Author's Note: Hey. Merry Christmas, guys. Sorry it's been so long okay?
Enjoy! ^_^
-Demons From Heaven-
Chapter Three - Pantomime
"Refill, Siania?"
"Alright, thank you."
"You don't need to be so polite you know. We are people you know, Sai, you shouldn't be so distant . . . formal."
"I'm sorry, my Lord."
"Sai . . ."
"Never mind, Ico. It's obviously awkward for her. It has been a long time. But please don't feel you have to be on excellent conduct just because we have titles, Siania. We're all supposed to be friends here, aren't we?"
"Yes, my Lady."
Sighs of exasperation echoed from opposite ends of the table. Good. Siania had made Yorda and her precious husband feel uncomfortable and frustrated before she had done anything that would upset them greatly, which was her plan. It would be in operation soon, and the entire royal family would be at her mercy. Her plan was simple, well thought out and sheer genius, it would not only traumatise the victims, it would destroy them.
Her plan was to kidnap the youngest child of Ico and Yorda, Princess Nianarra, and hold her hostage in an abandoned castle built on a tiny island. It was the twin castle of the one that Yorda and Ico had once been held in, and it was exactly the same. It was the only building on the miniature island, but had never been used. She would enclose her in one of the old cells used to sacrifice horned children, and if Ico and Yorda made it in time to save her, they too would be trapped. Once all three of them were dead, it would be simple to be rid of Prince Vari, the small seven year old unaware of his aunt's intentions. It would be a matter of time before Ara P'Way fell in a way of grief, riots breaking out all over the city, causing chain reactions of devastation about the islands. And all she had to do was eliminate a family of high decree.
Siania did not want the crown for herself, it had never once crossed her mind. She was not like Giannias or Keoden. She was more clever, more intelligent, had put much more thought into her ploy than Yorda's previous would-be assassins. She was timing her strike well, she would take little Narra out the next day, lead her to the shore of the island, silence her, then travel by boat to the island not far away. It was a cunning and devious plan, foolproof and intoxicatingly ingenious.
"More bread, Siania?" Ico asked, knocking the hidden traitoress out of her troubled mind and back into the world where she put on a front. Smiling at her foster brother, Siania took a piece of the warm freshly baked bread and placed it on her plate, wiped clean. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother Kiassa look at Raath and give him an approving smile, obviously pleased that Siania was making some progress in the mindless social activities she was being forced to oblige in.
Inside her head, Siania thought evil things, but outside she wore a smile that was a ticking timebomb, waiting to explode.
~*~
The next day, Siania spontaneously requested an audience with Ico and Yorda's daughter, asking if she could take Nianarra out for a horse ride for a bonding session. At first Ico was strangely skeptical, but Yorda seemed desperate to be on good terms with Siania (for it was Yorda's nature to want to be friendly with everyone she met) and felt no suspicion lingering in her mind. Yorda thought kindly of people despite all her ordeals, and it was Ico who sensed something strange, though he did not say.
"How long will you be?" he asked Siania, after she asked.
"As long as we need to be. We'll return long before dark though, if that's what you're worried about." Siania replied smoothly.
Ico nodded, and cast a sideways glance at his beautiful wife, who nodded and said, "I don't see there being a problem. Don't you think that'll be alright, Ico?"
Ico smiled grimly, "Well . . . " he muttered, studying Siania's face for any traces of a hidden meaning. Although there was, he found none and knew he should trust her with his daughter, "Alright. As long as you're back by nightfall."
Siania nodded and curtsied, stabbing Ico right in the eye with her stare, saying, "Thank you . .. Ico," before Yorda smiled heartily, nudging Narra out to meet Siania, who held out her hand for the princess to take. Nianarra obliged, giving her auntie a large childish grin, "Come, let us go and get ready. I shall ask the cook to prepare us a lunch, you must go and bring what you wish for the journey . . . trip. I shall go and collect a blanket for us to sit on. I will meet you outside with the horses it five minutes, alright?"
The four-year-old understood, curtsied to Siania, blew a kiss to her mother and father(who both looked a little cautious), then ran off as quickly as her little legs could, her small dress flowing behind her. As soon as she approached her room she grabbed a large bag, stuffing her kitten Riara into it, covering the small tortoise-shell feline with a tunic. She fetched her riding cloak, which covered her from the cold when the horse rode fast.
Meanwhile, Siania was writing a letter. In her bag was some rope, a cloth to cover the princess' twittering mouth with and the blanket, but not for a picnic. That was for the boat trip overnight, for it would be cold on the water. She also had some money to pay the boatsman she had hired to take her and the princess across. The man was against the royal family and very poor so was more than happy to help her for a handsome fee. When a large amount of money is involved that you need, morals disappear for men, for easily deceived are they.
Now, Siania was aware that without the Spirits the job would be a difficult one, but she had solved this too. The Queen, Yorda's mother, had left a lease of her servants to return for whenever a person wished very hard to kill her daughter, for once Yorda died the Queen would return. Where the Queen herself and Keoden had failed, Siania would prevail and bring the true Queen's desired vessel to her death so she could return, and Siania would be rewarded. No doubt she would be pleased with the sum of her grandchildren and the boy that had caused her downfall in the first place.
The Spirits were in place at the castle, their strongest point. They had been sent away and brought back many times now, and were keen to destroy the means of this. They would serve under Siania willingly, Ico and Yorda's heads in the bargain as well as their children. It appeared to be the perfect plan, and Siania let out a little chuckle as she signed the letter, which read:
My Lord and Lady,
You will be surprised to find that I am indeed not back for nightfall with your precious little daughter, I am in fact off the island with your precious little daughter, sailing for the twin castle. You know of which castle I speak. And you must go there if you wish to see Princess Nianarra again. Only there will I negotiate. I have only one thing now to say. You are both fools.
Siania.
Smiling wickedly, Siania left it on top of Nianarra's pillow, and left silently, walking calmly down the stairs to the front door where her beloved friend Biocha had once stood diligently for no purpose whatsoever but to die. She met the princess with the appropriately black horse, and together they rose off into the steadily rising sun. Siania had the whole day to get away, the pillow would not be checked till later that evening, she knew that.
Against her shoulder, the small princess squealed in delight at being allowed such a daytrip. There was only one unexpected detail in Siania's organised plan, and that was the tiny little kitten in Narra's pack that would not cause a great problem. The plan was in action and working as smoothly as it possibly could.
~*~
A/N: Wooooo! Review please, hopefully the next chapter will be up shortly after Christmas. Enjoy Christmas people, God bless.
"What must I have become, to deserve all the shit that you gave me? The rocks look like a body in the river, now I just wish that I could sleep." - Scary Mary, Biffy Clyro.
-Demons From Heaven-
Chapter Three - Pantomime
"Refill, Siania?"
"Alright, thank you."
"You don't need to be so polite you know. We are people you know, Sai, you shouldn't be so distant . . . formal."
"I'm sorry, my Lord."
"Sai . . ."
"Never mind, Ico. It's obviously awkward for her. It has been a long time. But please don't feel you have to be on excellent conduct just because we have titles, Siania. We're all supposed to be friends here, aren't we?"
"Yes, my Lady."
Sighs of exasperation echoed from opposite ends of the table. Good. Siania had made Yorda and her precious husband feel uncomfortable and frustrated before she had done anything that would upset them greatly, which was her plan. It would be in operation soon, and the entire royal family would be at her mercy. Her plan was simple, well thought out and sheer genius, it would not only traumatise the victims, it would destroy them.
Her plan was to kidnap the youngest child of Ico and Yorda, Princess Nianarra, and hold her hostage in an abandoned castle built on a tiny island. It was the twin castle of the one that Yorda and Ico had once been held in, and it was exactly the same. It was the only building on the miniature island, but had never been used. She would enclose her in one of the old cells used to sacrifice horned children, and if Ico and Yorda made it in time to save her, they too would be trapped. Once all three of them were dead, it would be simple to be rid of Prince Vari, the small seven year old unaware of his aunt's intentions. It would be a matter of time before Ara P'Way fell in a way of grief, riots breaking out all over the city, causing chain reactions of devastation about the islands. And all she had to do was eliminate a family of high decree.
Siania did not want the crown for herself, it had never once crossed her mind. She was not like Giannias or Keoden. She was more clever, more intelligent, had put much more thought into her ploy than Yorda's previous would-be assassins. She was timing her strike well, she would take little Narra out the next day, lead her to the shore of the island, silence her, then travel by boat to the island not far away. It was a cunning and devious plan, foolproof and intoxicatingly ingenious.
"More bread, Siania?" Ico asked, knocking the hidden traitoress out of her troubled mind and back into the world where she put on a front. Smiling at her foster brother, Siania took a piece of the warm freshly baked bread and placed it on her plate, wiped clean. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother Kiassa look at Raath and give him an approving smile, obviously pleased that Siania was making some progress in the mindless social activities she was being forced to oblige in.
Inside her head, Siania thought evil things, but outside she wore a smile that was a ticking timebomb, waiting to explode.
~*~
The next day, Siania spontaneously requested an audience with Ico and Yorda's daughter, asking if she could take Nianarra out for a horse ride for a bonding session. At first Ico was strangely skeptical, but Yorda seemed desperate to be on good terms with Siania (for it was Yorda's nature to want to be friendly with everyone she met) and felt no suspicion lingering in her mind. Yorda thought kindly of people despite all her ordeals, and it was Ico who sensed something strange, though he did not say.
"How long will you be?" he asked Siania, after she asked.
"As long as we need to be. We'll return long before dark though, if that's what you're worried about." Siania replied smoothly.
Ico nodded, and cast a sideways glance at his beautiful wife, who nodded and said, "I don't see there being a problem. Don't you think that'll be alright, Ico?"
Ico smiled grimly, "Well . . . " he muttered, studying Siania's face for any traces of a hidden meaning. Although there was, he found none and knew he should trust her with his daughter, "Alright. As long as you're back by nightfall."
Siania nodded and curtsied, stabbing Ico right in the eye with her stare, saying, "Thank you . .. Ico," before Yorda smiled heartily, nudging Narra out to meet Siania, who held out her hand for the princess to take. Nianarra obliged, giving her auntie a large childish grin, "Come, let us go and get ready. I shall ask the cook to prepare us a lunch, you must go and bring what you wish for the journey . . . trip. I shall go and collect a blanket for us to sit on. I will meet you outside with the horses it five minutes, alright?"
The four-year-old understood, curtsied to Siania, blew a kiss to her mother and father(who both looked a little cautious), then ran off as quickly as her little legs could, her small dress flowing behind her. As soon as she approached her room she grabbed a large bag, stuffing her kitten Riara into it, covering the small tortoise-shell feline with a tunic. She fetched her riding cloak, which covered her from the cold when the horse rode fast.
Meanwhile, Siania was writing a letter. In her bag was some rope, a cloth to cover the princess' twittering mouth with and the blanket, but not for a picnic. That was for the boat trip overnight, for it would be cold on the water. She also had some money to pay the boatsman she had hired to take her and the princess across. The man was against the royal family and very poor so was more than happy to help her for a handsome fee. When a large amount of money is involved that you need, morals disappear for men, for easily deceived are they.
Now, Siania was aware that without the Spirits the job would be a difficult one, but she had solved this too. The Queen, Yorda's mother, had left a lease of her servants to return for whenever a person wished very hard to kill her daughter, for once Yorda died the Queen would return. Where the Queen herself and Keoden had failed, Siania would prevail and bring the true Queen's desired vessel to her death so she could return, and Siania would be rewarded. No doubt she would be pleased with the sum of her grandchildren and the boy that had caused her downfall in the first place.
The Spirits were in place at the castle, their strongest point. They had been sent away and brought back many times now, and were keen to destroy the means of this. They would serve under Siania willingly, Ico and Yorda's heads in the bargain as well as their children. It appeared to be the perfect plan, and Siania let out a little chuckle as she signed the letter, which read:
My Lord and Lady,
You will be surprised to find that I am indeed not back for nightfall with your precious little daughter, I am in fact off the island with your precious little daughter, sailing for the twin castle. You know of which castle I speak. And you must go there if you wish to see Princess Nianarra again. Only there will I negotiate. I have only one thing now to say. You are both fools.
Siania.
Smiling wickedly, Siania left it on top of Nianarra's pillow, and left silently, walking calmly down the stairs to the front door where her beloved friend Biocha had once stood diligently for no purpose whatsoever but to die. She met the princess with the appropriately black horse, and together they rose off into the steadily rising sun. Siania had the whole day to get away, the pillow would not be checked till later that evening, she knew that.
Against her shoulder, the small princess squealed in delight at being allowed such a daytrip. There was only one unexpected detail in Siania's organised plan, and that was the tiny little kitten in Narra's pack that would not cause a great problem. The plan was in action and working as smoothly as it possibly could.
~*~
A/N: Wooooo! Review please, hopefully the next chapter will be up shortly after Christmas. Enjoy Christmas people, God bless.
"What must I have become, to deserve all the shit that you gave me? The rocks look like a body in the river, now I just wish that I could sleep." - Scary Mary, Biffy Clyro.