t gate 12... hehe ^.^ okay, this one's short but it

gets to the point... next one's gonna take me awhile,

so BE PATIENT!!! just an advance warning ^.- read on,

Vixen-babe!

 

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( Chapter 6 ) .: The First to Fall :.

 

"WHAT?" he bellowed. The Count was unfazed. "How could

someone sneak in like that?" the lord ranted, jumping

up from his chair and pacing back and forth. "With all

the security we have placed around them? I could have

lost my captives! The captives that are essential to

my plans!" He turned to glare at the other man. "Count

Dekim," he snarled. "Those guards were to be chosen

and placed by you. I see you have made a mistake. Now,

if this mistake had been corrected by another of your

chosen guards, perhaps I would be more lenient.

However, you are not new to this job and I expect much

better of you. One more mistake," the lord’s eyes

darkened, "and I may have to permanently remove you

from your position." The Count smiled courteously.

"But of course, my liege, it won’t happen again,"

Dekim said all-too sweetly. "If I may take my leave

sir…" He began to leave the room when the shouts were

heard.

 

*~*

 

"DUO! Duo put me down!! Or slow down!!" Hilde

shrieked, half frightened and half exhilarated. It

seemed elves had no problems with speed even when

carrying others around. Hiiro rolled his eyes again.

Relena sighed and noted again that, if he kept this

up, perhaps he should be able to look back into his

head in a very short amount of time. She looked over

at Catherine’s boy, Trowa. They had all met in the

woods, just where Hiiro had said they would meet. Then

she gazed at Zechs, and finally Quatre. Where Hiiro

was sweet and Duo was charming, Quatre was even more

so. As of now he was patiently explaining things to

Dorothy, who seemed confused by the entire matter

still.

"So, they’re used as means of engagement?" she asked.

"Not exactly," Quatre said. "They are more of the

actual ring itself at the ceremony. Engagement rings

are given before the event takes place, correct?"

Catherine smiled to herself. The way that they were

teaching each other about their cultures seemed

fascinating to her. Especially since the elven customs

seemed ultimately more romantic than their own…

"Oh! I get it!" Dorothy exclaimed blissfully. "I

understand now! Thank you!" She reached out and gave

Quatre a monstrous hug. The gently boy blushed

slightly but returned the hug, only with a little less

fervor. They waded through a small stream, following

Hilde’s shouts.

 

*~*

 

"Intruder! Lord Dermail!" the shouts rang through the

empty hall. Count Dekim turned on his heel and

listened as guards came stampeding into the room.

"Lord Dermail! Count Dekim!" one exclaimed

breathlessly. "Something in… the women’s quarters

again!" The lord sneered at Dekim as the guard

continued. "It seems to be a shadow, my liege! We

can’t capture it, can’t touch it! It moves around so

quickly, and things shatter before it even reaches

them!" More shouts came from outside, and the guard

took his leave to help the others.

"DEKIM!" Dermail roared. "This is it! Had I not

depended on you to pick competent guards, this would

not be happening!" The burly lord rose and stood in

front of the other man. "I am afraid that I will have

to have you removed," the lord said icily. He snapped

his fingers for his personal guards to come forward.

"Get rid of him," he snarled. Dekim smirked.

"Begging your pardon, liege," he said sassily, "but do

not think that I will be rid of so easily. You see,"

he began as a multitude of castle guards stepped

forward from the shadows to back him, "this continent,

as well as all the others, will need an able ruler

when they are united under one. Someone like… oh,

let’s say, ME." The Count drew a dagger. Dermail’s

eyes widened. "Oh, do you like it?" Dekim asked

banefully. "I had the poison on the tip made specially

for you."

"Why… why you…" Dermail began. The dagger slashed and

he doubled over in front of his chair, still standing

partially.

"Too bad you won’t live to see me rule my countries,"

Dekim said mockingly. "All these soldiers will,

however."

"They… won’t obey… you… for long…" the lord struggled

to say.

"Oh, won’t they?" the empowered Count replied. "I have

a little help in controlling them, do I not?" he asked

the air.

"Yyyyyyeeeesssssssss…" a crafty voice hissed. A

hovering black shape appeared over Dekim’s right

shoulder.

"May I introduce my aide, Lord Dermail," Dekim said.

"His mind controlling techniques are unmatched, and

the only prize he desires is the ultimate suffering of

others." The lord looked up into the evil Count’s

face.

"You won’t… hunters will… stop you…" he groaned, and

the defeated lord fell to the floor. Dekim smiled,

eyes hungry with desire for power.

"Now I am Lord Dekim," he said aloud. ‘And, for my

first task, to rid myself of those bothersome

hunters.’

 

*~*

 

Their swords continued to clash. How long they had

fought, she did not know, nor did she care. She had

anger and assertiveness inside her that she needed to

release. He had anger and pride driving him. She

remembered…

She had come almost face-to-face with him when she

entered the area of the waterfall.

"What, are you always here?" she asked, a little

surprised. She hadn’t expected to encounter him so

quickly.

"I should ask you the same," he said, still staring

out over the fall. He barely seemed to blink. He

turned to her, and she thought she saw such sadness

behind his eyes…

"So why are you always here?" she asked a little more

gently.

"This is my place," he replied. "The nature here

agrees with me. I found my place to be in this forest.

I will always be here unless I am forced to leave, and

I do mean forced," he added, gazing at her

purposefully. She drew her sword slowly as he stood.

"Then we begin," she said softly but meaningfully. The

two spears of metal touched, and their battle began

with fervor and energy. Now, they were tired. She felt

her thrusts getting more haphazard and less powerful

every time, and she knew that he was feeling the

effects of the long fight as well.

"Why don’t you stop?" she asked as they fought.

"Because I won’t," he said with a slight growl. They

fought another few minutes, neither gaining an upper

hand.

"Why not?" she demanded.

"Why won’t you?" he countered. She held her thoughts

as her sword kept moving. Why wouldn’t she stop? Was

it because she believed in a cause? No, well, what the

hell was it then?! "Well?!" he challenged.

         "You answer first! I won’t stop because I’m fighting

for the honor of the one I love! The one I lost!" she

exclaimed immediately. She knew it was true. Although

he was dead, she still loved Anthony with all her

heart. If she accomplished this… maybe it would earn

her Dekim’s respect and Anthony could be proud of her

again, wherever he was. Her sword had almost ceased

its movements. Though he had the advantage, he did not

seize it immediately. He looked her in the eyes.

"And I am fighting for my lost love," he said. She

didn’t just see the sadness in his heart, she could

hear it in his voice and feel it in the air around

them. He backed her up to the edge of the ledge,

pointing his sword at her slender neck. "I believe

that the battle is over," he said. She could have

stabbed herself for being so careless and letting her

emotions get the best of her. She prepared herself.

‘At least I can be with Anthony,’ she thought. He

snuffed, and she opened her eyes. He was looking at

her in nothing but pure disgust.

"Giving up so easily? Women like you don’t deserve to

posses such weapons," he said as he nudged her sword.

"I can’t believe you would go without struggling in

the least bit!" His face reflected his words as voices

were heard from the forest. What Sally saw was her

friends emerge from the woods, gallivanting around

with a bunch of elven boys. What the other girls saw

was Sally on her knees in front of an elven boy and

the latter aiming a sword for her neck.

"Uh, Wufei, we brought the girls you wanted to se-"

Duo began, putting Hilde down.

"Forget it," Wufei spat. "If they’re anything like

this one," he glared at Sally, "they aren’t worth it.

Nahala." Sally guessed that the last word was a

command in elvish, for the boys, with some hesitation,

followed Wufei out of the area, leaping into trees and

disappearing into the now night air. Sally stood and

sheathed her sword.

"Sally! Sally, are you all right?" Dorothy asked.

Sally said nothing.

"Sally?" Catherine ventured. She definantly did not

like the look on the older woman’s face.

"Forget it," came a cold, harsh voice. A voice none of

them knew, yet it came from the woman they thought

they had known. The new voice continued. "Back to

camp." And without a word, the girls followed.

 

:. *~*~* .:

 

 

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