Chapter 13

The next morning, Van awoke to an empty spot beside him. Light was filtering through the windows into the room, a dull grey colour from the dark clouds looming over the city and harbour. He could smell the salt air and garden, which meant the window was open. He felt the chill air brush over his bare body as proof to that. He sat up, propping himself up on his elbows to look around the room.

Hitomi was sitting in an armchair near the hearth, a feather in her hand which she was currently brushing across her cheek. She wasn't watching him, rather staring distractedly into the empty fire place, her legs tucked securely under her, her robe pulled close to her body as if she was cold. When he moved to sit up completely, she turned to him, a sad expression on her face.

He feared the worst. "Hitomi... she isn't..." He trailed off unsure, but she was shaking her head.

"No..." She turned away again, her gaze turning towards the window. "I'm going to meet with Griffin soon."

He nodded, and pulled the covers closer around him. The day really was colder than usual, and he felt particularly light-headed. He felt himself become aroused, yet confused at the same time over the events of the night before.

As if reading his thoughts, Hitomi rose from her chair and moved over to the bed, the feather still in her hand. She sat down next to him, folding the blanket down in front of her.

"Last night..." He stopped, unsure. But she was watching him now with a strange sort of attention he hadn't seen from her before. Her eyes calculating.

"Did you enjoy it?" Her mouth barely moved as she spoke, and he found himself staring at her lips, they seemed fuller than usual, more perfect. He swallowed and forced himself to meet her eyes again.

"Yes..." He wasn't sure how his voice sounded to her, but it came out slightly pathetic in his head. "How did you know about-"

"Your wings?" He blinked, well a very small smile came to her mouth. "I don't know..." She leaned forward, the neckline of her robe falling forward, her chest revealed under the silky fabric. "I just knew..." Her voice was a seductive whisper and he found himself lost in her eyes again.

"You..." He wasn't quite sure what he was going to say.

She smiled again, a smile just there in the corners of her mouth. In her eyes. "I need to go to that tomb today." She cocked her head slightly to the side as she spoke. Van found he could only nod again. "I have a need... if you understand." She traced the hand holding the feather down his bare chest, watching her own hand as she did so. Van's gaze didn't leave her face. She was acting so different... "It's calling to me." She finished in a whisper, her hand coming to rest on his neck, than his cheek, his own feather tickling his earlobe.

He suddenly realized that she hadn't slept all night, remembering vaguely when he awoke in the middle of the night to pull in his ruffled wings. She had been awake then, watching him. And when he turned to kiss her, half asleep, she had left him completely breathless, than hushed him back to sleep. The sleep he welcomed willingly. He also remembered the fear he felt... that she would go somewhere when he fell asleep. Go somewhere and never come back to him. But then in his dreams... he had been comforted by her... and when he was awake she was pleasuring him.

He blinked, and looked at the pendent dangling from her neck. It was glowing just faintly, it's colour showing on her now tanned skin. He reached out and touched it, letting it fall into his palm. But he dropped it always instantly, watching as it swung back and tapped her breastbone lightly. The stone had been scorching hot.

"Leave everything to me, Van." He looked away from the stone. She spoke his name in such a way he felt a shiver go down his spine, and the arousal only grew. She moved away from him though, slowly sliding off the bed to her feet, padding over to her bathroom. Shortly after he heard the noise of running water bouncing off stone in the large bathtub.

oooooooooooooooooo

Griffin was waiting in the garden close to the tomb, pacing back and forth, his tail twitching with his irritation and anxiety. Merle watched him carefully from her spot on the ground, half hidden among the flowering bushes. She rested her head on her knees which were pulled close, but she did not speak. Griffin was in a deep state of unrest... and she was worried she would only make things worse.

"You need to calm down, your making me nervous." Josceline told the cat boy, watching Griffin from a spot behind Merle. Leaning rigid against a tree, arms cross at his chest tightly.

Griffin laughed, sounding lost as he turned to meet Josceline gaze. He did not stop his pacing. "You? Nervous?"

Josceline's eyes seemed to spark dangerously, but he did not retort. He turned his attention, instead, to the stone tablet laying in the grass. He felt the hair on his arms stand to attention, and a tickling sensation rippled up his back. He looked away when he heard the soft click of sandals and boots against stone.

Hitomi was walking towards them, dressed in pants from the Mystic Moon and wearing a light, blue sweater to ward away the chill of the day. Van was at her side, walking slightly behind her, watching her with a strange look on his face, his face contorted with a certain amount of worry and general curiosity.

Griffin stopped his pacing immediately and bowed. But she would have none of that. Placing a small hand on his shoulder, she stirred him upright again, than pulled him into a tight hug which the cat boy returned.

Josceline felt a sudden need to be in her arms as well, but he shook the thought away. Instead, he walked towards the group, placing his hands on his daggers. "You took your time."

She didn't answer, only passed him a look, inclining her head ever so slightly in his direction. Van stirred at her side, but did not speak.

"Will you do it?" Griffin had placed both of his hands on her shoulders, holding her out so he had a good view of her face.

She stood still for a moment, than nodded, a small smile coming to her face.

As this happened, Van felt a sudden flow of relief surge through him. She was still the same Hitomi... even if there was suddenly some unexpected and unexplainable changes.

"I'll do it... if I can save Grandmama." She moved past Griffin, and over to the tablet now, standing above it she read the words carved into the front.

"From our glorious saviour to the people. Let the heavens outshine all darkness and bring peace to us all. Peace to the land and the sea." She bent down and traced the carvings with her finger tips, ignoring the grinding of grim and dirt against her sensitive skin. "There is some here that doesn't make any sense..."

They all watched in fascination as the stone around her neck began to glow that eerie red again, and a strange language began to flow from her lips. Soon the glowing up the stone was so bright that they all had to shield their eyes from it. Merle hissed slightly and went to Griffin's side well Josceline drew his daggers.

However, when the light faded, an open pit lay in front of Hitomi, the tablet having crumbled, laying in chunks around her feet and in the grass.

Josceline was the first to move forward, skirting along the large hole, peering into it carefully. His daggers were back in their hilts, but still half drawn so he could attack fast if needed.

Hitomi stayed perfectly still, staring down into the darkness before her. A set of untouched marble stairs led down into the darkness, gleaming white against the morning light.

"A king's tomb." Van walked forward now, lightly touching Hitomi's arm so that she stirred and looked back at him.

"What?"

Josceline was the one that answered, coming to stand next to her. "A tomb made specifically for kings... they don't use them anymore."

Hitomi started forward, but Van grabbed her arm, holding her back. "Hitomi, you can't just walk in there."

She turned towards him again, than gently pulled her arm away from him. "I need to. And I'm going to do it now." She moved forward again, but this time, when he moved to grab her arm, Josceline's hand was wrapped around her wrist.

"Let her be, Your Majesty." He told her, his gaze not leaving his face. His features showing his determination.

"You have to go with her at least." He told the guard, outrage inching into his voice. "She can't go alone."

He let go of the king's wrist and backed away. "I can't enter."

"Why not?" Van asked, annoyance obvious, but he didn't wait for an answer. "I'm going then." He started forward after Hitomi who had already reached the first white step.

"Van, you can't enter either." Griffin spoke up. He was watching Hitomi with fascination. "No male can enter."

"I'll go then." Merle told him then moved forward next to Van. "I can come up, if anything, to tell you if something happened."

"No, Merle." Both Van and Hitomi said it at the same time, causing the pair to look at each other. Though both said it for different reasons.

"Why not!" Merle looked clearly angry, and her tail puffed out as it did when they were younger.

"Because I have to do this alone." It was Hitomi who answered, not letting Van speak even though he had just opened his mouth to do so. "You can't come."

"You can't do it alone." Van's voice was quiet, as if keeping his rage level down. "I won't let you."

She turned back to him then, watching him for a moment before moving forward. Her eyes trained on his face. The same eyes from the night before. "I will come back, I promise." She told him, stepping so close to him he could feel her breath on his cheek. But she turned away suddenly and bolted down into the darkness. Van moved to go after him, but found he was unable to make it past the first step of the tomb. He was breathing hard and clenching and unclenching his hands at his side. They all watched as the passage way below them was slowly lit as she moved further down.

"Merle, go get everyone." Van told her, not taking his eyes of the tomb before them.

ooooooooooooooooo

As Hitomi made her way carefully down the untouched marble staircase, dust rising at every step she took, her hands brushing against the wet, grimy stone of the walls, a growing sense of completeness rushed over her. Her heart was pounding loud in her ears, and her eyes were watering from the torches along the walls lighting as she went.

When the reached the bottom of the long staircase, she looked back up the passageway, but the low ceiling blocked her view from the opening above. She could hear their voices travelling down to her, Van's worried tone mixed with Josceline's calm voice trying to soothe him.

She turned and continued down the passageway, now completely lit, before her. After the long stretch, she reached a large chamber lit all around with inlaid torches, lighting the large frescos painted around the room. She stood in the entrance way, stunned for a moment, before walking into the centre of the room. In addition to the frescos of Atlantis and Draconians, large Mosaics were spread across the floor. Bits of tiny tile placed so close together it looked like a picture. As she walked across it, her sandals slapping against the floor, she starred in wonder at the image. It was of a women. A women who looked shockingly like herself.

Behind the women with long brown hair, green eyes and fair skin, the ocean rose behind her in a swirl of blue and green tiles. A large city was nearby, and Hitomi realized it was La Vallex. She found herself completely entranced by the image and found herself staring into the eyes of her mirror image. The air was still in the room, but it felt as if a breeze was rushing over her. But she forced herself to tear away from the image and move on.

There were two passageway leading out of the room. One was unlit, so Hitomi moved to the other one, carefully entering. There were frescos here too, and the passageways roof was arched and painted with strange writing she did not understand. She kept going, despite the growing nervousness she was feeling. Her grandmother had said this place was dangerous, but so far, nothing had happened.

The arched hall ended and came into an even larger room than the last one. A casket sat in the centre of the room, made of the same untouched white marble that the steps were made of. Beyond this was an alter.

Hitomi moved into the room, not sure if she would be cursed by stepping onto the very floor she was no standing on. But nothing happened. Her feeling of nervousness disappeared however. She walked towards the large alter, compelled, and moving as if something else was controlling her.

She gasped in shock to find a staff sitting in velvet on top of a gold platform at the end of the room. She wouldn't have touched it, picked it up... if something wasn't forcing her to. Her hand wrapped around the cold gold of the staff, as she lifted the strangely light weapon from it's post. Bells and rings clanked against each other, their light melodic noise filling the deadly silent room. She backed away from the alter, holding the staff close to her.

That was when she felt the changes take hold of her.

ooooooooooooooo

Van had been pacing back and forth in front of the entrance way. It had been hours since Hitomi had gone down below, and he hadn't heard or seen anything during that period. His anxiety was building and he found he couldn't sit still with the others. Josceline was obviously feeling the same way. He kept getting up from his spot beside Hitomi's mother, pacing along the wall of the castle as if looking for signs of security breaks, glancing back at the tomb ever so often.

Hitomi's mother was in a state of anxiety herself. Worrying over the lose of her newly met mother-in-law and now the actions of her daughter. She was sitting patiently enough, her hands folded over her dress, perched on her knees ready to spring up if she needed. Her mouth was set into a deep frown and she hardly spoke at all, even when Griffin and Merle tried to strike up a conversation with her.

Millerna was busy calming down Dryden's excitement, and Allen and Selena were waiting patiently nearby, hoping to get some sort of sign of Hitomi's well being.

"Van, come sit down, you shouldn't be worrying yourself." He stopped his pacing and turned to Mrs. Kanzaki. She was watching him with a small, sad smile.

"I can't sit still." He told her, but, not able to resist the lure of her gentle motherly voice, he came and sat next to her. As he did so, she placed a hand lightly onto one of his with reassurance.

"She's a strong girl, as I'm sure you know." She told him.

He nodded, than, furrowing his brows, turned to her. "Have you noticed she's been acting strange lately?"

Mrs. Kanzaki blinked. "How so?"

Van blushed slightly despite his best efforts. He wasn't about to tell Hitomi's mother that her daughter had nearly ravished him the night before and speaks to him in a suddenly seductive irresistible voice when no one else was around. He wasn't complaining, but it still had him worried.

He had to go back to Fanalia soon, and with Hitomi's grandmother like this she probably wasn't going to be coming with him. But he didn't want to leave her, especially if she was acting oddly.

Luckily he didn't have to answer the question, the prince was hurrying towards them from the castle. Hitomi's mother muttered something that sounded like 'oh no...' under her breath as he switched from his run to a slow walk. He looked deeply distressed. Sad.

When he reached them, Van learned why. He helped Mrs. Kanzaki to her feet so that she could give her husband a hug which he returned.

Griffin made a small noise which sounded like a sob and turned away from them, walking back to the castle with Merle right after him.

Van swallowed back a sudden sick feeling. "The queen...?"

Shiro shook his head and kissed his wife gently on the forehead before pulling away. "She just passed." Van looked away.

"I'm sorry." Millerna was standing now, watching them with shared sadness. She had known enough of the Queen to like her immensely.

The prince merely shook his head again and looked back towards the tomb. "How is Hitomi doing?"

Van turned his attention back towards the tomb, trying to put all thoughts of the women who was like his second mother aside. "We don't know."

"Her going down there didn't help anything." Josceline was there again, standing to the side of the king. "The queen passed away anyway, Griffin was wrong." His voice took on an unusually quiet tone and he moved to go peer down into the tomb again.

Van watching him for the longest time. Watching as his face suddenly took on an extremely worried look, than a look of great frustration as he turned away from the tomb, hands just itching to use his daggers as they hovered over the hilts. His posture, normally straight and perfect became more slouched as if tired.

"Josceline." He turned towards Van, a questioning look on his face. But instead of continuing, Van walked forward and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. A small reassuring squeeze before walking past him to stand beside Allen.

They waited there for another half an hour of so. Mrs. Kanzaki taking up a seat again with her husband beside her. Yuuhi came from the castle as well with Yuki shortly after his father emerged. He took a seat with his mother and father well Yuki stayed with Josceline.

Van took a seat next to Allen and Selena, trying to keep himself calm and patient. But inside it felt like a war was raging. The queen was old... she died of natural causes... but it still was unsettling to him. It seemed everyone he cared about always went away. And if Hitomi never came up from the tomb...

But she did come up...

When the sky was beginning to take on that afternoon feel, and the air became muggy and hot, they heard Hitomi rather than saw her making her way back up the passage, her sandals slapping against the marble of the staircase and the soft click of something metal clanging together, bells mixing with the sound.

Everyone was on their feet as a girl emerged from the entrance way. She was wearing Hitomi's clothes... but this didn't quite look like Hitomi. The girl had longer hair that fell down her back and over her shoulders, reaching down the length of her spine. It was the same colours as Hitomi's however. A long gold staff was held in both the girl's hands, the source the of the melodic bells and jingling.

When she smiled at the group however, they realized that it was their Hitomi, her greens eyes sparkling with something newly found. But it was still the same Hitomi.

Van was the first one to break away from the shock. Moving forward, he enveloped her into a tight hug, which she returned, the staff against his back as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his shoulders. She smelt still the same, of wildflowers and fruit from her bath that morning. She felt the same in his arms.

He pulled away, holding her at arm length before taking her hands in his. As he ran a thumb along the back of her hand, he noticed it felt scabby and bumpy. He looked down. A strange marking which looked as if it had been burned into her hand was scrolled over her right hand and up to her elbow. A circle symbol with writing in it on her hand with scrolling writing and symbols along her arm.

He looked up to her face again, but she didn't say anything about the mark. He moved away as her mother and father moved forward to hug her, than her slightly reluctant brother. Josceline appeared beside Van, and he just barely heard his sigh of relief.

"Hitomi..." Her mother held her away just as Van had, looking her over with slight distress. "What happened to you?"

Hitomi shrugged, though a small, secretive smile came to her lips. "I'm still myself."

Mrs. Kanzaki hardly seemed satisfied with the answer, but moved away as her husband took Hitomi's hand gently. "Come back to the castle."

The smile on Hitomi's face instantly vanished. "What's happened?"

"You are the new Queen, Hitomi."

oooooooooooooooooo

AN: The next Chapter will be the last before the sequel. Basically it's just an explanation of why Hitomi's change and Van's reactions and her with Queen stuff. The sequel will get more into the dream and stuff... and also more about Hitomi's change.

AND... I know a lot of you wanted some consequences or whatever for their nightly fun... well... you'll just have to read the sequel now won't you

Aurora