A/N: I had to do this for a project in Creative Writing. That's about the only way I'll get something original done, ne? It was inspired by the song "Gekka no Yasou Kyoku" from the band Malice Mizer. Go listen to it. Better yet, watch the music video. Well, enjoy!

Disclaimer: All characters are mine. The story is mine. Don't steal. Thank you. ^__^

Pairing: None

***

"What's a Ghost Clover?"

Alyssa Bakari stared at her lover in disbelief. How could he not know? She asked herself. Then again, he isn't a healer.

"What?" Tanek Amandi asked. "I'm not a healer, remember?"

"I know. I'm sorry," Alyssa replied, smiling.

Alyssa and Tanek sat together in the front yard of the house Alyssa and her mother shared. The house stood in a small village, which was situated on the border of Eaglewood Forest. An eagle from the near-by swamp circled in the cloudless sky.

"So," Tanek began, "are you going to tell me what the plant is?"

"Yeah, well, the Ghost Clover is a very valuable and hard to find plant, hence the name. The plant is pale green and the flower is white."

"What does it do?"

"I'm getting there," she said, pushing a strand of wavy brown hair behind her ear. "The plant heals that awful Snow Sickness. You know, the one where you become very sick and have moments of insanity."

"Yeah, I should know. I had it last winter," Tanek retorted. "Where does this plant grow?"

She grinned to herself, knowing that Tanek wasn't going to be happy with her. "It grows in Eaglewood Swamp and I'm going to get it!"

"No you won't!" he retorted.

Alyssa pouted at him, looking into Tanek's blue eyes.

"It's dangerous."

Alyssa gave him the "puppy eyes".

He glared at her. "Fine, go. But if you disappear, I'm not coming to get you."

"Aww, how sweet," Alyssa crooned. "I hope you know I would've went anyway."

"I know," he sighed. "That's why I gave up."

The door opened behind them and Alyssa leaned back to look at her mother upside down.

"Hi, mom."

Alyssa's mother looked down at her, a slight frown on her face. "You're getting a good tunic dirty."

Alyssa shrugged. "I'll wash it. What do you want?"

"I want you to help with dinner," her mother replied. "Now go get washed up."

"Yes, ma'am." Alyssa turned back to Tanek. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."

"If you don't get killed."

"Don't worry," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'll be careful. Bye!"

Alyssa stood and plodded into the house, shutting the door behind her.

***

The next day, Alyssa awakened just before dawn. Outside of her second story bedroom, a dove cooed at the first weak rays of the morning sun. She sat up in bed, blinking away the last of the night's dreams, and got up.

When her bare feet hit the cold, wooden floor, she wished dearly to crawl back into bed. But she knew that if she did that, she wouldn't get up again.

Sighing, Alyssa stood and began the mundane task of dressing for the day. Once dressed in a soft linen tunic and doeskin breeches, she gathered her basket, grabbed a quick breakfast on her way out the door, and made her way to the small stable.

Alyssa's young stallion greeted her with an affectionate nuzzle when Alyssa came near.

"Good morning, Mana," Alyssa said while se hugged the young gelding's head.

Mana whickered and tossed his head towards his tack.

"I'm getting there," she laughed, patting his neck. She walked to the near-by rack and collected Mana's bridle and saddle.

She saddled the horse and mounted, riding him out of the small stable and into the quiet village street.

After riding for a few minutes, Alyssa heard the sound of hooves behind her. She glanced back and saw Tanek. She stopped Mana and waited for Tanek to catch up, fiddling with the reins.

Once he was within hearing distance, she called back to him. "Why are you up so early?"

He glowered at her and urged his horse to catch up to Alyssa.

"I decided to come with you."

"Oh, my valiant knight wishes to protect his lady!" Alyssa said, her voice mocking that of a feather-headed court lady.

She smiled sweetly at his glare.

"Very funny," Tanek retorted. "I just wanted to make sure you don't get in trouble."

She nudged Mana into a canter.

"I guess I'll believe you this time."

"You," Tanek began, "are a very difficult woman."

In reply, she kicked Mana into a full gallop, leaving Tanek behind.

After riding for a short time, Alyssa and Tanek slowed their mounts as the forest loomed ahead of them. Alyssa stopped on the edge of the forest and dismounted.

"Aren't we taking the horses with us?" Tanek asked curiously, dismounting as well.

"Not unless you want them to be hurt," Alyssa replied. "If we did have to flee, the horses could easily break a leg."

"True, true," Tanek said, and walked his horse up to Alyssa's.

They tethered the horses to a tree, giving them enough slack to reach a near-by bush. With that done, they entered the quiet forest.

Beneath the trees it was cool and shaded. Birds chirped in the trees, quieting when an eagle called from above. The ground was covered with soft moss and ferns. A raven croaked a hoarse call from a tree to their left. Alyssa glanced up and the raven regarded her with intelligent black eyes.

"I've always liked ravens," Alyssa mused as they walked past the raven.

"Why is that?" Tanek asked, watching the raven wing on ahead of them.

"Well, they're so playful and intelligent. Did you know that they will offer food as a gift to a potential mate?"

"No, I didn't. They seem a lot like humans."

"Kind of." Alyssa watched the raven fly ahead and then back, keeping watch over them.

They walked for half an hour, the raven following them the whole time until they past a small stream. It then flew ahead and didn't return.

Alyssa sat down on the springy moss next to the stream to take a short break. Tanek dropped down beside her.

"How much farther is it to the swamp?"

Alyssa looked around for a landmark she recognized.

"Hm, that's odd," she said, puzzled.

"What is it?" Tanek asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"Nothing looks familiar. Maybe if we keep going, I'll recognize something."

"Hopefully."

Alyssa ignored Tanek's cryptic remark and stood, brushing off the back of her tunic. She began walking on the path again, leaving Tanek to catch up.

They continued their hike until they reached a large clearing with a huge manor standing in the middle.

Alyssa crept into the clearing and was startled by a loud caw from the house behind her. She whirled around and saw the raven from before perched on the peak above the door. Tanek stepped up behind her, startling her even more.

"We shouldn't linger here," he said, looking around him.

"No... Let's go in!" Alyssa exclaimed; the house invoked her curiosity.

"What are you talking about?" Tanek cried. "What if we get caught? What if someone is in there?"

"Then we take the chance," Alyssa replied. She began towards the house and the raven fluffed up its feathers, still squawking at them.

The inside of the house was dark, but surprisingly not dusty. The staircase before them was in good repair, as was most of the house.

Alyssa wandered to the door on her left and discovered a large kitchen. All doors leading from the kitchen were open and revealed two dining rooms, an informal and a formal.

She noticed a door in the side of the staircase. She grabbed Tanek's hand and dragged him to the door. After testing the knob, she found the door to be locked, so she dragged Tanek onward.

She stopped at the bottom of the burgundy colored, wooden stairs. Ignoring Tanek's worrying, she gazed up at the two halls above.

"I wonder what's up there."

"We've been here long enough. Why don't we go up there?" Tanek asked sarcastically.

"That's a great idea!" Alyssa exclaimed and pulled Tanek up the stairs.

"Hey! I was being sarcastic!" Tanek cried, trying to pull away.

Alyssa dragged Tanek past the servant's floor when she saw the numerous doors onto the third floor. This floor consisted of six large rooms, all of which had their doors open, as if waiting for someone to enter. She let go of Tanek's hand and walked into the room to the left of the stairs.

When they entered the room, Alyssa stopped dead and Tanek nearly ran into her. The large room was filled with bookcases and each floor to ceiling case held at least ten dolls.

"What is this place?" Tanek asked as he carefully touched one of the dolls.

"Don't touch them," Alyssa said, stepping back from a bookcase.

"What's wrong?"

She held up her hand to quiet him. "Listen carefully. I hear voices."

They stood together and strained their ears towards the faint voices.

"Where are they coming from?" Tanek whispered.

"I think they're coming from the dolls," Alyssa replied, becoming frightened. "That means that they used to be real people! I wonder if those necklaces they are wearing mean anything..."

"We should go," Tanek suggested, grabbing her hand.

Alyssa nodded and followed him back through the house; the whole way she was thinking of how she might be able to help the dolls, if they could be helped. When they stepped out into the bright clearing, they were met by a man who didn't look at all pleased with them.

The man was tall and lean. His black and white highlighted hair fell to the middle of his back. His eyes were a unique; the pupil was dark blue and the iris was silver. His ears were sharply pointed, signifying that he was an Elf. He looked no older than twenty years old.

His clothing looked expensive. It was made from the best fabric and was dyed black with silver embroidery. In his long, elegant hand he held a wickedly curved scythe that was at least seven feet long.

Alyssa and Tanek backed away from the Elf when he took a step toward them.

Oh, gods! Alyssa thought frantically. This must be the person who everyone whispers about in the village. It's Corbin Remington!

"Who are you?" Corbin demanded. "Why are you here?"

"I... I'm Alyssa Bakari," Alyssa said. "And this is Tanek Amandi. We're from the village."

"Why are you here?" the Elf asked again.

"We were on our way to the swamp, sir. We got lost." Alyssa watched Corbin warily.

"I see," Corbin replied. "So, you happen to stumble upon this house and decide to go in, disregarding the fact that the owner might just be in the area."

"But we didn't..."

"You did not think?" Corbin interrupted. "I figured as much. You go into a stranger's house and you touch things that obviously do not belong to you. Did you parent's not teach you anything?"

"But we thought the house was deserted!" Alyssa cried.

"No matter." Corbin began to advance on them, Tanek in particular. "You are a very handsome young man. I think you would be a perfect addition to my collection."

"What... What are you talking about?" Tanek backed up. Alyssa stepped in between Tanek and Corbin, trying to bar the Elf's way.

"And what are you doing, young lady?" Corbin asked. He grabbed Alyssa's arm and pushed her out of the way, continuing his advance on Tanek.

Alyssa watched as Tanek made the mistake of looking into Corbin's eyes, becoming entranced.

I have to make them break eye contact, Alyssa thought. If I don't, Tanek will be turned into a doll!

She tried to stop Corbin's advance again, but she was pushed away. Again she tried and this time she managed to catch Tanek's attention. She grabbed his hand and ran to the opposite side of the clearing. She looked back once to see if Corbin was following, but she didn't see him. When she looked forward again, he was standing before them, holding his scythe in both hands. Before they could turn around, Corbin caught Tanek's arm. He held Tanek close to his body to prevent any escape and once again caught Tanek's attention. This time, no matter what Alyssa tried, she couldn't break their concentration. And, with a swift twist of his wrist, the blade of the scythe began to glow and was drawn across Tanek's skin. Alyssa cried out in dismay as Tanek fell to his knees. In his arms, Corbin held a doll that looked exactly like Tanek.

Before Alyssa could do anything, Corbin pushed her to the ground with the butt of his scythe and disappeared, along with the house, leaving an empty clearing.

Alyssa crawled over to Tanek's body, which was fading into nothingness. His eyes were blank and lifeless. She gently lifted his head onto her lap and cried.

***

Alyssa walked back to her house, leading Mana behind her. She didn't tell anyone what happened; she knew they wouldn't believe her. When she got home, her mother was at the door waiting.

"Where have you been? And why are you limping?"

Alyssa looked up at her mother, her mind numb. "I just had a little accident in the forest. I guess I twisted my ankle."

"Well, then you aren't allowed to go into the forest for a while. Go to your room and take care of your ankle. We both know you can take care of it yourself."

Alyssa was going to reply, saying that she had to go back to the forest, but she kept her mouth shut. She could easily slip out later. She limped up the stairs to her room and sat down heavily in a chair by the window.

"What am I going to do?" she asked herself aloud. "I don't have a chance against that guy! Maybe if I become friends with him or something... Then I could maybe get into his house again."

She sat up. "That's it! I'll try to become friends with him, maybe help him, and then I could help free Tanek! And possibly the other dolls! But I'll have to wait until later... I guess I'll just have to try to wait."

***

Alyssa watched from her bedroom window as her mother left and headed toward the bakery. This was the perfect chance for Alyssa to sneak out.

Her ankle was feeling better, at least better enough to be able to walk, so she hurried out to the stable, got Mana, and headed back to the forest. She rode along the same path that she did before, hoping that the clearing would appear. Her hopes were heard for within a matter of an hour, she emerged into the forest clearing. However, Corbin was there waiting for her.

She dismounted and left Mana to his own devices. Alyssa walked toward Corbin, trying to look friendly.

"What are you doing back here?" Corbin asked with a raised eyebrow. He was sitting on a fallen log, his scythe lying on the ground beside him.

"I don't know. I guess I just thought you needed a friend."

He laughed and tilted his head toward her. "I do not need friends, especially not a Human friend."

She ignored the contempt in his voice when he said the word "Human" and stepped closer to him. "Why do you turn people into dolls?"

"Dolls cannot hurt me like living people can. They can never betray me."

"Oh..." Alyssa edged even closer to him. "Would you like to tell me what happened to make you think this way?"

"No, but I know that if I do not, you will not go away," he said, smiling slightly at her persistence.

"Would you like to tell me here or in the house?"

"Preferably here. I know that you want to get into the house to find your friend. Believe me, you do not want to go against my wishes and go in there."

Alyssa opened her mouth to say something, wondering how he knew exactly what she wanted, but decided against it.

"Come and sit next to me. I promise not to hurt you. I have wanted to tell someone about my curse for a long time."

Alyssa sat next to him on the edge of the log. "Curse?"

"Yes, curse. I want to like living people, but those people have wounded my spirit and cursed me for five hundred years with their hatred."

Alyssa looked at him in confusion. How can this be a curse? Wait... I think he does want to like people; he just doesn't know how. So he thinks of it as a curse. "Okay, why do you like dolls better than people?"

"It started with my childhood," he began. "I was always singled out by the Human children because of my race. They beat on me until I snapped. One day one of the children was being persistent and would not stop hurting me. So, I took care of him. I had been carrying a small scythe, which had some magical powers in it. I used it on the boy, and he was promptly turned into a doll. My parents were not exactly pleased with my actions, but they did not care either. When my parents died I went to a mage-smith, a metalworker who infused magic in their works, and had him make me this scythe."

Alyssa stared at him in shock. "How can something as small as being bullied change you that much?"

"It was not mere bullying. One of the children broke my arm, twice, as well as my spirit," Corbin replied, his was voice cold.

"I see... May I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"What do you have behind that door in the staircase?"

His eyes darkened. "That is none of your business."

"But where did the bodies go of the dolls?"

"You are much too curious for your own good," Corbin said ominously.

Alyssa stood. "I want to know what you did to Tanek and how I can turn him back!"

Corbin picked up his scythe and stood, advancing on her. "I could easily show you."

Alyssa backed up and step, then turned and bolted for the house, intent on getting through that door. When she reached the door, she found it to be unlocked. She flung it open and ran down the stairs.

This can't be a coincidence. He wants me to come down here.

She stopped when she reached the bottom of the stairs. The room was huge and it was filled with boxes and caskets of all sizes. The new ones could be picked out from the old by the shining, new wood. Alyssa ran to the nearest new box and heaved the heavy lid off. Inside, Tanek laid like he was going to his funeral. His hands were neatly arranged on his stomach, and his eyes were closed. Alyssa whirled around when she heard a creak on the stairs behind her.

"I see you discovered my secret," Corbin said with mock dismay.

"Stay back," Alyssa said, backing up and running into the casket.

Corbin stepped toward her, his scythe glowing. "Now why would I do that? You discovered my secret; I cannot let you go back with it. You might tell someone."

Alyssa looked around and spied an ornamental sword hanging on the wall at the far end of the room. She glanced at Corbin and dashed for it, Corbin chasing after her. She reached the sword and pulled it off the wall, turning around and pointing it at Corbin just before he reached her; he stopped just short of being wounded. She shook with the effort of not panicking.

"Look at me," Corbin demanded.

"No!" She did, however, glance at his eyes. They glowed an unearthly blue. She looked away and raised the point of the sword to his throat. "How do I turn Tanek back?"

"If I told you, I would have to kill you," he replied.

She cried out in frustration and dived past him, knocking him to his knees, and ran for the stairs. She yelped in pain as he grabbed her sprained ankle and jerked her to the floor. The sword flew out of her hand and skidded across the floor. The sound it made was like a rabbit's death scream as a hawk descended on it.

"Do you want to know how to turn your lover back? Well, you would have to kill me."

"Would... Would that save the others?" She stopped struggling under the hold he had on her arms.

He laughed harshly. "Of course not! Only those that have been a doll for less than twenty years can be saved. Tanek was my first in at least twenty-five years."

"You monster!" she shrieked. Alyssa began to struggle again. She managed to kick him away and scrambled after the sword. She was too slow. In one swift movement, Corbin stood before her with his foot on the blade of the sword.

"You do not think that you can kill me, do you?"

"I can try!"

Alyssa struggled to her feet and lunged at him, toppling him into a casket. She picked up the sword and put it to his throat again.

"One move and you're dead."

Corbin just smiled and transformed into a raven, flying out of her reach and behind her. When she turned, he stood behind her, his scythe coming for her head.

I can't dodge that!

Or so she thought. Rather than standing and meeting her fate, she took a chance and dropped to the floor, rolling out of the way. Begging father to teach me to fight did come in handy! When she came up from the roll, she did what she never thought she could ever do, she plunged the sword deep into Corbin's side. He cried out in surprise, falling to his knees.

Alyssa released the bloody sword and stepped back, surprised and sickened by what she did. Corbin looked down at the wound, his eyes widening in complete disbelief.

"I... I never though... That I would be freed... By a Human," Corbin said around the blood in his throat.

"Freed?"

"I... Told you... My life has been a curse." He gasped in pain. "I have always wanted to like people... But I just did not know how. Thank you... For at least giving me a chance."

She watched with growing sorrow and pity as Corbin took one last shuddering breath. He died quietly at her feet and, once dead, faded away like most magical beings do in death.

Alyssa stepped over the spot where Corbin's body had lain and made her way to Tanek's casket. She looked down at him and was surprised when he opened his eyes.

"What... What happened?" he asked dazedly.

"I freed you."

"How?"

"I... I killed Corbin," she replied, looking where his body had been.

"I don't understand..."

She helped him out of the casket and hugged him. "I'll tell you on the way home."

They went upstairs and out into the clearing. Above them, a raven regarded them with interest before flying away, disappearing into the sky.

"I'm glad I helped him."

"Helped who?"

"Corbin. I was his first and only friend."

"You're crazy."

Alyssa smiled. "I may be, but at least he will be happy now. Now let's get back to the village before my mother finds out that I'm gone."

She took his hand, found Mana, and the three of them began their walk back to the village.