The dark red-haired man waited inside the dinner, carefully stirring the
cream in his coffee. The locals regarded him with curiosity, but no one was
foolish enough to get too close. The strange markings upon the man's face spoke
in a volume that greatly overshadowed his quiet demeanor.
Smacking her gum loudly, the pink-uniformed waitress made her way over
to his corner booth. "Are you ready to order?" she asked, her other hand twisting
a ringlet around her finger.
The man raised his head to look at her; his skin was milky pale with subtle
warm brown undertones. Eyes a golden color peered up through his fringe at her,
then they settled on her nametag briefly. "No, thank you, Ann," he replied, voice
soft and cultured. "The coffee is more than enough."
"Fine," she said, between blowing a gum bubble and then scraping the
residue off her lips with her teeth. "But if you don't order something soon, I'm
gonna ask you to leave. Got paying customers who would want this booth." She
stole the occasional glance back at him as she made her way back to the counter.
He had to be a pusher of something. He was far too polite to be one of those
gangers. Besides, his clothes-- high-necked sweater of snow-colored wool, long
green vest and brown trousers-- were in excellent condition. The clothes were
well made and fit him nicely, and gangers seldom had the time or the means to
outfit themselves in such expensive garments.
Ann returned to the counter as the order pick-up bell sounded. From the
corner of her eye, she watched as a young black-haired boy slipped into the seat
opposite the Pusher. Ah ha, there was the delivery boy. She took the clubhouse
sandwich over to the elderly woman near the front of the diner and then
proceeded back to pick up the coffeepot again. From her convenient vantage
point, she could busy herself with making fresh coffee but still overhear the
hushed conversation progressing between the Pusher and the boy.
"You're late," the man said, softly.
"I'm sorry," the boy replied, giving Ann a wary look before sitting down.
He was constantly looking around, one of those real jittery types. Had to be a
customer. Probably going into withdrawls. "You said you could get me out of
the city?" the kid asked. "Can you?"
"Yes." The man took stirred his coffee for a moment before continuing.
Stir. Stir. Stir. Clink as the spoon tapped against the ceramic mug.
"Really?" the boy asked.
The man deliberately enjoyed the sip he'd taken of his coffee. He looked
at the boy as he took another sip, as if he was sizing him up. The boy was young,
probably in middle school. Hair a black mess of unruly spikes that could have
been considered cute if the kid didn't have such a paranoid expression frozen on
his face. His light purple eyes were constantly moving around the diner, taking in
every detail as if he'd be quizzed on clothing of the other customers at a later date.
The kid's own clothes were shabby, worn and a startling contrast to his well-
dressed acquaintance.
Poor kid needed a good meal and a decent night's sleep, Ann decided. He
was most definitely strung out on something. Probably some sort of designer
drug that he'd end up dealer in a schoolyard to repay the man for getting him out
of the city.
"Sir?" the boy prompted, meekly. "Will you help me?"
The man set down his coffee cup and pulled a note from his wallet to set
on the table. "Of course I will, Valen," he told the boy. "You asked me to, didn't
you?"
Relief washed over the boy's face, and he looked as if a tremendous
weight had lifted from his shoulders. "Thank you, Sir," Valen began. "Thank you
so much. You have no idea what I've been through--"
The man held up his hand. "I know exactly what you've been through," he
replied, softly. "You did the right thing by coming to me. Things are going to be
different for you from now on. Your life has taken a significant swing towards a
brighter future." He stood. "But here is most certainly not the sort of place to
discuss that." Valen blinked and looked around the diner slowly, as if he was
seeing it for the first time. "Come on, Valen," the man placed a hand on the boy's
shoulder. Valen nodded, and once he had stood he followed the man out of the
diner.
Ann stepped back from the coffee machine as the door swung shut behind
the two strangers. "Well," she said aloud, "fancy that. That Pusher was talking
about sending a dealer into a school right out in public." She shook her head as
she made her way to his booth to collect the empty coffee mug and pick up the
bill. "Tips better than most of them do, though," she remarked, inspecting the
more than adequate payment. She walked over to the pick-up window as the
order bell sounded again. Ann walked over and leaned into the window to speak
the elderly man behind it. "I certainly hope that doesn't become a regular thing,"
she remarked to him. "The last thing I need is to start worrying about being
caught in some gunfight over drug territory. I tell you, Edgar, this neighborhood
is going straight to Hell."
Edgar reached into his shirt and pulled out the crucifix he wore about his
neck. Shakily he brought the small cross to his lips and kissed it. "You can say
that again," he muttered.
"What's the matter, Eddie?" Ann asked, as she placed the bill in the cash
register and fished out some smaller ones to stuff in her tip jar. "I've never seen
you look so spooked. It was just some Pusher, you know." She blew a pink
bubble, which popped and then had to be scraped off her top lip again.
Edgar swallowed. "I've been here a long time, Ann," he told her, as his
shaking hands placed the cheeseburger and fries on the counter. "I've seen all
sorts. Good sorts, not so bad sorts who've just lost their way, and the real bad
sorts." He paused. "But I ain't never seen something like what just walked out of
here. I tell you, Hell would be glad to be rid of it."
*
Darkness: Children of the Phoenix
One: Brothers
by: Chandra Rooney
darkness@cloak-and-dagger.co.uk
*
"Grounded?" Requiem's voice asked through the phone receiver. "Can
you still be grounded when you're eighteen?"
Tenkou Stone sat on her bed in her room, the late afternoon sunshine
streaming in through her window. "I guess so," she replied, glumly. "I can only
leave the house to go to school, and my Dad said if I ever see Yamato again he'll
send me to live with my grandma in Vancouver."
"Great shopping there," Requiem remarked. "Expensive to live, but
there's two universities to choose from, not to mention the colleges. You'd be
right on the ocean, too. It's a bit of a drive for Yamato, and I've heard it does
nothing but rain all winter--"
"Rekki," Tenkou sighed, exasperated.
"Okay, okay, you don't want me to try to put a positive light on this," her
friend replied. "I get it. Message clear."
She cupped her hand to the receiver as she took a quick glance around.
"Shouldn't you be a girl right now?" she asked. "It's well before sunset."
"Convenient loophole," Requiem replied. "The curse is only active on
Earth. So as long as I'm here in the Vaults, it doesn't matter what time of day it
is." There was a pause in the line. "Well, if you're grounded I'll have to come to
you. Is you Dad going to be away any evenings?"
"Actually," Tenkou paused, "he will be gone for about an hour tonight
around five. He's going to drive across the river to the airport to pick up the
foreign exchange student."
"You sound worried about something," he noted. "What's the deal?"
"Just can't help wondering about the kid," she explained. "It's through the
Morningstar Foundation-- and now we all know what they're really about. So
what if it's not actually a kid?"
"Now you're starting to sound as bad as Hihane or Yamato," he laughed.
"C'mon, I used to work for Daylight. Not absolutely everything done at the
Foundation is part of a nefarious plot to take over the world."
"Just most of it," she added, dryly.
"Well, yeah, the stuff that isn't charitable tax write-offs." There was a
pause. "So I'll see you at five?"
"Yeah," Tenkou paused. "Hey, Rekki?"
"Yes?"
"Have you heard anything about Yamato?"
"It hasn't even been forty-eight Earth hours, Tenkou," Requiem began,
carefully. "Even with an extensive information network like the Pentagrams
have, it's going to take longer than that to search all of the Vaults of Heaven."
"You don't think Dawn is keeping him?"
"No, I heard from our new source inside that Yamato 'mysteriously
vanished'."
Tenkou gripped the phone. A new source? Did Requiem mean Matthew
Tyler? She shook her head. "What does that mean?" she asked. "Where did he
mysteriously vanish to?"
Requiem hesitated. "Look, it's not something we should talk about over
the phone. I'll see you around five okay?"
"Okay," Tenkou agreed. "Goodbye."
"Bye, Tenkou. You take care." The line clicked off in Tenkou's hand.
"Who was that?" Tenkou turned to see her father standing in the doorway
to her room. "Who were you talking to on the phone?" he asked, a severe
expression on his face.
"My friend from college, Dad," Tenkou replied. "Rekki En. I've told you
about her."
Alan Stone's expression softened. "Oh, yes," he nodded, "how is she?"
"She's-- well, there was a death in her family recently. She was out of
town this weekend for the funeral," Tenkou replied. "But she's coming back in
tonight. She wanted to stop by and see me, but I--"
"Oh, I can't see there being any trouble with that," Stone replied, easily.
"She can't stay very long, though. The home-stay student is coming in tonight
and he'll probably be rather tired. Maybe Rekki can visit with you while I go and
pick him up."
"That's a good idea, Dad," Tenkou told him. Had he been listening in?
She scolded herself for thinking such a thing. "Did you need my help with
something?" she asked, finally.
"Oh... no," Stone replied. "I just wondered what you wanted to wait until
after the homestay and I get back from the airport to eat supper."
"Yeah, that would be fine with me," she nodded.
"All right then." He stood in the doorway for another moment before
finally nodding to himself and turning to return upstairs.
Tenkou shook her head. Her father had seemed even more paranoid than
usual today. "What's going on with him?" she wondered, aloud.
*
Binah settled into her chair at the table. The atmosphere in the council
room of the Sefirot was grim. Tiferet's empty seat was a glaring reminder of the
cost of the 'victory' that Dawn Star claimed they had achieved. Well it was true
that the others had not been overly fond of Tiferet, his death was drawing
thoughts of their own mortality to them. Binah half-suspected this meeting had
been called so that Dawn could soothe those anxieties and coax the remainder of
their 'family' back on course.
A worried look entered Hohkmah's eyes as Gevura trailed in, late and
looking rather worse for wear. Her arm was in a sling, and a makeshift cast
adorned her right wrist. News had spread of her injuries, but no one had expected
to see the defeated droop in her shoulders or the red rims around her eyes. Had
she, too, been mourning the loss of Tiferet, and why did it seem to weigh heavier
on her than anyone else?
"We have several orders of business to discuss this morning," Dawn
announced from his seat at the head of the table. "First of all, Tiferet's noble
sacrifice of his own life to the progression of our cause. If it had not been for his
selfless act, we would have never had the opportunity to finally remove a painful
thorn from our sides. Darkness is no more, and we should congratulate ourselves
on that achievement." He paused and folded his hands before him. "Now, about
the matter of the children--"
"That's it?" Gevura asked, bitterly. Dawn raised his eyes and looked at
her. "That's all you're going to say?" she pressed on. "It's too bad he's dead, and
let's keep moving on?"
Dawn raised his eyebrow. "What more do you feel I should say?" he
asked, coolly.
"How about we have a moment of silence for Tiferet," Gevura suggested.
"How about you tell us where Darkness' body mysteriously vanished to, or who it
was that killed Tiferet?"
"Darkness killed Tiferet," Dawn replied, patronizingly calm. "Then I
killed Darkness. What concern is the whereabouts of his body to you, Gevura?
The monster is no more, and that is all you need know."
"Don't you lie to me," she snarled, violently shoving her chair back and
slamming her fists on the tabletop. The others recoiled in shock. Gevura's temper
was something to be reckoned with, but no one dared to raise their voice to Dawn
Star. "I'm sick of your bullshit, Old Man!" Gevura snapped, pointing a finger at
him. "I was there, as you've so conveniently forgotten, and I know that whatever
killed Tiferet was _not_ Yamato."
"My dear Gevura," Dawn began, still calm and soothing, "you have never
encountered Darkness before, and so you could not have know the full extent of
his demonic nature." He paused. "I assure you that he is the one who killed
Tiferet, and I have successfully dispatched him. You have no need to fear."
Gevura began to laugh. "Is it that easy for you to throw away our lives?"
She withdrew her pistol and pointed it at Dawn. "You're going to tell me where to
find the man who killed Tiferet," she told him, coldly, "or I'm going to paint the
wall with your brains."
"What do you intend to do with that information?" Dawn asked, calmly.
"I'm going to pass judgement on him," Gevura spat. "Isn't that what you
have me for?"
"There is no one left to pass judgement on," he told her. He leaned
forward and carefully enunciated each word. "Darkness. Is. No. More." He
smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Now, why not put the gun away and sit
back down, Gevura? I am in need of someone who can keep the troops in line for
this particular project and--"
"Save it, Old Man," Gevura snapped. She was already walking away from
the table. "I'm finished taking orders from you."
"Gevura," Binah called, pushing to her feet. "Where are you going?"
"To do my job," Gevura snapped. "Some of us still remember what we
got into this for." She slammed the door behind her. The sound echoed through
the still meeting room.
"Sire," Binah turned towards Dawn, "was that really wise? Gevura is--"
"Clearly suffering from the emotional and psychological stress," Dawn
finished. "She blames herself for Tiferet's death. She just needs a little time to
reconcile her feelings."
"Her vengeful nature would make her a very dangerous rogue agent,"
Binah informed him. "What if she decides to act on the anger she displayed for
you?"
Dawn looked unworried. "I suspect she will direct her anger to a more
appropriate source," he replied.
"But, Sire," Binah protested. "Gevura will be killed if she goes up against
Him. She--"
"She is simply playing her part," Dawn replied, waving his hand. "It's
what we all do, Binah. It is what Mother asks of us." He smiled. "Now, if you'll
all direct your thoughts to the new operation, we can review the final details
before its set in motion tonight."
*
Hikaru Hihane shifted his weight from foot to foot. He rubbed his arms
and then stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. It may have been summer in the
Eastern Vaults, but it still seemed bloody cold in comparison to the Southern
Kingdom. He'd spent the past two hours explaining his predicament to the master
of the palace he had been graciously offered sanctuary in.
"The universe help me, Hikaru," the Eastern King began, sounding weary.
"I do love you as I would a son." He paused, and Hikaru saw the tension in the
older man's face. The small crinkles at the corners of his deep blue eyes made
him look tired, as did the fine lines that faintly appeared across his brow. Even
the deep blue color of his hair was beginning to lighten as he entered the autumn
of his life. "But you are always placing me in these difficult situations," he
finished, smiling wearily. "You'll make me old before my time, little shining
one."
"That's something you need to bring up with Prometheus," Hikaru replied.
"I'm just the messenger this time, Morpheus."
Morpheus nodded as he folded his arms and rested against the railing.
Even in his casual stance, he still stood more than a full head above Hikaru.
Hikaru didn't doubt that the Eastern Lord was as tall as Prometheus-- perhaps
even taller. Much like Prometheus, Morpheus bore the spiral marking of the
nearly extinct Northerners.
"Prometheus," Morpheus repeated, as a wry smile crept across his face.
"He is one of the last few remaining of a vanishing breed."
"Some people feel that's a good thing," Hikaru reminded him.
Morpheus chuckled. "Indeed," he agreed. "You do realize this proposal
of yours will sound preposterous when it's presented to the Raven council."
"Prometheus says he needs Mei Ling," Hikaru replied. "He knows you
can make it happen."
"I will never understand how Prometheus, with all the time in the
universe, can be so impatient," Morpheus remarked, rubbing his chin. He looked
at Hikaru. "Unlike your fathers, Hikaru, I cannot simply snap my fingers and
make it so. I don't suppose you'd like to share how Mei Ling plays into the
current method of his madness?"
Hikaru shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't," Morpheus replied. "Prometheus' secrets are
his alone. Even you cannot know what he does not allow you to." He was quiet
for a moment. "It is a great burden," he remarked, oddly, "to know what never
was. For a very long time Prometheus thought himself to be bearing it alone."
"He doesn't bear it alone," Hikaru replied. "Others know."
"You know because you are Truth," agreed Morpheus. "The others know
because they somehow played a part in it. I know..." he trailed off.
"You know because you loved your son too much to forget him," Hikaru
replied, gently, "despite that he now belongs to a history of the world that never
happened."
"Yes, and it is a source of endless complication," Morpheus shook his
head. "I have heard rumors of the damage Dawn did to your credibility at his
little gathering."
"I'm no longer welcome in the home of Dace," Hikaru replied, simply.
"It's fine to believe in the Thread and Flame, apparently, but the public find it's a
problem to have to be around proof of his existence."
The elder man shook his head. "I will never understand the South," he
announced. "Perhaps it is because my family claimed possession of the Eastern
Vaults in the time before the Fall. My people know I am not of the same blood as
they are, and it has never posed a problem with anyone before," he continued.
"Too many have forgotten that the South would not be the Kingdom it is now if
the North had not Fallen."
"Nor would any other," Hikaru added.
"There have been difficulties with Yamato," Morpheus announced, after a
moment of silence. Hikaru blinked. "I have held Dawn's advances on my
Kingdom off for nearly two thousand years, Hikaru. I know how he thinks as
well as Prometheus or your fathers do. Dawn would not be trying this daring
scheme of his if he didn't feel completely secure in his hold over his territory on
Earth." A pause. "Once the news of Yamato's death becomes public knowledge,
Dawn will not be the only one who feels the Earth has been left unprotected."
"Unprotected?" Hikaru repeated.
Morpheus had to hide his smile at Hikaru's bewildered expression. It was
not one that anyone would be accustom to seeing on the thief's face. "It is without
a Judgement Candidate," he explained. "That is something that has not ever
previously occurred. Dawn no doubt sees this window of opportunity as a most
fortunate blessing for his cause."
"True," Hikaru nodded. "I suppose that could be why Prometheus is
ensuring that we're there. He doesn't want to lose any ground to Dawn." A
moment of silence passed over the two of them. Hikaru's gaze drifted over the
side of the balcony to the gazebo out in the expansive gardens.
"Mei Ling is considered to be quite a handful," Morpheus remarked. "I
would hesitate to place her as an agent of protection in the Stone's home. She has
had the Raven training but no previous experience. She hasn't even been out of
the Eastern Kingdom, Hikaru." He turned, leaning on the railing so that he was
directly by Hikaru's side. "I cannot qualm my fears that she would not only be a
risk to herself," he told the younger man, "but also to your mission."
"I thought you had more faith in me than that," Hikaru snorted.
"Oh, I trust your abilities. You're a force to be reckoned with, Hikaru, of
that there's no doubt." He paused. "However, even the force we call Judgement
must bend to the limitations of a physical body."
"You don't think I'm capable of taking care of Mei Ling?"
"Under normal circumstances I would not give it a second thought."
Morpheus paused. "But these are far from normal circumstances, Hikaru."
"I can deal with what's happening to Yamato," Hikaru assured him. "I
know things are going to work out in the end. I trust him."
"I'm not talking about Yamato. I'm talking about Ethanael." The Eastern
King paused. "I find it hard to believe that you are not. You've experience
firsthand the volatile nature of Fortune. I am not certain that placing Mei Ling in
this potentially dangerous situation is wise." He paused. "I don't understand why
you would agree to this plan, Hikaru. People get hurt when he is involved."
"You have a brother," Hikaru said, after a moment. "Would you not do
anything in your power to see Odin happy?"
"My brother, although disagreeable at times, has never been a risk to those
around him," Morpheus replied. "He would not betray me by aiding my
enemies."
"You never knew my brother when he was young," Hikaru told him. "He
had a sense of innocence and wonder that was very sweet. Oh, he was always a
flighty creature; it's his nature to be so. But he was a very different child from the
cold and distant man he became."
Another long period of silence fell over the two of them. It was several
minutes later that Morpheus finally spoke. "I hope you are not deceiving
yourself, Hikaru," he said. "I will be holding you personally accountable for Mei
Ling's safety while she in your care." Hikaru smiled. "Now," Morpheus pushed
himself away from the railing, "if we're finished, I do believe that my daughter
would like to hear what news you have of her son."
*
Binah instructed the driver to stop out in front of her one-level home. He
helped her out of the car, and she told him that would be all. In a few seconds he
was back inside the sleek black sedan and making his way back towards the
Foundation Grounds.
After making her way inside she placed her coat in the closet. The next
part of her daily routine was to proceed to the kitchen through the sitting room.
Routine was important, as it gave structure and order to life. Binah felt that
structure granted enough control in day to day life that people could remain sane.
She paused once she entered the sitting room. She was not alone. Hands
grasping before her for some sort of weapon, she stumbled over the edge of her
rug and took a tumble forward. Strong hands caught her and righted her again.
"I suppose that was somehow my fault as well," Mattaeo said, simply as
he let her go.
"What are you doing in my home?" Binah demanded, pushing away any
further attempts he made to aid her. "It does neither of us any good to be seen
together."
"Well, you're not exactly at the top of my list of people I wanted to spend
the afternoon with either," Mattaeo told her. She heard him walk away from her
across the room. "But why don't we at least try to get along-- for the kid's sake."
Binah sucked in a breath. "You were successful?" she asked. "Things
went exactly as you planned?"
"And why is that such a big surprise?" he asked. "I am Twilight, aren't I?"
"You already know what I feel that answer to that is," she replied, darkly.
"Is this safe, Mattaeo? I don't wish to endanger Alan or his daughter any further."
"Mmm, and I suppose you think I harbor some sort of malicious intent
towards Miss Stone?"
Binah sighed. "Stop being such a child," she told him, fiercely. "What if
someone should happen to suspect the true identity of their soon to be boarder?
Or what if he accidentally reveals himself?"
"He won't," Mattaeo assured her. "I'd be willing to bet he couldn't."
"But you're not certain?"
"There's never any way to be absolutely certain about anything involving
Fortune. He's not exactly something that can be easily predicted or controlled."
He paused. "My turn. What if Dawn makes you an offer you like?"
"Excuse me?" Binah turned her head, he was on the move again. Close
the couch if he wasn't playing games and throwing his voice.
"If Dawn makes you some sort of offer you like, are you going to sell
Ethan off to him?"
"Ethan?" Binah repeated.
"That's his name," Mattaeo told her. "Ethan Rook. Do you like it?"
"I don't see what my opinion--"
"Just being sociable," he replied, mouth near her ear. He was behind her
now. "Let's play a game," he suggested, "in order to get me to leave, you have to
convince me that you're not going to sell Ethan off to Dawn."
"You don't frighten me, Mattaeo," Binah told him, turning so she that
thought she was probably facing him. "But, I would not sell Ethan to Dawn. Not
because of anything you could do but because I fear what he would."
"Good enough," Mattaeo replied. She heard him take a step back. "I'll
leave you to get acquainted then."
"And if I something should go wrong?" Binah asked. "If I for some
reason am in need of you?"
"I'll be around," Mattaeo replied, and she could hear the smirk in his tone.
"In some aspect or another."
*
Amaterasu was watering the flowers in her gazebo when the footsteps
sounded on the wooden planks of the stairs. "My Lady?" Amaterasu turned to
see Mei Ling standing with a small canvas bag in her hands. "I have come to say
my goodbyes, My Lady," the small girl announced, bowing low. "Lord Morpheus
tells me I am to be leaving for the Earth sphere soon."
"Why, Mei Ling," Amaterasu began, "you don't look nearly as happy as I
thought you would. Isn't this the sort of thing you've been waiting for?"
Mei Ling twisted the straps of the bag in her fingers. "I always thought I
would be posted somewhere in the Vaults," she admitted. "Earth seems like such
a far away place to go." She paused. "Am I being banished, My Lady?"
Amaterasu laughed. "Of course not, Mei Ling," she assured the small girl.
"This is a very special assignment, and they specifically asked for you. You
should feel honored. I know you will make us proud."
"I don't even know what I am supposed to do," Mei Ling protested. "Why
isn't a Raven going to be there?"
"Because this isn't a Raven operation," Hikaru said, as he walked up the
steps of the gazebo. "I'll be supervising you." Mei Ling looked at him and
squeaked as her eyes went all starry. "Hi," Hikaru smiled faintly at her. He
extended his hand. "I'm Hikaru Hihane."
"I know who you are," she gushed, as she dropped her bag. "Everyone
knows who you are. You're famous!" She clutched his hand in both of hers.
Hikaru shook her hands, an amused expression on his face. "Famous in a
bad way, as your Lady puts it."
"Then it _is_ true?" Mei Ling asked, dropping his hand. "My Lady?" She
looked from Amaterasu to Hikaru. Amaterasu smiled discreetly at Hikaru.
"True as Truth," Hikaru replied, but his cheerily disposition sounded a bit
forced.
"That's so romantic!" Mei Ling gushed, her hands on her cheeks. "The
dashing, mysterious rogue and the refined, beautiful princess." She sighed. "Oh,
to have such an inspiring love story!"
"I do believe you've found yourself another fan, Hikaru," Amaterasu said,
gently. "But she can't be more fond of you than I am."
Hikaru blushed a little. "Well, you can be assured you'll return home with
plenty of stories about your time on Earth," he told Mei Ling, clearing his throat
awkwardly.
Mei Ling looked wistful. "Perhaps, I'll even meet a boy," she whispered.
"Oooh!" She pressed her hands to her cheeks again and shook her head. "I can
hardly wait!"
"Well, she's certainly happier about going," Amaterasu remarked.
Hikaru chuckled weakly. "Mei Ling?" he asked, interrupting the small
girl's swooning. "Do you think you could give Amaterasu and I a few moments
alone?"
Mei Ling nodded enthusiastically and, after pausing to retrieve her fallen
bag, hurried off into the garden.
"Really," Amaterasu set the watering can down on the bench, "you've only
been here a day and you're already ordering around my handmaids." She turned
back to him. "Hikaru, what is it? You're unusually somber."
"Let's sit down," Hikaru suggested, easing her down on the bench.
"Hikaru, what is it?" She took his hand. "You're beginning to frighten
me."
"Before I hid Yamato on Earth," Hikaru began, slowly, "my fathers
separated his Powers -- that is the part of him that he inherited through me, from
him. It made it harder for other beings to detect him as being something beyond
human."
"Yes," Amaterasu nodded. "We've previously discussed this, Hikaru."
"Well, that essence was being kept in an icon," Hikaru continued, "much
the way some of my fathers' powers are kept in their weapons."
"Or how Promethues' is largely stored in the chains, and your brother's in
his key," Amaterasu added.
"Well, my fathers added a little bit of their own specially attributed powers
to that essence-- making it stronger and more powerful." She nodded for him to
continue. "About... oh, one hundred years ago the orb went missing and
somehow found its way into Dawn's collection." He paused. "Not naming any
names-- Ethanael," he added, under his breath.
"Yes, but the orb has been reclaimed," Amaterasu reminded him.
"In a rather painful way," he agreed. "That's not the problem. The
problem is that the orb has existed apart from Yamato for quite some time. His
own powers are completing against him for control of his body."
"Isn't that usual?" she asked. "You've told me that you occasionally battle
with your own power--"
"I do." He frowned. "Maybe that's not a good way to put it." He sighed.
"Yamato's personality has been overpower by the essence," he said, carefully.
"He recognizes my fathers and seems very coherent. When Mattaeo-papa has
quizzed him about his past and he can recall everything, but he speaks of it as if it
happened to another person."
"Who does he think it's happened to?"
"Yamato," Hikaru replied. "But he doesn't seem to understand that _he's_
Yamato."
"That doesn't sound normal." She paused. "Is it similar to what happened
to your father?"
"To a degree. It has had an adverse side effect, though, in that Yamato's
body seems to be rejecting the power. He has to fight himself to just keep
breathing. He's getting stronger, but it still takes a lot out of him to do something
as simple as stand up."
Amaterasu frowned, worriedly. "Is it temporary?" she asked.
"Prometheus seems rather certain it is," Hikaru replied, nodding. "My
fathers aren't very willing to voice an opinion either way. I think the whole
situation brings up uncomfortable memories."
"Did Prometheus give any indication on how long it will last?"
"No, he's being extremely tightlipped about this. He just said it would all
work itself out in time."
"Well, if there isn't anything that can be done about it then there's no sense
in worrying about it," Amaterasu advised. "I'm sure he'll come back to himself
when he's ready."
"I don't think it's a good idea to let him deceive himself this way," Hikaru
told her. "He can't live in a fantasy, Ama, there are people who need him in the
real world."
"You never understood the importance of fantasies," she remarked.
He folded his arms and gave her a serious look. "My world is fantastic
enough without the addition of invented manifestations of my subconscious," he
told her.
"People need to dream, my little Karu," she told him, smoothing his hair.
"It keeps them sane."
"People need to remember their responsibilities to others," he replied,
moving his head.
Amaterasu sighed. "There are times, Hikaru, when you are far too grown
up for your own good."
*
Shutting the doors on Hohkmah's spluttering over what to do about
Gevura, Dawn turned and surveyed his office. Daylight had said that his guest
was waiting for him there.
The large leather chair behind the desk pivoted. The man sprawled lazily
across it was wearing shiny leather trousers, knee-high boots and what appeared
to be an undone white choir robe. "I must say that you've done significantly well
for yourself on this little world," he said to Dawn, gesturing to the office. His red
hair was cropped extremely close to his head, save for a lock at the point of his
widow's peak that was ridiculously long-- as if someone had put a ponytail on the
wrong side of his head and then used a razor to buzz-cut everywhere else. His
green eyes were the icy cold color of pewter, and his lips had been colored in with
cherry red gloss.
"Even my charmed life can hold difficulties," Dawn replied. "I wish you
were here for more joyous reasons, Reims."
Reims stood walking over and placing his hands on Dawn's shoulders.
"Ah, my little brother," he soothed, "your worries are over. No longer shall you
have to depend on that insipid mistake Daylight for aid. Together we shall put
your mind at ease and comfort your troubled soul." He smiled and squeezed
Dawn's shoulder. "Nathanael shall learn that his family should fear ours."
"We are all that remains of our family," Dawn said, dully. "As I surely
cannot count that half-wit son of my as one of us." He shook his head. "My
concern is not with Nathanael," he told Reims. "I need you to find Fortune. He
slipped from my grasp a few days ago and has been missing ever since. I'm
worried his family may have sweet talked him back to their side."
"It seems unlikely that Maiyiel would allow such a thing," Reims pursed
his lips. "What could have happened? His impending marriage seemed ironclad."
"Maiyiel does not know where he is," Dawn replied. "She has not heard
anything from him since before anyone noticed he was missing."
"What makes you think he is here?"
"My security saw him here on Saturday night," Dawn replied.
"So he's here," Reims shrugged. "Why do you think he's switching sides?
"Fortune is known for his fickleness," Dawn replied. "Perhaps, he was
drawn here by the presence of his fathers in the vicinity."
Reims' mouth dropped open in shock. "Wooing the 'black sheep' of the
Hihane family is one thing," he began, hotly, "but allowing the patriarchs to
wonder through your base of power is utter foolish--"
"Fortune is not going to bend to my whims as easily as before," Dawn told
him. "He's taken back his Key. It was stolen before he fled the premises."
"Wonderful," Reims threw up his hands in the air. "You've lost Fortune's
graces. Now how am I to continue to exert control over the cult of Fortuna?"
Reims gave him a very dark look. "You are a disgrace, Brother," he remarked.
"Time has erased our names and deeds from the world's collective memories.
Only our present actions can serve as a reminder of our once great family, and this
is imprint you wish to leave?" Reims turned from Dawn and walked back
towards the window. "They were ours," he said, staring out the glass. "The
universe-- the very power of creation and destruction were in our grasp." Reims
clenched the windowsill, his fingers leaving imprints on the metal. "We should
have been the rulers, but because of impatience we are forever resigned to the role
of Adversaries."
"You cannot place all the blame upon me, Brother," Dawn protested.
"Avalon is the one who stole them away from us."
"Had you but waited a day longer for my arrival," Reims grit his teeth.
"Together our power would have been great enough to control them." He
scowled. "Look at us now. We're reduced to squabbling between ourselves over
the glory we might have had." He shook his head. "Now I must once again try to
reclaim some of the ground you have lost us in our battle." He sighed. "I suppose
you have some plan for what I shall do with Fortune when I find him?"
"It is not so much the finding of him," Dawn began, "as the fact that you
are searching." He walked over and placed a hand on Reims' shoulder. "I need
you to draw the attention of the Hihane to yourself. Gevura shall draw the
attention of those who were close to Yamato, and you shall draw the eyes of the
other Hihanes," he explained. "I have set many projects into motion recently.
Events are about to take place that will grant adequate cover from human eyes. I
will be free to carry out my plans."
"Plans?"
"Hope, Reims. I must stop him from being allowed entry into this world."
Reims smiled slyly. "Why, dear Brother, the consequences of such an act
would throw the world into a state of delicious chaos."
Dawn returned the disturbing expression. "That's what I'm counting on."
*
"And there's nothing we can do?" Tenkou asked, after Requiem finished
relaying the news he'd learned. They sat in the Stone's living room on the upper
floor of the house. Tenkou was on the edge of her seat, but Requiem looked very
comfortable as he sprawled across the couch.
"Well, if Yamtao really is in Eden," he continued, "it's not like we can hop
on a plane and go bring him back."
Tenkou blinked. "Eden?" she repeated. "Like the biblical garden?"
Requiem smirked. "There's not much garden left from what I've heard,"
he remarked. "But, yeah, that's the place."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"When people Fall, Tenkou, they Fall a long way." He paused, sitting up
and turning towards her. "Look, that deal with Adam and Eve-- as far as I know
they were never in the city I'm talking about. Nearest I could ever figure was that
the whole Adam and Eve thing was some variation of the Fall of the Tazo. See,
Eden was the Northern City's name when the they lived there. Southerners tend
to use the old names." He shrugged.
"But what is Yamato doing there?" Tenkou asked. "Is he dead?"
Requiem's expression turned somber. "No," he said, quietly, "at least not
yet."
"What?" Tenkou asked, sliding forward so far she nearly fell to the floor.
She covered by getting up and sitting down next to Requiem on the couch. "What
do you mean 'not yet'?"
Requiem sighed. "I won't lie to you, Tenkou," he told her. "Yamato
sustained a pretty serious injury. Word is that Dawn stabbed him with a Binding
dagger. It's a special ceremonial weapon used when you want to make a conduit."
"Was he going to make Yamato one?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. Details on what went down are pretty
sketchy since Prometheus has taken off and Hihane's disappeared. I think he
personally escorted the Princess Amaterasu to the Eastern Vaults, but no one in
the South is talking about him." He paused. "Which means that something must
have happened at the Gala and Lord Dace is worried about what's going to happen
when it gets out to the public. Either way, we have to wait till Prometheus returns
or Hihane shows up to find out what's going on."
"Okay," Tenkou sighed. "Tell me what you know, all right? Now, first
off, if Yamato's in this Eden place, then how did he get there and what is he doing
there?"
"Well, there's only three reasons anyone goes to Eden." He held up a
finger. "One, you work for the Department--"
"Department? What's that?"
"The jury's still out on that. Basically, it's those folks who call themselves
Angels and all the other people that work for them. What they do is really
anybody's guess. They're a tight-lipped crew up there, but popular theory believes
that Eden is where souls rest between death and whatever they go to next. " He
saw her confused look. "You know, if they're going to return to Earth or join up
with the Department or just cease to exist." He paused. "Probably the whole idea
came from the fact that Eden was always considered Twilight's City."
"Okay, so either you work in Eden or you're dead," Tenkou summarized.
"Neither of those sound very good. What's the third reason?"
"You were taken there."
"By whom?"
"Well, it would have to be one of the Department Agents," Requiem
replied. "They're the only ones that could bring someone alive into the city.
Anyone else would be stopped."
"Why would they take Yamato?" Tenkou asked. "It doesn't make any
sense."
"Maybe they had some big plans for him--"
Tenkou shook her head. "No," she said. "It doesn't sound right. Yamato
would have mentioned them."
"Uh, Tenkou?" Requiem waved his hand before her face. "Hello, Yamato
has a habit of leaving things out. He didn't tell you about being a Judgement
Candidate, so why would he--"
"That's it!" Tenkou announced, turning to Requiem with an excited look
on her face. "Why do you think Yamato's in Eden?"
"Well, he's nowhere else on Earth or in the Vaults of Heavens," Requiem
replied. "Because if he was, we would have heard something by now. I mean, I
suppose you could argue that Lord Morpheus-- that's the Eastern King-- is hiding
Yamato in the Eastern Vaults. That would make the most sense since Yamato's
his grandson and all, but one of us would have heard something from Miko. I
know she's not fond of me, but Yamato would want you to know he was all right."
"Right," Tenkou nodded. "But what if Yamato's with Nathanael?"
Requiem looked uncomfortable. "Tenkou, if he's with the Sacred Flame,
then he's definitely dead. Judgement's doesn't deal with the living very well."
"Look, Yamato told me that Judgement deals with the middle to the end of
things. If Yamato's dying, he'd be closer to the end right?" Requiem nodded.
"So, that means that Nathanael would be responsible for him."
Requiem nodded for a moment, then he blinked and vehemently shook his
head. "Tenkou, you're not suggesting we find someone to summon Judgement so
you can demand to know where Yamato is--"
"Nathanael wouldn't let Yamato die," Tenkou told him, fiercely. "I know
he wouldn't."
"Tenkou, I don't think you understand Judgement very well," he replied,
gently. "He's had who knows how many Candidates, but it's always the same.
When he's done with them, they lose his blessing and that's that. He's not going to
give Yamato preferential treatment just because he was with him longer than
most." He paused. "As far as I know the only reason that Judgement kept
Yamato for so long was probably because it really pissed off Dawn Star."
Tenkou stared at her friend. How could she make Requiem understand?
There was another side to Nathanael-- she'd seen it. He cared about Yamato.
Why would he say that things weren't fair if he didn't? She shook her head.
"Requiem, just tell me how I would find him."
Requiem sighed. "Well, I'm not going to suggest the obvious reason,
because you might take me seriously." He shook his head. "Just sit tight, all
right? Give it a few more days and we'll see if Yamato doesn't turn up on his
own. It wouldn't be the first time he'd disappeared for a while."
"If he's dying we may not have a few more days," Tenkou told him,
darkly. "Yamato needs us and--" she broke off as the phone rang. "Hang on."
She picked up the handset and clicked the talk button. "Hello?"
"Tenkou, dear," her father's voice said through the receiver, "I just called
to let you know that there was a bit of a hold up here at the airport, but we're
finally on our way home. We'll see you in half-an-hour, all right?"
"Sure, Dad," she replied.
"Bye, dear," he said.
She clicked the end button and turned back to Requiem. "My Dad's on his
way back," she told him.
"That's my cue to get on my way," Requiem replied, standing. "It
wouldn't be very good if he saw me here."
"No, I guess not," Tenkou replied. "But Requiem, about finding
Nathanael--"
"Forget about that," he told her, sternly. "It's a bad idea, Tenkou.
Judgement is very dangerous and he doesn't make social calls. You don't find
him, he finds you-- and usually it's not for very pleasant reasons." He reached
forward and took her hand. "Promise me you'll give it a few more days, and we'll
think about what our options are at that point. Yamato wouldn't want us to get
hurt looking for him."
Tenkou sighed and nodded. "All right," she said. "But I still think that
asking Nathanael is our best bet."
"And I still think if our best bet is something that dangerous, then we're
best not to bet at all." Requiem squeezed her hand. "It's not a good idea to mess
around with Twilight and Judgement. Take my word for it."
*
The young man's red-gold eyes swept over the tiny apartment. He pushed
his long blood-red fringe back with his shorter black spiky hair and rubbed at the
black diagonal line that ran down his cheekbone, as he concluded that he didn't
really care for the place that much. It seemed to him to be no bigger than a room,
but the builder must have thought otherwise since a tiny bathroom and kitchen
had been worked into the design. Part of him thought it was nice and 'quaint', but
he dismissed that voice with a snort. "I've seen bigger closets, kid," he remarked,
aloud.
"If you don't like it, then you can look for another place, Valentine,"
Prometheus Avalon told him, as he came in the front door of the apartment.
"Sorry about leaving you here alone. I had something to take care of across
town."
"We're never alone," Valentine replied, abruptly. He set his bag down on
the bed and began pulling things out from it.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't think you were," Prometheus toyed with his
chains, awkwardly.
"Don't think that because you have a use for us that you need to act as if
you're responsible for us," Valentine told him, sharply. "I can take care of
Valen."
"I am responsible for you," Prometheus argued. "I'm not going to just
abandon you here to fend for yourself."
"Everyone else does." Valentine pulled a baseball bat out of the bag. "If
you insist on staying, then at least sit down. People standing behind me have a
habit of ending up dead."
Prometheus folded his arms. "Hey, Valentine," he began, casually.
The boy turned, his red fringe falling into his eyes. "What?" he asked.
"I make an existence out of being the spookiest bastard on this or any
other sphere," Prometheus informed him, with a crooked grin. "Don't think you
can scare me."
Valentine responded by giving the apartment another critical inspection.
"It'll do," he said, flatly.
Prometheus shook his head, chuckling under his breath. "It's good to see
you again," he said. "I'll leave you to get settled."
"Yeah," Valentine nodded, after a brief pause. "You do that.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Prometheus told him, opening the door.
"Yeah." Valentine listened for the sound of the door closing before
asking, "what the Hell did you get us into, Valen?"
*
"Tenkou?" Alan Stone called, as he opened the front door of the Stone's
home. He turned back to the boy standing outside on the welcome mat. "Come
on in, Ethan," he instructed. "It's too chilly to be standing outside in such a light
jacket for any length of time."
The boy nodded meekly and stepped into the warmth of the entryway.
The light played off his fluffy strawberry blond hair, catching the golden blond
streaks that were splashed through his fringe. His light green eyes sweep over the
ceramic tiles and up the plush carpeted stairs.
Stone set the boy's suitcase down on the ground. "Tenkou?" he called
again, a frown appearing on his face.
"I'm here, Dad," Tenkou called, coming from the direction of her room. "I
was just doing some homework--" she stopped, freezing in place as her eyes met
Ethan's. Ethan looked mildly uncomfortable and began to fidget.
Stone seemed not to notice. "This is Ethan Rook, Tenkou," he told her,
indicating the boy. "Ethan, this is my daughter Tenkou." He paused. "Is
something the matter, Tenkou? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I-- what-- oh, no," Tenkou shook her head. "I-- it's nothing." She took a
step forward. "It's nice to meet you, Ethan."
Ethan took a step backwards. "It's nice to m-meet you, Miss," he replied,
automatically.
Tenkou looked as awkward as he felt. She played with her watchstrap.
"So. Where are you from?" she asked, finally.
"Canada," Ethan replied.
"Oh, where in Canada?" Tenkou asked, brightening. "My grandmother
lives in Vancouver."
"I don't know her," Ethan told her quickly.
"Oh, well I didn't expect you to," Tenkou replied. "It's a big city."
"Okay," Ethan nodded.
"Well," Stone lifted Ethan's bag from the floor. "Let's get you settle,
Ethan." He began walking towards the spare bedroom. "You must be tired.
Airports are not a fun place to spend the day in."
Ethan remained fixed in his spot with eyes on the floor before him.
Tenkou sighed as she pushed at her hair. This was not the Japanese
exchange student her father had promised her they were getting. Oh well. It was
just her luck, wasn't it? "Are you hungry?" she asked, absently.
"A pretty girl like you should smile more often."
"What?" Tenkou looked up quickly. Ethan was regarding her with vivid
dark emerald eyes. But that wasn't what worried her; it was the very familiar
smirk painted on his lips. Nathanael's smirk. Her breath caught in her throat.
What did it mean? Was Ethan a Candidate-- but hadn't Yamato said he was the
only one? Was Yamato dead and Ethan had taken his place so quickly? Or--
could Ethan maybe even be Nathanael himself in disguise?
"I said 'yes'," Ethan replied. "You asked if I was hungry, and I am a little
bit."
Tenkou blinked. Had she imagined the whole thing? She smiled faintly.
"Well, let's go upstairs and see what we can find," she told him. He nodded. Of
course she'd imagined it. Ethan was just a kid. He couldn't possibly be a
Candidate; he was way too little. He seemed too shy and sweet-- she stopped and
shook her head. Did it matter what he seemed like? Hadn't she seen time and
again how you couldn't judge people by what they 'seemed' to be?
"I'm sorry I'm not Japanese, miss," Ethan said, sincerely.
Tenkou froze and looked back at him. "What do you mean?"
"Professor Stone said that you were supposed to get a Japanese student,"
Ethan replied. "I don't know why you got me. He said there must have been a
mix-up, but Ms. Binah was very sure that you were the right family for me." He
paused. "They don't know I heard them talking. Adults don't think kids listen."
"Oh," Tenkou paused, searching for something to say. "Don't worry,
Ethan. We're just as happy to have you."
He brightened. "Really?" he asked. "You're happy to have me?"
"Well, yeah..." she trailed off. "Of course we are." She gestured to the
stairs. "Let's go find you something to eat." Nodding, Ethan followed her with a
bright smile on his face, as the chain around his neck glinted golden in the light.
*
Sighing in near exhaustion, the figure closed his dark blue eyes and sank
to his knees. His hands fell at his sides, as his head continued slipping forward
until it rested against the cool wall. "Almost," he murmured. Straining, he lifted
his hand and his fingers brushed against the doorframe to his left. "Arm's reach,"
he reported, dropping his heavy limb. "Tomorrow then."
He knew he had to go back to the bed; he couldn't just lie about on the
floor, but he was so tired. Just a few minutes, he promised himself. Then he'd
push himself to his feet and cross the small room.
The door opened, and he heard someone come in and kneel down beside
him. "A wise man would have given it a rest for a few days, Hope," Nathanael
said, as he placed a hand on the figure's shoulder. "Gathered strength instead of
wasting it."
"No one said I was wise-- just pretty," Hope quipped.
Pulling Hope to his feet, Nathanael began to lead the smaller man back
towards the bed. "Come on," he coaxed. "Before you pass out." Hope didn't
argue, and together they crossed the few short steps that had before seemed
unmanageable. "Now, rest," Nathanael instructed as he eased Hope down on the
bed.
'Don't you worry about me, I'll be just fine because I can take care of
myself' was what Hope had wanted to say. Unfortunately, he didn't make it past
"don't" before the darkness closed in around him and he passed out. Damn
Nathanael. He wasn't going to win this easy next time.
*
4.26 pm 10.10.01
8.37 pm 10.17.01
10.27 pm 10.21.01
I just realized that this is lucky #13 of Darkness! Wh00! Why should you 'wh00'
in excitement with me? Because that means that I have surpassed the dead halt
the previous version of Darkness reached at #12. You should also 'wh00' because
wh00ing is very fun. Wh00!
Since this is lucky #13, I would like to abuse my powers as the author and
dedicate it to John Evans. Write more of Maze City soon, John, or I will send the
Ninja Assassin Valentine Plushie to visit you.