A/N: Short, but powerful.

Bad Dreams

By angelwings1

Chapter 16

..

Hitomi had retreated to the library immediately following her interrogation. They had called after her, but she bluntly told her friends she had to be alone to think. More so, she had fled because they had wanted answers she didn't have. She was a seer of nearly a decade and she couldn't figure out a single blasted clue. She didn't have the strength to deal with the lost look in their eyes.

It was embarrassing! She should have been able to do so much more for them.

Her fingers tightened and tossed the book onto her growing pile in the plushy chair. Another volume was selected, skimmed, and thrown aside. Hitomi glared angrily at the shelf.

Two days.

Two whole days…

And she still had nothing. She had written notes, flipped through over a third of library, reread every sentence in her journal, and tried to remember every vision she had since she had arrived in Fanelia.

Nothing.

Her heart sunk deeper as she thought to Van's approaching trial against his brother. It would have begun sooner, but the Head Priest had locked himself away in the temple for the past two days, performing some ridiculous séance for divine guidance. Hitomi didn't believe the excuse, but she understood the immense pressure the poor man was suffering. He had to decide who the true king was while a very heated alliance was shadowing the kingdom.

Her eyes snapped back to the line of books. She could feel the darkness of her visions and tarot cards closing in around her. Whatever little time she had was rapidly diminishing. She surged forward, reaching for another volume, and proceeded to knock the entire shelf to the floor. Hitomi squeaked in surprised and leapt backwards to save her exposed toes. Once the final book clapped onto the floor, the seer threw back her head and groaned. She was making things worse.

Hitomi went rigid. 'Am I making things worse?'

The question was far bigger than the library. It swallowed the kingdom and dared to stretch out and envelop the world. Hitomi hurried to her knees and began to hastily clean the mess. She refused to fall into that dark pit of thoughts. If she began to doubt her presence here in Fanelia, if she gave up then—

Her head snapped up as the doors creaked and a brunette peeked inside. She was surprised to see the merchant, Dryden if she remembered correctly, scanning the room. Straightening, the seer waited for his gaze to reach her. When he spotted her, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

"May I help you, sir?" she question timidly. Hitomi wasn't anxious to speak with anyone anytime soon and would tremendously prefer to be left to her solitude. She hoped she could be rid of him quickly. "I am afraid I'm the only one here if you were looking for someone."

"No, no! I had hoped to speak with you, my dear lady." He waved off her comment as he hastily shut the door behind him. Hitomi inwardly groaned. He probably wanted to discuss about potential trading routes with the Valley.

Hitomi schooled her face into a bright smile. "Really? On what matters, sir?"

"Please call me, Dryden." He replied warmly, his shadowed eyes dropping to the pile on the floor. "Had a small tumble with the bookshelves, did we?"

She prayed he didn't see her jaw clench. "Just doing a little research, that's all. The library hasn't been cooperative in my search."

His expression seemed to take a hungry edge. "What is the topic?"

Hitomi's smiled dipped slightly. "Nothing much."

"Nothing?" He scoffed with a deep chuckle. "Must be a special amount of nothing to keep you locked away in here for two days."

Her jade eyes darkened to a deep emerald. "Have you been spying on me?"

His bellow of laughter startled her. She couldn't be certain, but she thought a guilty glint had passed over his face before he had burst into a fit of laughs. "Not in the least, my dear. I had requested to know your location just now to Lord Fanel and he happened to mention you had been in here for quite a large sum of time. He thought you might refuse my speaking with you."

"I'm still inclined to refuse." She answered curtly, carefully studying the man. He might be Millernia's fiancé, but she didn't know him beyond his status. The most she had heard outside of her short talks with the princess was that he was an effective and resourceful businessman with high ranking intelligence. Add on his dashing face and Hitomi could begin to guess how Millernia had fallen in love with the merchant. Regardless, however, that Millernia approved of the man, being alone with him unnerved the young seer. "I have a lot to do, Dryden. So please be brief."

Dryden's expression flickered. "Once I've gotten started I highly doubt you will be ready for me to leave, my lady."

Hitomi scowled. "I hope you are not hitting on me, sir."

"No!" he quickly threw up his hands, his face filled with disbelief. "Never would I dream of destroying what I have with Millernia. What I meant to imply was that I have information you would probably find interesting."

Hitomi's lips thinned into a tight line, not at all convinced. After the episode with Celena, she had had enough people coming to her with information. "Like what?"

"May we sit?" he asked motioning to the circle of chairs situated in the empty center of the library. Hitomi nodded stiffly and followed the merchant towards the scarlet seats. She would finish cleaning the books after he left. Reclining into the nearest chair, the seer focused on the odd shadows playing in the man's brown eyes. He seemed to be on edge. His hands kept twitching nervously at his side and he was looking at her with a curious expression. The merchant smiled gently, "Before I begin, may I ask, Lady Hitomi, why you came to Fanelia?"

The seer's eye twitched. "I believe Lord Van and I have already explained—"

"I mean why you chose to come?" he hurried to interrupt, his expression bright and hopeful. "Instead of staying in the valley?"

The seer was a little surprise by the question. No one had asked since she had revealed as a Mystic. Shifting awkwardly in her seat, she glanced away from his searching eyes. She enjoyed speaking about her beliefs, but after her recent doubts she wasn't feeling up to discussing why she had travel so far from home. She felt like she had made a mistake. "I had hoped God had finally given us an opportunity to redeem my people."

The merchant's hopeful look immediately dropped. "That's why?"

Hearing his disappointed tone, she turned inquisitive eyes to him. "Why did you think I came?"

Leaning his elbows onto his knees, the merchant stared at her grimly. "I'm not really sure what I hoped was your reason for coming here."

Hitomi's fingers dug into the armrest. "Excuse me, Dryden, but I've had my share of riddles. If you wish to tell me something, then do so fully. Else, I shall return to my books."

Strangely, the man didn't appear to be put out by her comment. He merely cocked his head and stared thoughtfully. "You don't know anything about it, do you?"

He sounded lost, possibly shocked. Gazing into her angry face, he asked gently, "Please, tell me my lady, have you ever heard of the Winged Goddess?"

Hitomi sensed something dangerous pass over her head upon hearing the name. She had never heard of the person, but the name sounded powerful. There was an enormity to the person that made it difficult to breath. "Never."

He became somber upon hearing her answer. "It comes from an ancient prophecy embedded throughout Gaea. Some have forgotten it and others have hidden it, but Fanelia is one of the few who have kept it in the forefront of their minds, mostly because it's connected to their religion.

"It speaks of day when the world will be thrown into chaos and Escaflowne shall rise to bring judgment and wash the world clean. What its saying is Escaflowne will annihilate the world."

Hitomi's heart stopped completely. The thought of her cards had scattered onto her bedroom floor in a disorganized mess was pulsing through her skull. 'Chaos… My cards had predicted chaos.'

She swallowed. Her mouth suddenly felt like sandpaper.

"Does it say when it will happen?" her voice sounded oddly detached to her ears.

He didn't seem to notice. "It says Escaflowne will rise upon the Winged Goddess's command."

She felt like she was dying inside. The look in his intense chocolate eyes was penetrating into the depths of her soul. "Who is the Winged Goddess?"

His gaze never darted from her as he stated hollowly, "They said she would be a mystical woman from a far away place. She would be able to weave through dreams and see through time. You would know her by the brand of the heavens and have stars covering her body."

Hitomi involuntarily slipped her hand behind her leg.

"I think that's enough to tell you what this means."

She had lost sight of the man as she fell boneless against the chair. "Surely, it's impossible."

He watched her sorrowfully as her head swung to the side, eyes unfocused. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. If I had known from the beginning your heritage, I would stepped forward the first day."

"I am not the only woman bearing stars upon her body." She insisted frantically. "There are over a dozen other women with stars—"

"Back in the valley." He finished dryly. "You are the first and only to appear in Fanelia."

Hitomi's glazed eyes darted back to him. "It can't be me. I am hardly a goddess."

She desperately wanted to escape this nightmare. If it was true, what he said than she would cause an apocalypse. She was telling herself it was a mistake and that the story was a network of lies, but in a deep recess of her soul, she felt a swell of energy churn at the admission. She remembered the visions of countless fires and the treaty burning up. If she closed her eyes, she could almost hear the screaming.

"Why did Van not tell me of this prophecy?" she mumbled weakly. "If I had known… I would never…"

She trailed off brokenly.

"He probably doesn't know the entire passage." Dryden replied gently. He could tell from her tone that she felt betrayed. "As I said the prophecy has been scattered across Gaea. I only knew a small portion myself up until recent events."

She blinked and suddenly there was renewed light in her jade eyes. "Recent events? Like what?"

Dryden sighed loudly, his hands falling limply in his lap. "There's been a man digging around for information regarding the prophecy. He employed me months ago to gather any information or artifacts that could help him in his research. With my connections and business skills, I've been able to retrieve a great deal from various sources. I don't think he considered the idea I would research what I found."

"Dornkirk." She blurted instantly. "He's the one who asked you to dig for information."

Dryden nodded solemnly. "I don't know why he requested for the information, but I have no doubt that is more than enjoying a good bedtime story."

Her mind flickered momentarily to her home and she answered with a low rasp, "No, it's definitely more. He's been searching for me. Zaibach invaded the valley recently in search of a woman, but if it is to find the Winged Goddess, I don't understand why."

The merchant shifted nervously as Hitomi added, "I can only guess it is for some dark purpose."

Silence stretched between the pair as the bitter realization settled on their shoulders. Her eyes slid shut in defeat as she let the silent tears escape. A warm hand took hers and she carefully sucked in a deep breath. Dryden offered a heartfelt smile she couldn't return. Feebly, she turned her face towards the window and ideally wondered if her heart matched the temperature outside.

..

Van strode purposefully down the hall, his jaw tight and beginning to ach from the strain. He hadn't been able to gain an audience with his brother after two days of endless requests. He had hoped they could settle this entire mess like adults. From the distant look he had received from his brother days ago, Van couldn't hope his brother wanted to reconnect as lost siblings, but he had prayed it would be enough to speak civilly to one another on the matter of the throne. Van personally couldn't care if his brother went to Hell, but for his people sake he was forcing down his grudge and ready to talk. After so many, however, refusals by Dilandau's men, the young king was about to tear apart half of his castle.

Luckily for the castle's occupants, the Head Priest had finally exit the temple late that evening and proclaimed the Trial of Kings would begin in three days time on the night of the Half Moon. Van doubted his patience could last that long, but at least it was a step in the right direction. His guests had been growing anxious and verbally impatient as of late and Van was glad to give them a date to quiet their whining. When they heard the news, it was agreed to let the trial play out before going any further with the treaty.

With that handled, Van's mind had finally turned to other things and had found his feet leading towards the seer's door. He had checked the library, but she had been surprisingly absent. Shrugging inwardly, the king hoped she had given in and taken some much needed rest. Millernia had pressed her to return to bed, but Hitomi had merely ignored her. Even when the princess had dropped the bombshell of the seer's disease, the sick woman had silently continued reading her book, giving little reaction to the ominous news. "There is nothing to be done about that. Leave it be, Millernia."

Van had been shocked into silence at her answer. If she accepted her fate, then it meant she had known all along the consequences of her decision to use the Forbidden Spell. It meant she was willing to die for him.

Reaching her door, the king hesitated to knock. The enormity of what he was about to do was suddenly crashing down on his head and a rock had lodged in his throat. Licking his lip, he stared furiously at the door, cursing his fear. He had gone into countless battles, but he wasn't ready to charge into a woman's bedroom. Irony was cruel.

Exhaling shakily, Van raised his hand and forced the muscles in his arm to obey. The knock vibrated down his forearm and his breathed stilled in his lungs as he waited.

"Come in." Her muffled voice strained.

Van swallowed nervously and grabbed the handle in his clammy fingers. Swinging open the door, the king was confused to see her room had been cleaned and neatly reorganized to the state it had been before her arrival. His racing heart screeched to halt and dove into floor as he found her stuffing her journal into her small bag. Her back was to him, but he could tell from her tense shoulders that she was upset.

"What's going on?" his voice responded mechanically.

She picked up several folded robes and pushed them meticulously into the handbag. "I'm leaving."

Something died instantly upon her emotionless response. "Now?"

Tying the top down on her bag, the seer lightly covered the top of things with her hands and hung her head. "Yes."

"Why?" he blurted, taking a few frantic steps towards her.

Her shoulders drooped. "I'm causing problems, Van. It would be better if I left."

His hand lunged forward and grabbed her elbow. Spinning her around, Van was surprised to see her beautiful emerald colored eyes puffing and red. She had to have been crying for hours. Regrouping, the king stated gently, "No one is asking you to leave."

"I think it is understood," she whispered.

"Not by me!" He snapped, furious at the royals for pushing her through this torment. "Hitomi, you leaving will change nothing. I'll still go against my brother and then have to face the Alliance."

She miserably shook her head. "I'm still leaving."

His hand tightened on her arm. "Don't do this."

Hitomi smiled softly, her red face strangely angelic as she lifted her hand towards his face. Before her fingers could brush his cheek, however, she began to curl away, eyes dark. Van hastily grabbed her hand and pressed it firmly against his cheek. Closing his eyes, he turned towards her palm.

Her heart squeezed upon the content expression glowing on his face. She had hoped to slip away without his knowing. She knew he would try and stop her if he found her, but sadly, she was not fast enough. Her body was far too weak.

His eyes slid half-open and stared heatedly at her. She shuddered as he pressed a wet kiss to the inside of her wrist. Her insides twisted violently as she stared into his burning gaze.

"Do you know?" He rasped, unconsciously bringing their bodies closer.

She nodded feverishly, her brain only half-registering the question. "I know."

With a small lurch forward, Van connected their lips into a hot kiss. The room appeared to plunge into darkness as he moved deliciously over her mouth. Van's grip on her hand slackened and her hand leisurely slid past his temple to the back of his head while his tangled into the back of her robe. Both of them were sloppy, inexperienced kissers, but the hot emotions racing through their blood easily covered up the awkwardness. His gripped tightened as she responded with equal fever.

The kiss was a desperate attempt to pour the unspoken love into single dance of touch. Maybe it was a cowardly to kiss her without properly proclaiming his undying devotion for her, but at the moment he was too high in heaven to consider he might never get a chance later.

In the back of Hitomi's brain, a level clicked and her eyes snapped open. Van groaned softly when she reluctantly pulled away. Chest heaving, the king lustfully stared at her through half-lidded eyes. She had never looked more desirable with her lips swollen and a steady blush topping her cheeks. He attempted to lean in for another kiss, but she hastily pressed her fingers to his mouth.

"We shouldn't." She grounded out through clenched teeth. "It only makes it harder."

His eyes widened in disbelief. "You're still going to leave?"

She nodded, a new wave of tears pouring down her face. Her chin trembled as she duck her head. She choked as her heart burst. "I have to. Just know it's not because I want to leave."

"Hitomi—" he began frantically.

"Don't!" she hissed painfully, snapping a furious glare at him. "Don't make this harder!"

She slid out from his hands like inhaling air and Van watched numbly as she grabbed her bag's strap. There eyes met for one powerful, time stopping moment. He wanted to demand her to stay, to stand by his side for all eternity. She wanted to be a normal person, who didn't have to turn away from a chance at happiness. Without a word, she walked passed him with her bag heavy on her back. He never turned around to stop her, even though his mind was screaming a thousand reasons for her to stay.