Chapter 3: The true enemy

Each night she slept was haunting Misaki, the same nightmare haunting her, she could have sworn the same bloody scene happened again and again, slowly crushing her heart each day.

"I will protect you Suzuna, I will make sure they pay" Misaki said, by now she knew every detail of her recurring nightmare she was glad that it was going to end now she waited.

"ha ha ha ha ha, really girl you think its over?" said the unconscious Suzuna. Her voice was almost dark like an old women, this wasn't Suzuna's voice.

Misaki pushed the girl away, Surprised. Then her eyes widened. Suzuna's eyes were wide almost poping and completely black and almost turning back into her skull with this creepy smile that Misaki swore took up half of her face.

Misaki swallowed hard. "who are you?" Her voice shook.

"who am I? hahahaha" She sounds like a crazy old witch! "I am …." Then she took Misaki by the shoulder tightly her nails digging into her flesh.

'whats happening its just a dream ….. I can't move' Misaki thought. This was the first time she was ever so scared in her whole life, her body was stiff.

'I am …." The creepy entity of her sister lowered her head, and then looked up. Her face completely changed. Long white hair, wild creepy ice blue eyes, and the disturbing smirk was still there. She leaned in close to Misaki's ear and whispered. "I am you my dear, you are me, we are one and the same

Lips red like blood

Hair dark as night"

"I will have your heart" with that the creepy women bared her beastly teeth, bit into Misaki's neck.

Misaki screamed out the air became visible around her and the witch was pushed slamming against the wall by a gravitational push.

"aaargh" The witch groaned then smirked. "you are definitely the one I will have you heart soon my dear"

Then everything around Misaki became dark.

Misaki woke up hyperventilating, thick layer of sweat on her skin. Misaki clenched her neck and heart, it had felt all too real she could still feel the teeth marks on her neck though there was nothing there. Her eyes however were wild she was scared yes but somehow all she wanted to do was glare and tear the witch to pieces if her body permits. She jumped at the sound of knocking on her door. She cleared her face of any trace of tears.

After the incident the news spread like wild fire and the Magicians returned early by then they have casted a stronger shield around the castle.

"Princess" Three elderly men in Dark blue robes entered Misaki's room walked towards her and bowed low to Misaki.

"Rise" she said as calmly as she could trying to collect herself, her eyes had now lost the energetic light it once held which were now hard and cold, her expression showed nothing it was as if she was dead but still alive though she showed no sign of weakness she had turned almost robotic in the last 2 days.

The three elders surprised by the way she spoke so …. different and if she was another person.

"Elder Grant what is it" She didn't know it but her voice sounded almost accusing.

"Princess, we have come to report" Elder Grant said, he wore his hood down while the other two wore their hoods up their heads hung low as they followed Grant.

Grant has grey hair combed back neatly, eyes like faded silver and almost cat-like, he didn't look too rinkly as he should more between the 50-60 range but Misaki knew that he was over 150 years old and nowadays if your powerful enough magic could even hide age.

"proceed" Misaki ordered.

"Princess, tomorrow you will become Queen of our people" She nodded "we know that you and your sister are still recovering from the shock but we need you to be in your top form tomorrow and ….. we have been meaning to ask you this but will you be allowing Briranad to attend?"

Misaki almost thought she was going to see red at the mention of Briranad, although she was one to believe that they weren't really involved since there have been cases where even their countries symbol was found at the crime scene in Briranad.

The elders gave Misaki the needed Moment to collect her thoughts, the kingdom wasn't very fond of Briranad for their past accusations but the princess always seemed to want to make peace.

"I understand, I have already prepared myself for years for this day to come I do not need to be reminded of its importance I already know" Misaki said surprised by her own tone of harsh voice. "And Briranad they can attend we still don't know if it really was them there has never been any solid information that they have ever committed this crime but you may increase security if you are still worried"

"also I have been meaning to ask you but … what is that mark on your hand? Its filled with magic princess you can't control magic well but it doesn't seem to be dark" The elder on the left said with a more worried expression.

"A friend gave it to me of means of contact don't worry about it" Misaki pulled on a white glove covering her hand.

"Very well Princess, regarding the incident there have been a total of 8 survivors including you and your sister" Grant paused before continuing reading at this moment even he was scared of the wild look on her face whenever they mentioned what happened that night, her expressions would go deadly "….. we are sorry about your parents if only we were more careful we-"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Misaki snapped and let out a growl her sudden outburst had them almost jump out of their skin. Her eyes were deadly like an untamed dragon ready to kill its prey.

Its not like she meant to, images of her dream and the incident coming through her mind as they talked were bad enough.

She gasped. " …. I am sorry I am not myself lately" Misaki calmed down a little her blood felt cold but noticing their slight fear of here she tried to pull it at the back of her mind.

"Its understandable Princess, you have been through a lot we want you to rest, should we push the coronation date a few days more?" Grant said clearly worried about the dark circles under her eyes.

He had watched her grow up since he was always at her fathers' side and she always had her anger in priority, scared to even hurt the smallest of insects she wasn't weak either she is one of the most talented and promising Tamers their generation ever had, the incident has taken a bigger toll on her than they had thought he could only blame himself for not foreseeing this tragedy.

Misaki thought about it for a while. "No I am fine just a little tired I will go through it tomorrow I do not want our guests who have traveled so far to wait any longer"

"Very well my lady we shall let you rest now" with that they walked out and as soon as the door closed Misaki let out a low groan. Why she acted like that she doesn't know.

She looked at the back of her hand her fingers tracing the detailed rose mark she had almost forgot about it. Doing that seemed to calm her down and images of a certain blonde man entered her mind.

Thinking of him always put her mind to ease it was strange she didn't even know the man but he was able to keep her mind at ease? Though she had always wondered who Takumi really was he seemed like a real mystery.

She hadn't had the chance to know much about him yet and she wasn't planning to date him or anything like that it would be difficult because now she will be Queen and everyone will know even he will find out, they could just be friends and nothing more and she wanted to know more about him first before anything happened.

"I have a feeling that we will be meeting again very soon" with that Misaki reclined back down to sleep a lot calmer now her mouth now pulled to a small smile as she drifted off to sleep. She didn't want to admit it but she felt a little comfort in the mark that Takumi left on her hand.

#*_-

"Takumi-sama are you sure about this?" Cedric followed Takumi as he was making his way towards the Dragon chariots to fly to the castle.

"Of course I am, I have no intention of returning back early" They walked through the large crowd he could hear everyone speaking, most of it was about the late King and Queen's death but also about tonight, tonight everyone was anxiously waiting for the princess's coronation speech a huge feast will be held, the town will be more lively than it ever was before.

He still marveled at the loyalty the country showed towards the princess.

It wasn't like this in Briranad the people were just happy the royal family was continuing but here it was like everyone adored the princess, his brother's coronation was anything but lively it was formal he just did his speech and there was a celebration held that was it.

"What if they decide to turn against you, surely once your announced everyone will not be so kindly as they are now after all they are under the impression that our kingdom has killed the King and Queen." Cedric still had worried itched over his face.

"The King and Queen's death is all the more reason to show my face, the new Queen has to know that we mean no harm if she insists I leave I will" Takumi wasn't joking about this he really didn't want war to be the only answer there didn't have to be a blood bath so soon if possible he will try to prevent it.

Cedric groaned. "be careful then" they both stopped to look above them. "so its true"

In the sky a couple thousand meters there was a castle but from their distance it looked so small.

'She wasn't kidding huh' Takumi thought. Now he was standing in front of where the dragon chariots stood, a Guard waiting impatiently for specifics to come and collect the passes.

"This might not end well" Cedric said in a low voice.

"It will be fine"

"Name?" the guard said.

"The second prince of Briranad, Prince Takumi, I have come in place of my brother the King"

All eyes fell towards Takumi's direction. He looked around everyone had hateful stares and glares then the voices picked up.

The guards surrounded him with guns readying to shoot. Cedric got into action and shielded him but Takumi didn't show any sign of retreat or threat he just stared at them calmly as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.

"What is HE doing here?"

"He actually has the guts to show up?" the crowd had gathered and become loud.

But all the murmurs were silenced as a General appeared shooting the air with a pistol. "QUITE! drop your weapons men" he ordered. And everyone did so they were all confused.

"prince Takumi" The General walked forward shaking Takumi's hand. "I am general Tybalt."

Takumi nodded. "The princess wishes to speak with you. Me and two others will accompany you to the castle to make sure you don't try anything funny, if you do however I can't guarantee you will be alive" he voice was warning like a snake. As if on cue, two blondes in armor stood beside him. Takumi looked at the two men, they look like twins.

"Take me to the princess there is something I want to ask as well" Takumi said.

The three of them nodded. "Soldier, present Prince Takumi with his pass"

"but why sir he is not exactly a welcome company?" the Guard taking the names questioned.

"The princess has given orders to allow him to attend the ceremony, has he not been invited?"

"no sir his name is on the list"

"Then he will attend, ready a dragon chariot and send him to the castle"

The soldier gave Takumi his pass and he pocketed it.

Tybalt stopped to look at the people specifically to the group of young ladies.

Tybalt smiled a toothy grin. "The princess has given her word that everything would be alright but of course I could provide extra protection if you want" he said winking at them. They just looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

The two blondes sighed at the same time they seem to do everything in sync they turned towards Takumi. "I am Sam and this is Eric, don't mind him his always like that" Sam said. They turned to look at Tybalt. "yeah an idiot he is" They said at the same time, their stance symmetrical.

The only difference between the two is that Sam has light blue eyes and Eric has light Green eyes.

"Alright lets get a move on" Tybalt coughed, a light blush on his cheeks, another failed attempt to woo the ladies.

"Yes sir" Sam and Eric said and the group followed into the chariot.

#*_-

If anyone noticed I changed the plot a bit. I would add an adventure genre if I could but yeah I hope you all enjoyed this and a special thanks to all those who have reviewed. :3

Please R+R and tell me what you think.

-Yuki98