Chapter 2: Mystery Lady and Apollo-kun


Click. The sound of a woman's high-heel shoe echoed through the nothingness. Two single candles opposite of each other suddenly turned on, providing the only light. The woman's diamond bracelet glowed in the dimness. She came to a stop in front of an old door. "Faylle," she said emotionlessly. Then she continued walking, and into the room.

The darkness inside was pitch-black; bleak until the curtain over the ceiling was relieved. The open night sky cast an eerie light onto the woman lying in an open, glass box. She stood from her sleeping place as the curtain fell behind her. She walked towards Sammi, her hazel eyes remained focused on the other woman.

"Sailor Faylle," she said to Sammi, holding her hand out. Inside her palm was a pile of stones. She smiled, fangs slightly showing. "This is how it works, dear," she said. "These stones store power.. which we need to acquire. When we reach the goal Neisha will be destroyed, but we will have the real prize. Earth!"

Sammi smiled. "I understand. I gave one of them the book. Now we will always know which stage of development they are at," she said.


The three of us gathered our belongings from the grass outside the shop, and began to walk towards the tavern where I had left my horse. "That woman was scary a bit," Tobie muttered.

Asabeth smiled out of the crack of her mouth, rather cutely. "Yeah, but she gave us that cool book. She can't be THAT bad." Her smile widened and she turned her head away from us. "Understand, Jellybean?" With that she meant Tobie.

The blazing heat made the trip unbearable. As I walked, dust blew outward from under my feet. The dirt street was hotter; I could feel the heat through my shoes. I reached into my black bag and pulled out a Japanese style fan. I waved it in front of my face. "It's so hot," I muttered.

"Can I use that?" Asabeth asked as she held out her hand towards me. The look on the face did not look like she was asking.

I waved it a few more times and then handed it to her. I sighed and got my brush and ribbon. I ran the brush through my hair, raised it into a high ponytail, and tied it tightly with the navy-blue, cloth ribbon. I replaced the brush in my bag just as I felt something brush up against my legs. I looked downward. "The cat," I told Asabeth in a barely audible voice.

Asabeth glanced in my direction and then at the ground. "Meow." The cat ran between my legs and to Asabeth. She stopped and knelt to pick it up. "Ah, you followed us all the way here, didn't ya fellow? I guess there isn't a reason why I can't keep you," she said. She stood up, clutching the small animal in her arms.

Tobie cringed. "Beth, you can't keep that thing," she said, "Even if he is a cutie. He belongs to Sammi, doesn't he?"

Asabeth thought for a moment. She replied, "We don't have time to bring him back to her shop. And he will never find his way back on his own, it is a long way." She put the cat on the ground and allowed it to follow close behind her.

I sighed. "Oh well. Sammi won't miss him that much," I said as I walked briskly ahead of the other two. I watched the cat keep close to Asabeth. "He likes you the most it seems, Beth. What are you going to call him?" I asked.

Asabeth pulled the animal into her arms and studied it for abnormalities. "Hhmmm.. he looks flawless," she finally said, "What about Nukara? It sounds familiar; it has to mean something, right?" She prompted the cat to jump out of her arms.

I smiled. "Nukara fits him fine." I pointed towards the tavern. "There's where I left Nova." I stopped. "Uh.. Where is she?" I walked up to the post and glanced around. "Let's go around back," I suggested, "Maybe some punk kid let her go. Nova wouldn't have gone far." We walked around the side of the tavern. Inside, I could hear older people laughing and no doubt trying to get some entertainment for later.

"Angela! You are just in time."

I smiled as a tan girl with shoulder-length brown hair and dim green eyes approached me with Nova beside her. "Alanna.. I thought that you were away at school," I said. Tobie and Asabeth watched blankly as I came up to her. She was wearing gray pants made of some kind of animal hide and a tight, teal midriff shirt.

She stopped and gave Nova's reigns to me. She bit her lip and smiled. "I hope you don't mind what I did to Nova," she said as she petted Nova, "She needed to be cleaned up a bit. She's all yours now, Angel."

"I don't care what you did to her; she looks great. Why aren't you gone?" I asked, "Not that I wanted you to leave, but why did you stay?"

"Mother's sick and dad can't take care of her by himself," she answered. Her look saddened and she walked off. As she walked by Asabeth and Tobie, she faked a smile. "Hi, I'm Alanna Belladonna Evans." She held out her hand and stopped. She looked at them up and down, waiting.

Tobie stared at Alanna and remained silent. Asabeth smiled and took her hand, "Heya, mate. I'm Asabeth Marie Saber and that is Tobie Mackenzie McMorgan."

She looked at me. "I have to leave now because dad needs me. See ya." She turned and walked into the tavern.

Through the large, colorfully painted window I could see her silhouette tie on her apron and pick up some trays. I climbed onto Nova and came towards the others. "Alright," I muttered in a tired voice, "Where to now?"

Asabeth glanced to the west. "It's getting late. Tobie lives too far away from town. So come to my house for the night."

"I guess that would be best," I agreed.

The three of us continued on our way. The muggy heat gave away to a warm breeze. Tobie halted and knelt with her hands on her knees. I slowed the horse and stopped next to her. I reached down. "There's room up here for you. It may be a little uncomfortable, but it's better than you passing out, nay?"

Tobie reached up and grabbed onto my wrist. She muttered in assertion. I pulled her up behind me.

Asabeth crossed her arms. "We're almost there," she said.

Meow. Nukara rushed up to Asabeth and jumped on her left shoulder. He looked over at me and winked. I stared blankly at him for a moment until he turned his head forward. I laughed, lightly, at myself.


The Earthlight fled through the window and lit the room throughout with a dark, bluish gleam. I nervously rolled from side to side. I hit the floor and sat upright. I had to squint because it was quite odd; it normally was not this bright in the early morning. I stood from my spot on the floor, which consisted of a think blanket under me, two pillows for my head and one for my bad back, and two much thinner blankets over me. Even at this time of the year, early summer, it got cold at night.

I shivered as I drew the curtains over the window. It got much darker. I walked back across the room and sat on top of my blankets. Everyone around me was still asleep. I guessed that it was around five AM. Asabeth mumbled and turned onto her side, her back to me.

I could no longer sleep. I stood up again and walked towards the door, pulling one of Beth's long jackets over myself. Nukara rushed up to me. "Heh? You wanna come with me, cat?" I smiled. He stared at me quietly. "Oi, dumb animal," I laughed, "Wanna swim with me in the lake?"

Yes, the water was cold. But after a few moments I began to warm up. I swam downstream, Nukara behind me like a loyal puppy. The sun began to rise. Now, the great globe called Earth was apparent in the east side of the sky, a skimmer of red-orange sunlight in the west. In a few hours it and Earth would cross. It was still quite dark, though.

Suddenly I heard a noise. It sounded like some one was creeping in the nearby woods. I drew near shore and grabbed Beth's jacket. I pulled myself out from the water and quickly put it on. I squeezed my wet hair and ran off into the opposite woods, towards Asabeth's.

I stopped a little more than a minute later, realizing how stupid I had been. I sat on a large stone and waited for Nukara to jump unto my lap. "Well, cat," I laughed. "So, we now are running away from harmless children gathering breakfast?" Because of my talking, I failed to hear the sounds behind me.

Nukara's ear arched up and he listened intently, purring the entire time. I felt a cold breeze rushed past me. "Don't be afraid," a male voice said. I turned and jumped at what I saw.

"Am I really that scary?" he laughed, though he sounded a bit hurt.

My eyes widened. "My lord?" I asked in a cracked voice, "Why.." Suddenly I was upset. "Do you enjoy scaring people?! What the hells where you doing creeping around like that?"

"Lady," he muttered softly. He seemed surprised at the way I talked to him. "There is no way to explain what I was doing, you would not understand if I told you."

"Go for it," I muttered coldly. I crossed my arms.

He sat on my rock. "I was... looking for someone. Someone who will die if I do not."

Now I was curious. "Who?" I uncrossed my arms and sat next to him. The upset look on my face vanished.

I guess that now I should take a moment to describe him. In case you have not guessed who he is, guess now. He was dressed in a black, drab cloak and wooden sandals. I could not see what was under the cloak, but I imagine it was a tunic. His hair was messy--in a good way--with bright, blonde strands mixed within more black. His gray eyes were darker than mine were, almost black.

He continued, "I don't know what her name is, or even what she looks like. But I have to find her and protect her from my father."

I stared at him attentively. I felt bad for that girl. "What is he going to do to her, Apollo?"

His looked towards me when I said that. He studied my face. "You know who I am?!"

I smiled. "What made you think that I did not?" My smile faded and I studied his face as he studied mine again. "I do not care if you are a prince," I said coldly. That look appeared once again on my face. "I hate men, period. But no matter what you are, you need my help, my lord."

He seemed confused. "Are you..." he began.

"No," I said simply, "I get mine the normal way."

We both smiled. I had to laugh at the way I sounded. "Now what," he asked, "Are you going to help me, Lady? It may help to have you with me."

I fiddled with my hands and looked away. I closed my eyes tightly and sighed. "First of all, it is Angela Hailee. And..."--I had to think about it--"yeah, sure. Why not."

"Hailee..." Apollo muttered as if he was in love. "Call me Arik, Dear," he said finally.

I nodded a reply. "Now," I said as I stood, "I have to go home and tell my sisters."

"Sisters?"

"Friends."

Arik stood like he did not know what to do. "Do you mind if I come? I mean, I am a runaway after all. I don't want to impose, but I have no where else, Hailee."

I stared at him like he was crazy. My eyes suddenly shined brightly. "A runaway?! Won't your father go looking for you?"

"Not right away." He didn't waste time. "Not while he is so focused on finding that girl. He does not know that I know." I nodded just then and we began to walk. He continued, "Don't ask why he wants her. I do not know myself, but I overheard him and this lady. He called her "Faust."

"I know that you told me what you could, Manchild." I laughed when I realized something, "That is your new nickname!" I looked at him and smiled widely. The only thing he did was laugh and shake his head.

Maybe I liked him a little.. a lot actually. Truthfully, at that moment I want to jump him. I cannot, even now, describe that feeling. The best I can say is that I wanted everything from him at that very moment, but not because he was a prince. Is it really rape if they are willing..? Heh. Teach him for thinking I was a lesbian!