Author's Ramblings: Many, many thanks to all of my reviews! Please enjoy this chapter! -
Disclaimer: Me no own.
Chapter Eleven: Despair
-On the ground below, somewhere by a lake. The Curansian leviship blinked out of the sky, obviously hidden by an invisibility cloak. The Crusade made an emergency landing, after Gaddes discovered the bodies of Aaron and Allen. He somehow managed to find Van and the rest, and Millerna is currently attempting to help the fallen comrades-
"HITOMI!!!!!!!" Van called out, falling to the ground in fitful sobs.
He had just found out. He had just found out that his fiancée was kidnapped by Calis and her groupies. Hitomi, my sweet Hitomi… He swore to himself that he would find her, no matter the cost. His heart felt shattered without her near him. Despair overcame him at the fear that Hitomi might be dead.
But he wasn't the only one in despair that night. Merle was curled up by the campfire, her eyes peeled open in catatonic shock. Aaron… Allen was still alive; he had barely clung to life, but he was alive. But Aaron…. Aaron wasn't doing as well. His heart had stopped beating a few moments ago, and Merle heard the groans of frustration as Millerna worked to bring him back to life.
Suddenly, Merle's ears jerked as she heard it. That unmistakable sound…that cute little whimper that Aaron made when he was in pain.
In pain. IN PAIN! I'm coming, Aaron! And she dashed madly for the tent, and was greeted by a teary Millerna and a bruised and beaten but alive boyfriend.
-In the Curansian Leviship-
Where am I? Hitomi thought as she awoke. It's so dark… She was in the holding cell, created just for her, on the Curansian leviship. A Groupie walked in, and opened the creaky door to the cell. He walked towards Hitomi, and stood looming over her. "Princess Calis wishes to see you. Get up!" he shouted.
Hitomi, figuring it was best to do what she was told, obeyed. The Groupie grabbed her wrist forcefully and nearly dragged her out of the cell. After a few minutes of being led down winding corridors, she was thrust into a lavishly decorated office-like room. A chair behind a desk spun around, revealing the wicked princess herself.
"Good morning, Seer. Sleep well?" Calis asked bitterly. "Well, it doesn't matter to me anyway. So, let's get started, shall we?"
Hitomi gave her a questioning look.
"You mean you have no clue as to why I've kidnapped you?"
"I thought it was because you were jealous of Van's love for me," she answered timidly.
"HA!" Calis roared. "I really don't give a flying fuck whom that Dragon Boy loves. I just want to rule Fanelia. I'm surprised none of you could figure that out. And when I take over Fanelia, I can possess Gaea as well! The main capital of Austuria is gone. Freid is gone. There is no one left to resist me!" she exclaimed as she cackled.
"But why is it Fanelia you want to take over?" asked Hitomi.
"Haven't you heard, Seer?" Calista answered. "I guess you wouldn't. Remember the Great War? The one you supposedly 'saved Gaea' from? Remember a certain Zaibach gentleman by the name of 'General Adelphos'? Ring any bells, Seer?"
Hitomi looked in awe for a moment. Is she somehow related to General Adelphos? Before she could verbalize her thoughts, Calis went ahead and answered them. "Well, General Adelphos was my FATHER!"
Hitomi went wide-eyed.
"That's right, Seer! Your precious Van killed my father! And for that YOU will suffer!"
"NO!" Hitomi exclaimed. "Your father didn't die, Calis! His leviship crashed, but he didn't die!"
Calis only sneered. "Hmm, now what is the punishment for false witness, Balthazar?" she asked as she turned to a Groupie.
"I believe it is torture, your majesty," he answered.
"Torture, you say? I like the sound of that," she murmured, her eyes gleaming with blood thirst. "Bring me an instrument of torture, Balthazar."
"Yes, your majesty."
Balthazar soon returned with not just one, but several: a club, a whip, a mace, and shackles.
Hitomi started panicking as soon as she saw them. What is she going to do to me?!
Calis soon answered her thoughts. She chose the shackles and chained Hitomi to the wall by the window of the room.
The torture commenced.
For the next two hours, Calis flogged her with the whip. Hitomi screamed out in pain; the tiny thread lashing against her skin, making it raw and broken. She knew that she was slowly being killed. Van…I love you, Van… she kept telling herself; it seemed to make the pain more bearable.
-On Escaflowne in Dragon Form-
Van had been looking for any sign of Hitomi or the Curansian leviship that had taken her for about two hours now. He had frequently been feeling little pinches along his skin, and was growing increasingly worried over what was causing them. But his mind was focused on his beloved. His fiancée. His soul mate. Hitomi…where are you, Hitomi? Is she hurting you? Is that why I am feeling these annoying pricks so often?
He tightened his grip around her pendant, trying to 'dowse' his way to her. So far it wasn't working, but he would never give up. Not until he found her. I promise I will find you, Hitomi! I love you… he kept telling himself. The words seemed to calm him.
After another half hour, still finding no sign of her, Van reluctantly landed Escaflowne in a small patch of trees. He couldn't find Hitomi without getting sleep, now could he?
He slept beneath an opening in the leafy canopy, certain that if a Curansian leviship zoomed overhead he would see it…or at least its shadow. But soon he fell into a deep sleep, and dreamed a very important dream.
DREAM
He was standing in the middle of the sky, and the wind was blowing gently. It smells so familiar… Van thought. Of course it did. It's her smell…it's Hitomi's smell… he realized.
Seconds later, a visitor came.
"Who is it?!" he called out.
A black feather was his answer.
"Folken?" Van asked incredulously. Why is Folken visiting me in my dream?
"Yes, Van," Folken answered. "It's me."
"Why have you come to me? What do you want?"
"I'm here to help you."
He's here to help me? Van thought, confused and slightly worried. He panicked briefly, afraid that Folken had come to tell him of Hitomi's death.
As if reading his mind, Folken stated, "Don't worry, Van. She's not dead."
Van looked at his older brother. And for the first time in many years, he let his emotional barrier break in front of Folken. Tears began to flow freely, and he exclaimed between sobs, "I don't know what to do! I can't find her! She's my life, Folken! My very soul…and I can't find her!"
Folken approached his younger brother, and accepted his crying form into his embrace. As new as it was to both of them, it was definitely soothing. Van's sobs were soon pacified, though he was still panicked and confused. "It's ok, Van," Folken assured. "I came here because I know where she is. I came here to help you find her."
Van looked up, his eyes glistening with joyous tears. "Where is she?! Please, Folken, tell me!"
"About fifteen miles to the south."
Van's eyes widened. That's…
"Yes, Van," Folken began before he could finish his thought. "The land of what used to be Zaibach."
Van stood, and nodded that he understood. He knew exactly where to go now. He looked to Folken, and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Folken replied. "And remember: nothing is as strong as gentleness nor as gentle as strength." And with that he faded away.
END DREAM
Van woke up moments later, and it was daylight. He walked over to Escaflowne, quickly rendering it airborne, and headed straight for the heart of what was once Zaibach.
Will Van get to Hitomi in time? Will Calis kill them both? Why does Folken keep speaking in riddles? Find out, in the next installment of "A Vision of Forever"! -