Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness Falls ❯ Chapter 13: Of Fire and Death ( Chapter 13 )

Author's Notes:

Caerné: We'll make this quick.

MdnitePrncez: Read and review. We love reviews!

Caerné: Yuppers! Constructive criticism, flames, or just an encouraging 'Nice Job'.

MdnitePrncez: Thanks to all who have reviewed so far!

Caerné: Oh, and one more thing…we'll have the recommendations back up next chapter. We're both kind of busy with things right now and consider yourselves lucky you even got this chapter.

MdnitePrncez: The other chapters might be a little slow coming out. It's going to depend on some things.

Caerné: Now on with the chapter.

WARNING! Graphic violence in this chapter. You have been warned.

Chapter 13~~Of Fire and Death

Golden sunlight streamed in from the open window. A soft breeze followed the light as Alex hummed quietly to herself as she filled the bathtub with steaming hot water. She added her favorite plumeria scented bubble bath and a little freesia bath oil. The scents mixed perfectly together, swirling with the steam as it rose to the stone ceiling and slowly seeped out the open window. Alex dropped the towel she had wrapped around her and stepped into water. She leaned back and propped a leg over the edge of the tub. She smiled happily, letting all her worries slip away with the rising steam.

'Wasn't last night fun?' she thought with a laugh. 'Nothing like a good kill to ease all worries.' She closed her eyes and sighed. She pushed all thoughts out of her mind and just let the water massage her muscles, loosening the tension and stress from her body. However, thoughts kept invading her solace. Thoughts about the dreams she'd been having lately.

"Darkness," she whispered with a frown. "Always darkness…and that voice." She sighed as she got out of the water. She wrapped the towel securely around her body and went to the mirror that stretched the length of the wall above the sink. She wiped some of the steam off the mirror with her hand and looked at her reflection. Her hair lay in a stringy mess of heavy chocolate waves. Gingerly, she brushed through the tangled mess, careful to avoid pulling too hard. After she removed the tangled knots, she moved to her bedroom. She went to her closet, pulling out a pair of black hip-huggers and a red sleeveless t-shirt with the Chinese character for dragon on it. She threw these along with a pair of black boots and some other necessities onto her bed. She moved back to the bed and stared at her collection.

Her door opened and the sound of heavy footsteps filled the room. Alex whipped around, the towel wrapped around her body loosening and falling to the floor. Alex's eyes widened, as did the intruders. He smiled as his eyes raked up and down her body. A goofy smile slipped across his face as he gawked at her.

"Dilandau! You're supposed to knock before entering!" she screamed at him. She quickly bent down and grabbed her towel, wrapping it securely around her once more.

"But then I would miss that," he replied happily.

Alex narrowed her eyes. "Get out. Get the fuck out."

Dilandau smiled but did not move. "Why?"

"GET THE FUCK OUT!" she screamed, her voice echoing against the stonewalls. He smiled, let his eyes drag across her body once more, and left. Her chest heaved in rage and embarrassment. Scowling at the closed door one last time, she quickly threw on her clothes, blow-dried her hair, and then pulled it back into a tight ponytail. She grabbed her wallet and left her room, running into hall and colliding into the person she least wanted to see at the moment.

He smiled down at her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he leaned forward and captured her lips in his. She stiffened and pushed herself away from him.

"Dilandau, fuck off," Alex said as she turned and walked away. Dilandau watched her go, remembering the way she looked a few minutes ago. A sly smile crept across his face as he walked backwards, watching her hips sway angrily down the hall toward the elevator. Her eyes met his as the doors closed; she sneered and shot daggers at his smirking face. The doors slid shut and Dilandau turned, walking toward the fitness room.

Alex sighed and stared at her angry reflection on the metal doors. "Stupid pervert! I don't care if you are hot, still should've knocked." The last part came out more as a whine than a complaint as she folded her arms across her chest and a pout set across her face.

The elevator doors opened on the first floor. Alex pushed the tapestry aside and stepped out into the hallway. She stopped in the library as she passed by and found Folken and Willow discussing the various histories of Earth and of slayers in general.

"Hey, Wills! I am taking the opening shift at the store," Alex said as she poked her head in the room. "Tell Rena to come by around 2 and take over, 'k?"

Willow nodded, waving her off. Alex smiled as she headed for her car. The day was beautiful so she left the top down. She was hoping that the wind in her hair would blow away some of her anger and embarrassment but the wind only seemed to make it worse. She arrived at the shop and noticed the long line of invisible customers waiting so patiently outside the store.

"Willow, I don't know how you keep this store afloat," she said to herself as she opened the store and walked into the musty and deserted shop. She walked to the back of the shop, tossing her things on one of the many boxes that had yet to be unpacked. Grabbing one of the larger boxes and the inventory book, she traveled back to the front of the store and set the things she was carrying down on the table in the middle of the room. She glanced toward the front of the store, noticing the line forming outside the shop. Flipping the store sign to open, she let the many waiting customers enter the store where they meandered around looking at this and that. After the store cleared out some, Alex sat down and began to sort through the endless supply of disappearing inventory.

Her shift passed by quickly. Very few serious customers entered the store after the first wave. It was mostly curiosity seekers and teenagers looking for a new way to rebel against overzealous, authoritarian parents.

Twenty minutes before Serena was to show-up and take her shift, Alex was standing behind the register with a book in hand. The bell over the door jingled, as it was thrust open, exchanging air-conditioned air for a blast of hot, sticky summer air. Alex didn't bother to look up from her book. She had heard Serena's Jeep and assumed she had entered the store.

"You're early, Sere," she said as she turned a page in her book impassively. There was a brief pause before she heard a distinctly masculine voice answer, "I am not Serena."

Her head shot up and her surprised eyes locked on with amused red ones. A split second later, his hand was resting on her cheek and his lips had claimed hers. Her body began to relax and her mouth opened slightly. 'No. NO!'

Alex pushed away from him roughly. He stumbled back slightly, a wide grin on his face.

"F-off, Dilandau," she said coldly. She picked up the book she had dropped when he had so rudely greeted her. He leaned his elbows on the display glass next to register, his chin resting in his hands. He tilted his head slightly to one side and stared at her, amusement and desire glinting playfully in his eyes.

"Whatcha readin'?" She didn't look up from her book and merely turned the page.

"Crime and Punishment."

Dilandau wrinkled his nose at the title and plucked the book from her hands. She cried out in protest, but he just turned his back on her and began to read. He frowned slightly as he read a page and then tossed the book back to her with a disinterested grunt. Alex picked the well-used book back up and gently smoothed out the pages that had been slightly marred.

"How did you get here?" she asked, anger and annoyance breaking through the icy barrier she had been working to hold together.

"Serena dropped me off before she took Gaddes and Allen to, what was it?" he said as he paused for a second and then smiled as he remembered. "Ah, yes! Starbucks©. Why are you reading that book, anyway? It's boring."

"I like it. Why didn't you just go with them?" Alex said, venom dripping off every word.

"Because I wanted to see you." As soon as the words left his mouth, he closed in again. He jumped over the display case, grabbed Alex around the waist, and none too gently forced her up against the shelf behind her. She got out half a cry before his lips covered hers again. Shelves dug painfully into her back. A muffled cry of pain escaped her lips into his mouth as her back hit hard against a sharp corner. Taking the hint, Dilandau gripped her tighter and moved her so her back was against an empty wall. All the while, his lips never left hers. He swiped his tongue across her lip, begging for entry. His hand slid up her side, slipping under her shirt. Alex had had enough. She shoved him forcibly off her. He stumbled back slightly, a smile still on his lips. Alex sneered and turned to walk away. Dilandau snatched a hold of her wrist and pulled her back towards him. The sound of her hand connecting with his cheek echoed throughout the empty store. His eyes widened with shock. His playful gaze turned into an angry glare. Her eyes locked onto his, fire burned deep within, a blaze that had always been there but as of yet had a reason to surface.

"What is wrong with you, Onna?" he asked her coldly, the death grip he had on her wrist tightening, trying to make her cry out in pain. He felt the bones in her wrist starting to give. She never flinched and her eyes never wavered from his own.

"You want to know what's wrong with me?" She asked, pronouncing and highlighting every syllable. Ice encrusted venom fell like shards from her voice. "You want to know what's wrong with me?"

"Yes, Onna! What is wrong with you!" he shouted at her, annoyed. Her muscles and body stiffened.

"My problem is you, jerk!" she shouted back at him. "You can be such an ass, you know that? Damnit, you have no respect for privacy, for feelings, for anything! You can't act like a little spoiled five-year-old anymore! You're better than that and you just can't do it!"

"So, that's what this is about. All because I walked in on you while you were changing?" he said with a smirk. He laughed and lowered his head, whispering, "Onna, I don't understand why you're so angry. I would have seen it anyway."

Anger seethed through her body. "And that's why I'm so pissed off at you. You think you own me, don't you? You don't walk up to a girl and assume she wants you all over her. You're acting presumptuous, don't you think so?"

He laughed and snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close. "No."

Alex was done with slapping. She pulled her wrist out of his grasp and balled her right hand into a fist. She hit him in the jaw sending his head back. The bell above the door jingled for the second time that day as the door opened and Serena, Gaddes, and Allen entered the shop. Alex eyed the three angrily and stormed out of the shop, shoving Allen brusquely out of the way.

"Alex, wait! What happened?" Serena called out the door. Alex never looked back and continued her path down the street. Serena frowned and the turned back towards the three men standing inside. Dilandau was rubbing his jaw and staring at the door thoughtfully. Allen and Gaddes stood off to one side, looking confused and out of place. Serena's gaze fell on Dilandau. Her eyes narrowed. She walked over to him and stood in front of him with his hands on her hips.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"What makes you think I did anything?" he quipped back. Serena's hands dropped from her hips. He smirked down at her. Her eyes narrowed again and she slugged him in the face, causing him to fall back on his butt.

"You perverted moron!" she screamed at him. Dilandau stayed on the floor, being that it was safer since he had the habit being attacked as of late. Serena turned back to the others and smiled sweetly. Gaddes returned the smile while Allen stared at the girl that was his innocent little sister, slack-jawed.

"What?" Serena asked, questioning innocence shinning in her eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Merideth Hills Park*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alex wandered aimlessly through the many pathways that crisscrossed the sunny park. Couples walked hand-in-hand, oblivious to the world around them. Birds sung happily, as they flew among the trees and hopped cheerfully along the ground. Soft, white fluffy clouds sporadically dotted the summer blue sky. A warm, almost burning breeze whipped over the dying the lawn and through the dry flowers and bushes. The scenery slipped by Alex unnoticed, her mind waterlogged and red with angry thoughts and confusing emotions all circling around a certain arrogant pyro.

'Stupid moron! I am not some toy he can play with!' she fumed. 'Freakin' asshole! Why does he have to be so grabby and demanding? Not that I don't like it. It's nice to know that somebody wants me, even if at the moment it's only for my body. He is a good kisser and has a surprisingly intoxicating touch, especially knowing his past. What the Hell am I thinking? I am mad at him! I'm not supposed to be thinking about how good of a kisser he is and how much I enjoy it every time he touches me or kisses me, or even how I get all warm feeling inside every time he smiles at me. Shit, there I go again. Ah, screw it. It's not worth it.'

She sighed and continued on her journey through the park. The final tentacles of orange sunlight dipped beneath the horizon, cutting off the world from its protective shadow and letting darkness skulk back for another night of suffocating, oppressive uncertainty. The dirt path weaved lazily through the section of the park designed to mimic a forest. Tall spruce, pine, and furs crowded the path. Blackness rushed in, pressing and pulling from all sides, leaving nothing untouched. A rolling fog descended and left a thick, silky layer of white-gray mist to spread its icy fingers around brave ankles. Alex's guard had gone up the second the last rays of light had departed across the horizon. The air hung repressively and tauntingly. Something was wrong. A presence Alex had known so long ago, called to her. The call like nothing she could explain. A feeling of urgency over powered her and she broke into a run. Racing out of the park, she stopped on the sidewalk and paused. Closing her eyes, she let the call direct her. Before she knew it, she was racing down the street towards the shop she had fled from earlier that afternoon. As soon as she rounded the corner, an unsettling roar snapped her out of her trance. Her eyes fluttered opened and focused on the chaotic scene unfolding before her.

"Holy shit! It can't be!" she whispered, her voice catching slightly in her throat. Another booming roar ripped through the air, slicing through it like a knife through virgin flesh. "Dragon…"

A wing of black abyss snapped out from the dragon's body, knocking a hideously deformed creature into a nearby streetlamp, causing it to crash to the ground in a deafening shower of metal, glass, and razor white sparks. The creature wriggled painfully on the ground, grunting and groaning as it swore in its own guttural and ear scathing language. The creature stood and sneered, its face contorted into an angry scowl and then to shock. A massive crimson-black scaled tail with a large, serrated spade came barreling in to the creature's stomach, giving it unnatural flight. It landed with a jolt and hung suspended, a metal pole from a chain link fence protruding from his chest. Blood dripped down the pole in sticky trails of black beads. The creature watched his heart through clouding eyes. A single weak pump and its life froze in the raging night; the ugly creature died before its heart's final beat. Another creature raised its sword, aiming to avenge its fallen comrade blaring out his anger as he charged toward his companion's killer. The dragon puffed up its massive chest and belched a glob of orange flame. The flame engulfed the creature, its pitiful and tortured screams filling the air. Thin tendrils of wispy smoke drifted up from the dragons gaping mouth and its flaring nostrils. The smell and taste of charred flesh wafted through Alex's nose and mouth. She coughed and covered her mouth and nose with her hand.

'Burning orc is definitely not a good perfume,' she thought as she suppressed her gag reflex. Ten more orcs waited along the sidelines, circling the dragon, waiting for a sign of weakness. Alex studied the dragon briefly. Bulky legs supported the beast's large body of crimson scales. Tough, black, bony plates lined the ridge of its back, forming a protective, impervious layer, much like armor would for a knight. Magnificent black wings sprouted from the dragon's shoulders, supported by massive shoulders and chest muscles. Black downy feathers lined the edge of the wings, following a path to its chest and circling around the base of its neck. The beast's long neck whipped around, bringing its cobalt eyes to gaze upon Alex. Its muzzle was narrow but powerful. Sharp teeth peaked from behind scaly lips. Black horns twisted in spirals pointed upwards toward the empty sky. A downy beard clung to bottom of its jaw. The dragon's physical appearance portrayed no age, neither sign of youth or seniority graced its features and yet, its aura spoke differently. An air of wisdom, knowledge, and skill of untold years of experience surrounded the creature. Alex met the dragon's eyes and marveled at their intensity.

'Help me. Prove your destiny.'

Alex blinked, breaking her gaze on the dragon. 'Great. Now I am hearing things, too? I don't need this right now!'

"Help me," the dragon bellowed, its throaty voice both intoxicating and frightening. She felt instincts take over as she reached for her 45 mm colt resting in her boot. She closed her eyes and raised the gun. The metal felt cold and heavy in her hands, reassuring her of its lethalness. Her eyes snapped open. She took aim at an orc that had moved within striking range. She squeezed the trigger, then felt the kick of the gun as the silver tipped bullet left the barrel heading to its final destination. The orc's head snapped back and the creature crumpled to the ground. Brains and blood sprayed behind the sin of creation. A large glob landed on the orc standing the closest. The other orcs turned toward Alex, not sure of what to expect. Alex smiled and swayed slightly. She quickly took aim again, firing three times. Two bullets hit their mark, through the hearts of two orcs. The third strayed and broke through the window of the Magic Shop, leaving a shattered hole where the bullet cut through. Another bullet flew through the air, lodging itself into the leg of an orc standing closest to the cracked window.

"Damn! Too low," Alex said as she raised the gun again. "This one won't miss." True to her word, the bullet ripped through the its chest, leaving a gap of leaking blood and exposed inner flesh. The remaining six orcs couldn't bare to see their comrades fall un-avenged. They did the only thing they knew how to do. They attacked. Two orcs assailed the dragon while the final four lunged toward Alex. Alex casually put her gun away and pulled out her two favorite sais. Three orcs attacked her at once, the final orc hanging back. She eyed him suspiciously.

"Goin' to wait and do the clean-up, huh?" She snorted and smiled. "Fine, Coward."

The three orcs circled her, snarling and growling. Oily drool poured in steady streams from their mouths. Alex cringed and contorted her face in disgust. "You, uglies, are nasty! Ick!" Her entire body quivered in disgust. "I guess the only thing to do now is put you out of your misery."

She raised the sai in her right hand and slashed out at the closest orc. The middle prong sliced along the creature's throat, slashing through the jugular and carotid, pouring black blood in hot rivers down the front of the orc and onto the ground, leaving the orc to die choking on oxygen and his own blood. She felt a light splatter as the spray flew back across her shirt.

"Damn! And this is one of my favorite shirts too!" She whined as she glanced down at her shirt that now had a line of black speckles across the top. She snarled and lunged at the next victim. This orc was prepared and blocked her attack with its scimitar. The second orc came up from behind and brought down its own weapon. Alex caught the scimitar with her other sai and held both orcs in a deadlock. She looked from one ugly face to the next. Smiling sinisterly, she fell back and rolled out of range. She stood up and watched the two in front of her. The lead orc remained off to the side, waiting for its chance to finish her off. Alex situated herself into a defensive stance and waited for the orcs to come to her. The orc to her right was not so bright and charged without the other. It didn't realize its mistake until Alex's sai was buried deep into its chest and blood spurt from the wound. She yanked the blade out of its chest and it fell onto the asphalt with a thud, its eyes wide from the shock and realization of his fatal mistake. The second orc came at her more cautiously than the other.

"I am bored. I think I'll end this now," she said with a sigh. She pulled out her 45mm colt once again and fired off a shot at the advancing orc. It crumpled to the ground in pain. She left it to wallow on the black asphalt as blood pooled around it. No point in wasting another bullet on it, a stomach wound would finish it off soon enough. Alex turned her attentions to the lead orc. The leader of the pack marched toward her, stopping 3 feet in front of her. The two circled each other, sizing the other up, waiting to see who would throw the first blow. They remained in the standoff for what seemed like hours, but was actually only a few seconds. With a rage-filled battle cry, the leader charged forward. Alex expertly blocked the downward blow of the creature's scimitar. She held the scimitar with the sai in her right hand and brought her face a few inches away from its. She stared into the yellow eyes and gave it a sinister smile. She pulled her face away and dragged the sai she held in her left hand across the creature's throat and then thrust the singing metal through its heart. The leader's body went slack and slide to the ground, a pool of blood forming around its feet before it hit the ground. Pulling away, she glanced up in time to see the dragon deliver a blast of fire at the final orc, igniting the creature into a living bonfire. A sickening thump ensued as the creature fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from its chest. It lay motionless, the flames licking happily at its body.

"That was just too pitiful and painful to watch," a feminine voice said with disgust, the quiver still held to fire in hand. Around her stood eight people, each equally intrigued, some a little unnerved, with the sight that had just taken place.

"Nice shot, Willow!" Alex shouted.

'Thank you, Alexandria, Queen of Gondor.' The voice echoed in her mind, sending chills up her spine and yet relaxing her at the same time. She turned back to the dragon and found it to be watching her with those cobalt eyes. 'Accept your rite of passage.'

"What are you talking--." Her question was cut off when the dragon changed form into a ghostly spirit. Its body lost its color and changed into a pure, shimmering white. The dragon's body elongated and morphed into that of a snake, the wings mixing into the wispy smoke of the spirit. The spirit wrapped itself around Alex, tightening its hold into a vice like grip, causing the sais Alex was holding to slip from her fingers. It lifted her up into the air and held her 11 feet off the ground. The spirit soon lost all form and became a ball of pure, opaque light. The first thing Alex felt was a tingling sensation. It was pleasant at first but it began to increase into a biting, throbbing pain that radiated through every cell in her body. A scream rose in her throat and she opened her mouth to release it but only a whispered squeak escaped her lips. She felt lightweight, as if she could fly, if only she could manage to withstand the excruciating pain. Yet just as it had started, it was gone. Gravity pulled her hurtling down towards the hard ground below. Alex braced her self for an impact that never came. Instead, she felt herself land somewhat gently in someone's arms. The person pulled her possessively and protectively into his muscular chest. An audible metallic thunk sounded nearby. She opened her eyes, but only to see red. The red rubbed softly against her cheek as the person moved down to his knees. Shifting slightly, Alex positioned herself so she could see her rescuers face.

"You're still an ass, Dilandau," Alex said as she wrinkled her nose.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Alex," he replied with a heavy sigh. His right arm gripped Alex tighter, pinning her against his chest. His left arm moved from its position under her knees and he rested his hand on her cheek.

"I am sorry," he whispered softly.

"What?" she whispered back. "You're apologizing? The almighty, Dilandau Albatou is apologizing? Oh, my God! What happened to you---."

"Yes! I am apologizing! Please, don't make a big deal out of it," he interrupted her in a hushed voice, holding her tighter and forcing her face into his shirt, muffling her words from prying ears. Alex squirmed her head away from his shirt and inhaled deeply.

"Damn! You give new meaning to 'take my breath away'," Alex coughed as she gasped for more air.

Dilandau smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

A silver glint caught his eye. He reached out and plucked a beautifully crafted broad sword that lay nearby off the blackish-gray asphalt. He handed it to Alex, slipping his arm under her knees. He lifted her up and turned toward the shop.

"You know I can walk, right?" Alex said.

"Yeah, sure."

Alex sighed and gripped the hilt of the sword, the design of the hilt digging into her skin. She rested her head against his shoulder and inhaled. The sweet scent of vanilla and brown sugar wafted through her nostrils, erasing the lingering scent of burning flesh.

"You raided my body wash, didn't you?" Alex accused.

"What?" Dilandau replied, confusion evident in his voice. "Serena gave me the stuff. It smelled nice."

"Figures," Alex laughed lightly. "Are we there yet? You walk slow!"

"You complain too much."

"And you don't?"

"Aaaw! The lovebirds are bickering again! So cute," Serena whined. She giggled and skipped back into the shop, grabbing a hold of Gaddes' hand as she passed by him. Allen sighed and followed his hyperactive and slightly bipolar sister. The others followed Serena's example and entered the store. Dilandau laid Alex on the couch and took the sword out of her hands.

"Hey! That's not yours!" Alex protested as she reached out for the departing blade.

"What are you going to kill in here?" Dilandau scolded.

"The wooden table, the couch, the register if it clocks out in the middle of a credit card transaction…Plenty of things to kill in here. Now, hand it over." Dilandau sighed and gave the sword back to her. He pulled up a chair next the couch and slouched down. He let his arms hang loosely at his sides as he watched Alex admire the sword. Her fingers ran along the 3 and half-foot blade, tracing each protective rune and spell engraved into the glimmering metal. Nimble fingertips traced the twin dragons that entwined themselves around each other, forming the hilt. The heads of the dragons formed the pommel, their gaping mouths holding a cobalt blue jewel. Alex looked up from the sword and realized that almost everyone was staring at her. The only one who wasn't was Merle, who was messing around on Serena's computer. Alex blushed and got up from the couch. Dilandau sat up straight in his chair, watching her as she crossed the room and set the sword on the table next to Hitomi's box.

"Tommy Girl, when are you going to get this box out of here?" Alex asked, trying to take the focus off her.

"I didn't bring it here," Hitomi answered defensively.

"Well, it didn't just walk here," Alex nipped back sarcastically. As she reached to pick up the box, it began to glow lightly. Alex pulled away and instinctively backed away straight into a soft yet unmovable object. A hand placed in the center of her back steadied her. She turned her head slightly as the hand traveled down to her stomach and pulled her into his chest protectively. The others gathered around closer as the light grew brighter, blocking out the box. Alex closed her eyes, shielding her light sensitive eyes from the brightness. With the same abruptness the light had appeared with, it disappeared, leaving the box and a key lying besides it.

"Your box, Hitomi. You open it," Alex suggested. Hitomi hesitated for a second then picked up the small silver key. She looked towards Alex, to which Alex nodded her head in encouragement. Hitomi then picked up her box and placed the key into the whole. Giving the key a twist to the right a small yet audible clack was heard. Setting the box back onto the table Hitomi lifted the lid up slowly. It lifted up smoothly without any form of resistance. A gleaming white feather shined in the fluorescent lights. Hitomi picked up the feather and smiled. She glanced to Van and he smiled at her in recognition of the downy soft feather she held gently in her fingers. Hitomi then placed the feather down into the table and then looked back to the box. She then noticed a silver object underneath it. Reaching in, she plucked out a silver necklace from its resting place in the bottom of her crimson lined box. Holding up the object in the air, the pendant dangled in the stuffy shop air.

"What is that? Ewe! What's on it?" Serena asked, with disgust, referring to the dried black goo that covered parts of the necklace. Alex gulped and let out a small cry. She pulled away from a surprised Dilandau and stumbled to the table. She took the necklace from Hitomi and ran a thumb over the mixture of metal, diamonds, and rubies.

"It's a family heirloom. It's passed down to from generation to generation," Alex explained. "It goes to the heir of the throne. It was my brother's."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Alex hung her head and rubbed the necklace against her cheek.

"So, why was it in Hitomi's box? I'm assuming she didn't put it in there," Allen inquired.

Dilandau narrowed his eyes at Allen and came up behind Alex, pulling her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest and gripped the back of his shirt. He wrapped and arm around her waist and wrapped his other arm around her head, hiding it from view and muffling spoken words.

"Obviously, it's a magical box and it means he's dead, you Moron!" Dilandau hissed toward the Knight. "Hence the orc blood as well."

"Now is hardly the time to bicker," Folken interjected, silencing the two. Dilandau sent a scathing glare toward the blond Knight and then turned his attention to Alex. He looked down at her and gently rubbed Alex's back in an effort to comfort her, although he wasn't completely sure he knew what he was doing. The room fell silent again and stayed that way for several minutes.

"Hitomi, you told me once that there was an inscription engraved in the lid of the box, right?" Willow asked braking the silence.

"Yeah, but I can't read it," Hitomi replied.

Alex pulled Dilandau's arm down from around her head and said, "It says,

Locked away for time to keep,

Until days more bleak.

Red blood rains, darkness falls,

Doom draws near as he calls.

Arise! Arise, Saviors of the Night,

For He comes from the Land where shadows lie."

"How do you know? You didn't even see it!" Hitomi cried out.

"I don't have to see it to know what it says. I can sense it. The dragon gave me its powers when it gave me the sword, Rei Kennohi, and did…that other…thing. The words are playing in my mind, imprinting their meaning. That's it. Now leave me alone," Alex replied as she buried her head back into Dilandau's arms, inhaling his scent and feeling the warmth and safety he provided her with. Willow walked over to Hitomi and took the box. She looked at the inscription and nodded.

"I recognize this. It's Quenya, an Elven language. It's very old and hasn't been used on Earth for centuries, although I'm sure it's been in use more recently on Gaea or more specifically Middle Earth." Willow said, more for her own clarification and assurance than for anyone else's. "Alex is right."

Alex pulled away from Dilandau and picked up her newly acquired sword of the table. In a hushed whisper she said, "I think we should go now. I am tired and I am sure the rest of you are as well."

Her suggestion was greeted by weak, pitying smiles and nods of agreement. Alex grabbed Dilandau's hand and pulled him towards the door. She dragged him to her car, oblivious to her surroundings and never noticing that Willow had kindly taken it upon herself to clean up the mess she, with the help of the dragon, had made.

"Are you sure you can drive?" Dilandau asked, concern in his voice. The others had begun to filter out of the shop and meander their way to the cars.

"Who else is going to drive? You?" Alex said weakly, the bite that was once in her voice gone, however the underlining hints of sarcasm remained. Dilandau got in the car next to Alex and watched her start the car. He gripped the side handle, prepared for the speedy take off. Alex pulled out smoothly, obeying traffic laws and speed limits. The others followed. They arrived at the house, parked the cars, and entered the house, albeit Alex entered a little less cheerfully than usual. She glanced behind her into the dark night sky towards the waning moon and dim stars. She swore the stars dimmed, even if only for a couple of seconds.