• Twenty-Five --- The Legend of the Crossed Ones



    "What is it you want to show me?" Kaida whined, pawing at the hands that covered her eyes. Pierrot chuckled behind her, but he did not loosen his hold. He kept hiding her eyes as they walked on the lush dark green grass.
    "You can look now."
    She pushed his hands away from her eyes, grumbling about not being able to see. Her eyes focused on a particular area, and she stopped her complaining.
    Near the edge of a cliff stood about fifteen trees with pink blossoms floating gently to the earth, making it look like if it was raining flowers. There was a small wind, so it made everything look all the more magical.
    Kaida walked to the trees in stunned silence, catching one of the blossoms in her hands. The flower bloomed anew once more, and then flew in the wind, falling to the crashing waves of the sea below.
    "These are Japanese trees from the mortal realm." Pierrot explained. "They're called Sakura trees."
    "They're beautiful..." She whispered. "The one back in the Light Realm... it isn't this beautiful."
    "I brought you here for a reason, actually." He sat down at the base of one of the trees. "Do you know about the Crossed Ones?"
    "Um, no, I don't. I'm sorry." She looked at him over her shoulder, and returned to watching the flowers fall.
    "Mother asked me to tell you about them, and, taking into account what she thinks, I believe it's a good idea." He caught a falling blossom in his hand. "First of all, I need you to explain to me your power."
    She jumped a bit, startled at his question, and she looked away, towards the distant lands beyond the sea.
    "I can't answer that for you." She said softly. "I don't know the answer to that myself. My powers are a mystery to me."
    He sighed, watching her as she kept trying to catch the blossoms falling.
    "Then this won't be easy. I need to know them to confirm mother's theory." He closed his blue eyes a second. "Tell me what you're good at."
    "That's easy!" She sang, sitting with her legs crossed in front of him. "Music, animals, running, archery and herbs."
    "Okay then." He looked away, collecting his thoughts.
    "The Crossed Ones are an extinct clan of Immortals who were both from the Light Realm, and the Darkness Realm. They were born in one, and welcome in both, holding the same Magic and power as both of them did. They were a mixture of creatures, one from the Light Realm, and another from the Darkness Realm.
    "They did not have a parent from both, however. They were born from normal families from one side, chosen at randrom from thousands of other Immortals. Their powers were premature, and they were the only people able to stand up to the Dark Ones. Sadly, that is where they perished.
    "Not one has arised since then, so they have ceased to exist. The Crossed Ones made their homes in the void of nothing in between portals, or in either Realm. They had a mark somewhere on their bodies that marked them as a Crossed One, either as an X, or a small line somewhere on their bodies." He closed his eyes again.
    She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and she slipped off her mask from over her mouth and nose, her black eyes staring at him.
    "And... your mother thinks that... I am one of these people?" She gasped.
    He opened his blue eyes again.
    "Yeah, she does. Her theory is quite correct, however. The Crossed Ones hold the Goddess's Light and Darkness inside of them. They are very powerful."
    "But... I'm not them. I'm just... me." Kaida looked down, her shoulders shaking. "All my life... I've wanted to be normal. Ever since that day... but I can't be, can I?" Her voice was shaky, and he saw a shining drop of water fall to the grass. Where it fell, the grass grew greener.
    He put a hand over hers, trying to comfort her, and she broke out into sobs.
    "That woman was right... I am a freak." She grasped the hand he put over hers tightly, not looking at him.
    "If it makes you feel better, you're not the only one like that." He said with a smile. She looked up at him, startled, her black eyes rimmed red from her tears.
    "I'm... not?" She asked silently. He shook his head.
    "No one ever suffers alone, whether it be loneliness, sorrow, or from the fact that your clan is extinct." He told her, his blue eyes holding a sort of ancient sadness.
    She caught on.
    "Oh... I didn't realize - I mean, I'm sorry for being such a crybaby." She whispered, wiping at her eyes with her hands.
    "It's fine." He wiped away a tear she had missed. "You're fine the way you are."
    "You look thirsty." She commented. "Are you okay?"
    "I'm fine." He lied, and stood up. "Mother wanted to talk to you after I talked to you about this." He held out his hand to help her up. "Shall we?"
    She smiled, taking the offered hand.


    "Wait... what?" Kaida asked, practically falling over when she heard this little announcement.
    "I think it would be in your best intrests to go back to the Light Realm and tell your parents that you have found that person. This might bring about the truce we have been yearning for so many millennia's." Azuralia told her again. "Is it alright?"
    "Oh, um, yeah, of course, my Mistress, but I'm worried, because my parents, well... they're not fond of Darkness Denizens." She sighed. "But if it may bring about a truce, I am willing to try."
    "Thank you." Azuralia smiled, and bowed gently. "I wish you luck."


    Kaida brushed off her skirt, of which she changed clothes for the occasion. She had asked for an audience with her parents a few hours ago, having gone into her room to prepare. Pierrot sat on the sofa in her room, passing the time with a string as he tangled it and untangled it from around his fingers.
    She walked out of her personal bathroom, checking herself in the floor-length mirror to check if she was okay.
    Her hair had grown longer in the past three weeks - passing in between portals is like passing in a time warp - and it was already to halfway down her back, which surprised her. She had tied the bangs of her hair on her head with a black clip, to keep it from her eyes, letting the rest of the white strands fall straight and elegant. She had a golden circlet going around her head, and she had hid her markings over her eyes and her tattoo on her right forearm with powder.
    She wore a beautiful sandy beige dress that had thin brown straps holding onto her forearms, linking with a brown fabric that went over her chest, studded with red gems here and there. The sandy beige dress went down her stomach and her back, the sides meeting a few inches below the brown fabric, and at her hips. At her waist a thin brown strap went around her waist, with hangling threads at the front center, with red gems here and there. Then the skirt fell in front and behind her legs, leaving the sides of her legs exposed.
    Her shoes were simpler; white strap flats with wings on the outer side and a golden star in the center. She had a small white and blue pendant hanging at her exposed collarbone.
    "I hope mother will be satisfied with this for once." She muttered, frowning. "For some reason she never is satisfied with what I wear. Never feminine enough for her standards."
    Pierrot stared at her, an eyebrow raised. She turned to look at him, and he looked away.
    "What?" She asked in a slightly pouty tone.
    "Nothing." He stood up, brushing off his pants. He didn't change for the event. "Though if you ask me, you look perfect."
    "Thanks." She smiled, and took his hand. "Come on. Death awaits."
    He laughed and followed after her as she led him down the large hallway.
    "I'm sure they're not that bad... I mean, the-"
    He stopped short when he saw the Queen of the Light Realm glaring towards them.
    Her light brown hair was loose, flowing in waves to her hips. On her head was a golden vine tiara with an Aqua gem in the center. She wore a golden corset that tied around her neck, leaving her shoulders and the top of her back exposed. It had intricate detailwork along it, swirling and creating an illusion of waves. The corset left her bellybutton exposed, then met with a golden waistplate. It covered her waist, and the plate went down the sides of her thighs to the middle of them. She also wore golden short shorts - they were very short at that. At the back fo the golden waistplate was a long and elegant golden skirt that trailed to her heels, brushing along the floor. It had intricate vinework designs on it, like a passing wind. The skirt left the front of her legs exposed, showing a golden vinework clinging to her left thigh. At her feet were golden high heels, which stretched to her knees in elegant vinework. Her arms had on almost invisible golden silk fabric, covering her fingers completely and having the design of a golden crest at the top of the long gloves.
    "Kaida Keiko!" She exclaimed. "Where in the seven hells have you been?!"

    Pierrot's P.O.V. (Thought I'd change to first person for a while)

    She held my hand a little tighter, but she did not let go. She stood up straighter, and looked at her right in the eyes. Her father was no where to be found.
    "First, I'd like you to meet Pierrot, mother." She did a flourish with her hand, pointing at me. "Pierrot, this is the Queen of the Light Realm, Yumi Nereza Keiko."
    "A pleasure." I bowed my head.
    Her mother seemed to recompose herself.
    "Why have you brought him here? And you still haven't answered my question." She demanded.
    "I have brought him here because his mother and father requested I let you meet him. I have been at his residence for the past while." She was smiling, but her eyes potrayed her anger. I looked at her, and, noticing my gaze, she looked at me, and her anger melted.
    "Why did they want me to meet him?"
    "Because he is... um..." She looked at me. Help. She mouthed.
    "My Lady, may I explain?" I asked. She saw our hands linked, and something softened inside of her.
    "Of course." She nodded, sitting down on her throne.
    "I do not know where to start, however, so I believe I will start at the beginning." I always spoke this formally to a high-classed Immortal. "But please, listen all the way.
    "I am Pierrot, as she has said, and I come from the Darkness Realm. My mother and father are the rulers of the Realm. I met your daughter as I was in the Light Realm, and brought her with me to my parents. There we have found that we are soul-"
    "You mean to say you are..." A burning fire set in her eyes. "Kaida, step away from him at once."
    "No." She said firmly.
    "Don't make me repeat myself." She said in a low voice.
    "You haven't even listened to his explanation to the end. The Mistress only wants a truce."
    "Don't you understand?!" She yelled, standing up. "That is how they tricked us in the past, and that the Dark Ones came to destroy the Light Realm! I will not have it."
    She snapped her fingers, and Kaida and I were grabbed by the waist, arms and shoulders, being carried away. She immediately started biting them, her eyes turning into little slits.
    "Kaida!" I yelled. She looked at me, and reality hit her.
    "No!" She screeched, kicking and fighting like I was.
    "Lock her up in Confinement until her Initiation." Queen Nereza said. "And you know what to do with the intruder."
    "No, wait!" Kaida yelled. "Don't kill him!"
    "Someday you will thank me, Kaida." Her mother said in a dark voice. It almost looked like she was fighting within herself.
    So I knew she wasn't as cruel as she looked.
    "Wait!" I yelled. Her mother turned on me.
    "Silence, intruder!"
    There was an explosion towards one of the stone pillars, and a lot of red and black smoke obscurring the scene. I heard a growl from within the smoke, and my eyes flew wide.
    "Oh shi-"
    From the smoke a pure white wolf ran out, teeth bared and gums salivating. Her eyes were pure red with tiny slits for pupils, and she lunged for three of the guards that held me.
    I caught on right away, and bit the last one on the arm, my fangs sinking in. The blood tasted like crap, however, so I didn't drink, even if I was in need of blood badly. I punched at his face, knocking him out. I wrapped my arms around the stomach of the wolf, and her body shivered uncontrollably.
    "Come on, Kaida." I whispered in the wolf's ear. "You don't have to hurt them."
    "They were going to kill you!" I heard her voice in my mind, and I figured the link was finally complete. "They deserve to die!"
    "I'm still alive." I told her softly. It seemed to jerk her free from the essence of the wolf, and she changed back before my eyes. Her body went limp, and she passed out.
    I picked her up, and almost dropped her.
    Without looking, I quickly covered her bare body with my shirt, then picked her up again. I took one look at the Queen, said my apologies, and ran off.
    "This is a full-fledged war, you hear?!" She yelled. "Until my daughter is free of your spell!"


    I stared out the window at the black sky overhead, sitting on a small stool on the side of my bed in my room. She snored a small, soft tone, and it made me laugh. I looked back at her.
    She litterally looked like an angel while she slept. She had a smile playing at her lips, and her long white hair fanned around her like a halo. I preffered her hair like that.
    I brushed a stray strand from her face, stroking her cheekbone with a finger.
    Her eyes opened, and instead of black, they were a beautiful sea green. I smiled, and she blinked once, sleepy.
    I saw she was about to sit up, so I held her down by the shoulders, which were covered with the blanket.
    "Wait, don't get up just yet." I warned. "When you changed back, you didn't necesarily have anything on you, and we didn't have anything for you here, so while the maid is off to get you some clothes, I suggest staying there."
    She blinked twice, fully awake. Her cheeks flushed deep red.
    "So, wait, you saw me..."
    "No, don't worry!" I told her quickly, my own face red now. "I covered you with my shirt."
    She looked away, frowning.
    "I'm sorry." I sighed. "It's my fault. I didn't explain it to your mother right." I looked down, away from her gaze. "We could have avoided all that."
    She placed her lips on mine, probably to shut me up. It should have bothered me, but what bothered me was that she was still undressed and she ignored my warning. She looked at me softly.
    "Here." She exposed her bare neck. "You need some."
    "But you're-"
    "Just do it. You look like if you're about to pass out." She used her hand to bring my mouth to the base of her neck, the smell of her blood intoxicating me. Before I could stop myself I bit down into her neck, the warm liquid flowing into my mouth and down my throat. She held one of my hands tightly.
    If I was asked to describe the taste, I wouldn't be able to. Though I can tell you it's a really sweet taste, like a vanilla ice cream cone with a chocolate coating and a caramel center, warm like hot chocolate, and just like the best food in the world, in general. I placed one hand behind her neck so I could drink a little more, and her shallow breath caught up to my ears.
    I pulled back, the smell still in my nose. She covered the two small wounds with a hand, looking at me curiously.
    "I can't take more than that." I told her shakily, licking the remaining drops from my lips.
    "How come?" She asked, her eyes looking at me in concern.
    "You'll pass out." I said simply, not looking at her. Just the thought of her blood and how she was undressed was enough to drive any sane Vampire mad.
    "Of course not." She smiled, stroking my head and playing with a strand of my hair. "But thank you for worrying about me." Her wound still bled a bit.
    "Hold on a second." I bent and licked both the puncture wounds, making them close up. I looked away from her again.
    "Get some sleep." I told her, about to stand up. "You need it. I'll come back in a bit to-"
    She held me by my wrist.
    "Don't go." She begged. "You keep the nightmares away."
    I smiled, sitting back down.
    "Okay." I put my hand over hers. "I'll stay."
    "You look tired." She said, the concern clear in her voice.
    "I'm fine."
    "Sleep a little." She scooted down towards the other end of the bed. "You need rest as much as I do."
    "Now that's one thing I have to say no to." I said, looking at her like if she had three heads.
    "Sleep." She repeated.
    "But you're-"
    "Oh geez, it's not like I'll kill you just because I'm - just come sleep."
    Grumbling, I got in under the covers, keeping my distance. I felt her press herself behind me, and I swear my face turned as red as a tomato.
    "I won't bite." I heard a smile in her voice. "But thank you for being like this. It's more... appropriate than most men would have done back in the Light Realm."
    "I have one question..." I looked over my shoulder at her, then turned around again because I could see under the blanket a little.
    "What is it?" She asked, wrapping her arms around my waist.
    "Why don't you call the Light Realm your home?" I asked, closing my eyes.
    "Because this is my home." She said softly. "Where you are."