Disclaimer: I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura so don't sue meeeeee!
Main Characters:
Aris: The witch of the castle who works directly for the queen (Sonomi)
Artemis: The twin brother of Aris, he is the healer of the castle.
Tomoyo: The princess
Sakura: The princess's best friend and second-cousin.
Eriol: The mage of the castle. He does readings of the future and is good friends with almost everyone in the castle.
Akira: The prince of a neighbouring country (Drejimn)
Syaoran: Akira's personal servant
Chapter Six
Web of Fate
If I were to tell you my name, would you know who I was?
If you were to become my friend, would you help me in my time of need?
If I called your name, would you answer me?
Probably not.
I am nothing but a serving boy – a slave.
…………………..
Aris forcefully pushed opened the heavy wooden doors to the banquet room. Her hands stung as her fingers had not yet completely healed. She was still angry, and pinched her fingers with aggravation, making them trickle with blood once again. It was better this way, because taking her anger out upon the Queen would definitely not do her any good. Seeing the Queen, she quickly composed herself, hiding her hands out of view well within the sleeves of her gown. Aris curtsied low towards her superior.
Sonomi smiled at her faithful advisor and gestured for Aris to rise.
"Your Majesty," Aris said, "why did you call for me?" she looked up at Sonomi, comfortably perched on a velvety throne, her hair cut short and long on either side of her head.
"The banquet tonight is in the honour of the Suzuhara family." Sonomi said, "I've heard that they easily get bored. In order to have the peace treaty signed, we would need their cooperation." She paused thoughtfully, "If you don't mind Aris, I would like for you to entertain them after the dinner."
Aris' eyebrow twitched with annoyance restraining from opening her mouth. It was more of an order than a request. She scowled, her brother was right. The Queen was turning her into the castle jester. She forced herself not to lose her temper and smiled bitterly, "And what, would her Majesty, suggest that I do?"
"Anything pleasurable would be fine Aris." Sonomi thought out loud, "Just keep our guests entertained and satisfied."
……………………
Glimpses and patches of memories fade away everyday. What you see today, will only become distorted images tomorrow. The fog of age will come, and when that happens, everything will be different. The hands on a clock always move, rotating over and over again in that same circular motion.
But I am different, I will not always stay the same, I will not always repeat myself.
I am human.
Time follows the same pathway without ceasing. Everyday, it begins anew, embarking on that everlasting journey from morning until night. Just when you think everything is over and done, time will just go back, and start again. I honestly don't believe in new beginnings, your soul will never get a second chance. If you died, would the gods bring you back down from the heavens? Time never gets any older than it was yesterday, but the living will. The only pathway to go from here is to forget. To purge all of those foggy memories out of your soul and throw them away.
However, for me, I can not do that. Call me a liar and a hypocrite if you like, but my foggy memories are all that I have. Memories that truly belong to me. The only remaining sanctuary that I can escape to from the insanity around me.
I remember much about my parents. Their smiling faces and kind voices are slowly being crushed by cloud and mist. There's merely one thing I remember about my mother and father though - their deaths.
My sisters often told me stories of our family, once smiling and happy but poor. They said that our parents would always tell us stories of knights and dragons from afar, putting us to sleep with their enchanting words. We were well and safe. I don't think that I was ever happier.
It's a shame I don't remember any of it.
When I was four, that all ended in an instant. Nothing would ever be the same. My mother was hung, unjustly accused of witchcraft. Even though I was just an infant, I still remember the sounds of struggling and suffering that came from my mother's lips. We were forced to stand there and watch, just an arms length away from my mother's execution.
I can still see flashes of her death in my nightmares – the jagged coarse rope tied around my mother's neck, teasingly dangling her in front of all to see. The small squared hole under her feet, mocking and laughing as it was just too far for her to reach the ground below.
Although she tried not to, her struggles were still very apparent as she squirmed in the air, trying desperately just to breathe in one last breath of air. I remember seeing mother's open eyes, staring horridly right at me. Those black open eyes would forever be clear in my memories - deep drowning pools of darkness filled with bittersweet love.
Ironic though that my mother never had a single drop of magic in her blood.
……………………
Akira threw his head back in laughter as he sat down beside his parents at a small pine table in their provided guest suite. Gousuke Suzuhara, the king of Drejimn, looked amusedly at his son as he laughed. He exchanged small grins with his wife, Kagami. Their son seemed so content.
'Fools," Akira breathed, "They're actually willing to give us something in return for peace?" the prince shook his head, "Doesn't this country know that they've just been cheated?"
A servant stood quietly at the door of the room, making sure that nobody would interrupt. His amber eyes followed the royal family as they acknowledged their benefit of this trade. True, what they were saying was the reality of the situation, but it made him sick and disgusted in seeing how malicious and manipulative they were to others' stupidity. Of course, he would never say that out loud. It wasn't his place to make petty comments of his superiors - especially when he personally served one of them.
Syaoran slightly leaned back against the frame of the door and listened closely to his master's conversation with his parents. Sometimes, it was important to know what they were planning. Although he kept the information to himself, it didn't hurt to listen to what they had to say.
Kagami sat across from the young prince. She gazed at him with secretive eyes, their shade the colour of the sea. The queen was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, with her long black hair and pale white skin. Perhaps that is where Akira himself took his features from. To the villagers, Kagami-sama was a beautiful and kind soul that graced each one of them with a smile everyday.
Syaoran snorted inwardly, what a lie that was.
Her name matched her personality perfectly. A vain, power-hungry woman who would stare at her reflection for hours, pampered with rare jewels and foreign powders.
The smooth surface of the wood felt cold against Syaoran's back. This kingdom was truly different from Drejimn, he thought bleakly. The atmosphere back 'home' was always burning with hostility. It suffocated him.
Nobody else understood the turmoil within Drejimn's borders – not even the citizens themselves. But of course they wouldn't, how could they possibly understand? The servant boy scowled resentfully. People say ignorance is bliss. Well if being ignorant to all of the lies and scandals going on would make people happy, then so be it.
Kagami gave a small sly smile, "Akira-kun," she cooed, "since your birthday is coming up soon, why don't you choose what the trade will be." She ran slender white fingers through her hair, "Ask for whatever you like, I'm certain the queen would surely grant it to you."
"Yes," Gousuke grinned, "a perfect gift."
Syaoran rolled his eyes; the king was somewhat a pathetic man. He always agreed with what the queen said. At times it seemed that Kagami-sama was the true king. The servant smirked, in fact, it was partially true. It was Kagami that made all of the decisions and rules for Drejimn. She was just using Gousuke's name to hide behind. It was amazing how she was able to manipulate the king's actions for her own welfare.
The king was probably the complete opposite than his wife, in looks. While the queen had a dark look that always mystified her onlookers, the king had a more active sort of look. With his tanned skin, brown hair and eyes, Gousuke looked extremely trustworthy. If only his people could see behind that fake façade. His eyes were so full of greed and supremacy that it was a wonder how nobody else saw it.
"Actually, I was thinking…" Kagami winked, letting her sentence hang for a while. A crafty smile was plastered on her china-doll face, "Akira-kun, every year, you grow one year older, and one year closer to finding a bride." She looked over to Gousuke for his approval. He nodded, with the same glint in his eyes as the queen. "It's about time you got married."
Akira leaned back on his chair and stretched his arms forward. "You're asking me to request for a woman?"
The glimmer in Kagami's eyes was enough to answer him.
……………………
Sakura walked slowly down the staircase, her hand resting against the banister. Dinner was about to start and yet, she wasn't hungry. There was going to be a feast tonight, and her favourite kind of steak was going to be served! Sakura's mouth watered with delight, just imagining the food. An image of a large steak floated across her mind… a well herb seasoned piece of meat with a rich and creamy gravy, exactly medium rare and was extremely tender in your mouth! Sakura sighed regrettably; she wouldn't be able to eat all of it!
In a false sense of depression, the girl walked glumly down the stairs and turned into a main corridor. Sakura looked up with surprise as she heard the pattering of running feet coming towards her.
"Sakura-chan!"
Sakura turned around to see the slender figure of the princess running down the hall. She fell into place beside Sakura and greeted her best friend with an enthusiastic smile.
"Is there something wrong Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo laughed, "You look so depressed!"
Sakura smiled and shook her head, "I was just thinking how much food there was going to be served tonight." Suddenly, she had the same depressed look again and started to wail, "I'm going to miss out on most of it!"
The princess giggled, "Sakura, you look cuter when you smile, so stop looking so miserable. Besides, we can eat steak any other time!"
Tomoyo smiled and closed her eyes, trying to calm down. She opened her eyes again and paused for a second. Her face fell noticeably when she glanced at the dress Sakura had on.
"Sakura-chan," Tomoyo asked quietly, "Where is the dress that I made you?"
Sakura's eyes widened and gasped, she was supposed to wear Tomoyo's creation tonight!
"T-the dress? Oh, the dress that Tomoyo-chan made for me!" Sakura laughed lamely, trying to explain her situation. "Ano, it got wrinkled, and, um, dirty when I took my nap… so, yeah."
The honey-haired girl stuttered unmistakably clear. Sakura hated lying to the princess, but the dress really did get wrinkled! She wasn't totally lying, she was only leaving a few details out - so that would mean that it wasn't really a lie, right?
Tomoyo narrowed her eyes and stared at Sakura seriously, "Did something happen?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, "Sakura-chan, you're my best friend. You can tell me anything, you know. Don't you trust me?" Her last words were strained with hidden emotions, Sakura had never held any secrets from her before. It hurt the princess that her best friend was keeping something from her. Clearly, something was bothering Sakura. Badly.
"It's nothing!" Sakura answered quickly, "Don't worry, everything is fine." She didn't want Tomoyo to worry, besides, how could she ever explain what had happened?
It all seemed so surreal. She could still sense a faint trace of the murderous aura floating around the castle. Sakura forced a small grin and tried to change the subject, "Ne, Tomoyo-chan, you still didn't tell me what happened after you left my room. What is the Suzuhara royal family like? Was Suzuhara-ouji there?"
Tomoyo smirked slyly, "Do you miss the prince that much? My, I must say you are sure moving fast, you just met him this afternoon!" The princess playfully grinned at her best friend, making Sakura flush with embarrassment at her words.
"I-iie Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura turned a slight shade red, "I was just curious!"
Tomoyo gave her a sceptical look and sighed, "Sakura, I know what you're doing, so stop trying to avoid my original question."
Sakura avoided her gaze, she just couldn't meet Tomoyo's eyes. Neither of them said anything for a while. It was awkward, not being able to talk to your best friend truthfully.
"Come on!" Sakura tried to end the uncomfortable silence between them. She grabbed Tomoyo's hand within her own, "Daijoubu, I'm alright. Besides, you should be hungry by now. Let's go eat." The girl smiled and ran off into the hallway, leaving Tomoyo standing by herself with a worried expression.
Tomoyo's eyes were downcast, "No, it's not alright." the princess whispered, "Don't try to fool me Sakura, I know you better than that...."
"Why does your smile seem so fake?"
……………………
After my mother died, the villagers of our town were convinced that they saw some demon floating over my mother's head after she was hung. They said my mother's eye colour changed to a glowing red just as she died. Idiots. They were just looking for some excuse to murder the rest of my remaining family too.
People said I was cursed from that day on, because my own eyes possessed the piercing colors of red and gold. Fanren, my eldest sister of four, always smiled and ruffled my hair as she told me my eyes were unique. 'They burn with the fire of hope', Fanren said while giving me a wink. I thought my sister just read too many romance novels.
We were the last descendants of the Li clan, and of Clow Reed. My mother's family was powerful, but for some odd reason, the flow of magic disappeared from our bloodline, three centuries ago. From then on, magic was only a fairytale to us too. As far as I'm concerned, magic shouldn't exist in my family anymore.
Perhaps that's why I'm so scared. We're not supposed to have magic, especially since we were commoners. Then how would you explain this coloured mist I see surrounding my body? I've heard my master talk about it before, it's called an 'aura'. It represents magical power in one's soul. I must always hide my aura, because it's forbidden for anyone else to feel it.
……………………….
Everything was swirling around Artemis in a void. Whatever seemed to be solid was truly not. The laws of matter would certainly never explain what was happening now, as Artemis passed through walls and walls of wood and stone, heading back to his chambers. Sometimes, the mind can be a powerful thing. If you concentrated and believed hard enough, whatever you wanted to happen, would.
Of course, nothing came from nothing - that was a fact everybody knew. You could not make anything happen at all without having something to sacrifice for it first. Artemis didn't create the portal in his beloved sister's room from thin air, rather, he used what he had and rearranged it to his own liking. Stone and concrete walls felt like foam and water when he passed through them.
To be honest, he had left Aris' room quite some time ago, and yet he was still roaming around the castle. Artemis laughed at his own stupidity – obviously, he was lost. Artemis smiled; he was not always this naïve, no, not at all. He was different from any other sorcerer in the castle. The knowledge he held within, all of it came from first hand experience. All of it.
Other healers learned of the true poison of nature from books and teachers, but he saw all of them first-hand. Of course he would have never done it by himself, he had 'help'. The ways of ethics just never really appealed to him. Why should anybody care anyway? In the end, everyone dies. Death is something that cannot be stopped nor prevented. Artemis liked to think that he just helped dispatch others on their way.
The healer smirked; of course, his efforts were always rewarded. Knowledge was a gift to be earned and it was worth his trouble. He never really liked to use animal test subjects, they were just too different, and they were much too inferior. Human subjects on the other hand were more gullible and provided more accuracy in results. Artemis preferred to use those weak with disease, he preferred to use those who seeked for his help – his patients. His last 'patient' was a true flower. A nadeshiko with royal blood.
Artemis, leaned against one of the passing walls. How was it that he got lost in the beginning anyway? He was getting tired, and wandering around a castle was not what he wanted to do.
"It's about time you got married."
"You're asking me to request for a woman?"
His eyes widened as suddenly the sound of voices caught his attention. He could feel the sounds, pulsing through the brick and stone. Artemis raised an eyebrow, interested. He turned one ear towards the wall and leaned in closer to hear.
"Akira-kun I know you've only been here for a day, but do you have any maiden in mind?"
There was a slight chuckle.
"Actually, yes. I just met her today."
"You mean the princess?"
"Iie. Someone else."
"Who is it then Akira-kun?"
"Let's just say the cherry blossom that I have in mind is sweet and obedient. She's seems like the perfect little wife."
Artemis stopped listening, it was the visiting royal family from Drejimn! He narrowed his eyes, so this is what they wanted in return. The royal family was quite cocky, but knowing queen Sonomi, peace would not be worth anything compared to a human life. Poor Akira, Artemis smirked, the prince's request would not be accepted!
Artemis rubbed his hands together; luckily for them, he was in a good mood today, so why not help the visitors? After all, he himself had no principles to follow. Hiding his aura, Artemis whispered something under his breath. He felt the spell take place as his consciousness left his body. Slowly, he let his spirit seep through the stone wall and into the guestroom. He smiled satisfactorily as he stood unnoticed, nobody knew of his presence here.
Artemis walked closer to the queen of Drejimn, a plan formulating in his mind. He bent down low and placed his hands on top of her head, feeling his essence flowing into her soul. It wasn't easy, playing with other peoples' thoughts, but Artemis had enough experience. He pushed himself into her mind, almost merging his consciousness with hers.
"Perfect," Kagami laughed, "just perfect! By tomorrow, you will be betrothed Akira-kun! Nothing will go wrong."
Artemis grinned, or so she thought. He began petting her hair and whispering words to her soul. Of course she didn't hear him, only her sub-consciousness did.
"Your majesty," Artemis whispered, "the queen would never allow a trade for a human life. She thinks a human soul has much more worth than peace itself. No, she would never allow it."
He could feel Kagami's subconscious soul fighting back at him. It roared questions of doubt, demanding what could go wrong. Nothing pleased the healer more, this woman was quite stubborn. Not many were strong enough to retaliate, but she did.
This time his voice was more persuasive, his whispers had a more melodious shade to it as it rang out, "Your majesty, the queen would never allow this trade, nor will the family of the chosen maiden. For what could they possibly gain? They will gain nothing. But instead your majesty, give them a gift to change their minds, a gift to ensure your son's future bride. A soul for a soul. This kingdom will give you a girl, but who would you give back to them? Give them a person as such, one who is commendable, one who is reliable and one who is trustworthy. Perhaps then, and maybe then, will you be granted what you so long desired."
Artemis released his grasp on Kagami's mind, she would definitely listen to him now. He turned around and marched triumphantly away, not bothering to see the results. Besides, he was in a hurry. Though he was lost, that didn't mean he had forgotten about tonight's festivities. It was a special event that he could not miss. A forthcoming opportunity to tease his sister, for he was sure she would be providing the entertainment. It would be something to hold over her head later.
……………………….
Author's notes:
I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK ME OVER A MONTH TO UPDATE!!!! But, hey, better late than never right?
I hope I wasn't jumping to too many different scenes and made you guys confused. The reason why it's so jumpy is because there's too many ideas crammed onto a few pages, I would have expanded it, but I didn't know how. Anyway, I hope people understood and enjoyed this chapter. The ending scene is for people to understand Artemis's character a little bit better as his name always appears but you guys don't know any details about him.
As for the timing for the story, you must be wondering when am I'm going to get to the main plot or anything that's related to my summary. Ehehe, that's a long story. Originally, what would happen in chapters seven or eight should have happened in chapters three or four. How that happened, I have no idea, but I guess I got new ideas and pushed the original ones to the side. Also, each chapter is shorter than what I thought I would have in the beginning.
lilsakli - I just realized that I STILL didn't have Syaoran and Sakura meet yet!!!!! lol, I'm not sure about you, but that fact bugs me a lot! Ugh, I need to get my lazy butt on the computer and type my story instead of reading the fics of other people!
Anyway, on a brighter note, I'm proud to tell you that the story is advancing slowly and steadily towards that point, until then, please keep on reading and reviewing!
Rapscallion - thanks for reviewing!! It means a lot to me that people actually think my fic is okay! hehe, sorry the update took so long! This time I'm not allowed to blame it on writer's block or anything like that, nor can I blame it on the celebrations of Christmas or New Year! For the next chapter, I'll try to be more efficient!
Wolf Jade - lol, I don't think you'll have to wait much longer for the banquet, because that's an event I GUARANTEE will be in the next chapter! Pinky promise!
Hehe, if you thought that Aris was freaky in the last chapter, I hope you'll find that Artemis can rival that fact in this one. Or at least he's getting there. I'm trying to make his character cheerful but very insane.
Anyway, minna-san, thanks for all of the reviews! I love it when I see them in my e-mail! Makes me so happy!
Remember, if anyone has any suggestions or corrections to grammar or stuff like that, please don't be afraid to comment about it! So just push the little purple button down there in the corner…
...heheangelkisses
