AN: Hello peoples around me! The second to last chapter is up! This here is the dreaded chapter that I've been looking forward to writing since I first conjured up this story, and by the end of the chapter, each and every one of you will want to rip my guts out. I am anticipating a lot of nasty reviews, but please, no profanity. Then, you'll all have to wait for the final chapter to post, and then…that's it! The story is over, and I can finally get back to writing Flying High. Honestly, this chapter turned out to be a lot longer than I anticipated. I probably could have split it into two chapters but, no. This is just going to be one LONG chapter.
Answer to Reviewers:
Libby Hinomoro: Thanks for reading! Here's the next part. Hope you like it!
lil-saturn-goddess: Okay, okay, I'm updating!!! Geesh…
Gtkvan: Hello person from the US! I'm from the US too! What a coincidence!!! LOL. Really, you think that was the best one? Personally, I like this one, but…well, you just read and tell me what you think. Thanks for reading!!!
hawaiikel : LOL, Yup, your gonna be famous! I've already changed the chapter title on my computer, so, when I re-post this story, it'll be there, and it's all thanks to WONDERFULL YOU!!! Sorry, it's not gonna be 20 chapters. It'll be a nice round 18…LOL. Well, I hope you like what I did with this one. In this chapter, you finally get to see who dies…first! Ha ha…ENJOY!!! And thank you soooooo much for reviewing. You really made my day!
meyojojo : LOL…YOU DROWNED YOUR TEÁ IN HUNNY…HA HA HA HA…..Well, I updated as fast as I could. I hope this was fast enough for you. Enjoy, and thanks for reviewing!!!
Kya77: WOW…I know this is going to sound weird, but I'm all excited that an adult is actually reading my story! Maybe cause I just expected Escaflowne to have only a teenage audience, so, I didn't think my story was good enough for some of the older and wiser people in the world….NOT THAT I'M CALLING YOU OLD!!!!!! I'm just honored that you're reading my fic…re-reads what I just wrote…I was right, that didn't make any sense…oh well, thanks for reading/reviewing anyway. I hope this chapter meet's your expectations!!!
Inda: Um, Hitomi did tell Van about Phoebe. Remember? So, Van knows she's on the good side, so, all is well. Hope you like what this chapter has in store…hee hee…
blonde-hitomi : HA HA…I HAVE ANOTHER COUNTRY TO ADD TO MY LIST!!! Now I've got people from US, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, and (you guessed it) Australia!!! HA HA….Thanks for finally reviewing. Yeah, most likely, you will be angry, but, I hope you like it anyway…that doesn't really make sence, but, you'll see what happens. Ja mata!!!
Disclaimer:
Yugismpuzzle: I do not own…
Crookshanks: singing I live in the USA…I like Japan, I want to go to Japan. Hey! I want to go to Japan…
Yugismpuzzle: Why do you want to go to Japan?
Crookshanks: To get some Chinese food!
Yugismpuzzle: --' Then go to China!
Crookshanks: oO Is that where Chinese food comes from?
Yugismpuzzle: sigh Uh...oh…heh heh, sorry…where was I? Oh yes, I do not own Escaflowne…I still haven't come up with that forty dollars…
Chapter Seventeen: Fighting for Control
Hitomi, Merle, and Celina walked shoulder to shoulder, making their way back to the tree house. It was midday and the hot sun was at its strongest, forcing the trio to stay in the shade of the trees. During their walk, Hitomi relayed to them of the events in the alley between her and Van. By the time she was finished, Celina and Merle were stunned to hear how little time they had left to stop Calypso.
'Two days…'
It wasn't enough time to do anything, they thought despairingly. It would take two days alone just to reach Dragon's Canyon, leaving no time to search for the Atlantis Machine, let alone destroy it. The whole thing seemed hopeless.
But Phoebe had said that she was going to destroy the Machine, Hitomi remembered, and no one else was to help her. How was Phoebe going to find the Machine and destroy it before Calypso suspected anything? How would she accomplish anything with only a two day window of opportunity? But Phoebe was a Siren. She must have already known that there were only two days left. That would explain why she wanted Van to weaken Calypso now instead of earlier. Phoebe either needs more time to find the Machine or she wants to catch Calypso off guard. Hitomi guessed it was the latter.
'Whatever Phoebe's plan is, she doesn't think she'll survive it.' Hitomi thought. 'It's a suicide mission.'
By the time they returned to the tree house, Phoebe was waiting for them at the base of the tree trunk. When she saw their approach, she stood up to meet them.
"Is it done?" she asked.
"Yes, it is done." said Hitomi in a slightly sarcastic tone which Phoebe ignored.
"Good. I thank you for helping me, but now there is nothing left for you to do. Stay here until…"
"Why didn't you tell us there's only two days left?"
"It wasn't relevant."
"Of course it is! If you would have told us when this whole thing started, we would have gone in search of the Atlantis Machine days ago."
"I couldn't let you do that. Even if you made it to Dragon's Canyon and found the Machine before Calypso, how would you destroy it?"
"I don't know, but we would find a way."
"No you wouldn't. There is only one way to destroy the Atlantis Machine, and for that to work, the Machine has to be activated. Do you even know how to turn it on?"
Hitomi hesitated. "No."
Phoebe rummaged beneath her dress and pulled out a necklace with a pink, teardrop shaped jewel.
"Hey, that's my pen…"
"No, it's my pendant. Remember, I have one too. Calypso currently posses your pendent, the same one you gave to Van before returning to the Mystic Moon. This pendant is the Key to activating the Atlantis Machine. Without it, the machine will not operate."
"Couldn't you have lent me yours?"
"No, too risky." Phoebe stated flatly as she hid the Jewel again underneath her dress.
"The point is that without the Jewel, the Machine will not start, and the only way to destroy the Machine is when it's on."
"I still don't understand."
Phoebe shot a double take at Hitomi, as if she were not sure she was speaking to the correct person. "You and Van destroyed the Fate Alteration Engine at the end of the Gaean war, didn't you?"
"Yes, but we're not exactly sure how we did it. It just happened."
Phoebe gaped at Hitomi. "I don't believe this. You must be joking. The only reason I know how to destroy the Machine is because of the way you destroyed it last time. Are you telling me that you're not even sure how you did?" When Hitomi didn't answer, Phoebe threw her arms into the air in frustration. Her usual calm demeanor had vanished completely. "Unbelievable! The only reason I've been following through with this plan was because I was sure that you could back me up if I failed. Now I find out that you don't have the slightest clue on what to do if Calypso succeeds. This is pointless!"
"Wait, you're not saying that you're going to give up, are you?"
"Of course not, it's too late for that!" Phoebe snapped. She took a moment to calm herself then motioned for Hitomi to follow her back to the tree. "Come, I'm going to teach you what I thought you taught me."
Hitomi exchanged glances with Merle and Celina before following Phoebe. Celina tapped Merle on the shoulder, signaling for the cat-girl to remain behind with her. Hitomi sat down after Phoebe, prepared to listen as patiently as possible to the Siren.
"Last time," Phoebe began "Emperor Dornkirk activated the Fate Alteration Engine which was designed to grant everyone's wishes. He had hoped that the Machine would put an end to the war. But as we know, it didn't work. In fact, the Machine intensified the fighting and cause many more deaths instead of preventing them. It was the will of all the people of Gaea to continue fighting. Nothing could stop it, save the destruction of the Engine. That is where you and Van came in to alter fate. You see, while the will of Gaea to keep fighting was strong, the connection between you and Van and the will to see each other was stronger. More than anything, Van wanted you to be safe with him and for the fighting to end. More than anything, you wanted to be with Van and for the Engine to be destroyed. Your combined wishes allowed for the two of you to find each other, and of course, the Fate Alteration Engine to meet its end. There was and is only one way to destroy an Atlantis Machine and that is to wish for its destruction. The key to its destruction is will power. Your will and Van's was stronger than all of Gaea. Likewise, I think my will for the Second Atlantis Machine to be destroyed is stronger than that of Calypso's will to rule all of Gaea."
"And you're going to do this all on your own?"
"Yes."
"Why won't you let me help you? Wouldn't it work better if we're both there?"
Phoebe's eyes grew cold. "No, you are going to stay right here and out of my way."
"But…"
"Hitomi, listen to me! When that thing blows, everything within sight will go with it. I can't look after you and I can't protect you. I'm going to destroy the Atlantis Machine and I'm going to make sure that all of the Sirens go with it. Nothing near will survive." Phoebe had grown quiet. "That's why I can't allow you to come with me. I must do this on my own."
Hitomi felt her eyes sting. She didn't want to cry but she felt so sad for her new friend. "Phoebe, there must be another way. You don't have to give up your life."
Phoebe smiled sadly. "It's my decision to make, and I've made it."
Hitomi leaned over and held Phoebe to herself. Two drops escaped here eyes and slid down her face. Phoebe was stunned for a moment, unsure of what to make of the seeress.
"…good luck."
Her words were simple, yet heartfelt and they held great meaning and respect. Phoebe genuinely smiled and after a moment's hesitation, returned Hitomi's embrace. She closed her eyes, and for an instant, she saw Cassandra's smiling face.
"Thank you."
Phoebe left shortly afterward, leaving the three other girls behind, advising them to stay hidden until after the plan was complete. Once she was out of sight, Merle and Celina told Hitomi about what they had been discussing while she and Phoebe were talking.
"I think I know what Calypso's plan is." Merle started. "Because of the rough terrain, I doubt she'll be taking a caravan to Dragon's Canyon. I think she'll be using a leviship, which makes it a lot easier for us to sneak aboard."
Hitomi frowned. "Sneak aboard? What's the point?"
"The point being, we're going to stow away in the Siren's ship, find that Machine, and help Phoebe, whether she likes it or not."
Hitomi promptly declined, receiving strange and confused looks from the Celina and Merle. She then told them of Phoebe's plan to eliminate the Atlantis Machine and the Sirens. She told them of Phoebe's intent to destroy all of the surrounding area, including herself, and of her certainty that she could not protect the three of them if they were to join her. By the time the questions had been asked and answered, the air had cooled and sunset was only a few hours away. Hitomi found herself amazed at how quickly time flew by during the day.
For the remainder of the time, they kept mostly to themselves, ate because it was necessary, and tried to piece together a way to help Phoebe without getting themselves killed. They went to sleep that night with no comforting thoughts or alternate plans.
That night, Hitomi had her dream again. Each night, the dream became clearer and more frightening. She awoke with a start, damp with perspiration, gasping for breath, and feeling the pain of her heart beating rapidly. She looked around and saw that Celina and Merle were still sleeping. Not wanting to disturb them, she crept out of the small room and climbed down the makeshift ladder.
She walked out among the trees, holding her cloak close to her body for warmth, her Earth clothes stored away in a cupboard in the tree house to avoid standing out in a crowd. While her peasant clothing prevented her from being recognized, it lacked the comforting feeling of something from Earth always being with her. Then she remembered…
The necklace. She still wore the necklace that Amano and Yukari had given her. She remembered vaguely a warm sensation coming from the feather when she had been with Van. She hadn't noticed it before because she was too caught up in the moment, but now, she remembered clearly. Each time she was with Van, while he had been under Calypso's spell, the feather in the necklace had become warm. It was Van's feather. Somehow, it connected Hitomi to him. She realized then that the necklace could help her free Van. She could use the connection to determine whether or not he was under Calypso's spell.
Hitomi pulled out the necklace and gazed at it, admiring the smooth surface of the stones as they gleamed in the night air. The Mystic Moon was not out this night. Fog masked the Earth's beauty, however, was unable to block all of its radiance. The entire sky had a dim, foreboding glow. Still, she kept her eyes on the feather, running a single finger down its silky edge.
"You're going to help me free Van…"
Suddenly, she found a flaw in Phoebe's plan.
'If she destroys everything, including all the Sirens, what will happen to Van? What if he's with them? He'll be killed too!'
A whispered cry escaped her mouth.
"…Van!"
After the incident in the Market, Calypso became, if possible, even more unpleasant. She was desperate to find Hitomi and her companions. Most of the Sirens had been reassigned to the effort of finding the missing girls. She was continually on edge, though she didn't dare show it. But she did find herself snapping at the Sirens more often than was necessary. Then to make matters worse for Calypso, after the fire in the Market and being tripped to the ground by a group of cat-children, she had found herself separated from Van. She had only lost control of him for a few minutes but it was enough to instill doubt in her ability to control him. She had found him, of course, crouched in an alley way, unsuccessfully trying to ward off her spell.
'He must have been trying to escape. Either that or he was trying to warn the Seeress before I got to her.'
After finding Van, she decided that her personal involvement in the search was over. She and Van returned to the castle and remained there for the rest of the day. During that time, she tried to pry Van for information as to what happened when she lost control of him. She wanted to know why he was in an alley way and how he had broken free, however, Van was not being very forthcoming.
He rarely spoke to her, and when he did, it was concise. He seemed to spend all his energy into resisting her spell, a futile attempt, she was sure. Nevertheless, her endurance was running thin. But that didn't worry her. What bothered her was that Van seemed to know that he was draining her of strength. She could sense his amusement whenever he fought against her. But it was impossible for him to know of his influence over her. Most of her personal Sirens didn't even know that. Which could mean only one thing, she realized…
…the traitor.
Calypso had long suspected that there was a traitor among the Sirens, but she had figured the traitor was still in Circe. Calypso had been meticulous in her choosing of the Sirens she brought with her. She knew each and every one of them. She had been confident that the Sirens she had chosen were loyal to her. But apparently, she was wrong.
The traitor must have found a way to communicate to Van without her realizing. They may even be helping him to fight off her spell. After all, Calypso was the most powerful Siren in all of Gaea, next to her mother. It was impossible for Van to be able to fight her off without someone else's help, Calypso figured. She'd have to keep an extra eye out for the traitor. She'll have to be more careful in whom she trusted vital information.
In the meantime, she'd have to do something about the King of Fanelia. Originally, she had planned to keep Van with her at all times. She had planned on taking him to Dragon's Canyon to see the Atlantis Machine but now that she doubted her abilities, she contemplated on leaving him behind. She could lock him in his room, leave one Siren behind to stand guard, that way she would be free of distractions and not have to falter in her concentration.
'Yes, leaving Van behind would certainly make things easier…'
The following morning, Merle woke up to find that Hitomi was not in the tree house. Celina was still sleeping. Quietly, she crept out of the house and bounced down the branches till she landed on all fours in the grass. She let out a big yawn, stretching out all four legs, tail swishing from left to right.
Merle glanced around, searching for Hitomi, but she was nowhere in sight. She sniffed the air around the tree till she found Hitomi's scent and followed it. She wasn't far, no more than a few dozen yards away. She was sitting with her back to a tree, her knees curled up to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs. She was gazing up at the sky. The cat-girl tiptoed closer.
"You know, I think this is the first time you actually woke up before me." Hitomi smiled. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"
"A few things actually." Hitomi absentmindedly stroked the feather on her necklace. Merle looked at the feather, recognizing it as Van's immediately.
"About Lord Van?"
"One of them, yes." Worry began to appear on her face. "I'm afraid for him."
"Don't worry. You said so yourself: Once Phoebe destroys the Atlantis Machine and Calypso is gone, Lord Van will be free of her spell. Then, everything will be back to the way it's supposed to be."
"But what if Van goes with Calypso? What if she takes him with her and he's too close to the Atlantis Machine? If Phoebe goes through with her plan, Van will be killed too."
"Did he say whether or not he was going?"
"No, he wasn't specific. I don't know if he's going to Dragon's Canyon or staying in Fanelia."
"How are we going to find out? Phoebe's not coming back to us anymore."
"I need to get a message to her. Merle, do you think one of your friends from the market could…"
Merle smiled in determination. "Already on it." And without another word, she bounded off into the forest.
Hitomi felt a wave of gratitude for her friends, and her newfound ones. She was grateful for their determination and willingness to help her. They were risking their lives, she knew, but risks needed to be taken in order to stop the new threat of the Atlantis Machine, otherwise, everyone would suffer.
Hitomi tucked the necklace back underneath her shirt and make her way back to the tree house. When she got there, Celina was just climbing down, sleep still evident in her eyes.
"Good morning." Hitomi greeted.
"It is now. I was worried when I woke up and saw that nobody was there."
"I'm sorry. I had a bad dream last night and I didn't want to disturb you guys, so, I left to get some air. Merle just left a while ago to find one of her friends from the market."
Hitomi then explained to Celina her concerns for Van's safety and her desire to send a message to Phoebe. She told her that Merle was going to find someone who could sneak a message to the former Siren. The explanation took only a few minutes. While doing so, Hitomi thought about telling Celina of her dream, but decided against it, at least until Merle returned.
"And what happens if it turns out that Van is going with Calypso? What do you think Phoebe will do?"
Hitomi thought for a moment. "She'll continue with her plan. She won't risk getting caught and loosing Calypso's trust."
"Then if that happens, we'll have to rescue him ourselves."
"How?"
"We'll go back to the original plan Merle and I came up with. You and Merle will stow away on their leviship, wait till you reach Dragon's Canyon and for all the Siren's to disembark, find Van, and we'll take him back to Fanelia before Calypso realizes what's going on."
"How are we going to get back? A leviship is too slow and too noticeable."
A familiar glint appeared in Celina's eye. "We'll fly out of there on my guimelif."
Hitomi looked at Celina with a questioning glance. "What guimelif?"
"The one I'm going to fly on my way to Dragon's Canyon. I will not stow away, but you and Merle will. I'll have to stay behind you by at least an hour, so, I'll arrive a little later, but once you find Lord Van, you can signal me and I'll fly the three of you out of there."
Hitomi seemed apprehensive. "I don't know. There are a lot of things that can go wrong. One mistake could cost us our lives."
Celina nodded in agreement. "I know, but it's just a 'what if' scenario. Hopefully, it won't be necessary for us to take those risks."
While they waited for Merle to return, Hitomi found some spare parchment in the tree house and composed a short letter to Phoebe. A little over an hour later, Merle returned with the same yellow haired cat-girl who had pointed Van and Calypso out to Hitomi in the market. The girls eyes were golden brown and she had a boyish look to her face. She had the same sort of stripes Merle had, except her fur was much darker, like she had spent most of her life in the sun, and her body was very lithe.
"I don't believe you've been properly introduced. Hitomi, Celina, this is my friend, Liala." Hitomi and Celina gave a short bow which Liala returned. "She's agreed to help."
"So what sort of mischief are you getting yourselves into this time?" the cat-girl said with a grin.
Hitomi smiled. "I need you to take this letter to someone."
Liala frowned. "That's it? That's way too easy." She turned to look at Merle. "I thought you said this would be a challenge."
Hitomi cocked an eyebrow, realizing what this girl's angle was. She wanted a challenge, and Hitomi would give her one.
"Her name is Phoebe. She's one of the people visiting from Circe. I need you to give this letter to her and have her write a response. I'm not sure where she is but most likely, she'll be inside the castle. Can you find her, give this to her, and return with a response before sunset, without being detected?"
Liala took the letter from Hitomi. "Interesting assignment. Search for a woman who could really be anywhere, most likely inside the castle, break into one of the most closely guarded places in Fanelia without being found, and return here before the day is done." She lowered her head as if to consider the proposal, then, she stuffed the letter into the folds of her dress and her head snapped up. "I'll do it."
Hitomi bowed again. "Thank you."
"You three have some pretty crazy ideas." She turned to Merle. "Why aren't you doing this?"
"The people from Circe are already looking for me but their not looking for you."
"This must eat you alive, you not being able to go." Liala teased.
"Hey, don't rub it in. You just make sure you don't get caught."
Liala winked. "Always do."
And then she was gone.
Liala took much longer than Merle had expected. She had been gone all day and the sun was beginning to set. Merle expressed worry for her friend when she didn't return an hour ago. Celina tried to calm her down by saying Liala had plenty of time left, but that didn't alleviate any of Merle's concerns. Merle explained that Liala was the best at what she does. No matter what the task, Liala would always find a way. If she wasn't back by now, something must have gone wrong. It was a half an hour till sunset and Merle had just voiced the opinion of going off to find her friend when Liala finally appeared. She was breathless and covered in dirt, but she was okay.
"What took you so long?" Merle screamed while stomping her foot.
"What are you talking about? I've still got extra time. The sun hasn't set, has it?" Liala countered. She rummaged through her dress, pulled out a small piece of parchment, and handed it to Hitomi. "Here you go."
Hitomi promptly unfolded the parchment and read it out loud.
Hitomi,
I highly doubt that Calypso will bring King Van with her to Dragon's Canyon. She'll likely keep him inside the castle while she's away. However, if she does bring him, there is nothing I can do. I have a more important mission to accomplish, as you are already aware.
Calypso and her Siren's will depart on the Phoenix tomorrow morning. If the ship returns, it will be up to you. If it does not, then I have succeeded.
Good luck to us all,
Phoebe
Celina crossed her arms. "So even Phoebe doesn't know if Lord Van is leaving or not." Hitomi handed the letter to Celina.
"Apparently so."
"Well then, I say we hope for the best and plan for the worst. Anyone know where the Phoenix anchored?"
"I do." said Liala. "It's just outside the Palace wall on the West side, about 200 meters."
Celina whistled. "That's not very much. Hitomi, Merle, you're going to have to be already on the ship by the time Calypso leaves the palace, assuming Lord Van is with her, of course."
"If we get on that ship and Calypso decides to leave Lord Van behind, we'll be stuck. But how are we going to know if Lord Van is coming or not?" Merle whined.
Hitomi looked to Liala. "Are you up for another adventure?"
"Count me in." Liala grinned.
"Aren't you excited, Van? Tomorrow is the big day."
'Ecstatic.' Van responded in monotone.
It was just after sunset. Calypso and Van were retiring to their room after making sure all the arrangements for the next day were in order. All the supplies had been stored onto their leviship, the Phoenix, and everything was set for tomorrow's flight. They were walking arm in arm to their rooms.
Calypso rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Van, you should be happy. Hitomi's alive, along with her little friends. That clever little witch managed to escape after all. Apparently, they've forgotten all about you. But there's no reason to fret, after all, they're alive and well. Doesn't that make you happy?"
'…'
Calypso squeezed Van's arm in an affectionate way. "You know, you really must learn to open up more."
Calypso had noticed that Van became very uncomfortable when she physically touched him. That is why, where ever they went, she always held onto his arm. She could sense his annoyance whenever she did it.
They walked in silence to the bedroom door. Once it was open, Calypso let him go and he sat at the foot of the bed. Calypso locked the door, turned back to her husband, and again, engaged him in conversation.
"You know, I must admit, you're not quite what I imagined you to be."
'How so?'
She came forward and sat on his right. "Well, for one thing, I imagined you to be a little taller." Calypso let out a short laugh. "Actually, I never expected you to try and fight off my spell, let alone keep at it as long as you have."
'I hate you.'
"Undoubtedly. But you must really care for that seeress of yours if you're fighting me this hard. You actually love her, don't you?"
'…'
"I wonder what she could possibly see in you. After all, you're hardly a 'prince charming.' Oh, but listen to me, I'm talking as if she still cares about you after all you did to her…"
'Of course she…'
Van cut himself off, realizing that Calypso was just trying to provoke him, and succeeding. She could sense his anger building, but she could also feel the affection he had for Hitomi, albeit she could feel it only for a moment. Calypso decided to play with his former emotion.
"Still, I just can't see what she sees in you. You're arrogant, hotheaded, violent, extremely overconfident, and I must confess, you're not very sensitive to a woman's feelings. I mean, look at what you did to poor Hitomi." Calypso feigned being hurt. "Look at what you're doing to me. You won't even talk to me, your wife."
'You're not my wife.'
"Oh really?" Calypsos usual demeanor returned. "I have a contract signed by both of us that says otherwise, and I didn't even have to put a spell on you to do it. You signed of your own free will. Ah, see? Now, how strong is the love between you and your seeress if you got married to another person? To me? I just don't understand what goes on in that little head of hers." Calypso leaned into Van, carefully placing her right hand on his heart. "It's virtually impossible to love someone as cold-hearted as you…unless…" she removed her hand and grazed Van's cheek. She turned his head, made him lock eyes with her, and rested her fingertips on his lips. "…maybe it's there."
She leaned forward and kissed him gently. She broke away for a moment and kissed him again, with more passion. She relished in the emotions swirling about her. Hatred, loathing, and revulsion were all emanating from Van along with the warmth of his body and the smell of the field.
She broke away and held his gaze. "Now I see. She's a lucky girl."
It was then that Calypso felt a curious sensation. It was coming from Van, but she couldn't quite but her finger on it. "What's wrong, Van?" then her eyes grew wide. "Oh, I see. You haven't kissed her yet." She laughed openly now, pleased to uncover one of Van's secrets. "Oh, you poor soul. Not only have I stolen you away from the seeress, but I've stolen your first kiss. You must really hate me now."
'Hate doesn't even begin to describe what…'
Calypso cut him off. "Now now, no need to hurt anyone's feelings. We are human after all...well, sort of. Well, I'm getting tired, so why don't you get ready for bed?"
Van felt himself stand in obedience. As he walked away from Calypso, he made himself a promise. Someday, Calypso would pay for everything she has done and she would pay with her life.
"You know, I think I will keep you with me, just a little while longer." Calypso whispered to herself. "I'm having too much fun."
The morning of departure had come. Celina, Merle, Liala, and Hitomi snuck into the leviship yard during the early morning hours when security was at its lowest. With Liala's guidance, the four of them managed to find and board the Phoenix without incident. They all decided that it would be best if Merle and Hitomi hid in different sections of the ship, just in case one of them was spotted, the other could continue on. But before they hid in their respective places, they needed to know if Van was coming or not. So, Hitomi and Merle hid together in a cargo section, located near the exit ramp. There was a small slit in the wall, a makeshift window designed to keep the room ventilated. Through this slit, Hitomi could see through to the forest and somewhere in there, Celina was hiding. Sunrise had come and gone. Calypso and her Sirens would be boarding soon. All Hitomi and Merle needed was a signal.
Carefully hidden along the tree line, Celina sat with her back to a large oak, waiting. She had been sitting for several hours after getting tired of standing for several more. Her hands were in her pockets as they each fingered something within. She contemplated standing up again, as her current position was growing uncomfortable, when Liala appeared through the trees. She had obviously sprinted her way over. She was gasping for breath, yet she was eager. Celina stood, readying herself to give a signal.
"Well?" Celina asked, urgently.
"Red." Liala said with a nod.
Celina immediately pulled her right hand out of her pocket, containing a long red piece of fabric. She came around the tree so that only her arm was visible and waved the red scarf in a wide arch.
"There's the signal." Hitomi announced.
Merle was sitting at Hitomi's feet, looking up at her eagerly. "Well, what's happening?"
"It's red. Van is coming aboard."
Merle sighed in disappointment. "I guess that's my cue. Where will you be hiding?"
"I'm going to stay here. When the ship lands, I want to be the first one out, just incase Calypso plans to take Van with her everywhere."
"I'm going to the stables. After we land, I'll search the ship."
"Sounds good. Remember, at sunset, head south until we find Celina, with or without Van. If we can't get him the first time, we'll plan something else."
"Right." Merle nodded. She knew all of this, but it was good to go over it one last time. "Good luck Hitomi."
Hitomi gave Merle a reassuring smile. "You too. Now go."
She dashed out the door and was gone in a blink of an eye.
Hitomi settled herself behind some old crates in the corner, sat on the floor, hugged her knees while occasionally fingering the hidden dagger in her boot, and waited.
After waving the scarf about 20 times, Celina hastily stuffed it back into her pocket, turned to Liala, and muttered, "Let's go."
She dashed off into the trees, Celina in tow. They traveled for about ten minutes till they broke free of the trees and were in the market. They ran freely now, not worried about the Siren's spotting them. Many people yelled for them to slow down as they leapt out of their way, but Celina and Liala didn't slow. They continued to run till the sounds of the Market had long died away and they approached a large stone building which connected itself to the castle wall. The guimelif hanger.
Security was minimal, however, a problem. There was only one entrance and exit, and two Fanelian guards prevented any access. Normally, Celina would walk in, get her old guimelif, and leave with no fuss, but she couldn't take the risk that these men were under the influence of one of the Siren spells. Celina looked at the cat-girl beside her.
"You up for this?"
Liala smiled in anticipation. "I was born for this."
Then she dashed away. Celina watched as the girl managed to slip through the large door without the two guards noticing. They were too busy sitting on makeshift chairs and playing cards. A minute later, Celina heard a small crash from inside the hanger. The two guards heard it to and abandoned their game to investigate. Celina suppressed a laugh. Not a moment later, she heard yelling from inside the hanger and a few more crashes. Then Liala emerged with a large pink stone in her mouth and she was running on all fours, looking very pleased with herself. The two guards ran after her, yelling for the "stupid little cat-girl" to return the energist. She had them follow her around the corner, and soon, the three of them disappeared.
Celina whispered her thanks to Liala before dashing out of her hiding spot and into the hanger. She continued to run down the long row of guimelif units, most of them dusty and some rusted from lack of use. Minutes later, she found hers, hidden in the shadows. She stopped and stared up at it in fierce determination. It didn't seem to have aged at all. No rust, no visible damage, and hardly any clutter on it. She could hear in the back of her mind the familiar insane laughter. This guimelif took the lives of hundreds, most of them innocent bystanders. Even now, she could smell the smoke and she could hear the screams of the dying and of the dead. So much pain had been caused because of this cursed machine.
But all that would change. She would use this killing machine one last time, except this time, she would save the lives of thousands. No, just one. That was enough. It was enough to save Lord Van. Phoebe would do the rest.
"It's time to face my past."
She climbed up to the cockpit of the guimelif. The energist was there, thanks to Liala. Celina picked it up and slowly placed it inside the liquid rock. When her hand left the stone, the guimelif energized and she could hear the soft hum of power coursing through it. The cockpit came open with an odd sound, like flesh lapping against each other. She moved to the center of it and hesitated. She looked up, but only saw black. Pieces of the melif unit extended around her, like flower pedals ready to swallow her whole. She raised her left arm and brushed a switch with her fingertips. Instantly, the pedals enveloped her and pulled her deep inside. It was dark for a moment, but only a moment. The systems activated and holes appeared so she could see outside. For an instant, she felt claustrophobic as pieces of her unit surrounded her, attaching themselves to her arms and legs. Restraints appeared along her chest and held her fast. A hiss of steam impaired her vision just before a cold liquid substance filled the remaining space around her. The cold, dense metal continued to rise till it was just below her neck. The only space that remained was her head. The only reason she did not suffocate was because of the holes in her visor which allowed her to see and breathe.
She was back to the way it was. Instantly, all the years of experience of flying this machine, and others like it, came rushing back. Every move, every button, every posture commanded a different function, and she knew them all.
Without hesitation, she pressed her heals down and hunched her shoulders forward. The guimelif stood up. Celina turned her torso to the left and brought her right knee forward. The melif turned to the left. She brought her left knee forward and the melif took one step forward. Then, she did the same with her right, and then left again. Step by step, she walked out of the hanger and strait into the forest. No one saw her leave. When she was a considerable distance away, she lowered her shoulders and pointed her toes down. The guimelif flew high into the sky and headed towards Dragon's Canyon, keeping a slow pace and making sure the sun stayed at her back to prevent being spotted. She was ahead of schedule, and she didn't want to get too close to Calypso's leviship. If she was spotted, their plan was ruined.
While Celina hung back, she checked her guimelif to see which systems were still operational. She was surprised to see that all of the melif functions were in top condition. The stealth cloak, the crema claws, and the flamethrower were all in perfect working order. She wondered if she should be pleased or disturbed with this information. Then, the voice returned, stronger this time. It was trying to say something, but Celina refused to listen.
"No, you don't control me anymore."
But the voice persisted, incoherent, but ever present. Celina quickly realized that she couldn't fight him forever. For now, yes, she could resist, but someday, she'd have to face him. Now was as better time as any. There was no one nearby that she could hurt, save herself. But it was something that needed to be done. She couldn't help Hitomi if she was fighting an internal battle at the same time.
Hesitantly, Celina lowered her mental defenses. The garbled voice became clear.
"Burn them all!"
"What do you want Dilandau?"
"Burn the witches! Burn them all to the ground!"
"You're not making any sense. What witches?"
"The Sirens. Burn them all before they can use the Machine. If there's no one around to activate it, there's no threat."
"No. Phoebe is going to destroy the Atlantis Machine. She's the only one who can."
"She's lying! I can burn that Machine to dust. Nobody will be able to tell the difference between the Machine's ashes or the Sirens."
"We've already got a plan, and we're sticking to it."
"Your plan takes too long and there are too many variables. My way is quick and easy. They don't have anything that can stop us."
"They have Lord Van."
"But without Escaflowne, even the great King cannot do anything to stop me. I could crush him easily."
"The point of this mission is to save Lord Van."
"No, it's to save the world by destroying the Atlantis Machine."
"No, that's Phoebe's mission. Ours is to stay out of her way. Lord Van is not to be harmed. That includes Hitomi and Merle."
"You're making things difficult. Although, it's still possible to burn everything else, after your three little friends are out of the way. Come on, it's easier my way, and there are less risks. After all, doesn't Calypso deserve a fiery fate?"
Celina closed her eyes. He had a point. Getting rid of the Sirens before they even find the Machine would be easier. She could get Van, Hitomi, and Merle out of the way, then circle back and burn everything. Yes, eradicate any trace of them. Once the Siren's are gone, they'll be no one left to operate the Machine. Problem solved. It would be so simple. Yes, burn everything to the ground…
Fiery red eyes looked out across the land, following from a distance the Siren's leviship.
"…burn…"
The trip to Dragon's Canyon was long and uneventful. Hours passed, yet the ship showed no signs of slowing down. Hitomi found herself glancing out the window more than was necessary, looking at the sun to try and find the time. As far as she knew, it was only two or three hours till sunset. Occasionally, she'd look down at her wrist expecting to find her watch, but she had left it inside the tree house, along with her other belongings. But the watch didn't work on Gaea anyway. The time was different. What was noon for Gaea was probably 3 am in her home town.
She began to think about home. She had done a lot of that these past few days. She wondered how Yukari and Amano were doing. She hoped her parents and brother were alright. She knew she left in a hurry but they understood. Hitomi closed her eyes and pictured her family clearly in her mind. Her mother and father were walking side by side, each of them holding the hand of a younger child. They were at a carnival, for Hitomi's eighth birthday. They had so much fun that day. Hitomi allowed the memory to envelop her. In it, she found comfort...
She opened her eyes suddenly when the ship gave a short jerk. She had fallen asleep. She chastised herself and jumped up to the window. She looked out and saw the scenery had completely changed. There was rock everywhere and extending far beyond her sight was a jagged crevice that was so deep, she could only see black in the bottom. It was less than an hour till sunset, by Hitomi's guessing, and she had just reached her destination. Dragon's Canyon.
There wasn't time to search for Van. She'd have to leave first chance she got if she were to rendezvous with Celina. But first, she'd have to find Merle, and that was dangerous.
When Hitomi heard footsteps approaching, she dashed back to her hiding spot and went still as a statue. A moment later, the door opened. The sounds of boxes being shuffled around and lifted away filled the room. Hitomi kept her cool and her breathing soft. Several agonizing minutes passed and the door shut again, and all was silent. Hitomi could still hear people walking outside the door, so, she remained where she was until she was confident that most of the Siren's had departed the ship.
Ten minutes of silenced passed till Hitomi crept out of her cargo hold. She snuck down the corridors, carefully checking corners and keeping her ears pricked for any noise. Before the sun had risen that morning, she and Merle had familiarized themselves with the lower sections of the ship, that way they would be able to find each other, if required. Now, Hitomi was taking the most direct route to the stables.
She approached a corner and heard footsteps approaching. Hitomi backtracked and hid inside a random room, which, by luck only, was empty. It looked like an unused study room. Hitomi pressed her ear to the door till she heard the footsteps die away. Then, she carefully opened the door, peaked outside, and resumed her search. She continued down the passageways, listening intently for any signs of life. When she turned one corner, she almost walked headlong into one of Calypso's Sirens. Luck alone saved her, again. She was carrying a heavy box covered in dust, and at the exact moment Hitomi appeared behind her, the woman sneezed. Hitomi pressed her back hard against the wall, waiting for the woman to leave. When she finally did, Hitomi let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
The remainder of the journey proceeded without incident. At last, she found the door to the stables
She pressed her ear to the door, listening for voices, but all she could hear were the hoof stomps of the horses. Hitomi assumed it was safe. She put her hand on the door handle but before she could turn it, the door opened before her. One of the Sirens stared at Hitomi in surprise, quickly replaced with suspicion.
"Who are you?" she accused.
"Uh…"
The woman didn't give Hitomi any time to respond. Quick as a flash, she twisted Hitomi's arm behind her back and pinned her to the wall.
"We have an intruder!" she called out into the corridors. A moment later, another Siren appeared and gave assistance to the first. Together, they dragged Hitomi away from the stables and towards the exit of the ship. At one point, they passed another Siren who was walking in the opposite direction. She asked what was going on and her two captors replied that they had found an intruder. Hitomi looked up as she walked passed and stared into familiar eyes. It was Phoebe. For a moment, Hitomi thought of calling for her help, but then she remembered, she would not help. Hitomi wasn't even supposed to be there. Phoebe had a more important mission. So, Hitomi kept silent as she walked passed and Phoebe's face remained indecipherable.
As they exited the ship, Hitomi struggled against her bonds but the two women possessed strength that was far beyond what she had expected. In fact, struggling only seemed to hurt Hitomi, rather than help her.
As they walked/dragged Hitomi away from the Phoenix, she stumbled several times, tripping and kicking rocks that were in her way. The sun was almost set and the failing light did not provide much illumination. She realized that fog was passing over the land, heading in the same direction as she. They continued on for a while until Hitomi could make out several forms in the distance. It was Calypso and her Sirens. They were standing at the edge of the precipice, where the fog was cascading down into the dark pit. As they approached, Hitomi saw that Calypso was holding some sort of device that looked similar to binoculars, and she was gazing out across the canyon, looking pleased.
"Your Majesty," said one of Hitomi's captors. "We've found an intruder aboard our ship."
Calypso turned around and looked at Hitomi in surprise.
"Well, well, well. I most certainly didn't expect this." She handed the device to one of the women standing near her.
Calypso came forward and another person followed. Hitomi shot a double take when she saw it was Van.
"What are you doing here, lady Hitomi?" Calypso asked, good-naturedly.
"Release Van."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"Your spell! I know you're controlling him. Let him go!"
Calypso gazed down at Hitomi, looking innocent. "I'm not controlling him. Am I controlling him?" She turned to Van. "Van, am I controlling you?"
"Of course not." He answered.
Calypso smiled. "See, I'm not doing anything. He's free to do whatever he wants."
Hitomi wanted to scream. She was speaking to a mad woman! Hitomi wondered how she was going to be able to escape her ordeal. Then, she remembered Merle. If she managed to escape, she could call on Celina and they could help, but Hitomi didn't know where Merle was. She could be on the ship, still in the stables, or she left before that other woman arrived, or she could already be heading South.
Wherever Merle was, she hoped that she had escaped in time.
Unknown to Hitomi, however, Merle was watching everything. She had long escaped the Phoenix and had waited outside for Hitomi to come out. Unfortunately, when Hitomi had finally emerged, a couple of Sirens were accompanying her. At that point, Merle hid herself as best as she could. Her peasants cloak was wrapped over her head and her body pressed close to the ground. The cloak provided camouflage that allowed Merle to inch closer to Hitomi and the Sirens. She was having a bad case of dejá vu. The first time Hitomi came to Gaea, Merle went into hiding when Van and Hitomi were captured at one of Zaibach's dragon graveyards'. This time, Merle was not going to stay hidden. When she was close enough, she dashed out, quick as lightening, and tackled one of the women who held Hitomi prisoner to the ground. She fiercely began to bite and scratch the woman, despite her efforts to protect herself in her fetal position.
Hitomi took the opportunity to rip her other arm away from the other woman, but by the time she got to her feet, two more tackled her to the ground. Four others grabbed a hold of the hissing cat-girl. It took all four of them to pin Merle to the ground, and even then, they were struggling. A fifth woman appeared behind Merle and produced a long knife.
"Run Merle! Run away!" Hitomi screamed when she saw the deadly weapon.
But the Siren's held Merle fast to the ground.
"No, let her go." Calypso commanded. The Siren's released her immediately and the dagger disappeared from view. Merle dashed up and put several feet distance between herself and the Sirens. "Go ahead Merle. Run." Calypso pointed all around at the desert landscape. "You've got over a hundred miles of sand and rock to run to. Pick a direction and go."
Merle looked hesitantly at Hitomi.
"Go Merle." She whispered. "Its okay, go." She gave the cat-girl a meaningful look. Merle nodded and dashed away as fast as her four legs could carry her, heading South.
Calypso yelled back to her. "That's right, go back to Fanelia." She turned back around and her voice returned to normal. "She'll never survive the trip. As for you, my dear," Calypso gestured in Hitomi's direction and two Siren's lifted her roughly to her knees. Each Siren held one arm and pressed Hitomi's shoulders forward, forcing her into a bowing position. "You've caused me more trouble than I would have thought. You should have stayed in Fanelia. At least you were safe there, because now," Calypso bent close and held Hitomi's chin in her hand, her eyes full of sympathy, and whispered, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you now."
Calypso stood upright again at Van's side and her eyes returned to their natural hollow look. "Throw her over the cliff. I don't want to see her again."
The two Siren's dragged Hitomi backwards as she began to flail about, trying to break free.
"NO!"
Everything froze, even Hitomi. Everyone's eyes were locked on Van and Calypso. Hitomi looked carefully at Van. He was staring at Calypso with murder in his eyes. It was Van. The real Van. He was beginning to break free. Hitomi noticed his right hand twitch. She could almost see in his mind the desire to attack Calypso, to kill her. Although his face remained expressionless, his eyes seemed to be the only part of him that he could control. Calypso looked at Van, a mixture of surprise and anger.
"You dare to say no to me?"
Calypso couldn't believe it. Van had broken through her spell, although only for an instant. As soon as she had sentenced Hitomi, Calypso had felt a newfound power surge through Van. It was enough to break through, and she was furious that he had caught her off guard. The Siren's looked to her now. Depending on what she did now would determine if they would still follow her. Calypso would not allow her fellow Siren's to view her as being weak.
Calypso raised one hand and placed her forefinger in the center of his forehead. Nothing happened, but even Hitomi could sense the doubt leave the area and it being replaced with newfound respect and fear. What ever Calypso was doing, all of the Sirens were satisfied that it was the right thing to do.
'What's going on?' Hitomi wondered.
And then she felt it. The feather was growing warm again. Suddenly, she could hear something. It was a voice, but she couldn't quite place it. A few seconds passed and the sound became more distinct. She realized it wasn't a voice at all. It was screaming, and the sound was coming from Van's mind. Every moment, the screaming grew louder and it filled Hitomi's ears until she was blinded by it. She could even see him, almost as if she were inside Van's mind. He was on the floor in the midst of a raging inferno. The flames towered above him, engulfing him. His flesh and clothing were unharmed, but it was obvious that he could feel everything. His screams of agony were unbearable.
"Stop it! You're torturing him!" Hitomi yelled. The sound of her own voice brought her back to reality, but in the distance, she could still hear Van's suffering.
Calypso looked down at Hitomi. "I'm not the one causing him anguish, you are. If you weren't here, he'd be perfectly fine."
"Please, just stop it!" she pleaded.
Calypso's finger lingered a moment longer as she seemed to consider Hitomi's request. Then, she slowly removed her hand and returned it to her side. "As you wish. I suppose every condemned person should be granted one last request, what do you think?" she looked at each Siren around her. Every one of them carried the same smile of satisfaction that Calypso herself wore. 'Loyal to the end.' She thought smugly. She then looked back at the two Sirens that held Hitomi from behind. Calypso raised an eyebrow. "As you were."
The Sirens shifted as they prepared to drag Hitomi over the cliff when Van's voice stopped them for a second time.
"Stop. Leave her alone."
He spoke softly, slowly, and in monotone, but Hitomi could hear him shouting in his mind. Somehow, Van's feather let her see into his mind. She could see him standing in the dark, wincing in pain from the torture he had to endure, yet he was yelling into the dark, yelling at Calypso.
"She has nothing to do with this." 'This is between me and you!' "Leave Hitomi out of it."
"She made herself a part of it, and now, she's going to pay." She glanced back at the two Sirens restraining the seeress. "Get on with it!"
They dragged her along the rocky ground, scraping the backs of Hitomi's legs. She flailed about, twisting her body around, trying to loosen their grip, but they held tight, and they were patient. Each moment brought Hitomi closer to the edge. Yet she continued to kick and scream.
"Stop it! Let me go! Don't do this! Van!"
In the background, Hitomi could also hear Van's desperate plea's go unanswered.
Calypso grew weary. Van was now fighting with all the strength he had left. If he kept this up, she wouldn't have to worry about killing him later on, he'd do it himself. But the whole point of getting rid of the seeress at this moment was so Van would be able to see it, but he was concentrating all his energy on trying to break free. She looked down and saw his right arm give another twitch. Then his leg. 'He's actually trying to save her.' She rolled her eyes at the thought.
And then…
"Stop!"
The two Sirens stopped, again. They looked up at Calypso, confused.
"Bring her back here."
They brought Hitomi to her feet and she didn't fight them. She was moving away from the cliff, and that was good news for her. Her escorts stopped her when she was a few feet away from Calypso and shoved her to a kneeling position once again. She walked forward, looked Hitomi up and down and turned her gaze to Van.
"You think you can save her, do you? I wonder, can you save her from yourself?"
She circled Van once and stopped when she was at his side. He turned his gaze towards hers. Calypso smiled with a demon look glinting in her eye. Van stared at her, blankly, waiting for his next order. Calypso glanced down at the cowering form of Hitomi before locking eyes with Van.
"Kill her…"
The two Sirens brought Hitomi to her feet, roughly, and without hesitating, Van's hands reached out and grabbed at Hitomi's neck. He squeezed so hard, she was sure she would be decapitated. Hitomi instinctively tried to ward him off, but the Sirens deprived her of the use of her arms.
Almost as if she were reading Hitomi's mind, Calypso motioned for the Sirens to release Hitomi. They did so and took several steps back, where they remained. Once she was free of them, Hitomi frantically tried to pull off Van's hands, but he was too strong. She tried to speak to him, but so great was his vice grip that not even a choking noise would allow itself.
Her vision grew watery and in her ears, she could hear the deep pounding of her blood. She could feel something burning on her chest. It was the feather. She squinted up at Van. In his face was fiery determination, but, his eyes. She could see it, as clear as daylight. Pain. Van was still there, and he was watching all of this. Hitomi tried to say his name, but it was useless. Instead, she screamed it in her mind.
His grip loosened until Hitomi fell to the ground at his feet. She gasped for breath and coughed the air out again. In her chest, she could feel the painful drum roll of her lungs. She thought vaguely of running away, but the thoughts never seemed to reach her legs. She suddenly felt lightheaded and all she wanted was to sleep. She was only dimly aware of Calypso screaming at Van.
"What are you doing? I said kill her! I command you! Throw her over the cliff if you have to, but just do it!"
Van's entire body began to shake. "…no…"
"You'll do as I say!"
"…I can't…"
"I gave you an order, now obey!"
"NO!"
Van fell to his knees, grasping at his head. Hitomi managed to gain some of her senses back by this time. She pulled herself up, slowly, and pulled Van closer to her. She wrapped her arms securely around him and put her chin over his head while whispering words of encouragement.
"You can do it, Van. Fight her. I know you can. It's working."
He trembled more violently and his hands became fists. Hitomi put her hands over his.
"Come on, Van. Keep going. You can do this, I believe in you. You have the power. She can't control you."
Hitomi glanced up for a moment and was pleased to see Calypso trembling as well. She was trying to use all her remaining energy into restraining Van and getting him back under her control, but it wasn't working. Van was fighting, and he was winning. Calypso dropped to one knee in exhaustion, but refused to give up. She raised one shaking hand towards Van, trying to focus all her energy. Then, to Calypso's surprise, one of her Sirens offered her a hand. Calypso looked at it for a moment and took it. She stood up again but kept her eyes and hand focused on Van. Then, another Siren approached and put her hand on Calypso's shoulder and another put her hand on her other shoulder.
Hitomi looked at Calypso, confused, when she began to smile in triumph. "He may be able to fight me, but he's no match for our combined power."
Suddenly, Van's trembling stopped. His hands dropped to his sides and his breathing returned to normal. Hitomi let him go and tried to look him in the eye, but with his head lowered, she couldn't.
"Van?"
"Hit…Hitomi…"
"Yes, Van, what's wrong?"
"…run…away…"
In an instant, Hitomi knew. 'My vision!' It was coming to pass. She knew what would happen if she didn't obey Van, so without hesitating, she leapt up and ran in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, she was still slightly disoriented and by the time she took a few running steps, she ran headlong into the two Sirens that had restrained her earlier. They grabbed a hold of her and whirled her around. She watched as Van stood up and shuffled his feet towards her.
"No! Let me go!" she screamed as she fought her captors.
Van came up to her and seized her wrist. The two Sirens released her as Van pulled Hitomi with him towards the cliff's edge. He didn't look at her, but she could hear him mumbling.
"…fight…me…"
'Fight me, Hitomi! I can't stop it!'
She pulled back on her wrist, twisting it around, feeling her skin burn from the effort, but he refused to relinquish his control. She dropped to the ground, forcing him to change tactics. She snatched up a sharp rock on the ground, mumbled an apology, and brought the edge hard across the back of his wrist. Impulsively, he let go and Hitomi scrambled to her feet. She didn't get more than two feet when he was on her, pinning her to the ground by her shoulders. She almost blacked out when her head hit the rocky terrain.
'Fight Hitomi! Please!'
Hitomi opened her eyes and saw Van's fierce expression looking down on her. He let go of her shoulders and wrapped his hands around her neck. Gradually, he began to constrict. She squirmed about but Van was straddling her and she had no use of her legs. She pulled and tore at his hands, desperate for air. He was too strong. Unless…
"My dagger…"
'Use it!'
Hitomi realized that it wasn't Van who was talking, it was his mind. Again, she could hear his thoughts, and apparently, he could hear her too. Faintly, she could feel the heat coming from the feather hidden under her shirt.
"Van, I can't…"
'Do it, Hitomi. Don't let me hurt you. Kill me if you have too!'
"No! I'm not going to kill you!"
'You have too!'
Despairing, Hitomi reached down past Van's leg and pulled the dagger from her right boot.
"Please, I don't want to hurt you."
'There's no other choice. Quickly, before Calypso sees!'
As fast as she was able, Hitomi launched the dagger back and forward again, aiming directly above Van's heart. She'd hurt him, but she refused to kill him. But her indecision cost her. Calypso caught sight of the dagger and motioned for Van to intercept it. He caught Hitomi's wrist when the blade was only an inch from his chest. She looked up in surprise just before he violently twisted her hand, breaking it instantly. The dagger fell uselessly to the ground. She tried to cry out in pain, but vocalization was beyond her capability. Instead, a stream of tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes. Hitomi's right hand lay limp on the ground. Van picked up the dagger by the hilt and tossed it behind him, down into the canyon.
He stood up, pulling Hitomi up with his other hand until she was off the ground. With her only usable hand, she held onto Van's arm, trying to alleviate the weight of her body from her neck. She kicked out, landing several blows to his torso, but he didn't even flinch. He merely stared at her with a cold, blank expression, holding her in the air, calling upon strength that didn't seem possible for his physical appearance.
Soon, Hitomi's thrashing became less violent. She was loosing her energy. Her lungs and body cried out for oxygen. Her stomach muscles tensed as she fought to inhale, but her efforts were useless. Her vision became cloudy and her body seemed to move in slow motion.
"Van…can you hear me…"
Hitomi felt her mind retreat into the heat emanating from the feather. There, she found Van, trapped in his own mind, staring in disbelief at the images being showed to him. He was watching himself strangle the woman he loved.
"Van…"
He whirled around and gasped when he saw Hitomi standing behind him. He reached out to touch her, but his hand went right through her.
'What's happening?'
Hitomi looked up at the images Van had been looking at. She was looking at herself through Van's eyes. Her right hand was mangled and the other clung to Van's arm. Her eyes were rolling back into her head and her face had become dangerously pale.
"I'm dieing…"
'No you're not!' He yelled. Hitomi looked at him, defiant as always. 'You just have to fight harder.'
She began to cry. "I'm scared, Van. I don't want to die…"
'You're not going to die. There has to be another way.'
"…Van…I'm getting tired…" she fell to her knees, supporting herself with her hands. Van tried to grab her, but she fell right through his arms.
He knelt down and noticed that her body was growing more transparent with each passing moment.
'No, stay with me. Hitomi, what do I have to do to stop this?'
"…run…when you're free, get as far away as you can…"
'What are you talking about? How do I save you?'
"…run South, Van. There, you'll be safe…"
'Don't say that! How can I save you? Tell me…'
Hitomi collapsed onto the floor. The moment she made full contact, her body vanished completely.
'Come back!'
He looked back up at what his eyes showed him.
Hitomi raised her mangled hand, brought her fingertips to her lips, and then touched them to Van's.
"…I…love…"
Both her hands dropped to her sides. Her body went still and her eyes fluttered shut. Everything around them was silent. Behind her, the last twinkle of light vanished beneath the horizon, enveloping everyone in darkness. A long while passed before Van finally let his love fall, sinking into the black abyss. He watched her drift away, saw her hand fly up as if too reach out to him, and then disappear beneath the thick haze that was spilling into the canyon.
When she was out of sight, he turned back towards Calypso, and waited. She looked to two of her Sirens and motioned for them to apprehend Van.
"Take him to the brig. I'll deal with him later."
Van was just cognizant of him being lead away by two pairs of hands. He merely put one foot in front of the other in the direction he was lead. He eventually came to a cell door inside the Phoenix, comprised of a small barred window, a slot for food, and a heavy lock. One of the Sirens left his side and pulled out a key. She unlocked the door and held it open for Van to enter. He obediently walked forward and sat on the only piece of furniture available to him, a small, thin cot.
Suddenly, Van felt as if his soul had fallen and dropped back into his body. He barely caught himself before falling to the floor. He looked around, allowing his surroundings to register…he looked down at his hand, flexed it experimentally.
"You're free." said the Siren who was standing in the door way, before promptly slamming it shut.
Van leapt to his feet and ran to the door. He heard the loud click of the lock just prior to his entire body colliding with the metal. He continually beat his fists against it, trying to break it open.
"Open up right now! Calypso!"
He tried to summon his magic, but it would not come. He was too weak. He had used all his energy trying to fight off Calypso…
…trying to keep her from making him…
"Calypso! Get back here! I'm going to kill you!" he screamed in rage.
He pounded on the door, willing it to move, but it wouldn't budge. He was trapped. He looked out of the small barred window. No one was there. He was alone.
"You'll pay for this! Calypso!"
He gripped the bars on the window with his fists and saw the line of blood where Hitomi had cut him.
"…Hitomi…"
She was gone. Hitomi was gone. He had killed her. She did everything she could to stop him, but he overpowered her, and now she was dead. Long after her last breath escaped her body, he held her, dangling her over the edge like a doll, lifeless. She was gone. He took her life away. Hitomi was dead.
He collapsed to the ground, muttered her name for what he felt would be the last time, pressed his head against the cold, stone floor and wept bitterly.
AN: How depressing, don't you think? And quite long! Well, the secret's out. The person I had been planning to kill was…Hitomi. But, of course, in the next chapter, many more will die too, but Hitomi was the first. Kind of a sad way to go, huh? …You all hate me now, huh? …dodges onslaught of tomatoes --;
I sure hope you all liked this chapter. I spent almost two strait days of nothing but writing on this. Also, I think I managed to sniff out all the spelling errors. But if you find any, please let me know so I can correct them when I re-post this story.
Well, please review! Otherwise, I will think that no one really cares that I killed Hitomi off, and that it was pointless, when really it does have a purpose. Also, there is only ONE MORE CHAPTER, so, this next update will be the last. Then, I can move on to happier things in Flying High. Now, review, and remember, NO PROFANITY PLEASE!!!
Thank you!
Shout outs:
Tonks: I finished Heritage of Shannara and I LOVE IT!!!! I'm going get the previous four books and read them. I CANT WAIT!!!
My son: You're dead father misses you a lot!!! But I'm sure you knew that. I'm going to camp next week, Mon. through Fri, I'll be on Catalina Island (not sure if this is the right spelling). What do you think of this chapter? sigh only one more to go! Oh, I got a fan for my soul room! It's really cool. It's white, and it swivels back and forth! grin I love my little fan!!! It gets hot sometimes in the afterlife…I cleaned my room the other day, and guess what, I still have the toilet paper roll you gave me for my birthday. I love my little toilet paper roll…-- I just now realized I have no life…well, duh, cause I'm dead…whatever… Love you!
Kawaiikel: Do you feel famous yet?! LOL. So, are you angry? …cowers…do I even want to know the answer to that…
Jaa mata!
Yugismpuzzle