(Alright I'm back. Hope you guys aren't too bored with the story now, but it will get better. READ NOW TO FIND OUT! I kind of went a different direction then what I wanted for this next chapter, but oh well. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Esca, especially Van...mmmm... but I don't. All I own are rights to this fan fic I created with my sad little mind. Don't sue, please.)

Walking the length of the castle, Hitomi and Yukari were having a pretty good time trying to find everything interesting about it.

They spent most of the morning in the garden, admiring the beautiful and exotic plant life and small animals, then they went indoors to enjoy a stroll by the top of the building.

Yukari had never seen the world before, so she was obviously very impressed. She would look out over the view of the countryside from the highest window near the top of the castle and say quietly how beautiful it was, sighing and smiling at the sight of the town and forest far below them, but inwardly Hitomi was a bit bored.

She hadn't seen Van at all that day and for some reason it worried her.

Maybe I just need to calm down. Nothing is wrong with Van right now, so stop worrying.

As her and Yukari turned a corner, the young knight from the day before came into view, strolling down the corridor with a little spring in his step.

When he saw the girls, he immediately bent low to the ground, his legs straight up and back curved into a small arch.

Hitomi continued forward, blushing at the gesture, but Yukari stopped in her tracks. She seemed a little apprehensive, but a small smile lit her face and she took a step toward the knight.

He looked up, a bit surprised at the girl standing in front of him, a slight blush forming on his freckled face.

Yukari looked boldly at Hitomi and said, "go on without me. I would like to speak with this guy-I mean young man alone. Maybe he can help me see the sights."

Hitomi laughed at Yukari's face. She was a brick red, and the mock "tough girl," routine wasn't very effective. Hitomi nodded and walked slowly away, smiling to herself.

XX

Spark stood up straight as quickly as he could when he heard Hitomi's footsteps die away. When he was standing directly across from Yukari, he blushed crimson.

"Miss… Uchida…" he whispered, trying to hide his embarrassment and happiness at seeing her again. "I would love to escort you around the castle today." Yukari stepped forward and slowly offered her arm to him, and he took it in his.

"Thank you, Spark."

XX

Walking alone now, Hitomi decided to try to find Merle, but when she realized Merle would probably be at work, she was once again bored.

She walked a few floors down and suddenly felt tired, so she sat by an open window and looked up at the gathering clouds in the sky.

"I guess I should go back to my room."

She sat there for a moment longer, thinking how she could ever be of help to this world if there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it.

Where is Van…?

As she got up to leave and go to her room for a nap, the only logical thing to do now, something caught her eye at the bottom of her field of vision below the balcony on her floor, overlooking another floor.

Gothel was below, standing by the north wall near a pillar of stone.

He looked happy about something.

Hitomi felt herself become very uncomfortable as she stood there watching him. She felt as though Gothel knew she was watching him.

Whenever she got this feeling, something bad always happened. She wanted to leave, but when she saw who Gothel was looking at, she held back.

A very pretty young woman walked up to him from a part of the castle Hitomi could not see. She was saying something to Gothel, who nodded and made his reply.

In the back of her mind, like a stereo switch coming on, Hitomi could somehow hear what they were saying.

It truly scared her.

"All is well," Gothel was saying to the girl, whose face was turned around, so Hitomi couldn't see.

"We just have a set back. Allen has somehow caught wind of a spy within Van's council. You should have been more careful, but that can't be helped. Tonight, make yourself known, but don't make it know to everyone. Only one person has to die tonight."

Hitomi got goosebumps. She felt her heart grow cold with dread as she watched the two below plot someone's death, as calmly as though they were planning a picnic.

"Who is it, sir? Van?" The girl asked. Her voice was cold and monotone.

"No. Another. If she isn't disposed of, we will have problems. Those alliance pigs brought her in, a weapon at their disposal. Not only that, but also another has appeared with her. Van wouldn't have brought two unless she was of equal importance. Don't kill her yet. She may be of some use."

Hitomi saw the girl nod, and then she bowed to Gothel, turned around, and walked away. Her mind went numb as she saw the image of the girl before her.

She didn't look like a girl any older then 15, with glowing amber eyes that were deep and freezing, chilling her to the bone, and hair the color of the evening, when the purple sky of sunset slowly turned dark. She had a clear but pale complexion, and emotionless face that resembled Gothel's.

If Hitomi hadn't been frightened witless thinking about the current turn of events, she would have thought they were related.

A realization came over her, as if a pile of bricks had been poured into her stomach. Gothel was trying to kill her!

She inwardly screamed.

"How could this be happening! "I have to find Van…" she whispered to herself, and she scrambled to her feet, her whole body shaking.

She felt like crying, screaming, doing anything to release the fear and anger she felt now, but she had to get help.

She was in danger, and not even Van's own council could be trusted. The fairy tale she had in her mind of returning to Gaea was gone now.

She rounded a corner, tears welling up in her eyes, and slowly making their way down her face. She ran down the hall, her vision blurring, when she ran strait into Celina.

The force knocked her off balance, and she fell to the ground. Celina bent down and offered her hand.

"Are you alright?" she said, as Hitomi took her hand.

"I have to find Van." She replied, wiping her face.

"Why? Did something happen?" Celina sounded concerned, a twinge of fear on her pale face.

"Gothel is a traitor..." Hitomi said quietly, grabbing Celina's arm tightly.

"What?" Celina questioned, confused. what is she talking about?

"I have to warn Van!" She suddenly let go and dashed off down the hall, not looking back.

Where are you?

(And that's the end of that chapter. I hope it was intriguing to you. I think I got the job done. So, who didn't know Gothel was the traitor? I thought it was kind of obvious, but oh well... Or is he really a traitor, or just misunderstood? Maybe it's too obvious, you know what I mean? Find out soon. Can anyone guess who the other person is? I bet you can't remember. Go back a few chapters and it will make sense. I hope you read more. I'll write more soon.

R&r please!)