Silken Smoke
Chapter 10: Diabolical Ambitions
A/N: Man I'm really sorry guys, I've gone a year without publishing I just got too dang busy with ROTC, and band practice and making a comic and church and a boyfriend.-- sorry... well here's the chapter
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne
"Dalandau?! What-What happened to Celena- I thought..."
"Thought what? That Allen Schizar was watching her? Well I guess he just got to busy" he said sardonically. "Well now I'm back!"
Hitomi now became fearful. She backed further into a corner.
"Why are you here?" she inquired shakily
He turned his back to her and didn't say anything. Instead he started to shake violently then suddenly cease. Hitomi took a few steps toward him but stopped. Dalandau slowly turned around and dropped his robes, reveling a woman's body that was scantily clad. Wavy blond hair played in bright blue eyes. She straightened up and smiled at Hitomi.
"Celena! But I don't understand. Why did you become Dalandau?"
"They took me...again, I was powerless to stop them... they made me return to that form."
"Who did?" she asked soothingly
"The Black Sorcerers. They stole me from Allen! Right under his nose. He was too busy to take care of me anymore, now that he has a wife and this new enemy that threatens Gaea. He was to enveloped in his work, I'll bet he still doesn't know that I'm gone even after three weeks." She scowled.
"Oh my, that's not true..." although she couldn't prove it she hasn't really talked with Allen thought, however he did look worried.
"Why would they do that?"
"It was Evilian! She hired them- well forced them to take me! She wanted Dalandau, she didn't care about my life she was determined to drown Celena out of Gaea! She's evil; only bent on her own selfish ambitions! She'll stop at nothing to get what she wants!
Hitomi stared at her in terror and confusion.
'Where...?'
They dragged his almost lifeless body through the halls. Blood dripping from his massive head-wound and fractured leg left a lengthy blood trail on the cobblestone passage. He fought with every fiber to stay conscience for her. He had faith for her.
'Where is she?...'
He looked at the walls hoping to see some human life in some cells, searched for familiar faces of his soldiers. That all hope was not lost. His prayers were lost as he pasted by solid stone walls. He set his gaze higher to look at his captors. Their faces were cold and set in stone like these formable halls. Large burley men were silent; their gaze was focused in front of them. The captive closed his eyes and hung his head once more.
'How could I have been so oblivious to... let her go like that?'
He opened his eyes and looked ahead. There was a small light at then end of the hall. 'Is this our destination' he thought. The light grew as they came closer, however he couldn't determine what or who was in the room for it was too bright and he couldn't see through the dimly lit halls. He closed his eyes as they entered. He felt himself being thrown into the room.
"You're dismissed" rang a woman's voice yet unfamiliar to the prisoner.
"Well, welcome to my castle Mr. Schizar."
Allen propped himself on his forearms to get a better view of this woman. She had Corn silk blond hair cut evenly around her waste. Her bangs kissed her eyelashes, which displayed bright emeralds underneath. Her complexion was milky pale that contrasted with her deep red epaulet accompanied with white pants and knee high boots. But what really sparked his curiosity were her ears. They were mysteriously long and pointed.
"My, my why are you so bruised Allen?"
"Where is she?" he slurred
"Where is who? Oh you mean Celena?" she giggled
He glared up at her. As to portray that her malicious chuckle cut him deep.
"Well you should have asked me that oh I don't three weeks ago when she was still here."
"Well! Where is she!"
"Temper, Temper Allen, or I won't tell you anything."
He scowled under his blond locks. Wanting so bad to kill this vile woman
"What have you done with her?" he growled
"I don't know, weren't you suppose to be watching her?"
He glowered at the floor cursing himself.
'She's right. I've failed; I let her escape from my grasps again. And now she could be in mortal danger. It's my entire fault...' He clenched his fist and exhaled long surpressed sobs through gritted teeth.
"Oh come now Allen cheer up. I do have a surprise for you."
He slowly looked up at her, she smiled and said 'come on out.'
His heart leaped at what he saw. He was astonished and couldn't put it together.
"V-Van! But how could you be alive I saw you die!"
"Indeed." Snipped the elf "well your eyes deceive you because he's obviously alive."
Van walked out from the shadows and stood next to Evilian's thrown. But what Allen saw in Van's eyes made his heart sink. There was no light, no life. He was not Van he was the elf's puppet. What happened next was to Allen's horror. Van bent down to Evilian and grew closer. She had a smug look on her face as Van took her lips with his own. Allen gasped.
"Van no!"
"What's wrong Allen? Jealous? You want a piece of me too. It's not my fault Van fell in love with me first. Sorry first come first serve."
Allen felt sick. She manipulated him to fall falsely in love with her. He didn't want to think what else she did to him against his will. He shuttered. Van must be screaming inside.
"You make me sick! How dare you torture someone like this! You vile waste of a woman!"
"Oh my, Allen how rude! I invite you to my castle even take care of your sister and this is how you treat me?!"
She glared at Allen and Van understood as he unsheathed his sword. Allen stood on his knees and pulled out his sword just in time to block Van's blow. As Van comes from a different angle as Allen barely blocks his next move but is on his feet now, barely. "He's fast! Way faster than before!'
Allen turns to deliver an offensive blow but Van was to quick and blocked his move.
"Van Snap out of it. This isn't you! You know you don't want this! Stop it!"
But Van would not falter he stayed just as strong. All the while Allen had been fighting to stay conscience and each blow made him more and more weak.
Van then straightened up to strike Allen again. Allen defended but he soon lost balance and collapsed and he didn't get back up. He had lost the battle and lost conscienceness.
"Wow that was quick!" she exclaimed. "I guess my men work him over to much for you to have much fun my love. Well I guess I won't kill him just yet," she said as she twisted a lock of her hair. "Take him away." She flicks her wrist.
Van grabbed him and drug a lifeless Allen down to the dungeons. Evilian sighs
"Oh there's never any fun around here. Oh well that's no matter for what I have planned!" As she let out a horrendous cackle.
"I'm so sorry Hitomi that I frighten you but you must know. She is a vile and horrible woman. She has no grasp of reality and must have everything her way."
"Why? Why should I trust you? After everything that you've done to us?!" Hitomi yelled. "You've almost killed Van and wanted me dead time and time again! How could I trust you!?"
Celena just smiled. "I understand what you feel and I apologize for everything Dalandau has caused. But don't worry I do have complete control of him now I've regained my strength over the years. He is no longer bloodthirsty but he does still have an attitude problem," she chuckled. Hitomi found nothing funny about this.
"Hmm... I understand well then I'll come here and do what I am to do." She took a step toward, Hitomi and she backed further into the corner of the dark cave and crossed her arms over her belly protectively. Hitomi Feared of what Celena would do next. It was so dark she could barely see the gleam in her eyes and could defiantly not see her expression.
Celena grabbed Hitomi's shoulders forcing her to look her in the eyes. She had a fierce expression as she spoke.
"Hitomi stay away from Evilian. She hates you and the relationship you have with Van. She wants you dead! And every one you love! She will stop at nothing to accomplish her dark ambitions!" she whispered.
"Why? What in the hell did I ever do to h!" She put a finger to Hitomi's lips
"Shhh, we have company." She glared at the entrance of the cave. They both listened intently. Then suddenly Celena shifted and let go of Hitomi.
"I must go. Remember you must be careful Hitomi"
"Why? Who's out there?"
Celena put a finger to her own lips and smiled a reassuring smile, which did comfort hitomi a little. With that Celena leaped out of the cave ran from sight instantly.
Hitomi was left a lone in the dank little cave. The smell of mildew now arose to her senses and she now realized she was very nauseous. It didn't either that the she was frightened at who was coming. She backed even more into the corner and she slid down the wall still glaring at the entrance of the cave, still listening intently.
Silently praying to herself...
"She's this way! Very close!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeesss! Didn't I just say that?!"
Hitomi breathed a sigh of relief then became very tense. 'How will I explain myself for being here? Surly I can't tell of her exsistance.'
"Hitomi! You're alright!"
"We were so worried!"
"Why are you out here?"
"I uh well I was uh cold so I wondered here..." 'oh that's not a good excuse' she cursed herself.
"But isn't it cold here?"
"Well it is now..."
They all three gave her an odd expression but said no more of this. Instead the helped her up and took her back to camp. As she rode back on the horse she thought about everything Celena told her, 'She wants you dead and everyone around you!'
She gasped 'could that be true? No Evilian couldn't have been the reason her mother and family died. But what about Van, yes she might have been the one who killed him!' She clenched her fists but took a deep breath and prayed for Celena's safety.
She walked with swiftness down the dimly lit corridors. Her boots clacked as they hit the cobblestone. Her hair bounced with the rhythm of her body. She had a sinister look on her face bent on her evil intentions. She entered a bright room with a large table in the center. She rolled out a map and marked Fanelia.
"There you go, it's still your country it's just we share it and it's been cleansed..." she smiled
"Now we are going here." She pointed to Austuria and looked up at Van here we will be joined in holy matrimony. Then straightened up and kissed Van once again...