Chapter 8: Dream Fragment
Just wait. You’ll be fine. You’ll see Alura. You and Talon shall both be fine if you just wait. Nate’s voice spoke to Alura in the darkness of her sleeping mind.
But…dad…I can’t. I can’t wait. I must go and find Amoxious to stop him! He’s the reason you…the reason you…died. He’s the cause of it all! I can’t let him kill mom too! She thought back shouting in her mind while standing in complete darkness she was unseeing of anyone near her. A soft light began shinning upon her lone form as tears fell. It was like a soft spotlight from overhead, making the surrounding darkness that much thicker. A hand reached out after a moment, softly touching the side of her face.
Don’t cry. You’ll be just fine. Trust me. You’ll see. Just…hang in there a little longer. Don’t forget…you are the oldest so must set a good example for Talon. He looks up to you. Nate spoke softly with concern and a hopeful tone to his daughter in her empty dream world.
But dad…I…I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this. Why can’t you come back? When no answer came, panic started to rise into her throat. Dad! Her call received no reply as the hand faded slowly and then it was gone. She was once more left alone in the darkness. Slowly she hugged herself in the blackness, feeling cold all of a sudden her dream body began shivering. She looked at her hands after pulling them away from her body and gasped, trembling more but from fear not the cold and shook her head in disbelief. No…no……no…this can’t be right. Why…why is there…blood? She thought, staring at her dark red hands as blood dripped from her palms. A hiss of laughter echoing from the thick black curtain caused her to jump, turning around and to scream as a fast moving blurred form flew right at her with something sharp.
Alura screamed jolting up in bed, eyes wide with fear and cold sweat pouring off of her. Panting she stared ahead with the image of the face of a monster lingering in her mind, even though she was now awake. Slowly with a shaking hand she touched her damp forehead, her eyes closing as she tried to ease her breathing. It had been two years now that she’d spent living at the God’s palace. Alura had continued to have strange dreams, terrifying dreams that sent chills down her spine each time she had one or tried to tell Ginsu about them. “….just a dream….nothing more….” She muttered to herself, looking outside at the bright sunny day with birds chirping away their songs.
It was going into fall now and she was eight years old as her brother was now four, and still didn’t speak which made her think all the more that he was mute. Sighing she stared out the window longer as colored leaves fell off the trees. Her skill with the wooden sword was slowly improving but not as fast as she wanted. It was nothing compared to Ginsu and she was determined to beat him with it no matter what. He had told her that once she could best him she could advance to a real blade. The scenery outside her second floor window was relaxing, helping her once heavy breathing to ease into a normal rhythm. She would sit in bed for a couple of minutes before slowly turning and getting out of bed, feeling the cool wood to her bare feet and stood, walking to the closet to pick out what to wear for the day.
Once finished, Alura looked herself over in the mirror wearing a simple blue shirt, jeans, and her favorite black shoes. Sighing she brushed her hair, pulled it back and went to the door grabbing her wooden sword, and ran out to get to the gardens and train. The palace was busy with talk and commotion as the servants and maids were busy working to prepare food, and rooms for guests that were coming. Alura didn’t notice as the men had finished their training and were preparing to leave, hence why the rush was beginning throughout the palace, inside and out. A ball was to be held for the men before they departed to fulfill their duty in protecting the lands, they would be sent to. The ballroom was decorated with fine wears and items to bring out its beauty. The long dining table was set up perfectly for over one hundred guests.
Once making her way outside, namely into the large greenhouse gardens, she went straight into training under the Water Gods close gaze. Ginsu smirked through the glass door to the gardens, keeping the delicate looking structure cracked open while watching Alura train as the maids rushed here and there to get things done, and ready for the big night. “Well now, it seems you are really determined to beat me, right?” Ginsu asked while walking into the gardens smirking at her. Alura paused to watch him and nodded silently then went back to fighting her invisible opponent. Ginsu chuckled, picking up his wooden blade and took his stance. “Show me what you got.”
Alura stopped with little expression on her face then smirked as she took her low stance. “Your funeral,” she said sweetly, bringing him snicker with doubt she would beat him, keeping his eyes on her he kept a relaxed stance.
“Thank you.” He grinned widely. This action threw her off as he charged forwards swinging to hit her head. Quickly she brought up her blade blocking it and smirked.
“Cheap move,” Alura commented with an outgoing breath, almost seeming amused he would do such a tactic to get a surprise attack in.
“All’s fair in love and war you know.” Ginsu stated as he applied more pressure to his weapon against hers, using only one hand to wield his sword, watching as her arms began to tremble under the added pressure of his body leaning in.
Alura tried to shrug while feeling her muscles tense and return in equaling force to keep his blade back. “So?” she pushed him back grunt, charging forwards with a jab as he stumbled back while hoping he wouldn’t be able to recover quickly enough. She was mistaken as she saw him easily dodge the strike, sliding to the side smoothly with his blade brought up to slam her in the back. Smoothly she recovered from the forward momentum of her jab that missed and turned, rising her weapon to block the blade upon twisting around on her frontal foot, and nearly fell but swiftly placed her other foot behind her she managed to stay standing. She pushed against his blade once she had her footing secure, yet even with using both hands to hold the hilt she was still shaky, struggling to hold him back.
Ginsu yawned as he temporarily brought his unused hand out from behind his back to hover in front of his mouth, returning it closefisted behind his back and continued using only one hand with his weapon. “Is this all you got? Man two years have done nothing for you except increased your beauty.” He soothed as he gave a charming smile. Alura blushed brightly as she couldn’t take her eyes off his face or that sweet expression in his eyes and for an instant, dropped her guard. Ginsu took notice of this and flicked his wrist twisting his blade just so, resulting in knocking her blade out of her hand and placed his to her throat. “Slice, you’re dead.” He said calmly with his charming face and voice which only worsened her blush, this though was now from the embarrassment of being tricked again by that move and look.
Alura blinked trying to snap herself out of her stunned shock at the fact she continued to fall for that move each time he used it. He would complement her looks while giving a charming and sweet smile, and she would drop her guard thrown off by that. She couldn’t believe she was still letting her heart get in the way of her training. He removed the wooden blade from her neck finally watching her pouting face. “You are doing excellent. Just…” Ginsu paused sighing, “you have to watch it when you drop your guard. If I were your enemy I would have just killed you. Amoxious is charming and sly like a fox and as slimy like snake in one. You can’t trust him. He is cunning so you’ll always have to have your guard up.” He instructed, hoping she would take this to heart for once. He would hate to see her get slaughtered just because Amoxious used a similar or different trick to play with Alura’s emotions to end her life.
“I understand.” Alura said quietly with a nod, walking over and kneeled down, picking up her blade. She paused feeling the blushing return, feeling like a fool but at the same time was enjoying how Ginsu and her relationship was developing. Slowly she stood once she got the redness off her cheeks and smiled, turning to begin walking up to him and placed a finger to his lips. She got a devious idea to show two could play this game. This threw him as she hadn’t done this before. Blinking he wanted to ask her what she was doing but didn’t speak against her finger the pressed a little more firm, confusing him further looking down at her hand then to her eyes. “Maybe…I should return the favor…” she said in a seductive voice watching him and slowly neared closer causing his face to go bright red, and she placed her wooden sword to his neck when she saw his flustered expression. “Slice, you’re dead.” She repeated softly against his cheek near his ear smiling and removed her finger from his lips.
Ginsu exhaled feeling bothered so tried to calm him-self down with a deep breath. “Man, touché. You are quite good at that.” He responded breathlessly as he was getting himself calmed down, trying to get rid of his blushing from having fallen for his own trick but hers…hers he saw as a dirty move. At least his way wasn’t so emotionally confusing.
Alura smiled and giggled as she lost her seductive air, her sword held now behind her back with the point down. “Hehe gotcha! You said to never let your guard down but you did.” She taunted then stepping back a bit from him before leaning forwards, grinning and stuck her tongue out at him with a giggle behind her closed lips, giving a wink then drawing her tongue back into the confines of her mouth. She didn’t want to draw or catch flies like a frog by leaving it out too long.
Ginsu looked at her then away as one finger lightly scratching the side of his face sweating a little as he tried to think, of a good explanation or excuse to explain him-self. “Well uh…you see…uh…I was just um….”
“You were just what?” she asked with the smile not yet leaving her lips and turned it into a grin.
“I was just….letting you win….?” Ginsu tried to have a confidence to his tone but it simply came out as unsure. “Yea, that’s it. I was just letting you win.” He lied, avoiding looking at her as he shifted his gaze up to the side, observing the horizon.
Alura grinned giggling to herself, finding his response cute. “Uh huh, sure you were.” She cooed then turned and started to walk around the garden, her legs almost straight like a march to start but loosened up to step normal with bending knees. “So what’s going on? Everyone is rushing around like chickens with their heads cut off.”
“Oh tonight there is going to be a ball that Hiatsu is throwing for the men I’ve been training, since they’ve completed it and are going to be sent out to protect the people.” Ginsu answered as he stepped to the side to put his wooden blade away, catching up to her and walking at her side.
“I see.” Alura said almost sounding distracted, her brown blue eyes slipping over the colorful flora. She didn’t see the Water God nod as she kept her eyes on the plants for some minutes, enjoying the sounds of nature mixing in with the soft wind that slipped through the screened windows. “Will I be able to come? I’ve never been to a ball before.”
“Hmm, let me see.” Ginsu started to look Alura over as he held his chin, curling his index finger over the front and thumb resting on the underside of his jaw, his body circling her some before he shook his head and coming to a stop with a scrutinizing look. “Sorry but in those clothes you would stand out like a sore thumb. You’d have to change clothes, wear a dress, and have your hair fixed right, yada, yada, yada.” He started waving his hand in the air with his eyes closed and head tilted up to the side as though he were someone important, with a very high heir about them.
Alura smirked laughing a little. “Oh very well, I’ll change clothes and re-fix my hair if that makes you happy.” She fluttered her eyes to him, acting cuter than what seemed possible, bringing a smirk to his face.
Ginsu bowed forwards while sweeping his arm out and across his midsection, stepping one foot back with the smooth gesture. “Oh my dear lady! Your beauty is beyond comparison tonight. May I have the great honor of escorting you to the ball this evening?” he asked sarcastically, imitating a prince who had just seen her for the first time.
Alura released a gasp, one hand pressing its fingertips to her chest before starting to fan her face, like she was about to faint. “Oh my dear sir! I am so flattered by your request that I…I just don’t know what to do?” she said dramatically acting helpless, placing the back of her hand to her forehead and looking away. Soon they both burst out laughing at each other, Ginsu catching Alura who nearly fell from her laughter. “Royals are funny.” She said wiping a tear from her eye and he nodded.
“Yes but without them there would be wide chaos more than there is currently. You don’t know what all they have to do to try and make people happy. It’s hard being royalty actually. Just like it is hard being a God.” He explained, trying to control his laughter.
“You sure? It seems pretty simple to me. You just sit around all day and do nothing basically. Right?” Alura asked, looking up at him as she tilted her head back, cocking an eyebrow in disbelief of his facts.
“Well…not really. If it were that simple there’d be peace all over but there isn’t because it’s hard to make everyone happy and keep peace. It’s not easy being a royal, a God or anything that involves someone looking up to you. I’m sure it’s not easy being a big sister, is it?”
Alura was about to answer quickly but hesitated and answered in a slower tone, sounding to be thinking over her response. “Well…no. It’s not easy at all. It’s hard because he’s constantly watching and if you do something bad he will mimic it and learn it. I don’t want him learning anything bad.”
“It’s the same as being royalty. If you are royal you have hundreds or more people watching your every move. You cannot get a break. If you do one wrong thing someone will see it and tell another, soon it spreads and then chaos follows ending in only disaster.”
“I see. Well that makes sense.” She said softly and he nodded in agreement.
“Well now, we best get ready if we are to make it to the ball on time to have fun, right?” he asked smiling and she nodded, walking out of the gardens with him and went to her room to get ready.
Night came and guests began to arrive dressed in exotic clothing, regal attire and jewels. A knock came at Alura’s door and Ginsu entered after a short wait, dressed in a brown shirt, pants, and black shoes. Turning around on her bench in front of her mirror she eyed him over curiously, tilting her head slightly to the side. “You sure? I mean…I have not once seen a man going to a party dress like that. I’ve seen them wear white shirts with black jackets and black pants with black shoes.”
Ginsu sighed, lightly rolling his eyes. Mortals, so stuck with a traditional look it was almost sad how they didn’t seem to think outside the box. “It’s fine. I can wear whatever I want. Don’t worry.” He assured her but saw and heard her sigh anyway with a look of being unimpressed. He thought this over wanting to show her he could easily be classier if he wished to and so he snapped his fingers, having a new vision in mind for his formal wear. His clothing changed after a blue aura that engulfed them began to fade away, revealing more appropriate attire. He stood now in a rich dark blue shirt that fit firmly being a vest of shiny silk over a soft eggshell white shirt, both resting under a black partly buttoned up jacket with dark pants and black shoes. He wore a ring on his finger now that previously hadn’t been there with a beautiful sapphire and ruby stones, each held in their own four little gold colored teeth. “Now, is this more what you were thinking?” he asked with a gentle smile, humor in his tone at the state of shock painted so clear on her face.
“Wow, fast change.” Alura muttered in awe at the sight quietly under her breath. She stood once the shock wore off and brushed her dress off some to smooth it. She wore a beautiful strapless blue gown that held soft waves of green and white around the bell. Around her neck resting on her collarbone was a necklace of gold with three chains in front housing beautiful offset jewels, giving the soft illusion of stair steps. The lengths of the chains were adjusted to fit her frame so not to droop but to rest comfortably against her soft flesh, ensuring the right distance between fabric and metal.
He smiled nodding in approval as he saw how beautiful she looked for eight and it surprised him. She looked almost older than her age but that could be contributed to Nate’s blood flowing through her, though this was his theory on it. “Beautiful. You look stunning.” He complimented bringing her to smile and blush lightly as she started walking over to him. He offered his hand to her and she took it, unable to stop softly smiling as he led her gently out of her room and, down the stairs to the ballroom for a magical night.
When they entered the magnificent ballroom it was lit beautifully as smooth and elegant music played with a joyful beat, the men and woman dancing looked to all be nobility. “Wow.” She whispered quietly, staring at everything in amazement.
Softly Ginsu tapped her shoulder and held out his hand. “Shall we dance?” he asked smoothly. Alura nodded taking his hand and followed his lead mixing in with the other couples stepping in time as they flowed across the spotless floor, twirling at times. She laughed as it was fun for her to finally enjoy what she’d seen so many nobles do, and heard spoken about. He smiled to her as they danced within the crowd of people. Hiatsu watched the sea of bodies, only dancing with women who asked and enjoyed himself in this old art form as did they. Marizu on the other hand stayed back out of the way and in the shadows. He was not much of a dancer and hated seeing so many enjoying themselves. None would want to dance with him anyway as all feared him, so he stayed back out of the way and watched as silent as death itself.
The night flowed by like magic and too quickly for Alura’s liking as she was enjoying the magical evening. Finally, when it came time everyone was directed to the banquet hall for dinner. Hiatsu who sat at the head of the table made his speech to the men, wishing them luck on their journey and mission. The meal went well until it was about halfway through when some guests took notice of the eight year old sitting at Ginsu’s side, some of the men and woman there began to question the reasons behind Alura being allowed to join them. They hadn’t enjoyed seeing a child at the ball but ignored it since it was just dancing, though now at dinner the girl was being allowed around wine. This they disapproved of and raised questions to pass through the air with whispered breaths, questioning her and the God Brother’s judgment in allowing this. A select few whispering she had swiped a glass of wine when she simply had juice to go along with the meal.
Alura looked down into her lap, slowly lowering her fork as she heard their whispers. She wasn’t stupid and could hear them, and it hurt emotionally to know the accusations they were making simply based on what was in front of their eyes in that moment. She tried to stick it out, taking another bite but it became too much. Setting down her fork Alura looked up at Ginsu silently with sad eyes, she didn’t want to ruin his reputation so, and slowly pushing back her chair she excused herself quietly with her face downturned to watch the floor. She didn’t want to meet their gaze as she hurriedly left the dining hall. Ginsu shortly after Alura had passed through the doors to reach the stairs to return to her room, stood and excused himself before following Alura into the hallway out of the dining hall.
Hiatsu sighed closing his eyes annoyed at his youngest brother. The whispering speculations, though, were growing most annoying so the Fire God cleared his throat, silencing the forming rumors and gossip. “Excuse him, he has been training our special guest and thought she could use a night to relax. Return to your meals and silence your tongues, unless your words pertain to the reason this ball was held for.” He warned strictly and the men and women quickly grew quiet, returning to their plates as a few only spoke if it was to compliment the food or speak about the mission the newly trained soldiers would be doing. None wished to cross the eldest God Brother, not wishing to become black as charcoal.
Ginsu looked around the hall and continued briskly down the corridor, turning a corner and saw her at the top of the first staircase where it split. He stepped up behind her and turned her around hugging her. “It’s alright. Don’t mind them. They don’t mean anything. They don’t even know you so how would they know why you are there?”
Alura felt her-self be turned around and pulled into a hug before she could stop it. She struggled to push away from him as she spoke. “They were right though. I didn’t belong there. Sorry to ruin your good time.” She said softly as she was finally able to get free of his warm arms, pulling away. Once out of his arms, she walked on her way up the stairs and down the hall towards her room, still clearly upset though tried to keep it hidden.
Ginsu watched and sighed shaking his head then glanced behind him, listening to the quiet chatter from the dining hall. He didn’t return to the ball. He should but didn’t want to, feeling annoyed by the guests for how they spoke about Alura. If they had spoken openly about their concerns instead of whispering as if she didn’t exist there, it may have been a different story because a discussion could have taken place but that obviously didn’t happen. So releasing a breath he turned his head forwards and simply followed after the girl, arriving at his destination he turned his back to the door so to be standing outside Alura’s door and, waiting to try to comfort her when she might allow him inside. Sobs were coming through Alura’s door when he had walked up and he sighed, listening silently with arms folded in front of his chest, each sob breaking his heart.
“Too young?! I am not that young! I’m older than I was!” Alura snapped in a low growl while pacing around her room. “I’m not too young!” She shouted in an upset rage, throwing a book hard into the opposing wall across from her door as tears stained her face as they fell, her body shaking with each sob and sniffling. She wasn’t too young, she just wasn’t. Yes she was eight but that was older than six. She didn’t need to be talked about like that. Where did they get off doing that anyways? Her open hands closed quickly into fists, tightening with the mere thought they had spoken like that of her simply because she was mortal instead of Immortal. It wasn’t fair. Since Ginsu had invited her it should had been just fine for her to be there, right? There wasn’t any reason why an invited guest shouldn’t be allowed to attend, or to her view it didn’t make sense why those Immortals would judge her compared to Ginsu not judging her. Sure Hiatsu wasn’t the nicest or warmest of men and Marizu was just ice cold to her, so they didn’t count as examples of a proper Immortal greeting.
Ginsu waited, listening for a minute to her short rant and the thud of a thrown object before knocking softly. “Go away! I’m tired!” she snapped harshly, not hiding the tears in her voice. He knew what she said but couldn’t make himself leave, not when she was so upset because of everyone else. Softly he turned the door handle and let himself in. Gazing around the room slowly he saw Alura sitting at her vanity and exhaled, looking away with second thoughts as he didn’t want to force his wanting to help if she would resent him for it. It took a few more slow moments before he swallowed his worry and fully entering the room, closing the door softly behind him. Stepping over quietly he softly touched her shoulder with his head tilted forwards looking down to her collapsed form, and if she would look up she would see his sad reflection in the pale colorless glass. “What do you want?” she sobbed from her arms making the words sound muffled. She felt his hand on her shoulder but didn’t bother to look up to know who it was.
Ginsu was silent for a second as if thinking then let his quiet voice speak. “Nothing, nothing at all except only to comfort you. They were out of line to whisper those things. Trust me. Things won’t change or become different here. You are still apart of us here at the palace.” Those words leaving his lips caused her to jump, her head jerking up and her body to turn to look at him with shocked, wide eyes as a few tears still flowed silently down her soft flesh.
“Wh…what?” she asked as she stared. She felt almost dumbfounded by those simple words from him or to her they were simple.
Ginsu slowly gained a gentle smile to his sad expression. “You will always be a part of us. You will forever be part of this palace and our lives.” He spoke with an honest tongue and eyes seeming to shimmer like the calm ocean in the moonlight. She didn’t move, feeling stuck in her staring then finally she closed her eyes and collapse against him, hugging him tightly and cried on into his waist. This time it wasn’t from the sadness they below had brought to her heart with anger, no these were tears from the happiness to hear this as it felt like she had a second family for her and Talon. He softly held her close and kneeled down so she was crying into his chest, and began to rub her back gently, softly humming a tune to help calm her down. “You’ll always be welcome here no matter what any Immortal or Mortal says.” Ginsu whispered lastly into her ear as he let her release any emotions she wished so they wouldn’t be bottled up.
Below them over time the event had ended and guests took their leave, seen off by Hiatsu as Marizu ensured no one tried to stay behind for whatever their reasons. When all was done and servants worked to clean up the rooms, Hiatsu made his way to go rest in his chambers, dismissing Marizu to go rest or do as he pleased within the God Lands territory so long as it didn’t harm either child. Inside his extravagant room Hiatsu removed his shirt, changing into loose pants he let his body flop deadly onto the soft feather mattress. His head rest on the comfortable cotton pillow, his mind reviewing over the events at dinner, and he sighed closing his yellow eyes slowly. That hadn’t gone so well. He would need to make it right with Ginsu over how they treated Alura, sounding as if they had been seeing a lesser being. Mortals were seen as below Immortals but it was still rude to treat those creatures with any less respect than what they displayed in return upon meeting.
Hiatsu drifted to sleep with an active mind making a list of duties to do in the morning. The Fire God wasn’t the only one having difficulty drifting to sleep. Awake in his bed Talon had been laying still, listening to the chatter from maids and his hand glowing with one of his ears. The four year old was motionless, eyes half open with a slight dark haze filling one eye like storm clouds rolling in. He had enhanced his hearing with his demon aura inherited from their father and had heard what took place at dinner. Listening to the maid’s gossip and rumor over what was said by the guests and a couple soldiers brought a frown to tug onto his thin lips. He couldn’t do anyone harm but it brought mixed emotions inside him to stir. He was glad his sister wasn’t pampered there but at the same time he felt anger towards those who were rude and disrespectful towards her.
As the chatter quieted, giving Talon nothing else to listen to that could bring him interest, he let his aura fade away and his eyes slowly closed. The eye once clouded became its beautiful blue once more after his aura had ceased, and went back to slumber within him as his body drifted gradually into a deep sleep.
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