Seeing Red
Chapter 2 - Twilight Life
Dilandau did a double-take as Allen's concerned face inched ever closer in the dark. He pushed himself tight against the wall, cursing his weakened state and bare hands. He felt so naked without his sword, and he knew he had no chance against Allen unarmed.
"Celena?"
Allen sounded puzzled but Dilandau himself didn't know what to do. He couldn't move any further away - his back was pressed into the cold stone wall and his hands gripped the bed post with knuckle-breaking intensity. To disguise his fear and buy some time, he decided to yell at Allen and try to intimidate him. He forced himself to stand up as straight as he could and concentrate on the man in front of him, though inside his thoughts were in turmoil, miles away.
"Who is Celena? Haven't I heard him say that name before? Why isn't he afraid of me - he looks worried, not even angry!"
"You'd better have a good explanation for this, Allen Schezar. Quickly, before I kill you and go to find the answers for myself!"
Whatever reaction he expected, it was nothing like the one he got. Allen's eyes widened in shock, and they didn't even register the crash of the lamp as it fell to the floor. The flames pooled around their feet as he took a step back, his hands still trembling.
"Who - Who are you?" he asked now, his voice ragged and full of emotion.
"What are you talking about? You know who I am, you fool! I am Dilandau Albatou, Captain of the Zaibach Dragonslayers; and if you don't release me and take me to my Oreades right now I'll make you wish you were dead long before I finally take your last breath!" he snarled.
For all his bravado, Dilandau was still confused. However, it seemed that Allen had managed to get ahead of him in that department. He had drawn his sword, but it lay loose at his side as if he was afraid to use it, and the blade quivered and flashed in the dim light.
"Dilandau, where is Celena? What have you done with her!"
Now Allen sounded angry, and panicked. Dilandau was still shaking himself, though he wasn't quite sure why. He didn't know anyone called Celena, but for some reason the name was familiar. Just what was going on? He was determined to find out.
"I haven't the faintest idea of what you are talking about, Allen Schezar." he said, his voice full of contempt. "All I know is I was in the middle of slaughtering your pathetic army, and then suddenly I find myself here. What a coincidence! I think you will scream for me as I kill you." He smiled nastily, and Allen felt a shiver run down his back.
"First though, tell me what you're babbling about. Who is Celena? A new lover of yours? You do have such a reputation…" Dilandau's smirk turned into a sneer, and he began to forget that he was at a physical disadvantage.
Allen had been staring at the floor for the most part, his fingers tightly wrapped about his sword hilt. Now he looked directly at Dilandau, and his face expressed utter bewilderment.
"You really have no idea, do you?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't bother asking. And I certainly wouldn't ask an idiot like you unless there was no one else around. I'm not even sure what you expect to gain from all this. If you expect me to give away Zaibach secrets, you can go to hell! Without your precious Plaktu you have no chance of breaking me. I'd rather die than give you the satisfaction! In any case Allen, you seem to have gone mad yourself. I don't know anyone named Celena. Did too many guymelef fights damage your little mind?"
He laughed in Allen's face, more out of anger and desperation than humour. This was ridiculous! He was acting like an immature kid! What was even worse, his legs were giving way again. Dilandau swore, and tried to pull himself back up but it was no use. He sank back onto the bed, his eyes filled with shame and rage.
"But… you still look…" Allen trailed off. His eyes wandering over Dilandau in a way that made him decidedly uncomfortable. He squirmed and tried to turn away.
"I look like what? What the hell is your problem? Either kill me, or get me a sword so I can kill you! I don't care what drugs you gave me, I will see you die today!"
"We didn't drug you. You - Celena collapsed after the memorial service. You've been asleep here ever since."
"I'm not going to ask again, Allen Schezar, Who is Celena, and what the hell is going on here?"
Dilandau was afraid now, but his voice was soft and dangerous. His hands twisted painfully in the sheets of the bed and cut off the blood supply to his hands. He welcomed the sensation.
"Celena is…my sister." Allen whispered, his eyes never leaving Dilandau's, confused and searching.
"What?"
Of all the answers he had been expecting, that wasn't one of them. Dilandau was even more surprised by how the pronouncement affected him. He didn't even like Allen, why would he care about his sister? Yet no matter how he insisted he didn't care, something about it struck a chord in him, and he found himself asking:
"Where is she?"
Allen looked a bit taken aback. He hadn't been expecting a reaction like that, and was just as surprised as Dilandau himself by the question. He was also unsure of how to answer, seeming to start sentences many times, and trailing off without actually saying anything. Finally, Dilandau started getting impatient.
"I'm sick of your stammering, Allen Schezar." He sneeered. "I asked you what I thought was a simple enough question. However, it seems that once again your feeble brain is not up to the task. Now, are you going to give me an explanation for all this or not? For the last time, where is this sister of yours and what has she got to do with me? This had better be good!" his sudden unwanted sympathy had almost totally dissipated under the heat of his rage, and he noted the fact with more than a hint of satisfaction as he regarded Allen, who appeared to have found the opening he had been waiting for.
"My sister, Dilandau..." he said hoarsely. "My sister - Celena...is you."
"What?" said Dilandau for a second time. He wasn't sure he'd heard Allen correctly.
"You're Celena." Allen looked straight at him now. "Zaibach took you away from us when you were barely six years old. You didn't remember us - until last week when you finally changed back."
Dilandau couldn't belive what he was hearing. Him? Allen's sister? The man was insane, no doubt about it. However something kept niggling at the back of his mind. More of a feeling than anything else, or perhaps a memory. He was sure it had something to do with Allen, and it was confusing the hell out of him. He didn't like it one bit.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he shouted, louder than he had intended. "You're crazy, that's what! Completely mad! Get me out of here right now!"
Allens face dissolved into an unsettling mixture of concern, sadness and fear - bringing with it another wave of alien emotions to hit at Dilandau's frayed nerves. He shook his head violently to try to clear his head, and lurched to his feet.
"I don't...care...what you think...Schezar!" he panted. "I'm leaving!" He took one shaky step forward.
"Wait." Allen calmly held out one gloved hand, but his tone was pleading. "Please, wait."
"Too late, Allen Schezar. I've had enough of your games!" he made to move towards the door once more.
"It's not a game! I swear it!" still blocking Dilandau's path, Allen looked around blindly in desperation. Finally his eyes lighted on something. "I can prove it to you! All of it!"
"Hmph. This had better be good." said Dilandau, now standing rather shakily in the middle of the room and hoping he looked a lot better than he felt.
"The mirror." Allen's eyes flickered to a point to his left, behind Dilandau. "Over there, by the table."
"What does a mirror have to do with anythi -"
"Please!" said Allen, his voice full of desperation. "Just look in the mirror!"
"Fine! I'll look in the stupid mirror, just quit your whining!" Dilandau glared at Allen. Honestly, the man never gave up! How long was he going to keep up this ridiculous story? He edged across the room towards the mirror, being careful to keep Allen at the edge of his vision in case he tried anything. Not that he would be a match for Allen in a fight, he thought bitterly. He still felt awful, his stomach churning and his joints aching. It was a struggle just to keep upright.
When he reached the mirror, at first he was afraid to stare at it directly. Partly because to do so would mean he had to take his attention away from Allen, but also because he was afraid of what he might see, and what proof of Allen's crazy statements might mean. He stood, teetering for a moment at the edge of sanity that he had balanced upon for so long, forcing himself to keep his emotions in check. Then he took a deep breath and turned to face the mirror.
He thought there was nothing wrong, at first. The light in the room from the broken lamp was already fading, and the rays streaming from beyond the door were sparse. He squnited at the image in front of him, then rubbed his eyes and tried again. The image in the mirror took slender hands away from blue eyes, and stared right back.
It was him, and yet it wasn't. He was thinner than he remembered, and clad in a white gown that trailed to his ankles. Though the facial features weren't all that different, the eyes in the mirror were as blue as a clear sky. They unnverved him by their brightness, and the fear they held.
My fear...I'm terrified! he thought.
However as he looked closely, it was the overall picture that startled him most - not just because it was so alarmingly familiar to him even as he couldn't say how, but there was no denying that the figure in the mirror was very obviously female, and the more he thought about it, (although he was too frozen in fear to look at his body) the more he thought the mirror may be telling the truth. His exhausted mind fought to process the information, but he could find nothing in his mind, no reason, memory or logic for what was happening to him. Finally, a small moan broke out of his dry mouth.
"No...no!" he choked out, trying to back away from the girl in the mirror even as she recoiled from him, her face white with terror.
Allen rushed forward in concern, as for the second time his sister crumpled to the floor, her blue eyes turning to white as she dreamed.
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"Allen, can I have your soldier?"
The small girl looked at him with carefully rehearsed pleading, her hands gesturing to the toy village that lay all around her.
"I want there to be a soldier," she went on "and he'll come to the town and fight, and protect the people there. That's what soldiers do, right?"
Allen smiled at his sister, opening his hand to show her the miniature samurai he held.
"Yes." he said solemnly. "A samurai protects people with his life. He uses his sword wisely in defence of others." It made him feel important, being able to teach Celena things. She was always in awe of him, and took in everything he said.
"Can I have him then?" she asked, picking up one of the other figures, a farmer with a bale of hay. "These people need someone to protect them, and I have no soldiers. If there's an attack, they'd die." she looked sad at the thought.
"Anyone who needs protection should get it." said Allen, feeling all important again, "So I'll give you my samurai." Celena's eyes lit up. "One one condition though." he smirked, and she glared at him, annoyed.
"What?" she said sulkily. She didn't like it when her brother tricked her.
"That you'll let me play with you. Let me be part of your town." he gestured grandly to it, making sure he sounded interested.
"Okay!"
She let out a cry of delight as he sat down beside her, and gently placed the toy samurai in her hands.
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All she knew now was pain. As hard as she tried, she couldn't escape the cold metal that bound her, or the needles and fire seeking her flesh. Her voice long since destroyed by screaming, she had withdrawn into herself, watching with dazed eyes, numb to the agony although her muscles twitched and juddered with each breath. It had been so sudden, that she had even lost her woolen cloak. They had shimmered into view out of the trees, and surrounded her. Before she could scream, one clapped a hand over her mouth, and another held her arms to her sides. Her thin fingers crushed, she had dropped her bunch of violets, and reached for them in vain. Then there was a glint of metal by her cheek, and she had felt herself fold into darkness.
When she woke, she was in a cell. They fed her, and a huge kindly soldier called Jajuka had promised to protect her. It had made her feel safe, trusting in Jakuka and his comforting words. Then they had come to take her away. Jajuka had fought for her, but he had been hurt badly. She remembered his face, full of worry for her and it made her want to cry - but she couldn't move or speak anymore. She could only feel the sharp instruments cutting her, and hear above the hum a gravelly voice muttering, always muttering.
"Destiny..."
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The brown-haired Dragonslayer's face visibly paled as his captain bore down upon him, eyes burning with fury. Beside him, his shorter companion gulped and uselessely fiddled with the belt of his uniform. They knew there would be no mercy. Dilandau never forgave an error, not even if they were made by his most trusted soldiers. Especially if they were made by his trusted soldiers. In Dilandau's Dragonslayers, incompetence could get you killed. Rumour had it that you were more likely to be killed by your own superior than the enemy if you proved to be less than dependable.
"I had heard a rumour." Dilandau began, his voice sharp and clear, though he wasn't shouting. "Two of my Dragonslayers were sneaking into the city at night, after training." He gave them a withering look. "I had thought that this rumour was ridiculous. None of MY 'Slayers would be stupid enough to do such a thing!" His voice was becoming louder with every word, and the two wide eyed boys could see the rage beginning to build. Subconsciously they moved closer together, shaking with fear. They had seen Dilandau's rages often enough to know they didn't want any of his anger directed at them.
"Tell me Dallet," Said Dilandau, grabbing the dark haired boy by the collar and yanking him close. "Why are you stupid enough to defy me?" When Dallet just began to shiver, and refused to answer, Dilandau threw him across the room, his face impacting painfully with the hard floor. A similar procedure was repeated until the shorter boy joined Dallet on the floor, all thoughts of disobedience forever squashed under the force of Dilandau's relentless kicks and blows.
"I demand absoloute loyalty." he said calmly to them when it was over. "Disobey my orders again, and you will die."
Dallet and Gatti looked at each other as their Captain left the room, taking in their injuries. They knew he meant it.
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Allen watched in horror as Celena began to writhe and scream, her thin limbs impacting painfully on the furniture and floor of the room. He hadn't known what to do when Celena - No, Dilandau - had collapsed, and had only just knelt by her side when it became obvious that she was dreaming, her eyes rolled back but flickering from side to side under the lids. Then she had begun to scream, and he had no idea what to do. Her face was contorted in terror, blood staining her pale skin as she inadvertedley cut her lips and tongue. He tried to hold her still to stop her hurting herself, and then called again and again for help. No one answered him. They were in a secluded wing of the house, and the servants were unused to being needed during the night. He was on his own. Not liking to leave Celena by herself, not even sure if it was Celena before him, and liking the idea of Dilandau alone in his house even less, he made sure her legs and arms were secure, and sat to wait out the nightmare.
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It was just after dawn when she opened her eyes. The convulsions had ceased an hour earlier, but Allen hadn't moved from the room to fetch help. Instead he had carefully lifted her onto the bed, and then sat down clumsily on a nearby stool, his legs and arms cramping from being in one position for so long. He had spent the time rubbing the life back into his arms, and at first didn't notice when her eyes flicked open. Then she stirred slightly, and he was by her side in an instant.
"Celena!" He said urgently, though too afraid to talk above a low volume. "Celena! Please say something!"
"Ugggh..." her voice was cracked and hoarse from all the screaming, and she choked a few times before trying to sit up. Allen leaned forward in concern.
"You shouldn't try to move yet!" he began, moving to push her gently back down, but she knocked his arm away.
"Leave...alone!" She snapped, though it must have sounded a lot less fierce than she intended, for she glared at him as well, and made a deliberate show of pulling herself upright. Allen looked worriedly at her - she didn't seem quite herself. He shook off the thought almost as soon as it came.
"After what happened last night, no wonder she is out of sorts this morning..." he told himself. Still, the look in her eyes was troubling him.
"My head... ow..." she moaned, pressing at her temples with trembling fingers, her eyes closing in concentration.
"Where does it hurt?" Allen asked, wondering if he should go and get some ice. Any of his plans were shattered as Celena screamed again, and then began to melt in front of his eyes.
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He wished Allen would shut up for once, his head was killing him and there he was again, refusing to quit with the brotherly concern. Why did he always do that? Allen Schezar, always getting in the way of his plans, him and that Dragon. Always comforting him when he felt sad, always looking out for him - NO! His head hurt too much, and now he was getting himself all confused. How did he like and hate Allen at the same time? Allen Schezar had never been nice to him, had he? Or was it that Allen had never once said an unkind word to his sister? He didn't know anymore. All he knew was that the pain was getting worse. Then a fire in his limbs put paid to all conscious thought, and his mind melted away.
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Allen was terrified to touch his sister, so horrific was her pain. All her muscles were in spasm, and flesh was shifting under the skin before his eyes. She had thrown herself off of the bed, and now lurched about the room, holding herself as if her insides were on fire. He could only watch, as she seemed to grow, and her skin lightened until it seemed almost transparent. Her bones cracked and strained under the changing weight, and she continued to yell, but her voice though still muted from her nightmares was also different - harsher, deeper. Then, as soon as it had begun, everything stopped. His sister collapsed to the ground, but he no longer recognised Celena at all. Instead was a body he knew only too well, but thought he'd never see again. The boy Dilandau stirred at his feet, and without thinking he picked up his sword.
"Wha...Allen?" Dilandau moaned as he staggered to his feet, squinting at the taller man, his blurred vision still managing to pick out the glint of steel.
"Stay back, monster!" Allen yelled, holding the sword between the two as if Dilandau was a rabid animal.
"I'm unarmed, you dolt." Dilandau snapped, his eyes still half shut from the pain of the worst headache in his life. He wasn't in the mood for a fight at all.
"What the hell happened! What have you done with Celena!" Allen raged, abandoning all rational thought. "She was HERE with me just a few short days ago, and now you are back inside her and causing her pain! Where is she? Did you kill her?" the last sentence was almost a scream, and Dilandau stumbled backward under the force of his anger, still clutching his head.
"She's...not...dead!" he managed to gasp, before falling onto the bed and panting heavily, his eyes screwed up with pain and his chest heaving with exertion.
"What do you mean?" Demanded Allen, lowering his sword to his side. It wasn't the reply he had expected.
"You told me before, you idiot!" Dilandau snarled. "I am Celena!"
"You're not her. She's not a murderer like you!" Allen shook his head emphatically. "They damaged her mind, and put you in there to do their dirty work. She came back for a time, but you drove her away. You killed my sister!" The rage on his face was plain to see.
"NO!" Yelled Dilandau, his face contorted in anguish. "They took my memories away, and they gave me no choice!"
Allen stared. Dilandau's face was now wet with tears, and he was choking and coughing inbetween sobs.
"I remember EVERYTHING!" he cried. "You don't understand! I was never dead - they just made me forget you! I had to fight and kill people every day, and then when my mind couldn't take any more, it let me see what I had lost. I saw you Allen! And I remembered being taken away! Just now I found it all for the first time. You have to believe me!"
For a moment there was no noise, just Dilandau's quiet sobs and Allen's ragged breathing as both tried to come to terms with what had been said. Finally, Allen spoke.
"If you are really my sister," he began slowly. "What did I give her on her fourth birthday?"
Dilandau met Allen's eyes for the first time.
"A samurai soldier... standing like this." he got shakily to his feet and imitated the pose, as Allen watched in wonder. Dilandau's eyes were a familiar shade of bright blue, and though tear stained held his own without fear.
"I'm sorry, big brother..." he said, then sank to his knees as Allen embraced him, tears running down both of their faces.
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"You know that I can't stay here, Allen."
It was just two days after the siblings had been truly reunited. Allen was still trying to get used to the fact that his sister was not only sharing a body with a boy who had tried to kill him, but a mind as well and indeed much of the boys personality remained, though he could recongise his sister in almost every movement. Dilandau had asked with a weak grin that he keep his name, since didn't think he suited the name Celena at the moment. Allen had been forced to agree. The eyes notwithstanding, Dilandau was definetely the Zaibach soldier they had all loved to hate, although somewhat mellowed and thankfully a lot less insane. The problem was convincing everyone else of this fact. Already they had had to keep Dilandau under armed guard, for people's peace of mind as much as for his safety. Asturia still thought him a war criminal. Trutfully, after Allen had seen the reaction of the populace to Dilandau's reappearance, the boy's statement hadn't come as much of a surprise.
"You are always welcome here, Dilandau."
"I know that you moron, but those people out there don't know what we do, and they're too stupid to learn. All they'll ever see is the boy who killed their families, and to be honest I don't blame them in wanting me dead. I feel I should be punished myself for all the things I have done."
"It wasn't your fault!" Allen protested. "You were being controlled by Zaibach!"
"I still made decisions. I still had free will. I could have said no so many times, but I never did." Dilandau said ruefully, fingering his messy hair. "I think I should leave these people in peace. They deserve to not have a reminder of the war around for all to see. I think I'd cause too much pain if I stayed."
Allen sat quietly in thought for a good while. He knew in his heart that Dilandau was right, but he hated to lose him after they had only just been reunited. He had promised his mother he would always look after Celena, and he intended to keep to that for as long as he lived. Finally, he looked up and said:
"I might have a solution. What do you say to a trip to Fanelia?"
Dilandau looked puzled for a second, then grinned.
"Are we hunting Dragons?"
Allen raised a single eyebrow "You could say that..."
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Author Note: Thanks to the people who left reviews for chapter one - I really appreciate it. If all goes to plan there should be one more fairly long chapter, and then an epilogue. Please review! I like to recieve feedback and constructive criticism!