Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own the characters involved in the Bastard! series, they belong to Kazushi Hagiwara. I only claim ownership of Elira as she is of my own creation as well as any spells that are read here. Spells are read in Latin even though the translation is not perfect.

Haunting Melodies

Chapter 4 - Hidden Stalker

Many months had passed since Elira had discovered the voice in the ocean, there were rumors being passed around about impending war, and she knit her brow. Not only was that on her mind but there was the constant feeling of being followed or watched, she even felt that awkwardness when in her room bathing, and now she stood waiting for Geo to be finished speaking with whomever was in the priest's room. Once the door was opened, she curtsied in her red dress to the princess, when the woman with dark hair and green eyes passed by, only then did she enter the room to speak with the great priest. Only after had the pleasantries been exchanged did she move forward with information on her dilemma that had occurred lately.

She took a seat in front of him and said quietly, "I feel as if someone is following me around and watching me. Even when I'm in my room."

"Hmm...this is perplexing. When did this start?"

"I'm not sure. I only became more aware of it a few days ago. I thought it was my imagination but now I'm beginning to believe that someone is following me." Geo was about to speak but Elira raised her hand to hush him, "It's not Gara. He would never do something like this, if anything he would come directly to speak with me and he has other things to worry about." Geo smiled at her and nodded while she wrapped her arms around herself, "Even now I have that feeling."

"Is there any place that you don't feel this eerie air?"

"Not really. I've been everywhere, the kitchen, the gardens, the balconies, the library. I've been everywhere but the labyrinth."

"Don't go in there. You'll be lost."

"I know but I'm wondering if I get lost would that feeling still be there?"

Geo rubbed his chin, "That's a good question. If someone is following you and you moved quick enough then they would also get lost, which would make this feeling of being watched disappear." Elira nodded, "It's something to consider but only the royal family knows the way out of the labyrinth so if you must, I can get Princess Sheila to go with you."

"No, I would rather have Prince Lars. He and I have already had some conversation and I feel at ease with him but perhaps it's because of Heavy Metal." Geo laughed with her and she continued, "It may seem strange but I do feel safe around him."

"Alright then, let's go see if the prince is not doing anything. Which I'm sure he isn't since he'll be off hiding away from the princesses visiting Metallicana today."

"Oh? He needs a wife?"

"Yes. Unfortunately he's not interested in anyone now so he's hiding in the gardens." She smiled and Geo smirked while the pair left his room. They headed towards the gardens and he watched Elira as kept her arms wrapped around her, as if that feeling was always there. Her crimson eyes even looked around to make sure that there was no one there. "No one is with us Elira."

"I know but that feeling..."

"I understand." It was all he said as they entered the garden. Immediately Lars was there sniffing the roses, the prince turned in their direction the moment he heard their footsteps but held a questioning look towards Elira. "My prince," said Geo with a bow while Elira curtsied. He nodded while the priest continued, "This may seem like a strange request but could you go with Elira into the labyrinth. She has felt that someone is following her around for the last few days and I want to see if venturing into the hedge maze will help at all. The royal family are the only ones who know the way out once someone is lost."

Lar's dark green eyes softened as he approached Elira, he took her hand in his, and kissed the back of it. "I would be honored to accompany you into the labrynth." Elira was soothed by that and Geo beagn to lead them out of the gardens. Brown eyes and dark green eyes both watched her as she kept extremely close to the prince, something that made Geo think what she said was real, and he began to wonder that if it was true; who would be interested in her?

-::::::-

Green leaves surrounded the pair, crimson eyes looked at the path that was being lead by the prince of Metallicana, and she couldn't help the small smile that was on her face. She felt at ease wandering the labyrinth with him and yet that feeling of someone watching her was in full force. Elira unconsciously moved closer to him, her hand snaked around his arm secretly, and her fingers gripped his forearm. Dark green eyes looked down to see her as she glanced around. A smile lit his face, Lars removed her arm from his, when she looked at him, he immediately picked her up bridal style. She squeaked out her surprise but he simply held onto her and began to run through the labyrinth.

Elira wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her face into his chest, and closed her eyes tightly. It wasn't that he had picked her up so suddenly or that he was running quite quickly through the maze but it was the fleeting feeling of still being watched. A few minutes later, Lars paused, looked at the fork, and darted down the left side. Elira was able to open her eyes to look around, the prince had slowed his pace, and eventually paused. He placed her on her feet once more but watched as her arm wrapped around his for safety and he couldn't help but continue to smile at her.

"Do you still feel like you're being watched?" The woman thought for a minute, shivered involuntarily, and nodded. "Hmm..." Lars directed her towards a few more paths before they reached the center of the hedge maze. There was a dragon fountain with water flowing, Lars took a seat on the edge of the fountain with Elira, she leaned over to place the tips of her fingers into the cool water. The prince watched as she relaxed near the water however her face gazed around once more. "Is that feeling back?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything more that I can do?"

She sighed, "I am afraid not. Geo thought that this would help but it appears that it doesn't. Who ever is following me seems to be able to keep up with you or follow our scent."

"What if it's not a person?" She looked at him with her crimson eyes, "What if it's something like a ghost or the undead? They would be able to scent us out and keep up with us."

"If it is something of a magical nature, then I can deal with that." At this Lars quirked an eyebrow at her, when she stood up, she looked at him. "May I?" Elira motioned for her to step into the fountain, the prince nodded, and he watched as she removed her shoes and set foot into the fountain. "Only other magic users know about this but let's keep it a secret between us for now." Lars immediately nodded as she recited words in her mind much more quickly than she could ever do out loud. Instantly the water flowed up and around her body like a ribbon, the prince was in shock at her magical ability, and the water continued to flow around her until she was covered in a swirling ribbon of water. That ribbon twirled into the air, it formed into a solid sphere of spinning water, and streams began to spread out from the water.

It covered the pair completely and moved slowly out, as if testing the local area for any physical forms, and ten feet away from them the water revealed a humanoid figure. It was invisible but soon took its true form, the ghostly image appeared, and Elira gasped as she recognized that bony structure. Her eyebrows immediately shot down in anger, the creature lunged towards her, and Lars was too stunned to even move. He looked on as the water that Elira had summoned changed direction, it formed a barricade in front of them to block the creature.

"What is that?" asked the prince.

"The cause of the disease from the lower town. I thought I had eradicated its existence but apparently I was wrong. There's only so much that water can do without it destroying everything else."

"Do you have a spell?" Elira's mind immediately flipped open the book of spells, she searched the strange language for something that dealt with spirits. There was a singular spell, the amnesic brought it forward, and watched as her wall of water turned into a very fine mist. "This is interesting." Elira nodded but the pair watched as the mist enveloped the ghost who began to scream and thrash around. The mist wound its way around it, forcing it to be sealed into a sphere, that sphere eventually disintegrated into nothingness; leaving the pair to be alone once more. "Is that feeling of being watched gone?"

She sighed, "No."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault your highness."

He stood up, approached her, and placed his hand on the side of her face. Lars' voice was quiet, "You can call me Lars when we're alone." She nodded at him with a smile while he trailed his hand down to her shoulder, her arm, and finally her hand. He picked it up, kissed the back of it, and added, "This will be our little secret." Elira nodded as he released her and helped her back into her shoes, "Geo told me that you feel safe around me."

The strange woman nodded, she pulled her silvery aqua hair across one shoulder, "I do. I'm not sure why but I do feel safe."

"That's good. I wouldn't want you to feel threatened around me because that's not good for a prince."

"The safety I feel around you is not the same as the others. It's different, hard to explain."

"You don't have to say any more Elira."

She looked up at him and gave a warm smile, "Thank you Lars."

-::::::-

They parted ways at the entrance of the labyrinth, Elira watched as Lars walked away from her, crimson eyes settled on his back that carried Heavy Metal, the story relayed to her was not one she would ever forget, and she felt sad about his parting. Elira sighed, turned around, and started to walk her own way; mainly to tell Geo that the feeling of being watched never vanished. As she sauntered away from the prince, he turned to look at her departing figure, he watched as her hips swayed, and her long wavy hair bounced with every step she took. He inaudibly sighed and turned away from her, he knew that he could not help her, but he clenched a hand over his heart, as if the muscle in his chest was aching, and he knew that he had begun to feel a specific emotion towards the woman who could command the water element.

Geo rubbed his beard, "I'm sorry that didn't help you Elira but I'm sure we'll find an answer to this riddle." She smiled at him and nodded, "Is there anything else that you want to tell me?"

Elira nodded, "When Lars was leaving me, I felt sad. I'm not sure why but I really felt sad at his departure."

"Interesting." She tilted her head at him, "I'll have to analyze this a bit more with the prince, that is if you don't mind." Elira shook her head and Geo smiled, "That's good. Well then get some sleep tonight, I'm sure it's going to be very busy tomorrow." The woman nodded and left his company, kindly closing his door as well, and he grinned to himself. "It seems that Elira may be developing a crush on our prince. But I will need to see where he stands on this as well. What do you think Gara?"

A large man appeared from the shadows, "Well...Kall told me something interesting and if it is true then Lars marrying her is the best course of action Metallicana can take."

"What did he tell you?"

"It's a secret." Gara grinned while Geo sighed and the ninja master disappeared into the shadows once more.

"What am I going to do with these crazy people who can wield powerful magic?" He only shook his head while turning to his scrolls. One was laid out, it had an image of a half human, half-fish creature. Geo's brown eyes widened as he unrolled the scroll and began to read the contents contained within. "So that's what he thinks she may be. If it is true then this revelation is something that needs to stay hidden from her and never shown until she can remember herself. If Elira disbelieves this then her true self is forever lost and I cannot allow that to happen." It was a promise that he made and one that he knew the other magic users would keep as they would never want to harm a creature so magnificent as Elira; if she happen to be what they thought her to be.

Inside her room she shivered, that feeling was back in full force but she changed into a short nightgown. Crimson eyes gazed around her room and finally she bit her lower lip out of frustration, her fangs had pierced the skin, and a small blood droplet fell to the floor. "Whoever is there, show yourself! I'm tired of having this feeling of being watched!" There was silence and she was about to shout again until a surge of magic resounded around her, she knew the feeling all too well, and her crimson orbs looked around the room for the source. Elira took a few steps but paused as a voice echoed from underneath her.

"I'm right here." She looked down, there was a male head staring up at her from the floor, she screamed, stumbled back, and watched as he emerged fully from the stone floor. Elira was speechless, her mouth couldn't form any words as she looked at the floor then to the man and back again. "I am Abi-" he was cut off as Elira charged him, he was thrown back with so much force that the door splintered open.

"ELIRA!" came the familiar voice of the prince. He ran up the stairs, looked at her as she stood in her short nightgown, and looked at Abigail who was rubbing his head. "Are you alright Elira?" She immediately ran into his arms for safety.

"Lars! I'm so glad that you're here!" Dark green eyes looked at the man as he stood up and her crimson eyes glared at him, "He was watching me! He's the one responsible for giving me that feeling!"

"Abigail why on earth would you stalk her?"

He brushed the dirt from his robes, "To confirm that she is what I believe her to be."

"You still shouldn't stalk her like that."

Elira watched as Abigail bowed to her, "I had no intention to frighten you my lady. Do forgive me?"

A few shallow breaths allowed her to calm down, she dislodged herself from Lars' embrace, and walked up to him with scrutinizing eyes. He stared at her with his yellow irises and she sighed while wearing a tired smile. "It's alright. You've been stalking me for a while right?" He nodded, "Well no more okay?" He nodded once more, "That's good. Oh...I'm sorry that I threw you into the door."

"No worries. It's understandable." He muttered a spell that allowed the door to be reconstructed and Elira held that curious gaze on her visage. "I know necromancy." She nodded and opened her door once more, she bid them good night and gave an extra warm smile towards the prince who returned it. The door was shut and Abigail looked at Lars, "Do you like her?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Come with me and we shall talk more."

As their voices faded away, only then did Elira make her way to her bed, but she paused by the open window, the voice was not there tonight. She sighed, shivered involuntarily, and slipped underneath her covers. Crimson eyes drifted towards the open window, Why is it not there tonight? Is it because the ocean is calm? Is it because Abigail said something? What is so special about me? She sighed, snuggled against the pillow, and drifted off to sleep. Lars...he's so kind...

-::::::-

Elira had been healing a small child's ankle, she smiled at him, patted his head, and told him to be more careful. The child hugged her and she returned it just as warmly, she even rubbed his back before he ran out waving to her. "Cute," came her reply. "Next please!" A male teenager sauntered in, she looked at him as he sat down, "What's the matter?" The male simply grinned at her, she began to eye him suspiciously, and the teen grabbed her face. Her eyes widened before darting down in anger, the male tried to force her to kiss him, but she bit her lower lip again, and flipped through her spellbook. Instantly he was pushed against the wall by an arm of water that was in the shape of a dragon's leg. He gasped at her, "Don't do something so foolish ever again." Her voice was dark as the claw released its hold on the male, he scrambled out of the room, and she looked at the claw that reformed into a small water dragon. Elira stroked the liquid reptile, "Thank you my friend." She added in a whisper, "You did this on your own. I only summoned you to protect me but you acted out. Thank you." The dragon beamed with pride as it faded away into mist.

"Impressive."

She looked over her shoulder to see Abigail emerge from the floor, "So that is your preferred method of transportation?"

He only shrugged, "A baby water dragon. How fascinating."

"I don't think so. I know a lot of spells, enough to fill a large book of them but I don't think they are spells that others can use."

"You are correct. They are spells tailored to only you and that is why that dragon acted on his own. When you summoned him for protection, he immediately knew of your predicament, and that gave him a will all his own. When you summon creatures of water, they all have free will because of what you cannot remember."

"Should you be telling me this?" He shrugged once more which made her smile, "Thank you Abigail. I appreciate the information. Now I know but he was really cute, I miss him already."

"I'm sure you will see more of him." Elira nodded as the next patient entered, he watched intently as she healed a laceration on the middle-aged man's arm, it was entirely healed, and she bid him farewell while he jovially thanked her. "You are very kind Elira." She flashed him that same warm smile again as the patients came and went and he thought, You are more special than you can ever care to imagine. I do hope that war does not come here until you are able to find out who you truly are. Abigail was about to seep into the ground once more but not before Elira had said her farewell, he smiled, and disappeared.

As the day wore on, Elira had taken to wandering the market place that day, she could still feel eyes on her, and now she knew it to be Abigail. There was a smile on her face that she couldn't help because having a stalker was comforting, especially since it was someone as interesting as a necromancer. As she wove between the crowds, she paused at a stand that was selling stained glass, and one caught her eye. It was a half human half fish creature, she approached it, and picked up the trinket. The man was too busy with other customers so he didn't pay any mind to her, and she continued to stare at it. It was only the size of her palm but still so detailed.

"That's a mermaid." Elira looked up to see Lars, she curtsied to him while others did the same but he smiled down at her. "Do you like it?" She nodded while holding it up to catch the light, it was interesting to her and the prince was glad that she had found something that could relate to her. He leaned over and Elira watched as he handed over money to the merchant then looked at Elira, and placed his hands over hers which still held the trinket. "It's a gift, for you."

"But why?"

Lars leaned forward and whispered, "Because I really like you Elira." When he leaned back he was smiling, Elira returned that smile.

Her voice was quiet but he still heard her, "Thank you Lars." The prince smiled at her and turned to leave, she stared after him while holding the special gift. Elira smiled and immediately tied it around her neck with the leather strap that was attached to it. "So pretty." Once more she smiled at it and wanted to give him something in return but since she had no money, she ventured into the forest nearby.

Once she obtained what she wanted, she felt those eyes on her, and a smile appeared on her face once Abigail appeared and handed her a small dagger. He was wearing a grin as he watched her work the piece of deadwood she had found in the forest. Somehow she knew what she was doing and the carving soon took the shape of a dragon. Elira carved her name on the bottom of it and handed it to Abigail to inspect. "This is very good Elira. I like it and I'm sure that Lars will like it as well." He noticed the necklace and smiled, "Is that a gift?"

"You know who and you're still stalking me."

"If only to make sure that your safe."

"You don't have to worry about me."

"I know but I'm watching over you for someone else."

"Who?"

"You know who." The male smirked at her while she grinned and handed the dagger back to him. Immediately Elira ran through the marketplace to find the prince, her intuition lead her to the garden, but he was not there. She took a seat on the bench to wait for him. The day progressed towards twilight, she saw the fireflies emerge, and put out her palm. One landed on it and she stared fascinated by it until she head footsteps, crimson irises looked up, and locked with dark green ones. She smiled at the prince as he took a seat next to her. She handed the dragon carving to him, "This is for you. A gift."

"It's beautiful, thank you Elira."

"You're welcome Lars."

The prince leaned towards her but paused, he sighed, and pulled away which only prompted her to stare at him. He gave an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry but I can't do what I want to do until you have your memories back." Elira smiled and he assumed that she was going to pat him on his shoulder, instead she leaned up, and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Lars was stunned and stared back at her while his left hand went to cup his cheek where she had kissed him. His emerald eyes gazed at her as she nodded to him and left the gardens without another word except that warm smile. Lars smiled, "Elira...you are truly something else." He looked down at the dragon carving, even more joyful than before as he received two gifts from the amnesic woman.