CHAPTER FOUR

: Thoughts :

Through the gothic windows, covered with black velvet draperies, emitted a ray of light that bore between the small section, untouched by the curtains. The branches of trees scraped against the chalice, scarring the windows and awakening Hitomi.

Blinking redundantly, she arose from the linen blankets, pooling around her small frame, hidden beneath them. A cool, hissed breeze rushed past her, gaining her attention as she tilted her head in the direction of the open window.

I don't remember that being open……..

Shuffling her legs beneath the thick warm comforters, she scanned the obscure room in which she occupied. Grimacing she slipped reluctantly away from the bed, tossing her legs over the edge before she slumped her body up. The cold temperature of the floor bolted through her bare feet as she scuffled them together, sustaining warmth as she folded her arms over her chest and released a dry shiver, her body shaking as a tremor arose within her. Teeth clamping, she controlled the chatter of them as she walked stiffly to the door.

She knew it was locked, but she knew she wouldn't be able to return to sleep now as well. Gazing blankly upon the bronze handle, she studied it meticulously, forming ideas of escape in doing so. The vanilla hued white gown she donned, sculptured her small bosom and thin waist, trailing into curvaceous hips that sloped to slender legs, milky and toned in appearance. Near her thighs, the gown flourished in an outward motion, resembling an elegant dress worn only for weddings, and special occasions. She wondered where Chesta received such a beautiful robe.

Shaking her head slightly she looked back up, once again resuming her thoughts of escaping. She hadn't seen Dilandau since she was kidnapped, only heard him in the halls that evening, arguing with several slayers who had obviously defied him. Just hearing that enraged voice that possessed a demonic tone, sent volts of shivers to run along her spine.

A click snapped her from her reverie as she whipped her head up, watching the gold handle twist downward in a slow motion. Mouth agape she fled to the bed, plummeting swiftly below the covers as she hid her entire body, allowing only her green eyes to skim over the black comforters. With an eerie creak of rusting hinges, the door swerved open, the silhouette darkened by the lurking shadows. A glimpse of shimmering teeth, between a sinister grin, appalled her as she shut her eyes, despising the impish smirk, belonging to the figure standing behind the door.

She waited silently, comforting herself with the rhythmic beat of her pounding heart, beating belligerently against her bosom. Who could it be? Was it one of Dilandau's slayers?

What if it is Dilandau?

Her parched lips parted, releasing rugged sharp breaths as the footsteps escalated above her heart beat, obtaining her attention as the figures boots clanked ruggedly against the granite floors, the scrape of steel and armor audible. Clenching her teeth behind her taut lips shut in desperation, the boast foot steps halted, and her eyes snapped open quickly upon heeding the silence. She realized being there, beneath the blankets for so long, was causing an unusual damp, stuffiness to dwell around her nostrils. Her hands were clutched in balled fists near her mouth, clinging securely to the comforters, bundled in her hands.

" Wake up my sweet pet, its time to join the game," A malicious chuckle arose in the boys throat, declaring his masculinity as the sonorous sound erupted within the room. Swallowing the lump, throbbing in her throat, she hoped he'd believe she had yet to awaken as she remained still.

She yelped, and huddled into a small bundle against the bed post as he snatched the covers and tossed them off her frame. She felt vulnerable and weak as she could feel his eyes boring through her skin, releasing goose bumps as the chilly air whisked past her body.

" Get up, you pathetic whore," Dilandau spat, his once devious, mocking tone transformed into utter repulse and anger as he clasped her hair in his hand, lifting her limp body up by her roots.

Whimpers stumbled from her lips as he flared her around, shaking her coarsely before he slammed her into the bed.

" Your not so tough. When Fanel isn't around to protect you." He sneered and she leapt in response.

" Van will come! He will! He's beaten you before, he'll do it again!"

A maniacal laughter retorted her optimism as he arched his head back, allowing the chuckles to soar above, raking her within as the sound pounded against her ears.

" You're a fool!" He smirked with depravation, his eyes concealed beneath thick, black lashes, but the red irises bolted toward her intensely through shards of his white mane, toppling over his forehead in an unusual fashion. She hadn't recognized him at first glimpse once he had stepped into the rays of moonlight. His hair was plastered to his face, his crown obsolete as his forehead sustained a bareness. A soft tinge of pink had flowed into his cheeks, contrasting to his white teeth. He looked almost…….seductive. His torso was revealed, partially covered near the pectoral section with white gauze, leaking near the center of his bosom with blood. He looked worn out as he slumped over her in a hovering manner.

When did he get so close?!

Fright enveloped her. His left hand was tightly fastened to the sleek, wooden table beside the bed, whilst his right arm had drifted atop the bed beside her left thigh. Grinning sharply he steered his face forward, his neck stretching to accommodate to the prior angle. Gulping audibly she shuffled back absently, the thick cologne surrounding her senses as he mounted his legs atop the bed. The added body weight caused the mattress to sink slightly as he moved closer.

" W-what do you think your doing?" She demanded. Struggling to sound angered, even though her heart pounded with evident fear.

" Dense? I'm not impressed," He commented, slyly smirking with a bitter laugh as he backed away. She exhaled sharply, having unnoticeably been holding her breath the entire time. He slumped back, his arms gliding slightly behind his hips as he hosted his legs into a knee lock position. She studied his nonchalant posture swiftly.

" Looking at something, Kanzaki?" He snipped sharply, glaring toward her before he tilted his head slightly to the side, allowing his left cheek to brush lightly against his adjacent shoulder.

" I was planning on taking you to the plains and decapitating you," He announced, the conversation steering into a whole new station as a psychotic expression greeted his visage.

" But it didn't sound entertaining. Besides I wish for Fanel to be there to watch," He sneered.

" Your disgusting!" She shouted, clenching her fists and wanting nothing more but to slap that disturbing grin off his face.

" No," He spat sternly, swiftly moving and pinning her under him, strapping his hands around her wrists, whilst he used his hips to keep her lower body from fidgeting within his grasp.

" You, you and your moronic bastard lover, Fanel, are disgusting," He began, leering at her as he did so.

" Your pathetic humans who only whine and bitch about everything," He grunted, and she drew her head to the side as his fast rate of speech caused vague splotches of spit to fall on her cheek.

" You don't know anything, and could give a damn,"

" Get off," She commanded, her eyes narrowing into slants as she swerved her eyes to the side to watch him. He ignored her and continued.

" You don't even know if your fighting on the right side,"

" I do, and I am."

" Is that so? Can you be so sure?" He persisted, lowering his head, permitting his hot breath to wisp over her earlobe as he grumbled the words in a rugged tone. She writhed beneath him, earning a snarl from Dilandau as he slammed her firmly into the bed, his fingers digging into her wrists as he tightened his hold. Wincing visibly below his gaze he chuckled wryly. He was indeed, enjoying himself. Her useless protests only drove him further to aggravate her.

He shifted his hips, a strangled hiss of air slipping off his tongue as an ache broke into the wound, pumping more blood as his movements tore it open partially. He had awoken in the middle of the night to a racket near the girls room. He had decided to inspect the noise, even in his ill condition. The last thing he needed was for his plans to be ruined because she escaped.

Upon scanning the areas surroundings, he concluded to further investigate as he entered the chambers she resided in. It would not do for his main piece of the puzzle to get away. If she got away it would completely destroy all his plans, and that would not do.

Her voice broke his thoughts as he lowered his head to look down at her.

" You're the fool, if you think your going to get away with this,"

" I have, and I assure you I will,"

It all felt like a dream to her, and she only wished it was so she could awaken from it. He had barged into her room so stealthily and everything happened so fast that nothing prevented her from thinking it wasn't a nightmare. Did he do this all the time? Just get up in the middle of the night and wake his captives up for the hell of it?

I have to do something……..

But what could she do? He was far too strong compared to her, and his defiant posture weakened her. He pried his hands off her, his expression stoic as he arose off the bed and stood near the wooden table.

" The bargain," He muttered suddenly, and she couldn't help looking up at him with a meek, and slightly squeaked.

" W-what?"

His lids feel over his eyes, and she breathed calmly in relief. She never liked looking into them, they reminded her of the blood he shed. She knew he was a murderous jerk who killed the innocent with obsolete remorse, and simply thought of it as honoring them by killing them with his bare hands. A soft flutter of air left his nostrils as he scowled slightly.

" Forgot, already?" He snarled, his black, long lashes fluttering as he turned his gaze to hers in a stern glare. She shuddered inwardly, but produced a confident expression as she furrowed her brows and stayed calm.

" No," She sneered, absently clasping the sheets, clenched between her parted fingers. Turning away he grumbled slightly before he jerked his head upward in a haughty manner.

" And I intend to keep it; if Van is not harmed." She chimed sternly, glaring solemnly at his broad shoulders trembling slightly as he chuckled impishly, the muscles in his back contracting with the movements. His skin hue was light, with a tint of bronze shimmering his body with a sleek shine, as sweat coated his rising back. He titled his head slightly to the side, allowing her gaze to greet his side profile. She absently outlined his straight nose, trailing to his lips, puckered with a light pink flush, the vague lines near his jawbone shadowed in perfection, highlighting his beauty.

" Hn, and your positive you would be able to go through it?" He questioned skeptically, as he examined her features intently with mild satisfaction as she arched her chin up and grumbled within her bosom.

" What makes you think I'm not capable of it?" She mumbled, leaning slightly forward with impatience.

He laughed before claming. " You think you would be capable of siding with me and my slayers till the day you die?"

For some reason she knew the question was rhetorical. She knew she didn't possess the endurance to fight on Dilandau's side. She would never see Van again, or Allen and Merle. She would never be able to see them once she committed to the bargain. But if Van and the others would be safe, she would risk it all for them.

I can't depend on Van to always be the hero…

It wasn't a mistake, right? She was doing the right thing, wasn't she?

She nibbled her bottom lip, ruminating over her hasty decision. She could always trick them into believing she had joined his side. But would Dilandau be that blind to allow it to go unnoticed? Along with his slayers?

" Your not so positive anymore, are you?" He chuckled with mockery.

Then again why should she have to join them if Van was clearly in no danger? It didn't seem they had captured him, she would have foretold such. She remained silent, watching him from behind her bangs that hung over her brows, as her head remained slumped.

" I thought as much," He sneered as he turned around completely. " Your nothing but a scared bitch. You hide behind Fanel when you can't defend yourself,"

She whimpered silently as he clutched her chin coarsely, jerking her head toward him, as he forced her to stare into his eyes.

" Trust me, I can't wait for the true fun to begin," He released her jaw, before he retreated with a vague limp in his stride out.

Van opened the door a mere inch, permitting only one eye to peer to the corridors. Dilandau was standing firmly affront the room he believed Hitomi in, locking it securely with a gold key before he looked up and smirked.

" Sleep well, Hitomi," He murmured slyly before he exited the halls, turning around the upcoming corner. Van felt a wave of relief and joy flood within him. So he had been right! Hitomi was in fact in that room! If only he had that damn key, he'd take Hitomi away from this place. He missed holding her in his protective embrace. Her smile and positive flare. Her green eyes that shown love and care whenever she looked at him. He missed it all.

He shuffled inside the storage room, scanning through the weapons for anything he could possibly use to unlock the door. It was far too dark, as he used his hands, sliding them over the floor with meticulous motions. Slipping his slender fingers under a sheathed sword, he picked up a small device, examining it closely.

It looked like a hair pin. He furrowed his brows before tucking the item inside his pocket. He didn't care as to how it got there, as long as he could save Hitomi, all was well. Pushing his head out, he thoroughly checked the premises before he agilely slipped out of the closet, crawling slightly before he leapt up and pushed himself against the wall.

Just wait Hitomi………I'm almost there…

Looking around once more and feeling confident no one was around; he shuffled affront the door and prepared to unlock it before he heard a maniacal laugh behind him.

Shit!

Dilandau locked her door firmly before he left and returned to his room, well aware of the brown eyes filled with a maroon swirl, watching him intently.

The fun had begun much sooner than expected. But it was no matter. He would be able to torture the lovers longer than thought.

He watched Van exit the weapon storage room with stealth, but not enough to surpass his wary eyes. Oh no. No-one could ever pass him without being noticed. He wasn't a fool.

He waited for the precise moment. Upon watching him tug a pin from his pocket he immediately sauntered behind him, laughing to gain his attention.

" Well, well. Fanel! So good to see you!" He mocked a bow before he stood up properly, grinning sadistically toward the raven haired man, who tensed in utter shock. So he had scared the all mighty king? How amusing.

Narrowing his eyes with a satisfied expression he tapped his hand on his sword in a rhythmic pattern.

" It truly has been a long time since last I slaughtered someone so high of importance, as you, Fanel," He sneered.

Van growled as he whirled around with a vigorous glare. " Release her this instant. She has nothing to do with this," He spat.

" Oh? She doesn't does she?"

" Quite odd since she can foretell the future," he smirked widely as he slumped slightly back. " That's quite an important role to me,"

" Touch her and you die,"

Dilandau laughed, unable to contain his joy for such wondrous entertainment. " Then my good man, your much too late,"

Rage boiled inside the King of Fanelia as he trembled in ultimate rage. He touched her!? He dare touch his Hitomi!?

" You-You disgusting bastard!"

" Please, refrain from compliments. Especially during such an important matter as this," He stated with a maniacal grin.

" You'll pay, for even laying your eyes on her!"

That's right………..get angry Fanel. You're a much better opponent when your blood thirsty. The battle is more exhilarating when your completely possessed by your inner turmoil to kill.

" Yes….." He hissed lowly. Plans were going just as thought.

Hitomi burst up as she recognized the voice almost immediately. Van! He's here!

Bolting up from the bed she raced to the door, and by sheer joy and impulse her fists began to pound against the door frame as she yelled his name redundantly.

Van paused as his eyes shifted to the shaking door. Hitomi……….he was so close yet so far. Turning his gaze back to Dilandau he bypassed her wails from inside.

He'd destroy Dilandau first, then save Hitomi. He couldn't risk getting her hurt. If he endangered her life, he wouldn't live with himself.

" Van! Van I'm in here!" Hitomi shouted. It was him out there, wasn't it? She could never mistaken his voice. But then, why wasn't he answering her?

" Van!"

A bolt of pain seared in her temples as her pendant began to glow and shake against her bosom. Arising slightly in the air, a light emitted from the gem, before the green light engulfed her as well as the room in its vibrant rays.

A similar vision flashed before her eyes. But more detailed as she could now see that Van and Dilandau were standing affront the very room in which she was in. A soft whimper stumbled off her lips before the light vanished into the gem that fell back against her chest as she plummeted into the ground.

No, it couldn't be.

Arising swiftly she leapt against the door, pounding her fists against the door frame, screaming Van's name.

" Van, don't do it! Get out now!" Upon receiving no response she began to tremble with sobs.

" Van! Please!" She entreated in a frantic shriek.

" Your whore is awaiting you, Fanel," Dilandau mocked.

" This is between you and me," Van sneered, tugging out his sword in a swift jerk of his right hand as he revealed the weapon from its sheath beside his hip.

" Too true," Dilandau, though weakened in his state had other plans for the King of Fanelia.

Time for the real game to begin

A/N: Ah! I'm sorry I left it there, but I ran out of ideas. Go me, right? -_-

I'll try and update sooner, but exams are coming up this week so I'll be busy. I won't have time to write! I also am having second thoughts on the pairing. Lots of you want this to be a Van/Hitomi fic, and others want this to be a Dilandau/Hitomi. Which was what I had planned this out to be…….but I may be persuaded otherwise. And who knows I might make this a triangle. ^o^

Tell me what you think. And Please Read and Review. MAKE IT A RITUAL! :P