- Dark Takeover: Chapter 23 –

            -- Memories…--

'Four months….four months, four months! Only two more to go and I'm free! Well….somewhat free anyways.' Aklyis looked down at her ever-growing belly. She groaned. Now that the first trimester was over, she was suddenly overcome by a flood of desires. Most of them dealing with her nether regions. God how she hated pregnancy. And where was Hiei? Wasn't he supposed to bring her those chocolate covered strawberries?

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"Sir, may I inquire why you request, what was it? Chocolate covered strawberries?"

Hiei scowled darkly at the cook. "BECAUSE! I've had nothing but horseshit in this cow dump! I require some delicacies ..Now get to it!"

The old cook recoiled slightly, "Y-yes sir."

Hiei stormed out of the kitchen darkly. Damn that woman. She had him rapped around her pinky. God what he would do for her… It disgusted him sometimes.

Storming into his room he heard Aklyis groan softly.

"Must you always be so angry?" the brunette asked.

"Must you always be so damn inquisitive?" the fire demon snapped back.

Aklyis sighed. "Fine, be a bastard. I'm taking a nap."

Hiei frowned. When had she gotten so damn stubborn?

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"I can't see…" the raven-haired girl whined.

"Shush! They'll hear us!!"

Miya scowled. "They've been gone for almost an hour!"

"Still I want to be safe!" Her blond companion replied.

The girl sighed as she allowed her tiny frame to thud softly against the cave ground, leaning back against the cold wall and closing her eyes, content to get some rest. "Wake me up when you're done being paranoid."

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Veyone stepped back abruptly. "I will never help you Zoran!" I pledged my life to Aklyis and Miya! To their family! You will not take control of me!"

Zoran rose from his seat. "You will have to fight me first! The victor shall have his way!"

"Never! You know very well I do not do treacherous sorcery such as you!"

"Then you are a coward! Fight me priestess!"

Veyone spun around abruptly, "MALICE!" she screamed, her hands brought up towards the heavens. As if on command, a storm of red began to brew, as Zoran was suddenly thrown back, chains of glistening red tying him to the wall.

"Release me!" Zoran sneered.

"I am not your henchman or toy that you may command! I am the priestess of El Morad! Now, if you'll excuse me, sorcerer…" The priestess bowed politely as she spun around, casting a teleport spell, disappearing in a purple mist.

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Aklyis moaned as she was thrown back against the bed, Hiei stroking her hair as he kissed her lips deeply. Breaking apart for air, the brunette looked deep into his crimson eyes, which were slowly darkening. "I need you," she whispered to him. Hiei's eyes narrowed. She could feel his hardness pressing against her thigh. He scowled darkly, "Don't tempt me…"

The girl winced slightly at his words. She wanted to tempt him. Hell she wanted him to take her right there and then. But would the baby be all right? Sighing softly, she turned away, signaling for Hiei to get off of her. "Fine…"

He eyed her cautiously. "Whatever…" He mumbled under his breath. He noticed then Aklyis seemed suddenly still, and quiet. "What's the matter?" he asked flatly, trying to sound unconcerned.

"I….I can feel it."

"…..What?"

"Her….the priestess….the priestess of El Morad…Veyone!"

"Veyone….El Morad? What in the gods' names are you rambling about woman?"

"El Morad is my country….this world…that was destroyed by Zoran! Veyone is the priestess whose ancestors pledged their lives to protect the royal family of El Morad. Veyone's duty was to protect me…and now I can feel her. She is alive!"

"Well big deal woman, right now she's no use to us!"

"Of course she is! Be quiet! I'm attempting to summon her to me!" With that, Aklyis closed her eyes tightly, her face contorting with concentration.

Hiei eyed his mate curiously. 'What in hell is she doing?' he thought to himself as a white mist began to surround Aklyis, followed by a light breeze. Suddenly from the other side of the room, a purple thunderbolt appeared in thin air, opening a portal. From the portal emerged a woman. Her light brown hair spilled over her shoulders, her honey eyes scanning the room curiously. She calmly walked out of the purple portal, her green robes whipping around her from the sudden wind. She paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on Hiei for a few moments, then traveling to Aklyis. Her honey orbs widened momentarily before she breathlessly whispered the girls names. "Aklyis…..is it really you?"

The darker brunette spun silently, her eyes glistening with a hidden emotion. "Veyone!"

"Yes child, it is I…what are you doing here?"

Aklyis gulped, her eyes guiltily traveling to Hiei, as her hand instinctively rose to her large belly.

Veyone seemed clear on the matter. " Ah, I see. Well I suppose it doesn't matter. It's not as if the laws of El Morad exist anymore. But you know that the conceiving of a demon child would bring you a death sentence…"

Aklyis scowled darkly. "I am not a child of El Morad any longer! As you can see, El Morad was destroyed long ago. I no longer abide by their rules!"

Veyone recoiled slightly at the girl's sudden outburst. She then smirked slightly. "It's good to see they haven't brought you up a princess. It would have been a pity to see you so lady like, when you are so wild and free."

Aklyis sighed, and then frowned. "I need a favour."

"What is it, child?"

"I need you to speed up time…I need you to take me forward two months. Make us go into hyper-time. Where we all age, as we should for those two months, our bodies and the world around us changes but the situation does not…I need it. I need it to be free."

Veyone glanced down at the girl's abdomen. "Yes..I understand. It is risky, but I may try it…"

"Please you must!" the forgotten princess pleaded.

Hiei was confused. He had no clue what in mercy's name was happening. Hyper time? Princess? Aging? Whatever…

"You…" the priestess said, catching the fire demon's attention.

His eyes slowly traveled to the majestic woman. "What?" he asked flatly.

"You better take care of them…" she warned in a low dangerous voice.

Hiei raised an eyebrow. That was the first time he had been threatened by a woman. Well…other than Aklyis of course. "I will…" He assured quietly.

"Good…now if you'll relax on the bed my dear. And as for you, fire demon, I suggest you hold on to something."

Hiei raised an eyebrow while Aklyis giggled slightly. "Right." He said.

Aklyis lay prostrate on the bed, relaxed, eyes closed as she heard Veyone silently humming, calling to the spirits of time. The world seemed to spin, even in the blackness of her shut eyelids. Suddenly, everything seemed white. She opened her eyes to find herself in a field. No, a garden. It was a beautiful garden. Two children were playing. Chasing each other. The garden was in case in beautiful walls of silver and limestone.

"El Morad…" Aklyis whispered to herself, as she gazed upon the majestic walls of the palace.

Then it all went black…

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Hiei opened his eyes. He was lying in a pasture. He could hear the soft chirping of birds, and the mooing of cows. Slowly sitting up, he could see farmers hacking away at crops near the pasture. In the distance, there was a village. Children laughed as they played. Women gathered water from the well, and chatted. The men were in the pasture, or in a shop doing work.

"My home…" Hiei whispered to himself, gazing over the simple village where he had spent those few happy years of his childhood.

Then it all went black…

A/N: XD OK FINALLY AN UPDATE!! WELL…..YEAH READ AND REVIEW!!!!! AND I'LL LOVE YOU!!!!!!