Chapter 9
King Damis walked down the hallway of the palace, completely unawares to the complete darkness around him. He had ordered all lights be put out at night time, for reason's unknown to the palace workers and Celestials. Though many thought it was to reinstate fear into all of them. A castle with no light, people having to use candles to walk from room to room slowly seemed to be driving them as mad as the king himself.
Kaiomi walked silently in the footsteps of the king, careful to keep a good distance from him, still feeling the stings in his rib from his confrontation with the king the day before. He watched the king cautiously now, glaring at his back whenever he commented with a laugh at the nice silence the castle offered. Kaiomi remembered a time when the castle was always full of life, always to bright and cheerful. He would glance up at the ceiling ever so often, taking in the murals of the Draconians ever so often to be reminded of such better times. Times he did not grow up in, but wished he had during these dark times.
"You think you could do better then this seeress?" Damis had asked when they got a reply notice from the old women outside the city.
He had shook his head, but he knew he probably could. He had been judged the best at seeing the unseen. It was his skill he was born with. Though he would much rather have his brother's simple gift of dreams.
He had heard of the queen's skills however, and knew, without having met her, that she probably took after her grandmother, Queen Lorilae, and was probably far more advanced then him.
They were on their way to meet the old women now. She had been collected from the outskirts of the country by his fellow Celestials, and deposited in the guest quarters on the other side of the castle. She was being treated better then he himself was being treated, and he knew the women was probably either a fraud, or just looking for a nice place to spend the night.
The room, when they entered her quarters, was already foggy with incense and smoke. Kaiomi lifted a hand to his nose and mouth when the sharp smell of herbs affronted his senses, and he squinted his eyes against the poor lighting the candles provided. The room didn't seem to bother Damis much, as she strolled leisurely in, taking a seat without being asked, on the cushions directly in front of the old women.
She was wrinkled and brown skinned, all deckled with wooden necklaces and bracelets, her robes old and worn. Her wispy white hair was pulled into complicated knots, and when she smiled, it showed several missing teeth.
Kaiomi settled by the door, watching the old women curiously, not able to ignore the tingling sensation he was suddenly feeling in his head. He caution grew however, when she passed him a smile as well, her amazingly blue eyes dancing with something mysterious.
"King Damis, Lord of the heavens..." She paused, watching him. "Is that still what you call yourself? Or do you prefer, Lord of darkness."
Kaiomi tensed, his hands coming to rest on the hilts of his daggers, the muscles in his hands twitching. Without looking at him, she spoke again. "No need for security, Celestial, I will cause no harm that the King can't stop." He hesitated, but let his hands fall to his side again.
"You are wise old women..." She bowed her head slightly at the king's comment, but the smile on her face disappeared. "Come, you know why I've called upon you."
"Yes... and the matter is most unsettling to me." Her smile didn't seem like it would return anytime soon. She was watching the king with distinct loathing now. "You are confused, Prince of Darkness... thinking I have the power to do as you wish."
"I don't believe so..."
"I can tell you where she is, and when she will arrive, but I cannot harm the queen. Messing with Destiny... with fate, is not what I do."
Kaiomi raised an eyebrow. Perhaps he was wrong about this women... though he could not be sure. It seemed a barrier was around her mind.
"She will come then."
"Oh yes... she is right to. She will take back what is rightfully hers."
The celestial thought the king would react to this, maybe lash out at the old women, but he merely laughed. "I know I will die. I wish to do so. But I will take La Vallex with me, and my queen." Kaiomi felt a horrible chill at his words.
"Perhaps this will happen... if I were to do what you wanted. But this is my home as well."
"Are you not Lady Marqueis, the fabled Witch of Waking?"
She seemed to stir at his comment, but she adjusted herself quickly, a small, but dark smile coming to her mouth as she sat a little straighter. "I am."
Kaiomi stared at the old women in shock. No wonder he hadn't been able to get anything from her mind. It was trapped.
"Then you should be able to do as I ask... you had no regrets about the other cities you destroyed long ago."
"To say I had no regrets would be ignorant." She was quiet a moment, before continuing. "I destroyed them because of their deeds, King... not for a favour. It is not this country that needs punishment, it is you alone."
The king did react now, standing so he towered high over the old, shrivelled women. "If you will not change fate for me... I will do it myself."
He strode out of the room, quickly telling Kaiomi to get rid of the women.
Once he left, and Kaiomi heard his steps echoing through the castle, he walked forward, and took a seat in front of the now smiling women.
"Witch of Waking."
She bowed her head as if showing respect. "Young Seer... you are quite powerful, trying to break into an old women's mind. But as you already know, I am locked in." She tapped her own head with a long bony finger. "You have great talent, that would be much better put to use with other things."
"I have to tell the king where Queen Hitomi is."
"Yes, I suppose you must now... I should have lied to the bastard." She then gave a loud cackling laugh. "Would have done him some good."
"He would have harmed you."
"I am old... I cannot live forever..." She reached out her bony hand again, and laid her leathery fingertips against his soft cheek. "Your brother still cares for you... you can still make things right."
"I already know that..."
"Then you see that you will come to end."
He nodded... not taking his grey eyes away from the old women. "I know this... I've known a long time."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hitomi stood, staring over the expanse of the great harbour city. She was relieved beyond words that her dream had not come true. There was no deep smoke billowing from buildings, nor flames licking at the sky. She was more disturbed, however, to find the city near ghostly. Nothing seemed to stir as she watched it on the cliff over top of the valley.
She inhaled the smell of the ocean and turned back to the group huddled around the cart, all planning their next course of action.
Dryden's ship was visible past the harbour, but it had no docked yet. Either they were waiting, or the harbour guards were not allowing them in. Hitomi believed the later was more correct, but she did not voice her worries to her friends, they were already aware that things were going badly.
She was only half listening as Dilandau voiced his own angry thoughts of the situation, and an argument broke out between him and Allen. She let her eyes drift over the group as she crossed her arms over her chest, fighting the coolness of the slight breeze that drifted over them. Her eyes came to Van's sword, strapped at his side as always. She narrowed her eyes, and cocked her head to the side slightly, suddenly in deep thought.
Then; with a jolt so strong she stumbled slightly, she remembered something. Something not from her own memory, but from her past. Her breath came quick as the thoughts barrated her, and in a few quick steps she came to the side of the group. Josceline was just telling them about the tunnels that led all over the city, one of which leading to the harbour.
"That sounds like the best course of action." Hitomi told them all, coming to stand beside Van. He looked over at her distractedly before turning back to Josceline.
"And your sure they're not collapsed?"
Josceline seemed to think for a moment before nodding. "We would know if they were, there are houses built over top of them."
Van nodded, and passed a look to Allen who was also nodding. "I suppose we'll go that way then."
"The entrance way is just down below, right before the first building." Josceline motioned towards the city. "We should hide the cart in the trees and climb down."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Almost half an hour later, the group was slipping and sliding down a steep rocky hillside, Van helping the pregnant Hitomi down all the way. When the group was a little ways ahead of them, Hitomi, leaning on Van's shoulder, whispered in his ear. "I'm going to do something reckless."
He turned towards her, his eyebrows knitted together. "What?"
"I'm going to allow myself to get captured."
"Why?" Van's voice was alarmed, confused.
"There's something in the castle I need to get."
Van shook his head immediately. "You can't."
"I want you to come with me." She turned to look at him fully then, stopping in their decent. "When they enter the tunnel, we'll allow ourselves to get caught."
"We're just going to walk up to the castle and demand they take us hostage are you?" He was watching her angrily.
"No..." She pointed to a building in the direction they were headed. "Celestials know we're coming. They will attack when we reach the bottom."
Van wiped his head around in the direction of the building, then turned to the group in front of them. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"No one will be hurt." She smiled slightly. "And Damis won't hurt you... because I have a plan."
"And this plan will include me I hope." Josceline's voice cut in close to Hitomi's side. She turned in surprise to find him sliding down the slope next to her, gripping the rocky edge with his hands as he tried to get a good foothold.
"Josceline-"
"You're not going to traipse into the castle, just the two of you." Hitomi understood his protectiveness. It was his job to protect her, but she also sensed an ulterior motive below.
"I could include you." She told him, slipping slightly, but Van held her up. "You just can't do anything too rash." She told him knowingly, watching him levelly.
"Whatever you want me to do, Your Majesty."
Hitomi smiled slightly and turned to call down to Corilith to join them.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
They were, just as Hitomi predicted, ambushed when they reached the bottom. Allen managed to follow Josceline's directions and found the tunnel quickly, hidden beside a dry well by a wooden platform. They all hurried in quickly, when Van and the newly blackhaired, brown eyes Josceline were holding off the guards.
When Hitomi was inching towards the tunnel, being held up by Dilandau and Gadess for her to enter, she gave them a quick nod, then, without warning, made a hand gesture that caused the whole platform to slam over the entrance of the tunnel, leaving Hitomi, Van and Josceline to face the Celestials. She could just barely hear the muffled yelling of Allen and Selena through the heavy wooden planks as she stepped away from the tunnel.
Just as she moved towards the start of city, looking as if she were escaping, Van broke violently away from one of the Celestials that had his arm. The man stumbled back in alarm just as Van, putting a look of pure rage on his face, yelled at them all. "I deserve to be treated with more respect! I'm bringing the king his lost queen."
He walked towards Hitomi, just as the disguised Josceline was reluctantly being let go, and grabbed her by the wrists. Hitomi cringed, for effect and stumbled forward as Van forcibly moved her, his hands holding her loosely.
"I wish to be brought to King Damis, Immediately."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Your Majesty." A celestial entered the throne room, quickly bowing as he reached the dais, out of breath and looking dishevelled. "We have the queen in our custody."
"Good, bring her to me."
Kaiomi shifted uncomfortably next to the king, thinking about what the Celestial was going to say next. He knew what really happened at the ambush, but he wasn't about to say.
"It seems the king of Fanalia has decided to follow your rule my lord, bringing the queen to us."
Damis stood, turning an acquiring look to Kaiomi, who only shrugged his shoulders, acting ignorant.
"Bring them all to me then." He told the celestial without taking his eyes off Kaiomi. When he heard the guard leave, he spoke to him. "Did you know anything about this?"
Kaiomi shook his head, then, lying, continued, "The queen must have placed a barrier on her mind."
Damis gave a frustrated snort and turned back to the doors as his queen, the king of Fanalia and a stranger strolled in, followed by several Celestial guards. Damis, impatient, waved away the extra guards and sat back down in his throne, watching the trio closely as they walked towards him.
His queen was walking jerkily, obviously not wanting to be there. Her brilliant green eyes glaring hatred up at him. Something he found quite amusing. The King was pushing her along, every once in a while giving her a hard shove so that she stumbled forward.
When they reached the steps, she collapsed against them, both hands out in front of her, her hair falling into her face. Damis stood and walked down to her, ignoring the men in the room for the moment.
"You came back to me in the end."
"Not willingly." She told him, her voice a low growl. "You sadistic-"
"Enough." He blocked out the rest of her words as he turned to gaze at the king of Fanalia. He was glaring at him as well as the stranger. "Who is this?" He motioned to the taller black haired man.
"My cousin."
"And you bring your cousin to my throne with you... why?"
"He was useful in making the queen keep her mouth shut." Van muttered in a low voice viscously. Hitomi was actually quite surprised at his tone, and resisted the urge to turn and watch.
She felt someone watching her however, and she turned her head up towards the source. A young man that looked startlingly like Josceline was watching her curiously, his silver eyes calculating, when he met her gaze, he turned his gaze to the disguised Celestial next to Van. 'He knows...'
"Kaiomi." The king turned towards the Celestial standing by his throne now, a grin on his face, his arms stretched out wide as he stepped around Hitomi. "Tell me, does the King of Fanalia have a cousin?"
The Celestial, Kaiomi, was silent a moment, watching Josceline with a blank look on his face before turning to the king. "I believe so."
Hitomi was stunned a moment, then, once again, had to resist the urge to look back at her group to see Josceline's reaction.
The king, now scowling, turned back to Van and Josceline. "Why have you brought her back."
"Two reasons." Van said at once, his voice agitated. "My country can't take the strain of your country on our back... also..." He hesitated, not wanting to say the next part, "She's pregnant with your child."
Damis grinned at this. "Good reasons... you are wise to bring her back." He turned back to the Celestial. "Kaiomi, bring these two to the guest quarters."
Kaiomi bowed, and walked carefully down the stairs and past the group, telling them without words to follow him. Hitomi did look back at them now, watching as they exited the throne room, Van looking extremely rigid and Josceline glaring furiously at the other Celestial's back.
"Abandoned by the man you love." She turned her head back quickly to the king, feeling tears prick at her eyes. Even if it was just an act, she was still feeling extremely hurt and abandoned.
"I would have come back to kill you anyway." She told him, resisting the urge to spit on his feet as he walked past her.
He laughed. "You were always so feisty... I'm glad the years haven't changed that."
"I'm not your queen."
He grew silent now, his chuckles dying away as he walked back over to her, taking her chin in his pale hand. "You are, and always will be. Even after death." He laughed again, letting go of her chin so violently that her neck ached painfully. "And you will die, along with everyone in this country. Destiny wills it that way."
"I've had enough of Destiny, I think." She bit out.
"This is my will, My Love, Destiny or not, I will see it through."
With that, he turned and left her, calling over his shoulder for her to behave herself. She was just getting to her feet when four Celestials came into the room, fully armed, wanting to lead her to her chambers.
--ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
AN:
I'm sorry this chapter took so long, my Internet was down for a while and my idiot brother refused to phone the cable company and get it fixed... I would have done it, cept for the fact that I have no idea how any of it works;
Hope you like
Hitomi has big plans for coming back to the castle.