"Of all things. . . Dalia, pick up that glass please." Sakura indicated the glass scattered along the floor. The servant rushed over to pick it up. This was awful. Everything was going great! Except . . . for minor bumps, but that was easily remedied.
"Of all things. . . Dalia, pick up that glass please." Sakura indicated the glass scattered along the floor. The servant rushed over to pick it up. This was awful. Everything was going great! Except . . . for minor bumps, but that was easily remedied.
"Oh, for the love of gods, please, be careful with that!" Could things get any worse!
Of course it could. Just then, a servant approached her, three children trailing after her. They had been crying, the evidence of tears clear on their face. She recognized them, they were Alice's daughter, Charlotte's. Where was she?
"Your highness," the servant bowed before continuing, "we found these children when the creature attacked. There is no sign of the mother, nor the father."
That raised alarms, Charlotte was not one to leave her children unattended. Especially when a creature like that had attacked them.
"Have the children eaten?"
"No, your highness."
"Take them to the kitchen and prepare their breakfast. Anything they want." That seemed to brighten their faces up a bit. The two little girls laughed as they ran after the maid, the little boy didn't seem fairly interested though.
Sakura kneeled infront of the little boy. She gave him a warm smile, "What wrong, little one?"
The boy had his thumb in his mouth, she could see that he was trying to retain his tears.
"I want mommy, and daddy." Of course he did. It was natural for a child to begin to wonder where their parents are. This was about the time that Charlotte would wake them, make them breakfast. This was breaking his routine and he didn't like change.
"I know, darling, don't worry. I will find them, ok?" He smiled in response and gave her a loving hug.
"Ok!" Then he was off, bounding after the maid and his siblings.
As soon as he was out of sight, Sakura rushed up the stairs, tracking Alice's and Raige's scent to a room far down the west hall. She knew what they had done last night. Most couples had gone off to enjoy their mates, now the trick was to get them out of bed without scaring them with the thought that something could have happened to their daughter.
Rising slowly from the spell of slumber, Alice snuggled closer into Raige and the arms caging her tightened in response. He was awake. Burying her face into the rising and falling of his chest, hearing deep within a grunt emanate from the pit of his stomach as he rested his chin atop her head. He ran slow circle along her bare skin with his thumb, the touch growing ever so light, until it finally sent shivers through her body.
ReplyDelete"Good morning," he murmured. Alice laughed airily.
"Good morning, Raige," she replied, squirming her head to better gaze into the bright blue of his eyes. They reflected such peace and love within their depths as they observed her own. God, how hours before they were full with pure lust and passion in tune with the demands he made with his body upon her. The urgency he portrayed to take her over and over was breathtaking, literally, so much so that Alice pondered not the sudden fire that became alit within Raige. And, oh goodness... last night... when he found a new tender spot... how he moved... how she came undone...
Raige's amused chuckle drew Alice out of her trance, nuzzling her lovingly. "What are thinking about, mon cheríe?"
"Hmm?" she responded playfully, noting how his lips hovered so finitely against hers.
"Your pupils were dilated." Ha! Leave it to an ex-mercenary to know all the tall-tell signs of what you're thinking. Smiling mischievously, she pressed her lips to his lightly yet firmly.
"My thoughts were consumed with you..." she sighed as she broke away for a breath. "... And last night..." A small moan escaped him in acknowledgement. A strong, gentle hand reached to her cheek as his tongue lined the seam of her mouth, coyly wanting her to open. And for whatever reason, there sparked something that she, Alice, had never truly felt in the eighteen years she had been married to Raige: she was feeling rebellious. She kept her lips sealed shut, giggling in satisfaction as she sensed Raige's confusion and determination. It was not as if she shut down for her fingers strung weaves of his hair as she brought herself closer to him.
He finally broke away in slight frustration, staring at her with inquisitive eyes as hers opened half way in a seductive fashion.
"Whatever is the problem, my love?" Her gaze turned near challenging; playful. "Cat got your tongue?"
His eyes flashed; he was certainly frozen in shock. Alice giggled; she had never been able to catch him off guard before. The moment of satisfaction was short lived as three knocks upon the bedroom door alerted to the both of them a visitor. It opened with a loud squeak, Alice's eyes snapped instantly to Sakura's cautious gaze as they hid beneath the emerald green a small flicker of foreboding.
Leave it to an Akuma to get things started bright and early, Sakura thought to herself as she noted their position. But she wasn't here to chastize them for screwing early in the morning.
ReplyDelete"Alice, Raige, Charlotte's children are alone. . . The servants have told me their mother is no where to be found." Sakura could not help but feel her own heart race. It was as if her saying the words aloud had finally caused the situation to sink in. Oh, Alice. . . for your sake I hope she's ok.
Raige was the first to respond. Immediately he rose from the bed to find his clothes. Though his exterior seemed calm and collected she knew within his heart toiled a sea of emotions he kept so expertly hidden.
Alice remained, her gaze still holding her own as it seemed the shock finally began to settle in.
"Sakura, stay here with Alice. I will go with Sasuke to search for her. Comfort her, I don't want her to worry too much. We will find her. "She noted he dilibrately used the language of their people. She had to wonder why she hid it from her, perhaps to keep her from attempting to join in the search. His gaze moved from Sakura's to Alice's, he adressed her in english, "I promise, she'll be ok." WIth that he left. Alice's mouth was opened slightly, as if she wanted to speak but the words were lost to her.
"It's alright, Alice, I will send every available guard to find her." but when Alice didn't seem to react Sakura grew worried. What could be going on behind those vibrant purple eyes of hers. . .
Her mind raced with such urgency, matching the rhythm of her accelerating heartbeat, as that deep feeling of painful emptiness a mother feels when having lost a child cut right through her. Alice attempted to concentrate, to deduce what may have happened, but that overwhelming feeling of wanting to protect Charlotte dominated her senses. All the worst memories surfaced; the Sinclairs kidnapping a newborn Lottie, the Kokoro boy and his trickery... and, as relayed to her by Raige, a look of insanity within Charlotte's gaze shortly after she gave birth... God, please, no... She's my first born, my baby girl...
ReplyDeleteThe thought seemed to trigger her awakening from her trance. Alice blinked, realizing Sakura kneeling upon the bed looking worriedly at her. How long had she been spaced out? And where was Raige? Sakura sighed, seemingly relieved that Alice finally got over the shock of the news, and drew closer to console her.
"Alice-"
"I have to go." The words spilled out of her mouth naturally, as if there were no question in her sudden conviction. Yet, no matter how easily it had been to announce that, it was all she could say. The fear would only set in stronger with every word she would mutter; the fear that, in explaining that she would search for Lottie, Alice would never see her again.
Sakura sat up straighter, observing Alice. "Where to?"
Alice swallowed, not meeting Sakura's gaze. "To find Charlotte."
"I'm sending everyone I can to do so-"
"I have to!" Alice's eyes finally rested upon Sakura's as the fire in her eyes built with every passing moment. Sakura's was cold and hard, never wavering from Alice. She took a deep breath and spoke with an air of absolute authority.
"No, you don't."
Alice's heart pounded, a twinge of pain coursing through her as her own friend desisted her actions to find her child. The words almost failed to form in her anger. "S-She's my daughter! And you know you would do the same-!"
"Yes!" rang Sakura's voice, her nostrils flaring. It was evident she was restraining her own anger, even as her eyes shimmered slightly as a sign of growing tears. She took several breaths before continuing. "... But unlike you, I don't almost get myself killed whenever I do things alone."
Absurd. It was all absurd! True, Alice was weak and had nearly died on several occasions, but it was not enough to deter her from the notion of being out there with Raige to find their daughter. I'm sorry, Sakura... Alice leapt off the bed in an abrupt fashion, her eyes searching for her clothes but, as if she were plunged into watery depths, she became severely disoriented. She collapsed into a dresser as she attempted to use it for support, to no avail. Somewhere off in the swirl of colors she heard Sakura call her name; once more Alice reached to find something to elevate her to her feet, finding with subtle curiosity as her arm shook accompanied with a churning in her stomach. Weak with hunger, perhaps? No... it was more to the point that she felt queasy. Covering her mouth cautiously in her other hand, Alice closed her eyes as she attempted to concentrate. What was happening? So weak... so tired... why?
He tracked her down easily enough. The path of her destruction leading him straight to her. Charlotte. . .
ReplyDeleteEven during the dire situation that was lay before him Raige managed to stay calm and collected. His training as a past soldier allowing him to think clearly even with his beloved daughter's life on the line. As soon as Sakura had told them of her absence, Raige knew there would only be one explanation. He was the only one whom experienced her small moment of madness but he identified it all the same. She had that same look in her eyes as his beloved Alice did whenever she lost control, when she succumbed to the swirling turmoil of her mind.
He had to save her, he would not allow her to be lost. He could prevent it. . . he knew he could.
It was this very train of thought that was disrupted when off in the distance he heard the sure signs of a battle ensuing. His heart beat accelerated, his hand instinctively reaching for the weapon strapped on his hip.
"Charlotte!" The name was said in more of a snarl and it was instantly recognized. Akira.
The Kokoro kid, of course, I should have known.
Moving quickly beneath the shadows, Raige found the source. Down below in the valley's very core was his precious daughter fighting viciously against the Kokoro boy. Anger began to lick at Raiges mind as the power flowed through him with a great intensity. How could that boy dare raise a hand against his child! Oh, he would pay dearly for it.
Just as both of them aimed to kill, Raige intercepted the attacks sending both of them reeling back with the flick of his wrist.
They both landed swiftly on their feet, their breathes ragged from the exertion of the fight they had commenced.
It remained quiet for a long period of time. The only sounds or movements that could be heard were those of the animals that scurried underneath the fallen leaves of the forest bed.
It was Charlotte who broke that serene silence, her maddened cackle reverberated through the line of trees, it seemed it alone scared off any animal who stayed during the fight.
"You came here to save your daughter?" She slowly strode towards him, her movements graceful despite her current state. "Funny, how this boy, also seems to think he can manage such a thing. She's lost you fools, and there is nothing you can do about it."
"We'll see." The response came from Akira as he surged forward with deadly speed.
Without a warning Raige reflected the attack and sent to copycat flying back once again and even as he did so he felt the sharp pain as nails dug deep into his back. He growled in anger as he spun to take Charlotte's hands and pin them to her side. His clear blue eyes bore into his daughters as she struggled in his grasp, snarling and cursing him.
"Silence,Charlotte you have done enough-" Another painful jab, this time to his side, made by the copycat boy. At this close of proximity the two began to engage in combat once more. Lottie kicking and snapping at Akira while he swiped a claw hand at her. Raige was caught in the middle, trying to deflect attacks all the while keep Charlotte at bay. He couldn't hurt her, but the copycat? In a fluid motion he struck Charlotte in a known weak spot, instantly she fell limply into his arms,just in time to catch Akira as he launched another attack, this time Raige blocked and with the flick of his wrist, brought the sword strapped on his side onto the boys midsection.
He screamed, snarling as he fell to the ground, his hands clutching the wound as he attempted to crawl away from Raige.
"The only reason I let you live. . . is because my daughter needs attention immediately." With his precious child in his arms he crouched down at eye level with the young boy, "And, because I prefer to slay a man worth my time." He stood and turned to leave, but not before dealing one last kick to the boys side. Raige would find him again, and he would kill him once and for all. It was what he did, and what he knew he was perfectly good at.