To Love a Theif

By: Helbaworshipper (AKA 'Helb')

Chapter 8

Alice looked at the mirror nervously one more time before shifting her hair into a more managable state. She anxiously awaited the appearance of her servant Maki, who would lead her down to the dining hall. The dress' sleeves were situated below the shoulder, and the sleeves went from there to half way below the elbows. A boa made of silk also was held in the crook of her elbows, the skin above the brest was also exposed. Her mirror of lota now looked gray, and almost taken over. However, a small speck of light remained on the mirror. A small and barely noticeable knock soon sounded at her door. "Princess Alice, dinner is ready."

"I'm ready." She made her way to the door, opening it to find Maki in much different attire. The future queen nodded before taking her place in the hallway as she was led through the many halls of the reformed castle. The lotis had completely been reformed to the maram ways and every detail had been changed to fit Eric's truly evil ideals. As Maki led her to the door, she opened the door to room with little effort and saw the feast before her. Her body moved, trying to find Eric before hands covered her own eyes.

"You look lovely tonight my queen."

"I tried to look as beautiful as possible, but it still feels as if I am not as complient as your already adornable beauty." A pleasurable smile reached her lips as she felt the hands leave her eyes and arms held her close.

"All you need to look like is my Alice Shini Seno."

Lotis Thieve's Headquarters...

The night brought Kyou's half awakened state to keep him from the full rest he desired. His night shirt and pillow were covered in sweat and tears, and he couldn't seem to hide the fear and worry within his eyes. His body remained still under the covers as he tried his hardest to move through the matierial that seemed to be able to contain him into a prison. "Alice...I love you..."

Darva's Castle...

Alice's face contorted to the strange voice suddenly heard within her head. "My queen, what is wrong? Have we overcooked the meat?" The female shook her head in a 'no' and kept herself strong.

"No, I thought there was a warm breeze in here a moment." Her smile did very little to assure the male in sitting across from her, but he smiled back at her anyway. He nodded an assuring beam back before returning to dinner.

Lotis Thieve's Headquarters...

The next morning after breakfast, Kyou found himself training with Billy until Alice had returned safely to the sanctuary. He watched the maram master simuation in front of him, his mind not on the mouth and attack word used. "Shana!" The male maram master said as it was about to strike him in the stomach.

"Dana!" Billy's strong voice answered, stopping the attack right before it hit him in the stomach. The two sat down for a break, and the larger man pulled out something from his pocket. He handed it to Kyou, who recognized it as a biscuit. "You aren't eating much anymore, and your concentration is suffering Kyou."

"I know." Kyou began to nibble at the bread as he listened to the older male make another statement.

"Its Alice, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'll say this to you for a warning. If a maram master can kill you in a simulation, then you can't fight the strong maram masters in his castle." Kyou nodded before he began to nibble again at the biscuit.

Scipio's Room...

The three figures within the room worried about the future of the wars outcome. Mayura and Frey Weilhausen sat in front of Scipio as the spoke of the plans they could barely be able to get done. "I fear for Kyou's safety, and for his powers. He has barely been able to progress since Alice's capture in her field test."

"I understand your fears, Mayura. However, we must keep in mind that as a neo-master he is responsible for it."

"Scipio, as the leader of lotis you should be urging him!" Her husband placed a hand on her own and shushed her with his free hand.

"Scipio is doing the best job he can, and it is up to Kyou that his powers grow."

"Frey, are you also being unsupportive of his endeavor!"

"He is not I can assure you Mayura. I believe Frey is right. Kyou will be a target, but now we must let him grow on his own."

Darva's Castle...

Eric's figure moved to the head of the table, Alice had been asleep for a few hours from her remedy. However, he had been able to calm her without another resistance battle against him. "Kayna, have you targeted the source of my future queen's problems?"

"Yes I have, it is Kyou Wakamiya."

"Is he strong enough to fight us in his current state?"

"No."

"Then we shall take advantage of that little weakness, tomorrow night you shall attack him." The four other figures nodded as they dissapeared in a flurry of rose petals again.

Kyou's room...

The next morning brought Kyou something even worse to him, the sheets that imprisoned him within his bed also seemed to be making him dizzy. The sun took to imprison his body as well, as it wouldn't let him dream of being free of the prison of matierials around him. A knock brought him to try and move towards the door, but the prison would not allow him to open the door. The person knocking came in with a slow and cautious step as the made their way towards him. His vision was bluring in and out of focus as he tried to see who it was. "Kyou?" The voice was male, so there was a male person here. A cool hand touched his head as he tried to focus more on the male person speaking to him. He had a focus on the male for a moment, and then lost it.

"Scipio."

"I see that you won't be training at all today, Mei Lin will be here soon to bring some sort of food to you." The figure in the bed nodded as his eyes were allowed to close and sleep.

That night brought him even worse punishment from his prison. He felt as if he could move around at will through some sort of energy wave of cold through the room. His eyes popped open more than once for this punishment. In his loss of concentration, he failed to notice the female maram master that had come out of the shadows of his room.