Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Piece of Her Wings ~Untouched~ ❯ Secrets, Shame, Sacrifice ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: sadamex

Chapter Seven:
Secrets, Shame, Sacrifice

The whole world was in glorious silence. It was one of those perfect, picturesque evenings that came all-too infrequently. It was when the stars would come out and cast a warm glow on the trees, and the slow-moving wind seemed to sigh as it passed by, leaving behind a cool blanket on its trail. It was when the moon would show off her regal splendor and beauty, taking her time as she inched her way leisurely towards her vantage point along the horizon. It was when the very threads of time itself stood still to paint a lovely scenario on this most blessed of nights. It was when all creatures, all manner of life, mortal or immortal, took their time to look up and gaze in awe and majesty at the milky darkness of the heavens that smiled benevolently down on the earth below.

All, that is, except for two people held in time by the very heavens themselves.

“Do you honestly believe that you're going to escape?” the low voice almost drawled. The voice belonged to a man, tall, lean, and strikingly vicious—as striking as his silver-shot hair that almost glowed in that forest.

The recipient of the question gasped. In contrast to him, she was a female, quite tall but with a petite frame, childishly innocent and, right now, very much afraid. She quickened her pace; widened the distance her legs could possibly manage. She was running so fast, her messy, shoulder-length sandy-colored hair trailed along behind her as if on fire.

Fire. A few moments ago, everything very much dear to her caught flame and burned down to nothing but ashes. She thought she had finally found a place to belong, but it was unkindly wrenched from her in an instant. Her newfound home. Her newfound friends. Her newfound family.

Her eyes misted. She could still smell Merle's distinct scent—the scent of summer rains mixed with warm, earthy spices. She could still hear their voices at the back of her mind. Their lilting brogue, their thick accent, the sound of their laughter on cool breezy nights. Everything happened too fast for her; it all simply ended too soon. She barely knew them, and yet knew so much in that short period. In that short time, she had learned to love them.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are…” the malicious man crooned coaxingly. The still-grieving woman wiped the threatening tears with the back of her hand. She sniffed—quietly—and pushed her personal sorrow back for a while, pushing herself even more so in the process. Her whole body—no, her whole being—ached, but she simply ignored her mind and body's screams of protest for sleep and rest. She continued to run, although the irony of the situation probably escaped her. The last time she ran this far and this fast, she had been desperately chasing an angel that fleeted above her on the mountains. Now it was the other way around; now, she was the one desperately running away from the dangerous man that was stubbornly chasing her.

Deeper and deeper into the primeval forest she ran. Closer and closer to the destined grotto. Her heart was pounding violently—a mixture of fear and rushing adrenaline—and her breathing came in short, ragged breaths. She was about half a league away from the cave when she missed a protruding root underneath her, and she tripped, connecting with the dry, dusty ground hard.

She yelped instinctively, but she managed to bite back her tongue to muffle the sound… or did she? Somewhere, a young man in search of his prey gave vent to a particularly hideous cackle, causing the honey-haired female to panic.

She stood up, trembling, and swallowed another yelp as she limped and leaned on the rough trunk of a tree. The fall scraped her legs and arms, and a few wounds on her palms, elbows, and knees were oozing blood. She took a moment to catch her breath, gritting her teeth throughout the throbbing sensations. After about a hundred heartbeats, she moved on, slowly at first, then gradually picking up speed. Enduring the stinging pain, soon, she was on a dead run again.

For Hitomi, running for her life clearly was not an option.

It was the only solution.

- - -

Somewhere, in another part of the world, an angel was also worried about being caught.

“That was close,” Kamion murmured, his back pressed up against a wall. His head was cocked to his side; warm cheek kissing the cold stone wall. He had been walking stealthily along the musty corridors, away from the busier parts of the castle. He prudently watched guard at every turn for any passing angels. He didn't want to get caught drifting about the darker regions of the castle at this time of night. And yet, Kamion still couldn't quite place himself; he was bearing a purpose that kept nagging at his conscience that he was committing a sin.

“I should have not permitted myself into doing this,” he muttered darkly to himself, shaking his head in resignation. Then he laughed a rueful little laugh. “Had my dear friend Ontrose been here with me, surely he'd have this wide grin on his face, e'en as he wilt tell me, that he is finding this kind of conspiratorial snooping around utterly delightful.” He sighed, and a look of unspeakable regret briefly crossed his eyes. Had certain things not happened, his beloved friend and brother would still be with him now, sharing philosophical discussions and beating him at mock swordfights. And he would still be complete; unlike the hollow, almost lifeless soul that he had become as a result of his treason towards his most trusted friend and kinsman.

Kamion sighed again, deeper this time; making his private ruminations go away. Collecting himself, he looked cautiously this way and that, and silently slipped towards the dark corridor.

He stopped abruptly in front of a shadowed, eerie-looking door. Gold chains twisted their way around the ornate wood, and a massive lock stood guard against trespassers and unwelcome eyes peering for a look.

Fortunately—or un-fortunately—Kamion was in such a position that enabled him to get hold of every single pass, key and entrance in the entire citadel. He fished out the jingling large ring of keys from his tunic's pocket, singled-out the rusty, slender key that would open the lock, jabbed it smoothly into the hole, and took a deep breath. “Right about now, I have violated at least a thousand and one rules that I could think of.” He shook his head with a slight smile. “Though, candor compels me to admit, I do confess that I find this kind of mischief… exhilarating.” He twisted the key and the lock came free, the gold chains grated noisily as they slid to the floor. He opened the looming door before him to reveal an even darker room inside. “Wonderful idea, Kamion, my good man,” he berated himself. “Capital! All those years of loyal servitude and now you think that sneaking inside the forbidden selections is exhilarating,” he muttered hoarsely with heavy distaste.

Finally realizing that he was inside, he blinked several times in the engulfing darkness. His nose itched from inhaling the thick layer of dust that was disturbed by his careful footsteps. He groped the wall beside the door for the customary torch that was supposed to be there, reached into his tunic's pocket, and lit it with his tinderbox.

From the ruddy glow of his torchlight, Kamion could quite clearly see the whole room covered with shelves of old books, huge maps of ancient constellations and star patterns, and tables upon tables laden with oversized scrolls, moth-eaten feather quills, dried-up bottles of smeary ink, used candles with long trails of hardened wax, and various other small, curious instruments scattered on the tabletops.

Kamion looked around, not knowing where to begin.

He loitered instead, wandered around aimlessly, scanning the shelves, picking up books and tracing his finger along the edges of the dusty, vintage tables. The wealth—and secrets—hidden inside this room was positively overwhelming, and it overwhelmed him enough to temporarily forget that he really was not supposed to be there.

It was quite some time during his perusal—an hour and a half past, actually—when a certain book—a blue one—at the farthest shelf in the back of the room caught his eye. It was no different than the other books; it was not specially marked or hidden or pushed back into the shelf. The only real difference it had from all the others was the thing that was loosely wounded around its hardbound cover.

It was a silver necklace, with a smooth, rounded pendant that was as red as blood.

His eyebrows knit in curiosity and confusion, he placed the torch in the nearest holder and took out the heavy volume with his two hands. He coughed a bit in the resulting cloud of dust, sneezed a couple of times and sniffed. He walked to the nearest table, rolled the crackling parchments and stacked them neatly to one side. Having cleared the table, he sat himself down in front of the book that lay before him.

He sat still for a moment, not moving a hair, just staring at the blue tome. Then, with a puff of air, he carefully untangled the silver necklace, laid it aside, and took a deep breath.

This is it, Kamion, there is no turning back.

He opened the hardbound cover, and began reading about her.

She was the most dangerous angel ever created in paradise.

- - -

“Give up now, girl, you're just wasting your energy.” Dilandau chuckled, bare teeth flashing in the moonlight. He was closing in on her, Hitomi knew, but what actually made her almost mad was that she was running with everything she's got, and there's absolutely nothing else she could do.

She was running out of time.

Dilandau crept, making wide sweeps with his whispering sword through the underbrush. “Little girl, little girl, with lovely gold curls. Where she goes, where she goes, nobody knows...” he sang loudly, making Hitomi panic even more desperately. The sound of his voice was bad enough as to make her spine tingle, but the fact that it was no more than a hundred yards away from her didn't reassure her, either.

Her chest would almost burst. Feeling a little bit lightheaded, she panted heavily, trying to ease her nervousness with deep breaths, all the while Dilandau kept singing his song.

“...and when I find her, and when I find her on this moonlit night, I shall hold her, I shall hold her tight. For this little girl, little girl with lovely gold curls, she does know that I love her so, I love her...” he trailed off, his sword stopping in mid-swing. Dilandau squinted and bent his neck lower to the ground to examine something that caught his attention. He sheathed his sword, making sure he was being very careful to not make any loud noises. His long, almost delicate fingers traced the splinters on the gnarled tree root that was protruding underneath him. The fresh scent of its resinous substance permeating from the snapped root strongly suggested that it all just happened minutes ago.

Dilandau felt the damp ground with his palm. The canopies high above them obscured even the faintest hint of starlight, and it was quite impossible to see of any footsteps his prey might have left behind for him to follow. But the slight indentations he felt on his experienced hands told him that she had, in fact, been here, probably five, ten minutes ago.

He grinned with an almost unholy joy. He laughed; piercing, menacing. He stood up and took out his sword, his fingers finding comfort holding it. He had found her at last, and Hitomi knew that he was very near to him now.

“Miguel, Chesta! Follow the marker. She's right here,” he drawled out loud, his sudden rush of bloodlust exquisitely hidden in that almost bored voice. He drew a flare from his pocket, lit it, and tossed it high above his head, where it exploded and blazed like a miniature sun, bathing the whole forest with an ethereal, creepy red light.

Hitomi's heart pounded faster. She dared to look back, and she could see the faint outlines of the red-stained silver-haired man not too far from her, along with Miguel and Chesta, who were fast approaching their insane leader.

Hitomi silently prayed that she could make it in time. Her legs were starting to give up on her. She cupped one hand and clamped it over her mouth, ducking branches and leaping over roots, making as little noise as possible.

As she rounded an unused deer trail, Hitomi saw for the first time the cave that Ontrose, Merle and her sisters had been persistent for her to see. The very same cave that all of them gave up their lives for. It was fairly small; just enough for one person to enter at a time. The darkness from the obscuring trees around it was so thick that it could be cut with a knife, but it seemed to her as though the cave itself emanated darkness.

Hitomi stared gaping at the grot, and an apprehensive chill came unto her as she did. Something dreadful was going to happen inside that cave.

Hitomi's awareness returned to her when a twig was snapped from behind her. “There you are, you pesky little rat,” Dilandau said casually, his sword gleaming very much like his silver hair.

Hitomi spun around, and she came face-to-face with the tall, pale man who was responsible for murdering her entire family. Her eyes widened in shock and horror, an emotion contributed by this encounter, no doubt, but more so by the realization of the sandy-haired girl that she could not move even an inch.

Dilandau grinned menacingly at her.

Hitomi gulped, and willed herself to do something—anything!

“Don't worry, it'll be quick,” the man assured her, still grinning.

When she saw Dilandau raise that awful sword, her reflexes snapped, her will for survival overpowering her. She elbowed his stomach, putting in as much weight as possible. Dilandau let out an angry roar as he bent and clutched at his middle. Seeing the opportunity, Hitomi spun quickly and ran, just as Miguel and Chesta came sprinting out of the bushes.

“Boss!” Miguel said, quickly helping his leader to his feet. “Are y' okay?”

Dilandau, wincing, rolled back and punched him squarely in the face. “Stupid fool! Go after her!” he roared.

Reeling, Miguel did as he was told, followed by a silently snickering Chesta.

Dilandau stood up straight, hate and malice burning afire in his eyes. “Filthy bitch,” he hissed, his grip on his sword tightening. “She'll pay for this. I'll personally see to that.”

Hitomi ran along the deer trail. She was not very far from the grot now. Having that thought about her, it gave her an extra surge of energy and courage. She ran ahead, not trusting herself to look behind her for her pursuers.

She was about fifteen feet from the veiled entrance when an evil-looking dirk whizzed past her, leaving a nice, deep gash in her left leg.

Hitomi gave a surprised cry as bright blood gushed forth from the neat slice. Her leg, as if a tightly-wound coil sprung free, released all that pent-up stress and energy and lost all momentum and control. At first it trembled. Then it wobbled. By the time her legs were rocking violently from severe exhaustion, another dagger flew very close by, missing her head by mere centimeters.

Chesta snapped his fingers. “Damn, I missed!” he spat, swearing.

Dilandau had caught up with him and he smacked him smartly on the back of his head. “You idiot! I told you to go after her, not kill her!” He fixed a menacing stare at Miguel who was jogging a few feet in front of them. “Do whatever you want to pin her down, but don't kill her,” he hissed. He pointed a finger at the nodding Miguel. “Remember, she's mine,” he grated through clenched teeth and ran before them.

The two men nodded gravely, and scratched at their heads when Dilandau was out of earshot anymore. “Th' boss' seems t' be out o' sorts t'night,” Miguel whined lowly when Chesta had caught up with him.

Chesta nodded. “Must've been something he ate,” he shrugged. The he grinned slyly at his comrade. “You should've seen him when he got dead drunk.”

Miguel made a face. “Don't remind me. He spent th' good half o' th' night hackin' an' slashin' wi' his sword an' settin' th' whole blasted forest on fire.” He shuddered. “It still gives me th' nightmares, don't y' know.”

Chesta's shoulders shook with laughter at his comrade's pronouncement. “Are the two of you going to run faster, or do you want me to flog you from behind to make you?” came Dilandau's irritated voice from before them.

The two stopped abruptly, trying their very best to conceal the smile on their faces. “Yes, boss!” they shouted in unison.

Hitomi was limping badly. She couldn't control her shaking anymore. When she heard Dilandau stomping through a dense thorny bush, she gasped and turned around, eyes wide in panic.

His eyes were wide, the pupils dilated in what could only be called insanity. He was breathing heavily, his chest and shoulders rising with each gulp of air. His shirt and pants were torn, and he was bloodied as the result of his wrangling with the thorn bush, but he didn't seem to mind.

Upon seeing Hitomi's frightened stare, his angry snarl slowly turned into a cruel grin. He ran his fingers through his sparkling hair with a chuckle. As he advanced towards her, his hand left his hair to massage his middle. “You hit me here,” he grinned. “I think it's only fitting that I return the favor, don't you?”

Hitomi had on occasion seen a rabbit or another rodent about to be caught by a snake. The prey knows that the snake is about to attack, but he can't do anything about it. Her current condition right now is very much the same. She knows that there is this insane man bent on killing her that was standing right before her eyes, but she can't do anything but stare back. She couldn't even manage to squeak; his will was too crushing.

Dilandau's grin grew even wider. Miguel and Chesta had caught up by then, and they were resting not too far away from them, both grinning as well. Their boss raised that awful sword of his, eyes burning in wicked delight.

Using the very last traces of energy left within her, Hitomi's legs responded in a way that they should: they buckled. Hitomi fell backwards, landing on her bottom, her whole body trembling not only from exhaustion, but from panic-driven fear.

Dilandau crowed. He swiftly struck down his sword, slicing Hitomi's right thigh. He deliberately made himself miss. It seems to give him some sort of foul entertainment, for some obscure reason.

Hitomi covered the shallow gash with a trembling hand. She was now able to utter a pathetic whimper. She was also able to crawl backwards—not the most admirable or fastest means of escape, but the mere fact that she could do it was an accomplishment in itself.

Dilandau laughed that cruel laugh once again, raising his sword higher. He continued thrashing about her, hitting the ground only but a few centimeters away from her exposed flesh. “Isn't this fun?” he chortled gleefully.

Hitomi said nothing, but continued her slow withdrawal.

Nobody knew exactly who it was among them that first noticed that they were in a different territory. For Miguel and Chesta, who were both watching at a safe distance, it was an uncanny feeling pronounced by the majority of the stars that almost seemed to gather upon the general vicinity of the cave, and the sparse birch and pine trees surrounding the mountain.

Miguel's eyes were unfocused, wary. He nudged his grinning friend at his side. “What?” Chesta asked, exasperated.

Miguel whispered nervously. “Don't y' find all this a wee bit… different?”

Chesta looked around, unsure.

“Even though there be trees about, everything looks so… dead,” he shivered.

“Now that you mention it... I don't see any birds, or squirrels, for that matter,” Chesta agreed, then he made a face. “It does look a little dead, doesn't it?”

“A whole lot deader, if y' ask me,” Miguel shuddered. “I wish th' boss would hurry up on it a bit. Bein' on this part o' th' woods ain't my idea o' fun, don't y' know.”

“I doubt it,” Chesta shook his head. Dilandau's maniacal laughter can still be heard echoing throughout the strange woods. “He's having too much fun for himself. If you want to go that bad, why don't you tap him on the shoulder and tell him yourself?” he shrugged.

“Are y' crazy!” Miguel asked incredulously. “He'll run that sword o' his on me belly `fore killin' `er. I've done some fairly stupid things `fore, but tellin' th' boss what t' do ain't gonna be one o' `em, that's fer sure.”

Dilandau continued his advance, slashing at the speechless girl on the ground. He was toying with her; deliberately missing his swings just so he could unnerve her. He gave her nicks and cuts every now and then just to remind her that he means business.

He stopped laughing, but a wide, hideous grin remained plastered onto his face. He was at a fevered pitch by now; his blood flowing with a heightened ecstasy that he can't control anymore. He was breathing rapidly as he raised his sword high above his head. He reversed his grip on it, holding the hilt with his both hands, the sword's point atop Hitomi's belly.

She scrambled a little bit faster.

“What's the matter? Don't you want to be with your family a little sooner?” he scoffed. “I'm giving you the favor of delivering the fastest route.”

She whimpered, shaking her head violently. This sent Dilandau roaring with laughter.

Dilandau stopped laughing, an evil glint on his eyes. He breathed deep and hard, and struck Hitomi with all his force.

Reflexes finally kicking in, Hitomi rolled to her side, but was caught with the whisper of the sword at her side. A shallow cut resulted, her blood being soaked by the plain grey blouse she was wearing.

She rolled and returned on her back, heaving. The bulk of her wings on her back made everything difficult. Bullets of seat were forming on her forehead. She slowly inched backwards and found the support of a pine trunk. She glanced behind her. The cave entrance was no more than a few feet away.

Dilandau grinned. He licked his lips and raised his sword again.

He stopped in mid-swing. His eyes grew large—but without that malicious glint. It was replaced by something else; something totally alien in Dilandau's nature. His sword still short of hitting Hitomi, he looked about, then sharply turned his head behind him, his eyes unfocused, as if searching for something. His mouth hung open, and his hands were slightly trembling.

Miguel and Chesta looked quizzically at each other. Why had he stopped? He was so close to killing her, and Dilandau was not a person to waste a good opportunity to kill someone.

Especially that this someone was an angel.

They tentatively walked towards their leader, who was still looking about him sharply.

Lastly, Dilandau spun his head and looked down upon Hitomi, his eyes almost seeming afraid. His eyes darted from her to the shrouded entrance, then back at the cowering angel. He muttered something under his breath, slowly lowered his sword and took a step back.

Hitomi breathed in. She was surprised, but relieved at the same time.

The silver-haired man gulped and quickly sheathed his sword. “Miguel, Chesta, let's go back.”

That startled his henchmen. “W-What did y' say, boss?” Miguel sputtered.

“I said let's go back!” Dilandau snapped at him. He turned around and walked away.

The two looked at each other but said nothing.

“Um, boss,” Chesta tried very carefully. “What about her?” he asked, jerking his thumb in Hitomi's general direction.

“Leave her,” he answered tersely.

“What?” Miguel blurted. “B-but boss!”

“I said leave her!” Dilandau fumed, turning around sharply and facing Miguel. “We're going back to the camp,” he continued. “We ride northwest on the next light.” He wheeled around and stalked away, leaving Chesta baffled and Miguel scratching at his head.

Chesta jogged and approached his leader even more carefully. “Um, boss,” he tried again. “What made you go change your mind?”

A look of pure annoyance flickered in Dilandau's eyes, and he glanced sideways at him. After a few silent moments, he slowed his pace considerably, his lips pursed and his face stern.

“Boss?” Chesta asked softly, quite afraid.

Finally Dilandau stopped. His eyes were lost on some unimaginable place. “Something stopped me,” he said simply, not the faintest of edge evident in his voice.

Chesta answered him with a puzzled face.

Dilandau sighed, and raked his fingers through his silver hair. “There was something different about that place. It was like there was some kind of dreadful power that was holding it. It was so powerful that I could almost slice through it.”

Chesta nodded just as Miguel came jogging in. “Miguel and I sensed it, too. He said that the place looked dead, that there seemed to be no life in there.”

Dilandau nodded wearily. “Even the wind dared not enter that place. Didn't you notice that there wasn't a murmur of a sound?” he sighed. “I was wondering why I didn't feel it earlier,” a questioning look was etched all over his face. “Why isn't she affected? Is it because she's an angel?” he murmured.

Miguel's eyes grew wide. “An' angel? Like, fer real!”

Dilandau gave him a disgusted look.

Chesta butted in. “So, what are you planning to do now, boss? Are you just going to let her get away?”

They started walking again. “Like I said, we ride northwest the next light comes. There's really nothing we can do about her. I got the feeling that nobody's supposed to enter that place if they're not invited,” a slow smile crept upon his face. “Besides, I'm very sure that whatever it is that's waiting for her inside that cave will take care of everything. Try not to think about it so much, boys. She won't get out of there alive. I can feel it.”

The two was left at some distance behind to discuss their thoughts.

Miguel was shaking his head. “An' angel, an' he was `bout t' kill `er, too!” he snorted by way of laughter. “Dilandau's one crazy boyo.”

Chesta was rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Inside that cave, eh? Wonder if the boss will like to go and have a look.”

Miguel shook his head some more. “An' aren't y' th' foolish boyo t' say so?” he laughed. “Dilandau's crazy, but not that crazy.”

Having the men's voices slowly dissipated around her, Hitomi sighed as her world became peaceful again. Clots have blocked her wounds, though they still sting and needed to be bandaged. She slumped and leaned her head back on the rough trunk, content in only listening to the drowning rhythm of her heart. Now that she had time to rest a bit, it did seem to be a whole lot quite in that part of the world. But she didn't care; she was not very far from the cave and her attackers are gone.

Hitomi, on the edge of deep slumber, have only but noticed a sad, ethereal murmuring sound that had been singing softly since she first caught sight of the cave in the mountains.

- - -

It has happened, I'm afraid.

I cannot do anything about it anymore. Father had his mind all set about the whole thing. Nobody then could alter his decisions—not even me, even though he's the one who sired me. Of course, that didn't stop me from trying. I'd politely refute his ideas and enumerate such effects it would cause. Father was a good man, he listened to everything I said. He'd never change his mind, but at least he'd listen.

I don't really know all the details behind that situation. I was patrolling down below and just went home only to find the palace in uproar. Father had been upset about something and he decided to take steps to at least make light on the possible injustice that had been made. I wasn't entirely listening to their discussions. About all that I could make of was that someone wasn't doing his duty and someone had a fate that they totally did not deserve, and that the end result would certainly cause pain to the one who was given injustice to. I came into the throne room just in time to see father smoldering up to his ears. Everybody was cowering before him. It was such a rare sight that I had to crack a polite smile.

Father was terribly upset about it, I recall. I'd pass by the library at night when I would patrol and see him still up and brooding over a star chart. Then one day, as I rather thought he'd might, he caught me in an empty corridor and asked my opinion about his idea.

I thought my father had too many nights without sleep.

“Well, my son, what thinkest thou of mine proposal?” he asked me.

I had to lay it to him gently. “Father, if thou should forgive me for saying so, I think that thy proposal is the paramount absurdity in the whole world—nay, the universe.” I think that one didn't go too well.

Father frowned. “Prithee, tell me why.”

“For one thing, Father, it's not really your problem,” I said lightly then, not bothering with his accustomed tongue.

He sighed a weary sigh. “I don't think so, my son. She didn't truly deserve the fate that was given her. I was too preoccupied with something else that I failed to see the warning in the sky.”

I knew all too well who it was that got him preoccupied, but I thought it'd be best not to say anything about it at that time. “All the more you should abandon it, Father. It was the guardian's fault why it happened, not yours.”

He shook his head again. “That just makes me doubly at fault. It seems as if I didn't teach my sons to take their responsibilities better.” He sighed. “There is nothing better I can think of to appease her than the one I already have.”

“I believe sparing her life was all the reward she needed, Father,” I tried again.

He shook his head some more, and I know that I have, as always, lost to his will. “Nay, my son. She deserves more, much more. I know that it is not much, but I do pray that it shall be enough to repay her for the ghastly failure your father and your brothers have done.”

It pains me whenever I see him like that. “You were never a failure, father. You just had a little mistake, that's all.”

He smiled a sad little smile. “We aren't permitted to make mistakes, my son. That is why we are angels.” And he walked away.

I shook my head in resignation as he faded away to the ritual sanctum. I respected my father, I truly do. His devotion to his job and us, his sons, is more than commendable, but sometimes he takes it to extremes. I told him of innumerable consequences his willful plan would give, but his stubbornness about the matter surpassed even his previous ones. Giving a child that kind of special gift that almost binds it to the heavens is more than a little dangerous, I think. He seemed very enthusiastic about the whole thing, though. And I, the good son that I am, will, as always, obey my father's wishes.

Not too long afterwards, father's special child was born. I was there when it happened, and I also witnessed her first cry announcing to the whole world that she had been born. She looked so ordinary, so like a normal human being, but her eyes were that of a hue that was greener than any vale or carpet of grass that can be found down on earth, or here on Gaea.

- - -

Dark lashes fluttered softly to reveal a pair of misty green orbs greeting the dark woods around them. Hitomi straightened up, massaging her neck, and yawned. She blinked a few times, adjusting her eyes to the faint light. She was still exhausted, having been the center of action for quite some time, and having nothing near ample sleep as of yet.

Hitomi stood up with some difficulty. Her wounds, though have started to clot, break up easily when she moved and began to ooze blood again. She felt sharp stings all over her body, and she felt a few more wounds she didn't know she had before. She grated her teeth and limped on, holding onto trees for support.

And she heard it again. When she was very near to sleep due to exhaustion, she thought it was something like a soft murmur of a sound, but now that she had rested a bit, and there were no other noises about, Hitomi could quite clearly hear the slow, aching song that seemed to echo throughout the air. Puzzled, Hitomi constantly looked about her, looking around to see if there was a girl somewhere that could be the source of this almost unearthly melody. Try she might, though, she didn't find anyone among those trees who could be the source of that song.

As she neared the grot, however, Hitomi could hear the song getting louder and more pronounced. It wasn't overt; truly, the song seemed hushed and faraway still, but it got considerably louder as the honey-haired girl reached the foreboding grotto.

Hitomi found herself standing in front of the cave. She stopped momentarily, a little apprehensive as to what was awaiting her inside. Ontrose had told her that the prince of all the angels was inside that cave. Hitomi didn't know who the prince was, much less what he was doing inside an evil-looking cave, but she felt implied to go inside. Indeed, it would seem a lot of waste on Merle, Naria, Eriya, and Ontrose's lives if she were to go back now.

Gulping hard, Hitomi reached forth to the help of the cave's mouth, leaning on it for support. Hitomi gasped as she found her palm and fingers numb upon touching the rough stone. Squelching up her fears before they got the better of her, she quickly entered, feeling at once the overwhelming presence emanating from deep within its labyrinthine passages.

From the roughly cut stones along its walls, Hitomi got the distinct impression that these passages were not manmade. The woods outside had been dark, almost as dark as the forest before it, but this cave breeds a new kind of darkness. Though it is quite true that the very walls of the cave gave off a phosphorescent kind of glow, there was still a sense of darkness that hangs in the air. The paths twisted this way and that, sometimes forking over four or five different courses. Anyone who came inside the cave—if they can get past the unannounced barrier among the woods—would certainly end up wandering through this maze for all eternity.

However, Hitomi was following some very obscure directions so she wouldn't get mislaid. She was following a voice—or, more particularly, a song. It was the same song that she had been unconsciously hearing since she first caught sight of the cave. Hitomi steered through the dizzying maze, guided by the direction of the ethereal voice that filled her entire awareness with its song. And so, even without knowing why, Hitomi was quite sure that she would not get lost inside that cave.

Hitomi limped along in silence, her hands constantly seeking the help of the rough wall. Rats scurried along with her, gazing at her with quizzical apprehension. When she glanced upwards, there were tiny dots winking at her from above, as bats roost at the ceiling of this underground tunnel. Sometimes the paths would take her to large caverns, where water trickled down one wall like a small waterfall. The water would drop softly into a shallow underground lake, and its tinkling note would echo endlessly inside the caverns, making it seem like a large, underground cathedral.

As she rounded a corner to wherever it was the voice was taking her, Hitomi saw from the boulders that were littered about the dust-laden bumpy floor that she was trekking through the deepest parts of the caves. After squeezing through a very narrow hole in the wall, the sandy-haired mortal knew that she was on unfamiliar ground.

The low-ceilinged room inside had that musty smell hanging on the air around her, and Hitomi wrinkled her nose at it. She knew by now that the walls glowed with that phosphorescent kind of light, but the walls on this cave seemed to almost absorb light, not exuding like the others outside. The room was quite spacious—as compared to the other grottos she had passed through—and as she walked towards the farthest wall, she seemed to see a faint aura of darkness emanating from it, as if showing her the source of the whole mountain's eerie atmosphere. The airy song that was endlessly repeated in her ears swelled into an echoing glorious crescendo, ringing louder than ever. In that instant Hitomi knew: she had found the place.

The prince stirred in his sleep, the shackles that bound him to his eternal prison clinking slightly. Hitomi visibly started at the sound of rattling chains and tired groans. She approached the source very carefully.

The shadows were lifted, and the moment her eyes fell upon the tall man with muscled, tanned skin slumped along the back wall, the exulting chorus of the song abruptly stopped, encasing her in silence. His head was bowed, his legs stretched out before him, and his hands were bound by silver chains that refracted the darkness into fragments of rainbows. Hitomi's eyebrows twisted in thought. Is thisthe prince that Ontrose had spoken of?

The man stirred, his head slowly lifted to view his visitor. He was in some obscure kind of pain. Realizing this, Hitomi blinked twice and ran beside him and knelt, helping him lift his heavy burden. “Are you alright?” she asked. Then, as if realizing the informality in her question, she blushed. “I-I'm sorry,” she stammered. “I should have been more respectful, your Highness.”

The prince groaned as he lifted his head, his eyes still closed. Hitomi's face twisted in thought, wincing also from the sharp pang behind her. She remembered that face. Blue hair, eyes with the same brewing cinnamon color, he was the angel that helped the two of them escape the Elder's wrath before.

“I'm perfectly fine, Hitomi,” he smiled weakly. “Welcome to my prison.” He looked at her intently, his black wings glistening in the dark. “Do you remember me?”

Ignoring the pain from her softly glowing wings, the honey-haired girl in question nodded. “Lord Folken.”

- - -

“Folken! Folken!” he shouted. Well... he saidhe was shouting. I really didn't hear him that time, though.

“Folken!” he basically shrieked, tugging at my cape. “I've been calling you since like... forever!”

I turned to him and smiled. Yes, yes... every angel feared me and I wanted to scare the lot of them, anyway, but I can't help it. Van has that kind of power towards me. “Forgive me, my brother,” I said as calmly as I could. I didhave a reputation to take care of. “I didn't hear you when you called.”

“Well, you'd better clean your ears, then!” he said angrily, shaking his little fist at me. I had to control a chuckle. Van looked so cute when he did that (I have to hide this journal into a better place now. If Van finds this and reads that I just called him cute, he'd go ballistic and tear all my wing feathers again).

I bent down beside him and smiled. Damn it, my reputation was slipping off a bit. “I'd look into it later in the royal baths, Van,” I promised. That seemed to lighten up his mood a bit. “What did you need from me?”

His frown turned into a grin so quickly, it was almost amazing. “Hey, Folken, know what?” I shook my head. “I'm a guardian now! Daddy gave me a human to protect yesterday!” he looked so happy, it was so infectious.

I had known that father had given him a mortal child to look after; he himself conveyed it to me right after he'd made the decision. I didn't want to ruin Van's good mood, though. “Really? That's wonderful, little brother.”

He beamed. “Isn't it? I feel like I'm all grown-up, just like you, Folken!”

Thatmade me grin, despite my best efforts to control it. “Don't rush yourself into growing up, Van. Enjoy your youth while you can. I'm sure that when you get to be as big as I am, you'll be a great angel.”

“Yeah, and then I can scare daddy's angels with your Folken-glare!” he declared, making a fair impression of the face I usually give father's lazy subjects. I swear, that boy spends too much time with me. I think I should remove all the mirrors in his room. A little more practice and he'll be better at intimidating people than me.

“It's not nice to scare your brothers, Van, and Father doesn't want to be called like that.” I chided him gently.

He grinned. “I know. I'm not planning to use it around him, anyway.” He ran away towards the edge, waving at me. “Bye-bye, Folken! See you at dinnertime!” he shouted.

I waved back. Timidly, of course. My reputation, you see. “Goodbye, Van. Where are you going?”

“To my mortal. To Hitomi!” he shouted and flew off.

I frowned. Hitomi. That name sounded familiar. I've been thinking about it all night. I know I've heard that name sometime before, but I just can't quite put my finger on it. I think I'll go and have a talk with father. I'm sure he can clarify some things on my mind.

- - -

Father and I finally had the chance to talk this night. I caught him tidying up his table while I was about to go to the kitchens to get something to eat. I dismissed that idea and went inside his office instead. Talking to him was far more important than dinner.

Now that I had a chance to think about it, that was supposedto be my lunch, as well. Oh well, never mind.

“Father? Are you still busy?” I asked when I entered.

He looked up. He looked old. I know my father's reallyold, but I think you get my point. “Just finishing with the paper works, my son,” he said lightly. “Did you want something from me?”

“No, I was just going to sneak some leftovers from the kitchen when I saw you tidying up here. I thought maybe you needed some help.”

Father smiled. “That's very thoughtful of you, Folken. But I'm fine.”

“You should have more sleep, father, the years seem to be finally catching up with you.”

“Sometimes I think I may have been born old,” he chuckled.

“I never thought it possible, but one look at you had me convinced, too.” He chuckled even louder. I decided to stop beating around the bush then. “Actually father, I... I need to have a little talk with you.”

“Oh?” He said. Whenever someone asks for a talk with him, that's the first thing he says. Then he turned his back from me. “I already took care of it this morning.”

That startled me. “Really?” I blurted. I was glad no one was near there. All manner of posterity slips down when I'm with father. With Van too, of course, but I can always scowl at curious onlookers even though I'm with him. “I thought that might cause some problems later on...”

He nodded. “I already gave him a new task.”

I gave a sigh of relief. Van would be safe, then. “That had me worried for a while.”

Father looked at me and smiled tightly. “I told him that you didn't really mean to scare him. He told me that he'd rather tear all his feathers before working with you again, though. He says he even sees your scowl in his dreams. Really, Folken, you should stop daunting away your brothers. Half of the legions won't even mentionyour name.”

Huh? “What are you—” Argh, sometimes father can be even more irritating than me. I shook my head. “That's not what I wanted to talk to you about,” I made a rueful face. “Though I have to thank you for smoothing that mess out. It wasn't my fault, father, really. That lazy sod keeps loafing off. Besides,” I made a face. “Hestarted it.”

Father laughed. At least he was in a good mood when I told him the bad parts. “Well, what is it that you wanted to talk with?”

I stuck a toe in. “It's about Van,” and then decided to plunge in head first. “He came to me the day before all excited. He was very enthusiastic about his new charge.”

Father beamed. He really did love that little runt.

I pressed on. “Now, I've been convincing myself that you didn't dare give Van responsibility over that special girlof yours, but I've got this nagging feeling with me. And you know how these feelings are. They have a tendency to... well, nagat you. So, I wanted to hear you say it to my face, if you don't mind me asking.”

He remained silent as his face fell. The sheepish look he gave me was all the confirmation I needed. Sigh, sometimes I hate it when I'm right.

I groaned and slapped my palm over my forehead. “Father, you didn't!”

“Van is the only one capable of guarding her,” he explained. “Besides, she's an innocent. You worry too much, Folken.”

“Someone hasto. It's not safe for a human like her to be associating with angels. I told you before, father, this idea of yours is extremely dangerous. It could very well be the end of Gaea as we know it.”

Father shook his head stubbornly. I should have known he'd still stick to his dumb ideas (forgive me, father, but they really are). I gave a sigh of resignation. “I just don't want to jeopardize everyone, father. Sure, she's an innocent now, but humans grow up fast, and once she gets ideas...”

He went silent for a while. When he spoke again, his voice was very soft, almost like a whisper. “I wanted Van to have contact with mortals so he could learn. I trust she could teach him things like compassion and mercy.”

I shook my head as I turned. “You can't put your trust on humans, father, especially the special ones. You never know what otherthings she might teach your precious Van.”

I heard him call my name, but I was already far away before he even walked twice.

I couldn't sleep that night. I kept thinking about Van, father, and the girl, Hitomi. Something tells me that there is something terribly wrong. But what can I do? I cannot go against father's wishes. Sigh. I think I'll have to look closely after Van. He might need my protection from her. That's the only thing I can do for now.

- - -

“Why do you look so afraid, Hitomi? I won't bite,” Folken chuckled, seeing the strained look on the girl's face.

Hitomi blinked in surprise and shook her head hard. “No, Lord Folken, I'm fine, really.” The way with how Hitomi said that line with such confidence was to be commended.

The blue-haired angel chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You're a horrible liar, little lady.” He looked at her intently. She was even more edgy; but at least her apprehension has been lifted… somewhat. “Why have you come to this place?”

Hitomi flushed slightly. “W-well, my g-guardian Ontrose told me c-come here,” she stuttered, her words tumbling over each other. “A-and then there were these f-friends of mine, they were cat-people, and they too want—”

Folken interrupted her by holding his palm up from where his arms were bound by the chains. “Stop, Hitomi. Don't tell me what they said. I want to know what made you come here.” Hitomi bowed her head, her hands resting lightly on top of her thighs. They were both silent for a moment, and then Folken decided to try again. “Now, I'll ask you again, little lady. Why have you come to this place?”

Hitomi looked up, her pinkish lips tightly pursed. There was a hungry look in her eyes; a hunger for truth, for questions that have been left unanswered for so long. She leaned forward slightly, her clenched fist pushing her chest. “I want…” she started. Her voice was honeyed, almost pleading to him. “I want to know more, about myself… and paradise.”

Folken stared at her for a moment, studying her. His lips formed into a small smile as he nodded approvingly. “That's how you answer questions, Hitomi. Not with what others want you to say, but what you really want for yourself.” He leaned back on the wall, groaning as he sought his own comfort. Hitomi shifted her sitting position so her legs could breathe. She had been absently stroking the scab that had formed on the wound on her side; only one of the many battle scars that she had with Dilandau.

Folken, breathing easily, closed his eyes and lifted his head, as if reminiscing. “Well, now,” he murmured. “Where shall we begin?”

- - -

I haven't been seeing Van very much these past few... months? He'd go on extended periods visiting that human girl of his. I wonder if he's been eating. No, that's not my main concern. Whenever I broach the subject to father, he just laughs and tells me that I'm too much of a worrier. Maybe I am... well, so far, nothing has happened. The world is still in one piece, and so is Gaea, for that matter.

I think that the only one that's been changing is Van. That kid's learningso fast. He'll very soon no doubt even outstrip me. I kind of miss him, actually. I never get to see him for more than two minutes before he goes running off again down below.

The only times we get to spend some time together, is when he comes home (very late) at night. He'd crawl into my bed and wriggle beside me and I'd yell him off to go and wash his muddy feet before climbing up again. He'd stuck his pink tongue out, but he'd do what he was told. Then he'd return and we'd spend half the night talking about... well, whatever it was he wanted to talk about.

I gather that he and Hitomi hit it off very well. He's very excited whenever I ask about her. He'll tell all sorts of stories about them.

One time, he asked me why other mortals couldn't see him like Hitomi could. I told him that humans aren't supposed to see ethereal beings and things, because they don't belong there. But that only made him more confused. Sigh. I wish I could tell him everything... but Van is such an innocent himself that I don't want to cloud his perception of humans. Maybe when he grows up, he'll understand...

- - -

The sun was setting, painting the world with a beautiful salmon. I was (supposed to be) patrolling, but the scene was too damn lovely to be ignored. I stopped to gaze at the loveliness around me. I made sure no one was looking, though.

“Folken, can I talk to you for a minute?”

I turned my head to its side, glancing at a very distressed-looking Van. “What is it?” I asked softly.

His eyes were brewing, smoldering. “Hitomi's hurt again.”

I turned to face him directly. Van had grown over the years. His hair was still that impossible messy black mop, but his physique had improved considerably, and his skin had been tanned slightly from his constant descent below. But he still looked like the little brother who'd wriggle into my bed with muddy feet from before. “What do you mean, she's hurt?”

He was breathing heavily. “Her mother's been beating her again this morning. You should have seen her, Folken! Bruises on her face, arms, legs... all over!” he burst, his eyes almost spitting fire. His fists were clenched, and he was shaking slightly.

I looked at him coolly. I knew were this was going. Hitomi's beating isn't new to me, it's happened several times before. “What do you want to do about it, Van? You want to interfere? You know we aren't permitted to meddle with human affairs.” It wasn't that I disliked the girl, but that was the truth, and Van has to learn to follow the rules.

He flinched for a split-second. “Folken, I'm her guardian! I'm supposed to protecther from getting hurt!” he was almost screaming at me, and others have turned from their tasks to take a glance.

I took a step closer and bent lower to level my head with his. I had to make sure he understood clearly. “Yes, Van, that's what guardians do. We protect people. But when it's humans who do the damage to themselves, we can'tdo anything. We can't interfere with their actions, Van, that's what freewillis all about.” I looked at him intently, his eyes very hard with emotion. “Do you understand me, Van?”

He didn't answer me right away. His jaw was clenching and unclenching with his suppressed rage. And then quite suddenly, he hugged my neck, burrowing his head in my chest, and cried his stupid, goofy little heart out.

I felt a slight twinge inside. Van obviously learned his compassion lessons well. He just couldn't stand his charge and his friend to see get hurt like that. I sighed and patted his head consolingly. “There's really nothing we can do, Van,” I murmured. “The best thing you cando to help her right now is go and comfort her.”

“I don't understand it, Folken!” he sobbed, muffled by my chest. “Why can't I protect her the way I want to?” he looked up at me, tears and all. “I can't stand seeing her in so much pain. Did you know that her mother threw a vase at her? It cracked her skull, Folken, and I was so scared!” he cried, burrowing his head again. Van might have grown up a little, but his heart remains pure and innocent like a child.

I feel sorry for Hitomi, but I feel sorrier for Van. He was just as helpless as she was in this matter. Hitomi was human, she had a reason to be helpless. But for a powerful angel like Van to not be able to do anything, it would certainly hurt the most.

- - -

Kamion sighed as he flipped the pages of the ancient blue book. He had been reading the bound prince's journal for nearly an hour, and there was still much to be discovered in its pages. He felt sorry for Hitomi, partly for being toyed with fate, and partly because she wasn't given a choice in the matter. He sighed again, his free hand absently toying with the silver chain that was beside him.

He turned the page, and a new entry was written in small neat script there. There were no dates, no markers to track the passage of time, for what was time to angels? He began reading about the contents. There were some that he glossed over, and some pages that he completely skipped altogether. There were a few pages of almost meaningless topics, like records of how many angels Lord Folken had scared that week, or how the patrols went that week, or his memories of his childhood and his creation, or how the dinner tasted horrible that night, and so on and so forth. Kamion was in no time to immerse himself in petty gossip and mindless chatter; he was here to investigate the curious background of the human Hitomi.

He turned page after page of the blue book, sighing. The remaining pages were thinning, and he was near at the end by now. After the last entry where it stated that Hitomi was being beaten by her mother, no more entries of such interest had cropped up. Sometimes, he'd read a few lines from the entries, whenever the names of Van and Hitomi would flash for an instant when he'd scan the page. He'd gather small trivial things, like how Van's attitude had changed, how he grew up, and how attached he became to Hitomi.

He was at the last three entries. At last, he'd found another entry pertaining to the human girl. He read on, noticing that the subject was Van and how he wanted to bring Hitomi to paradise. He read quietly, his face calm but deep in study. He passed the second to the last entry, and then finally, to the last. Then quite suddenly, his fingers gripped the sides of the book with such force that his knuckles turned white. His eyes were bulging out, and a look of pure shock and disbelieve was clearly written all over his face. “Impossible!” he whispered hoarsely. “It... It can't be!” he exploded as he stood up, breathing hard. He looked sideways at the silver necklace, glittering in the playing lights of the torch, the crimson pendant peeped coyly at him. Kamion's brows twisted; he wasn't sure of what to do.

The Ancient Angel had emerged from his library in the middle of the night, wanting to go to sleep. He held a candle in his right hand and a couple of books in his other. He closed the heavy door silently, making a soft click as it shut tight. He then proceeded to walk leisurely along the long corridors of his palace.

He passed by the summons office to find that the candles have been left lit. That's a pretty reckless thing to do when working inside a room full of papers. He went inside and gingerly blew the flickering flames out. Satisfied, he turned around to leave. Before reaching the open doorway, he stopped in his tracks, his head cocked slightly to his side. A curious expression on his face, he turned around, walked softly towards the work table, and peered over to the chair opposite him. There, he found Kamion's cloak thrown haphazardly across the deeply cushioned seat.

That struck the Father of the Angels as something as odd. Kamion was a compulsively neat man, and he'd never leave his things lying around after using them. If his cloak was still here in his office, it would mean that he was still awake. But the question is, where is he?

The Elder searched about, calling his name shortly. He passed the training grounds, the kitchens, the armory, the angels' quarters, but Kamion wasn't there. The Elder sighed in thought and irritation. “Where is that man?” he muttered to himself.

He must be in the conservatory, looking over Dilandau's accounts, he thought. That must have been it, because there weren't anywhere else he could have gone to. Shrugging, he strode forward, passing the dark corridor where the forbidden section was. As he rounded a corner towards the back door, he stopped, his eyes wide and bulging. He spun around and ran as fast as his aged body allowed him to. He was heaving when he reached the open doors of the forbidden room, the golden chains lying discarded on the floor. The lock was open, and it was hooked unto the clasp still, with the ring of keys still stuck inside the hole. He peered inside, his heart thundering inside him. All the tables were messy and untouched—except one, in the far back. He walked closer to it, and found a blue book lying open upon the dark wood.

His eyes widened, and an ear-splitting roar was heard all over paradise that sent all the birds up on the trees to take flight.

The thing that I have feared has finally happened. Hitomi and Van are going to destroy Gaea. It was what I have been telling father even before he started creating his special child. I knewthat she will be too powerful, and that power will be dangerous once she gets hold of an even more powerful weapon—Van. I won'tlet it happen. I won'tlet Hitomi destroy our home. So I hatched a plan: I will help them escape father's wrath.

Forgive me father, I know that you'd punish me greatly once you realize that it was Iwho let them escape. But please believe me, I only did it for eveyone's sake... for your sake. As long as Hitomi stays in Gaea, the whole world is in great peril. I cannot let them destroy everything I love!

I do not want Gaea destroyed! I do not want Vandestroyed! I will only let Hitomi run away so that father won't unleash his anger on my brother. But mark my words, when the day comes that Hitomi and I will meet once again, I will killher.

I will kill her!

- - -

Hitomi was sitting comfortably in front of the prince, her delicate fingers intertwined and clasped lightly upon her thighs. Her head was bowed, trying to let all the information Folken had been telling her sink in. “So... I wasn't born an angel,” she murmured.

“Angels aren't born, Hitomi, they are created.” Folken answered nonchalantly, his eyes closed as he rested his head against the cold stone wall.

She nodded silently. “Um,” she began. “You said I had a family once. Where are they now?” she asked hesitantly.

Folken lifted his chin a bit higher. “Little lady, if you haven't noticed,” he sat up straight, shaking his chains loudly. “I'm all tied up in this delightful little cave. If I had the resources to go researching, I'd love to dig your family tree for you.”

Hitomi actually blushed.

Folken rubbed his chin in thought. “Your mother loved you,” he supplied afterwards, careful not to choke on his own words. “And if I remember, your father died of an accident a few years later, with your mother five months pregnant. That's the last time I got a sneak peek into your family, when you grew up you spent less time with them and more with your guardian.” He said, erasing all traces of the blatant lie he just said to her from his eyes.

Hitomi felt a bit disappointed. She had thought that the prince would know of everything about her. Still, she couldn't blame him; it wasn't in his position to keep track of her life just in case she gets a bad dose of forgetfulness, after all.

Her green gaze clearly avoided meeting with his red ones. “Lord Folken,” she began again, feeling a little foolish as to all these questions. “My guardian told me that I was banished from Gaea. Why was that?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her, despite having about a million dilemmas hovering about her head.

Folken turned his gaze towards her abruptly, his eyes eyeing her in that calculating gaze of his. Hitomi's heart thundered, beating faster by the second. Still, the prince of all the angels gazed at her, not saying anything.

Finally, he sighed so softly, it was almost inaudible. “Remember when I told you that you spent less time with your family and more time with your guardian? Well, it came to the point when the two of you were almost inseparable...”

Hitomi cocked her head slightly, her eyes awash with conflicting memories as she listened intently to Folken's story.

The two of you were always together that it came to the point that you were almost inseparable. He'd spend less and less time away from us, just as you'd spend less and less time with your family. We didn't mind his absence, really. Guardians are almost constantly down on earth below, anyway, even for one so young like your protector.

And so days turned into nights, nights into months and into years. Time flowed on, as is its usual habit, and the two of you grew up like a pair of well-watered weeds. We still saw less from him, but we'd grown very much accustomed to it. He'd go visit from time to time—to get something to eat, most probably, or to go get you a present of some sort—like flowers from Gaea. He always said you liked flowers. He'd go out into the gardens and into the meadows and pick the flowers currently in bloom and go back down to surprise you.

Folken sat quietly afterwards for a little while, appearing to be gathering his thoughts. However, it was his eyes that suddenly made Hitomi's body shiver involuntarily; it was like it became lifeless and icy in a single heartbeat.

Then one day, you came into Gaea.

She jerked slightly from her seat, suddenly very alert.

Everyone was curious to know what a human was doing inside Gaea, though they wisely chose to keep their mouths shut. No one would dareconfront your angel. How he kept you there for days, I don't know; I was too busy masking you and your foolish guardian's actions from the Elder to notice. Unfortunately, he found out sooner than I expected, and I ended up being imprisoned and the both of you banished with your memories erased.

Memories erased... memories erased... those last few words rang inside Hitomi's mind, haunting her with their meaning. Up until then, she had not fully realized what exactly what the cause of her memory lapse was; now it became very clear to her.

Still, there was something quite out of place for the sandy-haired female. Surely, she wouldn't be banished just by sneaking into paradise for a few measly days now, would she? Would a few days of stowing away be really that much of a transgression as to make her memories be totally obliterated?

Folken set his jaw and looked upon Hitomi, his eyes smoldering. He couldn't quite contain his emotions anymore, though he had vowed not to show them. Ever since he first caught attention of Hitomi's immense presence, that undeniable emotion had been seething through the pit of his stomach. He had used all that time practicing then, controlling and manipulating his emotions until the day they would meet; willing his instinctive feelings to simmer under and be masked behind his eyes. But now that the fated day had come, it has become quite uncontrollable. His age-long hatred towards the very same human who stole all his life and happiness away was mere inches from his outstretched grasp.

“You still don't see it, do you,” he said in a deadly calm and icy monotone. It was stated as a fact, and not as a question. “Stupid little human. Risking everyone's lives just to save you, the very least you could do is remember what had happened.”

Hitomi stood up shakily, unsure of what to do, much less what to say. “W-What do you m-mean...?”

Folken's eyes were blazing by now, and the looks he was giving her was like that of a very angry bull. His knuckles were white by his deathlike grip, his muscles bulging underneath his tattered and torn clothing, restrained only by the stubborn links that bound him still.

Hitomi took a few steps backwards, her eyes wide and very much afraid. The transformation before her came in an instant that it surprised her!

“After everything he did, after everything he risked, you have the damn nerve to forget him!” Folken seethed, the very mountain shuddering its displeasure towards Hitomi.

She stumbled due to the sudden quaking, feeling the rush of adrenaline course through her veins. She leaned her slender body to the wall, grasping the rough stones for guidance. Her other hand reflexively went above to cover her head; her eyes darting to and fro, her breath coming in short gasps.

Folken strained with all his might to free himself from the chains so he could lash at Hitomi and end both of their misery. “Can't you see that it's because of you that we both ended like the way we are now? Can't you even see that, foolish mortal!” he roared, trying desperately to free himself..

Hitomi, driven by sheer desperation and confusion, stupidly stumbled forward to help the enraged Folken. “If that's the only problem, then let me help you!” she shouted, putting out her hand to help unlatch the silver chains by his wrists.

Folken inwardly grinned. A human to free me from these ethereal chains. Very well done.

“Hitomi, no!” a voice rang out suddenly from behind her.

Surprised, Hitomi spun her head about, only to see a tall, weary-looking angel standing by the mouth of the underground cave where they both were. He was heaving with exhaustion, and from the ruffled and bloodied feathers from his wings, it was clear that he was flying fast for the last few hours. His raven hair was a mess, and his deep blue eyes, though looking quite dead, were very crisp and clear in their stern command to her to cease and desist. Hitomi's guardian had seemingly come out from the grave to rescue her once more.

But the warning came out too late. As the very edges of Hitomi's slender fingers touched the silver chains, they began to lose their luster. The aura died slowly, and then the very chains turned rust in color, until they finally shattered into million of tiny pieces.

Hitomi's glorious eyes went very wide. “How did I...?” she trailed off. She looked at Folken, dumbfounded. “But I barely touched them!”

Something flashed inside Folken's eyes, and he lunged forward, intent on crushing Hitomi's neck.

Frozen in terror, Hitomi just stood there. Thankfully, the angel who had unceremoniously entered had snatched her back in the nick of time, pulling her behind with him.

Folken, his eyes blazing with fire and lightning, clutched at the air, his target escaping from him. He roared with fury and frustration, and he banged his fists down the floor, sending the whole mountain to shudder violently, rocks coming loose above them.

“I know thy purpose, prince Folken!” the angel Ontrose bravely shouted. “A purpose which I cannot permit!”

The blue-haired angel flared his impressively massive black wings, the tips touching the sides of the cave. “Let the mortal go, minion,” he regally commanded.

“So thou couldst kill her?” he spat, causing Hitomi to look at him with terrified eyes and a pallid face.

Folken strode forward, his footsteps shaking the mountain. Ontrose led Hitomi behind him, an arm wrapped protectively upon her shoulder. “Ontrose, you know you cannot match me,” he smirked.

The gallant Ontrose neither winced nor budged, but stood stubbornly protecting the girl from behind.

Folken took his fists and banged once again on the walls, this time more powerful. Holes were his fists connected were left as marks on the rough stone walls, and by then, the whole mountain was about to topple.

Hitomi got down on her knees and covered her head with her hands, eyes shut tight and screaming. Ontrose stood hunched above her, shielding her with his own body from the onslaught of rocks from the caving roof.

Folken smirked as he saw his opportunity. His wings flared as he unleashed his full power. He directed his will towards the two hindrances before him. Such a force could easily shatter glass in the whole earth and Gaea had not been so carefully concentrated. The sound of it nearly buckled Hitomi's knees, and she quivered considerably when bright sparks of lightning came forking out of Folken's outstretched hands.

Ontrose, being caught off-guard in an awkward position protecting Hitomi, could do nothing as the dreadful sparks came forking ever so closer.

And then a loud booming crash ensued, so loud that it hurt Hitomi's ears, rendering her deaf for a few moments. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ontrose still standing over her, but what surprised her was to see another angel, a blonde one, standing before the two of them, holding a large piece of boulder that was dislodged from the ceiling like a shield. Apart from the rock that was steaming in his hands, he seemed perfectly fine.

“Kamion!” Ontrose blurted, surprised. “What art thou doing here?”

The said angel grinned back at him boyishly. “Seeing paper all of mine days were getting a tad boring,” he said. “Besides, why should you have all the fun?”

Kamion tossed the boulder aside and approached them warily. “Ontrose, I...” he began, his voice getting thick. “I thought that thou hast... thou hast...” he trailed off, unable to say the words correctly.

Ontrose returned the grin. “Legions,” he sneered deprecatingly. “They never were that much good of fighters, eh, Kamion?” he said.

The blonde-haired angel smiled slowly at that point. It was the most magical transformation Hitomi had ever seen; Kamion was a lifeless husk of an angel who was instantly given spark and soul by seeing his friend alive before his very eyes.

Their fond reunion didn't last for long, though, as Folken roared his anger and frustration, causing the mountain to heave once again.

Ontrose steadied Hitomi by putting his hands firmly about her shoulders. “How didst thy manage to fend off the prince's lightning?” he asked of his friend.

“Simple,” Kamion answered, his hands flailing about as he searched for his balance. “I found out why his majesty cannot break the chains to flee from this place.”

“Why?”

Kamion smiled at him, his eyes alert. “These are the very same rocks that were used to create him.”

- - -

High amongst the clouds, a very angry Elder hurriedly went towards his observatory to peer into the messages that was writ large among the stars.

The situation was going very badly. Kamion was not in his study, but had slipped unobtrusively to the forbidden section to look upon Hitomi and Folken's accounts. To make matters worse, he flew down below to meddle with what fate has in store for the mortal and his son. And as he squinted hard to see that Ontrose was still alive not like the report his angels gave him, another roar of frustration echoed down the entire citadel.

“How didst thy manage to fend off the prince's lightning?”

“Simple. I found out why his majesty cannot break the chains to flee from this place.”

His eyes went very wide after reading the next few lines in the book of the stars. Had Kamion really found out the truth about that mountain?

True, it was indeed his own intention to imprison his son inside that grot, for he knew no force in earth or Gaea could match the immense power with which he created his son. No power, that is, but the very same mountain where he was crafted from.

Realizing with horror at what possible truths Kamion could say, he hurriedly closed his eyes and spoke to the stars so they can be persuaded to change their paths. Stars of angels have a more or less permanent course, since he cannot control an angel's fate, for what was he, but an angel himself? Still, there was no harm in trying, and he was sure that even the most stubborn of stars could be persuaded to veer off into another direction...

Time, I don't have much time!

Still the stars didn't budge.

And then he was too late. “These are the very same rocks that were used to create him.”

His eyes shot open and he was trembling. No... no! Folken's words echoed throughout his consciousness, his words in his journal had haunted him since he read them that evening.

Forgive me father, I know that you'd punish me greatly once you realize that it was Iwho let them escape. But please believe me, I only did it for everyone's sake... for your sake...

He was about to panic. No! If I had only read it sooner... if I had only read it sooner!

- - -

Upon hearing those words, Ontrose's eyes grew very wide. “Thou couldn't mean...”

“Yes, this mountain is where he was created.” Kamion finished for him, a soft look in his eyes. “I read it in his journal.”

Ontrose went silent for a while, and smiled softly. “Thou hast entered the forbidden section? Who art thou, and what hath thou done to mine real brother?” he bantered.

Kamion laughed. It was rueful, and a little bit sad that Hitomi suddenly got very much alarmed. “What's going on? What are the two of you going to do?” she faced her many-times savior. “Ontrose?”

Ontrose looked at her, smiling fondly. “I am very pleased to see that you followed my advice, Hitomi,” he said. “I have enjoyed guarding you very much.”

Hitomi's eyes look afraid. “What are you talking about? Why are you talking like that?” she demanded, looking at the pair of angels back and forth.

Kamion regarded her warmly, quite pleased to see Ontrose's charge to be a caring mortal. Then, remembering something, he fished for something that was inside his tunic and handed it to her.

Hitomi looked down on her palms, a warm tingling sensation coursing through her body. “W-What's this?” she asked, holding out the silver chain and pendant that was glowing red like blood.

Upon seeing the necklace, Folken roared and strode forward. “Fools! Do not give her the necklace!” His thunderous voice resulted in another earthquake, and more boulders fell from the roof.

Acting quickly, Ontrose shoved Hitomi outside the mouth of the grot, towards the other side, where she entered from. She fell backwards and landed hard on her bottom, the mysteriously glowing blood-red pendant swaying like a pendulum from her grasp.

Kamion faced her, smiling. “Do not ever lose it, Hitomi. Wear it at all times. It will lead you back to him.”

She blinked. “Back to him? Who…?”

Kamion turned and smiled at his brother, who was grinning boyishly now. “You do realize that there's only one thing to stop his majesty now, can you?” he asked of his friend, finally dropping the archaic speech, now that he was almost free.

Ontrose nodded.

Hitomi stood up, intent on pounding some sense into the brains of these two males. But the entrance was now blocked by heavy boulders that have fallen from the ceiling, obscuring her path back inside. “Ontrose! No! Don't do it!” she pleaded.

Kamion turned to ask him. “Forgive me, brother, I have betrayed you.”

Ontrose smiled. “Don't be ashamed, Kamion, I understand perfectly.”

He nodded, relieved. “Are you ready?” he asked, Folken gathering up all his force.

Ontrose grinned and turned towards Hitomi. “Be well, fated mortal and angel. Until we meet again.”

Hitomi cried, hot tears spilled across her cheeks. “No, Ontrose! Don't do this! You mustn't!”

Ontrose slowly turned his back on her, not minding her tearful cries. With a final nod towards Kamion, both of them charged forward, shouldering Folken's open chest, making him stagger backwards. His back slammed against the stone wall, and he hissed, his sparking hands grasping each of the angels' heads. “Foolish minions! Did you think that you can stop me?” he thundered.

“We're not going to stop you, Folken, this mountain will,” Ontrose murmured, his voice somewhat with joyous overtones.

Kamion smiled at him as he held out an arm. Ontrose smiled back and gladly took it.

Moving as a single unit, the brothers drove the blue-haired roaring angel into the very rocks of the mountain, their very essences melting into that most powerful of forces. And so it was that Kamion and Ontrose, hand in hand, entombed the prince of all angels along with themselves inside that living stone to sleep silently forever.

And neither of them ever let go again.

- - -

Gaea was very still that night. It seemed too shock itself for the loss of its prince.

A lone, long cry of unutterable anguish was heard, as the Ancient Angel sobbed inside his observatory for the loss of his son.

- - -

Hitomi was weeping still, pounding on the boulders that have separated her from the sacrifice that was given to her by her protector. She was still shouting his name, even though she knew it was futile, having a few strands of hope that Ontrose would still be alive.

Having lost all strength, the sandy-haired female leaned her back on the wall, sobbing uncontrollably as she slid slowly to the floor. There she sat, all alone and very lonely, the shining pendant being the only light that consoled her in her cold darkness.

And all the while that same familiar voice, that ethereal, sad song, floated through the air, filling her ears with its heartbreaking endless melody.

Tsuzuku

He smiled a sad little smile. “We aren't permitted to make mistakes, my son. That is why we are angels.” And he walked away.

A little bit of note, here.

I hope you guys weren't toofrustrated with how the flashbacks are coming along. I know it all seems so disconnected, but I cannot help it to be that way. Please bear in mind that I made people remember things differently. The Elder only remembers the times when he was with Van, Folken remembers the times when he was with Van and Hitomi, and Hitomi only remembers what her memory could grasp. I know there are some fairly large gaps in their histories, but I plead you guys to be patient. They will be filled, but not just by one person only. I made it like that because it's more plausible that way.

Questions and flames are always welcome, and if there are some things you'd like to pick with me, kindly do so. I would certainly not mind advice and tips to make this story more enjoyable. Grin.

On a side note, it's my birthday today! Wai! Lots of chocolate for everyone. Grin.

See you guys next chapter!

Sadame X
Defy your destiny.