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The castle stood magnificient against the backdrop of the greying cold sky. Below the sea surged and churned in violent waves, hitting against the eroded rocks and cliff. In this cold winter evening, there were no seagulls soaring in the sky nor any sign of any living beings. Only the castle, sturdy with its blocks of rock and stone bricks, protecting its dwellers from outside, prisoning them within its walls.
A young man with sunken cheeks and cold deep eyes walked, hooded in a colourless cloak towards the monstrous castle. He had a bundle of his possessions in his arms. His mind was clear now; he did not see anything. But the future could flash past his eyes at any moment, if the Gods wanted him to know and turn to events towards destiny. It had; six months ago. And it was here, in this cursed castle that the hands of Fate would change the lives of the people forever.
The Last Of Romance
by VanillaMint
VM: lotsa thanks to Arna for beta-reading^___^!
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Gackt-Lord
Mana- Lady(oh yah, I use 'she' and 'her' for Mana)
Kozi: Mana's servant
Klaha- magician
Yuki: Klaha's apprentice
Kamijo: concubine
Mayu: doctor
Machi: Mana's sister
Toshiya: Mana's beautiful stepsister
Shinya: Machi's god-sister; Mayu's sister
Kaoru: clairvoyant
Kyo: artist
Die: gardener
Sugizo: hunter
Kisaki: witch
------------- Chapter 1-...wounded
blue birds that cannot fly...émeraude~umi no miserarete
It was dark inside the castle, the windows curtained by thick velvet drapes. The only source of light were from the flames of the magnificient candelabras that lined the corridor and the lamp the servant held as he led the guest into the castle.
" The air is filled with malice," the guest said in a low voice.
Kozi paused in his tracks for a short while then resumed his pace. " Many tragedies happened here. They say the ghost of the past haunts this castle…" he said, then he shook his head. " The Lord and Lady are waiting for you."
Their footsteps echoed against the high walls and tall ceilings. They entered huge halls after huge halls, passed spiralling staircases that led to darkness, tapetries that peopled the walls of corridors with ancient stories of monstrous birds and demons, closed double doors that have been locked for centuries. Finally they reached a huge door, its gleaming surface carved with beautiful patterns.
The flame of the candle flickered when Kozi knocked and opened the door. " The Lord and the Lady are inside…" Kozi bowed for the guest to go in and closed the door after him.
The Lord stood beside the Lady who was sitting still on the bed. The Lord was handsome, his features fine and quite perfect with eyes that gleamed blue in the light. He was dressed in expensive cloth and the dagger that hung on his waist had a handle studded with gems. But his masculine beauty was overshadowed by the beauty of the Lady. She had a beautiful face but cold and expressionless, her hair came down in curls to frame her face, her eyes deep and set with long lashes. Her gown was elaborate and its black colour contrasted with her pale complexion.
" My Lady and My Lord," he bowed in respect.
Mana raised a hand and beckoned him to her. " You're Kaoru, the clairvoyant?"
" Yes," Kaoru answered.
" Can you see my future? I'm sick with an odd illness that no doctor can cure. Will I survive?" she asked.
Kaoru looked at Mana. Her skin was pale, almost white, and beneath the blue lipstick, her lips were probably colourless too. But it was her eyes that attracted him the most. " You will survive the illness but there is a greater obstacle," he told her.
" What obstacle?" she asked softly, lifelessly.
Kaoru frowned. " I can't see…but be careful, My Lady."
Mana looked sad for a moment before her face turned cold again. " You can go rest. You'll stay in the castle till this phase passes-I will summon you again." She dismissed him.
Gackt rested a hand on his wife's shoulder. Mana pushed the hand away and glared at him from the corner of her eyes. " You don't have to pretend. It was sad to hear that I would survive this illness, isn't it?" She got up.
Gackt's face hardened with hatred as he looked at her back and Mana knew.
" This castle is mine. I am its mistress and you are the master. I'm bounded by the curse and thus you are cursed too. You can't escape, Gackt."
Her words were hard and they rang in his head as the sound of the closing door echoed in the vast chamber.
'You can't escape.'
***
Mana raised her scarf to veil her nose from the foul evil air as she ascended the stairs. The back of her gown trailed over the steps. Her chest ached as always, but this time, it hurt more. Along the dark unlit hallway she walked; no one knew the map of this castle as well as Mana. Even the rats and rodents, they dared not dwell in the darkness of this castle for the curse hung on every corner, pressing and choking the inhabitants.
There was a room at the end of the hallway. Inside the folds of her dress, she extracted a key and slot it into the keyhole. The scent of the sea washed over her senses when the door opened. She entered and locked the door behind her. Only here she found her peace; in this room far away from the heart of the castle. Her personal room where she spent her childhood.
The balcony door was open and the balcony overlooked the sea. The horizon line was a blazing trail of fire glowing orange, the sky changing hues gradually to russets and finally, indigo. the first stars sprinkled themselves against the indigo sky.. A gentle breeze blew against Mana's face. There were boxes scattered around the room, holding treasures hidden. A canopy bed stood in a weird angle so that one could sit on it to admire the view of the sea. A pretty doll, old and tattered, lay on the middle.
Mana sat on the bed, her hands reaching for the doll. Almost lovingly, she dusted it and brought it close to her face to place a kiss on top of its head. Her lips were curved at the corners, barely a smile but it was the only smile she knew. She hummed a soft tune in a minor key, a sad and haunting tune.
" I know you'd come here," a voice suddenly said but it did not shock Mana. Instead, Mana kept stroking the fine strands of the doll's hair. " You always came here when he hurt you."
Mana put the doll on a pillow. " Why did you come then, Klaha?" she asked without turning her head for she knew he had appeared amidst the shadows in the corners as he always did.
Klaha stepped out but there was no difference. Darkness had blanketed the room as night came. He spotted the candle standing on the round tabble in the middle of the room. He waved his hand and a flame sputtered and came alive to light up the room.
" I want to cure you," he said.
Mana turned to see Klaha sitting at the table, a blue rose between his fingers.
" Your disease…only I can cure it. Let me," he said. Raising the flower, he let it go but it did not drop; it floated and floated over to drop on Mana's lap. " If you accept my love for you, my princess, all in the world will become yours."
Mana looked at the flower. It was real and the blue colour seemed to be bleeding on the petals. She smiled a mocking smile. " If you have so much power, you can make me yours too."
" I can't change people's heart, especially yours. I can see it though. It's like crystal, beautiful but easily broken…but for now, it is tainted. I can save you. Say 'yes' and you shall see…" Klaha said. He moved nearer Mana and touched her face but Mana jerked away.
" I'd rather die then let you cure me. Go away," she said, not looking at him.
Klaha blinked. " Okay. I have time and patience longer than eternity. I'll be waiting for you, Mana…" his voice hung in the air for a long time but Mana knew he had receded into the shadows again and disappeared from the room.
Mana stared out at the stars, smelling the sea. Her eyelids closed and she hummed the song again. Tonight she would stay here. The curse wouldn't touch him here.
***
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