and pulled out my book and laid back on my bed again. Dilandau went back to sharpening his dagger.
About two hours later, I felt like someone was watching me. I opened my eyes, never having realized I had fallen asleep, and Dilandau was sitting at the foot of my bed, staring at my face. I turned over onto my stomach and pulled the pillow over my head. Dilandau poked me in the back.
Come on, get up. It's time for afternoon training' he said, shaking my shoulder. I batted his hand away and sat up, stretching. I really felt better, ready for training. We walked to the training room and the rest of the Slayers were there. I noticed one was standing off to the side and thought he must be the new Slayer. He was looking around nervously and because his face was hidden in the shadows, I didn't really know what he looked like.
I'll take care of the new kid' I told Dilandau. He nodded because I had his rank, his skill, and sometimes his attitude, so I could teach if I wanted. I smiled to the others and walked over to the guy. He heard me coming and turned to see who I was. When he did, I saw what he looked like, and stopped in my tracks. It was Randy. His jaw dropped when he saw me, but he quickly shook his head and cleared his expression.
Hey' I said, a bit shakily.
Hey' he said back with the same problem. His eyes flicked over my clothes and armor and stopped at my sword hilt. Your sword looks better than the others' he said.
I'm better than them' I said with a mix of pride and shyness in my voice. I'm going to teach you, alright? Just so you can fit in'
Okay. Its better than having nothing to do. I mean, when these guys came running at me with their swords, I have to admit, it was pretty scary' he said. So I started by showing him some moves that had worked well on the Slayers when I had fought them. He was pretty good without my help and soaked up everything I told him. When training was over, I walked with him back to his room since I knew where it was and it was close to mine.
We got to his room and since he hadn't seen it yet, he needed someone to show him where it was. I stood in the doorway as he took in the size and look of the room.
Hey, come talk to me tonight after dinner, I really need to talk to you' I thought telling him about my abilities wouldn't hurt anything. I'll help you out with rules, times, things like that'
Okay' he said. I smiled and walked out. When I go to my room, Dilandau was already there.
Did you know the new Slayer already?' he asked right off.
Yes' I answered. He's from the Mystic Moon, like me. I don't have the slightest idea how he got here, but is he's here for a reason. And could you take it easy on him the first week? At least until he's used to everything. He's going to be needing clothes' I finished.
Okay, but I'm not going that easy on him, if I do the other Slayers will notice and....well, you know' he said. I nodded and sat down on my bed. It was about six now, training had lasted about three hours. I jumped up again, not tired enough to rest. I felt more like running around than anything, so I walked up to Dilandau and punched his face before bolting and laughing down the hall. Of course he followed, wanting revenge, but I was just fast enough to keep up the sprint and him back aways for awhile. Since I had been in track, I was used to fast sprints, but I wasn't a distance runner. I was tiring. Dilandau was really fast, and he could last longer. I chanced a glance over my shoulder and he had taken off his armor to catch me. Oi!! He's hott, I thought. Then, before I knew it I was hurtling over the rail in the melef hangar, I had been looking at Dilandau too much. My wings instinctively burst from my back and I stopped my descent. I shook my head to clear it and flew back up to the vione. I flew up behind Dilandau so he couldn't see me, and he looked about ready to take off too. His wings burst from his back, but before he could take off, I grabbed the bottom of his sheath to keep him down. He looked so surprised at this
that I burst out laughing at the expression on his face.
Score: Jessica: two, Dilandau: zilch!' I laughed again and flew up out of his reach. He flew up and I flew down missing him by an inch. Well, he was quicker than I thought because he grabbed my ankle. I was too heavy for him to hold and fly at the same time (even though I was pretty light) so he let go. I flipped over in the air and looked at him, hovering with my back to the melef platform. I dove down again and he followed. I swept up under a platform, keeping them between us. I flew up again quickly and shot off down the hall, half flying, half running. I stopped in front of the open door to our room and jumped in and landed on my bed just as Dilandau ran past. My wings disappeared and I feigned sleep despite my heaving chest. He stopped and walked into the room, shutting the door. I knew he did because I could hear his footsteps very well. I heard them stop and I thought maybe he was leaning over me. I had a little trouble keeping back my smile, but he probably noticed. I opened my eyes and his nose was about an inch from mine. That surprised me a bit.
What are you doing?' he asked.
I was sleeping' I lied.
You sure?'
Yup'
Okay' he said before walking away. I sat up and pulled at the covers of my bed. I looked at the clock next to my bed. It was about an hour until dinner.
Oi!' I cried.
What??' asked Dilandau, bewildered. He glanced around and then looked at me.
I've gotta go fix dinner!' I jumped up and ran off again. When I go to the kitchen, Randy was there with Miguel and Viole.
Hey guys! Lets get cooking!' I said, running around collecting ingredients. They stood there looking at each other not sure what to say. Miguel spoke up first.
But, Jessica, you're not supposed to cook! You're a commanding officer!' he said pleading with me.
I don't care! You aren't eating slop tonight! If you don't know what I'm talking about when I tell you to get something, just ask Randy for help, he'll know' I was very flushed for a few reasons. One of them was from running around, and the other was from being around so many guys I liked. I started ordering them around, telling them mostly to get things. Everyone was moving at such pace that we seemed to be flying. I had to cancel the plans I had made earlier because I wouldn't have had enough time to make what I wanted. I thought they would appreciate pasta enough. I had to do some quick calculations since I was cooking for fourteen instead of four, but it was pretty easy. Most of the time I just threw something together and the end result is pretty good. While I poured the sauce over the pasta, I had Randy pull out the bread and told Viole and Miguel to set the table. When they tried to get out, they found the door clogged with people wanting to know what was making their mouths water.
Move it!' I yelled as I ran over. You'll see soon enough! Let them through or no one eats!' That got a quick response. Everyone moved aside and tried to get a peek into the kitchen, but I was standing there as firmly as I could. I glared at them all until they sat down mumbling while their stomachs rumbled. I ran back into the kitchen and tasted the sauce, checked to see if the bread was burned. The bread had turned out golden and crisp on the outside, and I could only hope it was hot and fluffy on the inside. I got a large knife and cut the loaves into slices, careful not to crush it. When I had done that, I had Viole and Miguel take two loaves each and place them at the right intervals on the table. I stuck out my head to warn the others.
If I find that anyone has so much as touched a slice of bread, you'll find your hands next to it!' I threatened. Dilandau guiltily withdrew his hand. I popped back into the kitchen and had Randy take the two rather large bowls of salad. I had saved the best for last. I picked up first one, then the other gigantic bowls of pasta. I opened the door with my hips and walked out, the bowls held where all could see. Viole and Miguel tried to rush up and take at least one, if not both, bowls from me, but I glared at them and they didn't. I heard ahh's all around the table as well as deep sniffs. I set down the bowls on the table and gestured for my helpers to sit down.
Go ahead' I said when no one moved. Dilandau was the first to take a slice of bread and butter it up. He was followed closely by the other Slayers and others still were reaching for the salad and pasta. The pasta was rotini with a meat sauce over it, and it should be really good. I waited until everyone had served themselves to get my food. I started hearing compliments and things like that and I started blushing just a tiny bit. One thing I did notice was that Folken was eating with us, he usually ate on his own. And so went dinner, very delicious if not nutritious.
When dinner was over, I waited at the door for Randy, who managed to be the last out, so I was accepting praise from everyone. He finally came up and I gave him one of those what can you do?' looks. We walked to his room since Dilandau would be in mine, and I sat down on one of the chairs. I was thinking about how to say what I needed to.
Randy?'
Yea'
I have a lot to tell you. First, there is a specific reason you're here, same as with me. With me, I think it was a very good reason. Second, that reason is very important and even though the rest of the Slayers know it, its never to be discussed publicly. Third, I am a commanding officer, but I'm not as harsh as Dilandau and I don't expect total respect. And lastly, our enemies' I told him. He nodded.
One, I don't really know why you're here, but I know why I'm here and I can show you. I'll start where its easiest to understand. Okay. I have a descendant that was from Atlantis, here, they are called Draconians. I don't know much about them, but I do know one thing, they look a lot like angels. Yes, I do have wings, but I'll show you later. Also, that descendant was a legendary warrior, and owner of the Dragon's sword, Iansha' here I pulled out my sword and showed him. I am also known as the Black Dragon, I am a very skilled fighter, moreso than even Dilandau. Now, you have to be here for some reason because I'm guessing that the people who come here, already have some sort of connection to the planet.
Two, the Slayers know of my abilities, but I would prefer you not talk about it with them. This is part of my gift, the sword being another part, my skills being yet another part. I also have the ability to turn into a dragon at my will, though I won't fit in here.
Third, I am your commanding officer, but I do not expect total respect, thought Dilandau does. He must be addressed as either Lord Dilandau or Dilandau-sama. If you don't do what he says right away, there may be consequences. And last but not least, our enemies. They have been disabled and shouldn't attack anytime soon, but I will warn you that they will test your skill to the limit when you fight them. I think that training will start to include group attacks. That's all I have to say, is there anything you need?' Randy looked very stunned. I left and walked to my room. Well, I thought, at least now he knows.
GOSH!! i have to say that is long, i sorry if u no like. i hope u do. I really think I may be over doing it with her abilities, but a buddy says no so, there u go. well, i gotta jet. have no fear!!! the ends not near!! plz R&R!!
-Lil Pyro
