A.N. Hello I'm back again. God if weren't for the fact that the two people who reviewed are excellent authors, then I'd feel that my story sucked. But oh well, I know it's not bad. It's just very different. So anyway to my favorite and only reviewers, ChibiTari and Zadien, all I have to say is: Go raibh maith agat, mo chairde!

Disclaimer:

{Amber} Um, what are we doing here again?

{Miyami} Must be the second chapter of Spitty's fic.

{Amber} Oh. *looks over her shoulder* At least Kai's not here.

{Miyami} I'm supposed to be starring in ChibiTaris' fic, I should really be there now.

{Amber} Hey at least you're only in the first part of this chapter. You get to head back early, I'm stuck in here for the rest of the chapter,and Zadien will be looking for me shortly.

{Skip} Don't understand what you two are complaining about, you get to star in your authoresses stories while guesting in friends fics, I'm not even playing lead in Spitty's fic, and my characters out of wack!

*Amber and Miyami shake their heads*

{Miyami} Listen Skip, you're new. We're veterens you can learn a lot from us.

{Sae} Hey I'm back. Okies so places everyone.

*Cast of beyblade plus OC's grumble*

{Sae} OK, I don't own Beyblade or it's characters. Miyami belongs to ChibiTari, Amber and Ruin belong to Zadien, while Sonia belongs to me. So here's the next chapter of:

Destroying my spirit, Stealing my heart.

By: Spitfire_Sae

Chapter two: Queen among peasants

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A figure sat clad in black on the back of a raven black horse. Silver eyes watched a ruined fortress below the entrance to the woods the horse hesitated in front of. The fortress had once been her home, the Kinomiya castle, but it was destroyed just as everything else was in this world. Her family was kept prisoner in the dungeons. Well three fifths of it was anyway. Her two older brothers had managed to escape to join the rebels but she heard from other prisoners in the dungeons that both her brothers had been slain in battle against the Biovolt army. She hadn't had time to grieve them then, but she could mourn their deaths now. But she wouldn't shed tears over it; that would be a waste of bodily fluids. Instead she would concentrate on revenge.

Vengeance would be hers. For her brothers, her mother who had died of hunger in the dungeons, her sister who'd been taken as a whore for the Biovolt army and for her father. Her only true surviving family. She would get him back. She would return him to his throne and she would destroy Voltaire. Not single handily of course, she wasn't that naive. But she would seek help from the rebels. The Kon Empire hadn't been of any help to her territory. It had pained her to see her whole empire captured. She could still remember the night so vividly.

####FLASHBACK####

Princess Miyami Kinomiya rolled over in her bed in an effort to drown out the noise that was plaguing her sleep. Surely it wasn't morn yet. She had only gotten to sleep and she refused to give up on the dreams of the cute prince she imagined she'd be betrothed to. Growling in her sleep, she stuffed her head under the pillow as a bang exploded somewhere in the distance. Still half asleep she tried to keep a hold on the lingering dream.

The door to her room burst open and there was a slap of footsteps on the wooden boards of her floor.

"Miyami!", someone hissed.

Again Miyami groaned, murmured something inaudible and tried to snuggled further under her comforter.

"Mimi, wake up!"

"Go away. I beg of you, go far, far away."

"We're under attack. Arise!", instead of waiting for the words to be processed through the young princesses mind, the maid grabbed the comforter and yanked it from the young womans body.

The cold air surrounded the princess who shivered as though she'd been dunked in ice cold water. Her eyes snapped open and she looked round the darkened room, her silver eyes making out the silhouette of her maid.

"Mariah, pray tell, what is the meaning of this? It isn't even dawn yet, why do you disturb my sleep?"

"I'm sorry mistress but the keep is under attack. You father begs you to leave now. I will accompany you to the perimeters of the empire then you will be on your own."

"No, I will not desert my family."

"You must my princess. If you don't, who knows what will happen to the Kinomiya empire?"

"It will fall into Lord Voltaire's' hands. Like every other territory. And it won't matter whether I'm in the dungeons or not."

Mariah wrinkled her nose in defeat, then sighing she tucked her larger than life pink hair away from her face, behind her ear. Miyami rolled out of the bed still in her nightgown and groped blindly for something to wear while Mariah pulled her long silver hair back from her face. Finally dressed she sought out her knapsack containing the weapons her older brothers taught her to use; her throwing knives and her mace. Hefting her mace in her hand she hurriedly led Mariah out of the room towards the conference room. As she stormed down the corridor she was joined by Captain Li, who carried his own knife.

"Princess, I have orders to remove you from the castle.", the man with the wild dark charcoal gray hair and eyes the colour of burnt honey ordered with a gruff voice.

"Try it Li, and I will hurt you.", she threatened keeping her voice low.

"But princess....", he trailed off at the dark look she sent him.

"Since my brothers have left I will be heir to the throne since my sister has no such delusions of grandeur.", she paused at the large oak door to the conference chamber and glanced at Li. "If you want to remove some one from the castle, take Mariah, Li. I don't want her to be hurt."

Mariah made a noise of protest but silenced at another dark look from the heir to the throne.

"You have served me too long and too well, for me to let you stay here and risk getting hurt. Leave now Li and take Mariah with you.", with that as her final orders, she swung open the large doors and entered the chamber.

Mariah and Li watched their brave princess and friend stalk off, then Li ushered Mariah away from the door and they hurried down the corridor, their hearts filled with sorrow.

Heads turned as Miyami strode into the chamber. Her father shook his head. "Miyami I thought I gave Captain Li express orders for your removal from the castle."

"I'm the heir to the throne father and I will not leave this castle or these people in their hour of need.", her voice rose over the loud explosions and all the screams from the soldiers fighting the Barons army. She knew it wouldn't be enough, her armies would fold because they didn't have enough forces and because many of them were afraid of the Baron, and the myths surrounding him.

Her father dragged his hand through his navy hair and sighed heavily, regarding his young daughter dressed in blue pants, a pair of supple; knee length; leather; brown boots and a sky blue top with a silk white cover. It was a cross from what she was wearing to dinner earlier that night and what she wore when she was wearing for training that morning. Too keep herself warm she wore a dark brown cloak pulled round her tightly. On her wrists she wore a wrist sheaths which held her throwing knives, and she held her mace tightly in a white knuckle clench, showing her anger at her territory of being invaded. Her silver eyes were now crimson with rage, and her canine fangs were bared. Her silvery blue hair was pulled back from her face revealing her pretty face which now wore an expression of quietly controlled rage.

There was another explosion only this time it was much nearer. "Sire we must leave now.", one of his bodyguards ventured.

Before the King could make a reply, there was a creak as the door burst open and the princess made her way out of the room and down the corridor. She glanced down the corridors pacing herself, waiting for the enemy to reach her. She could hear voices shouting and the clang of swords up ahead of her. She was ready; when she rounded the corridor; when an enemy soldier pounced on her as an easy target. Miyami ducked and wasted no time swinging her mace into his face. There was a crack as his nose and various other bones smashed under the iron of her weapon. Her opponent screamed and fell to the floor. She stepped over him, not worrying about him too much as she knew, the force of the blow she gave him would be enough to send the nose fragments into his brain destroying the vital organ.

Another man came at her, but this one was a little more cautious having seen his comrade at her feet. She weighed him up with a cool gaze and waited for him to come to her. It was defensive fighting. And of course he came. He swung his sword down at her face, but she parried. He thrust again, again she parried. This kept going for a few more minutes. He went on the defensive while she defended herself and her home. Finally growing bored, she ducked down in a twirl and swung her mace up and into the abdomen. The air whooshed out of his lungs, as the sword clattered to the floor. Kicking it out of her way, she spiraled up and slammed the weapon into his head. He collapsed with a cry.

Gathering momentum she suntered down the corridor, keeping a watch on what was going on around her. She could hear more screams coming from all around her. There was a shout and whirling round she caught sight of a archer making his way towards her. She knew she wouldn't reach him in time to bury her iron weapon into him, so instead she released one of her blades in her arm. With expertise and pin point accuracy she'd gained over the years, she let the blade fly and it slid effortlessly into the mans forehead through his skull. She thanked her uncle for finding the sharp almost unstoppable metal for her blades. They had saved her life many times.

She walked forward to retrieve the blade. They were too important, for her to let them be left in some persons head. As she slid the knife back into her sheath, she heard a noise behind her. Whirling round, mace in the air ready to attack whoever should attack her from behind. Then everything had gone black.

####END OF FLASHBACK####

Miyami sighed heavily. The next thing she had known was waking up in the dungeons. Her mother and sister had been captured on their way away from the castle as had her father. She had been the only one to stay and fight for her people. She couldn't hold that against her family, they'd wanted to live. While in the dungeons she'd made alliances with some of the other prisoners and they had shared their information of the outside world with her, and though most of the news had been bad. She had been glad of the connection. Then one night she'd awoken to find a woman clad in black wandering round the dull chamber.

She had approached her, smiled and said: "You're work is not quite done yet.", she'd whispered and with that cryptic comment, she'd disappeared.

Well the woman hadn't but the dungeon had. Instead Miyami had found herself in a cave not far from her family home. It had frightened her at first, then she realized that she was free to help her family be free again. She still had a quest to carry out. So now she spurred her horse round, intent on finding the rebel base and enlisting their help.

Just as she was about to enter the forest she heard a growl behind her. Her hand unconsciously felt for her mace. Then her gaze fell on two red eyes watching her from the shrubbery. Then suddenly they were gone. Placing the vision down to exhaustion Miyami carried on into the forest. She'd find the rebels and she'd restore her home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Amber, wait for me?"

Amber turned round at the voice and sighed as she watched Sonia Martini stumbled towards her ladened down with numerous books, she had taken from the archive. She was a strange girl Amber mused but a good friend, loyal and trustworthy. Trust though was something Amber wasn't at all sure off, after that extremely weird dream. But Sonia wasn't someone who inspired fear. She was short and skinny, with hardly any meat. You could barely see that she had any muscle in her. She had large sapphire blue eyes, and tan skin stretched over a sharp bone structure. Her hair was vibrant garnet streaked with gold by the sun, cut along her shoulders. As she approached she sniffled and huffed lugging the books along.

"Blessed Be Amber.", she greeted breathlessly, "Where might you be of to in such a hurry?"

She watched Amber with eager eyes. She believed Amber was one of the most exciting people she had ever had the pleasure of knowing. She always knew what she wanted and she was never afraid to voice her opinion. And she always stood up for what was right and she was always ready to help someone in need. And she could fight. Sonia wished her life was a little bit exciting, maybe if she lived with Boris or had an evil sibling. And Amber also had no parents, though Sonia couldn't imagine ever not having parents. It wasn't right. But if she couldn't have an exciting life then she'd just tag along to someone who did. Plus Amber also had better clothes.

Amber looked down at Sonia and sighed. "Blessed be Sonia. I'm going to visit Ruin."

She watched as Sonia's eyes rounded.

Ruin was another exciting person, some said she was a sorceress while others said she was the daughter of light and others said she'd been forged from the fires of hell. Sonia didn't know what she believed but Ruin always had exciting things to talk about. Like her travels and once she had heard Ruin talk of a man in another territory. But she wasn't permitted to repeat things that vulgar. Besides it could and would get Ruin into trouble if Sonia were to repeat it and she didn't want to get Ruin into trouble.

Amber regarded Sonia almost pitifully. She had such a boring life and she was like Amber a social outcast because of her love of the old days and because of her illness, though no one wished to speak of it.

"Do you wish to come with me, Sonia?"

Sonia looked down sheepishly. "If you do not mind."

"Of course I do not mind. Come on.", Digging her hands deep into the pockets on her coat, she started up the street with Sonia by her side.

They met up with Ruin in the local market and they decided to go to the woodland areas.

As they walked up the street Amber became highly aware of someone watching them laughing and talking about Ruin's earlier adventures. Ruin must have sensed it too as she glanced over her shoulder before nudging Amber. Amber looked behind them and noticed him standing by the local store watching them. She groaned angrily and spun round, still with her hands in her pockets. She waved her friends on and walked back to him. He watched her with those lilac eyes that made her squirm just looking at him.

"Bryan, stalking is a criminal offense, even in this dictatorship."

"I'm just looking out for my dear sister."

"Hmmm, more like hoping that I'll drop dead, or for some way for you to hand me over to

the Baron for treachery, more like."

He shrugged. "What would it take for you to be just a little nicer to me?"

"How about a personality transplant?"

He laughed bitterly, before pushing away from the wall and going the opposite way. She watched him go with sickening dread. This wasn't going to be helpful, if he was going to keep watching her at all times. No in fact it was going to make things more difficult. She groaned and turned round to her friends. As she joined them, Ruin turned to her.

"What did he wish from you?"

"To let me know that he is watching me."

"That is not good. If he sees what Ruin does, he will surely turn her over to the Baron. She will be executed.", Sonia murmured.

"The Spirits will protect her!", Amber replied.

"There is only so much the Spirits can protect you from, when you are not watching out for yourself. You must never be careless with your gift.", the last bit she directed at Amber.

Amber averted her gaze from the intensity of Ruin's eyes. She focused her attention on the architecture of the Baron's mansion on the hill overlooking the town. It was tall and sturdy. There were turrets at every corner, like look outs in every direction. The bricks were golden colored, and the windows were black and reflected nothing. They were to let the light in, but not people's vision in. There was a wall surrounding it with barbed wire along the top and every so often you could catch a glimpse of the head of one of the guards on sentry duty. On dark days such as today the place looked evil and cold. There was an aura of something raw and corrupt surrounding the place. Amber hugged herself to suppress a shudder, but in vain.

"I hate that place.", Sonia murmured.

"It is not the place that is evil.", Amber answered voice equally quiet.

"Is it not?", Ruin asked gravely.

The two younger girls looked at her bewildered.

"Can the terrain be evil?", Sonia asked eyes never leaving the mansion boundaries.

Ruin inhaled deeply. "The element of Terra can be used for whatever purpose, good or evil, but this terrain I believe is quite strange."

They stood watching the mansion outlined by the bleak gray background. There was a military trudge of feet behind them, and their heads shot round. There marching towards them were men clad in red and gray, with swords dangling at their sides. The three girls quickly walked towards them, heads down. As they passed Amber cast a glance over her shoulder. She looked round and breathed a sigh of relief as Bryan seemed distracted momentarily by the Biovolt shoulders. Grabbing Ruin and Sonia, she ducked down a side alley which led to the river.

Finally they arrived at the River. Ruin walked to the bank and knelt there trailing her fingers through the running water. She smiled softly, letting the coolness of the water refresh her. Eventually she stood up and wiped her hands on her skirt. She turned and watched as Amber walked down the bank a little. Ruin followed her and Sonia tagged along. Amber walked somberly, eyes fixed on a small area ahead of her that reminded her of her dream. She came to a stop by the stone, her stone. She looked down at it then gazed across the water to the other banks. Ruin came up beside her, and as she did she felt the pull of the power. It was almost visible around her, she could feel her hands waving through it, like hands through water.

"Amber why did you bring us here, to this spot in particular?"

Amber shrugged suddenly looking lost. "I don't know why I brought you. I come here every night."

Sonia gasped. "But the Curfew?"

Amber shook her head. "Not physically Son, in my dreams. This is the spot I come to, to talk to my parents."

Ruin nodded. She had guessed this before, but hadn't known quite how close her guess was. But she could see now, more to the point she could feel it. The air was heavy, it coated her lungs thickly, making it difficult to breath, yet Amber and Sonia moved through it quite easily. She wished to ask Amber some questions but one look at Amber's forlorn expression, she decided to let the young girl get everything off her chest.

"Last night....", she trailed off and looked round confused, clutching her staff close to her chest.

"Last night wasn't like the other nights was it, Amber?", Ruin prompted.

Amber whirled surprised. "How did you know?"

Ruin started at the suspicion in her young friends tone. What had happened last night to make Amber suspicious? It was a good thing, no doubt about that for she wasn't as trusting as usual, but she was suspicious of her friends and that wasn't good.

"You said something about last night before you trailed off Amber."

Amber glanced at her curious. "I did?"

Sonia nodded.

"Oh. Well. I had the dream last night. I came here and approached the stone. My staff was lying by the stone. I thought this weird, this place in my dream has always been a place of sanctuary, no need for weapons. But well last night my staff lay by the stone. I paid no heed, just sat down on the stone and waited for my family.", she paused.

"What happened? Didn't they come?", Sonia asked breathlessly.

"Hmm? No a strange warrior came.", Amber's voice was high pitched and confused.

"How strange?", Ruin moved closer, and laid a comforting hand on her friends shoulder.

Amber turned round to look at Ruin, her blue eyes clouded. "I think it was a spirit. At least that's what it told me. It just doesn't make sense, does it?"

"It doesn't.", Ruin said more to herself than anyone else.

Sonia looked at Ruin. "Beg your pardon Ruin, but what was it then, in her dream?"

"Excuse me?"

"You said it doesn't make sense that it was a spirit, but what else could it be?"

Ruin frowned. "I'm not sure.", she looked at Amber. "What else happened?"

Amber looked torn, as though she was having an internal battle with herself. Finally making up her mind, she sat down on the rock.

"He warned me not to be too trusting, then he was torn from me. Something came after him, I tried to help him but I couldn't reach him. I couldn't help him. I couldn't...."

Ruin stared at her. So the spirit had made Amber suspicious of every one. Well that explained one thing, but what had come after the spirit. She must have been in another dimension, that was the only plausible explanation, though Ruin couldn't boast any knowledge about other dimensions, but that seemed to be where the spirit was. But the veil must have been thin as it seemed to be communicating with Amber. And if the spirit could communicate with Amber then that meant that whatever was with him in that dimension could communicate with someone on this side aswell. Oh, this did not bode well. Not at all. She needed to get in touch with her spirit. Oh she could not do that either. She sighed heavily. Things did not bode well at all.

"I fear for my safety, Ruin. Bryan is home and he has made it clear that he does not want me here."

Amber's eyes filmed over and her vision blurred. She stared across the river to the spot where Saizo had stood. A figure was standing there again. Amber blinked and a tear spilled over and trailed down her cheek. She wiped it away and blinked a few times believing that it was just a figment of her imagination. But when she looked up again it was still there.

"Saizo.", she whispered.

The figure on the opposite bank smiled and nodded.

"I thought you were taken."

Saizo shook his head. Sonia glanced at Ruin, and gestured to Amber. Ruin shrugged and motioned for Sonia to be quiet. Something was obviously talking to Amber and it seemed only Amber could see it. Ruin turned her head hoping that maybe she'd be able to see it out of peripheral vision. She could almost see a blurry figure with golden and clad in white armor trimmed with metallic red, silver and greeny/blue.

"What happened?"

"We can not speak out loud here. I will communicate with you telepathically."

Amber frowned hearing his voice in her head, then thought. "Fine. Then what happened?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"Why can't we speak out loud? I trust my friends."

"Yes you may trust them, but that does not mean that they won't betray you. Heed my words, I do not want them to hear what we are saying. Mark my words the eyes of the enemy are every where."

Amber looked around her, then back to Saizo. She noticed the array of spirits surrounding him, varying from a red phoenix, to a white tiger and on to a large purple turtle. "Who are they?"

"Do you not remember them?"

Amber nodded, she remembered. When she'd been a child she had played with them instead of dolls. They had kept her company during her lonely child hood and she had forgotten them as she grew older.

"They've been watching you. Making sure you are safe. Unfortunately you need to go. We will talk later Amber. Remember we are always with you, I will not desert you."

Amber nodded mustering up a smile. With that as his parting Saizo disappeared. Amber's head shot up. Her eyes pinned Ruin and Sonia where they stood.

"Was that the spirit?"

"I'd prefer it if we never spoke of this ever again, Sonia."

Sonia's eyes widened at the threatening tone in Amber's voice. She nodded quickly. "Of course."

Ruin stepped forward cautiously. Amber whipped round to fix her gaze on her then she sighed heavily and stood up. "I need to go to work. I'll see you two later."

"At the meeting?", Sonia asked.

Amber and Ruin looked down, their shoulders slumped. "Thank you for reminding us."

"I hate the rallies. I'm sure that Voltaire is slowly brainwashing us."

Ruin shook her head. "I do not doubt that but we both have strong minds and it will take a lot more meetings to break them. Anyway I'll be out of the town for the next meeting."

Amber stared at Ruin. "When are you leaving?"

"In a couple of days."

"But you've only been here for a day. Where will you go?"

"Where ever I am needed. Do not worry Amber, I will never be far from you."

Sonia watched the exchange with interest. Amber always disliked it when Ruin went and left her in Vesta on her own. Sonia knew she wasn't much of a consolation friend compared to Ruin, who understood everything that was going on with Amber. Ruin could explain things to Amber that no other could. Hence why Sonia was nothing compared to Ruin.

"But you won't be here. I won't be able to deal with Bryan on my own Ruin."

"You must. If I stay here I will surely end up in the gallows!"

"Fine! I have to go to work."

***

Amber knocked on the heavy oak door with the large brass knocker. The door vibrated with the force of each knock. There was a thud and a curse. Amber winced then stepped back from the door fearing the wrath from whoever opened the door. The house wall consisted of Ivory and Onyx walls, it boasted wealth and aristocracy. It belonged to Countess Hortense Malkovich, one of the richest patrons in the town. She was rumored to be some relation of Amber's father hence why Amber had been given a job here when she turned 7, with no questions asked, yet she never showed any signs of affection to the lonely young girl who had helped clean her house for more than a decade. As she waited, she surveyed the garden. It was large, and the fountain was the center focus in the Garden. It was made of onyx and there was a decoration of Red Obsidian, there were intricate carvings along the base. The flowers were large and wild rose hip red, there pollen was heavy and intense, as far as Amber knew they were the only variety of flowers which could be grown in a garden on this planet. She had read often enough of millions of flowers that people used grow on Earth and also how they had competitions over who had the best garden. The only kind of gardening you could have a competition over here on Chyan was landscaping.

There was a rattle of the handle, a click and a shudder followed by the door creaking open. Amber looked round and then up at the large woman framed in the doorway. She was tall and very plump, her figure wasn't helped by the clothes she wore. A long mauve dress with white flowers, a pair of tan pantyhose's which fell in folds at the ankles, and a pair of flat patent shoes smudged with dirt. Her face was round, and to Amber it sort of resembled the moon only menacing. Her eyes were small and pig like, her nose with long and pointed and her mouth was in a prim line. Her thick hair was slicked back into a schoolmarms bun. Though in Amber's opinion she resembled what she imagined a canteen lady in all those Earth novels she had read when she was a child from the ancient part of the library would have been like. Yet for the strictness of her expression she was incredibly generous and good hearted.

Amber smiled up at her and softened the womans expression.

"Amber Marie Benson, you are late!", she stated.

Amber stubbed her foot on the door step. "Yes, Martha, I know."

"And the mistress does frown on tardiness, young lady. You're already on thin ice with the mistress due to your smart mouth."

She shrugged. "She believes we're stupid. I've had a very good education, as has nearly every other person who works here and I dislike the way that woman treats us as though we're merely serfs from the 1st millennium."

Martha grunted and stepped back to let Amber inside. The young girl brushed past and headed down the hall. As she past the display table she noticed five cylinder metallic gray objects. She paused by the table, then turned to Martha.

"Another one?"

Martha nodded. "Came in the early morning post."

"Who is it?"

Martha motioned to it. "See for yourself."

Amber tapped the cylinder nearest to her. There was a click and a blue light streamed out of it and formed a hologram of a young man with short spiked two tone blue hair and a cool chiseled face. He stood with the air of authority, just like every other hologram.

"Who is he?"

Martha cast it a glance. "Well, it says that's he's the King of the Freyan's and that he escaped last week."

"But if he escaped last week why have we only received a hologram now?"

Martha shrugged then reached over and tapped the other one beside it. This time a young woman possibly a year younger than Amber stood there. She had long silver hair and brilliant silver eyes. She, too, had a regal air surrounding her.

"Maybe they wanted to send these two together to save money."

Amber looked at the other one. "And she is?"

"That one is the heiress to the Kinomiya throne, I believe. Fled from the dungeon last night. Quite a shock for the Baron, that a young girl could escape his prison. Would have loved to have seen his face.", Martha laughed out loud.

Amber grinned. She, too, would have liked to have seen the Baron's face. So, she mused, another Rebel leader had escaped. That would give the people hope, having their leaders escape and be free, to lead the people in a rebellion against the Baron.

"Where do you think they've gone?"

"I do not know and I do not care!"

"Why not? Don't you wonder how they escaped. I do!"

"Well you shouldn't!"

"Why not? These people have escaped, they can save us.", Amber said, her hand waved out showing the five holograms. One was the lord of Davensale, while the other was Tala, the rebel leader once a member of Voltaire's demolition boys; he now fought the good fight and the third was the captain of the Freyan army, though as far as Amber knew this man was not a Freyan. The Captain had escaped several weeks ago before the King. Maybe he had helped the King escape. Hmmm! Well she wouldn't let the Baron know of her thoughts.

"These people may be able to save us but they have also placed us in terrible trouble. The Baron will be furious about this escape. And knowing him he will take it out on the villagers and then we will all be in trouble!"

Amber shrugged. It wasn't any concern of hers if the Baron took out his anger on a group of people who couldn't even be bothered to stand up for themselves. In her opinion some of them deserved to be punished....but not all of them. She shook her head, staying in this god forsaken city was rotting her brain, brainwashing her to think like the Baron wanted them to think. He wanted them to be loyal to him and forget everything else that meant something to them, family, friends, lovers, home, pets.....everything that people had worked so hard for.

Someone poking her in the side had her squirming out of her reverie. She looked round and her face split into a grin when she saw a young man standing beside her.

"Are you ready to work now?"

"Of course.", she linked her arm through his as they walked to the main stairs.

He glanced out of his corner at her, and didn't avert his eyes quickly enough when Amber cast him a look. She caught the fear in his blue eyes.

"Enrique, what is it?"

"Nothing Amber."

"You lie. There is fear in your eyes Enrique, and you my dear friend do not get scared easily."

Enrique's broad shoulders slumped under his charcoal gray tunic. His handsome craggy face was drawn and pale, his movements jittery. He ran a shaky hand frustratedly through his flaxen hair. She watched the movements worriedly. He was jumpy, not as cool or friendly as he usually was, it was as though he was waiting for something bad to jump out of every shadow.



"What has the Baron done?", she demanded filled with inspiration.

Enrique looked as she imagined a historic animal such as the rabbit might have looked when it was caught in the head lights of the earthling contraption known as an automobile.

"Enrique! What has he done?"

His eyes focused on her. "He's, he's........"

"He's what?"

"He's coming here!"

Amber's eyes widened. She pushed away from Enrique and searched out Martha. She stormed out up the stairs to the Master bedroom not bothering to marvel at the new trinkets lining the vanity. Martha looked up annoyed while the other maid serf carried on tidying the bed.

"Amber you know your not senior enough to be in this room! Go on get!"

The young woman held her ground stubbornly. "Is it true?"

Martha sighed, she knew this would happen. Quietly she had hoped Amber wouldn't turn up to work today but she had and it was Martha's job to make sure that Amber didn't do anything or say anything stupid that would put every one in jeopardy. She had already placed everything of sharpness that could be used as a weapon into the vault. But although she had always admired Amber's initiative, today she feared it. She gazed at the young woman standing there, eyes ablaze. She was young enough that she could afford to waste energy on hating the Baron, the older you became the more pointless it became and the more people just went along with the Baron trying not to rock the boat anymore than others did. Finally she answered.

"Yes, it's true. And you like everyone else will stay here and be a good peasant serf Amber.", she added quickly when she noticed Amber's eyes flick to the door.

"I'm not like everyone else, and I sure as hell am not a peasant serf. He killed my family and if you think I am going to stand here and act like I respect and revere him, you have another thing coming!"

Martha met her burning gaze that was full of self righteousness. "You say your not like everyone else, prove it! Stay here, face your enemy and come out the better person. You talk about those men who escaped to save their people, why don't you save us!"

It was a challenge, Amber hated challenges, she could never, would never back done from a challenge.

"Fine. But some day, just you watch I'll get out of here!", she whirled round and exited the room like an uncrowned queen. Martha watched her go then sighed thumping down on the bed, while the other maid began tutting and preening the bed all over again.

***

Work was quick but without the usual good humor. No one wanted to be there, least of Amber and everyone noticed. Many asked if she wished to go home sick yet she always refused. It was now spread all over the house that the Baron and the ministry for hygiene were on their way and that if things were not up to scratch many would be executed.

Amber sighed wiping her hair out of her eyes with her forearm and stared down into the suddy water of the lavatory which she had been assigned to clean. It was ridiculous, she wasn't senior enough to be in the Master bedroom yet she was senior enough to clean the lavatory, the most important part of the house which needed to be especially clean due to the fact that most of the diseases entered here. There was a peal of bells that signified the arrival of the Baron and the ministry. There was a rush of feet and voices, the door opened and then everything went quiet except for the lone footsteps of the small group. There was a deep murmur, possibly from the Baron and then Amber tuned out.

She was supposed to line up in the hall but she hadn't got her chores finished yet so she sat in front of the lavatory on the sparkling onyx and pearl floor wearing her uniform, gray baggy trousers, a lilac long sleeved polo neck blouse and a navy short sleeved tunic. It would've made an interesting sight, she supposed. Instead of thinking of what she looked like she turned her attention back to the lavatory. The water was sparkling now from the bowl, yet she just wanted to give it the finishing touch. Lifting the special rod she began to stir the bowl till the water rose up a little in a whirlpool, she stood up removing the rod and placed her hand over the water.

"Uisce, glanadh an leithreas!", she muttered in her native tongue.

The water began to rise up like a tornado, moving her hand round the bowl, the water followed rinsing the bowl in the most spectacular fashion. She was so caught up in what she was doing, she didn't realize she had gained an audience. There was a shuffle behind her and before she whirled round she cut of the magick and the water fell to the bowl with a slosh and it was as though it had never happened. She stared up at the Baron and cursed herself. He stood at the doorway, eyes black as ebony watched her intensely.

"Excuse me, I did not know there was a private performance going on up here."

Amber looked down sheepishly, partially ashamed he would see her magick which she had kept so perfectly hidden, and secondly so he wouldn't see her rage.

"I am sorry if I frightened you Amber.", there was amusement in his tone.

Something so surprising Amber had to look up, and there it was lurking behind his eyes, he was laughing at her. She bit back a scathing retort, in fact for her own safety she bit her tongue and instead shook her head. He was still laughing at her. He brushed his long gray hair out of his darkly male face.

"Are you unable to speak today, Amber? That is very unlike you."

She suppressed a shudder. He knew her name and claimed to know her personally. It creeped her out. He made her want to retch. It felt as though he knew everything about her as though he had been keeping tabs on her all her life. She shrugged off the feeling. It was stupid, there would be no reason for him to do that.

"Do you wish me to leave Ami?"

Her stomach churned and she bit her tongue hard enough to taste the copper tang of blood. It would be too easy to retort to that question. Finally she looked up and gazed levelly at him.

"What answer do you wish me to give, your Imperialness?"

He smiled at her formal tone. The young woman could with a simple tone make his address sound childish and unworthy. He knew she was still bitter about the fact that her Father the traitor had been executed along with the wife and daughter. He knew her reactions, had studied her reactions ever since the death of her family. It had been his doing that had saved her from death. He knew the prophecy well and had at first believed that it had been the eldest daughter that would harness the extreme power and that he'd be able to manipulate the youngest for his own purpose. His only oversight was her strength of will.

"I wish for you to speak your mind, as I wish all my other subjects to speak their minds. I am very much for free speech."

Her eyes were suddenly ablaze but she held her tongue. He had to admire that will power, to hate and yet not lash out. It was indeed a special talent in itself.

"Is there nothing on your mind on which you wish to speak?"

Her chin jutted out in a gesture of defiance. "What is on my mind will remain there for myself and myself only."

He smiled then whirled round at the clatter of footsteps on the stairs. Amber breathed out a sigh of relief and as she did she caught the flicker of annoyance in the Baron's eyes. She didn't have time to wonder at it as Enrique breezed in and began to cluck around her. Martha soon followed with the ministry on her heels.

"Amber what are you doing up here? You should have finished quite a time ago!"

Amber looked away sheepishly, while the Baron spread his hands to stop Martha moving any closer, as though he was warding the old woman off Amber.

"Amber was just entertaining me for a few minutes. These meetings although vitally important can be dreadfully boring, so Amber was just keeping my mind busy for a few blissful minutes."

Amber watched him from the floor, her features darkened. She didn't need his help to get her out of trouble, she especially didn't need to be defended from her seniors who were also her friends. Enrique sensing the undercurrent of emotion in her hoisted Amber to her feet and led her down the stairs. As soon as they were out of the Baron's hearing range Enrique turned to her, gray eyes clouded with concern.

"Did he hurt you?"

Amber mustered up a smile and shook her head relieved. "No, he just made me edgy."

"He's not going to report you is he?"

"I don't think so. It doesn't matter anyway. Oh, did we pass the ministry's standards?"

Enrique sat down beside her on the door step. "Yes, with flying colors as you would say."

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "He wasn't pleased about you two arriving when you did."

"Why was he going to hurt you?"

"I do not think he was going to hurt me, although I have a feeling he wanted to hurt me. It's strange. But it felt as though he was thinking about how he killed my parents and I; for a second; you see I felt that I should be grateful to him that I was alive.", she laughed embarrassed. "Silly isn't it. I mean why would he kill Miriam and let me live. There would be no sense. "She shrugged and took comfort in Enrique's arms.

Someone cleared their throat. The two of them sprang apart and whirled round. Martha stood there with the Baron standing beside them. Amber could read the dark unspoken rage in his eyes which made her blood run cold. He fixed the look on Enrique, then with a smile that was just mouth and no eyes, departed down the path with the ministry chasing him with their clip board monitors. When he was gone Martha sighed heavily.

"Oh thank the spirits he has gone!", then she turned to Amber. "Now you young lady-"

Amber winced. She had been dreading Martha's lecture. She knew she had disobeyed orders, not for the first time but this time the Goddamn Baron had been there and he'd caught her with her magick.

"I'm sorry Marth-"

"Sorry, whatever for, my dear girl you were amazing! You proved yourself, I always knew you weren't like the rest of us."

"Excuse me?"

"I wouldn't have had the strength to face down the man who killed my family and still manage not to hurt him and more so you were polite. That my dear was the most amazing thing I have ever seen."

She hugged Amber tightly, so tight for a moment Amber felt her ribs were about to crack, then she was released just as suddenly.

"It was not anything special Martha, I just kept my place in society."

"No your not a peasant Amber. If anything you are a Queen among peasants."

"I wish I was Martha but I'm nothing special. In fact I would rather run away than stay here much longer.", Amber sighed.

Martha smiled softly. "If you run away I'll miss you, child. You are a ray of sunshine in these days of darkness and gloom.", her face softened further. "Just like your mother you are."

Amber smiled. The words melted her heart. "Do not fret Martha, I have no plans of leaving just yet. Though Ruin did offer to take me away. I doubt Boris would let me leave, while Bryan would probably pay for the postage."

Enrique shuddered. "I hated him as a child. I hate him more now."

"What, now that he's a member of the Barons' army?"

Martha laughed. "He was a vicious child before, now he's sadistic."

"I'll agree with you there, that's for sure."

Martha stood up and brushed wiped her hands on her apron. "Well for your amazing performance, you can have the day off."

"Martha, are you sure?"

"Of course, for good behavior."

Amber grinned and threw her arms round Martha before racing down the path towards the town.

Amber hurried down the street smiling happily to herself. She had the rest of the day left and she would use well by seeking out Ruin and spending as much time as possible with her best friend. The market was on today, another one of her favorite ways to spend the day was shopping for old trinkets which people had brought with them from Earth. They weren't considered much by normal people's standards but to her they were like buried treasure. She liked to imagine the owner and life which they had back on Earth. It was her favorite hobby. Bryan had made fun of her hobby but Amber enjoyed it. It was because of this hobby that Amber had met Sonia. She had been in the library researching her newest antique relic when she had come across the meek young book worm who had locked herself in the back room with a forset, a ugly 10 legged creature which had a taste for flesh and dust. Amber had squashed the offending creature with her staff and Sonia had declared herself forever in Amber's debt.

Amber grinned at the memory and then at the market. She dug deep into her coat pocket and pulled out a handful of Arupies. She grimaced. She really shouldn't be wasting her Arupies in the market, but still she couldn't really resist the urge to take her money and retrieve another trinket. She was crossing the street when she noticed the mousy haired young woman scurrying in her direction.

"Sonia where are you racing to in such a hurry?"

Sonia looked up meekly. "Blessed be Amber, what are you doing out of work? You are not skiving are you?"

"No, I was released form my duties earlier due to the fact that the Baron visited with the ministry of hygiene.

Sonia's blue eyes widened. "The Baron was there?"

That was not good. Amber was well known to have a deep well voiced hatred for the Baron, it was only for the fact that she had good and much trusted friends that she was able to denounce the Baron without getting put in jail. But Amber in the same room as the Baron and still walking round in daylight was almost inconceivable.

"Yes Sonia Voltaire was there."

"What did he say?"

Amber shrugged. "Nothing much. But it was very strange. Hey why don't you come to the market with me and I can tell you all about."

Sonia made a face. "I would really like to but I can't. Owen ruined my filing system and now I must re alphabetize everything again, and that in itself will take up much of the day and it may possibly take me into the night, which would be regrettable seeing that we have the rally tonight."

Amber shuddered at the mention of that cursed word. "Oh well, if you have to work. That's ok, I'll just find Ruin, I was going to find her anyway but well never mind, maybe later."

Sonia smiled relieved then hurried across to the Archives. Amber turned round and noticed a figure standing at the corner dressed in an old weather beaten cloak and helmet. It seemed to be watching her. Amber stared at it and sighed when the figure backed down and retreated into the alley. Although he had been dressed as a lowly peasant he had an air of royalty as he retreated. Was he the Freyan king? Amber wondered and if he was what was he doing here in the town where the Baron himself resided, the man should have been with the rebels, instead of here in the one town where the Rebels hadn't formed a group. And if the Freyan King was here did that mean his Captain was here too? Amber looked round for any sign of the ally of the young man.

Her gaze collided with Bryan's who was watching her from outside the Tavern. Amber sighed and turned towards him. There was no use letting him know that the prisoner was possibly here in the Baron's own back yard. She dropped into the chair opposite Bryan who watched her intently from over the rim of his enameled chalice.

"Lost your friends Amber?", he sneered.

Amber swept her gaze up and down the length of his body and her stomach churned. She let the disgust show through in her voice. "No, just my appetite."

He smiled blandly. "The Baron doesn't take kindly to slackers."

"Yeah? Well I'll have you know that because the Baron was so pleased with my work today I got the rest of the day free.", she boasted. "And I plan to spend it constructively which is not spending it in the Tavern drinking my life away."

He leered at her. "You might be fun drunk."

"No ones fun drunk."

"I'm very fun drunk."

"There's a first then.", she waved away the waitress who was watching her interaction with Bryan with interest. "Is that your Captain?"

Bryan sat up in his chair and looked in the direction Amber was pointing, then snorted. "That man swans round with his badges but I tell you when the shit hits the fan I'll be leading the men to victory."

She rolled her eyes. "You? You wish."

He slumped forward on the table. His face was bleary and unshaven, his hair unkempt. It was a good look on some men, on others like Bryan it was scary. She wrinkled her nose. The smell that emanated from him was stomach churning.

"There is no way in hell that you would be able to lead a group of men into a bath tub never mind a war.", she muttered scornfully. "Wait, you said when the shit hits the fan, what shit and what fan?"

He shrugged.

"You don't know much do you? You must be very happy.", she pushed herself to her feet.

He stared at her. "How do you work that out?"

"Well, Ignorance being bliss and everything and let's face it you are extremely Ignorant.", with that as her parting remark she walked away from the Tavern.

She headed down the street and went to find Ruin.

***

The evening arrived cool and crisp bringing with it the shadows which changed the whole look of town. Amber whistled cheerfully as she and Ruin walked down the street from Ruin's home. They linked their arms together and headed towards the town centre. The moon cast it's eerie light over the town and the people as they trooped to the town centre from work. The nippiness in the air stung their cheeks

"Why does it always get so cold when we're obliged to go to these rallies?"

Ruin paused from rubbing her gloved hands and cast a glance at Amber. "I have no idea, but look at it this way, the cold will force us to stay awake."

"Or force us to be comatose."

Ruin laughed. "True. But maybe it makes it easier for the Baron to brainwash those of weaker minds."

Amber tugged coat closer to her. "That must be it. No other dictator would make his people stand out in the bloody cold just to hear him the same thing over and over again."

Ruin nodded. "Cruelty, thy name is Lord Voltaire."

"Why does he referr to himself as a Baron anyway?!"

"What sort of name is Voltaire? Did they use that name back on Earth?"

"Nope, but-", Amber broke off at a shout from across the street, the door swung open and a figure flew out. She watched the figure and grimaced as Bryan let out a volley of Oaths.

"That man is an oaf!"

"That man is not a man, he's the spawn of the devil.", Amber replied.

Ruin nodded. "That could possibly be true."

They both gave him one last look, then continued down the street following the rest of the residents. A figure in the shadows caught Amber's eye. She nudged Ruin and they both glanced in the direction the figure stood watching them. Beside her she felt Ruin stiffen then as the figure turned away she relaxed.

"That's the second time I've seen that figure today. I think it's the Freyan Emperor."

"Hmmm, I'm not so sure." Ruin stared at his receeding figure and sighed, pushing her best friend forward down a side alley. "Come on, you have to get changed."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&&&~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Amber} So who's the cloaked figure?

{Sae} That's for me and Zadien to know and you to find out.

{Amber} Zadien knows?

{Sae} Oops shouldn't have said that.

*Amber runs off with Sae chasing after her*

{Sae} Um, I'll update later, honestly! Amber come back!