12-May-2002
Wufei stood on the large, flat rock that overlooked the once proud and lush valley of Galat. He closed his eyes and pictured the endless sea of flowering trees, the abundance of wildlife, and the Yajul River that crept its' way lazily through the valley. But now when he opened them, all he saw was a war revenged land barren and scorched of any beauty. The trees had all been torn down and burned, the animals, birds and other living creatures run off or destroyed, and the once serene flow of the Yajul had dried up and turned to dust. His only home had been destroyed by the Emperor and the Horde and now was his time to seek out the destroyer of these lands.
A harsh, dry wind blew across his face as he turned to join the others. His visions were becoming stronger, and he was finally in the company of the Princes he had seen in his dreams. Quatre, only living heir left to the coastal lands of Berengaria, was the Sunhawk he had seen in his first vision. He held the key to the lost chamber of the Eye. Heero, the Lion, in all his magnificent and noble strength, would find the truth that lay in waiting. Trowa the Stag, with his agility and speed, choose the path they would all follow. And he, the Dragon, would add his father's ancient Staff to the Bloodstone that Quatre carried to unlock the power of the Eye.
And such a power. He could only wonder who could hold such a gift.
His gaze fell on Duo, who was fussing over Quatre while trying not to be in the direct line of sight of Heero's watchful eyes. He had seen no dream or vision that held the black clad boy, and yet he was a part of the delicate dance somehow. He repressed the shiver that quivered through his body at the darkness that seemed to surround the braided youth. There was danger there, but something much darker too. He tightened the saddle on his buckskin colored steed, Merian, and secured his satchel of herbs and powers in his pack as he slung it over a shoulder. Taking a last, long look at the wasted valley of his birth, he mounted his horse and rode off with the Princes of the Realm.
* * *
Nohl:
Cold, cruel eyes swept over the gathering of his captains. When he finally rose from his massive marble throne he smiled a twisted smirk of pleasure at the cringes and fear that could be seen in all their eyes. All but one.
"Your men have displeased me, Treize. Nessir was to capture one, small boy and has not yet returned to me with my prize. Why is this?"
Treize raised icy blue eyes to meet those of his master. "It seems he had failed to follow my orders and has been dealt with accordingly, my Lord." Treize bowed low and with great practiced flair, never taking his eyes from his lord's hard black ones.
"Dealt with?" He growled, ignoring the small gasp of fear from one of the younger captains.
"He was barely alive when my men reached the Inn in Petrolia, on the edge of the Great Wood far south of Galat. Seeing he had failed in his simple task, we gave him a simple death." Treize raised and stood straight before the marble throne of Nohl. He knew better that to test his Lord's anger, but if he could peek his curiosity, perhaps he would leave unharmed himself. Nessir had failed to bring the Berengaria Prince to him and the results had been unpleasant.
Dekim raised one, dark wiry brow and smiled at the coldness in Treize's eyes. "Was he made a proper example?"
"Yes, my Lord. I had him stripped of all his clothing, covered well with honey, then tied to the nearest tree. Between the blood and the sweetness of the sugar it wasn't very long before the wolves appeared for their feast." He paused and turned to his men, cowering behind him. "And what a feast it was."
Dekim chuckled as he sat back down in his chair. "Ah, that amuses me. Well done, Treize." Dekim glanced to young woman who stood near the wall behind his throne. She immediately came forward with a tray of dark red wine and two glasses. Pouring one for himself and beckoning Treize to take the other he saluted and took a large swallow. "Now. Find me my prize, Treize. And no more delays. I can only hold back the Hordes of Hell for so long before their bloodlust will turn to us." Pausing and smashing the fine glass in his hand he growled fiercely. "I must have it."
Treize saw the fire under the words that were spoken so calmly. A hint of fear glistened in his master's eyes beyond the sick, twisted craving for power. Dekim had summoned the dark forces of the Shadow World, the Hordes of Hell and all they contained, to gain power over the Realm. The price was blood, human blood, as much as they could take before they would return into the darkness from which they came. The only thing that would send them back was the Dragon's Eye. Without it, the power Dekim had called to use against the rest of the Realm may turn on him and destroy them all.
"Yes, my Lord. It will be done." Treize turned and stalked out of the throne room and down the marble stairs that lead to the courtyard. When he looked up at the stars he cursed his fate and smiled a bitter smile. He was his father's son. The son of Dekim, Lord of Nohl, and soon master of Hell itself.
* * *
Outskirts of Coyle: 2 Days Outside the Callabas Mountains:
Duo swallowed another gulp of the foul tasting liquid and tried to keep his stomach from rejecting it. When he turned to make a cutting remark to Quatre, he saw the same face he knew he must have been wearing on his cousin's. "Ack! This stuff is awful! What in the name of the Great Hall is in this shit?" he glared at the offending cup and swirled its contents a bit to try to see if there was anything dead at the bottom.
Wufei cocked one elegant brow and smiled slightly as he poured both Quatre and Duo a second cup. "I believe it would be better if that remains a secret."
Quatre paled at the thought of having to drink yet another sip of it and shot a look of desperation to Wufei. "I'm feeling much better today, Wufei. I don't think another cup is necessary."
"Shadow sickness is not something to be trifled with, Prince Quatre. It will lay in wait until the body and mind are most vulnerable then spring on you. You must defend yourself internally as well as externally from all attacks." Wufei gave him a fierce look making Quatre bring the cup once more to his lips. "That, and it will put hair on your chest."
Trowa laughed from where he was. Seeing all attention diverted to him, he raised his hands up in surrender as he backed away from the glare he received from Quatre, and the keen look of interest he got from Wufei.
"So then why am I drinking this?" Duo asked with a smile of his own. Wufei gave him a long, serious look. Duo's smile faded at the frown that grew deeper on Wufei's face and at the silence that stretched out between them. "What?"
"You need it for the same reasons as Quatre." He paused and looked back to his mixing bowl and various powders that he had laid out on the ground before them. He began to quietly pack them away, ignoring the burning look he could feel on him from Duo. With a deep breath, he raised his ebony eyes to meet the confused violet ones that sat across from him. "And to fend off the darkness within." He then stood abruptly and left the small circle.
"What the name of Hell is he talking about, cuz?" Quatre asked quietly as he finished the nasty brew.
Ignoring the question and the family acknowledgement Quatre insisted on, Duo watched Wufei walk to the edge of the camp they had made for the night. The healer was ridged with either anger or fatigue, and from what Duo could only guess he was the cause of. Wufei had been very standoffish ever since he had joined their company three weeks ago, and was still guarded around him. He had racked his brain trying to figure out what he could have done to upset the exotic looking healer, and had even asked Quatre what he had thought. But neither of them could find any reason for there to be such a unspoken tension between them. It was wearing on Duo's already fragile mind, that he was the cause of such anxiety to yet another member of their little group.
Duo stood up and slowly went over to Wufei, watching as the boy's back stiffened with his approach. He casually leaned against a tree next to him and stared up at the starry night waiting for his presence to be acknowledged. When the tension only grew and no word was spoken in the time he had stood there, he finally huffed in frustration and turned to face Wufei. "Why don't you like me?" He hadn't meant it to sound so bitter, but it had laced his words anyway.
Wufei crossed his arms over his chest and took a breath as his eyes slowly closed. "I do not dislike you, Maxwell."
"Then what is it? You only speak to me when I'm alone; you keep your distance all the time when I'm around the others. You stare at me like I have two heads, and feed me foul smelling and bitter tasting tonics, without reason. You speak to me in riddles full of cryptic warnings that I can't seem to put together." He let out another huff of frustration as he flung his arms up. "So why?" He was quick to see the surprise the question had on Wufei.
"Have you had any more nightmares?" Wufei asked quietly trying to hide his surprise at the flurry of words about how he had been treating Duo.
"What is it about me that makes you so... so... anti-social?!" Duo began to pace and cursed quietly before stopping in front of Wufei again. "You are worried about my nightmares? Or do you think I am some kind of threat to our quest?"
"Concerned. Not worried about your nightmare. And as for being a threat... " Wufei opened his eyes and studied the tension that had Duo wound like a spring ready to snap. Duo was trying his very best to reign his temper, which had flashed more than once in the weeks following their departure of Galat. Heero seemed to be wary of Duo as well for reasons not apparent to the rest of them, and he could tell that too was grating on the boy's nerves. Quatre and Trowa however, did not seem to have any cause for alarm around Duo, which was a good sign. But for some reason he trusted Heero's instincts more. Heero got remained close to Duo, but far enough away both mentally and physically to defend himself. It was almost like he was stalking prey. Duo had been ranting about something while Wufei had been letting his mind wander and now stood defiant in front of him as if expecting an answer for something he had said. Wufei looked at him and smiled slightly bringing a look of confusion to the violet pools and stopping the tirade mid sentence.
"You weren't listening to me. I can tell. Heero does it to me all the time." Duo said quietly, dropping his gaze to the ground. "I'm beginning to think that I scare him."
Wufei let out a small snort and ignored the silent plea for sympathy. He didn't think it was fear that kept the second born son to the throne of Malavin from getting to close to Duo. No, it was certainly not that, Wufei thought as he looked over the graceful stance Duo was now set in. He was truly a handsome young man with intelligence that he kept hidden behind playful laughter and charming good looks. Trying not to blush at the thoughts creeping up on him about Duo's eyes and hair, he asked the question he had been thinking. "Are the nightmares the same or different each time?"
Duo cocked his head and closed his eyes. He seemed suddenly so very weary to Wufei. He looked up again to the stars and drew a deep breath. "It's the same dream over and over. I never used to dream. But when I met up with Heero and Trowa, it came to me one night. And now it plagues me almost every time I close my eyes." He looked back to Wufei and saw the unspoken question there and the shift in Wufei's features like he was trying to decide something. "When I had the fever after fighting the wolves in the Great Wood." He added seeing the understanding replacing the questioning gaze.
"What do you see in the dream?" Wufei asked trying to keep the apprehension out of his voice but when Duo's eyes snapped up to meet his again, he knew he had failed.
"Darkness."
Wufei shivered a bit but forged ahead. "Duo, I don't think it is a dream or a nightmare. I believe you are having a vision. Try to see past the darkness? What do you see there?"
Duo suddenly looked terrified and stood in front of Wufei unmoving. All the while that they had been talking he was twitchy or pacing, but now he stood perfectly still and stared into the dark black eyes of the healer. Wufei shivered again at the unseeing look that glazed over the violet orbs turning them dark as pitch. In a very quiet voice that seemed distant and wary Duo spoke. "It's hard to see anything. I can hear... the crashing of waves... and a figure... in the blackness."
"Who do you see?"
Duo shook his head slightly as a fine sheen of sweat broke over his brow. "I... can't... "
Wufei grabbed both of Duo's upper arms and shook him slightly. "Who do you see?!" It was difficult not to raise his voice, but he could tell that Duo didn't have the experience or the knowledge to hold the vision long enough to really see it. It was fading signaled by the small tremors that began to wash over Duo. The tension began to seep out of Duo's frame and he began to sag towards the ground. "Who is in the dark? WHO DO YOU SEE?!" Wufei yelled as he held on to Duo to keep him upright.
A growl behind him made him freeze. He gripped on to Duo's arms tight enough to bruise and felt the hair on the back of his neck raise.
"Let. Him. Go." Heero's voice was eerily calm and soft as he growled out the command. "Now."
Wufei didn't release Duo. He wrapped an arm around Duo's waist instead and turned them both to face Heero. "If I let him go, he'll fall. He hasn't come back yet." He kept his voice soft and neutral, not wanting to push Heero into a killing rage. He saw the flash of understanding as Heero lowered his sword blade.
Heero was frowning fiercely and his eyes held nothing but ice. "Back from where?" He growled out.
"From the Dreamscape." Wufei gently and slowly helped the still dazed Duo to sit on the ground, before turning his attention back to the sword in front of him. Heero truly was like a Lion, and he needed to be careful in handling him. He raised both his hands in a defensive gesture and stepped away from Duo with carefully deliberate movement. "It wasn't a nightmare he has been having, Heero. It's a vision. And I need to know what he sees. I need to know who our enemy is."
"My enemy are those who threaten my life." Heero's eyes seemed to grow even darker. "Or his."
End Part 6
(:./ebony/dragon6)
