Chapter 2.: When Darkness Falls...
Night by Night, every time the moon began to rise on the Horizon and the sun faded away leaving nothing but darkness behind Nihilia and Mihawk have met at the Umbrae Lake. Every night for seven years she had been sneaking out of her home to sing at the lake and to enjoy the little freedom she had. Inside of her she felt a wonderful sensation when Mihawk listened to her singing. It wasn`t love, or romance...
It was the simple feeling of someone being there, someone who heard her voice, someone who enjoyed the muse echoing in the forest of the night. They never exchanged many words; they were not talking a lot since none of them were very wordy, but the few conversations they shared were proof enough of the understanding from another. There was a connection both hadn`t experienced before, a connection of understanding what another said. A connection that was made from the enjoyment of each others company. Both of them kept something dark and mysterious inside. Both of them were lonely...
One had chosen to be this way and the other one was secretly reaching for the light but never touched it. As the sun was gone Nihilia was already at the lake; this time she had the chance to sneak out of her home earlier than usual and decided to spend the time by playing songs. First an ocarina echoed, then a violine accompanied by soft humming that broke the silence. Every day since his arrival in the dark Kingdom of Noctia Mihawk had spend his evenings walking through the wilderness, searching for answers about the rumors howling like a pack of wolves from the townsfolk. The nights however were spent by Nihilias` side. He wasn`t able to put his finger onto it, but there was something that literally was drawing him to her. By now it was clear she wasn`t a Devil Fruit user, nor had she any special abilities. Her singing was simple talent, maybe even given by a god, maybe she just carried an fallen angels soul inside. But her singing wasn`t all for there was something else. Something he couldn`t explain... Something he couldn`t find an answer to.
Though, tonight would be different, it would be the last night he could spend with her, last night she gave him inner peace. He needed to advance on the sea to reach his goal, he needed to go on for he couldn`t rest until he reached the top and fulfilled his dream of being the worlds` greatest swordsman. His long-pause would end soon and he did not have much time left. Preparation for the next sailing needed to be done just as well. As he went for his usual walk at the same time he noticed that Nihilia must`ve been there for a while by now. He was early this night and thought he would need to wait until she would arrive, but she was just as early. Sitting down next to her he crossed his legs, put his sword aside on the ground and said nothing but listened to her song.
With the last tones echoing the wind picked up and began to blow violently , it howled, the screaming of a demon lingering behind the trees. Her hair was floating like a silver fog carried away by the heavy breeze while the silent water of the liquid surface was greatly disturbed. The reflection of the stars and moon above them flickered, glistening, glittering and sparkling sparatically. In the brief moment the breeze blew it felt like a sign...
A sign for what? It wasn`t clear but as the wind stopped another mystery was solved.
"Demons in the Woods". They were nothing but the wind, nothing but an illusion. Nothing but superstition. Once the breeze silenced in a whisper her gaze met his. Her eyes seemed irritated; the sadness engraved in her expression felt more intense as usual, but they held the same shimmer as every night. The same contrast of desire and desperation.
"Silence... so quiet it screamed loudly like a lost soul trying to reach the living...", she whispered softly with a short smirk before taking the violine once more, carefully caressing over its wooden surface a sigh escaped her. Her finger inertwinded with the strings, gently fixing them to keep the tone of the instrument . Mihawk watched her quietly, saying nothing but his eyes followed the movemts of her fingers. He noticed the care and effort she took with each simple movement. It was a simple proof of how much music meant to her and that this was what her heart desired most.
"This will be my last night here on this island, my log-pose reset itself and I have to move on.", he then said in a near emotionless tone. His words were spoken with such a cold expression but deep inside there was a hint of hesitation about leaving. Never would he show these kinds of feelings to anyone; it wouldn`t matter if he liked the person or not. It wouldn`t matter if this person was close to him or just an acquaintance. Never would he show any kind of weakness or feelings... distant, stern... a loner.
He didn't expect much of an answer from her and this was true she kept quiet. He wouldn`t know if she was disappointed, sad or melancholic. She was the same as always... though the difference was that her expression held her emotions, but it could never be certain since sorrow and mourning was engraved into it no matter if she smiled, laughed or spoke. The only glimpse of happiness seemed to linger in her face whenever she sang. Though...
Deep inside of him he felt a dagger pressing against his chest. There was a part of him that did not want to leave her here, a part that wanted to spend one more night but he surpressed it though he couldn`t be sure if they would ever meet again. Never would he abadon his goal, never hold back, never turn back so he had chosen to leave this night.
"Hmmhmm...", a short noise escaped her, a sign she had heard what he had said, but this was not everything. For the briefest moment her fingers working on the violin stopped as her heart bumped like thunder in her chest. This little subtle and probably subconcious gesture was proof enough of that there was pain in her heart. It was the confirmation of these feelings she would have never shown. Maybe it was a defensive mechanism to both of them, seemingly distant and coldhearted but burning inside with a devouring fire. Just a second later her hand moved to a small black bag made out of something like leather, she grabbed a small item inside of it and gave it to him with a smooth motion.
"When we meet again I want that back...", she mumbled in the same emotionless way he spoke, but her tone was shaking just a little. "I`m going to be a songstress one day, standing on the stage of a huge theatre and sing so I can reach the hearts of others... to bring them happiness. I just haven`t figured out how I can leave my own island...".
Mihawk looked at the item she had laid in his hands, a small music box which would play the very first song he had heard from her when they met by the moonlight. He noticed himself smiling which was unsual, especially in situations like this. It was a rare thing for him to smile , but he couldn`t help it. Powerless he looked at the small engravings, the thin chain fixed onto it, the title of the song. "When Darkness falls...".
"You have my word I will bring it back to you.", he replied to her and put the box beside his blade making it look even tinier next to the long sword of his. His eyes meeting the moon her words about being a songstress echoed in his mind for a while. It would be very difficult for her; the worlds of both couldn`t be more different from another and yet they were the same. Both fought their battles just on different levels. Considering the harshness of the sea, her status, her duties and attire it would be near impossible to accquire her goal.
If he would come back to this island, she could be locked up under even more brutal circumstances, maybe she would be in Mariejois and if she was going to accomplish her goal of singing on a huge stage than he wouldn`t find her again. However, he knew there was an item that could lead them to another once more. With his left hand he reached into his jackets` pocket to grab a piece of blank paper, with his right hand he ripped it into two pieces while looking at her, "I suppose you don`t know what this is?".
Her eyes met his and observed him ripping the paper in half, her expression held a subtle wondering but as ever it stayed cold and porcelain-like. Handing over the piece of paper to her she smiled just a little, holding it tightly against her chest she then closed her eyes and whispered "A Vivre Card" as his answer. Yet again she felt warmth around her, a warmth comming from the inside pushing aside the reckless bitterness that tortured her. Her skin this night seemed to be more pale as the nights before but a barely visible blush colored her cheeks. Taking a deep breath lifting up her chest, filling her lungs with pinewood scented air she spoke once more, "Let`s make a promise... We meet again when you`ve become the greatest swordsman and I`ve become a great songstress. And If you ever have a crew, you can take me with you as a musician". The words were spoken gently and with some trace of happiness and gloom at the same time. It was sort of ridiculous since the songs Nihilia sang weren`t really what pirates usually would listen to, but anyways... she told herself in that moment she would be free one day. The strenght of the young hawk-eyed man inspired and encouraged her to become strong enough to leave her golden cage behind and to fulfill her dream as well. "You should learn to play an instrument too, so I can sing to one of your songs...".
Mihawk was happy she was not as ignorant as most would be in this part of the world, as vive cards were something rare around here. As she talked he listened closely to her words and smirked as she said her last words. His hand reached for hers, enclosing her small, boney hands in a gesture, "We will meet again when we`ve reached our goals and fulfilled what we strive for. However, I will not have a crew. I am better off by myself for what I want to achieve. Besides, a lonely soul like me would not feel at home with a crew. But we will meet again. That`s a promise."
Knowing that striving to be the greatest swordsman was to be alone, when so many had the same dream. So many would stand in his way, challenge him, try to kill him or try to overcome him but he would not loose a single fight on his way until the world would know his name. In a crew, many could have this dream, and it would create more harm than good. He had chosen to be alone, having friends, someone close could be a weakness that thugs and such could easily exploit.
She shook her head because she understood what he was saying and the meaning of it. Her eyes were fixed for a moment on her hand on his, she didn`t noticed she blushed much more this time as his hand felt warm around hers. It was a warmth she hadn`t felt in her live before. She then nodded and looked again at her beloved moon, "Then maybe we can be alone together one day...", those words were nothing but a whisper... actually she had thought those words but subconsciously spoken out.
"It was... it feels wonderful when someone is there to listen. Sometimes silence can say so much more than words ever could." As her eyes met the moon again the colors changed a bit, it was normally more purple than red, but the red had increased just a little as if her eyes were trying to adjust themselves to the brightness. She then closed those ruby eyes and began to sing very quietly, a vocal that was as smooth as the touch of a feather caressing over ones` skin with nothing but a brush; for one last time she wanted to know someone was there listening to her voice.
He didn't add anything more, as all had been said between them. But before she would sing, he wanted to answer to her indirect question.
"Maybe one day we will be."
He closed her hand, the hand the Vivre Card was in, slowly removing his from hers and Nihilia could feel the warmth from his touch fading gradually. Letting her sing one more time he chose to stay just a few more minutes; memorizing her voice so he could hear it when he was on the seas. As the melody calmly vanished he stood up and gazed at the lake in the same lost but spellbound way she gazed at the moon. The calm and peace he would feel right now would be gone soon and it would be a long time until he could rest like this again. He put the small box in his pocket, making sure it was secure, and put his sword back on his back, kept listening until the silence would come back.
"Just leave... do not say Good Bye ... We will see each other again...", she said when her song was finished and she noticed him getting ready to leave. She wouldn`t turn around to watch him, but she already could feel his presence fading, it was vanishing into the shadows. The same way his presence appeared two weeks ago it now faded away. The sun would rise soon and she would need to get back to her golden cage... though... for a long moment she thought about not going back this time. But like this there was no way for her to leave the island, talking to her father who had forbidden her from going outside and to sing in such a wrathful way would be meaningless. But it was like she said before, like Mihawk indicated in the words they exchanged. "Where the will is strong there will be always a way...".
3 days later...
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!", Garnet Nox yelled at the Navy Officers violently smashing shelves in their home. "I told you those rumors aren`t true, we are not a cult sacrificing people! Who told you about this! This is unjust! I will go to Mariejois and make a claim about those actions!"
"We were told by a certrain and trustworthy source that you are engaging in forbidden rituals, that you have a secret chamber filled with forbidden items. You do know what happened in Ohara? If you do not go along with us the same will happen here so be happy that it`s just us who were sent here. And unless you want us to smash the entire castle you can show us the chamber and hand over the books!".
"I told you there is nothing to hide. No secret chamber and no sacrifices. This is a huge mistake!", the old black-haired man reached out bashing his fist against a nearby table to vent his anger about this unfair action of the government. "This is nothing but another rumor. It isnt true!"
Nihilia and her mother watched the officers ripping apart their home, Garnet Nox angrily trying to defend their honor and their wealth. Amon, Nihilias` older brother staying just as angry beside his father, trying to stop the Navy and those men in black suits from destroying any more than they already have. Tenebrae, Nihilias` mother nearly crying laid a hand on her daughter shoulder as she simply watched unable to do something against it. "The men in the black suits... CP-9... I have to...", she stuttered in fear, "I have to hold your father back, we are already in great danger. It was always slippery path we were walking on, I simply didn`t think they would take action again since we had proven ourselves innocent of any spoken assumptions in the past." Nihilia just looked at her mother with her face carved in stone, no tear, no feelings, nothing was visible in it. But inside she was shaking, trembling in desperation. Her mind was racing. This could be her chance to leave home, but where could she go, the wealth was on her parents, alone in the world she wouldn`t stand a chance. But she knew just as well that her father was lying about something. Surely they weren`t sacrificing humans but their studies may have gone too deep, they may had accquired knowledge they shouldn`t have and there was indeed a secret chamber holding those items. She knew of this one book that was forbidden, burned in the past and they had the last of it. She never had actually seen it, but she heard her parents speaking about it and sometimes those conversations echoed through the halls. Logically a maiden or servant had heard of this and alarmed the Government, most likely some things that weren`t true had been added and their reputation was like fuel in a flaming fire. Suddenly her mother pulled her aside to a dark corner where they wouldn`t be seen for now. Grabbing into her pocket she handed over a key on a silver chain to her young daughter and her lips now close to Nihilias` ear she started to whisper so silently that only she could hear it, "Go. Leave now. There`s a stash of money in the basement, take the book, it`s locked in the golden box you`ve seen once, take it and the item which is hidden inside the book. My love... this is the most important thing you can do. Nobody is ever allowed to touch this book and more importantly the item inside. It`s a necklace with an glassy pearl attached and the most deadly virus is contained safely in it. This does not belong in ANYONES` hands, be it the ones of normal people, the government or anyone else. Do NOT let anyone catch you...".
"Mother... what? I don`t understand what you`re saying, what is going on?", she replied in the same whispering voice.
"I don`t have much time to explain, you have to do this, we cannot save our wealth and our home one more time. I do not know how this happened but this here is just the silence before the storm, you cannot save anyone, not me, not your father. I try to get Amon out of here as well and you just do as I say. Take the book and the Item and go! GO!", her whisper grew a little louder, more purgend and more pressing as she pushed Nihilia away.
"Mother, please? Tell me what`s wrong. What is happening? Who is this CP-9? Why are so many soldiers here?".
"GO! Promise me you'll keep it safe!".
"Mother? Mother!", she replied as she saw her mother pushing her further away so she wouldn`t be seen. Not knowing that this would be the last time she would see her mother and father she turned around overwhelmed by an surge of confusion and fear. The uncertainty and the whole situation was odd and seemed cruel. On her way down to the basement to open the secret passage she faintly heard screaming and yelling from upstairs, rumbling, mumbling and crashing. The voice of her father echoing loudly with a screech followed by the voice of her mothers begging. Staying still as she opened the passage she thought about going back, there must`ve been a way to help. She hated her life, sometimes even her family but this... THIS was just wrong. Were they attacked? Killed? What was happening upstairs she wouldn`t know in this moment but her mothers face was imprinted behind her eyes.
The anxiety and the despair of her face spoke more than her words could explain. A small hidden wooden door opened behind a wardrobe she pressed aside, walking along a dark and stone passage deep down to the hidden basement. The only way to see in the dark was by having light but Nihilia noticed though it was dark she saw quite well. Maybe her eyes were used to the gloomy twilight from her nighty singing sessions in the forest. The screaming and yelling became more and more faint as she quickly but carefully made her way to yet another hidden door at the end of the passage way. The books she used for her own studies were hidden behind this way just as well as one of her secret passages to sneak out. Whenever her father was upstairs she used it to go to the forest, whenever he was downstairs she used the pipe by her window to slide down. Opening the next hidden way the smell of the basement penetrated her nose, the smell of mold, old books, metals such as gold and silver. Vastly taking a bag she opened an old chest made out of marbled wood to fill it with as much berry as possible. Some of her mothers old dresses were laying nearby, grabbing some of them she pressed them on top of the money she had collected. Just as fast and pressured with her movements she walked over to the golden chest. For the first time in her life she could open it and lay her eyes on the book inside. The forbidden Grimoire of Darkness.
The word said that this was a book which contained the most forbidden magic. The magic of blood. It was banned. So called witches all over the world used books one could buy in a curiosity store or even created their own "spells" that never worked. But if the rumors were true than this particular book contained secrets of the occult that were never meant for human hands.
Opening the golden chest she first saw nothing but salt, a lot of different herbs and gemstones. She knew from her studies that those items were used to contain evil or to keep it away. Her hands striking over it, digging into the salt seemingly pulling the water out of her skin leaving it dry she finally found what she had been sent for. The most "dangerous" and ominous book looked unassuming and nothing special at all. Plain and black, no imprints, no title, no signatures. Opening it she saw a part of it was hollow containing the necklace with the glass pearl her mother spoke of and a letter fixed onto it. Abruptly she heard more and more noises, louder growing screaming while footsteps became audible nearby. Her mind was screaming for answers so she thought about reading the note but this would need time which she didn`t have right now. Just as she opened the last secret door that would lead her to another passage to the surface outside the forest she listened to the most agonizing scream she could imagine. The scream of her mother followed by silence from the upstairs and the yelling of her brother. Hastily she ran outside, through the forest. It was her advantage now that she knew this dark and overgrown forest so very well for she could hide easily in its darkness. But how could she leave the island? How could she go away? Wouldn`t it be just a matter of time till they would catch her?
She had no friends and knew nobody who could help her out in this moment of desperation but she ran. There was nothing else she could do but running as the scream of her mother was like the most terrifying nightmare in her head. For how long she ran she didn`t know but at some point she stood still to catch her breath. Heavily pressing air into her lungs she had an urge to turn around and run back. But this urge was surpressed by a far distant light. The light of fire...
The fire that was burning down her home and as the ringing in her ears faded she heard the townsfolk cheering and yelling. This was how her home and family was destroyed, with a buoyant applause. Her eyes widened from the horror of the picture as for the first time in seven years tears were bursting into her eyes. Not being able to stop them she simply stood there and watched her golden cage being burned to ashes. In the far distance of the forest she noticed disturbances, probably people were looking for her by now and she thought of her brother. Did he make it? Mother had said that she needed to help him escape as well. Maybe he was still there? Maybe nothing bad happened to her mother and father and they managed to get out before the fires began to devour the life she had lived. Her face had turned into a horrible grimace of tears and fears, sobbing and crying she wanted to move. Forwards, backwards; it wouldn`t matter. But her whole body felt numb, it was like an invisible force keeping her in place.
Just then a hand grasped her shoulder, forcing her to turn around as she saw an old lady staying in front of her. "Come with me child... You`ll be safe." Her elderly voice scratched like a needle over a chalky surface.
"What? Who? Are.. you.. I... I am... ", nothing but broken and lost words escaped her.
"I`m a friend of your mother, she knew this day would come. Nobody expected it to be so very soon, but... ", she reached inside her bag handing loosely from her shoulder to show her the familys` emblem which she could only have from her mother or father.
"Where did you...?".
"Come with me first, we don`t have time now. You`ll be safe with me", the old woman said and turned to walk towards the mountains grounds. Hesitating Nihilia followed her. Not knowing much of the outside world, not knowing what to do she had not much of a choice but to hope that what the woman said was true and she wouldn`t be lured into a trap...
Days later she found out that her father indeed participated in human sacrifices in yet another secret passage. It was said that these rituals were used for his own personal studies and that her Mother Tenebrae probably did not know about it. There were more books and occult items that were confiscated but apparently the Navy did not find what they had been searching for. In the newspapers all over the world were pictures of their house burning. It stated that her father, mother and brother had died in the fire. It was obviously a plot since the screaming was still loud in Nihilias head and she could be just too sure that they had been assasinated. The old woman had the Name Marjola, it rang a bell in her mind since her mother told her once a story about her. She was the so called witch in the wood, but in reality she was nothing but an old lady knowing of medicines and other healing mixtures. She was a simple loner that had chosen to be alone since people usually avoided her. The reason wasn`t clear to Nihilia since the elderly lady was a nice person. Just for a few more days she could spend hidden in her own home since the Government was officially searching for her now. Stating that she might be still somewhere on Noctia Island. The article also stated the possibility of her escape and they had put a bounty onto her head with an unknown sum. Though the Wanted Poster stated only "Alive" and "The item carried must be returned to the Navy immediately". She couldn`t believe that the Government actually believed in their occult researches and books or things like this. Occult matters were always a bit... shady. Some believed in it, others did not. Some thought spells and incarnations would be effective while some stated it was superstition or hogwash.
Covered in a black cloak she managed to get on a passage ship bringing her to the next island. The first time on sea she felt the salty air fill her lungs and ease her mind just a little. Did her dream to sing died as well? She couldn`t show her face anywhere... though there was just a rough sketch on her wanted posted in the paper. It didn't look much like her. Changing her name whenever someone spoke to her into "Siren" she quickly learned how to stay in the shadows...
She wouldn`t have known that it would stay this way for many... many years...
"When Darkness falls. The dawn comes soon.
Stars above. The ground beneath.
Death inside, purged by light;
We will become the shadow of the night.
The misery worn as a veil. It will hide a spell;
the most beautiful kind.
The palace of eve, a bitter parody hails;
emptiness will keep us blind.
Born with a birthmark of cinders.
Debris cast by the moon; our mother.
The mirror nothing but a shade,
when life cannot end by the tip of a blade.
And once we were, so different from what we are.
Nothing else matters;
the broken heart;
it will fall apart...".
