Chapter 13: Revelation
Van could not breathe from shock. He stared at Hitomi, disbelieving, and the pair of white wings that had sprung from her back. Their feathers danced about on a gentle breeze like butterflies. He was so taken by the sight that he almost forget their situation, and his grip loosened. Quickly he reminded himself to hold tightly. My God, Hitomi is….
He looked to see the girl’s reaction. Her eyes were wide, stunned. Her mouth was open, but she didn’t seem to breathing either. He also realized that the spreading of her wings had shredded the back of her school uniform, and what fabric remained only barely managed to keep her covered. Don’t be distracted. She needs help. “Hitomi!” the king yelled, squeezing her hand. “Hitomi, can you hear me?”
Hitomi drew in a sharp, shaky breath, and turned her eyes on him. She looked horrified. “Van…?”
“Hitomi, give me your other hand.” Van reached up, and she obeyed. Using that extra grip he was able to pull himself up, and wrapped his arms around her waist. At first she didn’t even seem to notice. When he spoke her name again she flinched, and abruptly clasped him to her tightly. She was shaking terribly, and her skin felt cold. “Hitomi, calm down,” Van instructed gently. “We have to get down. Can you hear me? All you have to do is think about it, and we’ll go down.”
Hitomi didn’t respond, except to hold him even tighter to her chest. He felt his skin growing hot despite the desperation in their situation. He was about to repeat himself when, very slowly, they began to descend. “Good,” he said encouragingly. “That’s good, Hitomi. Just calm down. We’re okay now.”
She nodded against his head but didn’t speak. He sighed in relief. But…this means Hitomi is a Dragon. How did I never realize? We were the same, all this time. He pulled closer to her. Maybe…we can be together.
Jovey stared as the pair drifted gradually down toward the street. “So, it’s true,” he murmured. “She really is a Dragon.”
“I don’t believe it,” said Allen, standing beside him. “All this time, Hitomi was--“
“Of course. How else could someone from the Phantom Moon reach Gaea and speak our language?”
Nearby, Celena watched the two Dragons with a look of horror. “No,” she whispered, shaking with rage. “No--they’re supposed to die.” Her voice rose in a cry of frustration and pain. “Damn them!” She brandished her sword and turned to run for the door.
Allen moved from the edge and stepped in her way. “I won’t let you hurt them,” he said deftly.
She met his gaze equally, unwavering. “Is that so?” She purred in an abrupt and unexpected changing of mood. The expression now held in her face looked less like the maddened beast--more like Dilandau. “I’d like to see you try and stop me, dear Brother.”
Allen’s eyes narrowed, and he inhaled slowly, building his determination. “Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe it is.” Her grip on her sword tightened. “Because I intend to go after them. I know her house, her school, her friends--all of it. I can kill her any time I want.”
The knight’s lips pressed into a thin frown. He glanced at Jovey, but the youth had no advice to give. I don’t want her to fight, Jovey was thinking. But if anyone can help Celena, it’s her brother. He nodded slightly, approving. Allen would never hurt her, and somehow, I don’t think she can hurt him, either.
Celena readied her sword, and the man that would be her opponent did likewise. “Looks like you’ll be teaching me that last lesson after all,” she snarled.
Allen took up a readied stance. “Looks that way.”
Van released a sight of relief as his feet touched earth once more. Hitomi landed a moment later; her wings dissipated, and she collapsed into his arms. “Hitomi?” When he looked closer, he saw that she’d fainted. I…can’t believe it. All along, she was just like me. More than ever he felt connected to her, and hated himself for nearly leaving. It was foolish for him to believe he could ever forget this woman. He scooped her tenderly into his arms and held her close.
It wasn’t until then that Van realized how much attention they’d alerted. All around people had stopped to stare and point in amazement. Their murmurs filled the air like thick fog, and he stepped back beneath their stares. I’ve got to get her out of here. Someplace Celena wouldn’t know, in case she gets away from Allen and Jovey. The crowd was beginning to move towards them; he glanced about for an exit. Being careful of the precious weight in his arms he turned and bolted into a side alley, leaving the gaping spectators far behind.
Celena ducked under a lateral sword strike and countered with her own. Allen blocked and retreated several steps. She responded exactly as he knew she would: she lunged, leaving her left side open. He attacked, intending to catch her in the ribs with the flat of his blade. But Celena read his move well enough, and somersaulted forward, escaping the blow and landing a sharp kick to his gut. The knight grimaced and quickly pulled out of range.
“It’s a good thing you never fought me for long when I was Dilandau,” Celena laughed once she’d righted herself. “I wasn’t so lenient back then.”
Allen quickly regained his composure. Yes, thank God for that, part of him whispered. But can I beat her now without injuring her? He shifted his sword grip. I have to. Oh Celena, is there any part of you left? Where have you gone?
“Come on, then,” she taunted. “It’s a game, right, Brother? You should be having fun.”
Allen cringed. She would always tease him that way when she managed to take him to some social evening. Like a careless child she would speak to everyone, and insist he do the same. Always dragging him along while he watched over her from behind. Even as children it had been that way.
Maybe…there is still part of her left.
“All right, then.” Allen resumed the match by attacking low, forcing his sister back. She laughed and countered, which led into a fury of strikes and blocks, metal clashing in their ears. It almost felt like one of their sparring matches. The knight found himself unexpectedly in the defensive, parrying her blows in search of a recognizable opening; he knew her style almost as well as his own, even if Dilandau’s ancient influence had resurfaced fully. At last he spotted his chance, and struck, aiming for the edge of her weapon’s hilt.
Celena extended her arm, and Allen nearly panicked; his sword was now flying at her unguarded wrist. He planted his feet and managed to divert the attack before it became too late. But in that pause Celena’s foot lashed out and kicked his right hand, sending his weapon flying. Another blow to the knight’s chest felled him. Stunned by the force of her onslaught, Allen couldn’t move, and simply stared at his sister in disbelief.
“I knew you’d sacrifice the match before hurting me,” Celena chuckled, pointing the tip of her blade at his throat. “I win at last, Brother.”
Allen gulped. Though reason told him to move or speak, he could do neither. It can’t end this way, he thought over and over. Celena, please. Can’t you see how much I love you?
Off to the side, Jovey at last lifted his voice. “If you’re going to do it, go ahead,” he said calmly.
Celena glared at him sharply. “Don’t be ridiculous. Do you actually believe I’d kill my own--“ She stopped speaking when she saw her brother’s face. Slowly, her expression twisted, and she lowered her sword. “Brother?” she whispered. “You…didn’t really think I would, did you?”
“Celena….” Allen still sat frozen, unsure as to what action should be taken.
“You honestly believed I’d kill my own brother?” the girl demanded, though her countenance was filled with pain. She staggered backward several steps. “You think I’m nothing more than a cold-blooded murderer? I have a mission--a purpose!”
At last the knight propelled to his feet. “Celena, I knew you’d never do such a thing. But you’re not acting like yourself.”
“And how do you know how I act?” she retorted. “You covered up what I was without wondering or caring how I felt. You’re selfish!” She pressed her hand to her chest. “This is the real me--this is what those damn Sorcerers left me! You have no idea how I should act.”
“Stop it.” He reached for her and her sword struck, the flat smacking against his hand. He grimaced and recoiled. “Celena, you were happy. Can you tell me you’re happy now?” He stepped forward, and she retreated. “Can you honestly say you’d rather die than give Van up?”
“Yes!” Celena’s eyes overflowed suddenly with tears. They spilled over her eyelids and down her cheeks. “If I was dead at least I’d be with them!”
Allen stopped, staring at her in shock. “Celena….”
“You’ll never understand how I feel,” she went on, her knuckles whitening as she grasped her sword. “Because you helped them die. If they were alive now…but they’re gone, all of them. I feel sorry for them.” She began to choke on the words. “They died as children. They never fulfilled our destiny. I’m doing this for all of them! Even for Jovey.”
Jovey started to protest, but she kept going. “You keep saying we can change our destiny--you’re wrong! You’ve never even tried. You’re trapped by the Schezar name just as I was. We never wanted to be beautiful!”
“What…what are you talking about?” Allen demanded more sharply than he’d intended. “That doesn’t--“
“It does, it does!” Celena interrupted. “You’re a phony, Brother! I know you hate it. Hate acting like a prince for people who look at you like dirt. You don’t want peacock women to fawn on you--you’re just as lonely as I am!”
Allen couldn’t speak. Her words were slow to penetrate him, and even slower to admit. He stared at his sister, at her tears that fell for both of them, and wondered how she had come to know him so well. He felt like a fool for not realizing her true emotions earlier. All along his hiding the truth had trapped her. He himself had driven her away.
Van took Hitomi to the only place he could think of: the forest, far enough away from the Alseides to avoid being discovered. Along the way he’d stolen some laundry from a small home--some sheets and two over-sized shirts. He ripped the first sheet and tied it around his torso, then slipped into a shirt. He managed to fit Hitomi into the other shirt without embarrassing himself too much. Then he laid out the sheet for her to rest on. Throughout all this she didn’t wake or even stir. It must have been a shock to her, he thought, watching her as she slept. She didn’t know, then. Or did she? She never made any indication on Gaea. He frowned, recalling everything from those days gone past. He found no evidence in his memories.
Was I blind? Certainly no one else realized. But this means I’m not the last one left after all. The king reached out and tentatively stroked her cheek. Why didn’t she tell me what she was doing? She didn’t trust me enough…? After everything? He sighed.
Hitomi moaned softly, and began to shift. Good, she’s coming to. Van recoiled his hand and waited for her to awaken. “Hitomi?”
She moaned and opened her eyes, blinking against the setting sun. She glanced about as if in a dream. “Van?”
“I’m here.” He took her hand and helped her to sit up. “How do you feel?”
“A little dizzy.” Hitomi noticed her surroundings for the first time and frowned. “Where…?”
“In the forest a little ways. Do you remember what happened?”
“What…?” She trailed off, and her eyes grew wide as the images returned to her. She wrapped herself in her arms. “It…wasn’t a dream?”
Van shook his head slowly. “No, it wasn’t.” He licked his lips. “Hitomi, did you know? That you were like me.”
Hitomi didn’t answer right away, which caused anxiety to rise in him. Why am I so nervous? Is it from her? But why is she so nervous? She couldn’t have known and not--
“Sort of,” she answered at last. “I…it had been suggested to me, but I didn’t believe it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Van tried to reserve his outrage and hurt, but the emotions leaked into his voice anyway. “If you knew something, why? And what about you and Celena and Jovey--when did you plan this?”
Hitomi lowered her head, suddenly appearing young and very small. “This morning,” she admitted quietly.
“And what if they’d betrayed you?” the king demanded even as he struggled for control. “Both of them tried to kill me once, and you knew Celena wanted you dead.”
“I know.”
“Then why? Why go as far away from me as possible? Why deceive me, and Allen? Explain it to me.”
“It’s…because…” Hitomi stuttered, watching him guiltily. He felt his anger melting beneath those distraught, remorseful eyes. But abruptly her expression hardened, and she rallied courage within herself. “I didn’t want you involved,” she answered deftly. “I knew you’d start fighting--which you did. We could have all been killed!”
Van flinched just barely. “You make it sound like it’s my fault.”
“We were doing fine until you came,” she said, gaining strength. “Celena was starting to believe us. But you showed up and ruined it!”
“I was doing it for you,” he insisted in frustration.
“You didn’t trust me.”
“How can I when you’re sneaking around behind my back?” the king fairly shouted. “You don’t trust me either!”
Hitomi shrunk back, startled by a flash of guilt. She calmed herself long enough to look into his eyes, and view the hurt she’d caused. I always knew it would hurt him, she reminded herself. And somehow, I wanted it to. If it could put some distance between us, all the better. It’s easier to forget.
“Van…I’m sorry.” Hitomi fought back the tears she’d been hiding all afternoon. “So sorry. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you. I wanted you to trust me.” She glanced away. “And I saw a vision, last night. I didn’t want you involved, because if a fight began, I didn’t want either of you to get hurt.”
Van stared at her, somewhat speechless. He stumbled over the words several times. “I’m sorry, too. For not trusting you enough.”
“I know.” They sat together awkwardly for some time, unsure of what should be said next. Though Hitomi felt relieved that they weren’t fighting, her previous anxiety had been replaced by a new concern. I just can’t believe it, her mind reeled. I’m a Dragon. Like Van. All along and I never realized. She wondered suddenly what would become of her. I’m not even human, really. Why did Mom never tell me? Did she not know, or is this the “truth” she wanted me to find?
“Van,” she whispered diffidently. “I’m scared.”
The king hesitated a moment before moving beside her. He held her tenderly. “I know. How do you feel?”
“Tired.” She wriggled against him, savoring his warmth and smell. “And my back is sore.”
“Mine was, too, when I first tried.” He massaged her back gently to ease her tightened muscles. “Eventually you get used to it. It was never an effort for Mother, when she did use them.”
Hitomi nodded barely into his chest. “Do you think…this is how I was able to meet you?” she asked. “Because we’re the same--the last? Was this our fate?”
“I don’t know.” Van hummed thoughtfully. “But before I met you…I wasn’t very happy with my life.” The admission came slowly, and she was surprised to hear it from him. “I felt forced. My destiny might not have changed since then, but now I feel as if I’ve chosen it.”
Chosen it. The words echoed in Hitomi’s mind. Some part of her rejected them, didn’t want to admit them, even though she wasn’t sure why. It was almost guilt, that he could speak so openly with her when she couldn’t.
“Hitomi.”
His voice had changed. It felt deeper and more sincere somehow, and the sound of it caused her insides to twist. His arms tightened around her. “You really can’t come back with me?” he asked quietly.
Van, please…. She didn’t even know what she was praying for, only that she was waiting somehow. Waiting for him to hold her closer or push her away. For an absolution.
“You’re a Dragon,” Van continued in that same desperately soft tone. “Like me. We’re all that’s left. Shouldn’t we be together?” The arms surrounding her began to tremble. “Can’t we? We belong together, don’t we?”
“Van, I don’t know what to believe anymore,” she replied hoarsely. “I want to be with you.” The words tore at her, they were so genuine. They had lain hidden inside her for so long that she hadn’t realized how deeply they’d been affecting her. This place, here within his arms, was more sacred to her than any on her blue planet. And she knew that staying here, separated from his eyes and voice, meant giving up the last person who could one day grow to understand her. Her last chance for happiness.
“Van, I want to be with you,” Hitomi repeated, wrapping her arms about his neck in a firm embrace. “I do, more than anything. But it means giving up everything else. You understand, don’t you?”
Startled by her declaration, the king didn’t respond immediately. “Yes, I do,” he said softly. “I…could never give up Fanelia.”
Of course not. You’re king. She clung to him, biting her lip painfully. What have I here? I’m happiest in my dreams. And now that I know what I am, I can’t ignore it. Mother was right. This place can’t be my home forever. I need to be where I belong.
Hitomi paused, listening to the beat of Van’s heart beneath her ear. “We can change destiny,” she murmured, closing her eyes as a few tears leaked through. “I’ll…go back with you, Van. I’m going back to Gaea.”
“Really?” he gasped, afraid to move least she escape him once more. “You…you will?”
“Uh-huh.” She smiled, and then her lips parted in a laugh. “I will. I will.”
Van took her shoulders suddenly, pushing her back just far enough to kiss her mouth. She responded in kind; her body seemed to move on its own, moving closer to his. And all she could think while his lips met hers again was, I’m going home.