Thunder clouds gathered covering the moon light, Lily wasn't able to see Satasha's face clearly but she could sense the hatred in her. A strong lightning stroke near the tree and Lily saw a glimpse of Satasha, she looked like she was about to kill her then the darkness fell again, Mitskaki got up and told Lily that they must go back inside, another lightning stroke near the tree,this time Lily didn't see Satasha. Mitskaki noticed that she was looking at the tree terrified he looked and saw nothing.
Mitskaki "Let's go inside okay"
Lily nodded and went with him inside the house.
Satasha was standing behind the trunk of the tree drowning in emptiness that she felt, she had no control to her powers at the moment, all that rage and anger was radiating from her. She was leaning on the trunk looking sadly at the sky. The more she felt that she was about to cry the more the lightning stroke, she looked at the place that she was standing and saw that the water had turned into black same thing goes for the tree trunk, it had decayed and The bark of the tree began to flake. Satasha looked around and walked toward the palace gate and when she reached it she kept walking crossing the forest to the town near by. She walked in the street late at night no one was there except thieves, murderers, and drunk people, she didn't care about anything that moment she only wanted to get out of this terrible life and find her freedom away from anyone. She felt angry 'Why no one had recognized that she is an imposter?! Why ?' she thought, Sakata felt terrible seeing his mother in this state, how come all the unfortunate stuff happen to his mother. She was walking aimlessly looking at the ground that she was walking on diving deep in her thoughts when she ran into a man. She stepped backward and looked at the man, he was a fair looking guy with a big yellow eyes that resembles cat eyes. His hightis average and he was a bit slim. A very peculiar man she ran into, she kept gazing at him with interest of knowing who he is. He spoke with a deep voice kindly "Aren't you going to apologize kiddo?!"
Satasha dramatically "About what? My existence?"
The man mockingly "Take it easy kiddo, you might hurt someone with your attitude"
Satasha guiltily "I apologize for everything" she then looked at her feet.
The man gently "What a kid like you do at this hour? You should go home kiddo it's dangerous to walk alone at night, tell me where do you live?!"
Satasha sadly "I don't have a home anymore, My family sold me out for a better replacement"
The man confusedly asked "Okay, what?!"
Satasha crying "I am homeless now, even the place that I once called home is no longer available to me. I am nobody!" Tears started to fall from her eyes she was trying her best not to cry but she couldn't, she kept wiping her tears with no avail. The man sympathised with her, he knelt and patted her shoulder saying "Come on stop crying you must move on, you will see the good and the bad in this life so don't cry. Come on let me buy you something to eat, you must be hungry!"
Satasha "No thanks I'm not hungry " the moment she finished the sentence her stomach growled. The man laughed "Come on now, I won't harm you or anything so don't worry!"
Satasha felt warmth in him. They both walked to a restaurant where all was drinking and expressing their true emotions, some of them were happily singing while some men were sitting alone drinking and crying and some were merrily chatting. They sat on the table that was in the corner near the window, the waitress came and took their orders. They didn't speak anything after the waitress left it was after several minutes when the man broke the silence with his questions "So who are you ? Where are you from ?Who was your family? Do you have any relatives that I can take you to or do you want to go somewhere else where you can find your self a new life there?!"
Satasha warily "My name is Satasha, I was the emperor's daughter before that imposter replaced me, and no I don't want to go to any of my relatives they are all the same. They will treat me like a criminal, creat a monster out of me then lock me away for the greater good"
The man was puzzled he asked "Are you fooling me?! You are the emperor's daughter?!" He looked at her from head to toe in a disbelief, she did look like a mess, her dress was abit torn and old, her cloak was filled with mud and dirt, she was very skinny and her arms were filled with scars.
She seriously said "Just go with it if you don't believe me, I am not lying about anything, I am what I said I am!"
The man curiously "Okay princess why didn't you expose the imposter? If I were you, I would expose her and then leave feeling betrayed that they didn't recognize me"
Satasha looked at the window saying "I never saw my father so happy by my side, he was wary with me not treating me like the others. Who ever she is she was bringing him joy unlike me, I bring nothing but death and destruction"
The man couldn't help himself but to be interested in her, even though he thinks she lied about being the emperor's daughter, he asked "You only wanted to get out all the time and you seized the moment to leave your miserable life, right?!"
Satasha dimly "You can say that" they both kept an eye contact for several minutes,even though the waitress came placing their dishes infront of them and left, they kept looking at each other analyzing one anothe, Satasha then looked at her dish and started to eat. The man was amazed he felt greatness and pride in her, He also couldn't stop himself from admiring her personality it was so charming, he immediately felt responsibility toward her and asked "Who are you really?"
Satasha while chewing "I've already introduced myself unlike you. Who are you? I don't even know your name!"
The man "My name is Yamazaki, I am Satan's right hand, servent and best friend. I came here for some business with the emperor. Is that enough for you?!"
Satasha who finished her dish fast because she was starving said "Why Satan need an exiled dragon to deliver his messages?"
Yamazaki looked amazed at her and was speechless, he blinked blankly several times while opening his mouth wide, he asked after she finished the second dish "How on earth you know that?"
Satasha "I have powers too, I can feel others energy and aura, I was analyzing yours all this time, I can read your mind as well, I just found out that I can do it so I am not used to it yet.I can dig deep in your memories but I stopped after the big fire in the temple because it felt wrong to see your memories without your permission, so all I want to ask is why are you helping me?"
Yamazaki was stunned, his eyes and mouth was widely opened, Sakata wasn't very comfortable about him, he felt something fishy is going on with him, he might be a trickster. Satasha on the other hand was eating everything she sees, she had finished almost all the side dishes except Yamazaki's dish, she looked at it while chewing the food in her mouth and asked while chewing "Are you going to eat your dish?" Yamazaki Shook his head, she eat it. Yamazaki was still unable to believe what he had heard, he kept looking at her trying to analyze her or read her mind, it was one of the dragons special powers that they can read other people's mind, but he saw that she doesn't look like a dragon nor anyone from the tribes. She looked like a normal human, he asked after she finished his plate "Are you a witch or something?"
Satasha truthfully "Trust me I don't know to what tribe my powers belong, I don't even know if it was my power or Hades's power or Pandora's power that I have. I am just me" . That added more confusion to him. He impatiently said "Stop lying, please tell me the truth"
Satasha seriously "You want the truth, read my mind. (Looking at the drink)Is that rum or juice?"
Yamazaki "It's a rum"
Satasha already drinking it "Nice" and drunk it to the bottom then smacked the glass hard on the table and mopped her mouth with her cloak, she felt full and wanted to take a nap. She looked at Yamazaki saying "Look mister I will accept your offer, can you take me to the white fox tribe. I want to clarify some stuff I would be grateful, and if you do this for me I will owe you a favor, anything you want me to do in the future I will fulfill it even if it cost me my life or I have to kill someone" .
Yamazaki warily "Okay let us say that I believe you and I will do this favor to you, and when the right time comes you will pay back your debt, right?!" She nodded, he continued "Fine but why shall I trust you? You said it yourself you are treated like a criminal so are you a spy or a hustler, and if you were then who sent you?"
Satasha humphed and said "Fine I will tell you my happy story and then you judge if I was lying or not" She started to tell him her story from the day of the accident till this day, after she finished he said "Wow! This is a very tragic story, you have been through all of this?!" Satasha nodded. He fell silent thinking for a minute then he said "Tomorrow I will visit the palace to deliver the message and I will see if you are telling the truth or not"
Satasha "And how you will do that?!"
Yamazaki "Easy, I will stay for lunch and see your imposter, if she looked just like you then I will know that you didn't lie about anything and I will take you to the white fox tribe, then to your uncle Poseidon. Agree?!" Satasha thought for a moment then she said "Agreed!"
Yamazaki "Well then we must find you somewhere to sleep in"
Satasha "I remember that there was a shrine in this town, I will spend the night there"
Yamazaki "Alone?!"
Satasha spitefully "I've lived alone with Zeus, so why shall I be afraid of anything?"
Yamazaki smiled "Alright, meet me tomorrow afternoon at the town's borders" She nodded.
Yamazaki "Great let's go to the shrine then shall we".
He payed for the food and then left to the shrine, he left her there and walked away. She looked at him till he completely disappeared then sat under the shrine's roof looking at the sky. She took a deep breath and sighed stretching her legs and arms and fell on the floor of the shrine relaxing, she thought loudly "He isn't going to come back, like everyone in your life leaving without a trace or a good bye. I don't want to go back to Olympus this is what I am sure about. Let what ever happen happens" she then closed her eyes and fell asleep. She slept relaxed without worries for the first time in a while, woke up at eleven o'clock the next day feeling like a new person. She looked around and saw no one, then walked toward the shrine's fountain washed her face with it and drank some of it, then she went inside the shrine to see if a monk was there. When she entered it she saw a big golden buddha statue and one monk praying infront of it, she took off her shoes and walked toward him , it was a room for worship as Sakata noticed. It was filled with small buddha statues and some writings on the wall, flowers, and candles everywhere. Satasha sat waiting for the monk to finish so she can speak to him, after several minutes the monk said "What do you want my child?!"
Satasha politely "Sorry mister monk but can I ask something form you?"
The monk turned around to look at her, he was and old man with a bald head, a very long white beard and a thick eyebrows, he said "Name what you want and I will try to give it to you"
She shyly said "Can I get new clothes, even if it was big or old, and I will be grateful if you allowed me to take a bath" the monk looked at her arms and saw the scars, he asked "What kind of a monster treat his child like this?!, Of course dear, I will allow you to take a bath and take clothes so you can wear. Come on follow me" Satasha was so happy she smiled brightly saying "Thank you mister! Thank you very much!"
The monk got up and went toward the bathroom, Satasha followed him excited, when they reached the bathroom he said "Here you can shower and when you finish you will find your new clothes at the door step"
Satasha felt very grateful but she felt that she must earn it not take it as a charity, she said "Thank you very much mister but can I pay your kindness back by cleaning the shrine or helping you with whatever you want?"
The monk "No dear, you don't have to do anything accept it as a gift from me to you"
Satasha politely "Mister monk I must insist, I cannot take your clothes nor shower in your bathroom with out paying you back, please tell me what to do, I have lot of time and I am stronger than I seem"
The monk looked at her and saw how stubborn she was, he sighed saying "You can help me in the garden I am not young anymore, I have a backache every time I bent to reap or plant"
Satasha excitedly "Great show me how to do the work and then leave to relax, I will do my best"
The monk laughed "Fine, what a good lad you are!"
They went to the garden, it was rather a small one, there was tomatoes, potatoes, and other vegetables in it. He told her to reap the ripe ones, she did as he told, she reaped all the ripe ones and finished her job quickly, then asked "Do you have another job for me to do?"
The monk "You could clean if you want"
Satasha excitedly "Brilliant!"
She went to the shrine and cleaned it all, when she finished it was almost four o'clock. She went to take a shower, and dressed her new clothes. Luckily the monk kept his clothes when he was younger. She dressed them, it didn't seem very old, on the contrary it was perfectly preserved. The monk served her lunch she ate quickly, thanked the monk and left toward the town's border. She kept walking for almost half an hour thinking that she won't find Yamazaki there, she didn't expect much from anyone anymore. When she reached it she stood amazed, he was actually there and he seemed annoyed. Once he saw her he exploded "You kept me waiting for an hour and half, I almost left you behind. Why did you take along time to show up?"
Satasha honestly "I did not expect you to show up so I didn't rush at showing up at time"
Yamazaki sighed and said "Come on let's take you to where you want"
Satasha happily "So you believe me?!"
Yamazaki rolled his eyes "Yeah I do"
Satasha "May I ask how?"
Yamazaki "I told you that I will stay there to eat lunch so when the time came everyone was there, your mother and father and your four siblings"
Satasha confused "Wait the imposter wasn't there?!"
Yamazaki pissed "Of course she was there, then how did I believe you?!"
Satasha confused "You said my four siblings but I have five siblings beside me, who wasn't there?"
Yamazaki "You don't know?! "
Satasha " No they kept me in the dark so I don't know anything. What did I miss ?!"
Yamazaki "Your eldest brother Yamamitsuki was exiled for what he had done to you"
Satasha disbelievingly "Him exiled?! Not a chance he is mommy favorite boy and the crown prince no one will exile him"
Yamazaki "Trust me he is. Now where were I? Right, I sat there and ate with them, the imposter was infront of me, all seemed bothered by her especially your sister Masoko. I was confused how your mother and father cannot see the truth?, but when I asked your brothers they told me that they made a deal with Zeus, they also told me not to tell anyone to save their father's reputation so no one of your father's enemies take this in his advantage. They also told me that you are locked in Olympus treated brutally by Zeus, they tried to reach you but they always show the imposter to them, they were so furious and wanted to get you out of this hell without starting a war" Satasha interrupted "Did you tell them that I escaped?!"
Yamazaki looked at her and said "No I didn't, you told me that you wanted to be free"
Satasha angrily "At least you should've told them that I escaped without telling them where I am"
Yamazaki "You don't know the consequences of escaping Olympus don't you ?! " she shook her head, he continued "Besides if I told them they won't let me cross the gates without telling them where you are, and if that had happened you won't be able to go to the white fox tribe land" Satasha took a minute to think of it and said "Yeah you are right, I will go back to tell them my self after we finish our journey"
Yamazaki "Yeah and I know why you want to go there"
Satasha "I only want to know the truth nothing else, so how are we going to there?"
Yamazaki "By a port gate of course, but first we must go far from this town because I cannot do it around here"
Satasha "Why?"
Yamazaki "There are people following me from the moment I stepped in this town and they are still following me so stay close to me"
Satasha curiously "Who are they? who sent them? And why they are following you?"
Yamazaki "Enemies are everywhere, I don't know who sent them or why but I know that they are surely not going to find anything from me" he smirked.
Satasha and Yamazaki kept walking for one hour till they stopped at savanna field, he looked behind and noticed that they are still there lurking behind the trees, they walked abit further where no trees grew, he turned around and saw that they were no longer following him. He sighed and made a port gate with his powers, the port gate stood infront of them, he said "After you" waved his hand toward the port gate. Satasha looked at him suspiciously and said "Forgive my trust issues, but lied to me about not knowing the identity of your stalkers so why this is different?"
Yamazaki smiled "You never stop amazing me. Fine let say that I don't trust you too so let's cross the port gate together, agreed?!" Satasha nodded, they walked through the port gate, as soon as they crossed it vanished. They had reached the white fox tribe land which was located somewhere in Scotland, they kept their town location hidden from the humans because they have a very long malignity toward each other.
Satasha looked surprised at the town, it wasn't as she expected nor as she was told, that the beautiful town where it houses was built inside the ancient tree trunks or above them, and that beautiful river that ran between these trees were now nothing but ruins. The river dried or turned to a swamp, most of the trees were cut down or burned and people were no where to be seen. Satasha looked confused at Yamazaki asking "What had happened to this land?!" But she saw that he was as shocked as her, he replied "I have no idea!"
They walked on the muddy road toward one of the trees that looked inhabited, but before they could reach it a flying arrow hit the ground near Satasha's feet, then a man voice shouting from far "Who are you ?! What business brings you here to us?"
Yamazaki shouted back "I am Nero and this is my nephew Sally, she is very sick and need your help. People said that you guys can heal anything, so that is why I am here !"
The man showed himself, he was at the top of the tree hiding, he climbed down and walked toward them and stopped when he reached them, examining them, then he asked "Why did you bring her? Doesn't she have a mother and father?"
Yamazaki sadly "They are both died when she was two so I am her guardian, Please sir help her" He sounded so convincing to Satasha, she thought that he is used to lie to people all the time and looked sadly at the man as he looked at her.
The man sighed and said "Unfortunately your journey went to no avail. All the healers died or captured under Zeta's custody, That bastard"
Yamazaki trying to seem desperate "There must be somebody please. Look at her, she hadn't eaten anything for a long time, I don't want to lose her as well she is the only family that I have got. Please there must be someone" Before the man could speak a woman voice said from far "Let them pass"
The man immediately bowed and said "Yes my lady!" Satasha looked and saw the lady standing at the door of the greatest tree in trunk size guessing that it is the tribe leader's home. They walked toward it, although some of it was inside the tree, other parts of the house was completed outside the tree trunk. They entered the house, it was very simple and all kinds of furs and leathers were there either hanged at the wall as a tapestry or on the floor as a carpet. Inside the house was lot of women and children looking ill. At the center sat an old woman with white hair and cracked face, her back was hunched, Her hands were limp and filled with viens. She was sitting on a black bear fur, her hands was clutching her cane, it was made of mahogany, one of the endings was pointed while the other was widely rounded. Sakata noticed that she was still as if she was dead.
The old lady spoke "Welcome my dear, I am the tribe leader and I heard you have some business with me. Tell me your name my lad"
Yamazaki "My name is Nero and this is my nephew Sally, we came here hoping to find a cure to her illness. Can you save her?"
The old lady "Sit down my dear" they sat down on the chairs that was brought to them.
The old lady "Are you two hungry?! "
Yamazaki "No thank you"
The old lady "Is the girl mute?!"
Yamazaki shook his head.
The old lady asked Satasha "Tell me dear is he really your uncle?!"
Satasha looked from her to Yamazaki who seemed alarmed, she replied "No, he is my guardian, I don't have any relatives so he took care of me, he is my father's friend may his soul Rest In Peace!"
The old lady sat quietly looking at them then she spoke "Freddy my dear can you ask everyone to leave!"
Freddy did as he told, the house was empty now, no one except Freddy, the old lady, Satasha and Yamazaki was in it. The old lady asked once everyone got out "What are you doing here princess?!"
Satasha stunned "How did you know?"
The old lady "I was the one who got you to stay in the palace, so as lady Yuri. Of course I would recognize you, besides I know that my granddaughter is impersonating you, so why are you here while my granddaughter is being tortured by that animal Zeus?!"
Satasha seriously "Trust me when I say that I am the one who is being tortured, that is why I ran away to my house just to find that your granddaughter is living happily as me there while I am the one who is tortured. No one laid a finger on her trust me "
The old lady calmly "So why are you here?!"
Satasha "To find out the truth!"
The old lady "About what?!"
Satasha "About why she is doing this?!"
The old lady bitterly "To save her people of course, look around no one is left. Half was killed defending this land and the other was captured and enslaved by Zeta"
Yamazaki inquired "Why would Zeta do that?!"
They old lady "Zeus told him to do so that is why. My son and his wife were captured as well then they took their daughter and made a deal with her, her life in exchange of their freedom! And of course he lied. They killed her parents infront of her, took her by force and threatened her that if she ever tried to escape or anything they will kill us all. She was a genius healer and my successor, she learned how to shape shift and healing skills before reaching seven years old, She is a year older than you, so don't judge a book from its cover, they may not harmed her but she had already suffered enough! " everyone fell silent thinking.
Yamazaki broke it asking "Why did no one asked help from the other tribes?"
The old lady sadly "Trust me I tried but they won't allow us, they don't want anyone to find out about their deeds so your existence here is dangerous. You two should go back from where you came or they will find out that you escaped and harm my granddaughter"
Satasha said nothing, she only nodded. Yamazaki looked at Satasha with concern, he sensed that she was thinking about going back to Olympus and said "Well then we must leave, we don't want to harm anyone by any form, I will make sure to tell Satan about this, don't worry" They both got up.
The old lady "Wait princess can you give this to Lily when you see her again. This is the necklace that she must wear when she sits on this chair to rule" She represented a silver necklace with a pendant of bear fang, it was silver as well.
Satasha curiously asked "Why silver?"
They old lady "It's for her protection from any danger, a lucky charm as I say"
Satasha took the necklace and put it in her pocket, then she asked "Why do you trust me with this?"
The old lady "You are the only one who can give it to her"
Yamazaki "Farewell my lady!" And bowed . They walked out of the house crossed the port gate that he made leaving the white fox tribe land to another land which seemed a forest. Satasha looked around and asked "Where are we ?!"
Yamazaki pointed forward "If you kept walking this way you will reach a wall, don't turn around just cross it, it's a port gate to the dragons land"
Satasha looked at that direction, he continued "And if you kept walking there you will reach a small village where Tina lives, she will teach you all about the witch craft and stuff " he pointed toward the east. Satasha looked excitedly at it, he continued "And if you go there you will end up in a big town where all kinds of creatures meet there to rest. You can find your self a job there and start a new life" He pointed west. Satasha looked at the direction with hope.
Satasha curiously asked "And what about the south?!"
Yamazaki "You will go back to the palace, it's a two days trip" she looked at the south with a burdened heart.
He sympathised saying "But if you go with me I am sure will be alright, I will treat you as my long lost sister, and I will ask from Satan to be your mentor, so where do you want to go?"
She asked "Why are you so kind to me?"
Yamazaki "Because you remind me of my self, I suffered a rough childhood and I don't want you to suffer the same, you already had enough!"
Satasha fell silent tearing heavily, Yamazaki knelt and mopped her tears. He patted her shoulder comforting, she mopped her tears and said "As much as it pains me to say it but I must go back, I must go back home"
Yamazaki nodded and patted her head gently, before he stood up Satasha hugged him saying "Thank you for everything.Thank you for showing me kindness!"
Yamazaki patted her back "Any time you need someone just summon me or come to visit me I will always leave my door opened to you"
Satasha stopped hugging him saying "Thank you" with a big smile and red eyes and nose, she continued "Our deal is still on, any time you need something from me, I will fulfill it just name it and consider it to be done!"
Yamazaki "Then I want you to pay me back by taking care of your self, never surrender to anyone or anything, and to get the hell out of Olympus once you know how to control your powers, can you fulfill that?"
Satasha happily with a big smile "And more"
Yamazaki stood up preparing a port gate "Well this is goodbye then" He said
Satasha "Yeah, see you soon!"
Yamazaki "See you soon!"
He crossed the gate and vanished with it.