To Love a Theif

By: Helbaworshipper (AKA 'Helb')

Chapter 7

The other lotis masters were surprised at the fact that Scipio had an announcement so early. It was close to midnight before they had seen him enter the room. He was in a new set of clothes and freshly cleaned. His eyes were full of some sort of justice as he came on the makeshift platform in front of everyone. "I have an announcement that will not please many of your hearts. I had not expected such an action so soon, but it has happened. Darva has taken Alice Seno, and we must now plan to rescue her."

Darva's Castle...

Her eyes opened as if she was being held down by lead weights, and her body couldn't move a finger without feeling the pain of a thousand needles. Her hands were free from the rope holding her the night before, and pain came from each wrist if she even twitched her finger. Her eyes began to adjust to the cold darkness and looked to find objects. There was a canopy with gold trim all around her, along with matching silk sheets and curtains. Even her attire felt as if it was draining her body, she couldn't see her lotis bracelet either. A door opened and shut all around her, and she panicked as the canopy was lifted. Maki's face entered her view, her lotis necklace had transformed to a maram one. "Princess Alice, Master Eric would like to see you."

"Maki, I cannot see him."

"He has missed you princess, will you at least speak with him?"

"I guess." Maki's body made it's way to the door, opening it to reveal the figure of her former lotis tutor. His robes fit his true nature, and oozed a hatred that overpowered her mental state. A fog even thicker than the fog caused by dana and iru used together began to form in her mind. She couldn't seem to process a word she could say to get out of the fog, and it's reach kept getting worse.

"My future queen, I ask you a request."

"I wouldn't be your queen if my lotis was the last power I could have in this war." Her voice pulled out with a sort of poison, making her captor's face begin to cringe. Her mind couldn't fight the fog enough to even grasp one word. In a last resort, she cleared her mind completely for only one word. "Raje-" A hand covered her own, and made the fog return to her formerly clear mind.

"Now, now, my future queen, we wouldn't want to jeoperdize the future. Lotis would quickly strike you ill in this castle." His body moved closer, keeping her mouth covered as he pulled her body on his lap. His free arm went around her own as he pulled her close enough to whisper into her ear. "I love you more than anything in this war riddled world." Fear struck in her heart as she let go of the vimuku that had been chanted in her heart enough for him to overpower it with his own dark power. "Now, shall I prove it to you?" She tried to shake her head no, but just as fast as she could mumble a word...his kiss of darkness struck her. Her body instantly fell into a rag doll state as he moved away and began to open the satin cover and sheet up. "I knew you'd see it my way."

Lotis Thieve's headquarters...

Kyou's body felt drained from lack of sleep, he could barely nap or sleep. His worry was escalating beyond the breaking point. He could then feel eyes on him in the lotis garden. Who exactly would be watching him? "Who's there?"

"Oh, I didn't notice that you had already seen us Kyou. I know that you are usually alert to others...but this is just plain pathetic." The male voice greeting him was no other than Frey Weilhausen, a former lotis thief with an unnatural love for jam. "My wife and I have much lower amounts of raw power, and you didn't even notice us. I thought you would since you always seemed to with me." The two sat down beside him on the bench as he moved away from them. The female had not said one word until they were full situated.

"I'm Alice's sister, Mayura Weilhausen. How have you been fairing with the current situation Kyou?"

"How do I look?"

"Is this all for my sister? Or have you fallen in love with her?" Kyou's eyes widened in response to the comment.

Darva's castle...

Her eyes opened as she felt much different, the light restraints of pain felt much better. In fact, they were gone from her mind and seemingly overtaken by the black energy around her. "My queen, do you desire nourishment?"

"I'm sorry for being so disobedient to my emotions. I would be denying my feelings if I were not your queen. I just-" His hand touched her own and smiled.

"My queen, it is not your fault at all. Now, answer my former question."

"Of course, I shall be getting ready while you get your business through." She kissed him quickly on the lips before he raised himself from the chair and left. His robes trailed behind him.

Throne room...

The four maram masters waited patiently for their lord to appear within the room. The door opened ajar, giving way to their leader's strong body to move through the area littered with gold embrodiry and black silk. He sat down on the throne and looked towards the four bowing before his throne. "Your report?"

"Scipio has done just as you have prophesized, Master Eric."

"Has he called all the other lotis masters to him?"

"The only kingdom he has been able to add to his forces is Norway."

"Has he brought the Weilhausens?"

"Yes, the only reinforcements he could recieve."

"Very well, I must get dinner ready for my future queen. Keep up your reports and make sure you don't get caught." The four bowed lower than their current position and dissapeared through a flurry of black rose petals. The male ruler smiled with contentment, and then proceeded to get a special dinner ready.