Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Beyond the Moon ❯ Release Betrayal ( Chapter 8 )

Not as long as the last chapter, but definitely of more substance. I know this seems to be a lot about Dilly and Celena, but it's essential! ^_^ I'm pretty surprised at myself, getting out one of these things every other day. I'm glad you all appreciate it. The Thanksgiving Break has allowed me a lot of time, but once I get back in school it may slow down a bit. We only have a few weeks until Xmas! ^_~

Beyond the Moon

Eight

"Dilandau," Celena murmured, running a finger down the mirror along the jagged outline of her white hair. "You wish to be free of me."

No. I want you to be free of me. Celena lowered her head.

"Leave me, leave my body," she commanded, standing back from the mirror and staring into it.

Celena...

"Do it!" she cried, staring into the mirror with steadfast, bloodshot eyes. The image in the mirror suddenly began to change; Celena's white hair changed to a metallic silver, her eyes becoming a ruby red. Her face became masculine, and her shoulders began to broaden. Her chest became flatter, toned muscle, and her hands began to twitch and shake as veins rippled up through strong arms. One of the trembling hands reached up, slowly pouring through the silvery surface of the mirror.

Celena stepped back, covering her mouth as the image's eyes clenched shut, slowly forcing another limb through the rippling sheen.

She opened her eyes as a moist, gloved hand landed on her shoulder. She looked up, greeted with a pair of ruby colored eyes.

"D-d-Dilandau?" Celena asked incredulously, eyes widening. He nodded, the nightgown that he had been wearing ripped to shreds by his transformation. Despite his nudity, Celena suddenly wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"Dilandau, it's really you!" she cried, hugging the surprised man tighter. He lightly patted her head and pulled away.

"Um.. yes, it appears that way," he replied, whatever anger he had derived from her outburst and his lack of clothing disappearing as she gazed up at him, her blue eyes wide and shimmering with tears. He growled at himself; he had finally gained his own body, and now he was standing idly in front of Celena like a little boy. He was too rational and calm to be happy. He snorted and turned around, stalking across the room towards the closet.

As he rifled around for a pair of pants, Dilandau tried to forget all the mushy things he had said to Celena in order to allow him his own body. He felt almost guilty at having used such an innocent soul, but he knew what had to be done, had to be done. He could feel Celena standing in the middle of the room, eyes fixed on him, unshed tears building up in her bright blue eyes.

Dilandau put on his pants, walking across the room to snatch his black and red jacket off the wall, his sheathed sword following soon after. He slipped on the coat, putting his word at his side. Celena stood, staring at the wall, tears streaming down her face.

All that she knew, all that filled her fragile mind, was that she had been used, betrayed. She knew it the moment she let him go.

Just as Dilandau moved to open the door, Celena turned to him. "Liar!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs, biting her lower lip as her knees buckled, knocking her to the ground. She sat up slightly, sobs suddenly wracking her body. Dilandau stood at the door, one hand resting on the knob. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, and sighing, opened the door and stepped out, closing it softly behind him. Celena began to cry harder, but he blocked out the pathetic sound and continued down the hallway uninterrupted.

He had broken his promise. Dilandau shrugged off the thought. She's free of me now, he assured himself. The sun had long since gone down, and the house was silent except the fading sound of Celena's whimpering. If he knew the dog man, Dilandau was comfortable in the knowledge that Jajuka would soon be in to comfort her. He opened the front door of the house and stepped onto the stone stairway, closing the door behind him. He haltered a particularly fine, red-coated horse from the stable and brought it out, and after a quick saddling, jumped on and trotted down the road.

The deep crimson horse carried him away from the Schezar house, a quick backward glance rewarding him with a view of Celena watching him through her window. As soon as she saw him looking at her, she drew the curtains and fled.

Jajuka knocked lightly on the door. He had heard some loud noises coming from Celena's room, and had decided to investigate.

A very tired Celena came to the door, dark bags under her bloodshot eyes. She had red tear streaks down her cheeks, and her already short, choppy hair was disheveled and rumpled about her head.

"Celena?" Jajuka asked, his eyebrows lowering in concern. She suddenly burst out crying and hugged him, burying her face in his furry chest. Jajuka sighed, stroking her head. "What happened, Celena? What's wrong?"

"Dilandau... I let him go." Jajuka looked at her in confusion. "He's gone!" she cried harder, sobbing into his fur. Unsure of what to say, he patted her head. "He lied to me! Now Hitomi and Van are in danger!" Celena realized suddenly, pulling away.

"Celena, calm down. I'll wake up Allen to warn them," Jajuka assured her. He took her by the shoulders and led her to her bed, sitting her down on the blankets. "Wait here." With that, Jajuka left the room, racing down the hall to Allen's room.

***

Dilandau felt his eyelids dropping, the steady rhythm of the horse's gait lulling him to sleep. He decided to pull off the road, when the sight of two horses lying off to one side caught his attention. Vaulting off his horse, Dilandau stepped closer to investigate.

The creatures seemed fast asleep, and a uniformed coachman lay snoring between them. The yolk lay broken off to one side, and the carriage they had obviously been pulling was nowhere to be seen.

The ex-general stepped back and surveyed the area, before spotting a wooden wheel lodged in a small trench created by the washboard of the road. He raised one eyebrow and picked up the wheel, peering over the side of the road, where he noticed a dip.

Lying on its side was a carriage, one door open. The other three wheels had fallen off, and the side of it which was in contact with the ground looked shattered. Hearing a moan, Dilandau walked closer to investigate.

Given eight years ago, he wouldn't have cared in the least, but after knowing Celena's selfless caring for others, the thought of pulling some injured person out of the crushed vehicle seemed almost appealing.

Crawling over the upturned side of the carriage, Dilandau peered inside the open door, which lay parallel with the ground. A man was inside, and looked as if he were just waking up. He had his back to Dilandau, and was crushed against the splintered bottom. The albino, against his better judgment, took a hold of the man's coat and hauled him up with a superior strength.

Laying the man on the smoother surface of the upper side of the carriage, Dilandau grabbed his sword. It was Van. He moaned, hands finding their way to a splinter lodged in his arm, which had managed to pierce through the jacket. Blood stained the royal Fanelian garment, and his pants and sleeve were ripped in foot long strikes.

Van opened his eyes, greeted with the startling image of a sword at his throat. He held back a scream when he saw who was holding the sword; an equally surprised, albeit sinister and evil-looking, Dilandau Albatou. His hand was shaking, and his red eyes were darting from Van's face to the large, bloody wound on his arm, and back.

Van considered pleading for his life, when a thought struck him.

"Hitomi?" he asked quietly, his breath coming a bit short. Dilandau balked. "What have you done with Hitomi?!" Van demanded, squeezing his eyes and leaning back against the creaking wood of the carriage. Dilandau blinked at him, then pressed the sword tip against his Adam's apple.

"I didn't do anything with her!" the ex-general shouted back, curling his lip in distaste. Van narrowed his eyes dangerously, and before Dilandau knew what hit him, the king was up and agile. One arm wrapped around the albino's neck, Van grabbed the sword his prisoner was clutching and tightened his grip. "You've gotten better," Dilandau commented, choking slightly as he clawed at the arm holding him hostage.

"And you haven't improved at all," Van returned, drawing his sword up to Dilandau's throat. He backed away, keeping the furious man at arm's length. "Now tell me; what did you do with Hitomi?" His voice became dangerously low, a visible fire growing in his dark eyes. Dilandau snarled.

"I did nothing! I just arrived, and found only you!" he insisted, glaring at his own sword turned against him.

"What are you doing out here, anyway?" Van asked, keeping his weapon checked, but nudging Dilandau to sit. The spitting angry man grudgingly agreed, and the two slowly worked their way off the carriage to a seat on the rough grass.

Dilandau swallowed, keeping one eye on the sword at his throat. He looked down, and Van barely caught the expression of guilt that crossed his face.

"I separated with Celena," he admitted, his silver hair falling over his forehead.

"She let you go?" Van inquired. Dilandau glanced up as he saw the sword shake in the king's grasp. The bleeding on Van's harm had lessened, but his fingers had begun to turn a strange purplish color.

"She let my body go; I left the house despite her wishes, and I don't intend on returning," Dilandau replied, his eyes softening slightly. Van growled.

"And you betrayed her?" Dilandau's head shot up, and he glared daggers at the other man.

"Betrayed?! What would you know about her and I? I did nothing of the sort! She let me free of her, and I left!" he cried defensively. He instantly closed his mouth as the tip of the sword nudged his throat. Van glared.

"That doesn't matter now. Hitomi must be found," he announced, standing up. Dilandau followed shakily. "And you're going to help me." The ex-general's jaw dropped and he sputtered.

"What?! I will do no such thing!" Dilandau told Van, glowering indignantly. Van smirked.

"Oh yes you will," he replied, bringing both the tip of the sword and his face dangerously close. "Or you will die."

***

I opened my eyes, choking slightly on the gag I found jammed into my mouth. Around me, I could see nothing but gray; as I focused, I began to make out the faint outlines of jagged rocks arcing over me. I tried to move, but I found my hands were bound to the ground with rough ropes. I pulled my head forward, surveying myself. My traveling clothes, which consisted of a fair-weather dress and light slacks, all of which were now soaking wet and clung to my body in many uncomfortable ways. I tried to pull free of my bindings, but both my ankles and wrists were tied down.

And so, I tried to scream. I tried and tried, but all that came out was a muffled cry against the thick cloth stuffed in my mouth.

"It's no use," came a thick, heavily accented voice. I turned my head in every direction, trying to find the location of the voice. The shadows above me parted slightly, and a white head peered through. The eyes were like a cat's, with dark emerald irises and a long, black pupil. The face was ghostly pale, and blood red stripes adorned the cheeks and forehead, framed by high, jet black hair. The creature kneeled down, its full body coming into view. It was tall and skinny, with long, coal black stripes and streaks patterning its white body in ornate, circular designs. It looked eerily familiar, but I was not inclined to dig into my memory.

A thin, long-fingered hand reached down, lightly stroking my cheek. I closed my eyes and shuddered; the creature's skin was ice cold, and its fingers were like burning frost across my face. I tried to scream, but stopped when the being withdrew from me. I opened my eyes, meeting its gaze.

"Shh," it said, patting my head and flicking its thick, green tongue across sharp canines. I blinked in confusion. "You are here for your own good. Let me explain, and you will be released." I glanced at my bindings, then nodded slowly.

It was then that it occurred to me. The doppelganger! This creature... I let out another scream, my eyes widening. I felt asleep, reliving the nightmare all over again. I could see its pale, wrinkled face as it was absorbed by Dilandau's liquid metal, greenish eyes bulging out of its head.

"I know of whom you think," the creature said, sitting down beside me. I shrunk back, my heart pounding in my ears as it came closer. All I could see was Plaktu, a lifeless, withered corpse, to benefit the doppelganger's sinister ambitions. It stroked my head, where my hair clung to my sweat-slicked forehead.

"We live for the fight, this much is true," it continued. "Zongi was a rebel. Zaibach too, was our enemy." The doppelganger looked at me, its eyes softening as it withdrew its almost comforting hand. "Go to sleep. You need more rest." It untied my hands, letting them hang freely at my sides on the cold stone floor.

"All will be made clear when you are more ready," it said, getting up and disappearing once more into the shadows.

Despite my wet clothes and the cold ground which I lay upon, I rapidly fell into the dark, dreamless void of sleep.

***

"Lord Allen!" Jajuka cried, opening the door. Allen sat up instantly in bed, rubbing his eyes. His hair lay in a crude ponytail, and his glare betrayed his annoyance at being awoken.

"What is it?" the knight demanded, rubbing his back. Jajuka looked out the door at the east hall, then shifted back to Allen.

"Celena.. Celena released Dilandau! They separated, and he took off with one of the horses! He's headed in the same direction as Van and Hitomi; if they aren't in Palas by now, he'll be caught up to them in no time!" the dog-man said worriedly, turning on his heel and dashing out of the room. Allen blinked, slowly absorbing the information.

"What?!" he cried after Jajuka, jumping out of bed. Grabbing his sword, Allen slipped on his boots and jacket, careening out the front door in chase of his sister's alter ego.