Wild-Roze: Alrighty, here we go. And again I must apologise, half way through this chapter, I had a few glasses of wine with my dinner, which I drank rather fast, so I became a little tipsy…. So… yeah, enjoy.
The light clouds in the endless sky were stained a radiant pale pink with the kiss of the one small sun that orbited Arcadia. Rising to the East it slowly crept up from the Continent of the Blue Moon, where dusk would be approaching. Streaks of orange, giving way to purple and finally to the darker blue of night stretched Westward, where the stars were being chased away by the light, which constantly followed them. The hues ran and mixed together in a most alluring way, showing pure, breathtaking beauty.
It was this sight that the now clearly pregnant Empress looked out over the still coldness which was the marble formation of Soltis. Behind her two massive glass doors stood wide open, the warm morning air slowly sifting the silver curtains to and fro. The clean air filled her lungs, and she closed her eyes, breathing deeply, picking up the soft scents of Ixa-Taka, where the destroyed Ixa-Ness Village must now be lying in ruins, with perhaps a meagre few survivors trying to rebuild the tribe.
She wore merely a thin bed robe, which billowed over the protruding flesh of her abdomen, the air swirled under the robe's hem and around her body, refreshing her.
She felt his presence behind her, and smiled softly as one of his hands reached around to trace across her bulge.
"I was not there as the Prince grew up, but I shall be for this son." He said.
"Or daughter." She mumbled back, finding humour in the image of the Emperor changing the soiled garments of a babe.
She sighed and looked out, the endless expanse of air… waiting to be seen. How she longed to sail again, to skim through the clouds, to see all the friends she had made over the years on the different continents. The one thing other than Vyse, which she had been truly passionate about before the fight with Ramirez, had been to sail. To set out, fighting off the various different monsters of the sky, to breathe the clean air and to be free to go where she could only dream.
But, that was for another day, she turned and skimmed his lips with her own, their two torso's separated by the life between them, which was due to emerge from the confines of her womb any day.
The people had taken relatively well to her, and she was pleased about the improvement in Belle's persona. Of course, the woman had spared Vigoro's life, and treated him well. The genderless man held no respect now, other than that which lingered on in his son and whore, but his deadly hatred for Aika and Ramirez knew no bounds, and you could see the raw emotion in his eyes when he looked at the woman who's hair had now fully returned to it's red, bordering on orange colour.
Vyse's birthday had been celebrated by Aika ordering a national holiday, much to the Emperor's disapproval. But, it earned her popularity amongst the men exceedingly quickly, and the oncoming birth of the second child was being eagerly awaited by all, another day of complete drunkenness, fights and women was just what the soldiers wanted. And it was Aika's view that if she could rule out of respect and goodness as apposed to fear, all the better.
Aika looked levelly into his unbelievably emerald eyes. She remembered well the night her love, Vyse had died. How she had lain at his feet, injured, and begging for death. She had been his slave, nothing more than an object to fulfil his wishes. But, now. She was looking directly into his face, she was on his level, he and her… she was no longer lower than him…. he could no longer look down at her and laugh, now they were eye to eye, and lips to lips.
They were together, and nothing would change that. That was their view anyway. Over her life, Aika had lost so much, when she was just a child, her parents had died, briefly turning her to a cold emotionless little girl, then Vyse's family found her and took care of her. Then, in the war, she not only lost him, but Fina too. Then… she lost her will to live, really wanting to die. Then, she lost the place in which she had raised her son, Ixa-Ness was deserted, she had ordered a squad over there to help survivors and rebuild the tribes shelters, but there was no one. She then lost her friends, Drachma, Diago… the others who had hidden in the all-women tribe.
Now, she had this one man to fill the gaping hold in her heart her previous losses had created…… and he was doing it. She would always, no matter what Ramirez, or anyone else said, love Vyse, her old life and the friends that were no more, but….. This man was the one who she relied on now, if she were to loose him…. or her son… then she knew that without a doubt she would die.
She gently ran her delicate fingers up his bare chest to rest on his shoulder, where they traced around the scar in the crook of his neck, the one she had given him the night she had conceived her unborn. How appropriate, he marked her when she became pregnant with their first, and she returned the gesture when she was impregnated for the second time.
Aika had made many changes around Soltis, some of which Ramirez had argued long and hard with her about, but these were things that she insisted upon.
The slave collars were removed and the slaves freed, and the Harem opened. Many people had actually managed to fashion lives in Soltis, such as settling down and finding a spouse, or merely found this life easy, so, many people stayed on, deciding to voluntarily continue in their services. Among them were the now married couple of Enrique and Moegi. At first, Aika was sure the two would turn their backs on her for her betrayal in Ramirez, but they were surprisingly pleased for her.
However, every year, those who had once been members upon the Delphinus, including General Marco, along with his young wife, Tatina, would gather to both mourn and celebrate the lives of those who had died in the war.
"We are truly linked, Little One, your soul and body belong to me, and always will." He said.
Aika growled quietly.
"Only as much as you belong to me, Master." She said.
"Do you not tire of calling me that? You know full well that that is no longer a requirement." He said.
She smirked.
"Do you not tire of calling me 'Little One'?" She asked.
"No, I do not, and I know that you do not tire of it either." He said back.
Aika smirked, that was true enough, he had called her Little One since her first day in Soltis, she didn't know why it had stuck so, but it had. She stayed, immobile in his arms for a moment longer, before she pulled away.
She dressed herself, wearing a magnificent maternity gown of the palest ivory, and decided to take a walk around Soltis. Ramirez would soon leave to train with Vyse. The ten year old had grown considerably. His muscles were a little more defined from his constant, daily training, and his bond with his father had developed alarmingly fast.
Fifteen years ago, if someone had told her that she would become the wife of the man who would conquer the world she would have laughed, when she was thirteen, there was no threat on the world, there was no danger, and sailing the skies was the norm, she had also been completely captivated by Vyse by this time in her life.
He and her had been inseparable. They had laughed, cried, and smiled, always together. They had lived their lives on board the ship of Vyse's father, the Albatross, scatting around the legs of the crew like pesky dogs at play, gradually learning the ways of piracy, learning, honour, bravery, and courage.
Many lives had been ended since those blissful days, cut short before they could be completed, most due to the man who's second child she now bore heavily. But, she had done what Fina had been unable to do; Let Ramirez remember his past goodness, allow him to feel compassion to other living souls. The Emperor was still a cold man, and his hand of cruelty was still fabled, as was his honour, but now with his gentler, more peaceful Empress at his side, it was known that a fair trial would await any who dared to break the Silvite laws, instead of instant death. Aika had saved many innocent lives this way, but she had also condemned the guilty ones, those who had committed rape or murder, those who were guilty were allowed a quick, painless death to Zelos. Ramirez had insisted on keeping the death penalty, no matter her argument.
So she had settled into the life which named her as the wife of the Emperor. The young Prince was just as respected as his father, and was just as, if not more liked. Many were predicting his rule to be just, noble, and ….. as the troops put it… 'a laugh to remember' the little boy's quick wit had soon come to light, and he insisted upon eating in the Mess with the guards, who all argued over who he should grace with his presence.
Ramirez had told Vyse, then when he reached eighteen he would be crowned as the new Emperor, he had also vowed, privately, to Aika, that when that day came, he would sail with her to the very corners of the world, and that they would make love on every continent. She smiled, she did not much relish that though in the land under the Purple Moon, the land encased within ice… that was going to be uncomfortable.
She sighed, heading for her favourite place in all of Soltis, other than her bed, the communal balcony.
So many times on this journey in the past, Vigoro, full of his arrogance and desire had stepped out and tried to arouse her strongly enough to allow him intercourse, but now, that man was no longer able to demand such a thing. But….
Her heart pounded hard, painfully against her ribs, as those familiar, strong hands reached out and grasped her. She heard his voice, and more importantly the insanity which now laced it.
"You can never be mine…. You stripped me of that small privilege, but I can make sure that you never birth the second child of that infernal Silvite, I shall take you to the afterlife!"
Aika opened her mouth to scream, but could not find the breath to do so as she felt a rope wrapped around her throat, blocking off the oxygen which was so essential to her survival. She barely noticed the sudden pain in her abdomen as her waters broke.
Ramirez buckled, only just managing to weakly parry the magnificent lunge from his son. He collapsed to his knees, clutching at his neck, gasping for air. This time, there was no doubt in his mind about what was happening, he felt it strongly, along with the fear…
"Boy, your mother is being attacked." He wheezed, staggering upright, banishing the feeling of nausea.
"Where?" Vyse asked quickly. The bond between his parents had been explained briefly to him, but he still did not fully understand it, however, he knew that his father was not mistaken.
"Come with me, bring your sword." Ramirez snapped, every moment a feeling of fogginess weighed more heavily upon him, causing him to feel drowsy.
The two left the sparring room, Vyse having to keep up with his father's quick strides, soon loosing track of where they were going as they passed down many corridors that he had not yet seen. To him it felt like it was taking forever, concern hammering painfully within his heart. Then, finally came the vision that he had been anticipating, and it was all too soon for the boy.
They rounded one last corner of stark white walls, and what he saw made his mouth fall open in horror.
Vigoro grinned insanely, as he released his grip, and allowed the limp form to slide to the floor. Aika was limp, her legs, and the floor surrounding her wet with her waters.
Vyse howled in fury, seeing his lifeless mother, without a second thought he lifted his blade and threw it. His aim was perfect and it stuck Vigoro between the eyes, just as the man turned to discover the source of the sudden, furious noise. Vyse ran forward and pounced on the man, not caring that he was already dead, he withdrew his knife, bringing it down on the body again and again, his hands, face, and torso gradually becoming a mess of gore which had splattered on him.
Ramirez was beside Aika, and after quickly trying to revive her, both with mouth to mouth, and magic, he came to the heart rendering truth that she was beyond help, and dead.
"Son," The man said, "Vyse!"
The small child blinked through his tears and turned to his father.
"Give me your knife, now!"
"Why?" Asked the boy, his voice choked, "What for?"
"I gave you a direct order!" Snarled the Emperor.
Vyse handed his father the bloodied weapon. Ramirez paused, and glanced at Vyse, who stood watching his actions. His son had taken his first life with this blade that he held, the same blade which would deliver his second unborn. Ramirez muttered a quick incantation, and watched as the powerful sleep surrounded the child, who instantly collapsed unconscious.
Then he turned upon his dead soul mate, the enormity of what had happened had not fully sunken in yet, and now he was faced with one of the hardest jobs he had ever had to do; he had to butcher her perfect body, to retrieve his child, which if he did not act quickly, would also die.
He shook off all material thoughts of what he was about to do, and steeled himself.
Swiftly he made the quick incision, the gash running from her diaphragm to her pubic bone. He then cast the knife away, and plunged his hands into the warm insides of his Empress.
For several gruesome moments, Ramirez worked, ignoring the blood which was spreading out in an ever widening pool around him, until finally, the screams of a baby echoed loudly around the corridor which had been deathly silent.
Ramirez fell away from the body, which lay, cleaved open, on the floor. To his chest he clutched the baby, who was covered in Aika's blood, as was he. After a brief examination, he discovered, with a gentle sense of pride, that the child was a tiny girl.
She cried, wailing from the sudden chill, so used to the all encompassing warmth of her mother's womb. Ramirez quickly tore away his cape from his shoulders, cleaned and wrapped up his daughter, and put her gently on the floor, away from the blood, and called upon the same sleep which held her brother.
The Emperor went and knelt beside her, his eyes drinking in the sickening scene. This was not supposed to happen, not now, not when everything was so good. For once in his evil life he had had something he would have died for, and now, she lay, lifeless at his feet.
Her pale face was littered with spots of blood, her lips slightly open, as were her eyes. Gently the Silvite skimmed his lips against hers, and passed his hands over her body, healing the gaping wound, giving her body some level of decency.
He glared with venom at the corpse of Vigoro, this man had taken her from him, Ramirez could kill him a hundred times. He passed his eyes back to his woman.
"Little One, you showed me more than I thought a person like me could ever see." He murmured, a terrible ache rising in his throat, causing him great discomfort and causing his voice to thicken. "You named our son after your child-hood friend, and so I name our daughter after mine…. Fina." He closed his emerald eyes.
There had to be something, something that would bring her back. If only he could awake from all this, as one does from a pleasant sleep, and see her standing, gazing out over Soltis, as was her custom in the morning.
Her spirit had always challenged his wit, her body had always tested his desires, her attitude had always flared a heated passion within him. How could he loose her, now?
Wild-Roze: I have always been criticized for the torment I put the characters of my fictions through, and this is no exception. But…. I feel there will be one, if not perhaps two more chapters… perhaps heh, it appears that the evilness happened in this chapter, rather than later on in the fic. Mwahhahahhaaahahaahah!!