A Home Away From Home

Chapter Two : Lights

The whole place seemed busy all of a sudden. The maids went around tidying up the place, and the kitchen maids made scrumptious meals, lining them up on the banquet table.

They took their usual position at the entrance of the place, and waited patiently for the guest of the day to arrive.

Sounds of moving horses could be be heard in the distance. Suddenly, those horses came to a halt.

Maids nearest to the door could see that it was the royal carriage. The coach alighted from his position and opened the door to the coach.

A second passed then a man came out.

Looking at him, you'd know he's royalty.

He had a sharp look that never seemed to die away. He had purple hair, long and silky to the touch. His hair was styled in the naive Asian way, with harpins holding several parts up. He had a sculpted face; thin, arched brows and thick, short lashes. That face also, bore a straight, short nose, and small, plum lips.

He had a long body, and wore a long, traditional kimono, with sandals and golden accessories.

He had the royal emblem pinned to his chest.

But....he had an external, noticable feature.

This man had horns.

He had horns at the front of his head that appeared long and curved in opposite directions.

This man walked with an aura of blazing confidence.

Servants trailed after him, each holding up cushions of gifts covered in a material of scarlet. The man made his way down a bit, and finally came to view the military man.

"May you live long my Lord", The military man said, and kissed the emperors signet ring.

"Thank you Cordias for this warm welcome. I brought gifts for you, so get them from the men behind me. Let's go inside and talk...shall we??"

*****

The supposed emperor sat down on a cushion, sipping on his tea quietly.

The now supposed Cordias seems to be doing same. The place is eeriely quiet. Then, the silence is broken.

"The lady is dying my Lord."

Cordias said and the emperor froze up for abit, but showed no further sign of emotion. He then chuckled.

"You don't need to be too formal with me y'know. You can call me by name when we're not dealing on official matters." He said, and Cordias couldn't help but show a cocky smile.

"Thank you Medito."

Medito, the emperor, proceeded with the conversation.

"You said the lady...is dying? Haven't the doctors of the South brought back the medicine? And what is Cupid doing that not a single process and been made concerning her healing process?" Medito asked, his intonation changing a bit. Cordias sighed and shook his head.

"I don't know Medito. I went to go and check on her and she looks like a pile of bones. I've put in money towards her treatment and she isn't responding. It can't be that all is a waste right???" Cordias asked with pleading eyes as his eyes meet with Medito's. He then looked away and placed his face in-between his interlocked fingers.

"It's not a waste. We need that lady to live. Let me go and see her."

Cordias lead Medito through a plight of halls. It seems like the labyrinth could never end. Finally, they got to the end of the hall.

It led to a door. As this door creaked open, they both hit with a heatwave. Not flustered, they entered the room.

The bed was surrounded with equipment that connected tubes to the frail woman's body. He looked at her face and he saw that she seemed lifeless.

But he could hear her breathing.

"She's alive. But she's like a living corpse. She has a virus, right?" Medito asked, and Cordias slowly nodded.

"Then I shouldn't get too close. Vanora told me you were coughing blood yesterday.

You came in contact with her right??" Medito asked raising a brow. Cordias once again, nodded.

"You added a bit stupid for your age. It seems like you want to die."

"I don't want to die. But you know I can't stay a day without asking about her...

You know I love this woman...right?" Cordias asked, his voice almost like a crack...like a whisper.

"I understand what you're saying. But it doesn't mean you should get too close. You could hurt yourself." Medito said, patting Cordias on the shoulder.

" Yeah...You've seen the situation. What do we do??

And do the rest know? The rest of the emperors? Do they know that the lady has not risen??" Cordias asked, and Medito heaved a sigh.

" I'm not certain they are aware. But they'll put resources into this. The woman must wake up.

I need to get a minute of rest. I've been too busy this weekend. When Cupid arrives, get back to me-" Medito didn't get to finish but Cordias interrupted.

"Lady Cupid is coming today? How come I don't know of this? I didn't prepare--"

"You don't have to prepare anything for her Cordias. It's an unofficial visit. So there's no need. Just go and rest. You're thinking too much. I can see it." Medito said, and nodded in reply.

It seemed so. He was indeed very stressed. He was thinking alot.

Thinking mainly of how to bring this lady back.

He escorted Medito out of the room and into a private lodge.

He then wondered...how did Medito know that he was with the lady...

Oh...Vanora... He'd plan to have a word with that woman later on.

As he left, the door seemed to creak open.

The lady on the bed began to breathe a bit faster, and began to pant on the bed. Suddenly, her breath seized.

She stopped breathing for a while.

She then began to groan, her hands unsettled as they gripped her shirt.

Her veins bulged and her eyes twitched. Suddenly, she jerked up, her eyes bloodshot red and full of horror.

Her shrunken eyes searched the place, and she looked at her hands. Suddenly, she faced the window which was now bringing in a lot of sunlight.

She let out a heart shattering scream as she was almost blinded by the lights.

She then tried to move her body to leave the place,as she tried, she fell off the bed. It seemed like her eyesight had been affected.

She crawled as she could not control her feet, for they were too weak.

She heaved, pushing herself against the floor and wishing to leave the heat. Once she passed the door, she collapsed and remained on the floor.

She was out. Unconscious.