The mirror rippled, its glassy surface wavering and glowing
softly. The faint orange-gold light gently illuminated the dark
shapes of Dawn Star's desk. The light intensified as a hand
pushed through the surface of the mirror. The hand extended as
the rest of the arm followed and then the other hand, and so it
continued until the figure had fully emerged from the mirror.
The light faded slightly as he stood in the empty office,
catching his breath. Reaching up and pushing his long fringe from
his eyes, the figure took a moment to gather his bearings. After
his brief pause, he strode forward quickly to the desk and picked
up the small rectangular pendant that had been left there.
"What luck," he murmured, softly, and then slid the chain
around his neck. He tucked the pendant under his shirt and looked
around him again. "Well, I suppose I ought to go find out where I
am." Stepping forward, he pulled open the door to Dawn's office
and walked out into the darkness of the empty hallway.
*
Darkness: Songs
Six: Melody for Hope ~ Overture
by: Chandra Rooney
darkness@cloak-and-dagger.co.uk
*
Revised: August 2001
*
Yamato put the jeep in park and leaned back in his seat.
Requiem grabbed the edge of the headrest and pulled himself
forward. "Why are we stopping?" he asked. Yamato didn't reply.
Tenkou shifted in the passenger's seat and the material of
her dress crinkled beneath her. The noise seemed oddly loud in
the strange and sudden silence. "Yamato?" she prompted. "Why
_are_ we stopping?" She looked ahead to the gates of the
Morningstar Foundation. "The Gallery is half a mile from here.
Parking's not that bad."
"I can't go any further," Yamato began, seriously, "unless I
tell you two something." He paused. "At the same time, I'm not
sure I can go any further if I tell you."
"What is it?" Tenkou asked. "Is something wrong?"
"If this about you having to kill Tiferet," Requiem began,
"I already knew. I don't know about Tenkou, but that's not really
a problem for me. I'll even help if you like."
"Not exactly," Yamato replied. He drummed his fingers on
the steering wheel. He lowered his eyes. "It was a good week,
wasn't it?" he asked, suddenly. Tenkou and Requiem gave him a
funny look. "Well, aside from being scared-- it was a good week,"
he continued, looking out the front windshield. "You don't know
how many nights I've gone to bed hoping that when I woke up the
next morning my life would be normal. This past week was the
closest that my life has ever been to what I'd hoped it would be."
He paused. "I just wanted to thank you two for that."
Tenkou stopped looking at Yamato long enough to give Requiem
a funny look. What was Yamato talking about? Requiem shrugged
his head, as if to say don't ask me. Yamato shook his head
abruptly, smiling very faintly. "Listen to me, going all
melodramatic," he tsk-tsked. "Anyway, what ever happens tonight,
I just want you two to know that you both mean a great deal to
me."
Requiem rolled his eyes and slapped Yamato on the back.
"Just drive in there and find a parking spot," he instructed, "so
we can get this over with." Yamato started the jeep and did as he
was told. "Flames, Yamato," Requiem muttered, "you're acting like
you're never going to see us again."
Yamato didn't say anything, but Tenkou caught the grim look
in his eyes. "Yamato?" she asked, quietly. "What it is?"
"How thorough was Requiem in his explanation of what a
Judgement Candidate is?" Yamato asked her.
"He just told me you were one," she replied. "Why?"
"Being a Judgement Candidate," he began, "means that you're
protected from death."
"You told me Hod killed you," Tenkou reminded him.
"I did?" Yamato replied. He looked doubtful for a moment
and then shook his head. "Well, I suppose I might have. What I
would have been more correct in telling you is that what he did
should have killed me."
"Oh," Tenkou frowned. She was quite certain that Yamato had
told her it had killed him, but she decided not to push the
matter. "But you didn't die," she wagered.
"I should have," Yamato explained. "However, Judgement
is...." he trailed off. "Help me out, Requiem," he said, looking
up in the rearview mirror. "How would you describe Judgement?"
"In words not fit for a lady to hear," Requiem replied,
chuckling. "The most simplified explanation would be that
Judgement is death." He paused. "Which would work for our
purposes at the moment, I think."
Yamato looked unsure. "Judgement is the force responsible
from the middle to the end of everything," he said, carefully.
"The complementary force to Twilight, which is responsible from
the beginning to the middle of everything."
"And what does this have to do with you not dying?" Tenkou
asked, then regretted it. Wasn't it obvious?
"It's only the end when Judgement says it is," Yamato
explained, patiently. "A Candidate of Judgement has the force's
blessing; he or she will not-- or maybe it's cannot -- die before
they've fulfilled their purpose."
Well, there you go. "I see," Tenkou said. "So without this
'blessing' you could die just like anyone else?"
"Yamato's pretty tough stuff, Tenkou," Requiem told her.
"He could probably hold out a lot longer than you and I could."
"Well, yeah of course I could," Yamato said, but Tenkou
noticed his eyes didn't change color as he said it. "You can't be
a Candidate for as long as I've been one without learning a few
tricks."
"Besides," Requiem added, "it's not like every fight you've
been in was really Judgement fighting through you." He waved his
hand, continuing on before he noticed Yamato's lack of agreement.
"I don't know why you do this. It's not like you needed to give
Tenkou more things to worry about, you know."
"Why did you bring it up?" Tenkou asked, curious.
"I-- didn't want you to wonder about what it meant." Yamato
shrugged and reached for the door handle. "Come on, let's go
inside and face the music."
*
Hikaru rested his chin in his hand and stared across the
ballroom at the head table. Seated between Daylight and an empty
chair, the Eastern Princess Amaterasu made nervous small talk with
one of the Ladies of a lesser Western Court. She was good at
Courtly matters-- far, far better than he was. It was probably
unconceivable to the people around her that Amaterasu was scared.
Hikaru could tell. Many people would argue that he could always
tell, but his way of knowing Amaterasu had very little to do with
his powers.
"Honestly, I don't understand children these days," the man
across the table from Hikaru said to Prometheus. "Look at this
boy, seated next to one of the most stunning women I've ever seen,
and his attention is anywhere but."
Prometheus lowered her head slightly, giving a small bow for
the compliment and smiled politely. Liwet Dace had an
intelligence agency as extensive as that of the Eastern Lord's
Ravens, so the Southern Lord was undoubtedly aware of how
Prometheus could not be who she appeared to be. However,
Prometheus doubted that Dace was about to blow her cover-- the man
had been allowing people to think that Hikaru was his son for
centuries, after all.
Prometheus inspected Dace. His eyes were a sort of burgundy
color and his hair was a deeper shade of wine-- close to
Prometheus's natural color but more purple than red. Dace had
been lucky enough to receive the physical traits of the nearly
extinct Southerners and therefore could pass as human. Most of
the Pentagrams had skin like Stars-- paper colored-- and their
ears were even more elfish. Despite that, she found it difficult
to understand why most people could so easily be taken in by the
Southern Lord's claim of paternity for someone like Hikaru.
Dace sighed. "At least he's consistent," he remarked.
Hikaru said nothing, his mulberry eyes troubled. "Hikaru," Dace
reached over, tapping him on the head. "Pay attention, boy."
Hikaru turned around. "Hmm?" he asked.
"Don't be so obvious," Dace sighed. "Flames' help me, boy,
I do like you, but you cause more trouble than the rest of my
children put together."
"Ah, but at least I don't try to kill you," Hikaru replied,
turning back in his seat. "Or stage coups to take the throne from
you."
"If you think that means that when I'm dead and gone you'll
be wearing my crown, you're a fool," Dace told him. "You're not
King material, Hikaru. There's two much of the Wanderer's spirit
in you."
Prometheus leaned back, listening to the half-veiled talk of
Hikaru's true father that followed. It was mostly innocent,
Dace's people generally just acknowledged Twilight as a necessary
complement to their primary Divinity.
The casually careful conversation could have continued for
quite some time, but the scraping of the empty chair at the table
interrupted it. Prometheus noted the arrival of Requiem, but she
was more interested in the fact that the FlameSong was alone. "I
hope this tendency for your cover to be lost isn't something that
you plan to continue in the Southern Lord's services, Requiem,"
she remarked. "You haven't been given sanctuary just yet."
Requiem eyed her, came to the conclusion of who she was, and
then scowled at her briefly before turning to Dace. "Sir," he
began, "I have news of great importance for you."
"You're bold like your father," Dace remarked, chuckling.
"Tonight's the night, eh?" He looked nostalgic. "It will be good
to have Loki back with us, won't it?"
"That's what we need to talk about, Sir," Requiem replied.
"I received some very troubling news earlier today."
"Troubling?" Dace leaned in closer.
"My father is dead," Requiem told him. "The Stars no longer
had any use for him, since they'd gained your promise of a treaty.
He was executed earlier today."
Dace frowned. "Who told you this?" he asked. "Daylight?"
Requiem faltered. "Er-- no, Sir," he replied. "I was told
by Hihane." Dace's eyebrow raised. "So you know that it must be
true," Requiem added, hastily.
Dace looked at Hikaru. "Did you hear that?" he asked.
"That demonic little thief's been selling his information to
sources other than you, my son."
Hikaru gave him an even look. "I suspect, in this case, the
information was a gift."
"Either way," Dace shook his head. "My condolences,
Requiem," he said, sincerely. "Loki was a dear friend and a good
man." He sighed. "However, we're all put in a very dangerous
position. The Star is expecting a signature on that treaty
tonight, and I fear that if he doesn't get it he may try to obtain
the South by military force." He paused. "I came here to prevent
war not start it."
"This war started many years ago," Prometheus told them.
"Relax, King of Pentagrams, it will not be declared for another
twenty." Dace stared at her. "Dawn is an over-ambitious
creature, but he is methodical and calculating. As it stands, the
Southern Vaults remain mostly united against the Stars. He will
not attempt to take you before he is certain he will win."
"It is said that Dawn Star is creature beyond the control of
the Sacred Flame," Dace remarked, "that death cannot take him."
Prometheus snorted. "Yes, Dawn would like to think so."
She shook her head. "Put more faith in your 'Lord of Fire',
Southern King, and remember that he is ever-patient. The Star
will face Judgement when it is his time to do so."
"Faith is something that is short supply in my Kingdom,"
Dace replied. "More and more of the people are turning their
backs on our old ways." He looked troubled. "So few of those
that have seen the Powers firsthand remain. The new generations
have grown up so close to the rapid technological and scientific
advances of Humans and Stars. The young ones are forgetting the
Powers-- some of them have even renounced our religion completely.
They will not even acknowledge that Judgement and Twilight exist."
"The North was like that before the Tazo Fell," Prometheus
remarked.
A heavy silence fell over the table.
"What about hope?" Hikaru asked, after a moment. Dace and
Requiem gave him a puzzled glance. "You said that faith was
something the Southern Kingdom was lacking," Hikaru explained.
"What about hope?"
Dace laughed bitterly. "That's something that's been
missing from all the Vaults of Heaven for quite some time," he
replied.
Prometheus nodded in agreement. "I'd say nearly four
hundred years," she added, cryptically.
*
"Do you think it was wise to let Requiem go inside alone?"
Tenkou asked as she fiddled with the radio settings on the jeep's
stereo.
"Requiem's pretty capable," Yamato remarked, as he leaned
against the driver's side of the jeep's body. "Plus, they're not
going to try to do anything to him right in front of a ballroom
full of dignitaries. It would cause a disturbance."
Tenkou found a radio station not playing hip-hop and left it
there. She climbed back out of the jeep and shut the passenger's
side door. "It would be a PR nightmare," she remarked, walking
over to where Yamato was leaning.
"Not as difficult to turn in Dawn Star's favor as you'd
think," Yamato replied. "The Stars are a very patriotic people.
All Dawn would need to do is point to Requiem and say 'traitor'.
After that, he could use the head table as an execution block if
he liked and no one would bat an eye."
Tenkou frowned. "Then why are you so certain they won't?"
"Because Dawn doesn't see Requiem as a big enough threat,"
he replied. "Plus, if Requiem is dead then he can't be used as
bait."
"For you," she guessed.
He nodded. "For me."
"Are you sure you're not just being paranoid?"
"I have a very reliable source for my information." He
paused, looking up at the stars. "Look," he pointed to a cluster
of seven. "The Big Dipper."
Tenkou smiled. "You pointed it out in Japan," she said.
"Yeah," Yamato smiled. "It must be because it's one of the
three constellations I know."
"Yamato," Tenkou began, after a moment. "When Judgement
does that Candidate thing, do your eyes change color?"
"I don't know," Yamato replied. "I'm usually otherwise
occupied when it happens."
"Oh." There was a moment of silence. "Does it hurt?"
Yamato laughed. "No," he assured her. "It doesn't. It
might hurt afterward, when I have to deal with the injuries."
"Do you have any control over when it happens?"
"Some." He paused. "Why?"
"I'm just curious," she replied. "I've never met a
Judgement Candidate before."
"Could be because I'm the only one."
"So how does it work?"
"Work?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"
"How does it work," Tenkou repeated. "Like, when it happens
does Judgement just possess you?"
" 'Possess' is not a word that I like to use," Yamato
replied. "But, yes, that's basically what happens."
"So you know what he's doing, but you can't stop him."
Yamato made a face. "Sometimes," he said, finally.
"Usually when it happens I'm disconnected from the world-- I don't
really know what's going on."
"You black out?" Yamato shook his head. Tenkou thought for
a moment. "Do you switch bodies?" she asked.
Yamato looked down at his watch. "I don't like this," he
remarked, "Requiem's been gone too long." He stepped away from
the jeep so he could open the door and pull the keys from the
ignition. The radio quieted, and the headlights shut off. "I
guess we go inside." He handed her the keys. "Would you put
these in your purse? That way if we get separated, you can still
get away from here."
"You're not going to answer my question, are you?" Tenkou
asked, as she opened and then closed her purse.
"The truth is that I'm not sure," Yamato replied. "Yes, I
go somewhere else. Is it to Judgement's body? I have no idea. I
don't ever remember seeing anything." He paused. "What happens
to me is always replaced by 'memories' of what's happened while I
was gone."
Tenkou looked at him. "And you entered into this
arrangement willingly?"
He shrugged. "At the time it was proposed, it seemed better
than the alternative."
"Which was?"
"Being dead."
*
Dawn Star watched the guests chatting away at their tables.
The evening was going well, despite the fact that Yamato had yet
to make an appearance. Hihane had appeared shortly after Dace,
shamelessly taking his place at the Southern King's table. Dawn
Star smiled, thinking of how much he was going to enjoy watching
Hihane react to the death of his lover. Plus, just recently the
FlameSong Requiem had arrived and made his way directly to Dace.
The little traitor had just signed his own death warrant, and Dawn
Star was pleased that the waiting game was finally over.
Binah stood a few feet behind him, with a worried look on
her face. "Sire?" she began. "You had asked for me?"
Dawn Star turned. "Tell me, Binah," he began, "what became
of Lady Avalon?"
Binah looked confused. "She returned to the Temple of
Judgement nearly five hundred years ago, Sire," she replied.
"And what would happen to her if she were to leave that
place?" Dawn asked.
"She would cease to live the moment she stepped outside of
the Temple, Sire."
"I thought as much," he replied. "So, how is it that she is
seated at the Southern King's side?"
Understanding flashed across Binah's face. "Are you certain
it is the real Lady Avalon, Sire?" she asked.
"Why, who else could it be?" Dawn asked, in mock surprise.
"This is most troubling, Binah," he continued, in his deceptive
tone. "I must attend to it personally." He faltered. "Yet,
someone must go and instruct Tiferet to begin his preparations for
the ceremony."
"I would be happy to do so, Sire," Binah volunteered.
"Thank you, Binah," he replied, as she walked away. "Of
course they would want you here," Dawn Star remarked, turning his
attention back to 'Lady Avalon'. "You play a dangerous game,
Avalon. Do you think I wouldn't expose you?"
As if she had somehow heard him, 'Lady Avalon' turned in his
direction and her light purple eyes met his across the room. She
smiled. "It would crush the credibility of the prophecies if I
revealed you as the fraud you are," Dawn remarked, pleased with
the notion.
"Father?" Daylight asked, bowing low behind him. "A message
has come for you."
Dawn Star turned. "I gave you one simple task, my son," he
snapped. "Why have you left the side of the Eastern whore?"
"The guards spotted Darkness and the girl entering the
gallery's main doors, Father," Daylight informed him. "Should a
team be dispatched to bring them to you?"
"Is that not what I ordered?" Dawn Star asked. Daylight
nodded. "Why are you still here?"
"A message came from beyond the Vaults for you," Daylight
conveyed. He held out the silver tray in his hands. "I was told
it was of the utmost importance that you receive it immediately."
"Who sent it?" Dawn Star wanted to know.
"I-- I don't know, Father," the other admitted. "I was only
told it pertained to the wedding you had arranged." He paused.
"What wedding was that, Father?"
"Nothing that concerns you," Dawn snarled, snatching the
sealed paper from the tray and then violently snapping the folded
message open. As he read it his fine brows knit together and the
scowl on his face deepened.
"What is it, Father?" Daylight asked.
"First dispatch that team of guards," Dawn snapped, ignoring
the question. "Then get me Reims."
"Reims, Father?" Daylight asked, his eyes widening. "What
do you need him for?"
"Just do it!" Dawn snapped. "Once you have done that, get
back to your place and stay there until I arrive. I have worked
too hard for this night, Daylight, I will not have them ruin it."
Turning, Dawn Star stormed out from the shadows marching straight
for the table where 'Lady Avalon' sat.
*
Tiferet swirled the wine in his glass, as he looked over at
Matthew Tyler. "Aren't you having fun, my lovely?" he asked.
"Not really," Matthew replied, looking around the room.
"This is extremely boring." They seemed to be in an empty studio
space. The cement floor and plain white walls were unadorned; the
only remarkable feature of the room was the diagram that Tiferet
had instructed him to draw on the floor around the stone altar.
"Tiferet," Daylight interrupted, as the door across the room
was flung open. "Put your damned drink down and get back to work.
They're coming in through the main doors."
"Who is?" Matthew asked, looking from Daylight to Tiferet.
"Who are you?"
Daylight scowled at him and then turned back to Tiferet.
"Don't screw up like your siblings did," he warned and then walked
back out the door.
"Who was that?" Matthew asked Tiferet.
"Just someone who thinks he's important," Tiferet replied
with a shrug. "Make your way to the main doors, my lovely. Miss
Stone will be waiting for you."
Understanding washed over Matthew's face. He paled. "Do I
have to?" he asked, quietly.
"You know better than to ask that," Tiferet replied, calmly
sipping his wine. "You lost your say in this matter as soon as
you agreed to become one of us."
Matthew nodded dully and made his way to the door that
Daylight had just exited through. Tiferet waited until the door
swung shut behind Matthew, then he reached into his expensive suit
jacket and pulled out his cell phone. Dialing a number, he placed
the phone against his ear. "Gevura," he said as the person on the
other end of the line picked up, "it's time."
*
Prometheus reached across the table to touch Hikaru gently
on the shoulder. "It's time to go fill that empty seat, Hikaru,"
she told him, softly.
"Are you sure?" Hikaru asked, looking doubtful. "I
shouldn't leave you."
"I'm too old to be frightened by some two-bit magician," she
told him. "Go where you're needed."
He nodded. "If you'll excuse me," he said to Dace, pushing
back his chair.
"What's going on?" Dace asked.
"Business," Hikaru told him, tapping his nose. Dace's
curious expression vanished and he simply nodded. Hikaru turned
and began making his way towards the head table.
"Requiem," Prometheus turned to the FlameSong. "Tenkou and
Yamato have come in the front doors. You need to hurry. Get to
her before Matthew Tyler does and things will go a lot easier for
us. Go on, he's already got a head start."
"Matthew Tyler?" Requiem blinked, and then nodded. "Yeah,
okay, I understand." He hurried off in the opposite direction of
Hikaru.
Dace paled, opening his mouth to tell Prometheus of the man
approaching the table behind her, but it wasn't necessary.
Prometheus stood causally. Effortlessly, she turned and her
uppercut connected perfectly with Dawn Star's jaw. The Star cried
out and stumbled backwards, gripping his chin. "I expected you
five minutes ago," Prometheus told him.
*
The actual exhibit was rather empty. The teenage girl found
herself alone. In her hands she held a mangled silver feather.
She sniffled, wiping at her blue-grey eyes. The frayed ends of
the black ribbon she'd braided into her long brown hair danced in
the swirling air currents of the air conditioner. The crinoline
beneath her pretty black dress crinkled as she shifted on the
bench. This was supposed to be her big night-- wasn't this show
what she had been working so hard for?
"Such a talented and lovely young woman shouldn't hide
herself away," the warm voice said, as if to answer her silent
question. The girl looked up to see eyes the color of emeralds
and tilted ever-so-slightly. They were set in a classically
handsome face, although the features did have sort of an edge to
them. The man was younger than most of the people she'd seen
tonight-- perhaps first or second year of university. She knew
that didn't mean anything, though, most of these people weren't
young at all. The man before her was tall and slender-- and
giving her the warmest smile that she'd ever had the pleasure of
seeing.
The air seemed touched with a spicy fragrance, like cinnamon
or ginger. The girl slowly raised her eyes to look at the strange
marking between the young man's violet eyebrows. A small orange-
gold spiral marked the place of his 'third eye'. He also had a s-
shaped line at the four main compass points around the spiral. It
gave the mark the look of an abstracted sun. His hair was a mix
of many shades of purple, so the overall color looked vivid
violet-- except for his fringe, which was white and hanging long
below his chin on either side of his face.
She bit her lip. Had he been sent to come and find her? He
didn't have marks like any of the others--
"Cheer up," the young man continued, extending a large and
sunny orange daisy towards her. "Whatever they said, it's not
worth this unhappiness."
She blinked. "How did you know--?"
"People are only ever unhappy for one of two reasons," he
replied. "Something someone did or said-- or something they
themselves did or said." He paused. "You look more sad than
worried, so it seems obvious whatever happened wasn't your fault."
She sniffled. Yeah, obviously another one of those
deceptively young people. But his smile was warm, and there was
no trace of malevolence in his tone. "Do you want to talk about
it?" he asked, carefully pushing her crinoline out of the way as
he sat down on the bench beside her. "You might feel better."
"Someone broke my ribbon," she told him, looking down at her
hands. "She laughed at me for wearing it and then she pulled my
lucky feather off the end of it."
"This feather?" he asked, gently touched the silver feather.
"Why would they do that? I think it's beautiful." The girl
blushed a little as his hand touched hers. He reached around with
his other hand to touch the fraying end of the ribbon. "It's not
the end," he remarked. "I'm rather certain I can fix it."
"But the feather's broken," the girl protested. "That girl
will laugh even harder."
"Ah," he said. "One of those girls." He dropped the ribbon
and sat back from her. "Well, it just so happens that tonight is
your lucky night," he remarked, reaching behind his back.
Bringing it back, he held a shimmering golden feather between his
fingers.
The girl reached forward as he held it out to her. The
feather was ethereal, not quite solid. It also seemed to have
some sort of orange-gold light shimmering over it. "It's
beautiful," she gasped.
"Thank you," the man replied. "However--" he looked at her.
"It is a very special feather, you see. It's my very _lucky_
feather. I couldn't just give it to any pretty girl I found
sitting on a bench. It's something I can only to someone very
special."
"Oh, of course," the girl said, dully, letting her hand
fall. She was wrong. He wasn't here to make her feel better; he
was just like everyone else at the gala.
He reached forward, gently taking her ribbon and tying it
around the end of the feather. "There is still good left in the
world, Katy," he told her, softly.
"How did you know my name?" she asked, blinking.
He smiled. "Take good care of that feather," he told her,
standing. "And dry your tears."
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall beyond the room,
accompanied by voices calling back and forth urgently to one
another. The young man turned, his eyes narrowing at the door and
then he graced the girl with one last smile. "See you later," he
called, cheerily, and took off for the door at the opposite end of
the room.
Minutes later a group of three uniformed security guards
filed into the room. One of them recognized the girl from earlier
that night. "Miss Coope," he approached her. "Are you alone in
here?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Haven't seen anyone else?"
"I expect they're all in the ballroom," she told him. "Why?
What's this all about?"
"Oh, nothing to worry about," the fresh-faced young man
replied. "Nothing at all, Miss Coope. Just a little glitch in
the security cameras. They've got us all running about the place
to make sure nothing went missing while we were offline." He
paused, looking around. "Nobody else's been in here in the past
few minutes?" The girl wordlessly shook her head. "Well, you
ought to go into the ballroom, Miss Coope. Things are about to
get underway there."
"Sure, I'll go in a minute," she replied. The guard smiled
and started back for the front entrance.
"Oh, and Miss Coope?" he turned.
"Yes?"
"That's a lovely feather you've got there."
The girl smiled. "Thank you."
*
Tenkou tightened her hold on Yamato's hand, watching his
face as he calmly inspected the group of five guards before them.
"What is this about?" Yamato asked, coolly.
"We have specific orders from Dawn Star," the guard in the
forefront replied. "You are to be detained and--"
" 'Detained'?" Yamato repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, detained and then taken to him immediately. We
suggest you come peacefully," the guard gestured to the others
behind him, "as we have been granted permission to use whatever
force necessary to see you are delivered to him."
"Ordinarily I wouldn't argue with you, gentleman," Yamato
replied, politely. "However, it would be most rude of me to
simply leave Miss Stone. I'm sure you understand."
"We understand our orders," the guard restated. "Are we
going to have to do this the hard way?"
"You seem quite determined to," Yamato remarked.
"Let's just go with them," Tenkou suggested.
"Dawn Star only wants him," the guard told her.
Yamato gently detached his hand from hers. "Go and find
Requiem," he told her. "If something happens I want the two of
you to get out of here." He paused, giving her a quick kiss on
the cheek. "Don't trust Matthew Tyler," he warned, whispering
quietly in her ear. "It's hard to say how short the leash Tiferet
has him on is."
"Yamato," she began.
He pulled away. "Everything's going to be okay. I'll see
you soon," he smiled, stepping towards the guards. "I promise."
"How touching," one of the guards muttered.
"My good sir," Yamato smiled, coldly, "you ought to consider
that Dawn Star wishes me alive until you deliver me to him.
Therefore, you cannot kill me." He paused. "However, I can
assure you that he does not care how many of you die between this
point and the ballroom."
"Shut up both of you," the guard in the lead barked. "Let's
go." He gave Yamato an unnecessary shove forward and the group
began to march away. Tenkou was left standing at the entrance to
the gallery, feeling small and very alone.
*
Amaterasu looked up from her conversation when the
collective gasp of the ballroom reached her ears. The lady across
from her was dressed in a gown of creme with accents of the same
faint green as her eyes. Her long white hair had been piled upon
her head and interwoven with golden chords. Amaterasu was dressed
in a twilight blue gown that Daylight had chosen from her
abandoned rooms at the Western palace, but she had refused to let
his people dress or touch her. Her hair fell unrestrained down her
back, like a young or single lady's would.
"Adia, what's just happened?" Amaterasu asked her friend, a
very prestigious Star courtesan.
"What in the Vaults--?" Adia stood. "Ama, oh Ama dear--
some strange woman has just-- just--" Adia seemed fighting the
urge to laugh. Her hand flew to her mouth and she had to take a
moment.
"Whatever's the matter, Adia?" Amaterasu asked, standing to
make sure her friend was all right.
"Some-- woman--" Adia managed between surpressed giggles.
"Has-- punched Lord Dawn."
"Well," Amaterasu scanned the crowd. "Do point out who has
done what I've wanted to do since the day I met him."
"The one in the green dress," Adia replied, regaining her
composure. "With the black hair and all those strange black
markings on her face." She squinted. "That almost looks like a--
what are they called? A 'tazo' on her forehead."
"What's wrong with having a tazo?" Hikaru asked, joining the
conversation suddenly. Adia let out a little shriek, turning to
see the thief standing between her and Amaterasu. "Well?" Hikaru
asked. "What's so bad about a Tazo?"
Adia looked dreadfully frightened. "Ama--" she began.
Amaterasu turned to him. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving you from Dawn Star," he replied, simply.
"Amaterasu, do you know him?" Adia asked.
"Don't you see you being here will only make everyone
believe what he says?" Amaterasu demanded.
Hikaru looked genuinely hurt. "Don't you want me to save
you?" he asked.
Amaterasu silently scolded herself. Hikaru fooled many into
thinking he was all grown up, but much like his son he was still a
child-- one that could easily be hurt by harsh words from someone
he cared about. "Of course," she began, gentler. "But you have
to consider what you being seen with me will make people think.
Dawn Star is an expert at twisting the truth."
"So? I'm an expert at untwisting it," Hikaru replied.
Adia's eyes widened, and she clutched Amaterasu's hand
suddenly. "Is this your son?" she asked.
Hikaru fixed his mulberry eyes on her. "I'm not Yamato," he
replied, simply.
"Oh," Adia pursed her lips.
"My dear," Hikaru gave her a mock bow, "forgive my
abruptness, but unless you can be of some assistance, you're only
wasting the precious time Lady Avalon's fist gained us."
"L-l-lady Avalon?" Adia repeated, eyes going wide. "But,
she's just a myth!"
"No more myth than the young man standing before us,"
Amaterasu informed her friend. "Adia, this is Hikaru Hihane."
Adia's mouth fell open. "Oh, Ama," she breathed, a sort of
wistful gleam in her eyes. "You didn't tell me you knew Hihane--"
"This really isn't a good time," Hikaru told her, gently
grabbing Amaterasu's wrist. "I hate to be forceful, but we have
to go-- now."
*
Dawn Star dabbed at the trickle of black blood leaking from
his nose. "Avalon," he spat. "You're as reckless as ever."
"You disappoint me, Dawn," Prometheus replied, hand on her
hip. "I'd have thought someone of your power would have seen that
coming." She paused. "Oh, wait, that's right. You don't have
that power anymore."
"Whoreson--"
Prometheus punched him again. "And again, no anticipation
whatsoever." She tsk-tsked. "You're going soft, old man."
Dawn Star looked about to snarl, but then he simply
recollected himself and smiled. "I'm glad you're here, Avalon,
tonight is a very special night."
"It is," Prometheus agreed.
"Let us set aside our differences," Dawn Star continued.
"Tonight is a night of celebration," he said, louder so that the
crowd around them could hear. "I will forgive your acts against
me, Lady Avalon. My people and I would wish to welcome such a
wise and talented woman to our midst." He paused, then smiled
venomously. "You are, after all, among many old and dear friends
tonight."
"What an interesting way of describing yourselves,"
Prometheus remarked.
"Did I say I was talking about myself?" Dawn Star asked.
"Guards!"
Prometheus' eyes followed Dawn Star's indication. Guards
had surrounded and detained Amaterasu and Hikaru. A startled
looking Star woman was being escorted away from them. "A fool
test's my temper," Prometheus warned, turning back to Dawn. "As
you well know." She folded her arms under her breasts, her hip
jutting out as she rested her weight on one leg. "Hikaru is an
embassy of who you call Twilight," she reminded him. "If you
attempt to harm him, or any of his loved ones, serious retribution
will follow."
"Then let us bargain. I have two lives in my hands," he
gestured to Amaterasu and Hikaru. "What will you give me for
them?"
Prometheus frowned. "I don't make bargains with devils,"
she replied.
Dawn Star's smile didn't fade. "Perhaps I can motivate you
a bit more." He snapped his fingers and more guards appeared,
these ones bringing in a relatively calm looking Yamato. "A
special bargain just for you-- a family package."
*
Matthew Tyler strolled through the gallery. He wasn't
making fantastic time, but part of him was hoping his delay might
help him come up with a plan to get out of the whole mess.
"I could just tell her to run," Matthew thought out loud.
"Then say that she wasn't there when I got there-- that someone
must've tipped her off."
"Wouldn't work," a voice said behind him. "Tiferet's way
too into this plan of his."
Matthew turned to see Requiem coming up behind him. "What
are you doing here?" he demanded, clutching at the other boy's
arm. "Tiferet wants to kill you!"
"My best friend is Yamato Zellar," Requiem told Matthew, "a
lot of people want me dead." He looked at Matthew. "Well, you
don't look nearly as happy sober."
"This isn't a laughing matter," Matthew replied. "I'm in
over my head-- hey, what do you know about getting out of
contracts?"
"If it's with the Sefirot, it takes death usually," Requiem
replied. "Come to your senses a little too late?"
"You said you worked for Daylight," Matthew protested.
"He's one of these guys, isn't he?"
"He'd like to be." Requiem shook his head. "Look, Matt,
none of this matters right now. I need your help. Tenkou's in
big trouble."
"How do you know--"
"Never mind how I know her or how I know that you've been
sent to get her," Requiem snapped. "You know what they're going
to do to her. Do you honestly want that to happen?"
Matthew stared at him. "You too?" he asked. "Jesus, what
is it about her?"
"She's special," Requiem told him. "She's not like other
girls."
"Well, yeah, but--"
"No, Matt, you don't get it. She's _not_ like other girls."
Requiem gave him a dark look. "She's one of a kind and _very_
important."
Matthew sighed, raising his hands. "Look, I get it," he
replied. "Maybe I don't get why it's such a big deal--" he shook
his head. "This guy Yamato's someone special, too, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is." Requiem nodded. "He's got some important
people looking out for him."
Matthew bit his lip. "She seems happy when she was with
him," he remarked. "She smiled so easily. Even in class-- I
never saw her do that for anyone else."
"Yes, yes, she digs him, he's crazy for her."
"He's not pretending, either," Matthew sad, thoughtfully.
"You know-- I never had what they seem to have. Not with anyone."
Requiem paused. "You are happier when you're drunk," he
remarked, rubbing his chin. "As good as this Angsting Yamato
impression is, what are you getting at?"
"Tiferet's got me in a corner," Matthew explained. "I can't
just _not_ do what he says-- but if there's some way to help
without it seeming like I'm helping, then let me do it."
"Good to hear." Requiem slapped him on the back. "Welcome
to the team. Now, I guess our first course of action would be to
find Tenkou."
*
Tenkou looked up to find herself hopelessly lost. She had
tried to find Yamato, but she had no idea which hallway the guards
had gone down. After walking for sometime, she thought that she
had seen someone and followed them to the back of the gallery
where the rooms used for studios were located.
"Miss Stone, what a pleasant surprise," a smooth voice said,
and Tenkou turned to see Tiferet standing in the now open door of
a studio. "Are you alone?"
Tenkou hesitated. Tiferet was not one of the people she
wanted to see at the moment, especially not since one of his goons
had tried to kill her outside his club. "I'm looking for
someone," she said, dumbly. Should she let on that she knew what
he was up to? Or was it safer to pretend to be ignorant?
"Oh?" Tiferet asked. "Who? I may be able to help you find
them."
"Actually," Tenkou took a step backwards, "if you could just
tell me where the ballroom is--"
Tiferet's eyes narrowed and Tenkou worried that he was going
to jump at her. Then she realized that he was not staring at her
but at someone behind her. "Darkness," Tiferet said, coldly,
"what are you doing here?"
Darkness? Tenkou half-turned, but the figure behind her
stepped forward. Tiferet took a step backwards, vanishing inside
the studio. Yamato cast her a look over his shoulder. "Go find
Requiem," he told her. "Get out of here."
"I'm not going to leave you," Tenkou called, following him
inside the studio. How had he got away from the guards? "What's-
-" her question died on her lips as she saw the altar in the
center of studio. Strange diagrams and scribbles that might have
been Hebrew covered the floor surrounding it.
"Welcome to the party," a woman with bluntly cut blue-green
hair said, as she trained her gun on Yamato. "Get on the table,
girlie," she snapped to Tenkou, "or I'll shoot your boyfriend."
"I suggest you do as she says," Tiferet advised. "Gevura
has an itchy trigger finger. She'd love an excuse to exercise
it."
"Yamato?" Tenkou asked, looking at him. He was avoiding her
gaze.
"Do what she says," he said, finally.
Tenkou gave him a funny look, but she allowed Tiferet to
guide her through the diagrams to the altar.
"You seem oddly cooperative," Gevura sneered. "Finally saw
the light and decided to join the winning team?"
"I'm not a team player," Yamato replied. He looked her
over. "Refresh my memory. Who are you?"
"I'm Gevura," she told him. "I'm Judgement."
Yamato smirked, as if she'd just said something terribly
amusing. "One of us certainly is."
*
Alan Stone wandered the empty galleries looking for Binah.
He had seen her earlier but had yet to run into her again.
Everyone else seemed to have moved into the ballroom, but Stone
resisted joining them there. Something was not quite right about
the impossibly beautiful men and women that had been milling about
and drinking champagne. They had that-- feel about them. It
wasn't the feeling he got when he was near Binah of ageless wisdom
and grace, nor was it the mysterious feeling of something hiding
beneath the surface that he had experience while in the presence
of 'Zellar'. No, it was a jarring feeling, one that set his
nerves on edge.
He saw Binah sliding open the back door to one of the
studios and hurried after her. She took a few steps inside the
room and then faltered, stopping.
"But it's not you," a voice inside the room said and someone
screamed.
Stone's first instinct was to rush over and see what had
happened, but he found himself unable to take a step or call out
to Binah. It was as if something had frozen him in place.
Whatever had happened seemed to be localized, as Binah was
unaffected. She took one step closer and then another. All Stone
could do was watch as she approached the scene in the room before
her.
Binah took another step further into the room. "What is
going on here?" she asked, voice calm.
Stone saw that two other members of the Order's council were
inside the studio. The man with the long blond hair who always
wore peach-- Tiferet, that was his name-- stood off to the side,
looking bored. Stone ignored him and focused his attention on the
other council member.
It was that woman with the short hair, who always dressed
like a man. Binah had mentioned her once or twice in passing--
Gevura was her name. She lay on the floor by the feet of a young
man with dark brown hair. She was cradling her hand in her lap,
her wrist hanging at an awkward angle. The man above her was
holding a gun and looking down at the weapon with unveiled
disgust.
"You planned to shoot me?" he remarked, looking
disappointed. "How impersonal." He gave her a rough kick and she
skidded across the floor, wailing as she fell on her wrist.
"After I deal with your pretty boy brother here, it's your turn.
You might want to get as far away as you can."
Gevura whimpered, clutching her wrist as she pulled herself
to her feet. She sprinted past Binah and out the door. If she
saw Stone standing there, she made no sign of it.
The boy watched Gevura go. Stone sucked in a breath as his
eyes fell on the features of the young man. What was Zellar doing
there? That was who it was, wasn't it? He thought so, but
couldn't know for certain. The young man's long fringe fell over
his face, hiding his eyes.
The occupants in the room seemed rather calm considering
what had just happened. Tiferet just looked disgusted. "Coward,"
he muttered, watching Gevura run.
Binah kept her blind eyes on the boy, and then she slowly
folded her arms. "How is it that you can be here?" she asked the
young man.
"Well," he said, "the easiest answer would be 'magic', I
suppose." He looked thoughtful. "Perhaps not the most truthful
of replies but it'll do."
Tiferet snarled. "It doesn't matter," he replied, pulling a
ceremonial dagger from inside his coat. "Gevura was weak. There
is no room for weakness here." He turned and walked beyond
Stone's field of view. Stone heard the council member's footsteps
stop. "Aren't you going to try to stop me?" Tiferet asked the
young man. "I'm going to kill the woman you love."
"You people seem to make a habit of it," he replied, folding
his arms. "But I don't think you're going to kill Tenkou."
Stone's breath caught in his throat. Those monsters had his
little girl! He struggled, straining his muscles to no avail. He
could not make himself move from his spot.
"Oh?" Tiferet asked. "And what makes you think that?"
"The pain you give her with be given back to you threefold,"
he replied, simply.
"Oh, is that so?" Tiferet asked, sneering.
"Tiferet, listen to him," Binah protested. "He wouldn't say
such a thing if he didn't--"
"Quiet, old woman," Tiferet snapped. "I've had all that I
can take of you." There was a pause. "So, Darkness, what would
happen if I was to do this?" A frighteningly loud thump followed,
accompanied by a pained moan and the sound of someone sagging to
the ground.
"Oh, Tiferet," Binah said, softly, "you should have remained
quiet."
Tiferet returned to Stone's field of view, half-dragging a
woozy looking Tenkou. "Make yourself useful and hold this," he
snapped, shoving Tenkou into Binah's arms. He continued walking
until he was only three feet from the young man. "What happened?
Nothing. Exactly what I thought would happen." Tiferet sneered.
"I knew you were all talk Darkness."
"Silence is golden," the other said.
Tiferet blinked. " 'Silence is golden'?" he repeated.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Then the golden dagger was just _there_ in young man's hand.
With no hesitation, the boy stabbed it deep in Tiferet's chest.
Tiferet opened his mouth to scream, but the young man placed a
finger against his lips. "Shh," he whispered. "Don't ruin the
moment." Tiferet mutely grabbed at the dagger, howling in silent
cries of agony as vivid violet flames danced from the dagger
across his hands and torso.
"You're good at this game," the young man told Tiferet, with
a smirk on his face, "but sadly your turn is over." Tiferet
jerked still and slid off the dagger to the floor with a thump.
The young man bent down, calmly wiped off his dagger and sheathed
it at his ankle. Then he straightened and walked towards Binah.
"Hello, Binah," the young man said, calmly. "My condolences
about your brother, but I understand you didn't really care for
him."
Binah tightened her grip on Tenkou. "Go away," she said.
"There's nothing keeping you here."
"Don't be that way," the young man told her. "It's been
such a long time since we've seen each other."
"Going to kill me know, are you?" she snapped.
"You should know better than that, Binah," he tsk-tsked.
"It's not you time yet. There is a pattern to follow here, and
you know I have a great respect for order." He paused, tilting
his head to look at her. "You're not really concerned about
yourself, are you?"
"I'll not allow you to take Viola's daughter," Binah
snapped.
"That's funny," was the reply, as the young man reached up
and brushed his hair back from his face. "I don't recall having
to ask for your permission."
Stone's blood ran cold. The young man's eyes were the
coldest shade of dark amethyst. A shade that Stone had only ever
seen once before-- but that had been over ten years ago. It
couldn't be the same young man, could it? The other didn't seem
to have aged a day.
"Go play Mother somewhere else," the man told Binah.
"Before I change my mind about it being your time." Binah stood
there, stubbornly. "Fine." A shrug as he made the golden dagger
materialize in his hand. "I can go through you."
Binah stepped back, her head lowering. "Yamato would not
have done this," she said, quietly.
"Funny, you seem under the impression that you've been
dealing with Yamato," the young man replied. "You should know
better, Binah. You're so much smarter than that."
Binah went pale. "Why tell me this?" she asked, after a
moment. "You know I'll tell Dawn."
"You think he didn't know from the beginning?"
"I won't let you have her," Binah repeated, but with less
conviction. "She's so young and--"
The man reached forward and detached Tenkou from Binah's
arms. "She's hurt," he said, softly, as he brushed Tenkou's hair
back from a lump forming on her temple. "That bastard could have
seriously injured her with his antics." He lifted Tenkou into his
arms and began to walk away.
"Where are you taking her?" Binah demanded.
"Somewhere safe," the man replied. He looked back at her.
"You should go tell the security what's happened here. They'd
want to know about this." The young man took a few more steps,
and then he just wasn't there anymore.
*
10.53 8.24.01
10.11 9.03.01