WEEEEHEE! I FINALLY UPDATED! Keyword: FINALLY! Geez! About time! Hehe… no, this here, is zee final chapter, NEXT it's the sequel which will be called… huh… right… From the Heart which is also the main theme song. More info on the epilogue, which I will post as soon as possible! Meanwhile, go check my two new fics! Millennia Utopia, which is Black Dranzer's story AND The Master and The Apprentice! n-n Here's the Disclaimer now, goes for all of this fic. I own Melody, Deenix, Jessica, Minx, Greg and the rest of his band, Nastasha, Nicholai, Black Dranzer's human form, Victor and the story. Drago-Kai owns Romana and Nigel, Evanescence own their songs, Nirvana ditto and ditto two for Korn. Beyblade owns the rest. ALL HAIL AOKI TAKAO WHO MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE! Enjoy the fic now! ;)
Shattered Past
By Kitty-Kris
Chapter 19: Floating Away
Melody groaned as she opened her eyes and slowly sat up holding her throbbing forehead "Oh man… Where am I- THE KIDS!" she looked around frantically and froze at three dark lumps lying not too far from her. She quickly crawled up to the closest one and shook it gently "Nick? Nicky wake up… Come on…" she felt tears prickling at the back of her eyes.
"Mommy…?" he groaned
Melody sighed in relief and hugged him tightly as he started sobbing softly "It's ok… I'm here now… Now come on… wake your sister… I'll get Romey…" the small boy nodded and quickly went to his sister's side shaking her into conscience "Ow… Stop it!" she slapped his hands away and sat up looking around in fear "Where are we? Who was that man? Where- where's Daddy?" she whimpered softly and hugged herself "Mommy…"
"I'm here… it's ok…" Melody finally was able to wake her niece and quickly hushed her, hugging the small girl "Ssh… it's ok… You'll be alright… Come here you two…" she hugged the twins tightly and kissed their temples "I'm not really sure of where we are… but I do know that the man you saw will probably come by soon. He must know we're awake by now… and he- he's a bad man… but you must be brave… and stay close to me, alright? I promise I'll do my best in not letting him hurt you… ok?" she sobbed softly. She knew she'd probably have to die to protect her children. And she wasn't even sure if that would be enough. Boris didn't joke in service. She had watched him kill younger kids without wincing.
A door suddenly opened and a smirking Boris went in surrounded by a couple of guards "Slept well?"
Melody glared hatefully at him and held the terrified kids closer "You…"
He merely chuckled and signaled towards her to the guards "Yes… me indeed. And if I'm not mistaken… you and me have some pending issues… don't we now?" he grinned evilly as the guards approached her and took the children after kicking her away.
Melody struggled against them with all her might but they were too strong and in no time they held her struggling twins plus their cousin. She stood and started after them "NO! LET THEM GO YOU-" Boris silenced her with his fist and signaled for the guards to take the squirming kids away which they immediately did, closing the door behind them.
"Hmm… I never thought you'd have such a bunch… three at a time! Wow… it surprised me when I found you with a brat and dressing up another one… but then I got to the corridor after you called for- Nastasha, right? And ANOTHER brat came along! Oh my!" Boris ranted along while he walked around Melody's shuddering form. She wasn't listening to a word of what he was saying. She didn't care. Her babies had been taken away and she hadn't been able to help them. She felt her insides boiling with guilt and anger and she just wanted to kill that beast. "Are you listening to me?" she shut her eyes tightly and braced herself, knowing well what he had in store for her next.
(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)
"Oh how sweet… Did anyone ever tell you how much you look like your father?"
Kai gasped as he whipped his head up, turning it in the direction of the voice. What he saw made him blanch.
Voltaire was kneeling in front of his crying son… stroking his front bangs with a huge smirk. The girls had just been put in some kind of cages, and their eyes were now getting puffy from crying while they leaned against the bars, sobbing softly. "You'll grow to be a nice Beyblader… just like your father was supposed to b- OW!"
Kai watched as Nicky got tired of Voltaire's ranting and bit down hard on his hand, wincing when the man in front of him brought his hand up to slap him. "NICHOLAI! DON'T TOUCH HIM YOU MONSTER!" he pushed Voltaire away and grabbed his son keeping a weary eye on his Grandfather "You ok? Where's your mother?"
Nicky just buried his face in his shirt and cried "I wanna go home! He's mean Daddy make him go away!"
Kai hugged him tightly and tried hushing him as well as he could. Unfortunately, being nice wasn't one of his stronger points "Calm down… Quit the crying it's not helping! Now tell me where your mother is…"
"Oh, you want to see her? Very well…" Voltaire chuckled and flipped on a screen, showing Melody curled up in a ball while Boris walked around her with a predatory glint, a long object in his hand. Kai recognized the shape… and he prayed he wasn't planning on using it…
Voltaire grinned at his shocked face "You know it was very nice of you to keep using the bank account I gave you… it was easier to track you down… you and your brats. Oh, and Boris' whore too… let's not forget that…" he smirked.
Kai placed Nicky down and advanced on him menacingly, only to get stopped by two guards "YOU BASTARD! LET THEM GO THIS INSTANT! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO THIS!"
"I do whatever I want you spoiled brat! If this is happening it's your own fault. You should have never disobeyed me… I told you to forget about that slut, you didn't… you ran back to her the minute she appeared again… Now you'll suffer the consequences. So shut up and watch the show…"
Kai growled at him "LEAVE HER ALONE YOU- YOU- YOU!" he struggled with all his might against the two men holding him but it was no use "I swear to God if you hurt my wife I'll kick your ass so hard… I'LL DESTROY YOU!"
"Wife?" Voltaire clenched his fists "You- married her?" he narrowed his eyes at his grandson.
"Yes I did. I love her, I'd do it again if I could. As many times as possible. And I'm proud of it!" he spat. "So what are you gonna do about it? Kill her? What makes you think that'll change the way I feel? I STILL WON'T GO DOING ALL YOU WANT ME TO DO CAUSE IF YOU KILL HER…" he paused "If you kill her… I'm not staying around neither…" he sneered.
Voltaire merely laughed at him and turned to the screen pressing a button on the panel "Boris… proceed. Do as you feel like… I don't really care… she's yours." He smirked and turned back to Kai "So what you're saying is… after he's done with her you'll- kill yourself? Is that it?" he laughed "Poor fool… what about them, will you leave them to die at my hands too?" he pointed at the kids, now all of them kept inside cages.
Kai clenched his teeth and looked away cringing as he heard the kids sobbing and whining for him to help them. Great… now he had to- beg weakly… "Let them go… I- I'll stay… just let them go… please…"
Voltaire huffed at him "Too late I'm sorry… it's about time you learn something from your stupid mistakes… So you're gonna watch your whore get- special treatment from Boris… Or in other words, die. Now this is simple… look away from the screen or close your eyes for too long and I'm shooting one of the brats. Got it? Now watch the show!" He made him sit in front of the screen and yanked at his hair to get him looking at it.
Kai groaned in pain as he did so, trying his luck once more however "At least keep them from seeing this… they don't deserve it…"
"Why should I?"
"THEY'RE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN THAT'S WHY! NOW DO IT!" he spat at him, tears brimming his eyes "It's all I ask…"
He huffed and signaled for the guards to get the kids facing away from the event. "Very well… Actually it might be best… I don't need traumatized brats crying around me all the time…"
"Thank you…" Kai whispered, his head pending.
"Kai, look up at the screen please…" Voltaire's warning tone wasn't missed, and in no time, he was forcing himself to look up at the screen, where he could see Melody shaking uncontrollably, some red spots under her body, getting wider by the second to his horror. "No…" he felt something warm trailing down his cheek. There was no movement from his part to brush it away. He didn't care. He had promised himself he would protect Melody and he had failed… and unless he wanted to fail in protecting his children too he'd have to watch her die at the hands of the one she feared the most. He watched helplessly as Boris yelled something down at her and brought his whip up once again, trying his best not to look away.
(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)
Kai stared off into space in shock. What he had just seen would haunt him for the rest of his life. In his younger years, he had seen so many people get killed by the hands of that man… in so many heartless, ruthless ways. But none of those deaths had ever had any kind of effect in him. None of them had seemed so- brutal, so- undignifying…
"So, enjoyed the show?" a dark voice snickered from behind him.
He just looked back up at the screen where he could now see an empty room, her mangled body lying still in the middle of it, covered in blood and what little clothing had been spared from Boris' whip and lust. Yes, the monster hadn't resisted the temptation to make the tiny woman his again.
In deed, for over three times Boris had stopped using his whip to kneel down next to Melody and force himself on her. On the first two times she had fought him fiercely, as fiercely as one fights when what you loath the most is trying to rape you, but eventually her reactions were mere shadows of what they used to be, mere tears and whispered pleads for the cruel man to cease his ravishing upon her sore body and soul.
"Why did you do that?" Kai took his eyes off the screen, his tears blurring his vision "WHY?" he looked up at his grandfather with a hateful glare "She never did anything to you! She didn't deserve anything like that!" he shook his head violently, clutching his hair and sliding down from his chair into the floor, where he just lay, groaning at the pain he felt in his chest, screaming in pain as his heart shattered into a million shards, all of them stabbing him painfully. "Melody… I'm sorry… I'm sorry- Twiggy… I love you…" he whispered softly, gasping as he received a powerful smack on the side of his face "That's enough! Now pull yourself together you're being pathetic! She'd dead now, take it like a man and stop that ridiculous weeping!" his Grandfather spat at him "Now GET UP!"
Yes, her soul was hurting as well. She knew Kai was watching everything… he had told her as he took her for the second time, which made her break down completely, finally giving in, the pain and humiliation being too much for her to bear. She had been so ashamed, she felt so lost… all she wanted was for him to stop toying around with her and finish her once and for all. She would never be able to face Kai again. Ever.
Kai clenched his teeth, breathing hard as he stood and charged at him, his fist connecting with his jaw "SHUT UP! YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING- MURDERER! I LOVED HER! WHY COULDN'T YOU RESPECT THAT! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING FROM ME!"
She had failed to take him away from his Grandfather just as she had failed to protect her children. Death was now her only option, her only hope, her only crave. Too bad she'd never be able to see him again… She'd miss his soft kisses, the sound of his voice, how it became so soft when they were alone, the feeling of his skin on hers when he made love to her… him… "Kai…" She longed for him, but now especially for her demise, oblivious to the fact that she was now alone in the dark room. The man who had been using her for his own fun had left her to a long agonizing death at an order from the speaker. An order she wasn't able to hear as everything around her faded to black. She sighed in relief as the last spark of consciousness shone deep within her "I love you…" And then it was all gone.
Kai felt tears flow down his cheeks once again "Melody…" he whispered.
"CALM DOWN YOU SPOILED BRAT!" Voltaire growled low in his throat and punched him as well, making him stammer back to a wall, to which he was glued to by two guards in no time "You- you-" he jerked his head down in defeat and exhaustion. Melody was dead, fighting him would do him no good. On the contrary, it'd probably drive Voltaire to kill him and his kids. He had to do something about it…
"Good… now… sit him down again…" he turned back to the cages, smirking widely "Why hello there!"
The three kids wormed as far away from him as they could, all three of them sobbing uncontrollably. Even though they hadn't really seen anything, they weren't dumb, and they had been able to hear everything. They knew their mother (or aunt in Romana's case) was not alright, possibly dead. "Why did you hurt our Mommy?" Nasty was the first to speak, facing him with bright defiant eyes "She was nice… she was a good mother and wife! She never did anything wrong… why did you hurt her?" she whimpered.
Voltaire laughed "Oh she deserved that, trust me…" he turned around as Boris went in, wiping his hands casually and sending Kai a grin as he approached Voltaire "I'm done… And I tell you… it was fun… guess it is true… the older they get, the better it is…" he chuckled at Kai's revolted glare "Though I wouldn't give her much more time left… An hour or two the most… What a shame…"
Kai's eyes widened "She was still alive?" he breathed in deeply as hope flooded back into his veins, a plan forming in his head. There was still a chance. He just had to make sure it all went well… And he had to be fast.
Boris called for his attention "Whoa… Are they all really yours? I mean… I don't think she would survive a triplet's labor… she's way too tiny…" he looked at the kids one by one, then looking over at him, waiting for an answer.
Kai growled low in his throat and looked away "Drop dead! In Hell preferably…"
Boris gritted his teeth and swiftly picked Nasty from her cage, holding the squirming girl against his chest, his hand keeping a tight grip on her tender neck. "You better start being a bit more civilized Hiwatari, or I assure you this little Barbie wannabe here will have her pretty little neck twisted in quite an odd angle…" he narrowed his eyes at him as he stood up from his chair, advancing on him menacingly "LET HER GO!"
"Then set a good example on your kids, be civilized, and answer my question!" he tightened his grip on Nasty, who kicked and screamed in panic "AND YOU SHUT UP!" he slapped her harshly, sending the small girl flying at her father who caught her carefully and looked at her to check if she was alright "Nasty?"
She just sobbed in reply, clutching the material of his shirt "Daddy I'm scared… make them go away… I wanna go home… I wanna see mommy! Get her back!" he collapsed to his knees and sighed, hugging her softly "Ssh… calm down… We- we'll be fine…" he kissed the top of her head and looked up to face Boris again "The purple haired girl, Romana, she- she's just my niece. But the other two are mine. There, happy? Now let them go!"
Boris seemed surprised, but in no time he was letting the other two kids out of the cages, watching as both of them ran to Kai, seeking comfort. His eyes locked on Romey "Your niece huh? So Robert's been busy I see…" he chuckled "How- nice…" he picked the small girl up "Aww… you look just like your aunt when she was your age… Except for your eye color… Yes…" he smirked as the small girl tried to push him away and looked down at the other girl, glaring up at him with those same defiant eyes "Hum… How about you there?" he placed Romana down and knelt next to Nasty, who stood still, never breaking eye contact. "What's your name?"
"Nastasha. And I suppose you're be the stupid Maggot servant no?" she narrowed her eyes.
Boris gaped at her "Wha-? Why you little pest!"
She stuck her tongue out at him "You are! And a lap dog too! You do all the ugly Squid King over there tells you I bet…" she grinned evilly and cleared her throat, performing a pretty good Igor impression "Yes Master, you say, me do all for youse."
"Why you little-!" The man brought his hand back to slap her to which the little girl just ducked under it, kicking him where it hurts.
Boris gasped and fell to the floor, clutching his herm "family assets" and glaring at the small girl "WHY YOU-!"
Nasty squeaked and hopped away from him, looking around her to evaluate her surroundings "Guys! Push all the buttons! We have to get out of here!"
The other two quickly nodded and jumped to the control panels stepping and pressing any switches in sight and dodging the guards and Voltaire at the same time. "GET THOSE KID-! OWW!" Voltaire clutched his shin, glaring daggers at Nicky, who stuck his tongue out at him and ran to his sister, helping her up on another control panel.
Kai in the meantime hadn't wasted his time. Like a snake he had approached one of the guards from behind and clutched the juncture of his neck, twisting his nerve and making him pass out. He quickly took his gun and used it to make the other guard pass out as well, turning back to his kids afterwards. He was shocked to say the least. Nasty was crawling along one of the control panels pushing all the buttons she could and breaking a few of them in the meantime while Nicky did the same on the other side of the room and Romey kept Voltaire distracted by continuously kicking his legs and crawling under him to do the same on the other side. As for Boris, he was still kneeling down weakly, so he took his chance and grabbed Nasty, pointing his gun at Voltaire and screaming "THAT'S ENOUGH NOW FREEZE! YOU KIDS GET BEHIND ME! NOW!"
Nicky obediently jumped down from the control panel, casually kicking it one last time and clutched Romey's hand, running to his father quickly. Voltaire watched everything with a smirk "Don't be ridiculous… You're not getting out of this place like that…" he laughed "Never…" his laugh was abruptly interrupted as the door exploded, two shadows going in through all the smoke "OK OK! Y'ALL FREEZE AND GET DOWN!"
Kai gaped at them "T- Tala! ROBERT! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE!"
Tala sent him an unamused look "Saving your worthless ass yet again. Duh."
Robert ran to Kai scooping Romey up and hugging her tightly while Tala approached Voltaire menacingly and knocked him out before he could say anything "Ok, now where's Melody!"
"In- in some room… I- I don't know…" Kai tightened his grip on Nasty and pointed at the screen behind him "Recognize it?"
Tala's eyes widened "Oh my God… COME ON!" he quickly ran out of the room, being closely followed by Robert, Kai and Nicky. "Do you know where she is?" Robert caught up with Tala who nodded "Yeah, that has to be Boris' favorite room… he always took her there when he punished her."
"How far is it?" Kai shifted Nasty a bit to secure her.
"We're almost there…"
"Where the Hell are all the guards!"
"We already took care of that. Here we are…" he stopped abruptly and tried opening the door "FUCK!" he pounded his fists on it in frustration "It's fucking locked!" he clutched his hair "Do we still got any c4?"
Robert put Romey down and checked his bag "Enough to blow it…"
"Good…" he took the explosives and placed them on the door with expertise, grabbing Nicky and signaling for the other men to follow him "Get them and take cover."
"What about Melody?"
"She'll be fine…" he checked his watch "And there she blows…" a loud explosion was then heard, causing them all to flinch. In no time Kai had placed Nasty down and was running into the room as fast as he could. Robert was about to follow him when Tala's hand stopped him "Don't. You- you saw the state she was in… just- let him be…" he mumbled.
"What?" Robert felt tears forming "No! She- we'll help her… she-" he shook his head in denial.
"She's as good as dead if not already dead. I'm sorry Robert. But- I don't think we can help her." He quickly grabbed the twins who were about to run after his father "Don't, your father- needs to do this alone."
They cried and kicked trying to get to the room, but Tala wouldn't release them, merely jerking his head as tears rolled down his cheeks. They had been too slow. And they were paying for it.
(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)
Kai walked slowly, almost mechanically to where his wife lay still, collapsing by her side and running his hand down her pale cheek, now covered in bruises and blood "M- Mel? Hey… I- I'm here…" he bit back a sob and let his head jerk as he got no reaction. "Please don't… don't do this to me… I need you… Mel?" he nudged her lightly, his eyes lighting up with hope as she stirred a bit and opened her eyes to him, her lips twitching in a small smile as her eyes focused and she saw his face "K- Kai…"
"Ssh… save your strength… we gotta get you out of here…" he motioned to pick her up but she pushed him away weakly "No… the kids… where are they?"
"They're fine, they're right outside, now come on…"
"No… get out of here… take them out of here… I'm- way beyond saving…" she gasped, breathing weakly, her eyes closing slowly.
"NO! Stay awake! I'm not leaving you behind! You hear me?" he pulled her into a hug, being careful not to harm her further "I can't- I can't live without you… I need you…"
Melody closed her eyes softly "Kai… you have to… I'm sorry… but I'm tired…"
"No…"
"Kai, my mother's been waiting for you to arrive. She's been with me all along, keeping me alive just so I could see you one more time… I shouldn't be alive… I just- I just wanted to ask you one last favor…"
He tightened his embrace on her "Don't talk like that… you- you're not gonna die… you'll be fine…"
"Kai please… I don't have much time…" her voice got weaker by the second, as her breathing became more and more uncertain.
"No…" he sobbed into her hair, clutching it tightly in a useless effort not to let her escape "Don't leave me…"
She sighed "Just- take care of them for me Nicky and Nasty… and tell Robert I'm sorry I wasn't around for too long… tell him I love him…"
"Melody no… please…"
She pushed back and looked him in the eyes, stroking his cheek and smiling a bit "I'll miss you… but I'll try to stay with you all the time… I don't really know what'll happen to me now…" she chuckled weakly "But if possible… I'll watch over you…" she looked behind his shoulder and nodded slowly, looking back at him "I'm sorry…"
"No…"
"I love you Kai…" her eyes closed slowly, her arms limping their embrace around his neck.
"NO!" he pulled her closer "No Mel please don't! No…"
"Please… let me go… I don't want to stay… I'm tired… I have to go… they're calling me…" she cried softly "Kai please…"
"No…" he kissed her tenderly "I- I love you… I always will…"
She smiled at him "Promise me you and the kids will be fine… Promise me you'll try to be happy… please…" she all but whispered.
"I- I can't be happy without you…"
"Promise me…"
He bit back a sob and kissed her again desperately "I promise… I'll take care of them… I promise I'll do my best… I love you…"
"Good… I love you too… Blue Boy…" Melody sighed blissfully and finally closed her eyes, her smile never fading away as Kai pulled her back into his arms, running his hand down her hair, his eyes filled with tears "I'll never forget you Mel… I- I promise… I-" he sobbed loudly and tightened his embrace on her limp body, nuzzling his face in her hair and weeping as he once again felt the sharp pain deep in his chest. Yes, for the first time in his life, Kai Hiwatari was actually crying. "Melody…" his eyes suddenly snapped open as he heard his kids run in in search of their mother. Without even thinking twice, he placed Melody down and swiftly turned around, sweeping both twins in his arms before they could see anything and ran out of the room, ignoring their cries and complaints. 'I'll keep them safe… I swear…'
He met up with a crying Tala and Robert, who held his daughter tightly, the small girl wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and crying softly into his shirt. "Come on…" Kai's voice was a bit croaky, but firm "She- she's gone… we have to get out of here…"
The two men rose their eyes to him "NOW! Come on!" he ran down the corridor still carrying his twins, being quickly followed by the other two "We've been setting explosives all around the Abbey before going to you. I just told Ian to start them in about ten minutes so we have enough time." Tala said.
Kai nodded, suddenly stopping his running "Tala, from here, how do we get out?"
The red head blinked at him "Huh, we just go straight ahead really… we're almost out… why?"
"There's something I still have to do…" he turned away and ran back where he had just come from, ignoring the other two men "JUST GO ON! I'LL BE RIGHT OUT!" he yelled back and increased his speed, reaching the room where Melody's corpse was in no time. He placed the twins down by the door "Listen, I'll only be a few minutes, don't go anywhere, ok?" the twins merely stared off into space, their eyes wide and puffy from crying. Kai looked away from them and went in, approaching her slowly and kneeling down beside her, reaching around her neck and taking a locket from her. "I knew you'd have it with you…" he opened the locket and smiled at the two pictures inside. He remembered that day so well… it had been just before the match that would eventually take her from him for the first time.
Her Moon-Shaped locket. She felt it would bring her luck somehow, so she put it on and opened it, staring intently at the picture inside. There she was, hugging her brother when they were younger. And there also was an empty space right next to it, on the other side of the moon piece. She smirked as an idea formed on her head.
Kai stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed to find Melody fiddling absently with her open locket, her laptop sitting right next to her, connected to a printer. He silently crept behind her and looked down at the locket curiously. On one of the open faces, was a picture of Robert and her when they were just kids, and on the other face, she was carefully adding another picture, this one of him and her together. She smiled at the camera, her usual strange, somewhat sad smile, while he stood behind her, his arms possessively wrapped around her slim figure, sort of smiling at the camera as well. He remembered Minx taking it a few days before they had left Robert's castle. It had been World War 3 to get both of them to actually pose for a picture, but it had turned out nicely and he was going to ask the green eyed hurricane-girl for a copy. "That's a nice shot you got there…" he whispered.
"In deed, you're smiling for once…" Melody chuckled and nodded absently, her eyes a bit glossy "I- since I had Robert's pic with me on one side… I thought I'd add one of the two of us together on the other one… the two most important people I have… with me…" she made a face "Ugh, that sounded gay and mushy!"
"In deed, it did…" He kissed her cheek lovingly
"Why did this have to happen to us… Everything was so- perfect… Why? Why did you leave me…" he stroked her cheek lightly and kissed her lips lovingly one last time before standing up and leaving the room, keeping the locket in his pocket and turning to the twins, both of them quiet and still staring off into space. "Nicholai? Nastasha?" he nudged them lightly, getting no reaction whatsoever. "Hey, come on… we need to get out of here…" he picked Nasty up and clutched Nicky's hand tightly, urging for him to run, since the explosives were about to go off. 'Oh man… I hope I can get out on time…' he checked his watch and blanched stopping suddenly just before taking a turn. Just then, a loud explosion was heard and a huge cloud of smoke and rubble flew across the corridor in front of them. Kai quickly turned back and pushed Nicky to the floor, using his own body to protect him and Nasty from any stray rocks or glass.
"Daddy!" the small boy clutched his shirt tightly and shut his eyes in fear, flinching as his father gasped and almost crushed him down.
"It's ok… it's over now…" he breathed, standing up and clutching his arm.
"You're hurt!" Nasty touched his arm carefully and started to cry again "I'm sorry…"
Kai sighed and pulled them both into a hug, looking back to where they were headed "We'll have to take another route. This is blocked…" He stood, bringing Nasty along with him since she still couldn't walk too well and started walking around, trying to remember how to get out of that place. As he arrived at another corridor, this one with windows along the right stone wall, he had an idea. He quickly opened one of the windows and peeked out. It was too high for him to jump off but at least he could see where he had to go. All the guards were running along the other corridors, all of them leading to the same place. Considering the explosions… it was probably the emergency exit or something. It was worth a try. "Come on…" he nodded to Nicky and started running through the Abbey's corridors, coming across a few guards on his way who really didn't pay him much attention, since now and then something still exploded. The machinery he presumed, it really didn't matter. "Daddy… I'm tired…" he turned back to his son, who was quite behind him by then, leaning against the stone wall to rest a bit "Nicholai come on, no time to rest… we have to go now…"
"But I'm tired!" he whined, sitting down.
He sighed and started walking towards him only to get kicked by someone who apparently was coming through the corridor that went across his. "Thought you'd get away that easily, didn't you?" he looked up, feeling a bit dizzy and found himself staring up at a gun, pointed directly at him. "Well guess what? You won't get away that easily…" he looked up at the man and felt his blood boil with anger "Boris…"
He laughed and stepped back, bending down only enough to grab Nicky around his waist before he could run away "Now give me the girl…" he glared at the slate haired man, ignoring the squirming boy in his arm's screams. "NOW!"
Kai shook his head, pulling the terrified Nasty closer "No way…"
Boris pointed the gun at the boy in his arms "Now…"
"LET HIM GO!"
"GIVE ME THE GIRL!" he advanced on him menacingly, suddenly being thrown back when another explosion occurred pretty close to him.
"Nick!" Kai was about to run to his son when he heard something snapping above him. He only had the time to jump back as a huge burning log, one of the supporters on the ceiling, crashed right in front of him, separating him from his son and Boris "NICK! NICHOLAI! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" he stood hurriedly and tried to see something through the large cloud of smoke, only managing to see a couple of shadows behind it, the bigger one approaching the other tiny one menacingly "NO! STOP! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
"Da- DADDY! NO! GET AWAY! DADDY HELP! DADDY! DA-!"
Kai felt his World crumble as a gun shot was heard, followed by silence. "No…" it was so quiet… not a sound… only the footsteps of someone walking away. But it sounded like a canon was being fired right next to him. It felt suffocating it felt- empty. "Nicky…" he shook his head quickly and stood up, grabbing his daughter and sprinting out of there with all his might. How he actually ended out of the Abbey he'd never know. But he eventually was able to feel the cold snow under his now soaked feet. He didn't care. He didn't know what hurt more. If the huge gash in his arm caused by a stray piece of glass if his daughter's silence. She hadn't spoken a word, she hadn't made a move yet. As for the pain for the death of his son and wife? It felt numb. He couldn't hurt anymore. He felt his heart cold and hard. Just like he had always felt it before Melody had come into his life. He only cared for the small creature in his arms now. Nothing else. No one else. Just Nastasha.
"KAI!"
He looked up slowly, finding himself standing in front of a black van, Tala and Robert inside, staring at him in shock "Kai, what happened to you? Where- where's Nick?"
He said nothing, merely tightening his embrace around his little girl and stepping into the van, taking a sit next to a fainted Romana. Nasty sighed and nuzzled further into Kai's chest, clutching her father's shirt tightly, her eyes hovering over her cousin before slowly closing.
(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)
Kai sighed as he placed the last book in the shelf, stepping back a bit and looking around himself for a while before picking up the cardboard box and walking out of the office. It had been over ten months since her dea- since the incident, and things had started to change a bit. He had found himself a nice house, as well as Robert, who lived right across the street actually, and he had finally finished his course, starting his job as a lawyer the next day. The only problem was Nastasha. She hadn't spoken a word since the incident, and it was World War 3 to get her to actually eat decently. Thankfully, Minx was always there for that part since his patience wasn't much and he always had too much to do and too little time. But he did his best and tried to spend as much time with his daughter as possible. Though it was almost as if he didn't. She wouldn't talk to him, she wouldn't even acknowledge his presence. Lately she had developed the creepy habit of staring off at empty spaces, sometimes moving her head as if she was following some kind of movement. He presumed she had the same ability as her mother, only she didn't seem too pleased with it since she still hadn't slept on her own once for almost a year now. If the fact that she'd come to his room and crawl under his covers every night meant anything, her face so wise, royal in a way and serious it scared him.
He sighed and went into the living room, freezing at the door. Nastasha sat right in the middle of the room, rocking back and forth and crying softly. "Nastasha?" She was actually crying, she was actually reacting. Kai didn't know if he should be glad or not… but he couldn't help but to feel a bit relieved. It was the first time she actually cried or reacted since the incident. It was good, right? "Nasty what's wrong?" he sat next to her, pulling her onto his lap and hugging her tightly, trying his best to calm her down "It's ok… we'll be ok…"
Nasty suddenly squealed and pushed him away roughly, sobbing desperately as she ran out of the house ignoring her father's cries for her to come back.
She ran as fast and for as long as she could, only stopping when she couldn't go on anymore, finding herself in some kind of park. She was lost now… great… That made her cry harder as she dragged herself to one of the swings, taking her sit and letting her tears flow freely as wind swung her lightly. 'Why am I sad? Why does it hurt? What happened? Why won't daddy talk about it, why won't he tell me what's wrong? Why is he pretending to be happy? Who are all those people I see? Why am I alone? Why…' she sobbed and tightened her grip on the ropes, trying to make all those overwhelming questions go away. She didn't want to be sad. But she was. And she didn't even know why. "Hey, are you ok?" she whipped her head up, blinking at the strange orange surroundings. The sun was setting? For how long had she been there? "Hello?" a hand passed in front of her eyes making her look to her side to see who it was. "Why are you crying?" it was a small boy, around her age. He had very dark blue spiky hair, covered partially by a black and yellow cap, shading over his deep brown eyes "Can't you talk or something?"
She looked away from him, pouting and rubbing her flustered face furiously "Go away…" she croaked.
"Hey, I'm just trying to be nice! You're new here, right?"
She nodded slowly "I'm Nasty."
"You are? Why do you say that?" he blinked.
Nasty frowned at him "My name is Nasty."
"Oh, sorry…" the boy blushed, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment "Huh, I'm Damien." He beamed at her, making the corners of her mouth rise a little. "There, see? Now can you tell me what's wrong?"
She shook her head and sighed, looking up at the darkening sky thoughtfully. "Well, we better get you home anyways… your parents must be worried by now… Where do you live?"
"I don't know. I'm lost." She blushed.
Damien smiled warmly at her "No prob. I can get you home. How does your house look like?"
"Huh… it's blue… and- well, big…"
He quirked an eyebrow "Blue? Hum… is there a reddish house across it?"
Nasty nodded "Yes my- cousin lives there."
"Oh, you live at the new Hiwatari house!" he chuckled "You know, your dad's a bit scary… but I never got to see your mom…"
She felt tears rise to her eyes again. 'But why? Why does it hurt?' "I- I don't know…"
"Don't know what?"
"My mom… she- doesn't live with us… I- never met her… I can't remember her."
He bit his lower lip "Sorry… well, er, come on… I'll take you home…" he offered her his hand, which she took reluctantly and started walking towards a group of houses nearby "Do you got any brothers or sisters besides your cousin?" he asked curiously.
"No. There's just me and Daddy."
"Oh… How about your cousin?"
"She's like me, and only child. I see her everyday. I'm sure you'll like her. Everyone does anyways. Unlike me…" She sniffed.
"And why wouldn't they like you too? You're nice…"
"No, I'm not. Why do you think my nickname's Nasty? I am nasty. Only lately I've been depressed. But people still don't like me."
"Deperss- what?"
"Sad."
"Oh." He paused for a while "What's your real name?"
"Nastasha Luna Hiwatari."
Damien stopped, took off his hat and bowed dramatically, taking her hand and kissing it "Damien Sirius Raven, at your service…" he put back his cap and grinned as she smiled lightly and blushed "Heh! See? You look prettier when you smile!"
"Don't be silly…" she flushed and jerked her head, her slate bangs hiding her eyes.
He chuckled and clutched her hand, dragging her as he ran across the houses, stopping at a blue one, a man sitting out at it's steps, clutching his head. "Daddy?"
He whipped his head in their direction, his eyes incredibly wide "Nasty?" he whispered.
"I- I'm sorry I ran off like that…" she blushed.
Kai gaped at her, and in a second he was kneeling by her side "You- you talked… You- are you alright?"
She nodded shyly, letting go of Damien's hand to lean into her father's chest, sighing blissfully when he hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head "It's ok… I'm sorry… I-" he then noticed the small boy, who smiled at the whole scene "Hi!"
"Huh… hey… huh… thanks for- bringing her- back…" he rose an eyebrow at him "Do I- know you?"
Damien shrugged "Probably. I live nearby." he grinned "Well, I gotta go back home now… Bye Nasty! Bye Mr. H!" he smiled at the little girl and ran off, Kai's eyes following him till he disappeared further down the street. He then looked back at his daughter "So, got yourself a friend huh?"
She nodded tiredly and closed her eyes softly "I'm tired Daddy… Can you read me a story before I sleep?"
Kai smiled warmly at her and stood, bringing her up with him carefully "Of course. Let's go then…" he kissed her lightly and went inside, feeling happier than he had been feeling for some time. 'Things will work out now. I'm sure they will. I hope so…' he hugged his daughter tightly, unaware of a pair of deep red eyes watching them from a distance. "Trust me Master Kai, they will. Everything is going as foretold. The Elders Coven will be dismantled at last and I'll have her back. It's only a matter of time." Then there was a flash of black feathers and the mysterious eyes were gone.
R&R PLEASE! n-n
