Chapter Eight: The Name

Anastasia returned home, the mansion in a secluded area in the mountains. She peeked through the door, ensuring that Kazuma wasn’t home. She slowly made it inside, closing the door slowly so that it wouldn’t slam or make any noise. She tiptoed around the house and made it to the stairs. The living room was deserted, the TV still on but she ignored it and quickly went to her room. Once there, she reached for the knob only for her wrist to be grabbed and pulled away. She gasped loudly and turned finding Kazuma there, his grip on her wrist strong. Anastasia only glared and said “What?!”

            “Where’d you go today I wonder?” Kazuma said and brought her hand to his nose, inhaling the scent. “Rust, fire, sweat and metal, a car repair shop I’m guessing?”

Anastasia wrenched her wrist free and said “So what, I wanted to see if they had any openings for a job.”

            “Or you went to visit Sirius.” Kazuma said, spotting her freeze suddenly. He gave a crocked smile to her back and continued “It doesn’t matter if you lost so many centuries ago-“

He was cut off by a fist trying to hit him but he caught the fist and blocked the kick that came along with it. Anastasia jumped, her leg swinging towards Kazuma’s face but his reflexes were too fast. He flipped her, making her land on her back but the pain running up and down her spine were ignored as she tried tripping him. Kazuma merely stepped over and pinned her to the floor, Anastasia squirming under him as he put his weight on her.

            “Get off!” Anastasia said angrily, her legs kicking in the air. Kazuma merely smiled as he leaned down and lightly licked her neck making Anastasia freeze. She curled into a tight ball, Kazuma releasing her and picking her up. He kicked open the door and placed her on a large bed, crawling on top and kissing her deeply when her head arose from her little turtle shell. Anastasia fell back, her wrists held down and she could feel her stomach do back flips. When the kiss ended, Anastasia asked “Your leaving again; aren’t you?”

Kazuma frowned and replied “Yes, I’m leaving.”

Anastasia gave a sad pout and avoided eye contact with Kazuma. Kazuma gave her a small smile and removed his downed vest and moved back to kissing her on her lips. Anastasia only moaned lightly at the kiss, wanting to fight the urge to take him for herself. She felt one of Kazuma’s hands leave her wrist and move to her stomach, which was showing slightly and he traced small circles around her side, sending a ticklish sensation up her side. His hand pressed down on her stomach, about to creep up and underneath her shirt but she stopped him and pulled her shirt down, her eyes showing panic.

            “No.” Anastasia said.

            “But why?” Kazuma asked.

            “NO!” Anastasia said more firmly. Kazuma sighed in defeat, Anastasia never seemed to mind when her lower half was bare but she hated him removing her shirt, as if she was hiding something. Kazuma only shrugged and kissed her again, allowing his hands to grope every part of her. That was when the door rang and Kazuma’s ears twitched at the sound. He pulled away from Anastasia earning an irritated “Hey!”

            “Someone’s at the door.” Kazuma clarified and slipped his vest back on. “Stay here, I’ll be back.”

Anastasia only sat up and crossed her arms as she watched her boyfriend leave. As the door closed behind him, Anastasia allowed her hand to travel up her stomach and trace against some healing skin. Her eyes became glassy as she thought I thought he’d find out for sure….

 

            “What do you want?” Kazuma asked as he looked at the boy who was a head shorter than him stand before him. Dreki was in the door way, not seeming all too happy with visiting his rival. He glared daggers at his enemy, Kazuma glaring back.

              “I want an apology…” Dreki said.

            “For what I haven’t done anything….yet.” Kazuma said, a sly smirk on his face.

            “Not from you, from Ana!” Dreki said.

            “What did she do?” Kazuma asked, playing dumb.

            “Oh please, don’t act dumb, you know she visited Hiccup and broke out into a fight!” Dreki said, his dragon teeth were barred now. “She nearly killed her!”

Kazuma remained silent, about to say more till he was shoved out of the way and Anastasia stood there.

            “Yeah, I admit I kicked her a*s but I won’t stop unless she gets my name.” Anastasia said.

            “Wait…your names not Anastasia?” Dreki asked.

            “What?!” Kazuma asked shocked and making Anastasia flinch.

Oh s**t, I forgot I never told Kazuma!! Anastasia thought suddenly,

            “What aren’t you telling me Ana?” Kazuma asked.

            “Uh…it’s really nothing.” Anastasia said, smiling nervously at him. She turned her attention back to Dreki. “Hiccup has a week to find out my name, by then the wound will be healed.”

            “What if she doesn’t get it?” Dreki asked.

Anastasia only smiled, a Cheshire smile, and giggled under her breath. She placed a finger over her lips and replied “You’ll see…”

With that, Anastasia left the room and returned to her bedroom. Kazuma only watched as his girlfriend strode up the stairs.

            “Aren’t you gonna do something about her?” Dreki asked.

Kazuma only turned and replied “Nope…”

~ * ~

            “And she gave me no hints?” Hiccup asked, she was currently in bed and had bandages around her head. Dreki only nodded as he continued “What really shocked me was that not even Kazuma knew…”

Hiccup gave him a worried look, soon turning away and going into deep thought.

            “Not even telling Kazuma…the one she loves….” Hiccup mumbled. “She’s hiding something isn’t she?”

            “I don know.” Dreki said with a shrug. “I don’t know her all to well.”

            “Well anything from my past life?” Hiccup asked desperately.

Dreki looked at the ceiling, thinking hard about Hiccup’s past self before she perished in the volcano. He then snapped his fingers and said “I got it!”

            “What?!” Hiccup asked excitedly.

            “I remember you’re favorite places!” Dreki said.

Hiccup looked at him with a raised eye brow and said “What?”

            “You know….places…” Dreki said, giving her a toothy smile. Hiccups face lit red as she covered herself and said “Perverted lizard!!”

Dreki laughed and said “Just kidding, just ask Erica. Erica was the closest to Anastasia- or whatever her name truly is- so she’s bound to know something.”

Hiccup smiled brightly, jumping up and kissing Dreki fully on the mouth causing him to fall forward and land flat on top of her. He deepened the kiss and Hiccup returned it eagerly. The feeling was amazing, making her feel as though she floated on air. She felt Dreki leave her lips and travel down her neck making her face blush madly, the feeling was all too familiar. As she moaned out loudly, she was brought back to earth and her eyes were wide with shock as she covered her mouth. Dreki looked up at her surprised as Hiccup’s face grew into a deeper shade of red.

            “U-Uh, sorry…” Hiccup said, pushing him up and trying to find the situation funny. “Hehe, I should….go….”

Hiccup quickly rose from bed and dashed out the door and slammed it shut. Dreki leaned on the bed, grudgingly snapping his fingers and mumbling “So close…”

 

            “Erica!” Hiccup called once she was down in the basement. “I have a question!”

She heard soft sobs in the basement, Erica probably having one of her breakdowns maybe. Hiccup searched the room urgently for Erica, looking in her seat but finding her seat bare. The crying grew louder and Hiccup followed the quick breaths and sobs that seemingly echoed the room. Hiccup then came to a closet, the sobbing louder. Hiccup opened the door, finding Erica curled into a ball and clutching what seemed to be a picture frame. Erica noticed the door open and spotted Hiccup looking down on her.

            “Oh Hiccup; I didn’t hear you come in.” Erica said and wiped her nose. She rose from the floor and walked past Hiccup, seeming to hide the picture frame. Hiccup watched Erica slowly sway towards her seat, seating herself and tucking the frame beside her. This scene seemed all too familiar, a memory suddenly rushing back to Hiccup.

 

            Hiccup entered Erica’s tiny space of a room, finding Erica crying in her corner again. This had been going for the past three days and she just couldn’t guess why. She started balling her eyes out when Hiccup encountered Anastasia, or whatever her name was, and she couldn’t stop crying.

            “Erica, are you hiding something?” Hiccup finally asked. Erica hiccupped as she wiped her eyes dry, they were red due to the many days of tears.

            “Nothings wrong…I just remembered a sad story…” Erica replied and turned to Hiccup, showing a fake smile that was placed on her face. “Do you know the story of the girl who split in two?”

Hiccup shook her head no and Erica continued “It started with a little girl who lived in a poor family. She had no siblings and didn’t know how to handle children. She was lonely and played only with herself, her parents never there. One night, she gazed out her window and saw the sky shine oh so brilliantly. She spotted the brightest star which illuminated her room.  She made the wish I wish I had someone to love for my own… And her wish was granted. She was blessed with a look-a-like, but her complete opposite. The look-a-like ran away one day, wiping her memory clean and starting a new life. The original was so upset she literally died of grief, the look-a-like gone from history. That’s how some believe sisters or brothers were made. Do you understand Hiccup?”

            Hiccup shook her head no, but asked “What’s her name….Anastasia’s?”

Erica only chuckled sadly as she wiped her nose and said “Not even I know…”

 

            Hiccup suddenly found it pointless to ask Erica now. If she didn’t know then, what’s to say she didn’t know now?

            “You have a question?” Erica asked.

            “Yeah but…I asked you years ago and you couldn’t answer it…” Hiccup replied, she felt rather guilty for saying that to the smartest person she knew. Erica only smiled half heartedly and said “So she’s finally asked…”

            “Yeah.” Hiccup said and she found a place to lean against, standing close to Erica. “I know how much Ana means to you Erica. Like a sister….sister…..”

Saying the word twice suddenly triggered something and Hiccup bellowed “You’re related!!!”

Erica smiled and whispered “It was about time someone knew. Anastasia and I are sisters. She ran away from home when we we’re attacked…”

            “By who?” Hiccup asked.

            “The same person who wants you dead Hiccup.” Erica replied. She revealed the picture frame, a picture of Ana no doubt holding a large stuffed animal, her hair longer and in a high pony tail, tied tightly and her bangs covering her eye like it already did. She wore a frilly gown, frilled at the elbows and bows in her hair, on her tail bone, her wrists and one on her ears. She looked like a doll with her perfect chocolate skin color.  The only thing that killed the picture was the death glare she gave toward the camera man. Hiccup giggled and said “She must’ve been fun.”

            “She was.” Erica said. “But she always hated our life, never enjoying herself. It was when father died and mother got remarried when she really shut down on us.”

            “She wiped her memory clean…didn’t she?” Hiccup asked.

            “Yup, only way to bring it back is to get her name, but she made us all forget…” Erica said. “I’ve been trying to get it since….”

            “How’d Kazuma find her?” Hiccup asked.

            “Only those two know…” Erica said. “And they won’t tell a soul…”

Hiccup paced the room, finger on her chin now. She closed her eyes and tried thinking back to her past self. She knew the two of them were rivals before because of their loved ones war, but even back then she always called her Ana or Anastasia. That was when she remembered the forest, stopping in her tracks her eyes widened, her green irises shinning.

The forest where we met! Hiccup thought and quickly dashed out without a word. She ran past the hall and Cheshire, heading out the door and dashing outside. She ran past civilians till she came to the central park. She continued running till she came to a stump, a stump with a plaque on it.

T’was the oldest tree that lived through the great devastation It read. Hiccup sat before it and looked before the stump. She was suddenly in a forest, the tree high and mighty, reaching the skies. She remembered Dreki proposed to her, the place where he asked her to be his mate for life. Her face reddened at the thought and she tried focusing more on the priority. It was autumn, the dead leaves swirling by and Dreki was late, most likely held up by Kazuma; another challenge. She remembered the annoyance of waiting for her lover.

            Then I found something… Hiccup suddenly remembered. She remembered spotting something in the ground, it was pure silver attached to a chain of gold. She had reached down and pulled the chain up, revealing a locket attached to it. The letter J was engraved into it in beautiful cursive and the craftsmanship was amazing, she remembered how it glittered like starlight when the suns rays caught it. She had run her fingers across it, completely hypnotized by it. That was when the locket popped open when she pressed a small gear down. As it sprang open, a creepy lullaby played and a cackling jack-o-lantern appeared. The music was pretty, yet strangely supernatural.

Hallows Eve…. Hiccup suddenly thought, seeing the lantern laugh and glow suddenly brought something up.

            “I KNOW HER NAME!!” Hiccup screamed triumphantly and dashed back home.

~ * ~

            It was five thirty a.m. when rapid knocking was heard from the front door of Kazuma and Ana’s house. Kazuma was sleeping shirtless with Ana curled into a ball beside him, cuddling. His ears twitched at the sound of knuckles banging against wood and he tried blocking it out. He sat up, bringing Ana with him who was starting to wake up.

            “What, what?” Ana asked, she rubbed her eye and tried straightening out her unkempt hair. Her top was slowly rolling off her shoulder as she tried getting her senses back together. She tried retreating back into her bed but Kazuma tore the sheets off and said “It may be for you.”

            “Well tell them to go away!” Anastasia said, hiding her face in her pillow. Kazuma only flipped her over and pulled her up, enough to get her to stand and pushed her towards the door.

            “Go.” Kazuma said bluntly. Anastasia sent a cold glare but proceeded down the steps. She straightened her hair and shirt along with her night pants as she descended down. The knocking became more rapid and louder.

            “I’m coming, I’m coming!” Anastasia said, finally reaching the door. She opened it only to find Hiccup, dirt on her face, twigs in her hair and her clothes a bit torn. Anastasia looked at her and asked “You ran up here?”

            “Yeah.” Hiccup said breathlessly, she was leaning on her knees to get gallons of air back in her lungs. A sly smirk appeared on Anastasia’s face as she asked “So, you gonna make another guess?”

            “Yeah.” Hiccup said, she sounded confident. Her confidence and courage showed the warrior inside her, one that’s been locked up, slowly coming out. Anastasia could feel it, but she ignored the feeling and continued “Let’s continue this outside shall we?”

Anastasia led the way into the forest, to her sparing ground deep in the forest. Some of the trees around them cut and jack-o-lanterns on top of the stumps. Anastasia started doing stretches, getting ready.

            “So you ready to get pwned?” Anastasia asked smugly, Hiccup only staying in place looking at Anastasia hard and her hands were fists. They tightened, as if gripping something.

            “So, take your guess.” Anastasia said.

            “…You were scared…” Hiccup suddenly said. “When the assassin suddenly attacked, you didn’t run…you were kidnapped…”

            “What’re you talking about?” Anastasia asked.

            “On Halloween night, or All Hallows Eve, a murderer attacked you and your family.” Hiccup continued on. “You escaped but you didn’t go back… you forgot everything!!”

Anastasia suddenly looked scared now as Hiccup came to her conclusion.

            “You’re the missing daughter of the Lantern family….Jacqueline Ox Lantern….right?” Hiccup guessed. Anastasia looked at Hiccup in shock, tears streaking down her cheeks at the horrid memory of the slaughter.

            “Jackie…” Hiccup said, breaking through Anastasia- Jackie’s- thoughts. “Come home please….”

Hiccup put her hand out, hoping for Jackie to come back with her so she could reunite her with Erica, her sister who missed her so much. But Jackie just stood there, the jack-o-lanterns suddenly fizzing out. Hiccup took a step forward and Jackie suddenly turned and ran.

            “JACKIE, WAIT!” Hiccup screamed after her but Jackie didn’t stop. She just ran and ran until she disappeared in the shadows.

Reviews

[PokemonFan#1]

Oh hey! You used this picture for your Lythi.....Werewolf story too. Any wayyyy. ‘Twas an amazing chapter; a simply brilliant and wonderful read. Anastasia's real name is so pretty! I feel bad for her. Her past; so sad. I simply MUST read the next chapter! (Well, in all honesty, I need to completely catch up on this book, -_-') Now, to the next chapter!

Keep it up!
=^_^=

[TheEverHungryOne]

wow... i didn't know you liked writting this style Yazzy.... it's very different O///O