Danae desperately tried to catch up with Fabian as he stormed out of the Convention Centre and onto the main road. There were many vehicles on that road, and he would almost have been knocked down if Danae had not pulled him back. Fabian glared at her. His expression seemed to be saying to her, "Why the hell did you stop me?"
Danae, startled by his unusually fierce expression, took a step back and almost slipped on the pavement. Fabian immediately caught her arm in a rather rough manner, leaving deep impressions of his fingers on her arm.
Danae looked up at him with her big, soulful, pleading eyes and implored to him,
"Please, my Lord. Even if you are feeling vexed and frustrated, do not ever make light of your life again. Do you know what it does to my ...... " Danae could not continue the sentence for fear that he might be aware of her feelings towards him. She secretly put her hand on her heart (of course, she turned the other way so that he couldn't see it) as if this action could ease the deep, throbbing pain there.
Ah, that deep throbbing pain. It had become so familiar to her that she would feel uneasy whenever she didn't feel it. Hmmm, maybe she has masochistic tendencies. But she always related this pain to memories of the old Yisheigai world, and the fateful meeting between her and Fabian ......
In the old Yisheigai world, she was just a plain mortal who could die any minute from sickness, accidents, or even from natural causes. She also grew older day by day.
One fine day, she came upon the grounds where the opening to the Underworld stood. This she didn't know. But what she did see was a yelping puppy with a broken leg. Being the kind girl that she was, she tore part of her dress and used it to bandage its foot, using a nearby twig to fortify the broken bones.
" Now, now, little puppy. If you want to get better, you shouldn't move your leg, 'cause it's broken, ok? Would you do that for me?" Saying that, she kissed its broken foot.
As if by magic, the puppy morphed into an extremely handsome looking fella.
"My dear girl, do you realise that you have just saved my life? I will grant you any wish you want, to repay you for your kindness."
" Are you trying to fool me, Sir? Where's that puppy? Give it back, its leg was broken!" Being in a state of shock, Danae babbled senselessly.
" But I am the puppy. Look, this is that scrap of cloth you tore from your dress!" He held up the flimsy scrap of cloth and twig, as if this would convince her.
Danae's faced turned white and she fell into a dead faint, for she really was a very timid girl.
When she came to, she found herself sleeping in someone's arms. Opening her eyes, the fellow's handsome face loomed up above hers.
"Hey, you're awake! I'm sorry to have scared you like that. I couldn't leave you lying there, so I brought you into my house!"
"P...please, put me down! I'm alright, I really am!"she stammered, unaccustomed to being held so close by a man.
"Nope." He declined firmly, holding her even tighter. That was the first time she realised how domineering he could be.
Danae then realised that no matter how hard she protested, he would not put her down unless he wanted to. Sighing, she looked around her surroundings and realised that this "house" of his was really a very huge cave. Great stalactites hung down from the ceiling, and the floor was filled with pits and holes (some of them filled with a murky liquid), so if one weren't careful enough, it was easy to get tripped. All his furniture was either made from stone or would, giving the place a rather primitive feel. There was also minimal sunlight leaking in, making the air a musky, stuffy quality.
He finally brought her to what seemed like a bedroom, and laid her on a bed of maple leaves and dried roses. A weird combination, she thought.
" Sorry that this place is so stuffy and dark. You'll get used to it." He did not seem apologetic at all, even if he said sorry.
"Get used? Why do I have to get used to it? I'll be getting out soon. And who are you, to bring me in here without my consent?" Feeling the weird vibes given out by this place, she started to panic.
" Oh, didn't I tell you? My name is Fabian, the God of the Underworld. Didn't anyone tell you that once you get in, you could never get out of the Underworld Cave? That is, unless you become my assistant. So, are you game for it?"
Danae was about to protest that he was kidding her. Then when she saw the way his eyes, no, his entire body seemed to glow with an ethereal light, something seemed to be telling her that what he said might be true ......
She fainted for the second time of her entire life ......
Danae shook her head. How could she think of the past at a time such as this? There she was, standing in the middle of the pavement and reminiscing about the good old times while there were a hundred things for her to do! She must be getting old! Plus that Fabian is acting suicidal ......
Come to think of it, he must be really slow to not have realised my love for him. For all the things I have done, and all the sacrifices I have made. Even a fool could see it, why couldn't he? Sometimes, I wonder if he knows but acts as if he doesn't.
Fabian stared at Danae for a moment. He felt a pang of something deep inside him, but couldn't put his finger on it. Sometimes, the way Danae cares for him really touches him. It really does. But right now, all he could think of was how miserable Skylar looked inside that meeting room. Oh no, he wasn't jealous of his half-brother, Mariteus at all. It was just an act on his part to have an excuse to leave the room. Seems that he could be an actor if he wants, for even the Great Mother God, Ulaine, was fooled. Fabian laughed secretly to himself, then it gradually turned to tears as his thoughts turned towards Skylar again. He kneeled down on the floor, letting his bitter tears flow and ignoring the curious glances from a few passers-by.
Danae was alarmed at his sudden burst of tears and put her hand softly on his shoulder. She felt so useless right then. She could not think of any words that she could use to comfort her Master. She did know what was troubling him, though. She did not become his right-hand woman for so many years (she could not bear to count them, for they reminded her that she was older than this world they are in now) and not know who was constantly on her Master's mind.
Feeling really dejected, she forced herself to leave him alone and walk towards the taxi stand. Maybe, she thought, I ought to give up after chasing him for all these years. This is a new world. I have to give myself another chance, and not resign myself to this cruel fate. All these thoughts seemed to reflect on her body, for her back became more erect and her walk had a new decisiveness in it.
The one who was still engrossed in his sorrow suddenly felt compelled to look up. Maybe it was the act of Audrey, the mischievous angel of love, who wanted to let Danae have one last chance before all was gone. Maybe Fabian was tired of waiting for Skylar. Or maybe Danae's heartfelt pleas to Madeline, the Goddess of Love were finally answered. Nobody knows, honestly. But at the moment when Fabian turned to look at Danae, the wheels of fate started turning and what had previously been decided were changed from that moment on.
"Danae!" Fabian shouted and went after her. He caught up with her in no time, for he was, after all, a god, and she was merely a mortal (albeit one blessed with eternal life and a age-resistant body).
"Please let me go, my Lord! Haven't you torn my heart into a million pieces already? I was always there when you shouted and cried out someone else's name in your sleep, and when you had to bow down to your younger brother just for the sake of that someone! I have an extremely vulnerable heart, please do not trample on it time and time again!" With that, she turned towards her destination again, leaving a trail of silvery tears behind her.
Fabian, not knowing what to do, suddenly embraced her from behind.
"I know of how you cared for me and wept for me! I was a fool, I knew that you were a very special girl, but I only had eyes for Skylar! Please forgive my slowness and most of all, for not treating you the way I should have!" With that, he too wept and pressed his face against her neck, fearful that he would lose his only chance in love.
At his embrace, Danae stiffened a little, for she wasn't sure if these words came from his heart, or if they were just spoken to keep her there. Then, when she felt the warm wetness flowing from the nape of her neck to her back, she melted faster than anything.
The girl turned around and held his face in her small hands.
"I never thought that I could hear that from you, my Master. I could die now with no regrets ??" She had tears in her eyes again as she said this.
"Hush, Danae! You shouldn't say that! And you have to call me Fabian now. It feels weird to have you call me Master, when we are already so close!" He licked the tears from her eyes, his mouth gradually finding its way to hers. Theirs was a kiss that seemed to last an eternally.
Meanwhile, the passers-by gaped at this couple, which was so openly expressing their affection. Not to mention the fact that both were extremely good looking individuals.
Somewhere in the crowd, a young girl smiled mischievously and seemed quite pleased with herself. "Now, see who dares to say that I have to rely on my golden apples to make people fall in love? Wait till I tell this to Cupid! I'll bet he has never shot any of his golden arrows at his own family!"
In yet another place, more accurately in the building behind them, a certain goddess suddenly felt her right upper eyelid twitch vigorously. A certain feeling of loss crept over her, and she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Skylar?" The male in front of her turned and looked at her with concern, for she had two lines of tears on her cheeks.
"Nothing. I think it's the fog irritating my eyes." She answered his unspoken question, climbing into the limousine waiting for them.
Author's notes: Man, I think I'm going to be drowned by all the tears in this story. But I can't help it! The tears have become so common that they don't seem to have that effect any more! Maybe I like to ill-treat my characters by making them weep all the time? Heaven forbid! I would like to try to quit this habit. Someone help me!
P/S By the way, if any of my links don't work, please email me and tell me. Thanks a lot.
The Before and After of Chapter 10
The Intro
Chapter 1 - The Beginning
Chapter 2 - The Awakening
Chapter 3 - Claudine = Mikamiko?!!
Chapter 4 - Journey to the Centre of the Jungle
Chapter5 - The Second Condition is......
Chapter 6 - Skylar
Chapter 7 - Old Flame Attack!
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
The Yisheigai Gallery
