Post by isabella on Apr 24, 2006 22:38:47 GMT -5
Isabella was the only girl among 5 brothers born to happily married parents in a small town in Ilshenar. Her father was a miner and her mother a cook. Both were well known in their cozy little town. Isabella was the apple of her parents’ eyes. She was very kind and could get people to do things with just a glance from her jade colored green eyes. Her parents wanted the best for her so when she was 13, they moved to the island of Isamu-jima, with her grandparents and her brothers. They continued their hard work and soon became so well known that the ruling family of the island gave them a noble title. Isabella was happy and satisfied with her life. She spent time with her grandfather picking up a few tricks here and there. Although she didn’t fully understand what he was teaching her, he always advised her to NEVER follow in his footsteps but would never go into much detail about why. Soon she was able to change herself into any animal and could hide in the shadows and sneak around without anyone ever knowing. Her father began secretly teaching her how to fence, a tradition frowned upon in this new land, but very much allowed in their homeland.
Isabella made a lot of new friends and everyone who met her in this new land kept saying how she was destined for something special. One night, her friends took her to this handsome man of great importance, who looked at her with great curiosity. He explained to Isabella that he had a special ability, but would not go into too much detail. She had promised to return to him on her 21st birthday to find out more.
So on her 21st birthday, her parents threw her a huge party. Everyone including the royal family attended her party. Isabella personally invited the man she had met as well. Her parents were not happy about inviting a strange man, but with a single pleading look from her eyes, they caved in to her request. The party was in full swing, everyone was having a wonderful time. Isabella charmed all with her natural grace and beauty, but Belle was hiding her disappointment. Her special guest had not arrived yet. It wasn’t until very late that her gentleman showed up. He was breath-taking when she spotted him and it seemed that he only had eyes for her. He glided up to her in his black and silver outfit with his cloak flowing like water around him. He looked down at her and smiled sweetly at her as he offered his arm to her. She returned his smile and linked her arm through his. They greeted everyone together and danced all night. When the party was near ending, the stranger went up to her father and pulled him aside. They talked in hushed tone for what seemed like ages. When they were finished, Belle could not tell for sure, but it looked like her father had aged several years. Her father then turned to her mother and discussed something with her. Belle watched as the color drained from her mother’s face.
The man came up to her and told her it was time to go. Belle looked puzzling at him and glanced to her parents. Her mother was crying in her father’s arms, her father never raised his head to look at Belle. Isabella resisted but the man grabbed her hard at her elbow and looked sternly at her. “You have no choice. You promised me you would return on your 21st birthday,” he told her firmly. Isabella’s body went limp and she obediently followed the man back to his home.
At the man’s house, Isabella was put through the most difficult training she would ever endure. She had to learn “courtly mannerisms” as this man called it and how to show the most respect to royalty. No matter what position she was placed in, he reminded her that she was NEVER honored enough to look anyone of royalty in the eyes. Her eyes were always to be down caste. Isabella had a hard time with this, as she was never put in the servant role before. Isabella had to read about royalty and courtly manners during the day, and she had to show the man what she had learned at night. When she was wrong, he would smack the back of her knees with a kendo stick. Isabella went to bed the first few nights in tears and cold wet rags to the back of her knees. Finally, one day she performed something right and an odd smile crossed the lips of her teacher. He hugged her and told her how proud he was of her hard work and determination.
“Remove your top and lay on the floor on your stomach,” he told her.
Isabella did as she was told but fearing another kendo stick beating if she asked her teacher the reason. The next thing she felt was her teacher cleaning her smooth skin and muttering something under his breath. Before she knew it, a sharp piercing pain shot through her body followed by a series of tapping. Isabella remained as still as possible as her teacher continued to tap the needle into her skin over and over again. After an hour, the teacher ordered her to stand and face him. She obediently followed his order as he began to explain to her his special talent.
“I see what people are destined to do and I tattoo it on them. My dear, I know what you are to do with your life.”
After that, every time she succeeded in her training, she received another marking on her back. Very soon, her back was completed with a long line of characters, each signifying her competition of her training. Belle was very proud of what she’d accomplished and she also began to love her teacher in more ways than one. She thought he was feeling the same way towards her. He would spend the night with her but he was always gone during the day. Then one night he came to her and wanted to share something very special with her. He covered her with kisses and whispered to her that it was time for her to go but he wanted one special night with her. He made her dinner and showered her with affection. They danced by the light from the fireplace. He leaned over and kissed her neck softly. She felt light-headed and suddenly everything went black. When she woke, she saw the face of her friend, Lai ‘Kanr looking over her in a new place.
“Where am I?”
Isabella made a lot of new friends and everyone who met her in this new land kept saying how she was destined for something special. One night, her friends took her to this handsome man of great importance, who looked at her with great curiosity. He explained to Isabella that he had a special ability, but would not go into too much detail. She had promised to return to him on her 21st birthday to find out more.
So on her 21st birthday, her parents threw her a huge party. Everyone including the royal family attended her party. Isabella personally invited the man she had met as well. Her parents were not happy about inviting a strange man, but with a single pleading look from her eyes, they caved in to her request. The party was in full swing, everyone was having a wonderful time. Isabella charmed all with her natural grace and beauty, but Belle was hiding her disappointment. Her special guest had not arrived yet. It wasn’t until very late that her gentleman showed up. He was breath-taking when she spotted him and it seemed that he only had eyes for her. He glided up to her in his black and silver outfit with his cloak flowing like water around him. He looked down at her and smiled sweetly at her as he offered his arm to her. She returned his smile and linked her arm through his. They greeted everyone together and danced all night. When the party was near ending, the stranger went up to her father and pulled him aside. They talked in hushed tone for what seemed like ages. When they were finished, Belle could not tell for sure, but it looked like her father had aged several years. Her father then turned to her mother and discussed something with her. Belle watched as the color drained from her mother’s face.
The man came up to her and told her it was time to go. Belle looked puzzling at him and glanced to her parents. Her mother was crying in her father’s arms, her father never raised his head to look at Belle. Isabella resisted but the man grabbed her hard at her elbow and looked sternly at her. “You have no choice. You promised me you would return on your 21st birthday,” he told her firmly. Isabella’s body went limp and she obediently followed the man back to his home.
At the man’s house, Isabella was put through the most difficult training she would ever endure. She had to learn “courtly mannerisms” as this man called it and how to show the most respect to royalty. No matter what position she was placed in, he reminded her that she was NEVER honored enough to look anyone of royalty in the eyes. Her eyes were always to be down caste. Isabella had a hard time with this, as she was never put in the servant role before. Isabella had to read about royalty and courtly manners during the day, and she had to show the man what she had learned at night. When she was wrong, he would smack the back of her knees with a kendo stick. Isabella went to bed the first few nights in tears and cold wet rags to the back of her knees. Finally, one day she performed something right and an odd smile crossed the lips of her teacher. He hugged her and told her how proud he was of her hard work and determination.
“Remove your top and lay on the floor on your stomach,” he told her.
Isabella did as she was told but fearing another kendo stick beating if she asked her teacher the reason. The next thing she felt was her teacher cleaning her smooth skin and muttering something under his breath. Before she knew it, a sharp piercing pain shot through her body followed by a series of tapping. Isabella remained as still as possible as her teacher continued to tap the needle into her skin over and over again. After an hour, the teacher ordered her to stand and face him. She obediently followed his order as he began to explain to her his special talent.
“I see what people are destined to do and I tattoo it on them. My dear, I know what you are to do with your life.”
After that, every time she succeeded in her training, she received another marking on her back. Very soon, her back was completed with a long line of characters, each signifying her competition of her training. Belle was very proud of what she’d accomplished and she also began to love her teacher in more ways than one. She thought he was feeling the same way towards her. He would spend the night with her but he was always gone during the day. Then one night he came to her and wanted to share something very special with her. He covered her with kisses and whispered to her that it was time for her to go but he wanted one special night with her. He made her dinner and showered her with affection. They danced by the light from the fireplace. He leaned over and kissed her neck softly. She felt light-headed and suddenly everything went black. When she woke, she saw the face of her friend, Lai ‘Kanr looking over her in a new place.
“Where am I?”