Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far:
Naria, emodias, Hitomi-chan, jess 131346, FOX-SPIRIT AKA Y.V, Atrilial, supergirl, Kayura 1, Wing Goddess, rose 101 and Goddess. If I missed anyone, I'm sorry.
Chapter 9: Evil is Let Loose
The following week Van, Hitomi, Merle and Yukari went to Fanelia. Allen was unable to go, had to go to his fortress and help Gaddes train the new recruits. Yukari begged Allen allow her to go with him but he said it wouldn't be long and that once he was finished he would visit her in Fanelia.
Yukari sat alone in her new room in the Fanelian castle. She watched the rain slide down the window. She let out a sigh; she had always hated the rain because it made her feel depressed. She missed Allen. She missed seeing his face in the morning. A knock sounded from the door, breaking her train of thoughts. "Come in," she answered in a monotone voice. Hitomi walked over to her friend.
"Yukari, he'll come back soon so don't worry." she reassured her friend and gave her a hug.
"Thanks Hitomi. I needed that." she said smiling. The thought of him returning to her lit up her day. "Hey Hitomi, how come you're not with Van? Usually you're with him." she asked as she got up from her seat and sat down on the large bed.
"Well his advisors demanded to have a meeting with him. I asked if I could go but he said they forbid women from going." she explained as she took a sat beside Yukari on the bed.
"Your majesty, you are twenty one years of age and not married. Most kings of your age already have a child." the tall scrawny man informed Van in strict tone.
"Yes I know Ferdinand." Van replied with annoyance. "And let me guess, you want me to marry some princess. Some girl I don't even know or love am I right?" they all adverted their eyes from him.
"Well not necessarily your majesty." Van's head shot up at the short stubby advisor's remark. "We want you to marry the Lady Hitomi." Van couldn't believe his ears. His own advisors who had been trying to set him up with numerous princesses and women of noble birth were telling him to marry a woman from the Mystic Moon. "Is something the matter my Lord?" the same short stubby advisor asked.
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just a little shocked that's all." the advisors all inwardly grinned. They knew how much Van loved the Lady Hitomi and they knew he would marry her in a heartbeat. They didn't care where she was from just as long as Fanelia got an heir.
"Well, meeting adjourned." Ferdinand stated as he rose from his seat at the round table.
Dryden sat in his library reading one of his numerous books like he always did on rainy days. He let out a tired sigh. He had read every book in the library at least three times. He sat up from the desk and left the library. On his way out of the castle his wife Millerna stopped him.
"Dryden, where are going in this weather?" she asked as he grabbed his cloak.
"I'm going out to buy some new books." Millerna rolled her eyes. Not again…she thought to herself.
"You and your books." she muttered as she walked away.
Good, the coast is clear, a servant thought to himself as he walked into the library making sure no one was in there. He locked the door behind him and began to search the library for a certain book. Right when he was ready to give up, he found the book he was looking for. "Yes!" He exclaimed to himself quietly. He wrapped the red leather book in a brown cloth and hid it under his clothing. He left the library making sure he wasn't being followed.
Once out side of the castle he stole a black horse and rode off. He rode all day till late afternoon when he arrived at a large, black and towering fortress. Two guards escorted him to the large throne room where a young woman sat on her large throne chair. He bowed down to her.
"Why are you here Shifter?" she asked calmly as she slipped some red vino from a small golden chalice.
"I have found the book." he hissed. Her eye filled with joy.
"Bring it here." she commanded. He took the book out from under his clothing, unwrapped it and handed it to her. A large grin formed on her face.
"Very good my humble servant. You'll be rewarded for this." she said and snapped her fingers. A guard walked over to her holding a small bag. "Here are 500 golds. Take it and go." she said handing him the bag. He took it and left as she had said. Now all I need is the pendent then he'll be mine! All mine! She thought with a large grin.
The following afternoon Van, Hitomi, Yukari and Merle sat in on of the courtyards enjoying the wonderful weather. It was a clear sunny day with a soft, refreshing breeze. Van practised his archery skills and the tree young women watched him carefully. Merle insisted they do so. She knew it annoyed Van when he was being watched.
"Why are you three watching me?" he asked calmly as he aimed his arrow at the target.
"It's just so amazing to see Van-sama." Merle purred.
"Well I can't concentrate while you watch me." he said letting go of the arrow. The arrow flew across the courtyard and missed the target. "You see." he said with annoyance.
"Well fine then Van, we'll just have to find some other guy to look at then." Hitomi said as she and the other two girls stood up. Van could feel jealousy slowly over coming him.
"Fine, you can watch." he sighed with defeat. Hitomi smiled with victory. She knew he would get jealous.
Excellent, they're all outside. One of the handmaidens thought to herself. She slowly crept into Van's bedroom. She searched all of his draws. Damn it! Where is that stupid thing?! She wondered with anger. She walked over to the bed and lifted one of the pillows and found nothing. She continued to check under every pillow on his bed. Yes! I found it! She picked up a golden necklace with a red gem attached to it. She quickly stuffed it into a pocket and made sure the room was in complete order. She left and headed to the stables where a black horse stood waiting for her return. She jumped onto it and galloped away. As the horse left she began to change her shape, she was now a being wearing a long dark cloak. The being rode it's horse till it came to a large black fortress. It walked into the throne room.
"Your highness, I have to item you have asked for." he said holding out the necklace in his black hand. She looked at one of her guards who then immediately walked over to the being and took the necklace then placing a brown leather bag in the out stretched hand.
"In there are 500 golds. That is your reward. Now leave." she said as the guard handed her the necklace. She got up from her throne and walked down a maze of corridors to come to two large oak doors. She opened them with little effort and shut them immediately. "Mother!" she hollered at the large mirror on her wall.
"What is my dear darling daughter?" she asked as her image appeared in the mirror.
"I got what you wanted." she stated holding the book and pendent. A large smile grew on her young looking face.
"Open the book and turn to the page where it says in large words 'Freeing' " Siren searched the book and found the page.
"Now what?" she asked holding the book in her left arm and the pendent in her right hand.
"Read the spell and hold the pendent towards me." she said with excitement. Finally I'll be free! Free to create havoc! She thought with a large grin. Siren did as her mother told her and read the spell to the best of her ability. The pendent began to glow a bright pink colour. Then a pink beam of light shot out from the pendent and straight towards the large mirror. The force of the beam caused it to shatter into a million pieces.
"Oh no!" Siren yelled. The pink beam disappeared. "I must have read the wrong spell! Shit!" she continued to yell in frustration.
She tossed the book and pendent onto her bed and began to leave her room. As she did she could faintly hear her mother's evil laughter. She stopped and looked back at the shards of broken mirror on the ground. A black mist rose from the pile and began to take on the form of a woman wear a long dress. The mist disappeared leaving a woman standing their. She wore a long black gown and a black corset. Embroidered on her corset were two swords crossed to look like an X with blood dripping off of them. She also wore a golden taira with a large oval black jewel in it. She looked much like Siren, her daughter.
Siren was shocked that the spell had actually worked. "Mother, now it's your turn to hold up your end of the bargain." She said seriously.
"Oh yes, now hand me that book and pendent." Siren did as her mother asked. She walked over to a large oak desk and flipped though the book. Siren stood there waiting impatiently. Her mother took a piece of parchment, a dish of ink and a feather and began to scribble a few things down. "Here, have your men find these. I need them to conquer." she said handing the piece of parchment to Siren.
"Conquer?" she asked puzzled. Oh shit! Why did I have to say that!? Siren's mother thought to herself. Now I need an excuse...
"To conquer the heart of this young boy you fancy." Siren nodded and left. That was close, a little too close.
A/N: Ya I know this chapter seems short and rushed but oh well, you'll just have to live with it. I'll try to get chapter 10 up for tonight. So let's see…..only about 6 more chapters left and it's finished. Then I'll probably work on rewriting the sequal.
