Chapter 9: The History and the Eyes
A/N: Hello all. I'm so sorry this took me so long to update. But school/life has been crazy. Crazy crazy. Anyhoo. Some things to some specific people before I start.

Sakura Shinguji-Albatou: Thanks for the spelling correction and the thing about the energists—dopey me forgot! Folken is a little bit different than the series and the movie, but with good reason I promise. And in this, Dilandau's status as a General will be explained.

I'll Be Seein' You: I love you for reviewing and loving me. And I love Dilandau too.

Cala Akina Morushiku: I'll try to update more but I have a hugely crazy and busy schedule and no life. And I am most definitely checking out The Phantom. I'll review for ya. ;)

BGR: I'm glad it's fascinating. I try, but I'm never sure if I'm successful.

And here we go with the actual story...

Dilandau strode down the hall with his usual air of smug dignity, but today there was a look of unparalleled joy to it as well. It was a rare thing to see Folken as angry as he had been when he found out the prisoner had escaped, and an even rarer thing to see him pacing. He was worried and fear was something Dilandau loved. He loved the smell of it in the air, the look of it on a trapped animal's face, the taste of it in the blood... he especially liked it when Folken was afraid.

Not that he hadn't been upset that the prisoner had escaped. He had been upset. Extremely upset. He remembered with little joy the priceless sculptures he had smashed in the library and the servants' blood he had smeared all over the floor. Yes, it had irritated him. Because that never happened. Never, in his entire life, had somebody escaped from the Vione, except for once... Dilandau's fingers gently traced the scar on his cheek and his eyebrows snapped together in a familiar, brooding frown. Only he had ever gotten away, and then only because of the Mystic Moon bitch. The day he had been scarred. The Dragon had never had to pay in full for his audacity.

Dilandau shook his head and turned his thoughts back to the matter at hand. He was walking toward her bedroom; he wanted nothing more than to find out how the hell she had managed to piss Folken off so badly. And get him so worried.

And he wanted to know how the hell she had gotten past his Dragonslayers and helped the prisoner escape. He had almost managed to convince himself that that was the only reason he wanted to be there, that there was no ulterior motive he had. The truth was he wanted to see if he had been wrong about her, about her being just a weak, incompetent woman with no spine, to see if she could possibly be worthy enough for him to—for him to kill her.

Dilandau shook his head in slight confusion at the direction he thought his thoughts had been going and suddenly realized he was standing in front of her door. He frowned at the fact that her door had a lock code on it and raised his hand irritably to knock. His loud rapping was answered with a snap.

Go away, whoever you are or I'll cut off your balls and have them for shish ke bab.

Dilandau smirked. She was kind of funny when she was pissed. He knocked again.

Do I really have to say it again? I am in no mood for visitors so go the hell away before I figure out how to blow somebody's mind up from the inside.

He was irritated to find a little curl or worry in his stomach when she said that. He didn't need his brain blowing up in any way, though he doubted she could do it, even if she did figure it out. She didn't have the power.

It's General Albatou. Let me in, he commanded sternly, hoping that the authority in his voice would get through the metal of the door.

Let me think—NO!Woman, this is an order from your superior. Open the door now.

There was a brief silence from the other side of the door. And what are you going to do if I tell you to go screw yourself, which is what I'm planning to do?I'm going to break this fucking door down! he shouted, finally losing his temper. He could probably do it, if he were pissed enough. And the way she's acting, he thought irritably, I'll be pissed enough.

she snapped. Come in.

The door opened with a metallic hiss and he stepped in, ready to smack her for having the nerve to disobey him for so long. But the sight of her stopped him. She was standing by the window, glaring out over the world, and she was wearing a uniform of black. The coat was military styled, high necked and long-sleeved, and sleek silver buttons snapped up its double-breasted front. The pants were the same as everybody else's, and her boots were the same soft-soled black that the rest of the Dragonslayer's had.

Only somebody with Dilandau's training in observation would have noticed the gloves and so quickly realized what they were for. They were small and black, dainty like her hands, with silver snaps at the wrist to tighten them. His eyes widened a little. All that power and she's just letting it be caged? He would never let his own power be caged like that. Never would he submit to being a slave for another's purposes.

What do you want? she said crossly, noticing that his eyes had traveled over her body one too many times.

Dilandau said nothing, just watched her as she paced like a panther in a cage.

Have you come to gloat, come to tell me that you knew I'd end up like this, that I've been heading toward this for a while now? I already knew. I knew this would happen. One way or another they wouldn't even let me stay a little bit free. The last was nearly whispered as the depressing reality sunk in. She had realized what had happened to her, yes, but she hadn't yet said it out loud. Somehow it was much worse now that she said it out loud.

he replied. I came to ask you how you did it.

A small smile crossed her face. How I did what, General?How you pissed Folken off so badly. Or more properly, how you helped the prisoner escape. He knew she had done it. There was no way the prisoner had gotten out his own. No escape could possibly be done without outside or inside help. And there had been nobody outside to help.

I have no idea what you mean, she said a little too innocently. She wasn't going to give him the chance to kill her that she knew he wanted so badly. Even if he knew that she had helped the man he couldn't prove it.

Dilandau looked at her with something resembling respect. Too many times he had come across people who were all to quick to spill their secrets. Usually it was their fatal mistake. Fine, keep your secrets. I have no interest in them anyway. she said with a laugh. You'd love to know how he escaped. How your perfect Dragonslayers managed to let him slip past, how he seemed to know your perfect schedule and your perfect Vione like the back of his hand. He is an Oracle, you know. Maybe he saw that he was going to escape and put the pieces together that way.A likely story, he snorted derisively.

It's just as likely as what you seem to be accusing me of. she said reasonably, sitting down in a plush armchair near the window.

You're clever, I'll give you that much. He turned to leave. But nobody's clever forever, and I will catch you as soon as you slip. He smirked. I'm awaiting the day you fall.

Karina's smile faded as he left. Me too, General. Me too.

∞§∞

There was a frown on Karina's face that night at dinner that nobody could miss, a stubbornly unhappy look that not even the best joke Gatti could deliver or the stupidest pick up line Miguel could come up with could erase. The Dragonslayers exchanged looks and then glanced down at the opposite end of the table; Dilandau had the same look on his face. It was amazing how much the two seemed to get on eachother's nerves. The only blessing was that they no longer had to sit next to each other. The Slayers had decided to carefully arrange themselves so that only two seats were left available at opposite ends of the table. They had no desire for bloodshed at dinner.

Karina glared at Shesta as the slayer tried once more to cheer her up. She had no desire to be cheered up. The only thing that would currently cheer her up is if she could take off her damn gloves and blow the General's head up from the inside. That might cheer her up a little.

She had run into Dilandau after her meeting with Folken—it had been about her with her new uniform and it hadn't been the best experience for her. So she had picked up a piece of spare armor that some idiot had left lying around and hurled it out the door.

Her bad mood had nearly been cured when it hit Dilandau in the back of the head.

Unfortunately he had turned around and yelled at her and tried to hit her and then she had thrown something else at him and ran. Luckily for her she had made it to her room before he could kill her, which she was quite sure was his intention. But neither of them were in the most amiable mood right now.

Karina glanced at the General and her scowl deepened; she wanted to throw something at him again. He looked up and his eyes caught hers, holding her gaze with the blood red color that drew her in so easily. He smirked and then mouthed something across the table. It took her a moment to realize what it was.

I won.

Karina would have thrown the dinner plate if it wasn't for Gatti's excellent perception. He gently put his hand down on her plate and gave her a warning look; he knew what Dilandau would do to her if she threw that at him in front of the Dragonslayers. She let out the angry breath she had been holding and instead lifted her left hand and gave him the one finger salute.

Dilandau slammed his hands down on the table and all sound in the hall stopped. He looked around at the Slayers who had frozen so suddenly at his anger and smiled. No matter what, they would always be loyal to him, it was just the way things were.

I'm going to go wash up. Training is at the same time tomorrow. There is also a— Dilandau seemed to have trouble getting his next words out —a memorial service for General Adelphos. It won't interrupt training so don't get your hopes up. Woman. This was directed at Karina and she raised an eyebrow with as much contempt as she could. Tomorrow you will stay for extra training since you don't seem to be able to control your temper. And Folken has a job for you, one that might not actually require you to wear your gloves. With that he left, for once not using violence to show Karina his annoyance.

I can't control my temper! she shouted at the closed door. What the hell is his problem?He has this innate distrust of all women and all telepaths. Guimel said with a shrug. You happen to be both.Yippee for me, she said sarcastically. So other than that, what is it? It's not just me he's an asshole to. Seriously what is his childhood trauma? she added with a laugh.

The Slayers looked at each other and Karina's smile faded; she had meant that part as a joke.

Okay you guys are creeping me out. What's wrong?

Gatti was the first to speak. Dilandau is not exactly a normal man.Thanks for the revelation.

Gatti laughed at her sarcasm and continued. What I mean is that he didn't exactly have a normal childhood.What happened to him? Could there really be something bad enough that it had turned him into the bloodthirsty bastard he was now?

We don't actually know anything about him until he turned ten, Shesta said in the soft way he did everything.

That's when he was discovered by the Sorcerers and Emperor Dornkirk. Gatti told her, an angry edge creeping into his voice.

Who are they? Karina had never heard about them, not even in her studies with Folken about the history of this planet.

The Sorcerers worked for Emperor Dornkirk, and they did experiments on Dilandau that— that changed him.

Guimel spoke up now. We don't really know what he was like before that time, but we do know what he is now. Believe it or not, he's not nearly as bad as he used to be.

Karina raised an eyebrow. He isn't exactly a picnic now.No, but he doesn't kill quite as many people as he used to. Dallet pointed out.

Miguel, who had been uncharacteristically silent, spoke now. When he used to attack places, the streets would literally run with blood. He loved it. He reveled in the destruction of life and the color and taste of death.Actually you're rather lucky he isn't still that way. Gatti said with a laugh.

Because then you'd already be dead. He doesn't like to put up with things that frighten him or irritate him. And you do both.

Shesta looked at Karina for a moment, a curious expression on his face. Actually I'm rather surprised he hasn't killed you anyway.

Karina smiled. I think it's because he worries that I can kill him with my mind.

Despite her humor, his expression didn't change. I don't think that's it.

Karina waited for him to elaborate, but he didn't, so she let it go. She'd figure it out eventually. She got up to leave the hall and bid them all goodnight. Thanks guys. That helped. It really did. Goodnight.

She left and began the walk back to her chambers, a smile hovering at the corners of her mouth. She had much to think about. I think it's time to find out who exactly these Sorcerer's are, and what the hell they have to do with everything, she thought. Because she was sure that whatever questions she had, they had the answers.

a soft voice called her name and she turned around, wondering which of the Dragonslayers were playing a joke on her. She hated these corridors enough without one of them showing up to terrify her.

Her boots made almost no noise on the cold floor as she padded her way softly back to her room. The corridor was quiet, silent but for the sound of her breathing and the distant echo of the Dragonslayers' laughter. Ahead of her, a door stood slightly ajar and she frowned. Nobody ever left the doors in this place open; it simply wasn't done. She moved closer, wanting to see what was in it since it was so conveniently open.

A flash of color as she neared startled her and she peered closer again, trying to see what had disappeared so quickly. She searched the dark room, hardly daring to breathe as she looked for—for—

A pair of eyes looked back at her from the corner of the room, a pair of blue eyes, reflecting the light from the window in the room. Eyes in a woman's face, glorious blue eyes that were looking straight at her and a hand that was lifted and beckoning her to come in—

A sharp voice snapped her out of the trance the woman's eyes had put her into and she jumped back, shutting the door hard as she did so.

I have a name. she retorted as irritably as she could. She didn't want anybody to see how shaken up she was, and especially not Dilandau.

You haven't earned being called by a name yet. he returned with a smirk.

Karina said lamely and began walking down the hall. Unfortunately for her she had to walk by him to get to her room.

Dilandau fell into step beside her since this was the way to his room as well. What were you doing there, woman?I'm really not going to answer you unless you call me by my name. Though in truth she wasn't going to tell him anything.

He paused. he said, the word feeling alien to his tongue, what were you doing there?Honestly, General? she replied archly. I was shutting the door. Karina slid into her room without another word and locked the door, falling onto her bed as soon as she heard the metallic click that meant he couldn't get in.

Dilandau stood frowning outside her door. He began to walk away, toward his own sanctuary. You, Karina, are a lying bitch. he muttered to himself. She really was becoming quite an accomplished liar.

Somehow, he found himself wanting to say her name again. The reasonable part of his mind banished the compulsion instantly, but the other part, the traitorous part, disobeyed. And so the last word on his mind before he fell asleep was, Karina.