Chapter 16
"Are you saying you love me?" Dilandau whispered.
Angel smiled. "I'm saying that I'm offering you a chance to be loved. It's your choice if you're going to accept it."
Before Dilandau could say anything the door banged open and Gatti ran in. "Lord Dilandau! We-" He stopped as he say the two hugging on the floor. "Oh! I'm sorry Lord Dilandau, Lady Angel. I-I didn't know…" He trailed off, not knowing what to say.
Dilandau stood up, pulling Angel with him. He let her go and turned to the Dragonslayer. "What is it Gatti?"
"The, uh, the dragon has left the fort. We've been given permission to go after him."
A maniacal grin broke out over Dilandau's face. "Yes." He turned back to Angel. "We'll continue late, alright?" Without giving her a chance to answer he ran out of the room, Gatti close behind.
"Sure." Angel said to dead air. "Later."
Angel wandered around with no destination in mind, lost in thought. When she finally looked up she saw she was in front of Folken's room. Deciding that this was as good a time as any to ask about family stuff she knocked.
It took Folken a full five minutes to answer the door, during which Angel heard numerous mutters and the sound of glass breaking, along with a small explosion. When the door swung open she was greeted by a soot-stained and dishevelled looking older brother.
"Angel?" Folken said, surprised, as he push some hair out of his eyes. "What are you doing here?" He glanced around the hall. "You're by yourself?"
Angel sighed. "Yeah. Dilandau and I had a little talk 'till he ran of with Gatti."
"Oh." Folken moved out of the door way and waved her in. "Did you want to talk to me about something?"
"Yeah." Angel said distractedly as she looked around. The last time she had been in this room she hadn't really been focusing and was just now noticing the numerous sketches on the walls and various scientific things. Though the Vione had running water and electric lights, everything else had seemed sort of medieval. The equipment in Folken's room, though, looked like it belonged in some high tech, sci-fi Star Trek place.
"Angel?" Folken's voice shook her out of her thoughts. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"Oh, right." Angel settled herself on the bed while Folken went back to a large table covered in paper, metal and wires and continued to work on whatever he had been working on. "I was in the library today and I figured that, since I have no idea how to get back home, I should learn about this world. While looking through books I found the most interesting thing; a book on Fanalia." She smiled slightly as Folken's hand slipped. "Seems that you haven't told me everything about our family. Seems I have…another brother. Van, is it?"
Folken froze, dropping the wires he had been trying to connect. His flesh hand shook slightly and he refused to look at his sister. "I…"
"You what?" Angel asked, raising one eyebrow. "You…forgot? You…didn't feel like mentioning it? Hmm? What?"
"Angel, don't be angry-"
"Angry?" Angel cried. "How can I be angry when I don't even remember the guy. After all, it's not like you told me about him."
"He thinks we're both dead!" Folken cried, slamming his hands down on the table. "To him, we've been dead for ten years. Even if I had told you about him, what would you have done? Would you have gone looking for him? You don't even know what he looks like now. All you have is an old picture from when we were kids."
Angel stared at him wide-eyed. "You could have shown me. Taken me to him."
Folken let out a bitter laugh. "I don't think he would be very welcoming to the person who burned down his kingdom the day after his coronation."
Angel was speechless. "He…he was there. When…" She was stopped by a knocking on the door. Folken shot her a look before answering it.
A nervous Gatti stood outside. "Lord Folken." He said with a bow. "The dragon has been captured and is in the dungeon."
Folken nodded before turning to Angel. "We'll continue this later." He left before Angel could say anything, leaving her standing in his room, staring at nothing, with Gatti in the hall.
"What was that all about?" Gatti asked.
"Nothing." Angel growled out. Gatti gave her a 'look' and she sighed. "We just had a fight, that's all. It's nothing serious."
"Right." Gatti drawled out. "Anyway, the other 'Slayers and I are going down to an inn to celebrate the capture of the Dragon. We were wondering if you wanted to come?"
"Why not? Long as someone'll give me a ride."
"Come with me." Gatti said.
Angel nodded and the two left Folken's room, heading to the hanger. The walk was silent, Angel not wanting to talk and Gatti recognising that. Reaching the hanger Angel saw the rest of the Dragonslayers standing around and climbing into their Guymelefs. Her roommates were waiting in a group and smiled as she and Gatti approached.
"You found her." Dalet said with a smile.
"Are you coming?" Chesta asked sweetly.
"Yeah," Angel replied. "Gatti's giving me a lift. It'll be nice to take the trip while conscious." She added with a look to Dalet, who ducked his head in embarrassment.
"Well, let's go." Miguel said briskly as he climbed into his Guymelef.
Gatti turned to Angel. "Just stand here until I get in and I'll pick you up."
"Okay." Angel watched as they climbed up and prepared for take off.
The Guymelef that Gatti was piloting knelt down and held out a hand. "Climb on." Gatti's magnified voice said. "Ill' carry you this way."
Angel cautiously stepped onto the hand and gave a little squeak as it lifted up. She clutched the metal as the fingers gently closed around her. The vibrations from the Guymelef's steps jolted her grip, but Gatti assured her that it would be smoother in the air.
One by one the Guymelefs jumped out of the hanger. There was a brief moment of weightlessness before Gatti turned on the engines and began the descent to the forest.
Flying this way was far different from when Angel had flown with her brother. Then she had been in control. She had been able to feel her wings and the muscles in her back working to keep her up. Flying with a Guymelef was like flying in an airplane, but without the body of the plane. Angel was comforted with the thought that, if something went wrong, she could fly away. Though she would have no way of saving Gatti.
The ride was over quickly and Angel soon found her feet on the ground again. She waited while the others shut down their Guymelef before falling in step beside Chesta and Guimel as they walked to the inn.
The two 'Slayers told Angel all about like on the Vione. They told her what decks to avoid, apparently the engineers hated being interrupted, and where to find them if she needed to talk. They also told her where Naria and Eriya usually were in case Angel wanted to talk to another girl.
When they reached the inn most of the 'Slayers headed for the bar. Angel glanced at it and debated getting something, but her conscious won out in the end and she sat at a table. Miguel passed her a bag of money before joining his comrades at the bar and Angel ordered a non-alcoholic drink.
Angel watched the Dragonslayers as they drank and had fun. They really are celebrating something. Angel thought. Guess they did something good. She glanced around, looking for the grey-haired commander, but couldn't find him.
"Hey," she caught the arm of a passing 'Slayer. "Where's Dilandau."
"Lord Dilandau never joins us in celebrating." The young man replied. "He's probably still on the Vione."
"Oh, thanks." Angel let him go and turned back to her drink. She quickly drained it and stood up. Spotting Miguel she joined him and asked, "What's Dilandau's favourite drink?"
Miguel looked confused for a second before answering, "Daichken wine."
Angel nodded and thanked him before turning to the bartender. "A bottle of Daichken wine please."
"Sure thing sweet cheeks." The man pulled a dark red bottle out from under the counter and handed it over to her.
Angel gave Miguel his money back and said, "He's paying." She ignored Miguel's protests and left the inn.
Walking back to the forest she spread her wings and took off. It was harder gaining altitude that she had thought, but she finally managed to get above the tree-line. There she caught a thermal and rose quickly. A smile grew on her face as she flew, enjoying the feeling of freedom. She was just starting to enjoy herself when the hanger doors came into view. Angel flapped her wings and angled into the opening of the Vione. The landing was a bit rough, but the wine bottle stayed in tack and she didn't get hurt.
Angel quietly left the hanger and walked back towards the 'Slayer quarters. On the way she ran into a soldier and asked directions to Dilandau's room. It turned out the he lived right down the hall from the 'Slayers.
Angel stood in front of the door, rethinking her decision. She looked at the bottle in her hand and shook her head. No, I should just forget about it. He probably wants to celebrate by himself. She started to turn to leave when the door opened.
Dilandau stood there, shirtless and barefoot, only wearing his leather pants. He didn't have his diadem on, letting his hair fall into his eyes, which were open in shock.
"Can I help you?" He asked, eyes flickering to the bottle.
"I, uh…" Angel looked around nervously before holding out the wine. "I brought this for you, since the others said they were celebrating something and you weren't celebrating with them and I thought, well, I though…" She trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"Thank you."
Angel's head shot up to look at Dilandau. "What?"
"I said 'thank you'." Dilandau said through gritted teeth as he took the bottle. "Don't make me say it again."
Angel smiled. "You're welcome."
"Did you, uh, want to come in." Dilandau asked hesitantly.
"Oh, uh, no…thanks." Angel said. "I don't drink."
"Oh."
"Right. So I'll, uh, see you tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow."
"Bye."
"Goodbye."
Angel turned and slowly walked away. She looked back just as the door closed before sprinting down the hall. She turned the corner and banged her head against the wall. "Idiot. The whole point was to spend time with him. Idiot, idiot, idiot!" She straightened and turned towards the hanger. "Might as well head back, since I made a colossal mess of that plan."
Angel was passing the turn to Folken's room when her brother walked into the hall. Angel ducked behind the wall and watched as he quietly closed the door, resting his hear on the frame. When he straightened up Angel saw tear tracks on his face. She hid as he walked past and left towards the library.
Angel thought about it for less than a second before rushing over to the door. She pressed her hand on it and was surprised when it opened. She quickly slipped in, closing the door behind her, and turned to look at the dark room.
A movement on the bed caught her attention and she looked closer. The light from the moon and Earth shown through the window, lighting a figure on the bed.
"Who's there?" A voice, young male, asked as the figure sat up. "Folken?"
Angel looked closer and gasped. The figure had mover into the light, letting Angel see him. He was the same age as she was, probably the same height, and had messy black hair cut short. His dark red shirt and light pants couldn't hide his lanky frame, similar to Angel's. His nose was slightly longer than most, like Angel and Folken's, and his eyes were the same dark amethyst as the siblings. Angel stepped into the light and the young man's eyes widened.
"Angel?" The whisper was barely audible. "Is it really you?"
"Van?" Angel walked closer to the bed, shock apparent on her face.
Van stood shakily and reached out to Angel. The silver-haired girl let out a sob and fell into his arms. Both sank back onto the bed, both crying. The twins held each other as though the other would disappear, crying as the sun rose over the horizon, blocking out the image of Earth.
Author's Notes: So, this is the end of the first part. I do have more planned, but this is all I have written right now. Before I work on the next instalment, however, I'm going to be doing a major re-write of this one. Once the re-write is done, I'm going to delete this one and repost. I have no idea when that'll get done though, so don't hold your breath.