I've made some changes in this chapter, nothing worth rereading it for, I just wanted you to know.
A strong mind
Midsummer came with its usual brightness, laughs and celebrating. During the days of celebration there was no trace of the shadow always lurking in the back of every Scottish local's mind. Even the most pessimistic of people smiled and laughed during the midsummer festivals, for one day allowing their worry about the future be gone.
The celebrations in and outside the White castle was no different from the rest of the kingdom. Everybody from queen to slave enjoyed their time and laughed, ate and danced together. This was the one day the queen loved the most; for this was the day she was no longer queen. She was another celebrator of the sun and was allowed to dance and set herself free. And now she could smile even brighter than any other day, for the vampires that had been present ever since before lord Thomas's death was no longer there. Obviously they could not stand against the brightness of the year's longest day.
Malin also loved this day, because she could be with her queen as her friend and dance and laugh with her like the teenagers they actually were. They laughed at Mokuba, who seemed to play tag with Rebecca, but knew he had played her yet another prank. They danced with Joey and the other soldiers, though those who Yuniko danced with either were clumsy from too much drinking or stiff because of her everyday beauty. Only Joey, Mokuba and the councilmen were fun to dance with.
The celebrating lasted until next day. It hadn't been dark that night. The sun had only been down for four hours.
When everybody finally got off to bed they were all a shade darker in skin. Only Malin, who was naturally dark-skinned, had been saved the pains of sunburn. Yuniko lay down with a tired sigh, but her face was still smiling, reflecting the light of the day.
"Today, almighty Father," she prayed slowly, sleepily. "Only for today, let us all sleep without disturbs. Let us sleep for one day and one night freed from the darkness that has been over us for so long. Amen."
God heard her, and answered through the cross resting on the little human's heart. The stones shone with a gentle light before they dulled to their usual glow.
Morning. Dr. Lou came in to do his usual examination of the Dreamers. Nothing had changed in their condition what he could see, but you never knew what happened on the inside. He went to the bed closest to the window, but as he neared Yugi he had to back away as something that felt like electricity went through his body, like a warning. Don't get close, it said. Don't get close, devil.
Lou frowned confused. This had never happened before. He had always been able to touch the Dreamers, even if it stung his fingers to touch young Atemu. He knew the reason to that though.
It had been only three days since the older Atemu and Kazuki and started their search for the memories of the Battle Princess, they must have come here straight after they found the cross and it was now making sure he couldn't get close enough to touch the reborn princess. He swore silently. He couldn't do his job if he couldn't touch his patients.
"I can bet the tears I can not even touch your loved ones anymore," Lou muttered and glared accusing at the smiling face of Yugi. "Don't look so sly, precious."
The doctor sat down in a chair to watch the Dreamers. Now when he was unable to take them through the movements that kept their blood circulating and preventing pressure wounds all he could do was sit in here and wait out the time it usually took him to do it. He had been very careful that he was left alone during this time and that no one else even got close to the Dreamers. He knew some said he wanted the reward for curing this state and would be asked about it if it ever happened again. But the truth was very different.
"You must have seen your last midsummer, precious," he said lowly to the still body. "That is the only time we could not get close to you. The light was too strong." Of course there was no answer, but he didn't need one either. It's so close now. Months for you, how long is that to us if you have lived through 18 years in two weeks? Will you be gone tonight?"
Yuniko.
The young woman stirred slightly under the blankets.
Wake up, Yuniko.
The ruler sighed and buried her head deeper into her pillow. A soft laugher could be heard at her actions.
You need to wake up. The new day is dawning. Much is soon to happen, and it must start today.
A lazy, blue eye opened to be met by amused, transparent green ones. Rise and shine.
"I hear you. Now go away."
When you do as I say, Yugi smiled.
Another sigh, face hiding deeper in the pillow, then she threw the warm covers off her lithe body and got out of bed.
Good girl, Yugi said and faded away, only to be replaced by Yohim.
Yugi is right, she said, gaining a tired glare from the queen. What started when you were born is about to continue today.
"I do not need you to know that."
True. What you do need us for is to carry out your decision and keep you standing tall when you are about to fall.
Yuniko sighed again and looked over to her nurse's bed. The platinum blonde lay sprawled on the bed, clinging to her pillow as always with the covers tangled around her legs and body. She couldn't help but laugh slightly as she walked up to the dark-skinned woman.
"Wake up, Malin. I need help with my hair."
Yuniko loved the midsummer festivals, but the next working day wasn't too bad either. That was the day her council had a hangover. Even Lance, the eldest member of the council, straggled in with his hair and cloths out of order.
"Good morning, my happy gentlemen. Please sit down," the queen said with a bright smile being the only one completely in order. She even received a few glares at her bright voice and her smile grew. These were the days she loved to be alive.
"What is first of today's list, Mr Hem?" she asked and turned to the only one who had at least made the effort to brush his hair out.
The man sighed and looked at his papers. "Count Mirr's testament, my queen."
"It is a shame he had to leave us before midsummer, but I am positive he is happier where he is now. A fair man he was and I am certain his testament is as fair."
"It is fair, but his sons are not as good men as their late father."
"Their will can not go against the last will of a man like count Mirr. Now tell me the reason his testament has ended up seeking my advice."
As the meeting went on the council slowly got back to their usual effective pace of work. Malin was half-asleep the whole time, but Joey stood by the door, fit and keen as always. Malin couldn't help but feel a little jealous of him.
It was in the middle of the day a few days after midsummer the queen noticed the servants whispering with startled faces, and it was only an hour later Mokuba came searching for her with another servant in his heels, trying to stop him.
"Your majesty! Something has happened!"
"Quiet, boy. Forgive him, your majesty. The boy…"
"Is worried about something that has happened in my home. Let him talk to me."
Mokuba was immediately let forth as the servant backed away, slightly startled at the queen's tone. "There are servants that have disappeared without a trace," the boy said, looking straight at Scotland's ruler, much to the strict servant's dismay, but the queen didn't tell him off. She actually looked interested and worried. "They were here yesterday, and this morning, but suddenly they were just gone."
Yuniko looked out of the window, a thoughtful and worried expression on her face.
"Your majesty, I am certain there is a logical explanation," the other servant said. Of all the servants in the castle, Mokuba and Malin were probably the only ones who dared to go straight to the queen when something happened. No one else dared to bother her with what could be just a small trifle.
"I can not rule a kingdom if I do not care about what happens in my own home," the queen said, straight and honest. "If people are disappearing here, they are most likely to disappear all over. Where have people disappeared most?"
"One here and one there," Mokuba asked uncertainly.
"Let us start with the kitchen. I am worried about Solomon. Malin, you can talk to my council and ask them if they have noticed anything and if any of them are missing."
"As you wish, Milady." Malin curtsied and left.
"Let us go to the kitchen."
Solomon was grateful for the queen's appearance in the kitchen. He was an old man now and his nerves couldn't take more stress than the everyday chaos of the castle's kitchen.
"I have heard of servants disappearing," Yuniko said straight away. "How many have you lost?"
"Only one, thankfully. But I am worried about the little life. His name is Josef and a good worker."
"Have you searched everywhere?"
"Not yet. These hens are too scared to go looking for him because they do not want to disappear themselves."
"Cowards," Mokuba muttered.
"Do not blame people for being afraid, Mokuba," Yuniko scolded him. "You are too."
Another boy, this one a few years younger than Mokuba, entered the kitchen. "Y-your majesty…"
The queen turned to the young boy with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He was Adam's page she realized, but she had never spoken to him in person before. "Yes… Rut, right?"
The young boy blushed, honoured to no end that the queen knew his name. "Y-yes, ma'am-Milady!" he quickly corrected himself.
"Why the hurry? Has something happened among the soldiers?"
"Ah… Sir Adam sent me. Two of the squires have gone missing. One disappeared this morning and his friend went to search for him, but none have come back yet."
A thought entered Yuniko's mind as she kept staring at the poor page. "Can they…?"
"Milady?" Solomon asked uncertainly.
"Where was the boy last seen?" the queen asked the whole kitchen staff.
A maid fearfully stepped forward. "I-I saw him… h-he went out t-to… throw the b-bad vegetables."
"Where do you do that?"
"Behind the castle, close to the great wall, your majesty," Solomon answered.
"There is an escape door close by there, right?"
No one could answer that question before the queen strode out of the kitchen, calling for Mokuba.
"Here."
"Check with as many as you can where the people were last seen and report to me in the same time you run three rounds around the castle."
"Immediately, Milady."
"I will be on the backyard. Find me there."
Mokuba bowed quickly before he dashed off in another direction. Yuniko strode out of the castle and rounded it to the backyard.
This was a place no one went to if they could avoid it. Rats and mice lived here along with insects that lived of what the humans threw away. There were a few clean paths where the slaves could walk without getting too dirty, one of those paths leading to the escape door.
Even though she never entered the area she could still see the feet that had walked the narrow path and out through that door. Yuniko immediately felt the pressure, the presence of a stronger mind.
"Merciful God," she whispered when she realized just where those people had gone to. "Is there no why to protect my people?"
"Lady Yuniko!"
Mokuba came running towards her, but she already knew what he had to tell, she started to run towards the head gate.
Mokuba stopped, stunned at the ruler's sudden dash. He called for her again, but she didn't seem to hear. Neighing echoed over the courtyard and Unicorn suddenly dashed out of the stables with the stablemen in tow. A loud crash of broken wood and startled neighing and Shadow exited the stable with a broken rope hanging from his halter.
A squeak came from above as Sky lowered over his mistress's head, asking what to do.
Search humans going north!
Sky turned north as Yuniko got up on the moving Unicorn's back with the elegance of a dancer. The gate opened without anyone's help, as if the queen's mere thought was enough for it to fly open.
Screams and calls followed the ruler's dash, but Shadow stopped long enough for Malin to climb onto his back. As the black horse followed his daughter and friend he picked up Joey on the way, feeling they had to tag along. The treasure couldn't think straight when she was this angry.
As their queen rushed out of the castle grounds servants, slaves, guards and soldiers tried to do everything at the same time; run after the queen, calm the horses and ask each other what just happened.
"Enough!" a voice echoed over the courtyard. Everyone looked up to see Honda standing in an open window where everyone could see him. "Adam, get your horses ready to go after the queen. I am certain she has a good explanation to her behaviour. A company of soldiers follow the queen by foot."
"But we do not know where the queen went."
"They are heading north!" a guard called from the great wall. "Her majesty is heading towards the northern woods."
Honda frowned in confusion, but didn't let it get to him. "You heard him, Adam. Move now!"
"Yes Sir!"
Joey and Malin had enough trying to stay on Shadow's broad back. He wasn't a smooth runner and he was starting to feel his years. Still he was one of the best horses in Scotland.
"What do you think happened?" Joey yelled once he found his balance.
"I think she figured out where those people disappeared to!" Malin yelled back, only to bite her tongue when Shadow jumped over a fallen log. She whimpered. Joey's only thought was that Yuni must be more quick-witted than usual.
A flash of light had Shadow stop and rise on his hind legs. There was a loud cry and Shadow dashed forward again with the two humans hanging onto his back for dear life.
There were screams and surprised yells and more flashes of blue and black light. Shadow had to stop all the time, unsure of what to do, but unwilling to leave his daughter and treasure alone.
Then there was a silent explosion. Wherever those black flashes came from they were pushed back by the bright explosion.
Yugi looked at the people in front of him with calm, green eyes. A young boy looked up at him and he smiled.
"You are safe now," he said softly.
Sky came down and landed on his shoulder with a squeak. Calm eyes and an invisible smile seen on his face.
The light faded and Yuniko fell over Unicorn's back, completely exhausted. The young boy, Josef, rushed forward to stop her from falling off the horse's back. He couldn't help but stare.
Only a moment later a black horse appeared in the clearing with the queen's nurse and a young blond soldier.
"What happened?" the nurse, Malin, asked with eyes filled with worry at the sight of the motionless queen.
"I-I do not know," Josef said nervously. He had never in his life talked to any of the higher up servants. He was a kitchen boy and was only ordered around.
The soldier and Malin got off the horse, the soldier going for the other people lying on the ground and Malin to her queen. After looking at the ruler's face and felt for her pulse the nurse sighed in relief.
"She is only fainted. I suppose she used too much energy again."
"These guys have only fainted as well," the soldier said from beside a young maid.
The eagle squeaked and lifted his wings a little, seemingly calm and amused.
"I wish I could talk to you the same way your mistress does," Malin said with another sigh.
Yuniko moaned and stirred a little, before she settled on Unicorn's bare back, Sky still on her shoulders. The eagle snuggled against her cheek before he rose into the sky and landed on a branch, squeaking for the others to follow him.
"Good thing Shadow came along," Joey said. "Hey kitchen boy. Are you strong enough to carry this one on your back?"
Josef stared at the soldier and then at the small maid in his arms. "I-I do not know. I-I have ne-never carried anyone before."
"I do not think there is anything to be afraid of anymore," the soldier said with a kind smile. "If there were, the queen would not just lie around, and Sky and Unicorn would not be so calm either. We can take these people with us back to safety without being afraid."
Joey threw a few people up on the Shadow's back. He could just hope the black horse wouldn't be awkward during their way back. With Shadow carrying three people, the kitchen boy one and he and Malin two each…
"What about Mr. Hem?" Malin asked.
Joey looked between his only choices; Shadow and Unicorn. The man was too big for him or Malin to take, so that left them with the horses, but he couldn't throw the man on the people on Shadow's back. They'd be crushed.
"I suppose Yuni must share horse with this man."
Malin counted the people again. She didn't know how many had disappeared, but she recognized most of them. Josef was a kitchen boy, she knew him through Solomon since he didn't like to talk too much. The maid he carried on his back was Lilana's, the two she was carrying served as Sir Rolf's cleaning maids, Joey was taking two fellow soldiers and the three on Shadow's back were newcomers in the army and two of them were suitors of Ryouko's. But how could Mr. Hem have come here? He was a member of the council and the monarch's advisor since three years back.
"How could he disappear without anyone noticing?" she asked suspiciously.
"He was probably taking a walk this morning," Joey said as he lifted the heavy man from the ground. "I asked his servant once since I had seen him out with no one near." Shadow began to be awkward at the thought of a stranger riding his daughter, but he understood why so he didn't fight back. "Good boy," Joey praised him with a pat on the muscular neck before he picked up his burden and began to walk. He hoped they would follow without being led by hand. Unicorn followed close behind Malin, since she smelled most of her mistress, and Shadow followed close behind his daughter.
"Tom, the servant, said Mr. Hem likes to take a walk alone in the morning. Tom and his friends were worried though since he did not return as usual this morning."
The nurse nodded in understanding. She was always near the queen so she didn't know much about anybody else's habits. "Josef, do you know how you ended up out here?" she asked the kitchen boy.
The young boy blushed at being addressed by name by the queen's nurse. "N-no. All I remember before is that I was going out with old food to the backyard. I remember I was at the backyard, but the next thing I know I look up into the queen's green eyes…" his voice died down as both Malin and the soldier turn bewildered eyes at him.
"What did you just say?" Joey asked slowly.
Josef couldn't answer. He was too afraid under those staring eyes.
"Milady has blue eyes," Malin explained their reaction. "They have never been green."
"B-but th-they were. S-she said we were sa-safe. He-her voice w-was so calm. T-the eagle smiled."
Joey looked at Sky, now sitting in the top of a tree looking down at them. "Sky and Unicorn are not worried. Maybe the light of the forest just illuminated her majesty's eyes so they looked green?"
"They shone green," Josef protested weakly.
Malin glanced her queen. "I am sure she can explain once she wakes up again," she ended the matter firmly.
Halfway though the forest they were met by Adam's soldiers.
"What happened to them?" a worried soldier asked. "Are they alive?"
"Her majesty saved them," Joey told his fellow soldiers calmly. "Please help me carry them. And if somebody could take the man on Unicorn as well. She does not like sharing her back with anybody else than the queen."
Yuniko slowly woke up. She could feel the protecting souls of the past and future around her mind and body, protecting her from what tried to invade her dreams.
Yuniko!
It sounded like Yohim's voice. She sounded worried.
You must wake up, Yuniko!
That was Yugi's voice. She had to help them. She had to wake up.
Yuniko opened her eyes, sitting up without blinking for the evening light. "My room?"
"Milady! You are awake again?"
"Malin?" Yuniko looked around. The sun stood so low in west it shone under the heavy rain clouds, giving them a burning red and orange glow with drops of rain that had not yet reached Mother Earth. It looked like rain of blood. The room was warm and bathing in the warm glow of the sun, but inside Yuniko was freezing over. "How long have I slept?"
"Only for a day, Milady. Nothing has actually happened, but we found frost in the grass this morning and the summer insects has already started to die, though now is their time of the year."
Yuniko tilted her head slightly to the side, listening for the voices that had awoken her.
He has shortened the summer with a whole month, Yugi's voice said. He sounded strangely distant.
We do all we can to keep him away, Yohim sounded from somewhere else. We can do no more. Now you must decide upon your next move.
"Milady?"
"Tell me what happened to the abducted people?"
"Abducted? Milady, are you sure?"
The queen rose from her bed and walked towards her wardrobe. "His mind is stronger than I realized. It reached through my barrier and took over the minds of those people, that way abducting them." The queen choose a red dress with an elegant black lace around the wide collar. "How are they now?"
"All of them are back to normal, but none of them dare to go near the backyard."
"I would be surprised if they did. Please help me."
Malin tied the crisscrossing strays on the back from her waist up. Droplets of rain, coloured red by the falling sun, hit the window.
"Milady, you just run off. Everyone got scared and Honda had to take charge to get some kind of order in the panic. He managed, but he can not rule this kingdom. He may have the council behind him and I am sure they are taking care of things for you, but they can not make quick decisions without you, Milady."
"Because they have no monarch to give them straight orders of what has to be done. They are comfortable under my command. Maybe have I pushed them around too much, giving them comfortable lives where they do not have to do more than bring me news and obey me?"
"I believe they do not see their position like that. They are no royals, Milady. They are noblemen, and loyal ones. They hesitate to do anything that could possibly displease your majesty."
Yuniko looked over her shoulder before she went to her dressing-table. "Why are you so afraid?" she asked softly. "You always call me Yuni when we are alone."
Malin folded her hands in front of her and bit her lip. "I am scared, Yuni. Kyoko has fallen ill."
Yuniko stiffened. "Do my hair and then I will go see her."
Malin nodded her head and obeyed.
He went straight for her, Yohim said from afar. He recognizes her from five hundred years ago. Kaio was a healer, therefore he sent the plague to her, so that she would be unable to save the people. We were too late to save her. Now all we can do is block the virus.
The queen sat very still, resolute and angry. Never had she been so humiliated before. The Vampire Lord was playing with her. He used her brother, she was certain of it, and now he was sending all his attacks against her people. As long as she knew her people was in danger she would have no time to prepare for his attack.
The sun fell beyond the horizon.
As she slowly walked through the corridor towards Marie's room Yuniko put a calming, protecting hand on every servant she passed, giving them a kind smile. When Honda came running towards her and kneeled in front of her, grabbing her skirt and kissing it in pure relief, she apologized for rushing off and said she would explain everything as soon as she had visited Kyoko.
"But you are feeling all right?"
"I feel fine, Honda. Please forgive me for worrying you."
As they arrived to the healer's quarters they found Marie was not in a good mood. She didn't like Kyoko having an illness she couldn't cure, or even ease, and she was halfway through her rant at poor Kyoko, lying in a bed, obviously feeling very sick.
"Leave your ranting for someone who is willing to listen, Marie," Yuniko told her the second she heard Marie almost blamed Kyoko for being ill. "Can you not see you are making young Kyoko feel worse?"
"Your holy majesty." There was almost a worshipping tone in her voice.
"How is she?"
"Ill, your holy majesty. Since she came here she has only gotten worse."
Yuniko went up to Kyoko's bed and placed a hand on her sweaty forehead. "Plague," was the only thing she said, but it made Marie's breath caught and caused Malin to go so pale she almost turned white.
"I have allowed nobody in here since she arrived," Marie said, thinking through that time. "Her sister carried her here and then left. The crazy girl! She will be the death of us all!"
"Young Ryouko and the rest of the castle is completely safe," Yuniko said calmly but firmly as she sat on Kyoko's bed, her magic working through the young girl's system. "I have seen to it. Only young Kyoko has been infected."
"My great queen, you can not just assume…"
The queen gave the healer an honestly offended look. "I know from where this plague was sent here. My magic is stopping the virus from spreading. You call me holy, but you seem to have little faith in my powers."
Marie was so shocked she couldn't form a word or even make a sound. Yuniko turned her complete attention back towards her little sister. Malin, Marie and Honda first heard her mumble something that sounded like a prayer, then they could see the soft light that surrounded her, flowing into the brunette on the bed. Darkness, a shadow, escaped Kyoko's body as light entered it. Eyes, crimson like the setting sun only minutes ago, glared at the saint, outraged and unsatisfied. It turned its glare towards the three observers and went for them.
"Be gone, Devil. We will never give you the blood of Earth's people."
The Battle Princess's light shone through everything. The shadow had nowhere to escape and so it was destroyed by the holy light coming from the saint.
When Malin could see again Yuniko sat on Kyoko's bedside, caressing her forehead. The young girl looked much better now.
"Milady?"
Blue, relieved eyes looked up into her purple ones. "She is tired. All this time she has fought the Devil all alone. So she is tired and must rest. But she is safe now."
Marie walked forward to examine her patient, and Yuniko let her, standing from the bed.
"A miracle. She is completely cured!"
"God close out no one from his grace. He saved Kyoko through me." The queen then straightened up, nothing but knowledge of the situation on her face. "Please tell me as soon as young Kyoko wakes up. If she can walk, take her to the great hall, otherwise, carry her." The queen then turned to Honda. "Gather the council and my advisors. Malin, find Joey and Mokuba and have them moving. I want the White castle's every man, woman and child in the great hall as soon as possible. If anybody is working, tell them it can wait."
Honda saluted before he bowed deeply and Malin curtsied quickly before they both left to obey their queen. When she used that tone she had something to tell that concerned her entire kingdom.
The queen turned to Marie, who was quite unsure of what to do. "Stay here and watch young Kyoko until she wakes up. You have your orders."
Marie curtsied, too dumbfounded to talk.
For the second time in history noblemen crowded with slaves and servants in the white castle's great hall. It was no kind of twisted fate that had made this happen twice under Yuniko's time. In history saints have always been simple people born poor, but rich in soul. But Yuniko was a royal, and stayed as such, and as a monarch she was the only one in the past, present and ever future to know the true value of a life.
"My people. I have very bad news for all of us."
Soldiers exchanged looks with servants, noblemen with maids, slaves with councilmen. This concerned them all just as much, and the queen would care the same for every last one of them.
Yuniko looked out over the sea of heads, noticing the worry written in their faces. She could feel it. Something that did not belong. Somewhere an ant had slipped through her guard again. Her back straightened as she gained enough courage to tell them all what she feared. "You all know I have created a barrier around my kingdom to protect you, high and low alike. But my barrier is only enough to keep the vampires out physically, they can still enter."
Whispers and gasps echoed through the room, but was silenced by their queen's hand. "Please listen to me. I do what I can to protect you, but my enemy, the Vampire Lord, is no longer aiming his attacks at me, but at you, my people."
This time panic rose in the air as the people started to talk to each other of what could soon happen, screaming they had to leave. Yuniko looked out over them all. She could feel Joey, Malin, Ryouko and Honda look at her for support. She flung out with her arms. "SILENCE!"
A wind blew through the room from the one standing above them all. The Battle Princess stood there with a Gloria of light around her head. Her voice boomed and echoed over their heads. "I will not let my people be hunted by nightmares through the night. I will not let my people fear anything in or beyond my kingdom's boundaries. I will not leave my people alone and scared of the dark. For I will defeat it."
Everyone, from simple slave to greedy nobleman, saw the light, heard the promises, and believed. If their queen said she would protect hem, she would.
"I must see my council immediately. Crow of the vampire tribe warned me that if I angered the Vampire Lord further their attack would come sooner. I fear I have angered him again. You may return to your duties, and I will ask you to have faith in me. If only my people believe in me I can defeat everything."
Honda organized the council and advisors to be gathered in the official meeting room. This was the room Scotland's rulers used when meeting other kings, or only the earls and lords of Scotland. It was bigger than their usual meeting room and had a huge window facing west, giving a royal view over the sunset. Tonight all light had turned dark and greyish and Heaven was crying heavy tears over the world. The queen paced in the room in front of her council, a sign she was worried.
"Milady, it is still not too late to prepare the soldiers for war," Sir Rolf said carefully.
"I know," Yuniko said, but never stopped pacing.
"Shall I carry out the order, my queen?" Adam asked from the door where he stood as guard.
Yuniko stopped in front of the window. Yugi's reflection stared back at her.
Humans can not fight vampires, the green-eyed boy repeated what she herself had said only weeks ago.
"No. I will not let anybody die in vain. Declaration of war is not the answer, neither is a display of power."
"But my queen. What other choice do we have?" an elder councilman asked, almost pleading her to consider.
"I do not know," the queen said. "I told you I had a decision to make. I had almost made up my mind. But now I am not as certain I am doing the right thing anymore."
"Your majesty's obsession of protecting the people is crossing the line," someone said, an irritated hint to his voice. "This has been a war since the moment the vampires made themselves known to your majesty. Does your majesty really believe a war will claim no victims?"
The queen turned her angry, almost desperate eyes towards him. "It has already claimed enough victims, Mr. Hem. Have you forgotten my brother? Have you forgotten the late king, my father? Have you forgotten Lord Thomas and his men? Have you truly forgotten all of them?"
The man lowered his head. "No, your majesty."
"Why do you believe I called this a war and not a battle? Because it is not only between me and the Vampire Lord. It is between his people and mine. The only difference is that his people want to fight while mine can only try to protect themselves. And people die in war. It has already claimed victims, not only from my side."
She picked up her pacing, refusing to look at the reflections in the dark window. She knew Yugi and Yohim were waiting for her decision.
There was a hesitant knock on the door. "Enter," the queen called, hoping it was Marie and Kyoko.
The door opened and Joey came in with Ryouko. "Your majesty?"
"Have something happened?"
The two looked at each other. "We…" Ryouko started, but words seemed to fail her.
Joey was first to drop the act to find a good excuse. "We were worried about you. Marie said you cured Kyoko. Using magic is not good for your health, Milady."
"You visited young Kyoko? How was she? Has she awoken yet?"
Ryouko shook her head, concern evident in her eyes. "Yu… your majesty… why did you cure my sister when you know it… tear on your he- majesty's health?"
"Young Kyoko is important to the future and to me. You remember what I told you about the first Battle Princess?"
"Of course, Milady," Joey spoke for them both.
"The first Battle Princess?"
Yuniko sighed silently before turning to her council. "I managed to find the story behind this cross." She touched the exposed silver cross with its bright sapphires. "It belonged to the first Battle Princess, the one who caused the trouble I have today. It is a long story."
"Well, we are not going anywhere," Sir Rolf said. The men leant forward, waiting to hear her out. Yuniko sat in her high chair.
"Everything started five hundred years ago in Walachia. What do you know about the country in the south east corner of Europe?"
"Very little, my queen," an elder man spoke. "Multicultural I have heard; Magyars, Romanians, Szekelys, Slovaks and many gypsies" he glanced at Malin, slight question in his eyes.
"I was born in Wales," the nurse answered his unspoken question.
"I see. Well, the gypsies we all know are nomads, thieves and dancers, liars and storytellers, sneaky and open. They are all these things, I am not saying they are different from other people though," he assured the queen's offended nurse. He knew she had been a thief and had never once used it against her, but talking like her family had been some kind of outsiders to usual humans she didn't take well.
"Please, both of you. We are not here to discuss any group of humans. Continue with what you know about Walachia, please."
"Yes, of course. My apologies, Miss Malin."
"Apologise accepted," Malin nodded.
"Well, about Walachia, it is a small kingdom, old and with no own language, but it has a king. Not a gypsy though. Under some kings the gypsies have been persuaded, enslaved and executed, and under some they have been able to live freely. I believe today's king is good to them."
"He is young though," another advisor spoke. "He has only ruled for twenty months."
"That is good, though I can not do anything about another kingdom but my own."
Glances were exchanged between the councilmen. Had every kingdom had a ruler like theirs the world would be a much better place to grow up in.
"Five hundred years ago the King of Walachia was a true tyrant," Yuniko continued. "He loved to execute people and I believe he liked to dine in his execution dock. His name I found was Vald Dracul."
"Dracul?" Honda exclaimed. "Knight of the Order of the Dragon?"
"You have heard of him?"
"My grandmother was Romanian; she used to tell me stories about Walachia's kings. The Order of the Dragon was executed by the Romanian ruler since they tried to widen Walachia's boundaries. The next king lived under the supervision of the surrounding kingdoms. Well, grandmother even spoke of this Dracul person. She said he was a Devil in human disguise. He was so evil the sun rarely shone over his castle."
"Why am I not surprised. Dracul is now known under another name; Sanguis."
Eyes widened as realization hit in hard. "No," Honda whispered.
"Forgive me for not telling you this earlier, my council. I thought the history to be too… hard to understand, for I know most of you are realists."
Red crossed most cheeks as the men fidgeted in their chairs. Malin couldn't help but smirk. "That is the reason Milady has never told you the whole truth about her enemies."
"Whole truth?" someone asked.
"You have not realized it yet, Sir Adolphe? I just told you Dracul, king of Walachia and knight of the Order of the Dragon from five hundred years ago and Sanguis who is the Vampire Lord today is the same person."
"That is not possible!"
"Not according to realism," the queen nodded. "But you are thinking 'you can not live that long'. You forget. Vampires are not living. They are undead, living dead with increased strength and senses. Their sight is like a hawk's, they can hear the heartbeats of the living when we try to hide, they smell our blood from a far distance… and they are strong. I myself have felt the strength of the vampires. That is what makes them so dangerous to normal people. I have only survived because my strength has been equal to theirs." Bewildered eyes stared at her. "No," she answered the unvoiced question in their eyes. "Being undead does not mean immortal. Once again you forget, this war has claimed victims from their side as well."
"My queen, we know they are weak against sunlight and crucifixes, but those things are only weaknesses. What is it that caused them to actually die?"
Malin's face hardened, Joey tensed, Ryouko took a step forward to talk but regretted and Honda had a silent conversation with the queen with their eyes.
"The blood of a saint," the queen said at last, almost reluctantly. "My blood."
The councilmen looked confused and disbelieving.
"Through the years I have found out a lot about the vampires, but my research about them has also led to realizations about myself and a past life. Five hundred years ago the first Battle Princess was too weak and wounded to defeat Dracul. With the last of her strength she sealed him away along with his strongest vampires. You remember Crow? Or maybe you never saw him." She looked over at Joey and Adam by the door.
"Too clearly, Milady," Adam said. "I have never seen a man of his size in my life. I can only describe him as a… handsome, terrifying monster."
The queen nodded. "True. When disguised as humans the vampires are handsome people. But as you said, they are also terrifying. Crow talked about the Lord being angry with me for causing the end of one of his strongest vampires. But we have sidetracked. Where was I?" She looked at Malin.
"You have told us the first Battle Princess lived in Walachia five hundred years ago and that she was too weak to defeat Dracul so she sealed him away."
"A very short version of the entire story," Yuniko said matter-of-factly. "Let me start over again. The first Battle Princess had a cousin, a healer, under the name of Kaio. The cousin was orphan with the Battle Princess, named Yohim, as only relative. Since Kaio was a beautiful girl she was kidnapped by Dracul's soldiers, or his monsters, I can not tell, and Yohim was called to his castle to bless the engagement between her cousin and Dracul. She refused of course, as Kaio did not want to be married. The girl was young, though I can not tell how old she was. However, when Yohim refused to give her cousin away Dracul ordered them both to be killed right then and there. It was only thank to… I believe they were Yohim's sons, or they were Guardian angels, Kaio and Yohim managed to escape the castle into the light of the day. Kaio was unharmed but Yohim had gained fatal wounds. She died the same night, fighting Dracul and his monsters."
"How did you find out this story?" someone asked.
"Researching the past," the queen said casually with an obvious refusal to say more.
"But knowing the past does nothing to help us." Mr. Hem stood and started to pace. "We know now who the enemy is, we know his name and we know where he came from. But it does not solve the problem. History revealed no other weakness but sunlight, it told of no weapons strong enough to fight those monsters back. We may be wiser from history, but not stronger. There is nothing in that story we can use as advantage to our enemies."
"Of course not, my friend," Yuniko said lightly. "Because you are not the one to fight you find no use in the history. But I who will fight have found something very useful in the three times; past, present and future. With God's help I may be able to defeat my enemy."
"Refused!"
The queen looked at the two men of her council that had yelled. She raised an eyebrow at them.
"My queen, it is madness. You can not fight those monsters alone. You said yourself humans can not fight vampires. Still your majesty persists to fight them. My dear, precious queen, I… we beg you to consider. We love you, Yuniko. Do not leave us in the dark with no possibility to save you."
Yuniko's face showed her despair and frustration for a second before she managed to control her features.
There was another knocking on the door and Marie entered with a pale Kyoko.
"Young Kyoko, you seem to have recovered. I am relieved."
Kyoko curtsied quickly. "I thank your majesty for my life. Miss Marie told me your majesty saved me."
Yuniko nodded with a reviled smile before she turned to the healer. "Thank you, Marie. Have you heard what I said in the great hall?"
"Yes, my holy queen. Young Sir Joey told me everything."
"Good. You can leave now. Kyoko, stay here."
Marie looked slightly offended, but curtsied and vanished out the door. Yuniko looked at her youngest half-sister with concern. "Do you remember what happened when you caught the plague?"
"I do," Kyoko replied, surprised the queen knew. "There was a shadow with red eyes. It said… what was it?" Kyoko thought hard for a long moment. "It said something about… me being a healer of the past and… that he could not let me live. For as long as I live his plague can never root… or something. Forgive me, Milady. I can not remember very clearly. I can not really tell dream from reality."
Some of the councilmen glared at her and wondered why the queen listened. They were still frustrated with her for refusing their help.
"Good. Now we know you are fine so you can leave," the eldest member of the council said and waved a hand. But the queen gave him a cold glare.
"Since when are you the one to give orders here?" she asked coolly. "Kyoko is important in this war and might be the one to settle it for good. She has powers I am not certain of. Even Ryouko has powers enough to fight the vampires, or defend herself and my people against them."
The man lowered his head. "Forgive me, my queen. I am frustrated and worried about you and Scotland's future."
"He is not alone, Milady," Honda said. "Why do you refuse the soldiers to prepare for war? Why do you refuse your people to help you?"
Yuniko stood and walked up to the window. Her reflection showed her a woman she didn't recognize. The face was tired and to her it was scarred and dirty. The eyes she knew others saw as blue were grey and dull to her.
"Milady, let us protect our kingdom."
So much depended on her. Everything was falling apart around her and she could do nothing to keep it together. She felt it like she was wearing a boulder on her shoulders, so heavy she would soon break under the weight. Outside it was dark and rain fell in cold downpours, inside it was brightly lit and the fire warmed the room, but it seemed just as cold. Expectations and demands were in the eyes of the people behind her. She noticed Mokuba hiding behind a vase eavesdropping. He too was expecting her to do what she had refused for so long.
Yugi's kind face appeared beside Yuniko's. You can not change history, he said softly.
Yohim's strong being stepped into view in the glass. But you can change the future.
Grey eyes adverted from their stares. She could not go back, she could not see the future.
A strong invisible hand lay on her stiff shoulders. You can do something. You must do what I failed. Your brother needs your help.
Future's eyes shifted from the monarch to something behind her. We are said to be quick-witted. Still we are quite easily fooled.
Yuniko's eyes widened and her mind came to a halt, then it ran over what had been said since she entered this room.
She was fooled?
Her mind ran further back in the past, the Vampire Lord's mind that had abducted her people, the poor kitchen boy with a mind strong enough to stay conscious after her purification. A man who had taken a long time to recover.
She was fooled?
Her mind went two years back in time. Breath stuck in her throat, connections revealed in her mind, smirks and taunt gave the plan away.
She was fooled?
Malin looked at her friend's back. It was stiff and the shoulders were tense. When the dark head lowered Malin wanted to rush forward and hold her. Never before had the queen looked so vulnerable and lonely. It brought tears to her purple eyes. Then the queen's head suddenly lifted and slowly turned.
"Milady?"
The blue eyes that before had held back so much tiredness and frustration was colder and sharper than Malin had ever seen before, and they were aimed straight at Mr. Hem.
"Our kingdom?"
Mr. Hem took a step back, stammering something incoherently. The queen slowly stepped closer to him.
"As long as I have lived…"
Mr. Hem's brown eyes flickered, as if looking for an escape.
"…The kingdom has been mine."
Confused eyes became suspicious and turned to the obviously sweating man. No one had ever made the mistake to say the kingdom belonged to anybody else but the queen.
"Three years ago you came here from northwest seeking service as the late king's advisor."
"Yes, you were there. You read-"
"Two years ago governor Kale died."
"So true. That is why I-"
"Just like every other person in that fortress."
"It was an illness-"
"Right before you came here."
"I managed to escape by-"
"Only days after the death of my brother."
"I-I-I…"
"Every morning you take a walk around the courtyard."
"I enjoy the smell of morning, your-"
"Before the sun rises."
"I-I am awake before-"
"Two days ago you disappeared along with several other people."
"I can not remember-"
"Those who had disappeared with you had gone to the back yard."
"I assure you I never-"
"Why would a man of your level go near the back yard?"
Mr. Hem was now backed against the wall with no chance of escape. He looked around for support among his friends only to realize their loyalty to the queen was way stronger than their friendship to him. The door was flanked by Adam and Dwarf with Joey, Kyoko and Ryouko in front of it and in front of him stood the queen, blocking the way to the window.
"How could you be sole survivor and not even wear the illness with you?"
The man's mouth was moving, but no sounds escaped.
"Why were you among the abducted people?"
The last councilman stood, Joey's hand rested on his sword, Adam and Dwarf's hand gripped theirs tighter.
The Battle Princess stared straight into the traitor's scared eyes. "Why did you call my kingdom ours?"
Desperation took over and the man who called himself Mr. Hem threw himself at the Battle Princess with an inhuman cry.
Joey drew his sword and dashed forward along with Adam and Dwarf. Kyoko leaped into the air, Malin pulled out her knives, the councilmen drew their weapons and Ryouko's hands grabbed after weapons she realized she didn't have.
But the Battle Princess was closest and her holy sword left the sheath in a white flash. The room stopped when the bluish light filled it. Hem managed to avoid a direct hit, but his dodge cost him an arm. It fell to the floor and moulted immediately. Holy light surrounded the queen, but it seemed to have no affection on the traitor.
"How can you not be fazed by God's light?" the Battle Princess asked angrily. "Why did I never before realize you are one of them?"
Hem smirked evilly, his voice like silk, a deathly poison. "Why do you ask when you already know the answer?"
Yuniko's blue eyes widened and she remembered the night of her sixteenth birthday two years ago. Pure anger entered her eyes. "Devil," she hissed and raised her sword to attack.
Hem laughed at her and turned to jump through the window, but a small, blue-eyed brunette was in the way and a well-aimed kick hit his gut. Even Yuniko was surprised at the flash of green light that exploded by the connection and her body acted on own regard and cut the vampire in two.
Mr. Hem, known among the vampires as Snake-Ant, lost his defence and mouldered to dust before he hit the ground.
A small bottle of glass was saved by the dead vampire's ashes. Joey rushed forward and picked it up. It was filled with liquid.
"Water?"
"Almost," the Battle Princess said as she put her white sword back into its sheath. "It is the tears I cried when they took my brother away from me. Tears of pure love."
Yuniko took the bottle from Joey and studied it. The tears were clear as silver, highlighted by the crystal glass. The bottle had some kind of long, disordered jewel shape, not meant to stand, with a glass cork shaped as a pigeon's wing. Her hand tightened around the glass holding her own tears. "This is what they needed them for, this is why he wishes me to cry, it is for this my brother and father were taken from me. My love to protect them from the sun."
The bottle broke in her hand.
"Yuniko!"
"It is for these so many have died!"
Malin held her upset friend's arm out as Joey and Honda opened her fingers and tried to remove the glass stuck in it. She opened her mouth to say something. She thought of 'It was not your fault' and 'You could not have known', but she silenced at the sight of Yuniko's face. The girl was not blaming herself for what had happened. All those lives had been spilled because of her. Her family had been taken away from her for tears.
"I suppose I knew," Yuniko whispered, eyes dry, seemingly not seeing what was in front of her eyes. "I did know. Yet I did not do anything about it. I suppressed the knowledge, wishing to move the blame from me."
"It was not your fault, Yuniko," an old man said and placed an angry hand on her shoulder. "Nothing has ever been your fault."
The queen looked up at him, her eyes saying much more than words can describe. "Not my fault, but because of me. This war started because I was born. Because it is my fault."
No one could oppose her, for what she said was true. The war had started because she was born, and many had lost their lives in her name. It was no question of blame and guilt. This was not happening because someone had acted foolishly or made the wrong decision. The queen of Scotland was simply responsible because she was born.
"Milady?" Malin voiced carefully.
"We can do no more for now. First of all we have to warn the people about the cold coming one month early. Mokuba."
Everybody followed the queen's gaze and was surprised to actually find the errand boy peeking from behind a vase. "Yes?" he said with overly innocent eyes. He had a "who, me?" look on his face, like a dog who knew he was in trouble.
"I can let you go with a warning this time, since it is the first time I actually catch you doing it."
The young boy blushed and fidgeted. He now knew Yuniko had always known he was eavesdropping from time to time.
"On one condition."
"Yes?" Mokuba straightened up, ready for some kind of punishment.
"That you make sure my messengers reach every corner of Scotland with the warning of the coming cold."
Mokuba stared at his queen.
"Now you really will have to run to Scotland's every house and hut, just like you promised you would do if her majesty asked you," someone said with suppressed laugher in his voice.
The errand boy's face suddenly broke in a wide smile and he saluted Scotland's queen and his pretended sister.
"Yes Ma'am."
Before Yuniko would have laughed, now she could only smile a little and sigh at his innocence. "Good boy."
Yuniko never sat as the meeting turned from crisis to confident efficiency. Discussing the harvest, the castle's food supplies, preparing for winter and writing a royal letter to the people were all familiar things. They were simply one month early, that was all.
When Yuniko finally lay in her bed, ready to fall asleep and sleep in the next day she slipped into the world somewhere outside her mind where she met Yugi and Yohim.
The people are safe for the moment.
We see to that, don't worry.
Now the council will have something at mind to keep them from interfering with my decision.
You have already made up your mind.
Can someone make you consider and change your resolution?
Yugi's green eyes looked deep into hers and both knew what he meant.
No, she answered with a smile. Just like Kaio, Mil and Ry together could not make you stay in bed.
Yohim smiled sadly at the memory, then it faded, her brown eyes staring hard into Yuniko's. I had no choice. Never did I have one, never have you had one.
Yuniko looked down at her hands. True. Strong blue eyes looked up into green and brown ones. I have decided to fight. This was all our fault to begin with. Now we will make sure to put it to and end.
The cross lying beside Yuniko's body on the bed glowed under the covers. It was more than a decision. It was a promise made outside of time.