Hello fellow readers.
Here's at last another chapter of Way the Pendulum Swings. WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS ADULT LIKE CONTENT AND MILD SWEARING. If you're senstative to those kinds of things I suggest you don't read this chapter.
If you're wondering why this chapter is so freaking long, it's because there is a lot of content and new idea's being introduced. If you have any questions simply review. I may or may not answer them depending on whether the answers will provide spoilers for future content.
DESCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ESCAFLOWNE, HOWEVER MIA IS MY CHARACTER. PLEASE DON'T PROCEED TO COPY HER.
Oh another thing.
Eyira is the Gold twin of the cat girls and Naria is the silver twin of the cat girls. And Van, Hitomi, Millerna are 17 years old. Merle is 15 years old and Gaddes is24 years old.
CHAPTER 5- THE EXPERIENCE OF SURVIVAL IS THE KEY
Hitomi didn't have to be told about the commencing of the games. She could feel within the depths of her bones, a sudden chill of many fore coming deaths of faceless gladiators who would fight for freedom; a freedom that would never come. She immediately began harassing her faded lips. Biting them with her sharp canines still she had managed to draw out several drops of blood. A taste of something coppery and bitter assaulted her tongues senses, and for a second Hitomi almost believed herself to be trapped in the same night when this horrible nightmare began.
Gradually her senses of reality dimmed, till all that was left was her and that night. Goosebumps made their way up into her forearms, and her bony fingers became clammy with sweat. Although she couldn't see her self, Hitomi only had to guess that she was as pale as the center of the sun on a hot day.
It began slowly as it usually did. Hitomi's heightened hearing would first hear the terrorized screams, followed but the cruel cackling fire. A hand suddenly grabbed her by the wrist. Its tight grip alarmed her, as she could only guess its owner was begging for help. The weight of the hand gripping her wrist suddenly became light. Spurts belonging to a sticky substance immediately splatter all over her face and her toga. The hand…oh god's the hand was still fiercely gripped to her wrist. As for the substance Hitomi didn't have to think twice as to what it was.
Yet amidst the chaos Hitomi heard his voice calm and eerie. He was beckoning her, as he always did.
"The fool is now dead sister. He can't stop us, with his arrangements of marriage" there was so much malice in his voice it stricken Hitomi with fear "Come with me to my bed"
Oh Allen, what have you done?
Fortunately, Hitomi's senses soon cleared allowing her to part with the horrible memory. She sat there at the base of the moon Goddesses statue in shock, amazed at the sudden turn of events. That memory had plagued her for two years now; its attack would often be fiercer during the games, the anniversary of the old Emperor's death. Yet, it had barely lasted for more than five minutes.
Hitomi gently rubbed her cheek against the cool marble of the Goddesses' ankle in attempts to calm herself. It was a habit that soon replaced the old one, as Hitomi was no longer with her pendent.
She sighed absently while allowing her pale eyes to look at the strongest source of heat. Smiling softly as the sun beams danced along her high cheekbones, Hitomi reached up as though she were going to embrace the sun.
Whatever it was that she was feeling, it brought warmth to her heart and the promise of change.
However, her light hearted mood didn't last, as her rational side ebb her conscience. It harshly spoke of the truth and told her exactly how stupid it was to raise her hopes.
Whatever feeling this is girl! You should stop; you'll only end up as devastated as those girls who hurled themselves off the edge of this very patio.
Hitomi hurled her eyes shut. It wasn't a coincidence that Hitomi had been locked up in the very place that she had once considered her solitude. Although it was a blessing, it was also a curse, a part of some sick joke Allen had called a test.
The temple that Hitomi resided in opened up to the sky, inviting the sun's embrace during the day and the moon's comfort during the night. It was also filled with wild trees that surprisingly harnessed their roots into the rock that made up the palace, and possessed the most beautiful statue imaginable. Although the temple's openness had allowed Hitomi to feel a part of the outside world, it was also a disease. The temple had been designed similar to a balcony. So protection from rain was slim to none, as Hitomi would have to resort to the leaves and branches of the trees to cover her during stormy nights. However it was it's barring that posed the real threat; as they didn't rise high on the average person , perhaps only up to the waist. It was for that reason that Allen had secluded her to that part of the palace. The temptation of taking ones life was always present.
Hitomi was ashamed to say that there were times when she desired nothing more than to hurl herself off the edge and plunge into the streets below, where her blood would join the blood of so many of Allen's toys. One of he's toys was currently shuffling in a distant corner. Hitomi didn't have to see to know what she was doing.
'She's staring ahead' Hitomi whispered in her mind 'There will be deep bags beneath her eyes because she hasn't slept for days.'
The corners of Hitomi's mouth pulled into a bitter smile 'I wonder if she knows'
She clenched her fists, causing small crescents to be engraved in the soft skin of her palm.
Damn you Allen, Damn you.
Merle's head jerked as the carriage had just gone over another bump along the wavering dirt path in the middle of the wood. Much to her dismay, her head jerked once more as another bump was present.
Instinctively she growled. I hate traveling. Stupid Gaddess, that arrogant ass.
Movement in her arms disrupted her thoughts as Merle's attention was drawn to the little kitten Halfling in her arms. The site of the Halfling was enough to calm Merle down drastically as she intensely gazed at the silver stripped fur that had gathered at her shoulders and her hands or more correctly paws. Merle scowled as she noticed the tiny girl's arms quiver slightly from the chilly night air. Her motherly instincts automatically kicked in as she pulled Mai tighter into her warm embrace. In return, the little girl burrowed her head further into Merle's chest as though seeking warmth and refuge from the cold.
Merle's overprotective scowl soon transformed into a genuine small, as she gently brushed a few of Mia's shimmer silver locks from her face before planting a kiss on her forehead. She paused to take in Mia's catlike ears, that were so much like her own, and yet so different. Her ears were an exact replica of her mother's. Merle closed her eyes to take in a memory of the one sister who had died protecting the little bundle currently in her arms.
Merle was so wracked with sorrow that she had little time to comprehend Reeden's sudden attack, as he popped out from the middle of nowhere to grasp her by her small shoulders.
"Aha I found ya!" he exclaimed cheerfully. However before he could even blink twice, he felt the pressures of Merle's claws against his supple neck and Merle's dark azure eyes glaring at him.
His gaze swiftly shifting from her severely angry face to the little bundle wrapped in her arms. Immediately he felt like banging his head against a wall at his stupidity.
He knew that Merle was fiercely protective of the kitten and for him or anyone to disrupt Mia while she was sleeping was seer idiocy. Reeden gulped; fortunately Mia was still sleeping soundly in Merle's arms.
Reeden winced slightly as Merle dig one of her claws into his neck a little bit deeper.
"Don't ever do that again!" she hissed. Her bright pink hair that past her shoulders but barely reached her mid back seemed to stand on end.
Reeden could only nod his head, dumbfounded. His reaction seemed to amuse Merle because she soon relinquished her grip on his neck before leaning back to get a better look at him.
"Did I scare you?" her voice took brag like tone that caused Reeden to scowl and cross his arms in frustration.
It was only when Merle took a better look at his attire did her smile slide off her face. Reeden was wearing his dirty red bandana, along with a small chest/heart guard on top of his tattered green tunic. His shorts that were a darker shade of green appeared to have a holding belt for knives. However, it was the two small daggers that Reeden normally carried on his ankles along side his boots that confirmed it all.
"You better ease your grip on the poor girl Merle," Reeden joked but his voice still had a sense of seriousness. Merle shook out of her reverie before gazing down at Mia. Reeden hadn't been joking, if Merle had maintained her fierce grip Mia would've woken up. Automatically she eased her hold on the kitten before giving her attention to Reeden.
"We've been summon to Austria" Reeden's statement caused Merle to take in a deep breath.
"What?"
"The king apparently wishes to have a word with Gaddess" Reeden answered honestly.
Merle could only scoff. She hated the king of Austria, who had been known to be rude and brash during her time in court. "Why now, why us? We are barely getting through ends met as it is. What right does Austria have to demand things from us?"
Reeden closed his eyes as he attempted to dig in his brain for a reason remotely intellectual enough to counter the girl's argument. When he found that he couldn't think of any he simply decided to just tell Merle what Gaddess had told him.
"Aston's eldest daughter has been kidnapped by Ziabach" he replied slowly in attempts to allow the facts to sink into Merle's brain.
Intently he watched as many emotions were displayed on her face, astonishment, pity and then finally anger.
"The girl's most likely dead then" her voice flat as a board in attempts to disguise her true feelings. However when she turned her head away from Reeden to look at her niece, it was a dead give away that she cared.
Reeden coughed as he usually felt uncomfortable with these kinds of situations, "Aston believes her to be alive."
"Then Aston is a fucking fool" Reeden couldn't help but gasp at the anger contained in the fifteen year old's voice. "No woman in their right mind could ever survive such a monster."
At loss for what to say Reeden simply stared at her, until Merle became so feed up that she picked her and her niece up and headed to the back of the carriage.
Reeden could only watch her back. He knew that any conversation involving women and Allen was just too painful for her. During the beginning of the new terrorizing reign, rumors had spread like plague of Ziabach's new emperor and the various tortures he performed on woman. To him, women were simply objects to be used and then discarded time and time again.
Merle had left them for a short after Fanelia siege, in search of the wife Van had presumably taken up prior to the attacks from the Ziabach Empire. Reeden couldn't even understand what possessed the girl to do such a thing, as she was in love with Van at the time and was more than willing to claw at any girl who got in her way.
It wasn't until six months later that Merle had suddenly appeared in front of Gaddess tent, battered and broken. As Reeden could recall she was beyond recognition, and it took the strength of the gods to stop Gaddess from marching to Ziabach's gates and demanding who had done this to her.
Merle had changed after that. Where there was once a hyperactive girl, now stood a girl stoic and cautious. Merle had never cursed a day in her life. Of course she would resort to calling him and those who annoyed her names, like idiot or jerk, but never swears. It was barely a week after her return when Reeden had walked into Gaddess tent after hearing some commotion. He walked into the most frightening scene he had ever seen. Gaddess papers had been scattered all over the floor, and huddled up in the corner was Merle who was screaming hysterically, calling Gaddess names that no respectable woman would dare utter. Gaddess hadn't been able to calm her down, and eventually resorted to bringing in Mia to calm her. Merle soon calmed down after that, and soon moved on with her life.
Although Gaddess knew what had happened during those six months, he never uttered a word of it to his comrades, or Reeden, nor did he bother to remind Merle. Reeden knew that the stupid shit cared about Merle, which was why it was up to him to inform Merle about their change of route to the capital of Austria.
Reeden sighed before scratching the back of his head where a headache was starting to emerge.
God's I am too simple to have such complicated problems
He mumbled before leaning along the side of the carriage where Merle had been and drifted off into a deep slumber.
Eries leaned along the edge of one of the pillars within the courtroom. Occasionally her serious azure eyes to drift back to the mass of elderly leaders including Marlene's fiancée The Duke of Fried, who were entrapped in a heated discussion about the turn of events. As she continued to watch them, she felt her pale complexion grow only more paler with each word spoken.
"I can't understand how the Princess could've just gotten captured like that?"
"It's unfortunate!"
"You don't suppose that the emperor has already done away with her?"
"What do you say Duke? Everyone knows what happens to the women!"
"Enough!"
"Apologizes my King. I meant now harm I was only questioning the inevitable"
"None the less, we should attack Ziabach, King Aston"
"They have taken what is rightfully yours, none of the other regions will dare to question our motives nor stand against us. You must act now my King! We the leaders of our legions will gladly stand by you"
"Politics," she spat out in disgust after she tore away her sight from the group and tried to focus on something else. She wanted nothing more than to leave the courtroom, but she forbade herself, as she was determined to gather as much information as possible concerning the well- being of her eldest sister. The council hadn't bothered with her, as they assumed their conversation was well above the comprehension of women.
After a minute, Eries decided to change her location. Picking up the ends of her black toga she moved to the south corner of the room where she stood erect. Her long straight locks of golden blonde drifted to her lower back shaping her fairly long face, putting an emphasis to the hollows in her cheeks. Incidentally she had placed a long black veil to cover the majority of her hair; it would do her no good to have these men leering at her.
The sound of the quick shuffling of feet disrupted her thought and no sooner than Eries could turn her head to see who the perpetrator was, she came faced to face with a pair of eyes that mirrored her own; the only exception was that the pair of eyes contained a sparkle of hope.
"It is very unlady like to sneak up on those superior to you," Eries replied a matter of factly.
To her dismay, her younger sister just rolled her eyes. Eries took a step back to observe her sister's attire. Millerna was wearing her best toga, which accompanies her almost perfect hair style. Dainty ringlets framed Millerna's face as the rest of Millerna's curls had been pinned up along the very back of her head. There was also a suspicious glimmering whenever Millerna's hair caught the sunlight. Eries groaned inwardly, she had taken the time to hide her precious hair jewels.
Millerna on the other hand, ignored her older sister's scrutiny as she attempted to glance beyond Eries slender shoulder to look at the council.
"They are still discussing the matter" Eries chose to inform her.
Millerna switched her gaze back to her sister who had suddenly given up bothering to eavesdrop on the council and headed for the nearest exit, expecting Millerna to follow.
She did, as she knew arguing with the 'ice princess' was as pointless as telling moon and the sun to switch places.
They wondered through the corridors for quite sometime before Eries stopped in front of their sister's previous quarters. Millerna paused at the door, taking in it's stillness while observing subtle changes that had occurred there during their sister's absence. Her comb was no longer in front the mirror as it previously had been, the windows were barred shut, and not one piece of cloth was left astray as a result of Marlene's inability to settle on an outfit.
"I was able to progress through my medical studies a bit more" Millerna spoke suddenly in attempts to forget about their missing sister.
Eries simply stared straight ahead "Is that so?"
"Yes,"
"You are aware of father's opinion about your studies" Millerna's face feel at Eries stone cold tone.
"I see no harm in…"
"Of course you don't see any harm," Eries interrupted "Just as Marlene saw no harm in wondering out of the palace grounds"
"That's different!" Millerna cried out passionately.
"How is it different? Both of you want what you rightfully can't have. And now, one of you is suffering because of your rash behavior" Eries voice was so sharp it could've cut through stone.
She turned to face her sister than "Do not delude yourself sister. The war between Ziabach and Austria is only temporarily delaying what has already been established."
Millerna's heart crushed expression, caused slight turmoil within Eries heart but she pressed on.
Lowering her voice to barely a whisper Eries took a step closer towards her younger sister. "What happened to our sister will be no different than what will happen to us on our wedding night." Eries smiled slightly then "The only exception is that there will be no war involved."
Without anymore words said Eries departed from her sister's side to acquire more information about the well-being of their sister.
The conversation among the elders had maintained its center of topic, for a while after the departure of the two remaining Austrian Princesses. Much to the King Aston's irritation he knew persuaded the girl's to leave was as pointless as convincing the sun to stop shining. That was why he was pleased when he saw Millerna, the younger foolish daughter of his served to provide a distraction to the middle princess. Despite King Aston's chauvinistic attitude he didn't like to lead on that knew his second daughter was more cunning then him.
She would've made a better match for the Duke of Fried had it not been for the rule that stated that the eldest daughter should be matched off first. Now looking at the situation King Aston still hoped that there may been a chance that he could wed off Eries to the Duke, if Marlene didn't come out of the thing alive.
Stroking his beard that laid along his lazy jaw line he stared intently at the group.
"We have no choice but to war with Ziabach," he stated calmly
Immediate hushed whispers began to disperse until Duke of Fried outspoken the others "War is a great risk, not only to your country but many others as well. How many of your men have participated in small wars with that great nation over the past two years? Many have perished." Duke of Fried paused to taken in King Aston's solemn expression "To official announce war on Ziabach would be suicide my King."
The Duke with his sharp angled face took his time to bow his head in respects. "I believe that there is another way to receive the princess without harming millions"
With a simple wave, a cloaked figure stepped in from the shadows. The figures long legs moving in a cat-like grace that entranced the entire council; even King Aston who shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
The figure stopped at the right hand side of the Duke before humbly bowing to her Duke and then to the council.
King Aston who automatically got over his attraction for the figure automatically boomed "This is your proposal? I expected better from you Duke."
The Duke's expression remained stoic as he nodded at the cloaked figure.
In less than a heart beat, the cloak figure pulled back her entire cloak revealing one of Gaia's rarest and hated creatures. Squinted eyes met blood red ones. There before the council was perhaps what was believed to be the last of kin of the cat-tribe. Her fairly tanned skin contrasted against the three strips that laid along side her jaw line. Her attire was black and tight fitted, made from a material that seemed to bend in ways unimaginable. She smirked with a strong sense of malice, as she had one hand on her cocked hips putting emphasis on the large numbers of daggers that were safely kept in their small sheaths.
"What is this?" King Aston exclaimed, the force from his surprise so strong it caused his chair to fall behind "What is that thing doing here. She should've been wiped out long ago."
Both the Duke and the cat girl remained unfazed by the King's tantrum. Rather the Duke calmly laid his hands before him.
"She can move much faster than any of your greater assassins my king. Her ability in the acrobatics is let's say…awing. And she stealthy and quiet." The Duke took his time to raise an eyebrow "Unless we do it your way my king. Barging through the front gates of Ziabach arms blazing and getting innocent soldiers killed"
King Aston scoffed "She's a woman, how can she be reliable"
This time it was the lady who spoke "I assure you my king. I will deliver your daughter safely. Any obstacle will be silenced" her voice was pallid and smooth like sweet nectar.
The king sighed before replying "At least grant us your name"
The woman smiled "Eriya"
Without a reason the King shivered under her gaze. He had known evil, hell he would even say that he had tainted his soul in its practices, yet something about her eyes was erring.
Jaju moaned as he looked at his companion locked in shackles.
"Getting ready for the fight tomorrow" despite his aching muscles Jaju grinned, anticipating the crowd's cheers and the adrenaline in his blood.
Van looked wearily at Jaju before looking at the little window that hung from the center of the vast roof, where the moon shone brightly. There were many other steel cages to the left and right of him, all of them filled with dying gladiators, or new recruits who shared the same fate.
Once again Van began playing with the pendent that illuminated brightly on his chest. Jaju watched him with amused expression.
"Tell me about her,"
Van just shot him a death glare that cause Jaju to chuckle hastily "Alright, I am just messing with ya"
Despite the sparkle behind Jaju's eyes Van distinctly saw the reason for Jaju's all too cheery mood. Fear, Jaju was afraid of death and the smell of being in a new place wasn't reassuring.
Placing his stubbornness aside for a while he began "She had hair of hone dew" Van skipped mention her lips sense he really didn't feel like describing them "Her eyes. They reminded me of the fields in my homeland after a rainfall. Fr…
"Fresh and glimmering" Jaju finished. Smiling softly Van turned to see Jaju cuddled up in the corner of the prison. Despite his shackles he seemed in better spirits.
"It's a sin to hate a saint" Jaju stated faintly before sleep succumbed his senses.
Van couldn't help but scowl at his statement. What Hitomi really a saint? He couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that the thought of her is what kept her going all those cold nights. But as to whether it was out of his hatred towards her and his desire to seek vengeance for his kingdom, or something else he didn't know.
He suddenly shivered as he felt a pair of eyes boring him. Turning around he looked five cages down from him. A pair of boiling red eyes was focused primarily at him.
It took less than a minute for Van to recall who their owner was.
Raising his head, Van looked up to Allen who was seated on his throne joined by the quiet girl who went by the name of Selena. Her albino bodyguard had simply chosen to stand within the shadows behind Selena's throne
Puzzled as to why the Albino body guard was there, the sound of clunking keys kicked in his sense. Light automatically poured into the dim room, causing Van to squint.
A womanly silhouette was made out, standing along side a kin who belonged to the lion-tribe. For a second Van could only gap, as the woman removed the top of her cloak and eagerly darted her gaze from cage to cage.
Cringing into the corner, Van managed to evade her sight. Automatic recognition of the empress would mean his immediate death, not that it mattered he was already dead.
He watched curiously as her azure eyes stopped at the cage where the albino guard laid. She whispered some soft words to the lion man before taking a lantern and headed for the cage.
The blood eyes ceased scrutinizing him and became focused on the empress.
Interested Van strained his hearing to pick up some of their words in the conversation.
The girl's voice was small as she continued "Dilandau, I am scared."
"Has he touched you" Van didn't fail to pick up the strong sense of protection in her voice.
Selena quickly shook her head in denial "Don't worry about me. He's not interested he's only interested in her"
Her?
"I am worried for you" the empress Selena continued "Allen was talking about how this is going to be the best game ever. He's gone mad"
To Van's surprise Dilandau's hand shot forward to grab Selena's neck. She however made no efforts to get him to remove his hand. How could the woman have such trust in a man who carried such blood lust in his gaze.
Dilandau's words soon answered his question " If he's gone mad, then why don't you run"
"Because…you're…"
"Don't be fucking stupid " Dilandau hissed "I am made for this Selena. You shouldn't care if I…"
"Stop!" Selena cried before reaching forward and pulling his head to meet up with her lips. Never had Van witnessed such passionate displays of affection.
No sooner as she had initiated their hungry kiss between the steel bars, Dilandau pulled away to look in Van's direction.
Selena followed his gaze, concern revealed in her eyes.
"Go!" Dilandau commanded.
"But I checked their all asleep…" the distraught empress continued.
"I said go" even Van winced at the albino's harsh tone. The empress bowed her head in shame before covering her face once more with the cloak before heading towards the exit.
"Don't fucking come down here again," Dilandau yelled out at her back. Van noticed the sudden tenseness in her shoulders as she continued to listen "You're presence is a fucking nuisance"
Slowly she turned around to look at him with a soft smile, although her eyes showed the opposite feelings "I'll get you out. She has to help me eventually."
She?
With that said she left, bringing with her all the light.
Soon Van's garnet eyes met up with the Blood ones. "Don't fucking tell anyone about this Fanel, or you're dead"
REPLIES:
Inda- Sorry to say but I refuse to say whether or not Hitomi is from the Mystic moon. Hehehehe that doesn't necessarily mean that she is or isn't.
Anime Monkey- blush thanks for the comment. I hope this update makes you happy.
F-Zelda- Thank you. I am glad you like the fic
Aradow- Hehehe thanks for the constructive critism. I was a little bit more careful this chapter and I hope it exceeds your expectations.
MirokuLover- Yes I am back, and I intend to be, seeing as I have a lot of time to spare.
Umbarthule- Is this ASAP enough for you? Probably not. Many apologizes
Kayorine- Hmmm… why did I make Allen crazy in it. Well Allen is very possessive, that much can be observed on his reactions in the series ie. Constantly pulling Hitomi at his side, telling her to stay put etc…I thought it would be interesting to exceed that persona in him. Plus Allen would make a pretty good bad guy. And yes, I will admit that hating Allen had 'nothing' to do with me making him crazy.
Tevrah- OMG I can't believe that you're reviewing my fanfic. I am shocked. I love your fanfic All for Love, which I am waiting for an update. Ahem…Yes Allen is really horrible and thanks for the compliment.
Alantie Mistaniu- Thanks, and I will keep writing.