The hall was dark and long. The shadows cast from the light of the candles loomed sinisterly across the walls. I felt as if I would faint away at any second. Still they kept on leading me. I had been unable to get anything usefull out of the three men who walked in front of me. They must have known somehow that I would not try to escape, they did not seem the sort to make mistakes. We turned a corner and arrived at a set of sliding doors, not that it was anything new. Behind these doors however, I could feel something, a sort of power, echoing off the walls, something evil. Then the doors slid opened.
I had to close my eyes as the rush of air flew a me from the room. I followed the three men inside, not quite knowing what to expect from this Arago-sama who the green-haired man had spoken of. What saw, standing there, was nowhere near anything I would have imagined.
He was Beautiful, there was not other word for it. I know that I have a slight tendancy to oogle at bishounen, but this one truely was more beautiful than any other I had seen. I stepped fruther into the room, casting my eyes downward, because I knew I had been staring.
"Reiini Jenevivu," he said, his voice like liquid silver, to match his hair. "I have been searching for you for a very long time." I just stood there, confused, my head spinning. Why did he want me? I had nothing to offer, it was not as if I was a powerful sorceress, or anything special for that matter. He motioned me forward, so I stepped nearer to him. I then noticed out of my perephreal vision, that the three who had brought me here were kneeling, with their heads bowed, like soldiers from ancient times. I frowned, eyes still trained to the ground, still silent.
"I have some buisiness with you Jenevivu," You could almost hear the malignant smile which spread across the bishounen Arago's face. It was still a few more moments before I could bring myself to speak.
"What sort of buisiness," I asked, curiosity getting the better of me." Once again I could almost feel him smiling.
"First of all Jenevivu, I am your father." The surprise which filled the room was almost tangible.
"My. . . Father. . ." I said, hesitantly looking up at him. He nodded, and I could see the truth in his eyes. At the time I did not attempt to explain it at all, I felt too ill to argue, so I did not. Arago-sama was continuing.
"Second order of buisines," he continued, sounding quite pleased that he was able to spread such a level of discomfort about the room. "The second order of buisines is your future, since I have found you at long last, and since you have not other living guardian, I have sole custody over you. Therefore I would like you to meet your new fiance."
"No," I said, looking up at him and staring straight into his eyes. "I will not allow you to attempt to control my life like that. It is nothing against you, but if I wish to marry, then I will marry who I want when I want." I was furious, but when I saw the look on hi sface next, all of that fury drained away, and was replaced by fear. "What are you?" I whispered, not expecting an answer.
"I am your worst nightmare, Jenevivu, do not defy me." He turned and walked toward his throne, sitting down when he reached it. "Naaza, take her to the dungeon. She is to be fed only bread and water."
The green haired man looked toward me with a solemn expression across his features. He then stood and took me gently by the arm, leading me out of the room.
We walked a ways down th ehall and then he turned to me. "Ohime," he said, I looked at him rather oddly, it was not every day that a man I barely knew called me princess. His gaze turned to the ground automatically, "Ohime," he repeated, "I will surely be punished for this, but I shall now give you a choice. You can either allow me to take you somewhere safe, far away from this place. Or you may remain here and attempt to win your father's favour once again." I thought about it a moment or two, wondring whether or not I should allow such a fate to befall him.
"I don't know . . ." I said confused as hell, "why are you giving me this choice?" I did not like at all having to decide between myself and someone who I barely knew but who was trying to help me. I looked at his face once more, and then said, "I choose to be free." He only nodded and smiled slightly, holding out his hand to me. I reached out and took it, his long slender fingers closing so comfortably around my own, and we vanished.
The house where we appeared was very large, with a few lights in the windows. Naaza-san led me up to the front steps, and then turning, without another word, he vanished. Leaving me there on the doorstep of a strange house all alone.