2: Topsy Turvy

Flute awoke with a groan. As soon as she opened her eyes she got the feeling that something was very wrong. Maybe it was the scent of dried blood in the air, or the faint screams that could be heard off in the distance. Or maybe it was the fact she had awakened in the room of an S&M queen.

The walls were jet black, as was the ceiling, floor, and even the sheets on the bed. Chains of various lengths hung from the ceiling, and many were crusted with a dried brownish-red substance that Flute tried not to think to hard about. A wicked-looking cat o' nine tails hung on the wall opposite the bed, mounted as though it was the sword of a retired warrior. All in all, Flute felt very out of place in her little pink pajamas.

Soon, out of morbid curiosity, she got up and scooted across the bare stone floor over to the closet, then opened it. The entire thing was filled with tight, revealing black leather outfits and black stiletto high heels. She ran back to the bed and dived under the covers, hoping that this was only a bad dream. Her hopes were unfortunately dashed when someone entered the room a few moments later.

Bass awoke in different place far away from Flute's predicament. He was laying in the middle of what appeared to be a throne room. Everywhere he looked was... White. White marble columns lined the walls; the floor was white marble flecked with gold, even the cushions on the golden throne where white. It was almost blinding, especially considering how brightly the sun illuminated the room. Bass had the sinking feeling that he had screwed up somehow.

Suddenly someone burst into the room. He was a tall solidly built man, darkly tanned. He had light green hair and eyes, and wore a full suit of golden armor. Bass could not shake the feeling that he knew him from somewhere.

"Your highness, I heard..." the man started, then he got a look at Bass and his eyes widened, "Your highness! What has happened to you?!"

Bass sighed inwardly. He could already feel a headache coming on. That's a real a problem when you have two heads.

Flute cowered beneath the covers expecting the worst, but whoever it was that had just entered the room made no indication that they were going to bother her.

"Maybe it's not as bad as it looks." Flute thought to herself, "Maybe this is all a big joke Hamel is playing on me..."

Then she thought for a moment.

"And then maybe pigs will start flying! Even Hamel wouldn't go this far! At least I don't think he would... Whatever is out there is going to hurt me, so I'll just stay here thankyouverymuch!" she though, and with all the faith of a child afraid of things that go bump in the night, she continued to hide under the covers.

Her illusion of security was shattered a few moments later when the person who had entered the room pulled back the covers.

He stared at her, she stared at him. He looked almost exactly like Hamel. His face was the same shape, his eyes and hair the same color as Hamel's, his bangs even fell in the exact same way. But it was obviously not Hamel, unless he had decided to trade in his horn for a pair of black feathered wings. Also, he dressed differently. He wore a white bodysuit with black armor covering his chest and shoulders, along with black boots.

The not-Hamel recovered before Flute did. "You aren't from this world are you?" he whispered.

Flute didn't respond.

He grasped her gently by the shoulder and gave her a little shake, which helped her snap out of it enough to be coherent.

"I asked if you were from another world..." he prompted softly.

"I-I think so." she mumbled.

"I thought so. There was a surge of strange magical energy just a little while ago, and now you're here." the Hamel look-alike said, then added "You look just like Flute-chan..."

Flute jerked in shock, "That's my name!" she stammered, then added, "Who are you?"

"Hamel." he answered simply.

Flute had to fight the sudden urge to faint. 'Hamel' noticed how pale she was and reached out to steady her, and support her if she fell over.

"I have to get you out of here, it's no telling what the others will do to you once they find out you aren't our Flute." he said as he gently lifted her into his arms, "I'll take you to Hameln. They'll help you there."

"Hameln?" she peeped, "Aren't we there already?"

"No," he asked, "What makes you think that?"

"I thought a terrible place like this could only exist in Hameln." Flute murmured quietly, almost to herself.

"Your version of Hameln must be very different from here..." Hamel said gently, "This is actually one of the nicest rooms here in Sforzend."

"Sforzend?" Flute squeaked, staring at Hamel in shock.

The dark angel nodded his head and whispered, "I'm sorry..." That was the last thing Flute heard for a while, as her mind retreated from confusion and into the dark welcoming arms of unconsciousness.

At times like this Bass was glad he was a mazoku, and that he had absolutely no qualms about lying his face off.

"Good knight!" he called, doing his best to sound relieved, "Thank god I've found you! Something dreadful has happened to my father!"

"Prince Lute?" the man said quizzically.

Bass was a little taken aback by the question, but compensated nicely, "Yes, but I am afraid that I am not the man you think I am. You see, I am from another dimension..."

Just as Bass was about to continue his story, another man burst into the room. This man was much smaller than the first one, and much more slenderly built, but he carried himself with an air of higher authority than the other one did. The new arrival had a slightly messy head of black hair, and dark violet eyes. He wore no armor, but wore the white robes of one who was versed in the magic arts. In his left hand he held a weapon; a spiked ball attached to a heavy chain.

The second man called to the first, "Drum? What is it? I thought I heard you call out?"

'Drum' turned to the new arrival and grinned like a man that has just been let off the hook. "Vocal-sama! Am I ever glad to see you! You see," Drum pointed at Bass, "This man claims to be Lute-sama, but from another dimension."

"You mean the one who is passed out on the floor?" 'Vocal' said slightly sardonically as he pointed to Bass.

"Yeah! That's him." Drum said happily, missing the sarcasm.

Vocal sighed deeply. Bass, who had passed out the moment that he realized exactly who these people were, said nothing. The whole situation had been too much for even Lute to handle, so he had passed out too.

To Be Continued...