Disclaimer: I do not own anything of The Slayers or Escaflowne, so that's all said and done. Yes, finally, I have written a NEWWWWWW chapter for Shadow Cage, yes at long last Akiko and Dilandau meet! I am very sorry for gods knows a very, very long wait for all you readers, probably nearly a year, am I right? Well, here you all go, be sure to review.
This chapter is dedicated to Bear, whoever you are, thank you for your review. Even if it was on another story, I don't mind. Thanks for waking me up out of my stupor. I will finish this, thank you Bear.
Chapter 4
Hell's Kitchen Aid
~ The Abyss ~
"Lord Dilandau! Someone get Lord Dilandau! It's an emergency!" Gatti's voice screamed through the halls. Dilandau heard it after Gatti let out the scream for the seventh time, now groaning his way out his bed over it. He looked to the couch first, seeing Hiero covering his ears. He obviously wanted to remain in bed. Gatti screamed again and was finally banging on their door.
Hiero growled at the door and shoved off his sheets. "We're coming! We're coming…." He muttered, grabbing for his pants and sleeveless vest. Dilandau was already out of bed and half dressed, shoving on his armor and clothing. He was more annoyed than Hiero for the rude awakening. What could be so damn important he needed to be screamed awake by a hysterical young man?
He tore the door open violently and glared viciously at Gatti.
Gatti jumped a bit and took a step back, but his features were those of a frightened person, like he'd seen a ghost. He was drenched in the sweat of his sprint through the darkened halls and his eyes quivered with sadness and fear. Dilandau stared him down anyway. "What is it, Gatti?" he grated out hatefully.
"It….Its Morse….sir. He's dead, someone killed him…." The youth said softly. Dilandau flinched a bit, one of his men was dead, and not only that, but this one had said it was not natural. "Where is he?" he asked. Gatti took a puff of air and went on. "In the locker room, where the rookies always leave him because he annoys them with his chattering. Link bragged he had locked the boy in the lockers again. I had quite a time getting Link confined to quarters, so much I forgot to let Morse out."
"So Link killed Morse?" Dilandau drawled out, but Gatti shook his head. "No….I don't thinks so, Link was too clean to be the killer. Morse was let out and stabbed in the stomach. He bled to death. I went down there only a few minutes ago to apologize to him for not letting him out sooner, but there he was on the floor in a pool of his own blood. He'd been dead for hours, but I doubt Link murdered him. Link may be a bully, sir, but he would not jeopardize his position over Morse's mouth…sir." Gatti sped out.
Dilandau nodded. "You have a point. Well, round up the men and announce we may have an assassin problem. All are to remain on guard and practice twice as hard. I'll be with them shortly. Hiero, you can collect the body and give Morse a proper burial. Understood?" he asked sharply.
Hiero's expression was that of remorse for the fallen boy, but he nodded and left promptly. Gatti saluted and left his lord as well. Dilandau remained by his doorway, thinking. He already knew the entire continent hated them, all because they were humans, but Morse wasn't like them. He just was a part of their group, which when hate was concerned, was probably enough for some bastard assassin.
How a lone assassin could defeat one of his Slayers was a mystery. He had to be most skilled to defeat any of them. Though Morse had to have been just convenient and a lucky break. Morse had been trapped and wanted to be set free and probably never saw it coming. That annoyed him, the assassin had not only been skilled enough to get in the base, but was so low as to take pot shots of pure cowardice at his men.
Dilandau sneered and headed for the training area. He'd make sure this assassin never killed again, as well as never breathed another bit of air for eternity.
~ Kitchen ~
Akiko had been awoken in her room but a young man yelling for that Dilandau man, but it hadn't been aimed at her. Hiero had said to watch herself, and she had no intentions of disobeying him when he'd saved her life. Now she was making breakfast of eggs, small steaks and toast. Nectars of most fruits were available to her, but the food was the easy part. She didn't like these hunting clothes she was wearing. She missed all her skirts and dresses from back home. All she ever wanted was to go home and tell her mother she was sorry at times, and other times she just wanted to be on Earth again. Anything but being a slave or thrown at dragons and perverts again.
She'd ask that nice Hiero man for some. He seemed eager for her safety. He could be a good and close friend. He seemed a bit daffy in the head, but he had saved her life, and dignity. Cooking wasn't so bad, it was a bit fulfilling. She was getting respect, room and board, and pay. As a slave, all she had was a dingy and dimly lit cell, chains on her wrists or ankles, whatever they decided was needed. There was barely any or no pay, no respect. She was yelled at and hit, treated like a common whore and nearly sold off as one. Anything was better than that, even being in a soldier filled floating fortress.
She sighed and got the food onto their individual plates, with lids to keep them warm, then the bowls and set them on the cart by the ice locker. Akiko wheeled it into the dark dining hall, setting down the hot, steaming meal filled plated in front of each seat. They were all the same size, except for two other them, both on the left hand side of the table near the head chair. Hiero had told her to leave the head chair for last, always. She didn't understand that, but if it made sense to him, who was she to contend with it. She set the bowls of fruits slices by each plate, then took the metal pitchers of nectar off the bottom of the cart and set them up at four different center points of the long table.
Wheeling the cart back to the kitchen, she parked it by the ice locker door again and began collecting up the goblets and the last steaming plate and covered it. She set the empty goblets around it and a bottle of red wine, and then carefully pushed the cart in again. She set each glass down softly, then poured nectar into each one a mere centimeter from the top. Hiero had been awfully specific about it. She hated to know why everything was near nitpicked. Maybe their leader was thinking costs, or the right amount of anything in someone's stomach would not cause discomfort. They had their reasons. That was all required.
She got to eat what she wanted, he was kind enough to offer that. She wasn't a glutton, so it wouldn't be a ton. As she reached the largest of the plates, the goblets got deeper and wider. They were more like beer mugs, only made of glass. 'Wonder who sits here, maybe I can peek out from the kitchen and see them all. Hiero said nothing about peeking.' She thought, grinning a bit. She hadn't seen anyone but Hiero. It would help her know who she was serving if she took a quick little look. She poured them to the top and then set out the last plate and goblet, gently loosening the red wine bottle's metal cork and poured in the red, warm fluid. She set the bottle to the left of the plate, on the opposite side of the goblet and took the empty pitchers with her. Two remained on the table, but those would be for the soldiers to contend with.
As she made it back inside the kitchen, she heard many footsteps walking inside the room. 'Wow….what timing….I guess Hiero wasn't kidding about schedules and such.' She thought and set the cart back by the ice locker. The clamor in the other room was light for a while, then stopped all together. It went on for a few moments before she crept to the door. Two pairs of footsteps came for a few moments, then stopped, replaced by a single pair. The steps sent a uncontrollable shiver up her spine as she stood before the door, pulling it aside only a little to peer in. Several young men in dark blue armor were standing their seats, but their heads were blocking the head of the table. A tall blonde youth was sitting at the other end, obscuring the man making the steps.
"Sit…." A smooth male voice said, almost with a devil's care and a sinner's love. It burned in her mind, it was like a dark angel from a fairy tale, but she couldn't see him. She watched them all sit, but the backing of the tall blonde's chair now blocked her view of this leader, this Dilandau.
She darted her blue eyes about, trying to find a way to see what he looked like, but she couldn't without walking right out there. Hiero had told her to watch herself around him and being seen would seriously compromise that. So, she stayed where she was, her eyes finding Hiero and a slender young man with Laguna blue hair sitting at the large plates. Hiero was a bit obscured at well, but they were still standing, adjusting their spots as the other began eating.
"You finally found a gods be damned cook….," Dilandau's voice came, silenced by food before continuing a few moments later," This asshole better know his place or I'll gut him myself. I am getting tired of having to hire new help."
"Yes….it is upsetting, Dilandau….but this one won't try to poison us. This one is special….picked by my own hand, quite unexpectedly. Trust me, Dilandau, this one will be perfect." Hiero said with mouthful of food. She almost giggled, imagining him holding a conversation with bits of steak and eggs and toast spattering on the plate and table.
"You call him Lord Dilandau, you puissant freak!" another voice rang out, from that tall blonde. One of the others, a boy with cyan blue hair looked up a bit and stuck his tongue out a bit. "My Uncle has known Lord Dilandau longer than you, Link. Don't begin to order him around, you playboy." The boy uttered, almost teasing. The blonde stood up harshly, holding his fork up in a violent manner.
"You little bastard….you're not above me, Reese. So don't you order me around either!"
"SIT DOWN DAMMIT!!" Dilandau voice roared suddenly, sending Link faltering back into his seat, the other soldiers freezing in mid-sip and mid-bite, their eyes bugging out with fear. "If I hear one more ill comment about MY Strategos or anyone else, I will roast you alive! Is that fucking understood?!" he screeched, his voice making the soldiers cower, all but the dark-brown eyed one. He looked almost sickly amused. She shook that feeling off. Dilandau's voice had such command in it, instilled such fear and loyalty, but not to the point his soldiers wept with fear or wet their pants.
No sooner had his voice stopped, all of the soldiers, straightened up, proud looking. "Yes,….I apologize Lord Dilandau." Link let out softly.
Reese also nodded. "Yes, Lord Dilandau."
"Hiero, you better be right. My sword only deserves warriors at the other end, their blood rippling into my fingers, not the blood of traitorous servants. Its below me….how unworthy they are." Dilandau let out again.
"I know, Dilandau, it will be different this time, but we have other problems to deal with other than servants with ill will. There's still a murderer inside the Abyss. I know its not the cook, Morse's wound was from a sword, an expert cut. They knew where to hit so Morse would bleed fast enough. And no mere assassin just gets into the locker rooms without being seen. They knew Morse was there….it must be the Artemis, I believe." Hiero replied, his mouth not full this time.
Akiko blinked. Someone had been murdered? She was glad Hiero trusted her enough to know it wasn't her. Of course it wasn't her! She'd been sleeping all night. 'Still better than being a slave….though murder is pretty serious. Hope they catch him….or her. He said Artemis, that's that all female elf race.' She thought softly, and backed away from the door, letting it close gently.
~
"I leave you personally in charge of the matter Hiero. I will check up on your. There are no battles for today, the Artemis seem to have gone quiet for the moment. Not that I need an excuse to kill those sluts. If I see fit to attack certain areas, then my word is truth. I won't obey some weakling king. He hasn't given us any successful orders yet." Dilandau hissed.
"I'm sorry I can't see his intentions, Dilandau, but I can't help it. Perhaps staying within the Abyss would be better for all of us, we can search for the murderer in pairs and trios….to cover more ground. I don't really trust that old bastard, the way he looks at us give me a bad feeling. We seem more successful on our own orders, but not his. Still, maybe a day without battle would clear our heads to find this assassin." Hiero let out, shoving the rest of his steaks into his mouth.
Dilandau grunted, then banged his hand on the table. "I hate not knowing things….and I hate not going into battle even more. You advice is warranted, but I want to fight today. We are not angels of mercy, we should attack those bitches while we can. If they aren't expecting anything, there's a wonderful chance of victory."
"And a serious dock in pay." Val grumbles, tearing at his meat.
Dilandau sneered at the dragon man. "I don't believe I was addressing you, cousin. Shut up and eat."
"Make me. Hsssss!" Val snaked out, holding his meat angrily, glaring at Dilandau.
"Boys, down, down!" Hiero shouted, shoving their surprised faces to the side into their chair backings," Don't make me referee your fights. Val, eat you food, Dilandau gives the orders as do I, not you. Just eat and ignore him. And Dilandau….you can fight all you like, just don't risk your life too greatly. The only reason I suggested no fighting is because I have some pressing matters to discuss with his majesty."
Dilandau growled and shoved Hiero's hand off while Val simply sulked, like Hiero hurt his feelings. Dilandau knew that as much, Hiero had been outright cold to near everyone but himself and Reese. That stupid jinx bitch Alessa had utterly ruined the insane fighter he once was. Why the hell it did such a thing was absurd, he didn't want to understand that sort of pain. It was beyond pathetic.
"What's this? I was told of no meeting….why wasn't I told!?" Dilandau yelled, but Hiero kept his serious expression. "I called it personally this morning, I'm not waiting for him to say no, so I'm down one carrier pigeon which is probably roasting on that old bastard's plate. I'm worried about this war, something isn't right….something is behind is and I want to know what. My abilities may be hindered right now….but I still have them somewhat. I want to see if I can learn why the Lateni soldiers keep failing us. That is why I cannot come with you today….Dilandau." Hiero replied.
Dilandau nodded, his eyes slit in an angered and annoyed way. Hiero was still smart at least, but his last minute announcements were tedious. Hiero always knew something ahead of time, even if it was less of a habit now than when Alessa was around. He leaned on his left palm and picked up his goblet, downing his warm red wine in moments, then straightened up to refill it.
"Good, because I want to hurt people today, even if they are worthless women. Women should not be soldiers, they should stay the fuck out of my way." He grumbled, downing the second glass. Hiero smirked as he cleared off his plate. "Yes, but try and do it sober, last thing we need is you to be drunk….or myself." Hiero said sweetly.
Dilandau hissed, but just refilled his glass. "Three glasses is enough….I don't drink to get drunk….and I don't try and get others drunk," he said, eyeing Migel sorely, who cringed a bit," I would hate to have to punish anyone for that."
He downed the last glass and cleared his plate of food. "Good enough, all of you finish your meals and suit up. There's are three outposts near the border line and I want them smolder and soaked with blood, no matter how long it takes. No survivors….one stupid princess hostage is enough, even if that hack of a king has given us no further instructions about her. That is all, be read in an hour or suffer the consequences." He let out sharply, shifted a bit at the hip. It was a haughty pose, but it was his dominance. He could do as he very well pleased; they served him, not the other way around.
He grinned wildly as they all stood as one and saluted him, not even done with their breakfast. "Yes Lord Dilandau." They said in unison, then all sat back down and ate.
It was enough for him to grin about; they were his soldiers, loyal to the death. He could ask for nothing more, even if he killed them himself. Their lives were his property, and forfeit if they ever dared betray him. He left on that thought, back to his room for his good dagger and sword. Today would be red, blood would wash over his soul and boil with love for him.
The flames would be there for him today, and the screams a symphony. Ah, yes, today would be a good day to kill.
~ Lateni Castle ~
Hiero walked inside the castle as the servants looked around for his horse. He would never tell them he flew here. It was a waste of care and the animal's health to keep going back and forth endlessly on horseback when he could fly twice as fast in half the time a horse took.
It was finny to watch them looking outside like babes in the woods, muttering how they'd get in trouble if they lost another horse. He'd tell them someday he ran here, but without so much as a sweat broken, he doubted his words would do much but make them doubt and laugh at him. Laughter was something he missed, but now wasn't the time.
Dilandau was off fighting without permission, as Dilandau was prone to doing, good or evil causes, he'd do it. As long as it was a good battle, Dilandau was more than happy to go through with it, but Hiero feared this war was nothing more than farce. He'd felt it when he met the king, but ignored it. Then he saw how badly the soldiers of the Lateni army were fighting, which was odd for such a seemingly important war.
It bothered him the longer this war became, no one really coming out on top unless the Dragon Slayers and Dilandau were disobedient and fought without the king's orders. The prince seemed to think Dilandau and his men could handle it without council, but the king would lower their pay or yell, threaten to fire them, throw them in chains, but Dilandau would just grin wickedly, flames toiling in his red eyes.
Then, with devil may care grace, he'd tell the king if he dared touch any of them without a good reason, Lateni and Artemis would burn. He proved it by setting fire to part of a wall by the door, a stone wall, turning it to ash. The king gulped and said nothing more until the next act of disobedience. Dilandau would surely run out of walls and start using his abilities on people. The king always seemed to know when the Dragon Slayers went out, even if they didn't take the Lateni soldiers with them. That bothered Hiero even more.
He walked up the stairways to the throne room, taking his time with each movement. His Strategos clothing wasn't restricting, it only made him feel like a vampire. Hiero took his time because even if the king sent soldiers to stop him, Hiero would bat them away like rag dolls. He didn't have time for dramatics and hysterical stupidity. His friends could be in danger with this war, and he had to try his best and hardest to find out why he felt this.
He entered the throne room fluidly, the light and soft shuffle of his robes in his ears. The king sat there in a haughty slouch, being served his own breakfast by numerous Artemis slaves. They looked well nourished, probably because they were young and pretty. 'Perverts….I'd at least cover them up a bit. Heh….' He thought and walked right up to the steps to the throne. The young princes eating at a small dining table a ways off, the Prince Vincent looking appalled by his father's harem. More so probably the old man groping whatever girl got too close. Prince Jago was simply eating, not paying either of them any mind.
Hiero grinned at him. "Hello, your highness….fraternizing as always…hmm? How sweet….but I have more pressing matters than how busy your hands are." Hiero quipped, the king delivering a sneer before popping a poached egg in his mouth.
"I do not explain myself to your kind, human…..or your preference…." The king grumbled, lifting his nose up at him.
Hiero laughed a bit. "Oh your majesty, are you hitting on me now, whatever will I do?" Hiero tittered, then gagged. Vincent laughed softly. Hiero liked him, Vincent wasn't a money or ass grabbing bastard like his father or violent like his little brother. He'd be well suited to rule Lateni himself. But for now, he had Vincent's father to annoy and grill.
"Why you little upstart…." The king began, but Hiero pushed his cloak up over his shoulder and held his hand out at him. "You sir, are an ignorant old bastard, and your soldiers are even more ignorant. I thought they were good warriors, but strangely nothing they do turns out right. Are they that daft they'd risk their country to disobey my patron, or are they doing it for another purpose? Hmm? Answer me that, your pointy eared little fruit." Hiero let out harshly. It was fun to bother him, but his heart was his own business, not the business at hand. He could do both at the same time easily, and make it twice as annoying.
The king puffed up indignantly, frowning deeply at him. "I have no idea what you are talking about. I did not condone your so-called meeting, and I refuse to until I see results. According to my men, you Dragon Slayers are the one's messing them up. I trust my own elfin men more than human trash." He let out.
Hiero growled. 'Now or never, maybe it will work this time.' He thought, tearing his own glove off and slapping it upon the ground, and rushed at the king. The serving girls yelped and scattered behind tapestries and doors, Hiero's hand grabbing the king's tightly, the clash of blades and soldiers' shouts fading behind him.
~ Vision ~
Hiero stood on the battlements, long since stained with blood. It was fuzzy, parts of the landscape fleeing from his sights when his gaze graced it. Then his body shot forward into Artemis Castle. He was strapped to a rack.
He looked around, his eyes near bleeding in pain when he saw the other dragon slayers hanging by their entrails and their flesh being peeled off by female torturers. They were screaming in utter agony for an end, but the blood kept coming. It began to rise up around him, licking at his boots, then his thighs. The warm liquid suddenly began to crawl up around him, and played along his zipper.
'The hell…ah…..' he wondered, gasping as is opening his pants. "So good of you to join us for this little party, Vendetta, what a wonderful plaything you will be." A smooth female voice uttered. He looked away from the blood and saw the Princess Lacey entering, a blackened figure behind her. It was a man, wearing Dragon Slayer armor, grinning sickly. There was a noose around his neck as well, tightened, but he kept moving with her, holding her hand. She stroked Hiero's body softly, leaning her head over. "Tonight I dine on you…." She hissed, and her face lifted again, that of a vicious monster with razor sharp teeth. Hiero yelped as she opened her jaws and went for his groin.
"AH! NO, NOT THAT! AH!! AH!!" he screeched, but the pain never came. A cool trickle of water seeped across his rigid form, his hands darting to protect his groin. He kept screeching until the coldness reached him mind, peeking out one eye. He looked around this dark rainy place, and then took a little peek into his pants.
"Phew….safe….that would not have been a pleasant thing, no mutilating my manhood, no thank you. Not even in a vision, dammit!" He uttered, zipping back up and keeping his hand there, just in case.
"No, you're one of us, please don't!! NO!!!" a boy screamed, a familiar voice to Hiero. "Blake?!" he shouted and ran towards the voice. The sound of steel meeting flesh rang in his ears, lightening flashing overhead. He caught a fleeting glimpse of Blake and another Slayer. Hiero ran towards it as fast as he could, and heard the sound again.
In his sights was that same blackened figure in Dragon Slayer armor and the noose, shoving a blade through Blake's chest. The boy's expression was of pure terror…and…..betrayal. His eyes were full of hurt, as if his own brother had done this. "Blake!!" he screamed and rammed into the darkened on, only to ram right through him. The darkened figure puffed out like smoke, leaving Hiero to skid face first into the wet ground.
The lightening came again, tears mixing with the pure rain. He looked up with a heavy sob, his heart shattered by Blake's pain. In the distance he could see Lateni and Artemis castle side-by-side, moving around like a giant and majestic merry go round. They were untouched by the storm, in a whole other world of happiness and sunshine, flowers on the groves and people walking about it blissfully. He shut his eyes a moment, to take it in, then as he opened them again his heart cracked.
The castles were a mess of fire and blood, people running into their homes screaming, cowering from the night. The lands were nothing but dark wastes and poison. He could hear anguished screams, people praying for death, the sound of flesh and steel merging with hate. It washed over his body like a sickly wave….then silenced, all going black.
The ground became flat, cool to the touch. "Die assassin!!" Dilandau yelled. Hiero looked up just in time to see Akiko fall to the ground, her head rolling hard into his face. Her eyes were wet and full of terror. "NO!!" Hiero yelled.
~ Throne Room ~
Bonk!
"Get off of the king, you human slime!" a guard yelled. Hiero rammed his own body backwards, holding his sore head. 'Fleeting visions, but enough for now….Akiko….oh gods….and Blake….I have to get back now." His mind raced as the soldiers pointed their blade at him.
"Eh, wonderful meeting good. Carry on, I'm done….um Bye!" Hiero smattered out and bolted out of the throne room. He heard them make chase, but he was faster than all of them. He ran out of the castle, crashing through whatever was in front of him till he reached a darkened area, and took to the skies. If his vision told him anything, it was that not only were two people in danger, but that one of their own was killing them.
"Grego? Makes sense….he was gone, kidnapped, but why would he do it? He's a Dragon Slayer, why? No, he couldn't….maybe Link? Link was the last one to be seen near Morse, and he has a violent temper. We've all been out there….but Grego. I have to touch him, then I'll know. I hope before its too late.' He thought, flying through the night for home.
~ 2 Weeks Later ~
"Ah….the end is near for these bitches. Too bad Hiero's been acting strangely. I wish he'd tell me what's on his mind, or why he keeps grabbing for Grego. I have to set him straight before he gives someone the wrong idea….how pathetic," he said aloud, grinning on his dragon steed," But blood is needed to quench my thirst for war."
He slid off his dragon, unsheathing his sword, the metal gleaming in the moonlight. He raised it up, as if to stab the sky. "Dragon Slayers, ready!!??" he shouted.
"Yes sir!!" they all shouted. Hiero wasn't with them, he said he needed to check around for that murderer. There hadn't been a murder since Morse, and Dilandau agreed that the murderer had to be nearby, but Hiero seemed very anxious to find him, overly. He'd been more calm when they'd discussed it weeks ago, but now, it seemed to sicken and put fear in his voice. A murderer was a murderer, a filthy peasant with no taste, like the Zongi tribe. They were hired fools, not soldiers. They lived for money. Dilandau lived for war. It was his love, and now he would embrace her.
"Lateni soldiers, ready?!" he called. They all looked at him, at attention. "Yes sir!" they replied, disorganized as usual. Dilandau hissed and lopped the nearest one's head off and flames launched from his very fingers two ten more. Their screams made all heads turn towards Dilandau as the bodies cracked and crumbling into convulsing ashes. "I DON'T LIKE WHAT I HEAR YOU WEAKLINGS!! ARE YOU READY OR DO YOU WANT TO DIE RIGHT NOW!?" he screamed.
The soldiers all nodded sharply "YES SIR!" they shouted together as one. Dilandau grinned sharply, and hissed as he turned his head towards the final outpost. "THEN ATTACK!! NO MERCY!!" he crowed and ran at the outpost head on. His Dragon Slayers came after him, riding on their dragons fiercely.
The lateni army poured after them as the Artemis ranks flooded from the outpost towards them. Dilandau gained first blood, his sword ripping through three Artemis warriors in his way. Then Gatti gained his, leaping off his dragon and ordered it to breath upon the ranks as he landed neatly into the fray. The dragon obeyed and torched several women as they swarmed.
Gatti fought harshly, cutting through the ranks swift and sure. Chesta fought with him while Migel and the rookies moved towards the outpost, trying to keep up with their patron. Just as Dilandau had planned, and that's all he really wanted, to be obeyed.
Though the Lateni soldiers weren't doing well, as usual, letting the Artemis ranks get back to the outpost. Dilandau hissed darkly and aimed his free hand at them. "FUCKING KEEP THOSE BITCHES GROUNDED, IDIOTS!!" he screamed, a flaming dragon flying from his palm. Men became ash upon its touch, never having time enough to scream. The soldiers seemed to improve their fighting after the dragon seeped back into Dilandau hand.
He went on fighting to the outpost, sending his flames across the wooden logs that made the outpost walls, grinning with utter happiness as women leapt over the wall, their bodies soaked with flame. It did his heart good to see such beauty, the flames of hell swallowing his enemies and amusing his red eyes with such bliss. Dilandau grin became a smirk as he tore through more soldiers, blood soaking his armor and garments sweetly.
This was what fighting was meant to be, blood and flame, purity and hellish bliss, yes, this was everything. You weren't alive until you controlled someone's fate, whether they lived or died. He'd live and die by his sword, but he would never die. No one could have his life, only Hiero was allowed that, if he could take it. No one else, he was death and until Hiero wanted it, Death would be forever.
"Well, look what the men dragged in, a dirty human." An acidic voice glowered. He looked towards it, his eyes narrowing hatefully. Raven Ai, that witch who dared get in his way in battle. The nerve of her, interrupting his good time, and now she was doing it again.
"Want to get beat up again, Ai? Well, fine by me, woman. This time you'll die for sure…." He hissed out, watching her with hardened eyes. She was his prey, so his stance proved it, his shoulders hunched slightly, eyes keen to her every motion, and his blade lightly bobbing in the dark, smoky air.
She just smirked at him, near mimicking what he was doing, only her body was cat-like, not wolfish as his was moving. She had grace, her legs testing the ground every so often. She looked like she'd pounce each time, but she was faking him out. She was teasing him. How disgusting. He snarled at her and ran at her with his blade raised.
She countered swiftly, sparks dancing off their blades crashing together. He brought his blade away and down, but her blade met it again sparks littering their boots. He hissed at her, hating that grin on her face. She was enjoying bothering him, being in his way.
"I'll show that bitch who's the boss around this battlefield. Me, only me!!' he thought and yelled as her thrust his blade at her side. Her body swerved away and her blade met with his chest armor. A sharp clang came, and he jumped backwards as her blade pressed into the metal. He felt a slight bite at his skin before he backpedaled, but he did not stop his attacks. His blade went at her and slices off of her right ear lobe and some of her hair. She hissed and her elbow came crashing into his jaw. He saw star, the metallic flavor of blood in his mouth before she brought her blade at his face. "Never the face, you fucking bitch!" he yelled, and his blade whipped up, blocking the attack mere inches from connecting.
His own blade was barely touching his unscarred cheek, his grip holding fast. "Fuck you, Ai, you're going to die by my hands before this war is over." He hissed out. Her grin went wicked, a dark chuckle seeping from his throat. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you, you vain prick." She laughed and pecked his nose with her lips. His grip loosened a moment, his eyes widening with surprise.
Her blade tore away from his and swerved towards his neck. He saw it coming, but his blade wasn't moving fast enough. 'I will not die because of surprise!!' his mind screamed, trying to move his blade faster.
Raven Ai cried out suddenly, knocked away and sent sprawling across the ashen ground, her blade flailing slightly. There was Val, a cut on his shoulder from Raven's blade, his dragon fangs sticking out of his mouth. His golden eyes were wild with anger. Maybe they didn't see eye to eye, but they were comrades. Not that he'd thank Val, he never thanked anyone. Val was just serving his patron. That was all it was.
Raven dug her hands into the soot a bit and scrambled to her feet, glaring at them then the flaming outpost. "You win this time….but next time, your men won't be there to save your ass. The queen's plans aren't so half assed after all. You're all weaklings! You'll die, all of you will die!!" she shouted and flung her hand out at them. It was full of soot and hit Val and Dilandau's faces. They kept their blades up, moving backwards considerably as they rubbed it out.
When their vision cleared, raven was gone and the outpost was falling apart. They'd won, but Dilandau didn't feel the bliss he usually felt in victory. That bitch had gotten away, she'd dared to insult him and use cheap tricks to confuse him. Well, next time he'd butcher her for what she'd done, treating him like a rookie, like he was nothing. He'd show her, yes, he'd show her what terror and pain were all about. He'd get back at her for taking the joy of his victory from him, then she'd beg for death.
~ The Abyss ~
Akiko sighed as she wandered through the halls. Hiero had said it was safe to walk around a while ago, so she wanted to explore her new home, probably her permanent home. It was dark and dingy, almost with a gothic quality. It was classic in its own ways, but it was so large.
It had been three hours and she had only seen the upper decks, which were full of training rooms, armor, currency, and only mechanical junk. Right now, she was back in the halls of one of the few training areas she'd located. She was lost. Hiero had not seen where she'd walked off to, so she had little hope of finding him. He was probably looking for her right now. "Hiero? Sir Hiero!?" she called, only getting her echo in reply. She sighed and decided just to stay where she was. He'd find her if she stayed in one spot. That was how her mom said she'd find her when she was little if she ever got lost. There was no place to sit though and her feet were killing her.
She sighed and dusted off her dress. She smiled at it. The dress was a lovely stormy blue color, to match her eyes with soft white lining and a bow in the back. Her shoes were silken and white, like ballerina shoes. They were the easiest on her feet, and she had hugged Hiero for it. "Hiero….man, he's going to be so mad at me. He told me not to wander too far….I didn't mean to….I hope he finds me soon….I need to sit on a nice clean chair. Who knows when this floor was cleaned last…." She uttered softly, looking around with worried eyes.
Hiero never told her what the dress was made of. It felt like silk, but it didn't look like it. It was so smooth and shimmering, but gauzy if she pressed her fingers to the fabric. She didn't feel restrained by those awful leather pants anymore, now her legs were free and caressed with the dress. The best part was that the dress wasn't puffy. It made it easier to go to the bathroom, and she wouldn't trip over the fluffy and itchy lace most big and puffy dresses had. Simplicity was a good thing.
But a chair would have been nicer. Perhaps there was one in a training room nearby or a nice stool in one of the storage closets. It was worth a try so she moved to the nearby closets, and found nothing but mops and cloth tarps, maybe a few broken blades and shattered armor, all littered with dust. She let out a frustrated huff and walked back out and slammed into something solid and cool.
"Who the hell are you, woman!?" a familiar voice uttered lowly, sounding pissed off. She heard the closet door slam behind her, part of her dress catching in it. She stayed still and looked up slowly. Her eyes first met blood red armor, then a pale petal soft looking throat. She took a quiet gulp as her eyes traveled up the pale chin and frowning lips. Then red eyes reached her sights, a few wisps of silvery hair just above them, sifting softly in a silent breeze.
"Lord Dilandau…." She let out. Hiero had described his eyes and hair but….this man was beautiful. He looked very angry for some reason, but her heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. He was an angel of beauty.
His lips twitched and he brought his hand down to his hip. She didn't look at it, lost in those garnet pools. She saw such fire in them, she was like a moth, trapped in their hot light. "Who are you? What are you doing here and how do you know my name? You're no elf." He hissed. That frightened her, but she remained still.
"I uh….that is…." She tired but those eye held her voice in chains. She couldn't speak.
"You….you're the assassin!" he glowered and moved back a bit, and she saw what he now held in his hand, a very dangerous and shining blade. 'Oh no….Hiero never told him the cook was a woman, did he? Oh…Oh no….!' her mind wept.
"Die assassin!!" he shouted and raised his blade.
"DILANDAU! NO!" Hiero shouted and got in between them in a flash, his blade out and met with his patron's, the clash near deafening. Dilandau hissed at him and brought his blade up, but Hiero was faster and kicked him in the gut. The blade left his hand, clattering on the ground.
"No, she's the cook! Stop it you idiot! She's the….ack!" Hiero shouted, getting kicked right in the face. He fell over and Dilandau jumped over him for Akiko, his eyes flaming with hate. Akiko finally remembered herself and tried to move out of the way, but her dress was still caught under her. She felt her feet tangle up as she turned in surprise, the jerking of her dress tightening the fabric around her legs.
"I'll get you…." Dilandau hissed, grabbing her by her arms. She yelped a bit, her balance going off more. She felt herself falling, and reached out, grabbing at his arms for support, but it was in vain. She felt the rush of air behind her as she fell to the floor, a loud rip coming as her dress tore from the eight of her body and Dilandau's. he went with her and landed hard on her.
Her eyes shut on impact, but as the pain the of the landing passed, she became aware of a warm sensation on her lips. Her eyes opened softly, praying it wasn't her own blood. It wasn't blood at all. Her eyes met with Dilandau's shocked red, which had shrunken a bit to flaming pinpoints. His lips were pressed to her awkwardly, his surprise keeping his to hers.
She started to turn red with embarrassment. His cheeks seemed to grow little red dots, almost like bleeding freckles, the red spreading from one to another. He moved a bit, only pressing his warm lips to her a bit more. He made a frustrated grunt and shook a bit, then rolled off her fast. Her lips slipped across his cheek in the motion, and she felt the heat in his skin rise for the few seconds it last. Akiko just lay there, surprise and embarrassment keeping her on the floor as her blushing burned her cheeks.
Hiero was by her side suddenly, and picked her rigid body up swiftly. "She's the cook…the cook, are you hearing me, lover boy? The cook!!" Hiero yelled. She wished he hadn't said 'lover boy,' no matter how cute it sounded. Why was he so angry at her? She'd done nothing but get a little lost.
"Why you…..grrr….You hired a female? Women are bad fucking luck….why didn't you warn me??" Dilandau shouted. If he was flustered, he didn't sound it. That hurt a little, but still, his lips were as soft as rose petals and hotter than the sun. Her body wanted to shudder with pleasure so badly, but she kept still. Yet, the way he spoke about women was as if he felt they were all evil and weak. She kept wondering why, and if she could ever get past it. He was so handsome and beautiful at the same time, enticing like a drink of pure water after days in the desert. He was almost a beacon, his silver hair flashing like quicksilver.
'Why is he so angry….its frightening, but I don't want to look away from him….I feel something from him, but what? Oh….why does he have to be so hateful about me….he's not even giving me a chance. I hope there's a way to calm it….' She thought. He was frightening, those eyes like the flames of hell threatening to swallow her whole, but in some deep part of her heart, she welcomed it. If to be close to his heart, she'd walk through hell for those eyes, that voice, and the burning heart that beat beneath his armor. She didn't understand why, it just clicked inside her.
"She was all I could find and she's not from Jotunheim….she's from the Mystic Moon, Dilandau. Now will you promise not to kill the one cook who won't try and poison our food, for the sake of Gaia, please, for my sake even, leave her be….I didn't know the battle would be over so soon…." Hiero spat.
"That cursed place….dammit! You kept this from me all this time, your friend, you leader?? How dare you, Hiero, I had a right to know there was a woman in the Abyss. Gods, she best not give the men ideas." Dilandau growled.
"I wasn't planning on her being seen, but since you decided to scream it at me, I bet all of Lateni knows we have a woman for a cook! What is the damn deal, she cooks, she cleans, and she has no lineage in Gaia. Deal with it. I will keep her away from the men, if that's what you want." Hiero shot back heatedly.
"Yes that would work, Hiero. Keep her away from them or they'll get distracted. And keep her the hell away from my room….I won't have her creating problems, is that perfectly clear?" Dilandau growled.
"Crystal, Dilandau, crystal. She won't distract the men….I promise." Hiero let out softly. Dilandau nodded sharply, looking terribly frustrated, then stalked off into the dark halls.
Akiko watched him go softly, nearly calling out for him, apologies for wandering, anything so he would calm down, but soon the darkness swallowed his beautiful armored form. The red, pale white, and silver became as one with it, pure as pitch. She frowned a little, wanting to see those eyes again to look deeper inside them, to understand why he was so hateful, and perhaps, heal it.
'Such a daydreamer….you're not good enough for him, he deserves a princess or a warrior maiden, not boring and plain old me….' She thought, the flush in her soft cheeks remaining with the quickened beats of her heart.
~
"You heard the man, Akiko, no distracting his men." He smiled, then carried her through the halls.
She nodded her cheeks still blushing, watching where Dilandau had gone. ' Didn't wipe his mouth off either….or say not to distract him. Maybe he expects me to have her leave his heart be, but not this time," he thought, mischief filling his naughty green and blue eyes,' Finally, someone is smitten by that flaming anger factory, and someone nice, not as haughty or egocentric as he is. The last thing I wanted was some girl who was ten times as arrogant and bitchy as he was. Please….he needs a good woman in his life, not some ego trip…..this will work, yes it will. Watch out, Dilandau-sama….Cupid's gunning for you with a cannon.'
He grinned widely at that. His visions of love would come to pass, and maybe, just maybe, Akiko's heart could turn fate around. he couldn't put all his hopes into one girl, but for Dilandau's sake, she mattered a lot. His visions from the past, ones he had after Alessa vanished, they spoke of love for Dilandau. Now, that love was here.
All that was needed now was the feelings to grow, and for Akiko to survive Dilandau's temper. He thought on it a moment, and sighed, still grinning. 'I just have to keep my eye open a lot more….stop this killer and protect Dilandau from himself so he won't miss this chance at love….he'll die if he can't get over his own ego and see how he feels. I'll make sure it works out, it has to, for all our sake.' He thought softly, and walked on.
Dilandau….You're going to live….and finally….understand.
To Be Continued….
Teaser: Hiero is endlessly poking and teasing at Dilandau about his feelings, about Akiko, and love. Dilandau gives his view on women, and yet Hiero goes on playing Cupid and detective to get his patron to find his heart, and stop a killer from striking once more. Another Slayer meets his end, and death crawls closer to victory.
