Chapter 2
Before Departure
The legendary devil was only a young and beautiful lady, yet despite her near flawless and delicate features, she was one not to be trifled with. In hell, the place of her birth, she had lived to be nurtured as a cold, heartless and defensive lady whom no-one could reach out to. Only would the Lord be able to command her as and when he wished or contemplate into perishing her at the tip of his finger and rid her from the world. It was like a place of torture and angst. But at the same time, it was like her habitat. Her world consisted of only the dark side.
She stood a few feet away from the Lord, her eyes gazing calmly towards his direction. As soon as a cushioned chair appeared behind her, she lay back on the seat and crossed her legs graciously. A wine glass emerged within her grasp and she waited patiently for his speech to begin.
"You've definitely changed. You're such a perfect lady, any man will fall on his knees and be at your beck and call." The Lord told her with a smile. "Which is why you're here today for an important task."
"Go on" Fate said stiffly, taking a small sip of her wine. "I'm not here to waste my time."
"You're getting braver, aren't you?" the Lord smirked. "Fancy talking to me in that kind of speech."
He clasped his hands together, surveying her every feature. He was the one who made her. He created her from the reign of fire. Her soul was in his hands and she was not in the decision to live or die. As she chucked him a look of ignorance, he further stated, "Your task won't be that easy this time round. A crystal is being highly guarded and protected by someone in heaven. But with that precious gem in my hands, I'll gain supreme strength and power. Even heaven will be in chaos then."
"So you mean to say?" Fate arched an eyebrow. The answer to her question was obvious.
"Your job is to steal that gem for me and escape alive without any harm." He said and paused, as though attempting to emphasize his next words, "however, once you fail the mission, I do not promise even your mortality on Earth."
"Understandable." Fate was fully confident of her new assignment. In fact, she had been to that place before. Heaven. She had been trained to hide her identity from others and act like a completely different person. With her acting skills, she could even lie her way through an immortal with the utmost rank. It was also undeniable that the beauty she possessed had enthralled many men or women's hearts and assisted her in luring and controlling them. She was determined of her new task regardless of the level of difficulty. The higher the challenge, the more it deepened her interest towards it.
"It may sound easy to you, but the thing is, the person you're going to steal from may not be easily fooled or lured." The Lord reminded. "She's just like you, hard to be trifled with. That's why she was given the responsibility to keep and protect the crystal."
"Then the more I'll try to snatch it away from her." Fate held no patience for suspense. "So who's my target, in precise?"
"An angel." The Lord leaned back on his chair comfortably, eye-ing her with fascination. "It's going to be a tough mission. By all means, use the portal device to reach me and ask for assistance."
Fate touched the cold, tiny purple jewel that was resting on her nape. The Lord had given her the necklace as a gift to half-freedom. She could transport anywhere she wanted that was not within the boundary of the palace in her own will. She could even visit modern earth and mix in with the mortal population, or make a trip to heaven.
"I suppose you've the right skills to keep yourself guarded by the time you reach heaven," the Lord said and stood up, walking slowly towards her. Gently, his hand reached out for her forehead and she closed her eyes in ease. When his palm rested on her forehead, she could feel soothing warmth rushing down through her entire body. As soon as he withdrew his hand, the feeling was gone in an instant. "You'll have wings and a halo by the time you're in heaven. And the dark aura around you will be gone for temporary as well."
"That's great." Fate mumbled faintly in slight sarcasm and arose from her seat. "So are there any other further precautions for me to take note of?" She was feeling any readier to leave this room.
"Just make sure you don't make a mistake in the mission." The Lord told her warningly. "Fail and you may not stand a chance to live."
His voice was such a threatening whisper, it could give her doubts on accomplishing the assignment.
*
"You're back, my lady" Caro immediately dropped to her knees as she took a respectful bow. "The room has been tidied up and cleaned. Everything is in order now."
"Good. You may rise." Deliriously, Fate made her way towards the dresser as she plopped down lazily on the chair, staring at her own reflection in the mirror. She looked sullen. Tonight, she would start on her task. Nonetheless, she was going to accomplish it without fail, and effortlessly. Thoughts of going to the heaven were swirling in her mind and she was prompted with questions. To admit, she hadn't been there for quite some time and her impression of that place was vague. She only knew, for one thing, that heaven was a bright place unlike her own. Yet, she would not define it as paradise.
"You look just as pretty as you are in the portrait" Caro said half-timidly as she quietly confronted Fate from behind. She peered at the devil's reflection in the mirror, awing at her flawless face. Nervously, she took a comb from the dresser and reached out for the devil's hair, but stopped an inch away from it as she bit her lower lip, as though frightened to touch it.
"Can I help to comb your hair, my lady?"
Fate nodded, her response least expectant to Caro. She actually allows me to touch her hair! The servant was ecstatic at once. But she was caught unaware that Fate could read her mind.
"I don't let anyone else touch a strand of my hair. Except for my personal servants" Fate told her.
"Yes, my lady. It's a pleasure to be able to at your service," Caro said softly, upon realization that her mind had been read. Gingerly, she pressed the comb against Fate's straight blond hair and gently slid it down like it was brushing strands of silk. She nearly flinched when the devil edged a little in her chair. How could she not be afraid when Fate actually possessed such ultimate power? Anyone at the sight of her would cower.
"You don't have to fear me" Fate explained stiffly. "I do not mistreat little girls like you."
"I am sorry" Caro apologized, blushing at the fact that her thoughts had been read again. Her hands were turning shaky now.
"Were you born and created in the reign of fire?" Fate inquired.
Caro nodded. "I was born without parents. A lady at the housekeeping section adopted me and raised me."
Such innocent soul. Fate looked at the mirror reflection in pity. Would Caro be trained to become defensive and heartless like her too? Her purity of innocence would then be gone forever as well. But it was the only way to survive and stand up for oneself. If the Lord didn't trust her potential and nurture her, she would have ended up somewhere else in the hands of destruction. She hated all the men. They were disgusting species to her and in the dark era itself, many girls had been tainted by them in order for a new generation to carry on. Yet some had been abused unreasonably. Fate stared at Caro's reflection. Was she going to become one of those victims?
The servant's cheerfulness and smile could only make Fate gain sympathy for her. She was too young to know what's in store for her in future.
"I will be away for some time." Fate reminded. "Maintain my room and keep it clean."
"Yes, my lady" Caro said in obedience. "Where will you be going to?" She nearly regretted asking. It was too disrespectful for a lowly-ranked girl like her to ask such direct question to the devil.
"I'll be going to the heaven for a mission of mine." Fate answered. She paused for a second. "That's a secret between you and me."
"A secret?" Caro stared at her in surprise.
Fate nodded. "Yes. It is a secret. Nobody except for me, you and the Lord knows."
The servant was astonished. Why would the devil tell her something so confidential? She was completely lost for words. It felt like she had been entrusted something important to keep confidential and make no word of it, and it was a heavy burden to her. And it was actually a secret mission commanded by the Lord!
"Don't worry. Nobody will know." Fate took Caro's hand. In a split second, the emotionally heavy burden Caro was carrying had been lifted like magic. Even thoughts of it were dismissed. "Now nobody can know of that secret kept in your mind."
A smile crept its way up Caro's face. "Thank you, my lady" she said gratefully. "I will wait for you to come back. And I'll promise to keep the room clean and tidy..."
"Will you pick a dress for me?" Fate requested warmly, cutting in. "I do not want to appear as the odd one in heaven in my black clothes."
Caro, blushing, nodded. Never in her life did she imagine herself having a conversation with the devil. She would definitely pick the best dress for her and give her a wonderful makeover.
And perhaps make her look like an angel too.
A/N:
Hmm I didn't even notice I'd typed brown for Fate's eyes description. Thanks for informing me.
This story is nearing to completion, however I think most of the characters are a bit oc-ish. I hope you guys don't mind. I, myself have only seen a few episodes of the anime therefore I haven't quite catch the whole perspective of their characters. I only started writing a NanoFate story, simply because I was inspired by this pairing in all those fabulous stories I'd read. Along with some crazy idea popping up, I might as well put them in a story ^^
BPHaru: This is actually my first story so I welcome any comments and criticisms.
