Darkness swirled all around as six figures entered. Six servants kneeled in a circle, facing the center where the shadow began to congregate. Six faces raised as their names were called.
"Duke" A tall man in his mid-thirties raised his head. His short, blond hair fell just above his flourescent green eyes. His long black overcoat spread out behind him and was pinned under his gloved right hand. His left, unsleeved, arm came up and pushed the hair out of his face. A multitude of belts hung from his waste, each holding multiple pouches and deck boxes.
"Liam" Across from Duke, a young man removed the cigarette from his mouth. He dropped the butt next to the knee of his white designer suit. His long silver hair fell past his face and reflected the last light of the cherry red tip. His eyes flashed a light blue.
"Mirn" The woman next to Liam tore her gaze from his eyes and looked up at the mass of shadows, slowly tightening together. Her carrot red hair hung in a braid down the back of her lab coat. She reached up and brushed a loose strand back behind her ear, her eyes flicking around, checking to see if anyone had seen her looking at Liam. The woman across the room fluttered her eyelashes at Mirn and smiled wickedly. Mirn quickly lowered her gaze.
"Laurel" The woman, ceased from her taunting of Mirn and smiled up at the thickening shadows. Her pitch black hair fell in curls past her face and her breasts were almost falling out of the wispy dress she was wearing. Her golden eyes closed and she bowed her head again, a faint smile on her blood red lips. "Master" she murmured reverantly.
"Raize" All the raised faces lowered to escape the Master's favorite assassin's gaze. His shaved head sprouted a group of pure white bangs that barely fell to his eye's. His eye's were what they all avoided. They were milk white. No irises, no pupils. Just white. His hood lay on his back, blending with the black of his jacket. His baggy cloth pants bunched around his knees. When he spoke, it was not with his tongue, but with his mind. No one could shut it out, a thought given sound, emotionless and empty. Even the shadows of their dark master seemed to falter slightly at the percussion that seemed to permeate the air.
My lord. The assassin lowered his gaze and the rest raised theirs.
"Leek" The sixth was the only one in the room that had not shuddered at Raize's thought. His black spiked hair was tinted with streaks of red. Under the dark blue scarf he wore around his shoulder's was a dull brass breastplate. His greaves and arm braces were made of the same material. A scar started from his hairline, curved down over his left eye, and down to his temple. A hook tipped buster sword lay across his back. The gem that grew from his the back of his right hand glinted red in the small amount of light that entered the dark room. He stood, followed soon by Raize, and then the others.
"My soldiers, My generals, the enforcers of My will. My friends." The shadows solidified into a man, tall and bald. His face was pale and flat, without any distinct features. The clothes of his body were just shadows, swirly around him. "I have decided that we must make our more. We have amassed power, taking over world after world through deceit and political influence, but now we must act quickly." The man, if he could be called that, gazed around into the faces of his generals. "You don't get it do you?" His laugh came out as a hiss. "A new Holder is coming." Around the circle, a mixture of expressions sprang onto faces. Liam's eyes grew wide with excitement, Laurel smiled widkedly. Mirn had a far away look, as if thinking of things to come. Duke and Leek each gave off an air of indifference. Raize just stared ahead, emotionless and cold.
"I've been expecting this." the shadow continued. "We always knew that a new Holder would appear eventually. But, now that he comes, we must move quickly." The shadow morphed to the shape of a woman. Her voice, softer, yet more menacing because of it, echoed throughout the chamber. "If we are to achieve our goal, this must be handled with care. We must prepare for him, not just react. Plan, not rush. Do you understand?" They nodded.
"So then, Liam." Liam straightened.
"Yes Master?"
The shadows swirled around him. "You are to go to Earth, dear. Prepare our way there. Gather our followers and search for what we need."
Liam bowed "As you wish." He turned on his heel and left the room, signaling to two guards on his way out.
The shadows pulled back and formed back into the woman. "Now, Duke and Laurel, I want you to travel to Gaia. You are not to interfere with any of the events there. It is a strictly reconnaissance mission. Stay there until I call for you. Can you do that for me?"
Laurel curtsied. "Of course, my liege." She shot a threatening look to Duke, who shrugged.
"No problem. No fighting got it." His heavy Australian accent seemed out of place in the dark room. They turned to leave, but Duke stopped and turned around, flipping a coin back and forth across his fingers. Mirn watched it closely. "In regards to gathering information..." Duke started.
The shadow swirled up around him and he flinched back. "All methods are authorized my dear. Just do not be discovered. Now go." Duke nodded and followed Laurel out.
The shadow gathered itself again and transformed into a tall figure, hooded and cloaked. I long white beard hung down it's front. "As for the rest of you, Leek, you are to accompany Mirn to all the known Focal Points. Then, you are both to go Purgatoria. Continue with the research there until I send for you. Be discreet, you don't want to be... observed" The shadows receded into a corner. "Raize, you are to remain here. I have a special assignment for you." Raize stood with his back to the exit. Leek glanced at him as he passed with Mirn. They would talk later.
After the door had closed, the shadows solidified into the body of a little girl. "Raize," she said tiredly. "Raize, I want you to go to the Realm of Darkness. Open the Key Holes for me again. Please?" The girls lay down on a bed, hidden in the back. "If we are to open the Void, we must sow the seeds of Chaos." She lay back and closed her eyes. "Then go back to finding the artifacts for me. I need them all, or this will not work."
Raize stepped back and bowed low. Of course, my Master.
Outside the room, Leek leaned against the wall, waiting for Raize. He had waved Mirn on ahead to get her things on the ship. "So," Leek pushed himself off the wall as Raize passed. "What are you off to do?"
I am to open the Key Holes that the Keyblade Master closed.
Leek nodded. "Makes sense. Provide a distraction while we continue to gather the artifacts." They assumed a silent walk as a squad of guards passed by. "And what of the new Holder?"
Nothing. The Master does not appear to know much of the matter. Or, Raize looked over at Leek. I am no longer considered trustworthy enough to hear what is known.
Leek grunted. "Fine. Make sure you stop by and check on the others as you look for the artifacts. I want to know what they are doing. Especially Liam. He shouldn't have been sent off on his own. He's not trustworthy"
Like you are?
Leek smiled. "Touche. I suppose none of us could be considered trustworthy, could we." Leek veered off to the right as they approached the hangar. Down by one of the many ships, Mirn was directing guards as they loaded the last of her equipment into the loading bay. She looked up and spotted Leek walking down the ramp. Waving at him to hurry up, she stepped up into the bay and closed it behind her. Leek jumped up into the door to the cockpit and turned back to where Raize stood watching. He raised his hand in farewell as Raize erupted into black flame and dissapeared into the realm of darkness.
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Author's Note: Before you get on my back, yes, Draguss did approve of this. It is free of spoilers of the Prologue story, and will merely tell of what the Diovni company sees Sen doing. Kind of like recapping chapters, but through the eyes of a seperate, uninvolved group. Every chapter will be screened so that it doesn't reveal anything that would spoil the other fic.
