Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow War ❯ Shadow War 3 ( Chapter 3 )

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

Disclaimer:Escaflowne's characters belong to someone other than me
I'm only borrowing them for this fic and promise to put them
back when I'm done using them. I'm not making any money off
this so don't sue. I'm a starving writer anyhow.
***All non-Escaflowne characters are of my own creation and may
not be played with without my persmission.***





“Damn you to Hell.” It was the fifteenth time Allen had cursed the boy in the last five minutes, and the phrase held no less venom than the last fourteen. He was angry because when he awoke that morning, Selena was gone. Left without word or warning, disappearing into the night like the shadow of a soldier that lurked within her mind. Allen was sure Dilandau had something- no, everything- to do with her odd behavior. But he had to admit, he was angry at himself also, for not watching as closely as he could have. It just made him angry to think of that violent maniac having control over his little sister.
He and Gadeth rode in silence along the grass covered ridge separating the fields and mountains. The pace was quick and their horses breathed in long deep huffs. The animals were not tired, but the constant movement required the air. It was good exercise for them, being practically unused once the Guymelefs were brought into the war. Grooms exercised them at least twice a week, but the workouts were light. Their muscles weren’t what they once had been, but the exquisite feel of ground rushing beneath their hooves compensated for their lack of fitness.
Selena’s trail was hard to follow in the short grass, her body weight barely enough to keep the blades bent after her passing. If she had been on horseback she would have left clear crescent hoof prints in the green, as he and Gadeth left in their own wake. But she had never favored riding; walking gave her pleasure, though it was slower going.
The pair of trackers crossed over the jagged border between the field and mountains, feeling the different texture of rocky dirt beneath their mounts’ hooves. Selena’s trail was clearer, left in the light, silty dust at the base of the mountain. Bare foot prints trotting their way directly to the trail. Allen urged his mount into a canter and heard Gadeth do the same. “Selena, what are you thinking?” he said to no one.
Within minutes the footprints turned from dusty outlines to spots of blood. She had cut herself. ::Or did someone cut her?:: Gadeth pondered. Ahead, Allen broke his horse into a full gallop, the trail easy to follow in the daylight. “Allen!” Gadeth called, following. He had to keep an eye on him, lest his fear for his sister cloud his reasoning. “Allen,” he sighed, bringing his mount up beside Allen’s. “Do you think maybe some soldiers left from Zaibach brought her up here? Trying to start another war?”
“Yes,” Allen ground out. “. . .And no.”
Gadeth frowned. “Well, that was a clear answer.”
Allen didn’t want to explain Dilandau’s part in Selena’s condition, didn’t want to connect her to the monster. It was better not to complicate matters more than they already were. He heard Gadeth spilling his ideas.
“If it was some Zaibach dog, I bet it was that boy. What’s his name? Dilan, or something.” Gadeth paused. “We never did find out if he was dead or alive.”
“There’s only one set of tracks,” Allen reminded him. “She is, or ‘was’ as it may be, alone.”
“But leaving. . . in the dead of night, sir?”
“It will be clearer when we find her,” he said quietly. “I don’t wish to speak on it further until then.”
“Yes sir.”
They crested the mountain top, horses wet with sweat and breathing heavily. It was only two hours since they left the castle. It had taken them less than half the time it had taken Selena to come that far. Snow crunched under the horses’ hooves, leaving ringed dents in the whiteness. Selena’s tracks were painfully clear, dark scarlet against the cold snow. It didn’t take them long to find her.
She sat in the snow only a few meter’s from the end of the trail, holding something large clutched to her chest as she rocked back and forth gently. Wind whipped at her champagne blonde hair, curling it against her face, brushing against her eyes. She stared off into the distance, murmuring prayers and curses under her breath. It was cold, but she was not shivering. The limp body pressed close to her kept her warm, until it was pulled away.
“No!” was her immediate response, grabbing at the retreating body. “Don’t touch her!”
Allen held Selena back, earning a loud screech in his ear. “Selena!”
Gadeth held the other girl in his arms, one arm supporting her head while the other cradled her knees. Strange that there would be someone with her. ::Zaibach, perhaps?::
With slight difficulty, Allen managed to scoop Selena into his arms, surprised as she tried to leap away from him. “Let me go! Release me!” she rambled, tearing at his arms, pushing against his chest. He managed to carry her awkwardly to his horse, tossing her over its back.
“Selena, stop.” he said softly, hoisting himself up behind her. “We’re going home.”
“I can’t! That’s my only hope, I just know it!” She cried, trying to wriggle off. She reached an arm toward Gadeth plaintively. “Give her to me.”
Gadeth sent an uneasy look at Allen, who shook his head. “She rides with you. My horse can’t carry three.”
Gadeth set the girl in front of him and mounted, casting a wary glance at Selena. ::Something is really wrong with her:: he told himself. ::So sad to see her like this.::
“Selena, we’re taking her with us,” Allen explained.
“Can’t. . . leave. . . her. . .”
“We’re not,” he promised. “Gadeth will take care of her until we’re home.”
“Don’t hurt her. She’s the answer to my prayers,” she said solemnly. “Without her I’ll be like this forever.”
Allen frowned, staring at the petite frame draped over Gadeth’s saddle. The last thing he needed was another mystery. For all her knew, the girl was sent to kill Selena, luring her through witchcraft to the mountain. There were many unanswered questions that needed attention, but such a limited number of people to answer them. He would need to think carefully on it and try to understand why Selena felt she was so important.

**********

“I told you, she came out of the sky,” Selena insisted for the fifth time. “In a ray of bright light, right in front of me!”
“But who is she?” Allen drilled. Selena seemed much calmer now that she was safely home in bed, but her story was improbable. The last girl to fall out of the sky was Hitomi, and she had come through with her pendant. This girl wore no such ornament and was definitely not Hitomi. “Why would she have come? How?”
“I don’t know!” she growled angrily. “If I knew, we wouldn’t be chasing each other in circles, Allen! All I know is I had to get out of the castle and then I somehow found my way up the mountain and I really felt awful about the whole mind thing and I prayed for help and. . . there she was. Just like that.”
“Selena, I don’t know if- ”
“She can save me! She came to me when I called.”
“WHO is she? What is she? From where did she come?”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s staying here.”
“No-,” he started, cut short by Selena’s defiant glare. “Fine, she’ll stay here,” he conceded, “But she should be watched.”
“Okay,” she said, thoughtful. “Where DO you think she came from?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” he sighed, thoughts turning back to another time when another girl came out of the sky.