Stolen Hearts Chapter Five
Third Person Omniscient
The incessant rocking and jerking of the carriage was slowly pushing Bulma over the edge of what little sanity she could claim her own with its maddening rhythm. They had been traveling in this confounded contraption for almost two hours now and she simply couldn't take it anymore. Why did the loathsome woman she called Grandmother have to live in the middle of nowhere?
'Most likely to pain me,' she though bitterly, her mood getting exponentially worse with each passing moment. She was certain if she was forced to endure this torture for any longer she would have no choice but to kill something. And since the two wretched serving women seemed to remain unaffected they served as prime candidates.
"Stop this infernal wagon of hell immediately or you shall wish to have never been born!" Bulma was screeching without even realizing it, the pitch of her voice starling herself as well.
The driver was so shocked at the sudden uproar and the shrieking madness of the Princess' voice that he complied with her demand so suddenly that the passengers were thrown ungracefully forward with a thud of discomfort.
"You moronic lackeys! Why must I be cursed to always endure your defective presence?!" Bulma yelled in exasperation, impatiently pushing the grotesque women off of her and clambering out of the overheated interior.
Long blue hair that almost appeared to be a cape followed the Princess as she paced and fanned herself by flicking her stately wings, trying to calm her boiling nerves. She rubbed her temples and asked in a forced calm through gritted teeth, "How much LONGER until we reach our destination?"
It was no mystery that the Princess was extremely vexed and the driver was no idiot, yet he had no choice but to stammer out the truth, whatever the unfortunate repercussions may be.
"About five more hours my lady."
Bulma's eyes widened a fraction then narrowed as a dangerous calm came over her.
"No matter. We shall simply have to find a better route for that one is certainly not satisfactory. Am I correct?"
The Princess' eyes glinted with some unknown plan and the poor driver was absolutely flummoxed as he struggled so decide what to say in response.
"Good lady, I do not know of any other path and the horses are already tired in this heat, we couldn't possibly push them any faster."
"Oh save your beasts, I don't intend to have them pushed any harder, I have heard of a path through Wilderland that would cut our time by more then half, we shall take that path."
"No, no my lady!" he said eyes wide with fear, "We can't possibly go that way, it is much too dangerous!"
"It is my understanding that the road through Wilderland is perfectly save for a party of our size, we do have the royal guards do we not? Is that not what they are here for? If that path will take three hours off our journey then I find that more then enough reason to take it, for if you think I will succumb to being packed into that accursed carriage like a dog for five more hours then you are horribly mistaken. I am still a Princess and we have to brave a few fanciful tales so I can keep my comfort and my sanity, then that is exactly what we shall do you coward!" her voice raised to an awful shriek at then end that left no room for arguments.
"Now lets away," she commanded as she turned swiftly and entered the carriage leaving a very unhappy driver to comply with her demands as her turned off the wide main path to the rough one of Wilderland grumbling something about 'royalty' and 'think they know everything.' The light slowly faded as they ventured deeper. At every noise the poor man would jump praying some horrid creature would not jump out and make a lunch out of him.
Wilderland was a place of steep hills and dark forests, where unknown things lurked in the deep shadows. The mad and vicious animals were not the only inhabitants of the crowded gloom. Wicked Elves took refuge there, all kinds of ruffians and out-laws, cunning and bloody. Oh how the driver wished the Princess had not been so hot-headed today as they plodded along praying in the growing thick silence.
Vegeta wiped his head wearily.
These hot days always made the forest unbearably close. It was at times like these when he longed to have wings alike to those damnable Faeries and fly above the knotted branches feeling the wind taste his skin, escaping from the suffocating earth. He almost smiled at the thought if he even had the muscles to do so, but in the end it only deepened his sour mood, for he was indeed denied this ability.
Letting out a furious roar he tried to vent some of the unrest within him. This did in fact minutely help as the birds and small woodland creatures hurried off in a flurry of fright. There was an unnatural tension in the forest today, everything seemed to be on edge, like something strange and foreign had entered the undergrowth.
"Perhaps it is just my blood, but I cannot sit still. Something is amiss here..but what?" Vegeta mused to himself. He did not quite know what he wanted to do, but it was not what anyone else would want. That was the typical theme of his days. He though perhaps it would be nice to kill something from spite. With a laugh that would bring a chill to the stoutest of hearts he bounded from his perch calling to his accomplice.
"Perieres! Stop torturing those poor little bunnies and come here! We're going hunting."
It seemed he had said the magic word for a few moments and thunderous crashes later Per appeared and was very excited about this 'hunting' business. The scaled body of the Hissing Pygmy Dragon came half bounding half hopping to Vegeta's side, its forked tongue idly lolling out of the side of its mouth like a large lumbering dog.
Per stood about half Vegeta's height and was covered in hard green scales with flashing golden eyes. Those eyes showed intelligence, great intelligence, enough to easily understand human speech, but unfortunately nature had made him unable to speak human tongue, the necessary sounds were impossible to for in his mouth, but Per had no trouble conveying what he wanted.
He wasn't the best at taking to the air either, Vegeta though with a laugh.
'Maybe I ought to put him on a diet, he looks a bit round for a dragon.'
He had known Perieres since he was hatched (I say 'known' for everyone is aware that it is quite impossible to own a dragon as in a pet, they chose to stay with whom they wish and if you try to make them do otherwise the consequences are dire and often permanent. For a dragon would rather die then be ruled or 'owned'), this was one of the rewards so to say of killing a large monstrous dragon for its treasure. The dragon was not the mother of the eggs for it was certainly no pygmy, but it had killed Per's true mother and was making a delightful snack of all the eggs. For some reason seeing this called up a violent rage in Vegeta, they never even had a chance to be born! There was only one left but he still had to stop it, being only a northern dragon he figured he might even live through the battle.
And a battle it was, Vegeta still wore some scars from the lashing tail and fierce claws. But being the terrible fearless warrior he was, Vegeta conquered in he end. He had thrust his long silver blade upwards in to the colossal mouth framed with daggers long enough to spear him right through. His sword thrust alone was not enough to kill a full grown dragon, but he had hit the spark gland that ignites a dragon's flames. This caused a huge bolt of electricity to course through the dragon ending its life.
Strangely enough her felt compassion for the creature in that egg he had risked his life to save, so he took it with him, and so Perieres came into his life. The only creature that gave a damn about him on this entire planet, they were bound together in their pain and isolation. Vegeta was more then pleased with his silent outgoing companion; it kept him sane especially on days like this. Per kept the overwhelming wave of loneliness that threatened to wash over Vegeta at bay, for no one can truly live completely alone.
Vegeta looked with as much affection as his cold eyes could muster at the awkward creature gazing up at him expectantly, and he gave a shout.
"Let's go Per, I'm sure there's something tasty out there!" and with that, the hunters and friends were off.
Bulma was very pleased with her decision, it had been an hour and no catastrophic events had occurred and the dense canopy kept the sun from bearing directly on them. The horses and the people getting spooked by strange noises, (other then Bulma herself of course), was the only difficulty thus far.
"Its all stories anyway, tales for children," she said to her servants with an airy confidence, "These woods are like any other."
Bulma had calmed a great deal simply knowing that they weren't going to be on the road for such an ungodly amount of time. As closterphobic as these woods seemed at times, there was something comforting about them, only Bulma seemed to think this though.
"I don't think they are just stories," squeaked one of the mousy serving women, She was the younger of the two and Bulma thought her name was Danae but wasn't sure.
"Well that is an unfortunate side effect of having no brain, isn't it?" Bulma replied haughtily.
"Well, many people who have dared to enter the woods are never seen again," Danae continued, "And those who are lucky enough to escape have spoken of the black ghost with an unquenchable taste for blood that haunts this forest riding a terrible fire breathing dragon killing all that crosses his path. They say he is like a grotesque man wolf with great red eyes and fangs and he drinks all your blood and uses your bones as jewelry and..."
"Enough!" Bulma cried exasperated, "I can't believe you actually listen to those ranting lunatics looking for a gullible ear. There is no such monster, so stop acting foolish girls or I shall have you gagged and stoned! If your eyes open any wider they will fall out of your head, now PEACE!" the last word sound quite odd coming from the fuming princess's lips.
Danae cowered back believing full and well that the sour princess would do just what she promised. There was many wicked tales about the Princess as well; no doubt she was just as terrible as anything they would encounter in this wretched place.
"I know your story is false for the trees are far too close for any terrible monster and dragon to make their way through without a great deal of trouble. And if there's one thing I know about monsters it is that they are lazy..." Bulma was cut off by a 'whirr' sound quickly followed by a thump right by her head. There was some kind of awful roaring and screams emanating from outside the coach which had come to an abrupt stop.
"We are going to die! The Black Ghost is upon us!" wailed the two servants in perfect craven unison. There was excited shout coming from the guards trying to defend themselves to no avail and Bulma reached for the handle of the coach but Danae caught her arm and shrieked in a headache causing voice, her eyes wide with terror, "No Princess!! You'll be killed, It'll drink you dry then come for us! Noooooo" she finished as she fainted into the arms of the other quivering woman.
Bulma simply snorted at her incompetence and cowardice, as she turned to continue her exit. There were 25 guards, what could possibly harm them? She paused as she listened to the deepest wildest voice she had ever heard say in an arrogant tone, "Don't try to fight, for if you do only death awaits as your companions will be glad to tell you, now, if you would hand over all that is of value, we'll be done here. Don't act like you didn't know this road had a toll." It finished with a wicked laugh that made Bulma's blood chill. Maybe it wasn't just stories after all.
"Damned Elf," she heard the driver mumble, thinking it too quite for the assailant to perceive but was obviously wrong.
"I would be careful if I were you, the heat is not agreeing with me today and I should very much like to pull your wings off one by one, then cut off your head and add it to my trophies," the voice said with more malevolence and anger then a voice could hold.
Bulma now felt her blood begin to boil. 'An Elf!? It is a filthy Elf? I shall kill this disease myself!' she though furiously to confront the disgusting Elf that presumed to impede her progress and rob her as well. The pure audacity and stupidity of this monster indeed!
Her eyes shone as if she had swallowed the pale blue moon as they met the cool black eyes of this damnable 'thing.'
Bulma's lungs immediately filled with a sharp intake of air at the sight, and her fury was quelled as a flame being doused with water.
He had intense eyes, like the spaces between the stars, endless black abysses that rendered the notion that she had no free will. Her anger was all but forgotten. Everything in the world was all but forgotten, except those eyes.
This was certainly no terrible beast.
He far surpassed the usual standard of beauty, and his features looked as if they belonged to a painting or some perfect sculpture. He stared at her hard as if he was going to burn her up with his mere gaze, under those eyes Bulma found it increasingly hard to release her angry words. Who is this man? What sort of devil is he?
It was long moment of intense silence before Bulma felt her will return to her, as well as her anger, and finally spat, "What fool assumes to attack the royal procession of the House of King Aeolus and Queen Harmonia? This astounding trespass shall not go unpunished!"
It probably wasn't the best thing to advertise but it was all that came out, and it did have a nice ring to it. Bulma felt at once proud of her heritage. Still her voice lacked the cutting edge she normally mastered, her voice was refusing to comply.
To say Vegeta was shocked when the shining blue woman burst from the carriage in fury was a drastic understatement.
It was his first experience of something taking his breath away as the flushed ethereal goddess crashed into his presence. What was such a beauty doing traveling here? She stood staring back at him with poise that few others could rival under his harsh eyes. She was serene and motionless, yet she had the ability to appear moving though she was standing still.
But what caught his attention the most was there was enough gloom in those blue eyes to please a dozen undertakers.
As she announced the nature of the procession he realized she must be the Princess, but never had he seen any Faerie, let alone their Princess, with so much darkness. Was it even possible for those creatures of the light?
He was extremely intrigued by it and suddenly nothing else was worth looking at, he couldn't make himself look at anything else.
At Bulma's words the beautifully dark Elf began approaching her slowly, his eyes glittering like little knifes, and she found her breath had become caught in her throat again. His wry lips squirmed back like worms of pain revealing an empty smile. She wanted to strike him down, to tell him how much she loathed him and all his people, but she couldn't.
Then in a flash he was against her, and she had never felt so deliciously intruded, yet there was an unnervingly sharp blade against her tender throat.
"Now, now, is that any way to talk to someone who is attacking you? I don't think you are stupid Princess so please don't insult yourself. Yes, it is Princess isn't it? With a flick of my wrist I could take out the sole heir to the Fey throne," Vegeta in fact had no intention of harming this precious creature, he just wanted to be close do such divinity, to feel her pulsing blood against him. To feel her fear, as it was the only emotion he understood.
"What is such a delicate 'royal' thing like you doing in a dark place like this, and with such pathetic protection, for I am just one man. Just one, and Per of course but still..this for the most valuable possession of the kingdom? I do believe you are the thing I should steal. Maybe I'll just take you with me, would you like that princess?" he whispered, his hot breath on her ear and his free hand wantonly traveling down her side.
Suddenly Bulma had her rage back and let out a vicious cry, flinging the beast backwards. "Unhand me you disgusting ruffian! I will have you killed for this you...you..Elf!" she searched for a loathsome enough title to encompass this beast, and finding his species insult enough, "You only dream that something as fair as me would touch filth like you!"
But Bulma felt the sting of his words. She knew she wasn't even close to the kingdoms most valuable possession and maybe they had sent her with such protection hoping to get rid of her. Her rage came from that as much as the Elf.
"Come now your highness, no need to get upset, I wasn't going to do anything to you. I was referring to the lovely necklace you are wearing," he ended by ripping the jewel abrasively from her, so she could feel the impact of his words.
Bulma turned her despair into anger and flew into a rebuttal, "You barbarian! Now I know my hate for your kind is well founded, I hope the gods soon put an end to your mistake of a race!"
"You think you're better then me? It's hard to be worse then dirt, Princess, you are just like us. Maybe one day you'll learn that not everything is as it seems and stop doing all your dear parents tell you in your perfect little world," he said coldly.
Bulma faltered, confused why in the midst of her anger she still wished for him to be up against her again, yet she still found her voice.
"My 'parents' are simply people whose view about everything I find abominable, no Elf; things AREN'T always what they seem. I am traveling through these woods because my parents can't stand my presence any longer, so if it is your will, take all you want. Call it toll, call it whatever you wish as long as it will cause more grief for them. How is that for a perfect little world?" she said equally as cold, the ice entering her veins, wondering why she cared so much what this abominable elf thought.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at her sudden submission and gloomy confession, and was slightly disappointed that he would be denied sight of this fair creature so soon, but he completed his undertaking unwilling for that fact to be known.
"Well then, the pleasure was all mine," he said smirking at her, and as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone.
"Good riddance," Bulma seethed, still boiling with rage.
Yet nothing terribly tragic had happened, only three of the guards were dead, and she cared for them naught. Still, this all was sure to send her parents into a fury, not that the thought of that was a sad one to Bulma.
But it didn't make sense for him not to kill her, why had he left her unharmed? That Elf and his burning eyes had unnerved her in a most upsetting way.
'And I did like that necklace,' she thought as the remainder of the party hurried to escape this wretched place.
'Only to arrive somewhere just as wretched, if not more, and meet with a very upset old woman at her granddaughters choice of route' Bulma brooded, still shaken and absorbed in thoughts of dark eyes.
AN: hope you enjoyed the latest installment, tell me what ya think! Thanks for reading