Chapter 3: Monsters in Plain Sight
"If you needed me
I would be bound
Completely honest"
I'd Run to You, CJ Starnes
Ren and Hitomi danced throughout the night. She couldn't help but laugh at his jokes. He was the perfect date, kind and considerate. He always had a drink ready for her hand. She kept glancing at her parents and seeing their approving nods towards them. The night was going well from more than one perspective. She knew that getting along with Ren would be necessary for her father's career, and she was thankful that it was happening naturally.
"Hitomi, I just need to step away for a moment. I'll be right back." Ren said, pressing his hand gently into the small of her back.
Hitomi jumped slightly at the contact. Her brain was a little hazy from the alcohol that she had consumed. "All right. I'll be right here."
She hummed happily and swayed slightly from side to side. Ren left and headed outside the reception. She assumed that he had to make a phone call. His work sounded as demanding as hers, and she was happy to find a kindred spirit in that regard. Wandering to find her mother, Hitomi wanted to let her know how well the evening was going.
"Hitomi!" Her mother exclaimed, surprised when Hitomi crept up behind her and slipped her arms around her in a hug.
"Ren is wonderful." Hitomi gushed, "I was nervous, but I think it is going well."
"We think very highly of him. He could make a big difference in your father's career." Her mother reminded her. The moment slightly sobering Hitomi that this date was likely not solely made out of the goodness of her parents' heart.
"There you are, beautiful." Said a voice behind Hitomi, and she turned to find Ren standing behind her, offering another glass of champagne. "Can I speak to you out on the balcony?"
"Of course," Hitomi spoke slowly, hoping her words would not slur too noticeably. She allowed herself to be led away towards the balcony. Ren gently placed his arm around her shoulders as he escorted her, and her body tingled at the contact.
Once outside, the cool evening air hit Hitomi, and she shivered under its weight. She wanted to go back inside, away from the cold. From inside, she could hear the noise of the party. She could hear her brother laugh and her father begin his toast. Something deep inside wiggled at her subconscious and told her to head back inside. She shook her head and told her brain that she was being silly. She was perfectly safe with Ren, and he wanted to talk to her alone. Perhaps he wanted to spend quieter time with her like they had in the car. The reception was incredibly loud, and it was hard to talk meaningfully.
Hitomi's inner monologue was interrupted by a pair of strong arms gripping her and pulling her close. Hands grasped at her waist and skimmed her ass. She jumped at the contact and tried to push against it. Breathing deeply, she looked up and saw Ren. His eyes were darkened with lust, and he bent his head to her neck, beginning to place heated kisses along it. She pushed him back, slightly startled by his assertiveness. She let out a small cry of panic, which he mistook for pleasure.
"I got us a room," Ren whispered lustfully in her ear.
"A what?!" Hitomi exclaimed in shock; she swayed slightly unsteadily.
"A room, the party is still going… no one will notice if we slip out." Ren pushed himself against her, and she could feel his length against her thigh. She inhaled in shock, and he took advantage of her open mouth.
"No… stop… there's been a misunderstanding." Hitomi gasped, desperately pushing him back. Her lips felt bruised and swollen from his efforts.
"I don't think there has been. I know you want me, and I've wanted you since I first saw your picture." He smirked and ran his hands along her body, grazing her breasts.
Hitomi stepped back further until her back was pressed along the railing. "We've both been drinking and should head back into the party."
He reached up and began to fondle and caress her breasts, groaning at their suppleness. He ducked his head down to her neck and licked it gently. She tried to push him off of her, but that seemed to turn him on further. His hand reached down and grabbed her ass and squeezed it roughly. Hitomi stifled a cry, begging him to let her go.
"You know you owe me this, don't you? Besides, I could make things very uncomfortable for your father." He whispered huskily.
Hitomi sobbed slightly. She was pinned against the railing. From a distance, they looked like a pair of lovers who were caught up in the romance of the event. No one was coming to help her. She could feel him hiking up her skirt and fiddling with his belt. The smell of whisky was heavy on his breath, and Hitomi felt sick. Her stomach flip-flopped, and she shut her eyes tightly, hoping that this experience would be nothing but a bad dream when she opened them again. Her head began to swim, and she felt like she was going to pass out. Between the alcohol and the stress of the situation, she was not doing well. She called out for help again, but no one was coming to save her. She cursed herself for being in this situation. She should have never agreed to the date or to come out on the balcony. None of that mattered now, though, as Ren ran his hands over her body, pushing her skirt up over her hips.
She shut her eyes in horror, expecting him to push his way inside of her when he stopped. There was a great flash of white light mere feet away from them, and the figure of a man was visible at its centre. The light was enough to startle Ren and have him loosen his hold on Hitomi. Hitomi twisted her body, taking full advantage of his distraction and pushed as hard against him as she could. He stumbled backwards and fell sprawled upon the ground. In her burst of strength, Hitomi managed to rip the bodice of her dress. Clutching her chest to maintain her modesty, she peered at the man whom the beam of light had left.
Van scanned the area where the beam of light had left him. He was on the balcony of some building. Quickly glancing at the sky, he confirmed his suspicions that he was no longer on Gaea as one single moon gazed down on him. His reverie was cut short by the sound of a small thump. He was not alone on the balcony; two others, a man and a woman, were with him. The man was splayed on the floor; the woman stood defensively above him, gripping the fabric of her dress to her chest. It was evident that he had interrupted something. Glancing at the woman, his heart started to pound. He would know her eyes anywhere; it was Hitomi. Her hair was swept up elegantly, and her dress left little to the imagination. Despite her dishevelled appearance, he had never seen anyone as beautiful in his entire life. Stepping closer, he saw terror in her eyes. This fear was not directed towards him but the man on the ground. It took minimal deduction to realize what he had interrupted. Van's eyes hardened, and he stepped between the two. His hand went for his sword. He would not let this man hurt Hitomi further.
Hitomi flicked her gaze between the man from the light and Ren, who was still struggling to stand. Based on his attire, the man was definitely from Gaea. He had a sword at his hip, tan leather pants and a loose, billowy top that looked a little pirate-y. His hair was jet black and messy. He was tall and built of hard muscle. She could tell he was a fighter, but it was his eyes that quickened her heart. She would recognize them anywhere; this man was Van, all grown up. While she stared stupidly at him, he had moved and now stood between herself and Ren. She watched in horror as she saw his hand go to his sword. Hitomi's mind reeled.
"Van," she murmured almost wordlessly.
Ren struggled to stand. It took him a moment to collect himself and realize he and Hitomi were no longer alone. His mind struggled to process what had happened. There had been a strange light, and Hitomi had pushed him. What frightened him was that this man was armed and raised his weapon.
"Hold up, I think there has been a misunderstanding," Ren said calmly. He held his hands up to demonstrate that he was unarmed.
"What were you doing to her?" Van asked harshly, although he knew the answer.
"My girlfriend and I got caught up in the moment." Ren lied smoothly.
The word "girlfriend" caught Van off-guard. It wasn't a term used on Gaea, but he remembered Hitomi using it. He remembered that it meant that a couple was intended for each other. Why did Hitomi look at him with such fear if this were true? Turning his head slightly, "Hitomi, is what this man says true?"
Hitomi jumped slightly at his voice. "No, it's not." She said decisively.
"The lady says otherwise," Van turned his full attention back to Ren. His voice was laced with danger.
"You bitch, you know you wanted it." Ren spat, shooting daggers with his eyes.
Van was about to lunge at Ren, but he was stopped by Hitomi, who threw herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his, pinning them down, she held on tightly. While Van could have easily broken free, he was taken aback by her actions.
"You can't hurt him." Hitomi pleaded.
"Hitomi, he hurt you," Van replied harshly.
"Yes, but you can't hurt him," Hitomi replied, tightening her hold on him.
"He hurt you," Van repeated. He was talking to her like she was being an unreasonable toddler.
Ignoring Van, she turned her attention to Ren, "Just go."
Ren did not need to be told twice. He scrambled to straighten his tuxedo and headed quickly back into the party, where he intended to find another drink and make sense of what had just happened.
"Why did you stop me?" Van spun around to better look at her and ensure she was not injured.
"That man is very important, and it would have caused more trouble than its worth. Things are different here." She concluded lamely.
Van wanted to question her further, but the point was moot. Hitomi was in front of him, and he was struggling to think entirely clearly. Her lips were slightly swollen, and the pigment she was wearing had smeared. She had the beginnings of a love bite on her neck. Her hair was still the same beautiful honey colour, and her eyes a deep green. He was thankful that her eyes no longer held the same fear they had moments before. Her dress was torn, and she held it in place with her arms to prevent her breasts from spilling out. He was contented that she was not further hurt. He was grateful that he had gotten there in time. His arms itched to hold her.
Hitomi watched Van appraise her critically. Her face flushed under his gaze. She looked at his face and tried to find the boy king she had loved. The man before her had grown so much that it was almost hard to recognize the fifteen-year-old boy-king that he had been. He looked so mature and self-assured. She couldn't help but wonder if they could reconnect after so much time had passed. The silence between them was deafening.
"Hi," she said, lowering her gaze to the floor.
"Hi," he repeated. He took a step towards her and touched her shoulder gently. "Are you okay?"
"Yes… no… I don't know," she stuttered, tears forming. "It happened so fast."
"I can imagine." He murmured. His gaze intently fixated on her. He pulled her slowly towards him and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his chin lightly on the top of her head.
Hitomi leaned into his warmth. The reality of the situation hit her suddenly, and she became exhausted and overwhelmed. She realized that if Van had not materialized, she would have likely been raped. Van had saved her, just like he used to, and he was here with her. She began to sob uncontrollably in his arms, and they tightened reassuringly around her. She wasn't sure what brought him to Earth, but she was incredibly grateful.
Van gently rubbed her back and held her as she cried. He wanted to get her back to Gaea. The Mystic Moon was not as safe as he had assumed. He had initially sent her home because he believed the Mystic Moon would be safer for her. He kept himself away from her for the last ten years because he thought she was safe and happy, but there were monsters here. He wanted to keep her safe, and he wished he could bring her to Gaea. What Van did not realize was that he was still holding the pendant. It responded to his wish, and it glowed bright pink. The air crackled, and a light column began forming at their feet. It started to lift them both in the air until they disappeared into nothingness. Meanwhile, the party continued, and the events from the balcony went completely unnoticed by those inside.
They landed in a crumpled heap inside the borders of Fanelia. Hitomi landed on top of Van. When she gathered her strength, she sat up, unintentionally straddling him. Staring up at the sky, she confirmed what she was afraid of, that she was no longer on Earth but had returned to Gaea. The position she was in looked incredibly compromising. Pushing herself off him, she fell onto the ground with a thump. Now freed, Van stood slowly and extended his hand to help her.
"Where are we?" Hitomi asked, accepting his hand.
"Near the village of Oria, from the looks of things. We are in Fanelia, but a few hours walk from the capital." Van replied. He helped her stand but kept a tight hold of Hitomi's hand.
Hitomi took in the information as best she could. She was in shock. Of course, she had considered returning to Gaea many times, but doing so was another matter. She had a job and a life on Earth; she couldn't stay here. Not that she could make any decisions standing in the middle of a field, in a torn dress with her old love interest. The whole situation struck as incredibly strange and not what she had expected from her trip home. Her head swam from being overwhelmed and the amount of champagne she had consumed earlier in the day. She swayed slightly and leaned lightly against Van's shoulder.
"Sorry, I'm just a little overwhelmed. This is… a lot," she said apologetically. She couldn't even finish her sentence coherently. This was all too much, and she needed to think rationally, a task made more difficult by Van's proximity.
"It's okay. It has been a long day. Come on, we should get moving if we want to arrive at the castle before dark." Van soothed; he gently led her toward a plain dirt road.
Hitomi let Van lead her, but her mind was elsewhere. Her head was still processing what had happened on Earth. She was struggling to understand the pivot in Ren's personality. Had everything that day been a total lie? Not that he should matter to her; she clearly barely knew the man, and after what she'd experienced… she was perfectly happy never seeing him again. Hitomi was trying to understand how she had let herself be that vulnerable. She wondered if she could have done or said something to prevent the whole situation from happening. She could hear herself talking to victims as a lawyer, telling them not to blame themselves, yet here she was doing just that. There was no point in overthinking it; sometimes, monsters were good at hiding.
They walked in relative silence. Van kept his eyes trained ahead but did not let go of Hitomi's hand. Its steady pressure brought him a calmness he had not felt in years. He was afraid to look at her lest she disappear in front of his eyes. Awkwardness overcame him, and Van did not know what to say to her after so many years. His heart felt no distance or time between them and beat rapidly with the simple joy of walking with her.
Hitomi's feet were starting to sting painfully. She was wearing stiletto sandals, and bits of dirt were getting inside her shoes. The uneven ground made her feet numb. She squeezed Van's hand tighter to help stabilize herself. Despite her best efforts, she knew she could not make it much farther and certainly would not make it to the castle. Jerking slightly, she rolled her ankle, causing her to curse out in pain. She flushed when Van turned to look at her. She lifted her dress out of the way and shrugged nonchalantly. Realization dawned on his face, and he looked away. He led her off the road and sat her on a rock. Kneeling before her, he undid her shoes' small, delicate buckles and assessed the damage.
"You should have told me you were in pain, " he said gruffly, his voice counter to the delicate touches of his fingers on her feet.
"We needed to get moving, and I didn't want to make a fuss." Hitomi looked down at the ground. He had a knack for making her feel like a small child. She also couldn't tell him she didn't say anything because she was preoccupied with what had happened with Ren. She did not want to talk about that.
"Hitomi, you are hurt. We could have taken longer rests, I could have carried you, and we could have figured something out that did not leave you in pain." He sighed, slightly exasperated. It seemed that Hitomi had never grown out of her independent streak. This both pleased and frustrated him. That independence was something about her that he had loved deeply, but it was a tad annoying.
"I'm sorry," she flushed, embarrassed by his direct eye contact and the rationality of his words.
"I'm sorry, too. I snapped at you. I'm just worried about you. Let's rest a bit and figure out our next move together." He lowered his head so that they made eye contact and gave her a small smile.
Inwardly, Van cursed; he hadn't even thought to make sure she could walk in that fancy dress. He'd also been unintentionally gruff with her. She had had enough go wrong that day; Hitomi did not need him being bullish with her. Part of his problem was that he could not get the image of that man with his hands all over her body. He knew that Hitomi had not wanted the contact, but the image was seared into his brain. He also could not shake the feeling that he had failed her. Perhaps he could have prevented the incident if he had gotten there a few minutes earlier. He could have done a better job at protecting her.
"It is good to see you, and I never did thank you for protecting me with Ren," Hitomi said shyly. She couldn't understand why she was being so meek. Perhaps it was due to what happened with Ren, or maybe it was because she hadn't seen Van in years. Either way, it was annoying.
"I was happy to be of assistance," Van replied with a genuine smile. He catalogued the name Ren away to think about later. The monster had a name; he suspected there was more to the story than he had seen, but he wanted Hitomi to tell him on her own time. He knew that Ren was not Hitomi's boyfriend, but he couldn't help but wonder if she had one or a husband. He tried to inconspicuously look at her hand to see if a ring was present. When he saw no such ring was present, Van breathed an inward sigh of relief.
Hitomi looked around them, feeling awkward. The Fanelian countryside was gorgeous, reminding her of a pastoral painting. She felt like she should be running through the hills singing "The Sound of Music," not sitting on some rock with feet battered to pieces and clinging to the top of her dress so as not to have a complete wardrobe malfunction.
"How much farther is it to the castle?" She asked. She knew that it would get dark eventually, and she assumed walking in the dark here was likely as dangerous as it could be on Earth.
"Still a few hours. We are about half an hour from Oria and another few from the castle. I had intended for us to get a ride to the castle in Oria." Van said, "But I don't think that plan is viable considering the shape of your feet. You can't walk that far, can you?"
"No, I don't think I can. I can't put those shoes back on. I rarely wear heels, and I think my feet would revolt if I put them back on." She joked lightly, cringing in the direction of her shoes.
"I thought as much," Van replied and sighed. He started removing his shirt when Hitomi made an awkward squeak.
"What are you doing?" She said, flushing bright pink. She tried desperately not to look, but Van's chest and its muscles kept creeping into her sightline.
Van chuckled despite himself. She was adorable when flustered. "You can't walk, and our options are limited. I can leave you here and get help, which I'm not willing to do, or we can fly."
"Fly? Are you sure, Van? Someone may see your wings." Hitomi asked hesitantly.
"It's possible; we are in Fanelia, so it should be fairly safe." He sighed. "We don't have a lot of options."
"I know, you are right," Hitomi murmured in response.
Van closed his eyes and released his wings. Hitomi gasped in pure joy at seeing them, and she was reminded that he really was an angel. He handed her his shirt and her shoes. Gently, he lifted her and cradled her to his chest. Both of their faces flushed with embarrassment. Van could not help but think how good it felt to have Hitomi in his arms again. The feelings he had been suppressing for years had been rushing back to him since he first saw her again on the Mystic Moon. Holding her only reaffirmed that he was already in too deep.