Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Always With You ❯ Chapter 16 ( Chapter 16 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Dilandau looked over Ray as they both stood ready to go to the banquet. She was beautiful in the tight leather and metal that made up her uniform.

Ray also had to admit that Dilandau looked large, in charge and intimidating, well at least he would be to anyone but herself. She kissed his cheek as he placed one hand on her hip.

“So?” She asked.

“Yes?” Dilandau pulled her closer to him.

“Are we going?” She asked as Dilandau came towards her for a kiss. Dilandau purposefully missed her face and rested his forehead on her shoulder.

“Way to wreck the moment.” He growled. He felt Ray’s shoulders quiver beneath him as she tried to hold in her laughter.

“Oh Dilandau…”

“Don’t laugh at me.” Dilandau pulled away from her his face painted with mock anger.

“I am so sorry LORD Dilandau, I know I deserve death because I silently laughed at you.” Ray bowed her head.

“No you will not die.” Dilandau replied lifting her chin.

“You are so merciful, I will never laugh in your presence again.” Ray smiled, then lowered her eyes.

“No I demand that you laugh whenever you want.” Dilandau moved his head so that he was in her line of vision.

“Why?” Ray asked looking straight ahead so that he could stand straight up again.

“Because your laugh is beautiful.” Dilandau rested his fore head against hers.

“Thanks.” Ray whispered, that one word being the only thing that she could think of at the moment.

“Anytime.” Dilandau smiled down at her as he raised his hand and brushed the back of it down the side of her face. “Should we go now?” He asked kissed her forehead.

Ray silently nodded. Dilandau gave her a small smile of encouragement.

Dilandau led her to the doorway, his fingers intertwined with hers.

They slowly walked down the corridors together, Dilandau wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek once in awhile.

But all too soon they stood in front of the banquet room doors where Dilandau released Ray from his grip and placed a stone mask over his softened features that only Ray had ever seen.

Dilandau threw the doors open, allowing the sounds from inside to overtake them. The General then entered before his soldier. Not allowing her to stand at his side like his love.

Dilandau led the way to the banquet table, where he sat with the other Generals and Ray, who hesitated for a few seconds, then proceeded to where the Dragon Slayers were all sitting together.

“Hi guys.” She whispered as she sat down. She was still in Korin’s view as he sat on the other side of the table just a few seats down.

“Hi Ray.” Chesta smiled.

“I’m sorry I am absolutely terrible with names, and I am not sure that I even know all of your names in the first place, I know that is horribly pathetic but could you help me out a little bit?” She requested looking into each of their eyes.

“Yeah, sure. I am Dalet…” The brunette said.

“Yeah I remember you, that’s for sure.” Ray smiled.

“This is Gatti.” Dalet motioned to the tall one on his right. “And Miguel.” He gestured to the one on his left.

“I’m Chesta.” The innocent looking one said, being the one on her left and the only one separating her from Dilandau.

“I’m Guimel, and this is Miguel and that’s Viole.” The curly haired one just to her right informed her.

“Oh ya, I know you. Hope there’s no hard feelings about the…” She slowly pushed her fist threw the air indicating the punch.

“No, no hard feelings. We’re even, you said so yourself.” Guimel smiled.

“Here have some.” Dalet smiled and passed her a plate of meat.

Ray looked down and saw that she had her own plate this time. She took the meat and nodded her thanks. She and the others piled food onto their plates and began to eat. Ray being used to hanging out with a bunch of big just plain guys, wasn’t insulted by the lack of manners.

Guimel suddenly burped and they all went silent and looked at Ray as if she would kill him. Ray only leaned back and let out an even louder burp, smiled and began to eat some more, earning smiles and laughs from the Dragon Slayers.

“How come you boys don’t drink anything?” Ray asked noticing that some guys in the other elite groups were already beginning to slur their words.

“Lord Dilandau forbade us too while the other Generals are here.” Chesta supplied the answer before the others.

Korin had become irritated by the beautiful sound of Ray’s voice as she and the Dragon Slayers spoke to each other in a relaxed tone, like they had been friends forever.

“Is she no longer your wench?” Korin asked Dilandau who sat just across the table from him; he spoke loud enough so that everyone heard, causing everyone to become slightly quieter.

“Why?” Dilandau asked quietly, hoping that Ray wouldn’t hear this conversation, but he knew that she was probably listening the best she could. ‘I’m sorry.’ He thought, as he knew what was coming next.

“Well if you are finished with her, maybe you’ll take up my offer, and if you wish I will return her too you, if she wants. I am making no promises once she has had the love of a real General.”

“I told you, if Ray decides to go with you she can. It’s not like I care what happens to her.” Dilandau tried to soften the conversation, as he knew Ray must hate him because of what he had just said.

Those words stabbed through Ray’s heart as she struggled to silent and still as the two blood thirst warlords decided her faith.

“Well then, maybe I should attempt to persuade her, a taste of what is to come would suffice, don’t you think so Dilandau.”

“I don’t suggest you attempt to take her against her will, she is very strong.” Dilandau said quietly, trying successfully to keep the edge from his voice.

‘Like that stopped you, bastard.’ Ray hissed in her mind.

“Who says she would be against it? I am sure she’d be happy to leave you for a much more experienced man.” Korin shot.

“Try if you must Korin, but I myself make no promise that she will want to leave.” Dilandau gave Korin a malicious grin from across the table, daring the older man to try it and see what would happen.

“Don’t think that I won’t try Dilandau, I may only have a few hours left, but a lot can happen.” Korin smiled, sparing a small glance at Ray as she stared at him in horror.

“What do you say Ray, do you wish to come home with me?” Korin asked.

Dilandau’s head flew to her direction as he had been hoping that she wasn’t listening, and now he wished that she was so that she wouldn’t answer wrong.

“No.” Ray growled, ready to explode any moment as she desired both of the Generals to fall down dead right then and there.

“Come now, you don’t want to stay here with Dilandau, once he is finished with you, you will simply be discarded. With me I’ll make sure you are taken care of forever.” Korin reassured her.

“I know he’ll throw me away, but I can tae care of myself quite well. Maybe when he does throw me away I’ll come to you.” Ray smiled sweetly trying to keep her hands away from the blade that hung at her side.

“Well now, I never really thought of it that way, what do you say Dilandau?” Korin grinned.

Dilandau was in slight shock at what had just happened. “Yes fine, whatever, I don’t care.”

“So you’ll get bored with her soon won’t you Dilandau?”

“Probably.” Was all Dilandau could get past his tongue.

‘Screw you Dilandau. I am so stupid I should have known you were playing with me!’ Ray screamed at herself in the silence in her mind.

“Whenever you want Ray, just send word and I’ll will come to save you from this tyrant here.” Korin smiled.

“I don’t need your help to get away from him.” Ray growled.

Dilandau heard her words, and felt his heart ache. ‘Why didn’t I tell her before what was going to happen! Why am I so stupid, why do I always have to fuck up so that they want to leave me!?’ Dilandau felt the urge to kill Korin and fall to his knees before Ray. But then he remembered that if he didn’t love Ray then Korin wouldn’t be so determined to take her away. Dilandau already saw Korin’s interest slightly diminish, he never did like his women to have much will of their own.

“Oh well, this is my last night here and I will rink as much as I can at Dilandau’s expense.” Korin smiled and with that the drinking began again.

Soon whores appeared and seated themselves on the laps of the generals or their men, insuring that they would have a comfortable place to sleep after the men passed out.

Ray sat there silently, burning with hatred inside. The Dragon Slayers tried to make her feel better by making her laugh but her laugh was hollow and they knew it.

The Dragon Slayers had seen little of Ray and even less of Ray and Dilandau together. But they saw how Dilandau looked at her from the corner of his eye. They saw that it was something more there then there was before when Sierra was there. They knew their general loved this woman, although they knew that she didn’t know and even if she did she was most likely unsure about it. Their General was kind of hard to live with, even when he did care for you, whether you are his friend or the owner of his heart. They only wanted Ray to be happy, that way Dilandau would be happy, and when he was happy they didn’t get beat as often. They all knew that it wasn’t their place to tell her how their General felt but they saw how this girl hurt when Dilandau said he didn’t care about her, they also saw how it had Hurt the General to say it.

Ray sat there, the Dragon Slayers had kind of given up and had decided to leave her to her own thoughts. More and more men were getting drunk, standing, dancing, singing, the room, which had seemed empty before now seemed crowded.

But it wasn’t crowded enough to block Dilandau from Ray’s view, or they girl who now sat on his lap who thought that she would get to sleep with him that night. Ray watched as Dilandau kissed the young girl with passion and care, the way he kissed her.

Dilandau felt the girl’s hand slide up his leg, he quickly grabbed it and squeezed it painfully warning her. He kissed her, seeing only Ray kissing him back.

Dilandau felt a slight breeze on the back of his neck, he pushed the wench away slightly, only in time to see Ray exit through the doors at a rather fast walk.

‘What have I done?’ Dilandau asked himself as the girl came closer to him again. He knew he had to carry on as if he hadn’t noticed Ray leave, as if he didn’t care, even though he felt his heart slowly being torn apart.

Dilandau tried to forget the pain that now added itself joyfully to the tortured souls that once again filled his mind.

He never saw Korin leave silently.

~*~

Ray stalked through the corridors, a scowl painted on her face so that she hid her pain.

“How?” Was all she managed to get out. She found herself in front of the training room doors. “What the hell…” She growled as she entered through the thick doors.

She began a simple routine from cheerleading, well simple for her. She worked herself hard enough so that she formed a thin layer of sweat and somewhat frantic breathing.

She hadn’t noticed the figure that had entered.

“Well that was interesting.” Korin growled.

Ray spun around, her knees gave out and she fell to the floor.

“What’s wrong pet? Tired? Too tired?” Korin smiled as he approached her.

“Get away from me.” Ray said quickly as she tried to get away from him, but her legs couldn’t hold her up so she was reduced to having to pull herself along with her arms.

“I think not. No one to protect you this time.”

“I can protect myself.” Ray growled as she drew her blade. She held it somewhat weakly as her arms had as well become tired.

Korin drew his own sword and swiftly disarmed her.

Ray still lay helpless on the ground, she whimpered slightly as Korin gripped her arm pulling her up onto her knees before him.

Ray fearfully watched Korin as he held the same hunger that Dilandau has that night he had taken her.

Korin yanked her arm again, pulling her roughly to her feet; he wrapped his arm painfully tight around her waist, holding her in place. He quickly leaned down and captured Ray’s lips in a kiss, forcing them apart and pushing his tongue between them. Suddenly a sharp pain over took him, causing his to pull away, releasing Ray, allowing her to fall onto the ground.

He looked down at her horrified, as she spit on the floor. She had bitten his tongue, the thought suddenly struck him. Korin let out a cold heartless laugh. He knelt down beside her and cupped her chin. Korin looked into her eyes, only to see something that was familiar to him. The coldness that Dilandau held in his eyes whenever the younger General locked eyes with Korin himself or any of the other Generals. Korin retracted then brought the back of his hand painfully down onto Ray’s face. He was unsure but he felt some odd feeling that froze his insides when he looked into her eyes.

“We will meet again Lady Rayana, but I promise you, it will not end this nicely.” He growled, and with that he quickly left her lying on the floor feeling used and violated, even if it was just a kiss.

~*~

Dilandau finally escaped the banquet and found himself roaming the corridors, trying to decide as to where he would most likely find Ray. (A/N did that sentence make sense?)

He finally decided that as she wasn’t in his room or her own as well as the courtyard she had to be in the training room.

He pushed the doors open and saw something that shocked him. Ray was sitting in the middle of the room, her eyes blank, her hair slightly messed, and her features pale. Dilandau hurried to her side, placing a hand on her thigh, and receiving no response.

“Ray? What happened?” Dilandau asked quickly, letting as much concern that had desired to be heard out in his voice, but he received no response.

Dilandau looked around for some sort of clue. He took a deep breath before he began to panic. Then he knew.

Korin. He could smell the man on the air. The General’s expensive fragrance found it’s way into Dilandau’s mind. Dilandau grabbed Ray’s shoulders and turned her towards him, although she said nothing, he quickly looked her over for any sign that she had been hurt.

She was cold as stone and her gaze froze the General’s heart.

Dilandau kissed her forehead and promised that she’d be ok, though she didn’t seem to hear him.

Dilandau quickly swept her up into his arms and carried her out of the room and down the hallways to her own chambers.

Once there Dilandau lay her on her back on the bed.

“Ray come on, tell me what happened please.” Dilandau begged.

“Why? You don’t care.” Ray replied her voice hollow and shaken.

“What? Of course I care.” Dilandau replied.

“No.” Ray whispered, her throat tightened threatening her ability to speak at all.

Dilandau look down at the pain on her face. He clearly saw that it was his fault. “What did Korin do to you?” Dilandau asked quietly.

“You don’t care.” Was her only response.

“Yes I do!” Dilandau jumped off the bed, his eyes begging her to give him a way to prove it. But she never looked at him, she continued to stare into space, into the blackness that had suddenly enveloped her like so many times before.

“Ray tell me!?” Dilandau demanded, his temper beginning to get the better of him as this girl frustrated him beyond reason.

But Ray remained silent and still on her bed.

“Fine!” Dilandau growled his voice threatening and cold. With that he swiftly left without another word to her, his lost, and lonely love.