Lance stood in half darkness. His eyes strained to see in the dark hallway he now resided in. outside a storm was raging, lightning flashed and thunder roared, adding the occasional burst of light to the gloomy setting. A dark silhouette stood at the end of the hallway, shrouded in the shadows, chuckling at some unknown joke it wasn't about to share.
Instinctively Lance reached for Veronica, only for his hand to meet empty air. He was alone.
"You've grown quite fond of them haven't you?"The man asked, not bothering to cease his chuckling.
Lance remained unresponsive, preparing to fight or flight if the need arose.
"Ah, but they'll leave soon enough. Or be taken away from you."The shadowy figure cackled."Just like everyone else in your life."
"Shut up."Lance growled, using his false voice he used to intimidate enemies."Shut your damn mouth before I close it for you."
"Oh so the child speaks."He applauded enthusiastically."Looks like I struck a nerve."
Lance clenched his fist. Mentally cursing himself for falling for the man's goading. He couldn't afford to make such amateur mistakes.
"You need them don't you?"The shadow continued, stepping forward but still not close enough for Lance to see clearly.
"I don't need anything."Lance daunted, venom seething from every syllable. Lance didn't know who this man thought he was, but he definitely didn't know him at all.
"Is that so?"The man inquired as another bolt of lightning flashed, revealing the tanned skin man, appareled in a fancy pinstripe suit. A thin black moustache lied atop the insane grin that was spattered across his face. Only his eyes remained unseen beneath the shadow of his fedora.
"Then let's see how you react to this."He beamed, snapping his fingers as simultaneous screams erupted from across the hall. The anguished screams broke through Lance's defenses as he recognized them as the agonized screams from a small boy and a girl he knew very well. With ferocious rage Lance threw himself and tackled the laughing tormentor.
"What have you done!"Lance cried, grabbing the crazed psychopath by the collar."Tell me where they or now!"
More laughter was his only response."Your dependency is such a weakness. It must run in the family."Even more laughter followed."What will you do now? Who will tolerate your miserable self now? It must be driving you absolutely mad."The laughter broke into small chuckles as the man clutched at his sides, pained from all the laughter.
The hallway turned to red as the final scream died out. All remorse left Lance's mind as it was quickly replaced by an insane hatred. His fist smashed repeatedly into the man's face as he continued to laugh. His amusement echoing off the walls as his face became bloodied and bruised, engulfing the entire house in madness. None of it stopped Lance as he pummeled his fist until all that remained was a monotonous thud from his knuckle hitting skull. Upon examining his blood coated hands Lance really couldn't help but laugh at his own handy work. A high, malicious, laugh of merriment as blood red tears began to streak down his face.
It was all just so funny.
Lance's eyes popped wide open as he awoke from his most dreaded of dreams. Quickly scanning the seats to his left, he found his partners, both in peaceful sleep. Seeing them alive and well, Veronica snoring, relief over took him.
Just a dream. He told himself. Just a stupid, scary, messed up dream.
Turning to his right, he stared out the plane window. His gaze met only with complete and utter darkness. He checked his watch. 3:15 it read in green digital numbers.
Just great. He thought. How the hell am I supposed to sleep now?"
As it turned out, sleep eluded him for the remainder of the eight hour flight, resulting in one very grumpy Lance. When his weapons asked about his weariness, the swordsman dismissively blamed it on flight sickness.
The searing Nevada sun was an unfamiliar burden to the English born weapons, but to Lance it just felt like home. He had missed it during his months spent in the colder parts Europe.
"It`s so bloody hot."Veronica whined, as they made their way to the entrance of the academy.
"If you think it's bad now."Lance chuckled."You're gonna love it in summer."
"It gets worse, Christ."She swore bitterly.
"Okay, let's set a few ground rules."Lance said, turning around to address his weapons."First things first, Ronny put this on."He handed her a small hair band.
"Umm….. Why?"Veronica asked confused, stretching the small band with her fingers.
"Because," Lance explained."Since you insist on cutting your own hair, it has become terribly uneven, and I fear it may send Kidd into a homicidal rage. I know I have to resist going berserk myself."
"Are you sure you're not over exaggerating this symmetry thing just a little bit?"She questioned.
"Just put on the scrunchie."Lance ordered, as Veronica grudgingly obliged.
"And second," Lance continued."Do not, I repeat, do not mention his hair no matter how curious you may be."
"What's wrong with his hair?"Mark inquired.
"Trust me Mark you'll know when you see it."Lance assured.
"With that out of the way, just try not to embarrass me too much."The Meister grinned, as he pushed the double doors open.
Entering the halls Lance felt a chill of apprehension make its way up his spine, despite his feigned confidence. In truth he was nervous out of his wits. But he had learned to mask his true emotions shortly after he had left the city two years previous.
From the corner of his eye Lance spotted a boy around his age walking forward to welcome them. The boy was clad in a black business suit with white patches and a skull tie, three white stripes wrapped around the left side of his onyx hair.
Veronica and Marcus remained silent as the striped haired boy approached Lance, staring him up and down with his large golden eyes.
"Kidd."Lance said.
"Lance."The grim reaper's son said in return.
All tension was suddenly sucked as the two slapped hands in eight quick movements, all vertical or horizontal. Like some form of secret hand shake.
"Long time no see."Lance said clasping Kidd's shoulder.
"Indeed, what have you been up to these past few years?"Kidd asked, smiling at the sight of his oldest friend.
"Nothing much, just gallivanting through Europe, fighting monsters, collecting souls, you know the usual tourist activities."Lance joked.
"And these are the Arondights I presume?"Kidd inquired.
"Correct, this is Veronica my rapier."Lance said indicating his confused partners. "And this little tyke is Marcus, my loyal shield."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." The young reaper greeted formally, extending his arm to shake."I'm Death the Kidd, but everyone calls me Kidd."
Veronica hesitantly shook his hand, noting the skull ring."Nice to meet you Kidd."She said, trying desperately not to stare at the stripes.
Marcus on the other hand made no visible effort to suppress his enthrallment at the young man's hair, staring wide eyed directly at the strange lines as he shook his hand.
"Not many people are so young when they enter the academy."Kidd noted."There are always exceptions though."
"Now how about the tour?"
Kidd then proceeded with showing them every nook and cranny of the large school, stopping every once in a while to recount some random facts about the building or to compliment something he noticed as especially symmetrical. He eventually led them to a strange room with a guillotine hallway filled with cross tombstones that he called the "DeathRoom" where Lord Death stood awaiting their arrival.
"Hiya Kids."Lord Death beamed.
"Greetings Father."Kidd said addressing his father.
Again Veronica wondered how in the world the cartoony reaper had ever produced such a human looking a child, subtracting the gold eyes and the lines in his hair, of course.
"Tell me guys and be honest."Lord Death asked."What do you think of my school?"
"It`s awesome! Mark shouted.
"Aw, that puts some warmth in this old heart of mine."The grim reaper said cheerfully, patting Mark fondly on the head.
"It's a contribution to modern architecture sir."Lance added.
"Um, yeah what they said."Veronica said pointlessly, lacking her brother's enthusiasm and Lance's flattery.
"You're all too kind." Lord Death said happily.
"But back to business, here take these." He said handing a large pile of papers into Lance's hands."You'll need to feel out all the necessary registration papers, plus I threw in a pamphlet for some extracurricular activities and clubs."
Lance quickly flipped threw a few of the pages, spotting the expected athletic activities and social clubs. Along with a few unexpected surprises such as advanced weapon resonating, dissecting today, and swordsmanship 101. The last one caught Lance's attention.
Hmm Lance thought Could be worth checking out i suppose.
"And" Lord Death added "You're going to need these as well."Protruding from the grip of the reapers foam like hands were three shiny badges, two for weapons and one a Meister's."They're required for certification."
Veronica quickly snatched her badge out of the large white hand and pinned it to the front of her leather jacket, turning to check her reflection in Lord Death's communication mirror. Seemingly satisfied with the result she let out a pleased."Wicked"
Sliding the stack of papers under his shoulder, Lance opened the badge to inspect the information. All the personal information seemed to be in order. They even had correct measurements for his height, and weight.
As he put the badge into his jean pocket, Lance noticed two newcomers enter the Death Room, a red haired man wearing a plain business suit and a lady with shoulder length blonde hair and an eye patch in similar apparel. The two seemed to be discussing the man's daughter.
"I just can't see why she doesn`t love."The man sobbed franticly."My own baby girl and she won't even talk to me."
"There, there Spirit."The eye patch lady said in a comforting tone."I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it out to be."
"No, it's worse."Spirit whimpered as he noticed how full the room was."Oh sorry Lord Death we had no idea you were entertaining company."
"Not a problem Spirit, Marie."Lord Death stated."Kidd was just about to escort these students to their new apartment."
"Of course Father."Kidd replied."Now if you just follow me."He continued as he led the trio out of the Death Room. Once they were out of earshot the adults began to talk.
"Who were they?"Spirit asked suspiciously, wiping the last traces of tears from his eyes.
"As I said they're students here at DWMA."Lord Death answered.
"Didn't look like any students I've ever seen."The death scythe stated.
"That's because they are new here."Lord Death explained."They only just got here this morning."
"What are their names?"Marie inquired.
"The girl and the child are Veronica and Marcus Arondight, they're weapons from London."Lord Death said."And the boy is their Meister Lance Rodriguez."
Marie let out a gasp "You mean Damon's son Lance?"She proclaimed, her eye wide
"The very same."The grim reaper said, his comical voice not masking a hint of remorse.
"How terrible, that poor boy."Marie grimaced.
The red haired death scythe stood awkwardly scratching his head, not knowing what the other two were discussing."Um….whose Damon?"
"You don't know?"The hammer death scythe questioned quizzically.
"Well….no."Spirit confessed.
"Damon Rodriguez."Lord Death stated."Was your predecessor Spirit."
A simple "Oh" was Lord Death`s current death scythe`s only response to the revelation. He had never once given thought to who he had replaced when his wife, no his ex-wife, had turned him into a death scythe."But what happened to him?"
"He was killed." Lord Death said with a sort of faraway look to him."Shortly after his wife Natsumi died in battle."
"That's horrible."Spirit said."You mean to tell me that both of that boy's parents died while serving under you, and he still wants to be a Meister?"
"Pretty much."The Grim reaper said simply.
"Man."Spirit mused."I don't get kids these days."
The other two merely nodded their agreement.
