Author's Notes: I profusely apologize! I had evey intention of posting up this chapter on the weekend, but I do have vaild excuses. Saturday I wasn't home all day, and then Ihad a family emergency that night. Sunday the computer was taken over ALL day, and yes I do mean ALL day. I attempted to get on,but I nearly had my head bitten off. It wasn't a pleasant experience. But hopefully this extra-long chapter will appease you, if only slightly. Enjoy! (And yes, I still plan on posting up another chapter this weekend, too.)

Disclaimer: I only own what I have bought and what I have created. This does not include Saman King. Unfortunately. -sighs-

Chapter 4: Onyx

Anna was awakened by the first rays of sunlight rising in the sky. She winced as she stretched out her limbs; she hadn't moved an inch from the same position she'd fallen asleep in.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow," she replied to her protesting muscles.

She sat up on her bed, and took a moment to glance out her window before she swung her legs over the side of her bed and slid gracefully off.

Anna looked at the small table and stool on her left, against the wall. She walked over to it and discovered fresh water in the water pitcher.

' Who did this,' she vaguely wondered. She sighed. ' Oh well. It doesn't matter much, now does it? I might as well use it since it's there.' she thought as she poured water into the bowl and washed her face. As she finished, she grabbed a towel and dried her face, while she walked over to her wooden wardrobe.

Anna opened the doors and let the towel hang around her neck. She pulled open drawers until she discovered a hair comb.

'Good. Now I can at least look half-way decent this morning.'

She grabbed the comb, shut the drawer and doors, and walked over to the window. She set the comb down on the ledge, opened the lock, pushed open the glass and watched the rest of the sun rise...

...Tamao found Anna an hour later, still at the window, gazing absently at nothing.

Tamao knocked twice, then opened the door. "Good Morning, Miss Anna! Wow, you're up already? Good, now we have an hour until Pirika awakens. That gives us plenty of time for breakfast. Ready? Let's go," Tamao babbled cheerily.

Anna turned her head slightly with a raised eyebrow at the bubbily girl. ' Well, someone's in a good mood this morning,' she mused, but followed Tamao out the door none-the-less, shutting it behind her with a soft click.

She trailed behind Tamao, down the corridor and four stories until they reached the kitchen. Tamao led Anna through the servant's entrance, by a back staircase.

Anna walked in to find herself in a fairly large kitchen, with the smells of food cooking surrounding her. There were pots and pans everywhere, some bubbling with an unknown substance on the stove, others hanging from various places on the walls, waiting to be used. Steam and heat filled the room, but it was more of comforting warmness, then an overbearing heat.

The welcoming atmosphere of the room made Anna relax slightly.

"Hey Tamao! Breakfast is ready and waiting for you. It's hot off the stove. Your sure early, aren't you?" came the voice of a person, currently buried inside an oven.

"Good Morning to you too, Chocolove," Tamao replied as the his face emerged from the oven, a tray of freshly baked bread in his hands. "I wanted an early start so that I could show Miss A-I mean- Anna around." Tamao glanced at Anna apologetically when Chocolove was busy setting the tray on the prep table. Anna nodded her head faintly, it was best to avoid suspicion around people who didn't have their stones yet.

"Oh! So you must be the new girl, huh? It's spice to meat you," Chocolove said as he help up a container of spices and shook them over some meat cooking on the stove. "Ha ha! Get it? Spice, nice? Meat, meet? Ha ha! Want to hear anoth--umm...heh-heh...nevermind..."

Chocolove cut himself off upon seeing Anna glaring death at him.

Tamao looked at Anna and Chocolove nervously, "Ummm, Ch-Chocolove? I think we'll have our breakfast on the go. I still need to show M-Anna around, so that she knows where everything is."

"S-S-Sure. Go right ahead. No problem. Enjoy," Chocolove replied nervously back, "I need to get back to my duties anyway."

Tamao walked to the far side of the room and grabbed some food off a small table there. Then she came back across the room and walked out the back kitchen door, signaling for Anna to follow her.

"Oh hey, Tamao," came Chocolove's voice from inside the door.

"Yes?" Tamao peeked her head back inside.

"I'm a little over-run with all this food preparation. Could you round-up some help for me to help during the dinner tonight?"

"Sure, no problem." Tamao popped back out and walked over to Anna. "Sorry about that, Miss Anna. Now, where shall we go? Oh, I know! Follow me."

Anna followed behind slowly, with her arms across her chest. 'He'll never change, will he? Those jokes of his, if you can even call them that...I guess Tamao was right, personalities so stay the same. Interesting. Then I wonder why-'

"Here we are!" Tamao's voice unknowingly cut through Anna's thoughts.

Anna looked up to find herself at the base of a large tree, with a tiny pond on it's opposite side. Tamao had sat down near the pond and was setting the food out. Anna sat down next to Tamao and began to eat mechanically.

When they had finished eating, Tamao spoke up, "Well, I think it's time you know about the castle, Miss Anna. Especially now."

Anna looked over at Tamao, but didn't comment.

Tamao drew in the damp dirt near the edge of the pond. "As you can see the castle has ten stories altogether, there are eight above ground and two below."

Tamao pointed to each floor on her drawing as she explained. "The two floors below ground are the dungeons. Ren says that they become increasingly worse the farther back and below you go, but I've never been down that far myself." She shivered from memories inside her head.

"Anyways, going up, you have the first floor, it consists of the entrance hall, the Main Hall, Dining room, and the kitchen. The second floor is Akumu's floor. I'm not sure about much in there because I've never been allowed inside. Only Akumu's personal servants can enter inside, unless it's someone of a higher standing. You would have to ask Jeanne if you want to know more.

"The third floor is Pirika's floor, as you know already. The fourth floor is mostly the library, but it also contains quite a number of guests room too. Although they've never been used as long as we've been here. The fifth floor is our sleeping quarters, but it's strictly females only. The floor above us, the sixth floor, is for all male servants. The seventh floor is the throne room; the entire floor, and we aren't allowed in there either. Ever. Only Akumu and Lyzerg have a key to that room, and Lyzerg only has one so that it can be cleaned. The last and top floor is the roof, and I think that one is pretty self-explanitory."

Anna took in all the information and listened intently to everything Tamao had said. She studied the map intently as Tamao explained, in detail, what each room contained, where all the halls and staircases led to, and where they were and weren't supposed to wander.

By the time Tamao had finished, it was time for the two of them to return to the castle and awaken Pirika.

They climbed the stairs toward Pirika's room. Once they reached her door, Tamao brought up a hand to knock, but a voice sounded out from behind them, "Good Morning Tamao, Anna."

Both girls turned to see Jun heading towards them.

'Why does everyone pop up like that?' Anna wondered to herself. 'At least she didn't burst up behind me like just about everyone else around here has.'

Anna nodded her head in greeting as Tamao uttered a cheery "Good Morning." Then Tamao gave a quick knock on the door before all three entered the room. "It's time to wake-up Hime-sa...ma..." Tamao trailed off.

"Is something wrong?" Anna asked.

Tamao jumped and blushed slightly, embarassed from her spacing out, as she hurried inside the room.

"Is something the matter Tamao? Are you getting sick? You're all red." Pirika asked.

Tamao blushed an even darker shade of pink as she stuttered," G-Gomen, Hime-sama, I'm just s-suprised to see you up and dressed s-so early."

This time it was Pirika's turn to blush. "Oh! I-I-I just woke up a bit earlier today, that's all." She fidgeted with her dress.

There was a moment of akward silence, in which Anna and Jun stood aloff, but in silent amusement.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Anna noticed Pirika suddenly sit-up straighter in her chair.

Jun, who was closest, opened the door. "Yes? May I help you?"

She opened the door wider upon seeing Jeanne at the door. Jeanne curtsied in greeting and said," I have a message for Hime-sama, from her elder sister, our Ojou-sama. She wishes Hime-sama to begin today's training with her now."

Pirika looked slightly disappointed for a fraction of a second upon seeing Jeanne at the door, but answered cheerfully, "Hai. I'm ready now." Pirika hopped off her chair and walked to the door.

Jeanna curtsied in respect to Pirika as she reached the door, but Pirika turned around to address the three before leaving. "You three can do whatever you feel like today, since it looks like I'll be busy all day again." Then she and Jeanne were out the door and down the hall.

As soon as they had disappeared Tamao and Jun collapsed into giggles. Tamao turned to Jun and said, " You do know who she was expecting at the door, right?"

Jun nodded in response. "Ren."

Anna couldn't help but smirk. Even with Akumu's spells, Pirika still liked Ren. 'Looks like you can't control everything, can you Akumu?'

Jun stopped giggling and sighed. " I feel so bad for Ren. He has such a sensitive heart, and yet Ojou-sama insists on him controlling the dungeons and punishments. It must tear him up inside. I've also seen him look so forlornly at Hime-sama, but it can never be. Servants and royalty, especially when the royalty is Ojou-sama's youngest sister? That's impossible. If I were Ren or Hime-sama's sister I would let be together. How tragic." Jun shook her head. "Why don't you two spend the day as you wish? I'll look after things here in case one of us is needed."

Anna and Tamao nodded their thanks and left Pirika's quarters.They walked down the hall in silence for a moment, each lost in her own thoughts. Then Tamao broke the silence. "It's not only Pirika he looks at like that. He looks at Jun in a similiar way. He misses them both terribly, even if he won't admit it."

Anna glanced over at Tamao. 'I know just how he must feel.'

The pair walked in silence once more until they reached a back door leading outside.

Tamao turned to Anna, blushing slightly. "I hope you don't mind Miss Anna, but I'm going to help Horohoro today. You can come along if you wish."

Anna shook her head. "I have plans."

"Then I'll see you around dinner, to help Chocolove." Tamao waved a hand behind her as she raced off into the gardens.

Anna watched her leave, before she started walking.

'Akumu's tearing everyone apart; taking away their memories, forcing them to do petty jobs...Why? What does she want from us? What does she want Yoh for? My fiance...'

Anna blinked and realized she had wandered to the same place that she and Tamao had had breakfast not too long ago. She sat up against the tree with her knees pulled up to her chin. She placed her arms on her knees, rested her chin on her arms and stared at the woods surrounding her, intently, as if they held the answers she sought.

She sat there all day. Thinking. Thinking about everything. Thinking about nothing.

There were so many pieces to the puzzle left to solve, and so little time do put it all together. Today was the second day. There were only five left, and the problem was, she didn't really know where to begin. Half of everyone she knew was still under the spell and no one knew how to lift it off. The stones had something to do with it, but what?

'Its all just so frustrating. What am I going to do...'

Hours later Tamao and Horohoro found Anna still staring blankly ahead of her.

"Miss Anna? Miss Anna? Are you alright?" Tamao walked over and touched Anna's arm.

Anna closed her eyes and sighed. "Hai." She unfolded herself, stood up, and brushed herself off. "Is it time to help Chocolove?"

Tamao nodded.

"Then let's go."

Anna began to head back toward the castle.

After exchanging concerned glances, Tamao and Horohoro followed after her.

---------

"Thanks for your guy's help. It's very--" Chocolove cut himself off. Anna had stopped her work in anticipation of his next attempt at a joke, but Chocolove didn't continue. His forehead still throbbed from the potato she had thrown at him after his last joke. He sighed in relief when Anna continued what she was doing.

"Don't worry about it, dude. We're glad to help," said Horohoro.

Tamao smiled in agreement.

'Speak for yourselves,' Anna thought. 'Stupid castle. If Akumu's so powerful why doesn't she have the food cook itself?' Anna was hard at work, watching the water boil in it's pot, on the stove. No one had really gotten her to do much more than that. To tell the truth, no one had dared try. And by now there wasn't much left to do, but clean everything up since the meal was finishing up.

Tamao came over and relieved Anna of her duty. She took the pot and poured most of it into the sink for dishes and used the rest to clean everything else up. While Chocolove, Horohoro, and Tamao cleaned, Anna walked across the room to the small table.

She sat down and rested her head in hands, gazing absently at the wall. She knew he was in the room next door. 'We're only seperated by a wall, but I'm not allowed in there. Only the cook could serve his own meals. To enter would cause trouble, and to save everyone I have to be inconspicuous. No matter how much I want to see him.' She sighed. 'It's all so complicated.'

Tamao came over, discreetly, and whispered to Anna. "If you want to see him, wait outside the right dining room door. They always exit through it and head upstairs by using the grand staircase. Take a water pitcher with you and water the plants just outside it."

Tamao continued her work. After a minute Anna grabbed a pitcher, filled it with water, and left through a servants' corridor that lead into the Main Hall. Tamao watched her go with a small, pained smile.

---------

Anna stood outside the door in nervous anticipation. 'What in the world am I getting nervous for?,' she asked herself angrily. She recieved her answer when the door opened. A tall, dark figure emerged from the doorway and Anna could do nothing but stare...

The person to emerge had long straight black hair, which reached almost to her knees, with a small silver circlet placed atop her head. Her cold piercing pale violet eyes accented her malicious grin. She wore a long black, purple, and silver silk layered dress that flowed behind her. And hanging around her neck was a small pointed black stone, dangling from a purple silk ribbon.

Her very presence on the room radiated a cold, dark power.

Anna felt a cold chill slide down her back, and she had to wrench away her gaze from the woman before her.

Akumu.

The cause of all the trouble. The one who had single-handly turned all of their lives upside down.

Anna turned back to watering the plants, but kept an eye on Akumu, cautiously.

She heard Akumu's heels click nearly silent on the stone floor as she walked past without acknowledging Anna's presence. Anna felt a tingling sensation on her right side. She glanced over and then did a double-take to see...

...Yoh.

He walked by silently, and when he passed on her left she got a good look at him out of the corner of her eye.

Her heart missed a beat and she dropped the water pitcher in horror. Shards of pottery and water went everywhere.

The sound of the breaking pitcher brought her back to reality, and she hastily dropped to the ground and hid her face behind her hair as she began to pick-up the shards. But the sound had alerted many. Akumu whirled around and said in a sweet yet menancing voice, "Please be more careful with that, and quickly pick-up those pieces before they hurt someone...important." She said the last word icily and filled with spite.

Then Akumu's attention shifted and she called out, "Come along my beloved fiance. Let us leave her to do her job." Yoh had stopped to view the scene before him when the pitcher shattered, but now he continued to walk toward Akumu, and together they climbed the stairs.

As soon as they were out of sight, Tamao ran into the room, her voice laced with panic, "Miss Anna? Are you okay? I heard the pitcher break and I rushed over here; I saw the whole thing. Are you hurt at all? Here let me help you."

Tamao helped gather all the pieces, dispose of them, and dry away t'he water. She came back into the hall to find Anna staring at the stairs.

"Miss Anna?"

"...His face...his face had absolutely no emotion on it, and...and his eyes were completely empty...They were void of everything. It was like he had no soul...," Anna's voice shook in both shock and anger.

Tamao looked toward the stairs, too, and said softly,"Yes, he's been that way ever since we all arrived here."

Anna turned away abruptly and left through the servants door.

Tamao tried to follow. "Miss Anna?" But a gentle hand on her shoulder held her back. She looked over at the person holding shoulder and sighed. "I'm worried about her."

Horohoro replied,"Don't worry. It's Anna. She'll be alright; she's strong. If anyone can find a way to beat Akumu and bring Yoh back to us, it's Anna."

Tamao nodded her head in agreement, but still looked after the door through which Anna had left, slightly worried.

--------

Anna climbed the stairs and walked down the corridors, towards her room, fuming.

'How could she--? How could that vile woman--? How could she do that to him? WHAT has she done to him?'

She shook her head sharply.

'It doesn't matter. What ever she's done, I'll undo it! I'll get him back. No matter what it takes. Then I'll make her pay for what she's done. Oh yes, she'll pay...dearly...And she'll regret that she ever crossed paths with Anna Kyoyama...'