Three Christmases
Part Two: Christmas at the Convent
This is the last one, guys! Thanks for everything!
Clarisse: Haku Yowane
Anne/Rillianne: Rin Kagamine
Allen: Len Kagamine
She said her name was Anne. Clarisse didn't have a chance to question this, not that she wanted to. The girl was helpful enough, but quiet. She spoke with a Lucifen accent, so it was likely she fled from the war and didn't know where else to go. She was found on the beach near the convent, crying her eyes out for an unknown reason.
"Anne," Clarisse asked the girl, "Are you from Lucifenia?"
Anne looked down almost shamefully, "Yes, Sister Clarisse."
"Alright. Do you have anywhere to go?"
"No, Sister Clarisse."
"Would you like to stay here? Maybe become a nun?"
"You would let me stay here?"
"Of course."
"Then, yes, of course. Thank you, Sister Clarisse."
Clarisse smiled. "We have all suffered from the Princess' tyranny, Anne. My best friend and everyone I knew were killed."
"You're from Elphegort?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry it's just that I thought everyone in Elphegort had green hair."
Clarisse bit her lip, suppressing memories of Michaela. She said, "I believe I am the only exception."
"Oh. Sorry, again."
"Forget it." She shook her head, "We need a place for you to sleep. Once we figure that out, it will be dinner, evening prayers, then bed." She turned to talk to the Mother Superior.
"Clarisse! Wait!" Clarisse turned to look at the girl, who continued, "I-I was w-wondering where I would go for confession. Th-there are some things I want to own up to, then I'll f-feel more welcome."
Clarisse smiled warmly, "We usually do it after dinner."
"B-but. I don't want anyone to hear me."
"No one will. If you're really that afraid, Anne, you can just get at the end of the line."
"O-okay."
...
When Anne said she was going to the back of the line, she meant the back of the line. It was almost time for evening prayers, and, since it was Christmas Eve, they were going to sing at candlelight. Clarisse had heard about it from the other nuns and looked forward to it since she came. She waited to escort Anne to a seat, so she wouldn't feel so afraid.
The confession went on longer than usually, and Clarisse began to worry so she stepped into the room.
"Anne?" she called. She then heard the mumbling coming from the confessional. She began to leave, but then became curious to see what was happening, so she snuck closer.
"…and I didn't kill them myself, but I gave the order. 'Kill all the women with green hair.' But what's the difference, really? How could anyone forgive me? I wouldn't? I deserve the title they gave me…"
Clarisse thought it as Anne, Rillianne rather, spoke it:
Daughter of Evil
She turned away, with a mixture of rage, grief, and pity. Why pity? Clarisse shook the question away and ran. She had to avenge Michaela. Rillianne would die tonight.
She grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and ran to the sanctuary. Clarisse looked everywhere in the convent. The princess was nowhere to be found.
"Where are you?" she whispered. She ran to search the grounds. And that's when she found Rillianne on the beach, head bent over a bottle.
Clarisse took a deep breath and crept up to her. She took another deep breath and yelled, "Die, Daughter of Evil!"
Rillianne dropped the bottle into the sea, and whipped around. The white-haired woman began to run. The princess took one last look at the bottle drifting out to sea, smiled mournfully, and walked over to her. She opened her arms and whispered, "Take me, Allen."
Clarisse aimed the knife at her heart, raised her arm, and began to lower it when a force stopped her. What? Rillianne looked just as baffled. When Clarisse looked further at the force, she saw a boy. He looked very similar to the princess. "Please, don't." he pleaded. She dropped the knife and fell down.
The princess murmured, "Get up, please. Kill me. Avenge your friend."
"No. I can't. He won't let me."
"He?"
"I don't know. Princess I-"
"Don't call me princess."
"Rillianne, you've been through so much. I can't kill you." The words coming from her mouth frightened Clarisse, yet she meant them.
"Sister Clarisse, may I stay here? I have nowhere else to go. If people knew who I was anywhere else, I don't know what would happen."
"We have already prepared a space for you. You may stay."
"I wish not to tell the others who I really am."
"I think that is a good idea." Rillianne smiled ruefully, and gave Clarisse her hand. She took it and the pair began to walk back into the convent.
At the door, the force from before grabbed at Clarisse's shoulder. The boy was there. He said, "Thank you. Keep her safe."
"I will." Clarisse responded.
