Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or The Slayers or the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters." I do own Hiero and Akiko, and the new slayers and ok….I own the original characters, this is dull to bore people with a long silly list. Sorry, guys, I'll keep the disclaimers short. Time for the last stab to the heart, the cannon is firing, Dilandau-sama!!

                                                                Chapter 6

                                                             Mirror Maiden

                                                            ~ The Abyss ~

                                                        - Four Months Later -

                Reese dried a dish off and set it away, smiling at Akiko. It was nice having somewhat close to his age around, all be it a young lady. The war was at a standstill so often lately, he had to do something, and there was nothing wrong with a little manual labor, even drying the dishes was interesting at this rate.

                Even worse for them, Dilandau, Hiero and the four other elder Slayers were patrolling the Abyss like hawks, some rarely sleeping at all for days. The killer had already taken too many lives of his comrades, and Dilandau intended to stop it. It was a sad thing Dilandau never told any of them their suspicions anymore, but it was probably for the best. The killer could be listening, so it was understandable their patron and even Uncle Hiero never breathed a word of it. The pair had been very tight together, always in a pair, always staring at on another or side by side at a wall, not breathing a word. Uncle had mentioned Dilandau and he shared a telepathic as well as an empathic bond.

So close no matter how far,
Couldn't be much more from the heart.
Forever trusting who we are,
And nothing else matters….

                It, for one, made Reese understand why most of the newbies thought they were involved. Uncle Hiero's teasing to get a rise out of Lord Dilandau didn't help the case against it much, but his uncle was just a crazy man most of the time without the wife he once spoke endlessly of. Chesta had even told a few of the elder slayers he'd caught Lord Dilandau on top of Uncle Hiero in the throne room, dressed at least. Poor Chesta, he was so shy, just talking about it all made him turn bright pink. Migel was the only one that seemed to be angry about it, but Migel was strange.

                Uncle Hiero had never gone into detail really about Migel's lewd glances, but Reese wasn't about to assume anything since Migel was dating the female bartender in town. He did have to wonder about why the woman wasn't beating the crap out of Migel for glancing at Uncle Hiero so much and not simply her. She was the one being courted by Migel, not Uncle Hiero. Uncle seems to take it in stride and groan or make an evil grin perk his lips.

                In any case, his uncle was strange, but never seemed to fail to be with Lord Dilandau in times of crisis and boredom. Washing the dishes was at least not so boring. He and Akiko had had some playful soapy water fights, had near misses with dishes, and a bit of plate Frisbee. All be it for childish antics, it was better than doing nothing. He had told her how brave she was to save their patron, and she simply turned bright red. It was a slightly adorable, but why she'd blush over such a simple thing. Chesta didn't even do that very often.

        But this was a woman after all, none had really been in their direct presence, or even in the Abyss. He never knew how to react to women when his own mother seduced his father, then killed his father, and tried to throw Reese himself into the river. She was dead now, thanks to father's twin brother. Not that he would know what his father looked like, Uncle Hiero had raised him since infancy, along with Morse, Blake, Rao and Link. It was a shock Link held little respect for Uncle Hiero. Now his 'brothers' Blake and Morse were dead, murdered coldly.

                They were like his family, and now only three of them were left, it seemed cruel. The boys he had been bathed with, been along side while their diapers were changed, had food fights from ages 2-8, night terrors, and trained since age 6 to be soldiers. Now Morse and Blake were gone, buried near the Abyss with their armors as their tombstones. It was really just sad, and a shame. They were such good soldiers and friends, now long gone.

                He sighed a bit, staring longingly at his reflection in the next wet plate in his hand. It made him look like he was crying. Lord Dilandau would scream if he saw tears. He looked miserable, probably thinking so much of death and loss did it. Even some drops seemed to pat-pat on the plate softly.

                "Reese, why are you crying?" Akiko's soft voice asked, concern teeming in her words. He blinked, and felt the warm wetness on his cheeks. He was crying, how weak of him. He sighed again. Uncle Hiero always said there was no shame in mourning or showing you cared through tears, but Lord Dilandau never cried. He hated it, called it a womanly, weak emotion to be hated and looked down upon. How he hated his patron for being so cruel and cold about emotion. Still, Lord Dilandau gave him a purpose, a home, and his education. He did hope anyway his patron would get the stick out of his ass and act human, have feelings like others, not be a dictator for life.

                "Oh, just….thinking about…stuff…." He sniffled, wiping his tears away quickly. She gave a gentle smile, it made him pink. She was like a innocent little sister to him. It broke his heart to see Dilandau yelling at her in the past, but he had not been near her since the Abyss was attacked. Thanks to her, no damage had been done. The poor bastards probably thought the Shadow Dragons had returned and ran away like scared rats.

                She was very brave, despite her pleasant and fragile appearance. Like glass angel she was, it simply shocked him she hopped on one of their dragons on as whim and flew into the battle to reach Lord Dilandau, just to tell him about the attack. She warned him, and saved his life. Uncle Hiero had seen it happen and chuckled how love was so blind, mostly with Lord Dilandau. Reese was a little confused why love was a factor. Lord Dilandau didn't love anything but war and fire and blood. Uncle Hiero was strange with his words, he never failed to surprise Reese. "You miss your friends…Blake and Morse….I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry." She replied, going back to the dishes.

                He shook his head, nearly losing his dish. He righted it and dried it. "No….you weren't bothering me, Miss Akiko. I do miss my friends, we were practically raised from diapers together. My uncle raised us…."

                "Oh, you mean Hiero….he mentioned you are his nephew a while back. Seems like a long time since I got here….and it's a bit stressful, but….I'm getting used to it. Not like I have chains or a leg iron on. I get to have my own warm room, not a cell full of rats and straw. I get decent clothing, running water, to bath, brush my teeth with fresh roots, and I get to cook with no interference. Its not so bad, if only Lord Dilandau would stop startling me so much." She said softly, a soft hint of pink traveling across her cheekbones.

Never opened myself this way,
Life is ours, we live it our way.
All these words I don't just say,
And nothing else matters….

                He watched it subtly, and then shrugged it off. 'She'd have to be crazy to care for that maniac….he'd kill her.' He thought, setting the dish away and grabbing another wet one. "I know Lord Dilandau yells a lot, miss, it's just his way. He was….practically born angry I think. Zaibach was a bit rough with their soldiers, and I guess, according to my uncle, he took a lot of pain in his young life. Then again, so has my uncle and he's like the other end of the spectrum of personality. Uncle loves to have a good time, tease, and laugh and fight, while Lord Dilandau's….well, really insane with bloodlust, doesn't feel anything but anger and hate. I really think you should just try and be quiet around him. He'll just kill you if you try and penetrate those barriers."

                She glared at him suddenly, hurt in her eyes. "What are you implying?" It was said harshly, as if he'd stabbed her very heart with a knife. He felt poorly now. He'd hurt her feelings. 'Just how much does she care for him….we're friends, right? And she's all defensive now….' He wondered and offered a smile. "I just want you to safe. None of us know why he fully acts the way he does…. We're all too afraid of him to try. You're very brave, Miss Akiko, coming out on the battlefield on something that didn't trust you, and could have eaten you….I mean, if I had been you, I wouldn't have come. If I were like you I mean, from the Mystic Moon, I'd be scared of a dragon maybe…I suppose….-sigh- have I made a big enough ass of myself yet?" he let out, chuckling a bit at the red faced expression she had.

                She smiled a bit, and he felt better. He'd gotten her to smile again. "I guess you are right, but I came out because I wanted to help him. I bet he would have been very angry with himself and all of you if this place were burned or blown up. I mean, this is my new home, I should protect it too, for the people who took me in. Even if your patron has trouble expressing himself.... I don't hate him. He frightens me a little, but it only makes me wonder more about him, why he is so hurt and angry. I know it must sound stupid to you, you think I'm an idiot for wanting to understand what you call a madman, but not everyone is all bad. All people have hearts, to be broken or to grow. My mom always told me that when I was little, and I believe her still. –sigh- Mom….I wonder how she's doing….I wonder if Lord Dilandau misses his mother….everyone has a mother Reese, even if all of yours were cruel Artemis psychos. Everyone has someone they were attached to and trusted for guidance and warmth….I wonder if he had anyone like that….if he ever loved anyone. Maybe it's why he's so harsh, perhaps his heart was broken once." She said, her words drifting on the wind.

Trust I seek and I find in you,
Every day for us something new,
Open mind for a different view,
And nothing else matters….

                His heart lurched roughly. She was in love with Lord Dilandau, her words were so kind towards the devil himself, she had to be in love, but why him? All he'd done was yell at her and when he first met her he had tried to lop her head off. Akiko sounded interested in his life, in finding a way into his dark heart, but he simply didn't understand why the hell she'd want that monster? He had never loved a living thing in his life, not anything his Uncle mentioned. Love never came up really.

                He opened his mouth to ask her why, so many questions and warnings for her to forget Lord Dilandau, to find a normal man, not a soldier, but they never came. Only a hand clamping down on his shoulder hard jolted in his mind, and the gruff chuckling of Grego falling into his tender ears.

                "There you are Reese….I have been looking everywhere for you, kid." He let out, his voice full of glee. It was interesting to hear Grego being happy and not beating somebody up. What a rare treat. Reese rolled his eyes and shrugged the hand off. Big damn deal, just meant the jerk was wallowing in some glorious praise he'd received.

                "What now, Grego….I get the honor of cleaning your quarters again?" Reese let out snidely, grabbing up another wet dish. Grego snatched it from him and the towel, grinning with great ease and cunning. "Even better, Chesta told me to tell you to go track down your uncle. Lord Dilandau wants to see him…. immediately."

                Reese blinked. "But Uncle's in town getting more supplies….it'll take hours…can't Lord Dilandau wait??" Reese griped. Grego started drying a dish. "Nope… get your ass moving, the dragons are being fed right now. Enjoy it, squirt, you need to put some muscle on your skinny legs anyway. Ta-ta…" Grego chuckled, setting the dish away.

                Reese mentally cursed him and stormed off. Lord Dilandau was really pushing it, and so was damn Grego. How he would love to cut that slimy grin off if Grego's right off his smug face, but it'd have to wait. Making Lord Dilandau wait was a fate worse than death if it ever happened. Reese started running for the town. Uncle probably had the cart, with the only four horses. Why couldn't they get more horses? 'Forget it, not like I'll let that idiot get me in trouble….Grego can kiss my ass and sit on a hot coal for all I care, he won't get me in trouble….' He thought, and continued quickly on his way.

                                                                                ~

                Grego grinned at Akiko sweetly, though she didn't look to enjoy his company too much. Not like it mattered, Princess Lacey was all that mattered to him. His lovely maiden, ah all his, she would be his bride soon and he would rule by her side and drive Dilandau crazier in slavery. He deserved it for being so ill willed towards Grego's genius tactics and strengths.

                I heard your conversation, miss…." He said with an icy bitter sweetness that seemed to make her hair stand on end, the smell of fear wafting off his skin beautifully. He smiled wider. "You….did?" she said, looking up at him, frightened. She thought he was going to tell on her, well, who cared? The fear on her face was worth it, she had ruined everything. If only Akiko had run away, the abyss would be gone and the Dragons Slayers would have been easy pickings, but no, the damn woman had to be a hero. Now all his and beloved Lacey's plans were spoiled. Akiko had to die….painfully, and he knew just the way to do it, through her weak heart.

                "Don't worry, I won't tell him, but I know a secret….Migel drinks a bit sometimes, and he gets very chatty while he's praying to the toilet." Grego smiled.

                "He…does…hmm….?" She replied evenly, watching him carefully with a goblet in her hand. He nodded. "Yes and he told me that Dilandau did love someone a long time ago, before any of us were even born. He loved a woman very deeply in his native lands of Jotunheim. And he keeps her image in a locket he wears round his neck, but his armor keeps it hidden. Nobody but the elder Dragon Slayers and our Strategos know about it, and now we do thanks to Migel's drunken stupor." Grego quipped pleasantly, seeing the interest take the girl's eyes, and the soft blush cross her cheeks.

                'Bait taken….now for the trap.' He thought.

                He stepped past her and took out the last wet plate, drying it slowly, right by her shimmering wondering eyes. "It would probably be in his room, in the drawer of his nightstand about now, since he's not always wearing it. He treasures it so much, he only wears it to battle, so she's with him, close to his heart…. He feels it is stressed or tired, as if it were really her, if he wore it when he does nothing.  So you were right, there must be some good in him if he keeps something such as that with him, but you didn't hear that from me, he'd kill me and Migel if he knew I told you…."

Never cared for what they do,
Never cared for what they know,
But I know!!

                She nodded with a small smile. "Your secret is safe with me…."

He grinned. You're done with your chores, so why don't you go think about what I've said, miss…hmm? It might clear the cobwebs on your heart." He told her, getting another soft nod as she turned away and left. He grinned, fully, ear to ear. "Now….you'll be the one to shriek in agony, not me, not me, you sultry little bitch whore." He hissed gleefully, setting the last dish down carefully before swiping a knife from the drawer.

                The weapons locker was locked these days, and they were only allowed their swords during the day. No one was every alone and the Dragon Slayers were always in groups of three or more. It was hard to get the next target, so he had to be sly. Lord Dilandau did want to see Hiero, but he hadn't stressed the order. Lord Dilandau was in the throne room, and if his schedule was still going strong, his patron would be bathing in come the evening, not too many hours off. He smiled wider. He strutted his way out of the room hiding the knife in his armor. "At least she'll die with a good image in her feeble brain. Die little girl, die…." He chuckled.

                                                      ~ Lateni Market Place ~

                "Thank you for your patronage." The young woman said happily. Hiero smiled at her startling ice-blue eyes, loading the last of the supplies on the cart. "Thank you, Miss Adon, you're very kind."

                She gave her wavy blue-black hair a flip with her hand, grinning ear the ear. "Please, we're friend, Hiero. Call me Lerenia…." She quipped. He nodded.

                Hiero could never get used to the kind and outgoing young woman. She was one of few people who could make him laugh. He'd met her after they were hired, for weapon and food supplies. Her mother and her ran a food-stocking store, one of the less popular than the royally funded ones, the ones with the royal stamp on their doors.

                Not Lerenia or her mom, they had no love for the greedy king, just their own hardworking hands. Lerenia had been rolling a drunk who was stalking a customer. Like now, she wore darker colors, a black belt gray blue pants and a gray shirt. Her long bangs flipped in her face in the wind, sticking to her face almost over her eyes from the sweat. She was if nothing else a good person, but a tomboy. He liked that.

                When the war was at a standstill, there were some warrior tournaments to keep the kingdom entertained and Lerenia was never far away from those. She loved weaponry and fighting with a blade, and her glorious sense of humor seemed to sparkle whenever the moment seized her, all be it he was usually the only person laughing with her. Everyone else would simply walk away giving her funny looks.

                She'd made an idle comment about how if the kingdom of Lateni had an enema, it'd come out in the king's bedroom. People stared at her funny, but Hiero fell over laughing. It was nice to hear someone poke fun with feeling, not like the rest of the scared rabbits of this kingdom. That and she could make Chesta blush in the absolute most adorable way. She'd lost to Chesta in a tournament years ago, and made a comment how it was so silly that a man shorter than her and cuter than most children beat her. Chesta near fainted when she pecked his cheek.

                They'd been together ever since, but still she was unable to get past Chesta to fight Migel or Gatti to even reach either himself or Dilandau. It was still so adorable to see them side-by-side, poor Chesta looking ever so nervous and bracing for tickling or his hair to be ruffled.

                "All right Lerenia. You going to enter the next tournament?" he smiled, reaching into the cart. "Heh, does the king have lip prints on his ass?" he chuckled. "He does at that…." he smiled and tugged the young princess Rheanna out of the cart. He was taking a risk bringing her out of the Abyss, but she was more or less in the dark about the war. He'd interrogated her for hours each day over the months, but she knew nothing except that her sister had a special ability to control weak minds, as far as she knew. It wasn't completely helpful, but Grego had to be the killer, but he was being more careful.

                Even with the new regulations hindering the murderous little bastard right now, he'd gotten through their last plan and killed Blake. Things just seemed to backfire stupidly in their faces. And he personally feared for the young Princess' life. If she was given to Grego instead of kidnapped….then she wasn't very important alive to her family. Dilandau never talked to her and he had said Hiero was in charge of her well being, so Dilandau couldn't contend with Hiero's logic.

                He grinned a bit, setting the cloaked young maiden on the ground. He had dressed her like a simple dress-wearing peasant before going into town and hid her in one of the crates. He had made her hair up with some red dye from berry extracts, as her blonde hair and green eyes were a dead giveaway to soldiers about her identity. If there was anyplace he could trust that Rheanna would be perfectly safe and inconspicuous was with Lerenia.

                "I need to ask you a favor, Lerenia….you don't have to do it, but I worry for this young lady. Can you keep her at your mother's place until I come for her. Bad things are going on in the Abyss, and it worries me that she might get hurt." He said softly, pushing the shy young girl to Lerenia, who looked a little annoyed by the mauve dress Rheanna was wearing. Lerenia hated dresses with a great passion, no one could pay her enough or call her chicken enough for her to wear one, ever. She'd sooner rip it up or beat the person up who dared to put her in one. He smiled a bit, sometimes the discomfort of others was funnier than a simple joke, and the livid expression on her face was almost torture for his funny bone. Rheanna blushed a bit red and hung her head softly.

                "She's not going to ask for slumber parties or do my hair is she?" Lerenia asked, guarding herself. Hiero laughed then. "You need to calm down….just keep her in your mom's house and don't let her go outside. All I ask is feed her, let her use the bathroom, and beat the shit out of anyone but me that comes looking for her. Ok?" he chuckled, wiping at his eyes as he went on snickering. She punched him in the arm hard, but he backed off with a silly grin. "As long as it's just that….if I find out you're trying to glue bows to my ponytail again. You know what happened to the last creep that thought that was funny." She grinned wickedly, and took the girl's timid hand.

                He mock shuddered. "Don't remind me, I think the dogs can still hear him, once he turns back into a man, I guess they won't eh?" he chuckled.

                She nodded pulled the young princess into the store. "See you later, Hiero. Don't worry, I'll put some muscle on her." She laughed. Rheanna looks back with a scared rabbit look on her face. He simply shrugged at her. "Better here than near a killer, my lady. Be good for me." He said softly, wand waved. She waved back weakly, and then vanished as her exuberant host forcefully tugged her inside.

                Hiero smiled to himself and hopped up onto the cart, picking up the reigns in a smooth flick of his wrist. 'Phase one down, now to trap Grego and grill him on what's going on. My visions aren't helping me very much, then again Blake's blood is on my hands too….if only I had said more, acted instead of being afraid. It's my fault he died, and more blood will spill if we don't act soon….dammit, Alessa, I need you.' He thought, gripping the reigns tightly to spur the horses on.

So close no matter how far,
Couldn't be much more from the heart,
Forever trusting who we are,
And nothing else matters….

                "Uncle, Uncle!" Reese's voice shouted. Hiero stopped still, and then turned his head towards his young nephew's voice. Reese looked terrible, sweating out of every pore, his hair sticking to his head like melted taffy, and there were dusty spatters and scuffs all over his clothes and armor.

                "What happened to you?" Hiero blinked.

                "I ….-pant pant-…..had to….walk…and..-pant pant- run the entire way….Lord Dilandau….needs to –gasp, choke- see you….immediately." Reese gagged out, bending over as he skidded to a halt before him. Hiero sighed, and helped his tired nephew up onto the cart. Reese did hate Dilandau, but he was still loyal enough to give himself a lousy time to obey orders. Dilandau just had that air about him that said," Obey me or die," and it even worked on those who despised him. Making Dilandau angry was Hiero's job, not a young mortal's. "Ok, did he say what it way about?" Hiero asked, spurring the horses forward.

                Reese went on panting, but managed to shake his sparkling blue head. "I was just told immediately, and its nearly a three hour trip getting here, I'd hoped you'd be on your way back halfway, but…eh heh-pant- no such luck. Can I just take a breather now? Lord Dilandau is probably still planning and yelling at the others by now wondering where I am….you'll vouch for me at least that I had no horse or dragon to use." Reese gasped out.

                Hiero nodded. "Always….I'll take full responsibility….now rest already.. You'll match you're hair if you choke on your air much longer." Hiero chuckled, and ruffle up his hair softly. Reese gave a silly smile and leaned back in the cart, resting his eyes softly as the cart moved on

                                                ~ Akiko's Quarters ~

                Akiko was staring at her door, which she had been doing for the past two hours. She could faintly hear the rumble of an oncoming storm outside her window, the toiling thunder vibrating through it to her feet. It was almost foreboding, to leave without an escort to satisfy her wonder. Was Grego simply teasing her, or would it benefit him by getting Dilandau off his back and onto hers? She didn't know, but still, she was curious. Her feet simply wouldn't carry her out till now.

Never cared for what they do,
Never cared for what they know,
But I know….
                It had been a heavy and heated mental debate. She'd be breaking two rules if she ventured beyond the safety of her room. Walking around unsupervised was one, enough to get her a lecture, or screamed at. Though as she thought about it, Lord Dilandau hadn't known she was in the Abyss when they had first met and believed her a murderous spy. Under the circumstances, it was an honest, all be it paranoid psychotic, mistake. The other rule she would break was one she was unsure of the results. Entering Lord Dilandau's room. She had the keys, ones hidden behind Lord Dilandau's throne. The fanciest key, the silver one, was the only one she had never used since she was ordered not to be the key to his room. It was only to be used if she had an escort taking her to clean up messes.

                Lord Dilandau and Hiero were her escorts whenever that happened, but Hiero politely explained that he and Lord Dilandau had gotten into an argument and it got out of hand. Normally, it was a tiny crimson puddle or little spatters on the wall among the strewn items and furniture. Hiero just smiled in his dinged, and Dilandau sulked on his couch, a tear in his pant or sleeves, and she would just clean it all up accordingly. Lord Dilandau would only speak to her in order to tell her how everything in his room had to be. He spoke quietly after the first two times, as her memory of each prior incident helping her along, though she always waited for him to tell her what to pick up.

                Lately, their fights dwindled or were sometimes out of the bedroom, and she would be brought by Reese or Rao to clean up the floors. It was a tad childish, but boys would be boys, and soldiers elevated the standard. She shrugged softly and opened her door quietly, bracing for alarms and soldiers poised to swarm her.

                It really never came, only the soft crisp breeze brushed past through the silent hallway. She stepped out softly and peered around, her eyes catching nothing but the abysmal darkness of each pathway. She felt a chill roll up her spine, the darkness gazing hard into her heart. 'How far will you go?' it seemed to ask her, its shadowing girth squirming tightly before her.

Never opened myself this way,
Life is ours, we live it our way,
All these words I don't just say….

                Akiko took a deep, hard breath and looks away, waking towards Lord Dilandau's room. "To the death….I'd follow him to hell." She answered, her head held high as the opposite side's darkness parted the way for her soul as she ventured to the devil's domain. She had to know who this woman was that Lord Dilandau held so close to his untouchable heart. She had to know, or it would drive her crazy with wonder.

                Akiko walked for a while before she reached his dark door, her shaking hands at her side. It wasn't simply fear doing it; it was the anticipation. She was about to find out more about the handsome and lonely Dragon Slayer master, his past would be in her hand and sparkle up to her eyes. If it would bring her closer to know what he felt then, she would willing risk her life for him. She didn't want him to be hurt or taken away in the wars. She was lucky her dragon was loyal to its master as well when she came to warn him, it dove at his would be killer when she gave it a good kick. Or maybe it heard her whisper his name, seeing what was about to occur.

                She took a deep breath and pulls out the key ring, holding the rest of the keys still. The jangling of them would ruin her sneaking in for sure. The silver key slipped into the dark hole, and made a slight soft click as she turned it. She tucked the keys away in her apron and gripped the knob. It felt so heavy and hot suddenly, like hell itself wished to deter her from venturing past the black gate. The storm outside had burst free as she stood there, hammering against the towering Abyss, the crash of thunder and lightening screaming through the banshee-like winds. Hell itself was screaming at her, she felt, to keep her out of this one place, where angels feared to tread.

                She shook her head tightly, her resolve pouring through her body as she turned the knob slowly, the door forbidden to be open softly swinging inward. She shoved it open so hard she stumbled inside the place.

                The bed was made, neatly like always, a bottle of wine and an empty glass, both chilled, waiting for Lord Dilandau. She heard nothing, saw no articles of clothing. She smiled, he wasn't here yet, and she had plenty of time. She quietly took off her shoes and tiptoed on bare feet inside, then pushed the door shut softly.

                She steeled herself as her bare feet carried her to the nightstand, the soft pat-pat on the cold floors only ringing in her tender ears. 'Just look at it, then leave, its that easy….I just want to see this woman he loved, that's all.' She thought, nodding surely to herself. The black nightstand glistened at her unlike her previous times being supervised in this room. It was like she was going to touch a sacred item inside, and the mystical importance of it was seeping through the wood.

                Her fingers curled a bit, the anticipation flooding from her skin, then grasped the handle and gave it a light tug. It came open easily, a shimmering silver locket lain out in the drawer on a velvet pad. It was about the size of one of those old pocket watches. Her mother had one from her great grandfather's collection, though that one was nowhere near as well kept as this one. The silver was in mint condition, the floral etchings around the rims with soft white silver paint embedded, deep white as winter snow. She smiled softly, her reflection shimmering upon the surface.

                She rolled the cool object in her hand softly for a moment, the long chain dangling past her soft digits. Akiko smiled, he had put a lot of effort to keep it in good condition. She almost felt jealous of the woman who deserves such love from him. 'Now or never….' She thought, taking a final quick breath.

                She hesitated a moment, half hating herself for prying into his affairs, and half of her was being eaten away by curiosity and jealousy. Lord Dilandau was the most beautiful and angelic looking man she'd ever met. He was strong, smart, and capable of anything, exciting to a soul that never knew full freedom, never knew the adventures past her own room.

Trust I seek and I find in you,
Every day for us something new,
Open mind for a different view,
And nothing else matters!!

                His heart was even more so desired by hers for she felt something in him, something that longed for comfort as she did. She saw it in his eyes that day he touched her face, something was there, crying out in the red seas of his bloody eyes. She knew it was there, but he was so well guarded with his emotions, so he'd yell and belittle females in her presence, possibly to make her hate him. He hadn't threatened her life at all since they met. She had seen him watch her, though his steely or angered expressions covered up any hint of interest. He frightened her, he was terrifying, but she couldn't help but be attracted to him.

                She shook her head softly and opened the locket slowly. Staring back at her was a soft and kindly looking young woman, but that wasn't what made her heart stop in her throat. Her beauty and elegance in such simple innocence had not done it either. She looked almost like Lord Dilandau. The hair was wavier and the face less sinister, more like a cherubim princess fallen into the grace of Gaia. Her silvery blonde hair clung to her lovely face sweetly, honeyed and golden as if in a fresh moonlit night. Her eyes were just like Akiko's and Sir Gatti, stormy blue.

                'No wonder he looked at my eyes so deeply….they are her eyes….Does this mean he just sees her…or….what?' she thought, unable to comprehend what was what anymore in her heart.

Never cared for what they say,
Never cared for games they play,
Never cared for what they do,
Never cared for what they know,
And I know!!!!

                She closed it quickly, the masterful picture's gaze never wavering, even when the locket snapped shut. She carried it with shaking hands towards the drawer when a door opening came to her ears.

                She turned quickly, and her heart tightened. There, still drying his slender chest off, dressed only in his leather pants and the zipper partially opened, was Lord Dilandau. She couldn't move, even as his lovely and damp silvery hair twisted with his head lifting up. Those bloody garnet eyes looked right at her, first in surprise, then they worked their way to her hands, and rage boiled up inside the garnet souls.

                The towel fell to the ground, not even having the time to hit it, when he pinned her to his bed. She let out a small cry as he wretched the locket away from her roughly, glaring hatefully at her. "How dare you touch what is mine! How dare you, you whore!" he screamed in her face, his voice hysterical.

                Akiko mumbled apologies, but he yanked her off the bed and started dragging her out with one hand by her wrists. The storm raged on, and soon they were outside, her feet gracing through the mud as she slipped with his rough walking. "I had rules, and you broke them, you broke my damn rules!! You stupid woman….since you don't like rules, you get to live out there where there is only chaos. Let's see how long you last put here in the cold unrelenting pain of Gaia." He spat, dragging her into the wood harder and hard, her dressed almost fully soiled with rain and dirt.

                Twigs and stone ripped at the hem, almost all the startling stormy blue was gone, here wet with rain and her own tears. "Please, I didn't mean to…I just was curious, Please Dilandau, please! Listen to me!" she begged, but only saw his head shake violently, a flash lightening crashing into the forest with a horrible crushing howl. She screeched, his hair glowing quicksilver against the lightening flashes. "I've listened to Hiero enough about you….you're just a lying little beast, women can't be trusted….," he growled and threw her to the ground, her hand sloshing into a wet puddle," Never come back, you betrayed my trust…not even Hiero could make me take you back into my domain. You're just like all the rest, spiteful, lying little whores…!"

                He started to turn around, but she shot herself up and grabbed his leg. She couldn't be out here, someone worse than her old master would surely come. She wasn't a fighter, she wasn't gifted, she was human. He couldn't leave her here, she had to get him to open his eyes somehow.

                She heard a low growl form in his throat, his body weaving around and his right arm was lifting. "Please, don't leave me all alone out here! I just wanted to know who the woman you loved was…. Please, don't leave me behind!" she shouted tearfully, bracing for impact as the lightening illuminated his wet palm.

                                                                ~

                Dilandau froze at her words. The locket, his most sacred possession next to his armor and sword, was what she defiled with her fingers. That's all she wanted, to see it? Not steal it or sell it off as so many stupid women had tried, girls that used his slayers to rob them, how he made them scream to heaven and hell. The locket….was what she wanted to simply see and not be left all alone.

                Alone, how he had heard that word so many times. Jajuka had heard it so much from his mother, his poor hurt mother. Yet Jajuka and mother were gone, he wasn't alone, and never wanted to be. They did their best to ensure he'd never be alone, his mother had brought herself to young Hiero so Dilandau would have someone, and Jajuka had guarded his mother and then Dilandau himself to ensure he was never in pain as he was in the past. Dilandau uttered that word like a sickness, a fear, something he never wished on anyone for he knew loneliness all too well. His twisted grimace faltered, looking into those stormy eyes, the rain soaking her form and his in the forest. He could see her figure, the flutter of her frightened heart pounding in her chest.

                Her eyes were stabbing him like lovely knives now. He knew that look, he and his mother had worn it in their times of pain and desperation, a weak feeling he hated in himself, but to see it was like murder. He lowered his hand and yanked her up, staring at her with a hard, hurt look. "Don't do it again….or I won't be so lenient….but you tell me why you did it, why really? A locket isn't all that interesting to look at? What does it matter that there's a woman in it?" he asked, keeping his lips a thin pale line.

                She rubbed some of her fiery red hair out of her eyes, sniffling. "I wanted to….know who she was, who the woman you loved was….so I could see….your heart." She said softly, a timid purse of her lips as she stopped. He stared at her. She wanted his heart, so elegantly put, but she wanted to know his heart. Regardless of him trying to kill her, the yelling, and she wanted to know the depths of his emotions.

                Dilandau looked to the side a moment. "I did love her, I still do…." He replied evenly, seeing her face fall a bit. 'In love with me….why the hell does she feel that way? I haven't shown interest….not that much. One touch, and a few looks…well…she is simply kind and does what I tell her. Why me? What's so wonderful that she has to fall for me? I'm a soldier, not a poet!' he thought angrily, but his face only grew confused.

                "Dilandau…? Are you….all right? Did I say something wrong?" she asked. Thunder boomed overhead, but he kept the expression, sad confusion seeping from his eyes. "She was my mother…. She died when I was born….I killed her." He replied, and looked up a little. He expected utter relief and happiness, something he'd get to beat her for, but it wasn't there. She hugged onto him softly, his heart skipping a hard beat at her touch. Why….it was the only word he could think of, he didn't want to be pitied.

                "I'm sorry, Dilandau, I shouldn't have meddled in your family life. I just was curious about your life….I thought….I could…I…I don't know. I was wrong to…pry into your affairs. I just wanted to see where your heart was….I bet she's proud of you….and happy, how far you have come. She can't blame you for something you couldn't prevent, don't say such a thing." She said softly, hugging his waist softly.

                He managed to breathe after a minute, his hands inches from her sides, to shove her off? To hold her, to beat her? She didn't pity him, she was angry about her actions. She forgave him, and blamed herself, not him.

                Lightening flashed across their wet bodies once more, where man and woman ended and began highlighted by the sparkling light. He looked up into her eyes then, feeling her heart hammering against his chest, his own a beat behind hers. He just looked at her, more confused, needing guidance for the first time in a long time. The longer he stared, the closer her face seemed to be, the more he felt his hands gripping wet fabric and skin. Closer and closer, the smell of her honeyed breath wafting over his pale wet lips as they parted softly.

FFOOM!! KSHHHHHTTTTTT! FFOOM!

                Their lips bumped wetly as a tree near them was struck down by the storm, the ashen and embering behemoth fall along side them. They both stared, the light orange glow bathing their wet forms. "We'd better go back….before we are struck next…I do not intend to fall as easily as that….or at all." He uttered softly, still holding her to him. It felt nice in a new way, nothing he'd ever experienced before. It made him feel strong enough to fight dragons for years without sleep, to take down armies alone.

                But what was he feeling? He took her hand and lead her back to the Abyss, taking her to her room personally before going to his own to dry off. Hiero wasn't back, so his questions would have to wait. It still ate at his mind as he lay onto his warm soft bed.  What could be so powerful that one woman could instill such strength and fire in a man's heart? What was it? He had to know and Hiero would tell him.

So close no matter how far,
Couldn't be much more from the heart,
Forever trusting who we are,
No nothing else matters!!

Or else.

                                                                To Be Continued….

Teaser: Finally, Dilandau understands the most powerful thing in the known universe; LOVE. Grego plots to kill the rest of Hiero's boys, and finally, a kiss of true love, but who will get it, Hiero? Akiko? Dilandau? Grego? Hmmm, till next time.