Chapter 5: The Cure
Allen sat and waited impatiently for Merle to come back with Millerna. He stood leaning against the bedpost, resting his hand loosely on the hilt of his sword. The soft sound of Hitomi's voice broke the silence in the tense air. "Van… Allen… please help…" at the sound of her desperate plea, Allen rushed over to her side and gently caressed her face, wiping away her tears.
Millerna, followed by Merle, entered the dark bedroom. She walked towards Allen in a hurry. "Allen, what's the matter? Merle said it was urgent and didn't explain." Millerna asked with much concern. He looked down at Hitomi then back at Millerna.
"It's Hitomi, she was asleep but when Merle tried to wake her she wouldn't wake." Millerna moved towards the sleeping young woman and felt her forehead. She felt normal, there seemed to be nothing wrong. Millerna stood there and thought to herself until it hit her.
"I'm not sure, but I remember hearing about people being drawn into a world of dreams and nightmares. From what I can remember, if you're drawn into the world of nightmares, whatever happens to your body there, will become a reality and…" she stopped and bit her lip.
"And what?" Merle asked.
"And most people who are brought to the world of nightmares usually never wake up or end up dying…"
"Oh no! We can't let that happen!" Merle yelled. "Millerna, how do you get drawn into the world of nightmares?" Merle asked in distress.
"Well, from what I can remember, usually someone has to call these people known as the dream weavers. The person who called them tells them who they want to be brought the world of dreams or nightmares." Millerna explained.
"Is there anyway to get her out of the world of nightmares?" Allen asked Millerna, gently grabbing hold of her soft hands. She blushed lightly.
"I have no clue Allen. But, maybe princess Siren knows." she said.
"Why do you say that?" Merle asked suspiciously.
"Well, she's from the country Searica. The people there are known for being experts in the craft of magic." Merle didn't like the idea.
"Well I don't think she would want helps us even if she knew." Merle said in a matter-of-factly way.
"Why do you say that?" Millerna asked, knitting her eyebrows together.
"Well because I know for a fact that she doesn't like Hitomi. I heard her myself tell someone in her mirror to get rid of the girl here on Gaea."
"Merle she could of been referring to anyone-" Merle cut her off.
"She said, "get rid of the girl here on Gaea. Then I shall have the real Van to myself." Who else would be stopping her from have Van-sama?" Merle asked raising her voice slightly.
"I'll go talk to Dryden, you two try to wake her up or something." Millerna said as she left the room.
"Hang in there Hitomi, everything's gonna be okay…" Merle said in a comforting manner. Oh Van-sama, please come back, we need you, Hitomi needs you…
Millerna and Dryden frantically searched through dozens and dozens of books in Dryden's study trying to find out how to break the spell. "I know I have a book on dream weavers somewhere…" Dryden mumbled. "Ha! I found it!" he exclaimed victoriously.
Millerna ran over to her husband and peeked her head over his shoulder. "What does it say?" she asked brushing the hair out of her face.
"This isn't good,"
"What is it Dryden?"
"Well, it say's true love's touch will break the spell..."
"I'll go and tell the others." Millerna said softly before leaving and heading down the corridor back to Hitomi's room.
"Miss Hitomi, it's time for your punishment." a relatively small man, clad in a long black robe hissed.
"Pu-punishment? F-for wh-what?" Hitomi stuttered, fearing what the answer maybe.
"For loving Van Slanzar de Fanel." a bunch of other men, dressed the same way but who were taller, entered the cage and carried her out. They carried her to a dark musky room where they strapped her facing against a brick wall.
"What are you gonna do to me?" she asked fearfully.
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough Miss Hitomi." the small man replied as he let out an evil laugh. One of the taller men unhooked a long leather whip from his belt. He griped handle tightly and with a forceful swing of his arm, he began to whip Hitomi's back. Hitomi tried to be strong and hold her ground as the whip viciously tore her skin. Her attempt failed as she cried out in pain and agony.
Hitomi's room was silent until a loud, high-pitched scream came from her. Allen rushed over to her side. Her body turned so she laid on her stomach, only to reveal whip marks across her back. It was all too much for Merle to watch; she couldn't see her like this. Millerna ran into the room and told them that the only way to break the spell is through love's touch. Merle's eyes widened.
"Someone needs to get Van-sama back! He can break the spell!" Merle shouted in realization. Allen volunteered to go to the Mystic Moon. Even though he had no clue as to how to get there, he was willing to try.
With that said, Allen rush out of the room and into the courtyard. The mysterious pillar of light descended from the heavens and surrounded Allen, whisking away to the Mystic Moon.
Van and Yukari saw the pillar of light through the window on the dorm. "It looks like it landed on the track field!" Yukari exclaimed, hoping it was the real Hitomi who had returned. The two ran out of the dorm and to the field.
"Allen, what are you doing here?" Van asked a little disappointed. He was hoping it was Hitomi had returned. His beauty stunned Yukari; she felt as if she had fallen in the love. He looked like and angel.
"Van, you're needed on Gaea now!" he shouted.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Hitomi…" he began.
"What's wrong with Hitomi?" Yukari demanded. Allen looked at the strange girl, wondering when she had appeared.
"Who are you?" he asked
"I'm Yukari and I'm Hitomi's best friend." she said blushing. Hitomi was right, this Allen guy is hot! She thought to herself. Before anyone could say another word, the same pillar of light surrounded them and swept them away to Gaea. They landed not too far from the Asturian palace. Yukari could not believe she was on Gaea. It was so beautiful. Both Allen and Van noticed that Yukari had come with them but had no time to talk. They had to save Hitomi. Allen led the way to the palace.
"So, how did you enjoy your whipping Miss Hitomi?" the small man asked in a hiss the tired woman. She was released of the straps and fell to the ground.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Hitomi asked trying not to shed any more tears. The little man laughed that annoying evil laugh.
"We're just following order's Miss Hitomi." he said as he was handed a long, thin cane.
"Who's orders?" she asked just before he hit her with cane. She cried out in more pain.
"Our master, princess Siren." he said as her hit her again. One of the other large men in the room walked over to Hitomi and grabbed her by the neck, holding her up against the cold stonewall. Hitomi cried out in pain as she could feel the man's icy hands squeeze her neck tighter.
Allen, Van and Yukari dashed down the hallway to Hitomi's room. Her face had started to turn blue, there wasn't much time left. When Yukari saw her friend's condition, she loss consciousness. Allen caught her just in time. Merle ran up to Van and looked at his left cheek and smiled. "It's really you Van-sama!" she squealed as she hugged him tightly. The hug didn't last long though. She quickly let go of him and left the room with the others.
Van walked over to Hitomi's bedside. He placed his hand in hers. He saw the whip marks across her back, the bruises on her legs, and her face turning a light blue. When I find out who's done this to you, I swear, they'll never see the light of day ever again, he vowed to himself as he placed his lips on her's. Hitomi then began to stir and the blue colour faded from her face. Her eye's slowly opened to see Van sitting by her. She wasn't sure if it was the real Van or not.
"V-v-van?" she stuttered. "Is it r-r-really y-you?" she asked as tears rolled down the side of her face. Merle stuck her head into the room and saw Hitomi sitting up right.
"You guys! She's awake!" Merle yelled. Everyone's face's lightened up and they entered the room. Hitomi was laying on her stomach as Van ran his fingers through her long sandy blond hair. Millerna walked over to Hitomi's bedside and examined her injuries.
Allen held Yukari in his arms and looked to Dryden. He didn't need to say anything; the look on his face asked Dryden the question on his mind. "There's a spare room down the hallway." Dryden answered the heavenly knight. Allen whispered a quick thank you and carried the young woman in his arms to a spare room in the palace. He laid her gently on to the large bed and tucked her in.
"Um, your highness," a voice sounded from Siren's Mirror.
"Yes, what is it?" she asked as she rose from her bed and walked over to the mirror.
"Um, the dragon has returned."
"Oh good-" she began
"But, the girl has awaken from the world of nightmares."
"What!?!" Siren yelled. "How?!?" she demanded. "No one can survive there!!"
"The King of Asturia, King Dryden, figured out how to break the spell in one of his books in the library."
"Well, I guess we have to leave and go back to the fortress before anyone finds out about me." she sighed. "Now, go and get the illusionist. They will not be needed now." she snapped her finger's and her hair changed from copper to ebony, her eyes changed from icy blue to lifeless black and her scarlet dress changed to a long silky black gown that trailed on the ground. "They may have won this battle, but they have not won the war!" she laughed as she disappeared.
A/N: Hiya! I'm so happy that I was able to get this chapter edited and shit for tonight! I thought I wouldn't get it done but I did! YAY! Well hope ya enjoyed and I'll try to get the next chap up for Monday.
