------------------------------------------------Chapter Eleven-----------------------------------------------
The Black Slayer
Chaos and its Story
Jessica
dilly_freak7_7@hotmail.com
--------------------------------

I woke up at around five in the morning, but I wasn't tired at all. It would be another two hours before anyone else was up. When I was stretching, I noticed a black lump of something at the end of my bed so I went to investigate. It was a pile of clothes; pants, long sleeved shirt, cloak, some sort of scarf, and a pair of gloves, and everything was black. On the floor was a pair of soft leather boots that would reach to my thighs, and once again, they were black. I knew no one in Zibach would try to harm me so I pulled on all the clothes. They fit perfectly. The cloak swung down to my ankles, the shirt covered my hands a little, just the way i liked, the boots couldn't be more comfortable, the gloves fit just right, and the pants fit better than custom made. After tying the scarf over my mouth and concealing my face with the hood of the cloak, I fully understood the meaning of the clothes. I liked the whole idea, but what about my wings? How was I supposed to fly?

Here's a map of Gaea and Fanelia' said a voice in my ear. I whirled, my hand automatically going for the sword that wasn't there. I lashed out with my left hand instead, but Dilandau caught it easily.
Don't do that!' I whispered.
You should have noticed. Anyway, here are the maps. For now, head southwest to get to Fanelia and see what you can find out. I guess the idiots that made your shirt didn't know you have wings. Turn around' he ordered. I didn't feel like objecting, so I did. I saw him draw a dagger and turn to my back. He pulled my cloak aside and cut two narrow slits in my shirt for my wings. I turned around again and hugged him.
Thanks' I said.
All right, all right. You should go' he said.
Wish me luck?' I asked.
Good luck' he said. I stood staring at him for a minute before I took the maps from him and, grabbing my sword, took off to get food and supplies.

I was running down a long hall, a bag of supplies slung over my shoulder and the maps clutched in my hand. My sword was wrapped in a black cloth and tied around my torso under my cloak. By now, I had reached the melef hangar and didn't bother stopping before leaping over the railing. My wings burst from my back and I pumped up above the clouds, well out of sight of anyone. I found a thermal and stretched my wings to glide on the warm draft of air. The sky ahead of me was lightening as I flew towards what I hoped was a successful mission. The ground far below me was gradually changing from very thick forest to lush groves, spreading thinner as I flew on. Far in the distance, on the horizon, I saw flat fields of many shades of green and brown. I flew for what felt like five hours: the sun was well past its zenith. My wings weren't staying open very well so I sloped down to the next grove of trees in the land. I spotted a stream near a particularly lush copse and angled towards it. I stretched my wings one last time before they melted into my back with a little difficulty. I set down my bag and took out a travel ration: a small piece of dried meat. I sat at the edge of the stream and chewed at the meat. The small clearing was surrounded with towering red woods and oaks. A few birds were singing and every now and again a wary animal would enter the clearing and drink from the stream. When I finished eating the ration, I dipped my hand in the stream and quenched my thirst.

I left about twenty minutes after stopping and continued towards Fanelia on foot. As soon as I entered the forest, I paused when an interesting thought pushed itself into focus. *If I'm going to get to Fanelia by nightfall, I'm going to have to move a lot faster than I can run. But I can't fly!* I told the part of my mind that knew everything there is to know about who I am and what I can do. ~So don't~ it answered calmly. *Then what do I do??* I asked myself in desperation. ~Use your wolf form~ it answered. *Point taken. Anything else you'd like for me to know?*I said. ~Yes. But that is for a later time~ And it was silent.

I concentrated and, sure enough, I turned into a jet black wolf with a single patch of red fur on my head. I thought I was about five times larger than your average wolf, but I had never been close enough to one to know. My heightened senses told me of the surrounding woods and creatures in them. I took off in the same direction I was going before, going much faster than what I thought possible. The forest flew by and it seemed to part just for me, like the trees were bending aside to make room for me. I didn't stumble once. I soon found myself running over vast plains, barely bending a blade of grass in passing. I didn't pass many villages, but the number of them was increasing as I neared the source. Another five hours later I was still running as the sky darkened. About twenty miles away, I could see the growing light of the city. I was constantly avoiding villages; jumping from roof to roof or simply going around the smaller ones, but my pace never slackened. When I was about half a mile from the city I stopped in another clearing and drank from another stream. I changed back into my human self and ate a piece of meat. I pulled out my blanket and pulled out my sword. Still holding it, I fell instantly asleep.

I woke up again about five hours later. I repacked my bag and ran to the city. I leapt the outer wall easily and landed silently on the other side. I arranged my sword so I could draw it quickly in case of battle and pulled out the map of Fanelia. I cursed my stupidity and blinked, now looking at it with my wolf eyes. The castle was at the center of the city surrounded by several gardens. I folded the map, tucked it into the folds of my shirt, and ran, my cloak trailing behind me.

I reached the castle about ten minutes later and without incident. I vaulted over the last wall and landed in a lush garden on the other side. I made my way swiftly and silently to the main castle, careful not to disturb the moonlit plants. Luckily, I was looking ahead before I burst into a clearing where Van was sitting. He was sitting on a bench in a large courtyard talking to with some girl with short brown hair. I could tell by what they said and the way they sat that they were in love or lovers.
You know that they'll try to capture you' said Van with a look of concern.
I know, but I didn't make the choice to come here' the girl said. She looked about my age.
Still, you need to be careful, Hitomi. Maybe you should sleep in my room' Apparently, the girl didn't see what he meant. Then, to my surprise, the girl looked directly at the bush I was hiding behind.
Van.....' she said.
What Hitomi?' he asked.
There's someone out there' she replied. Her eyes lost their color and her body went stiff. She stayed that way for a few minutes. Van started shaking her when she didn't respond to his voice.
Hitomi? Hitomi! Oh man, not again!' He kept shaking her roughly until her eyes regained their color, though they were full of shock and horror.
Van, I just had another vision. Someone's here, now, and they're going to do something horrible! The flames.........th.......the......blood!' She broke down into tears as she described her vision and began sobbing into her hands. Van tried to comfort her, but she wouldn't have it.
No Van, I have to be strong' she protested. I'm going to tell you what I saw, alright?' He nodded. Okay, here goes. It started with a moonlit night, much like this one, near the sparkling ocean. A water dragon rose up out of the sea and made its way to something large lying on the shore. When it began to inspect the thing, it started screaming, like it was in immense pain. It died on that shore. There was a figure in the darkness with mid back length black, flowing hair that went up to the dragon and took it's energist with a sword that shone with it's own light. The figure watched the dragon disappear and stood before looking at me. They had red eyes full of fire. I only caught a glimpse because everything was engulfed in flames. Then I saw the gatehouse of the castle, full of guards, dead, dying, and.........and.......being killed' she whispered. The figure that had killed the dragon was murdering your guards, more than forty of them, single handed. Van, this person is trouble. I don't want you, or me, to get near any strangers' she concluded. Van thought about this for a minute while I became disinterested. I stopped listening and worked my way around the courtyard to the main gates. I glanced back one last time and finally noticed Van's heavily bandaged hand. I just had to smile. I pull up my scarf to hide it and tied the thing around my face.

I reached the doors and went to the side to keep out of notice of the guards. I saw no other way in and hadn't fought in four long days so I launched a knife at one. I didn't give the other guard time to react to a dagger in his friend's throat before slicing off his head. I retrieved my blade and cleaned it on the guard's clothes. Before moving on, I deprived both of their daggers and slipped in the door. I met another guard at the inner door and silenced his cry of alarm to a gurgle. Alas, it was too late. Even as I cursed my clumsiness, more guards were spilling into the small hall. I grabbed the third guard's dagger and started throwing. The first found its way to an eye, the second to a throat, the third an open mouth, and the fourth, originally mine, embedded itself deep in a man's chest, straight through the heart. *Four down, forty to go.* I pulled Iansha and she rang from her sheath, quivering in anticipation. I sliced three heads off in one quick motion, cut the next clean in half, whirled to plunge the sword through a heart, sliced a throat, separated an arm from a shoulder, and plunged the Dragon's sword through a stomach and ripped up through the man's chest, splitting him literally in half. It seemed to last an hour but must've taken less than ten minutes. All too soon, no more clumsy guards drew swords in vain attempts to stop me. *So the girl had been right* I melted into the shadows just as Van walked in the door with Hitomi close behind. Van turned slightly green before turning dead white while Hitomi was violently sick in a trash can. Allen and that brat of a cat girl ran down the stairs. Allen turned dead white and the cat girl was violently sick in a trash can. I watched from the shadows as they all picked their way through the bodies to the clear spot I had defended just minutes before.
What happened?' asked Van. My best guards, forty of them, dead!' So the girl was right.
And seemingly by one hand' said Allen. But who?'
Dilandau. He's the only one with enough skill. Allen, Hitomi had a vision about ten minutes ago. She saw this happen.' said Van.
Did she see the face of the attacker?' Allen asked after a moment's pause.
No. All we know is that they have red eyes, mid back length black hair, they will or have killed a water dragon, and they're dangerous. We have to do something Allen. And I suggest to start waking up the other soldiers and posting them at all entrances. How Dilandau got in here, I don't know, but he won't get out.'

For a second, this just made me mad. They think I don't have the skill? What idiots! Wait a sec, this could be good. If the only question Dilandau, there are plenty of people who know he's still in the vione. Then they'll have to question different countries. Possible treasons. Chaos.

Has Gadeth returned yet?' Van was asking.
No, but it takes two weeks to get that far so he won't be back for another two weeks. The ball was just four nights ago, so Dilandau couldn't possibly have done this. Besides, he's not this neat' Allen remarked. I stopped listening and crept along the wall to the staircase Allen and the brat had come down. I was soon in a long hall of doors and two were open, so I checked the surrounding rooms. The last one I checked was a study so I quietly shut the door and started searching the room. Most of the officially sealed envelopes were marriage proposals from ally countries. The poor innocent bachelor. One letter did catch my eye. It was from Freid and looked about a week old. I opened it and quickly scanned it. .........urgent..,' ...presence required...' , .....desperate affairs...' I saw enough to notice, so I tucked it into my shirt. I searched the drawers of the desk and found a small key, all alone in a secret compartment in the bottom drawer. It had a small feather engraved into the gold. I spotted a stuffed bird near the fire place and inspected it closely before pushing the head down. A panel slid open in the wall next to the bird, revealing a large blue bag and several pieces of parchment. The bag was full of precious gems; some were rough, some were cut. I pulled out most of the small, cut gems since the rough ones were larger and more valuable. I put all the paper into the bag and dug around the vault some more. Near the back, hidden by the stack of paper was a small box. I opened it with the key to find a single pure white feather along with a blue and green drag-energist. I left the feather and put the energist in the bag. I put the box back in the vault with the key and shut the panel. As the hole was hidden, I heard voices in the hall so I locked the door before stepping onto the balcony. I flipped up to the roof and watched the chaos unfold.

Men were milling around, women were huddled together, young children were running around unattended, the younger were crying, more guards were marching, dignified generals and advisors were yelling at each other but mostly at Van, and everyone else was just confused. I hugged myself at my success. And yet no one noticed the shadow standing tall, watching with calm, malicious eyes. One guard was waving a dagger around looking very mad and confused. *My dagger! I have to get it back!* I tore along the roof and swung down through the last window. A pair of lovers yelped in alarm when I crashed through the glass. I didn't even bother with the door, I just broke it down. It nearly landed on Allen but he jumped out the way just in time. I ran the short distance between the door and the staircase and jumped onto the banister. I slid down into the bloody hall full of dead and very much alive guards. I went straight for one dead guard and pulled my dagger from his chest. The guards were still frozen until Allen's shouts reached their ears.

Stop him! Stop that man!' he screamed as he ran down the stairs. My fighting sense got the better of me and I launched my dagger at him. It buried itself in his thigh and now he screamed in pain. I ran at him and ripped my blade from his thigh while I pulled his am up behind his back. I pushed my dagger into his throat and shouted at the guards now running at me.
Stop! Don't move' I whispered in the dead silence. I cut Allen's sword from its belt and held the blade at his throat again.
Who are you?' Allen asked, looking down all of an inch at me.
Just call me the Black Slayer' I answered. Just then, Van ran through the door and stopped at what he saw. I still had my face covered, so they didn't know who I was. Dragging Allen with me, I calmly walked to the door.
Move' I ordered in a venomous whisper to Van. Of course, he did. I got out the door and everything seemed to stop when I paused in the light flooding from the hall.
This is what happens when certain people intrude some one else's privacy' I said to the gathering crowd. These people shall remain nameless, but I suggest that you find who they are and keep them from doing it again. Farewell, unpleasant dreams!' I finished as a parting blow. My wings appeared and I took off, easily pulling Allen behind me. I flew out over the courtyard and heard arrows whizzing by me, the closest two feet away. I smiled at their brave but stupid attempts and flew to the clearing I had last stopped. I dumped Allen on the ground and got my bag from the tree I had stashed it in. After drinking some water and slapping Allen to get him to shut up, I changed into my dragon form and grabbed Allen to get back to the vione. It took about three hours flying straight to get there, and it was nearly morning when the vione came into sight just over the horizon.

I reached the vione at what I guessed was five in the morning. I flew up into the melef hangar and landed with Allen under one huge claw. Randy came running into the hangar, stopping cold. I changed back into myself just as Dalet and Chesta ran in.
Go tell Dilandau I'm back' Chesta ran off. You two, get a cell ready for our guest and find me something to eat and deliver it to my room' They ran off. I pulled Iansha with my right hand as I hauled a very windswept Allen to his feet by his collar.
Walk' I ordered in a icy tone. I twisted one of his arms up behind his back and shoved him forward. Chesta ran up and motioned for me to follow him. He led me to the door of Dilandau's throne room, bowed, and left. I pushed Allen to the side of the door before opening it.

You're back' Dilandau's voice came from somewhere in the back of the room.
Yes' I replied.
Your mission was a success?' he asked.
With an unexpected bonus' I answered, I dragged Allen into view by his hair.
Captain and commander, how very cute' he said in a half sarcastic, half mocking tone. Allen's eyes widened as he figured out Dilandau had captured his captain. You said your mission was a success?' he asked me. I nodded and tossed him the heavy blue bag. Very nice' he muttered to himself.
What should we do with our guest?' I asked, calmly poking the back of Allen's head with my sword hilt. He glared.
Huh? Oh. Have him imprisoned. Folken should like to question him thoroughly. Have a Slayer on guard at all times. When you've done that, come back here' he finished. I nodded and pulled Allen after me. Randy and Miguel were waiting outside the assigned cell so I shoved Allen in and made sure the door was locked.
Two guards at all times. Let the other Slayers know' They nodded then bowed so I turned and left them to their jobs. As I passed the other cells, I noticed one was occupied. It was the man who's life I had saved two weeks ago. *Was it only two weeks?* It had to be Gadeth. I smiled to myself as I paused, thinking of the possibilities. I stayed too long because the man looked up, only to be extremely startled at what he saw. He started to get up, but I moved on.

I detoured to my room first and found a plate piled high with steaming food next to a large goblet of wine on the wooden table in the center of the room. I grabbed my breakfast and walked back to the throne room. Dilandau was still sitting in his throne, eyes closed, smiling to himself. I set my wine down on the arm of the chair and ate some of my food. Without opening his eyes, Dilandau took a sip of the beverage.
I missed you. Mostly the intelligent conversation and skilled fighter' he said.
I didn't have time to miss anyone' I answered through a mouthful of food.
How many down?' he asked.
50? I don't know exactly, but something around forty attacked me at once'
They didn't have a chance' he smiled as he opened his eyes.
What I found in the king's study was quite interesting. Mostly marriage proposals' Dilandau smirked but one message from Freid caught my eye. , Presence required, such like. Also, a simple vault containing gems, cut and rough, royal documents, a single feather and a drag-energist. All very interesting' I finished. I kept eating my meal, watching for his reaction. There wasn't one. Oh, and this girl was there, Hitomi? She had a vision that predicted my killing spree. She also said that the same person who took the killing spree would kill a water dragon sometime in the future. She might be some sort of trouble' Now the reaction came. His eyes were glittering and a malicious grin spread across his lips.
Fanelia will be in chaos for days. As soon as they can, they'll mount a search for king prettyboy. Van's a fool. You should have brought him instead of Allen. I would've enjoyed killing him and his little bitch' he said in a cold voice.
I'll remember that' I said.
Who knows you attacked?'
Likely only Allen. I don't think Van's smart enough to put two and two together' Dilandau nodded and reached to take another sip of my wine. I knocked his hand away and drank half the beverage in one gulp. No one said you could eat my meal' I said. He laughed at me and pulled my into his lap; plate, goblet and all.
You're too cute' he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
That's only until I pull a blade' I retorted in a devilish tone. I set down the empty dishes and rested my head on his shoulder. Suddenly, I felt very weak; liquid fire was burning its way through my body. I went limp in Dilandau's arms as I fought to control the urge to scream. I started to sweat and my vision was fading. Dilandau noticed and shot up, running to the door. He kicked it down, going as fast as he could to the nearest hospital room. He was yelling orders that I couldn't understand, desperate to keep me safe. Even though these orders were followed immediately, it wasn't fast enough. I started going into convulsions, twitching and jerking in his arms. A group of sorcerers appeared and led us to a closer room, one filled with medical instruments.
I was laid gently on a soft bed and covered with a heavy blanket which was quickly in a heap on the floor. I caught a glimpse of Dilandau's half worried, half outraged face before something entered my neck and I slipped into blissful, numb unconsciousness.
-------------------------------
Lord Dornkirck' the shadow said.
Yes?' The screen fizzed to life.
The experiment is currently underway. The poison has been delivered'
Good work. See that it is complete this time. Do not fail me again'
Yes, milord' the shadow answered. The screen fizzed and popped as it faded to black. A cruel smile spread across the shadow's face. A hand stroked the shadow's sword hilt.
We shall see who survives this time' Manical laughter spread through the halls and drifted to the ears of a boy with red eyes.



ok, no more nice for me. i hurt everyone else, now i'm getting back at myself^-^
-Lil Pyro