A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Here's Chapter 4!
Chapter 4: The Black Order
"Allen, hold still. Ow!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Stop apologizing and give me a boost!"
Allen grunts as he heaves me further upward; I grip the rim of the ledge and haul my body the rest of the way. I slump down on the plateau with a groan, panting heavily. Cripes, I'm outta shape.
"Cas, are you alright?" Allen calls from below me.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I reply, still breathing heavily. I glance over my shoulder at Allen's small body dangling hazardously from the edge of the massive black cliff we are currently scaling.
His form is beginning to fade out of focus as the fresh cloud of mist that had been steadily brewing on the horizon continues to press in around us.
Allen looks up at me, his silvery eyes like twin pinpricks in the gloom. "What is it?"
"Nothing," I reply, mentally shaking myself, before I turn back around and grip the rough, black rock.
Don't look down. Don't look down.
We are miles up now. The air feels as thin as wet paper.
Beneath me, I hear Allen gasp and the rough scraping of his hands clawing at the cliff.
I squeeze my eyes shut. "Kid, you alright?"
"I'm fine," Allen calls back, his voice slightly shaken. "And don't call me 'kid'. It's Allen!"
I cautiously open my eyes and shift my position to be able to move further upward. "Are you sure Timcampy is pointing us in the right direction, kid?" I ask.
"Master Cross said that Timcampy would guide me to the Black Order. He hasn't steered me wrong this far."
I glance up at the tiny winged creature fluttering through the ash-colored mist above our heads.
I sigh, "Well, it has been a few hours since I last threatened my life." With that, I paw upwards for another handhold, but my hand instead grips a large hole chiseled into the cliff side.
The sound of rustling and high-pitched shrieks fills my ears.
"Kid, watch out!" I cry just as the air is consumed in a swarm of inky black bodies and frantically flapping leather wings.
The bats explode out around us. I shout several curse words and flatten my body against the side of the cliff, gripping the surface so hard my gloves rip. Below me, I suddenly hear Allen scream.
"Allen!" I twist around, and my arm shoots out just as Allen loses his balance and tumbles downward towards the ground miles below.
I gasp, my blood pounding in my skull as I grip the wall of the mountain with one hand, the other coiled in a vice-like grip around Allen's ankle. The poor kid is dangling absurdly a few inches out from the cliff's edge, several miles above solid ground.
The golem Timcampy flutters frantically around his master's head as though trying to help in some way.
"Are you alright?" I ask.
Allen makes a kind of choking sound. "Yeah, I'm okay," he gives me a sideways glance. "You're stronger than you look."
"And you're heavier than you look," I grunt, feeling my arm start to give. "Can you find a handhold?"
"Uh, right," Allen twists around suddenly and paws at the space in front of him.
I wince. "Allen, that is not a handhold," I say through gritted teeth, fighting to keep my voice even.
"I'm sorry. Just, give me a sec." Allen insists, his hand tightening around my inner thigh is soon joined by the other one.
"Okay, you can let go of me now," Allen cautiously says.
"My pleasure," I reply bluntly, slackening my grip without hesitation, only to be given the pleasure of Allen coiling his legs around my neck.
If anyone had told me six weeks ago that I would be hanging by one arm off the side of a mountain with Allen Walker hanging upside down on my body, his arms wrapped around my thighs, his legs around my neck, his head between my legs... I would have shot them.
"Allen, what the actual fuck do you think you're doing down there?" I snap.
"I know it's awkward, Cas, but I was upside down!" Allen cried. "What was I supposed to do? Try to right myself in midair?"
I scowl, but otherwise relent. "Fine. For your sake, kid; you better not be enjoying this."
"Uh, right," Allen mutters as he shifts his legs and attempts to try and twist himself around.
A sudden wind pushes against the side of the mountain, scattering the mist and Timcampy, and knocking me further into the cliff side.
The Black Order better be worth all this fucking trouble. I close my eyes, trying to douse my fuming mood. Great, just great. I guess I'm just supposed to sit here and let this guy climb all over me like some kind of bizarre spider sex. And it's not in the least bit hot.
Allen kicks his leg against my chin, jerking me from my thoughts. I growl through gritted teeth as he knocks a small pack loose from my breast coat pocket.
"God damnit," I hiss as I spot my box of matches tumbling down into the dense fog out of the corner of my eye.
"What?" Allen asks.
"Nothing," I glance down at him, "You're more trouble than you're worth."
"Hey!"
"Now, would you get off me?"
"How?!" Allen demands
"Think of something."
"Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe use you're giant-ass arm?" I snap with barely suppressed sarcasm.
"Oh! Right," Allen exclaims before adjusting his body so that he can detach his left arm from one of my legs; there is a flash of light and then Allen's arm has grown to its full size and sunk its claws deeply into the cliff beside me.
Allen then unwraps his legs from around my shoulders and swing his body around so that he is right side up again and now beside me instead of below me.
"Well, that's more like it," he declares, giving me a nervous smile.
I glare at him. "Come on," I finally say, heaving myself further up the cliff.
"Do we have much farther to go?" Allen inquires.
I glance up, the top of the mountain is still shrouded in a dense layer of fog. "A bit farther, yeah," I reply, my voice heavy with sarcasm.
Allen gulps. "Who in their right mind would build a Headquarters in a place like this?"
"I don't know," I reply through clenched teeth, "But if anything else happens before we make it up there, I'm going to shoot something," I glance down at him. "And you just cost me an entire box of matches, so it's probably going to be you."
Finally, after much more scraping, scrambling, slipping, and swearing (mostly from my end), Allen and I finally make it to the top.
Allen heaves himself over the rim of the plateau first before turning to grip my arm and hoist me the rest of the way up. I scramble awkwardly before collapsing gratefully on the flat surface, not even bothered by the uncomfortable feeling of my periwinkle suitcase strapped on my back.
"Thank God for that," I exclaim, raising my head, only to see Allen gawking up at something. "What?"
I follow his gaze and then I see it. A thick twisted mass of overgrown trees as dark as ink in the late-night air have sprouted up into a tangled forest on the top of the cliff and, reaching towards the heaven's at it's very center, is a massive black tower, all rows and sleek edges dotted with hollow windows that looked out at the pale stars like empty eyes.
"Holy shit," I breathe.
"We finally made it," Allen exclaims, "Exorcist Headquarters."
"The Black Order," I whisper.
Befitting to its name, the Black Order looms over us like a foreboding storm cloud.
Allen winces, "Creepy."
"Well, let's get going," I declare, hoisting myself to my feet. Allen doesn't move; he's still staring at the tower. "Kid, come on."
Allen gulps again, "You know I've heard about these Headquarters before, but-how do I put this?-I'm getting a spooky feeling about this place."
"Yeah, you and me both," I say with a grin, holding out my hand so as to help Allen to his feet, "I wonder if Dracula's home."
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Allen replies. "Well, here goes nothing."
With that, he strides towards the gate with me following close behind.
The closer we get to the building, the more intimidating it becomes. It casts a long, deep shadow across the entire mountain top, and Allen and I are soon covered in it as well. I shiver; it gives me the feeling of drowning in ink.
The entrance to the Black Order Headquarters is a massive black gate with what looks like a face carved in the center; it's easily the height of four cathedrals stacked on top of each other and about as wide as the entire block of my hometown's Main Street.
Allen and I stare up at the gate, craning our necks so we can catch a glimpse of the top.
"That is a big ass gate," I muse.
"Yep," Allen agrees.
"Allen, go knock on the door," I whisper.
"No, you go knock on the door," Allen protests.
"No you" I shoot back.
"Fine. Rock, paper, scissors," Allen declares, holding out his fist.
"Ugh, okay," I relent.
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" Allen holds up two fingers while I hold up my flat palm.
"Scissors cuts paper," he declares happily.
"Screw you," I grumble before trudging reluctantly up to the massive door. I pause in front of it for a few moments before slamming my fist against the door a few times.
We wait a moment, but nothing happens.
"Open the door," Allen offers. "Maybe we can just let ourselves in."
"Uh, there's no handle," I say to him.
"What do you mean there's no handle?"
"I mean there's no handle. Look," I point at the door, which was indeed lacking a certain opening mechanism.
"I guess someone has to let us in," Allen surmises. "Maybe if we make enough noise someone will-"
"Hey!" I shout before he can finish. "Anyone home?!"
"Hello?!" Allen adds. "Can someone let us in?"
No response.
I huff, "Well, this is just peachy."
"Maybe everyone's asleep?" Allen offers.
"Oh hell no, I did not just scale a gigantic mountain of death to be left stranded outside so someone can get their beauty rest. OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!" I pound my fist against the hard surface.
Allen shrinks back, "Cas, maybe not so loud."
"Well, what do you suggest we do?" I demand.
"Ummm," Allen steps up to the gate, "Hello?" he calls, "My name is Allen Walker, I was referred here by General Cross Marian. My friend and I are here to request a meeting with an executive!"
Still nothing.
"This is getting ridiculous," I gripe, "I'm about two seconds away from busting this door down."
Allen winces, "I'm not sure if that's a very good first impression, Cas."
I glare at him, "And how exactly did we meet again?" I remind him.
Suddenly, there is a great groaning sound that reverberates throughout the entire mountaintop, Allen and I both whip around in time to see the face in the center of the massive gate open a pair of swollen white eyes and train them directly on us.
We both scream.
"HMMM?" Without warning, the face stretches forward so that it is mere inches from me.
"AUGH!" I jump backward, pushing Allen in front of me, "Take the small one; he's tastier!"
"TIME FOR AN X-RAY SCAN TO DETERMINE IF YOU'RE HUMAN" the Gate booms, a strange light filtering out from its eyes like car headlights.
Allen and I both flinch back as we are consumed in the bright light as the Gate's large eyes bore into us. As it stares us down, it's bulbous face pulls into a confused expression, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS THING? I CAN'T GET A READING," it mutters.
"Huh?" Allen and I exchange a glance.
Suddenly an alarm sound blares out from the Gate's eyes, and it lets out a blood curdling scream. "FAIL!" it wails, "THE BOY HAS THE MARK OF EVIL ON HIS FACE!" the Gate screams as what appears to be milky tears of fright pour down its face, "THE PENTACLE IS THE MARK OF THE AKUMA! HE'S AN AGENT OF THE EARL; HE's GOING TO KILL US ALL!"
I stare at Allen. Oh, right…scar.
"Wait, you've got the wrong idea!" I cry, rushing up to the Gate. "We're human!"
"THEY'RE SPIES! A SPIES!" the Gate continues to sob, ignoring my protests.
Suddenly, a black-cloaked figure jumps down from the shadowy rafters of the tower and lands not two feet from where I'm standing.
I stagger back in surprise. "Oi! Could have yelled 'incoming'."
The figure doesn't respond as he straightens up, and the light of the full moon illuminates him in its milky glow. He has a very handsome, almost pretty face, with stern coal-black eyes and long deep blue-black hair pulled back into ponytail. He is dressed in a long black coat framed in intricate patterns of white and silver.
"Coming here with just the two of you?" he snarls as he holds up a katana, "You are either fearless or stupid."
"Wait!" Allen cries, holding up his hands, "I think there's been a misunderstanding!"
However, Ponytail ignores him, "Mugen, unsheathe!" he cries as his blade slides from its holder in a burst of brilliant, yellow-white light. Allen and I both gap in shock momentarily dazzled before Ponytail rushes towards us, the sword afire with the light as he brings it down right on top of us.
"Get back!" Allen cries as I dive to the left and he slides backward. However, Ponytail catches the move and maneuvers his sword so that it comes down on Allen's arm, which has instinctively activated.
"Allen!" I cry, hearing him grunt in pain.
Allen staggers, his face twisted in discomfort as he stares down at his arm where a thick gash has ripped open the palm. "He damaged my arm," he whispers.
"Hey, dick!" Ponytail barely has time to turn around before threads of my own Weapon coil around his entire body. I use them to propel myself forward, pushing my body against his and tackling him to the ground.
I straddle my body across his hips, the ropes of my blood holding him in place as I press a small blade protruding from my wrist to his throat.
The guy glares up at me, his cold eyes shining with pure malice. Damn, he'd actually be really hot if he wasn't trying to kill me.
Trying to ignore Ponytail, I glance up at Allen. "Kid, run!"
"Don't bother," Ponytail replies with a laugh. "His arm will explode in a few seconds."
"What?"
Using my surprise to his advantage, Ponytail heaves his body to the side, knocking me from my perch on his pelvis and untangling him from my web of blood.
I am sent sprawling across the dirt. "Do not think you have gained the upper hand, Akuma," Ponytail declares, using his katana to hoist himself to his feet.
"For the last time, we're not Akuma," Allen snaps. "We're Exorcists, and this is my Anti-Akuma Weapon," he holds his left arm aloft.
"Yeah, maybe you should try listening before you start swinging your shiny toy around, eh, Hot-Stuff?"
Ponytail's eyes widen in surprise before they turn into a scowl of annoyance. "Gatekeeper," he rounds on the face in the gate which is still simpering.
"BUT THE BOY HAS A PENTACLE ON HIS FACE! JUST BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY'RE HUMAN DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE. I'D RATHER BE SAFE THAN SORRY," the Gate whimpers.
"I am human, you idiot!" Allen exclaims, hopping up and down on the spot, "I'll admit that I'm cursed, but I'm an Exorcist. I swear."
Ponytail smirks, "The only way to know for sure is to cut you open!" he announces as his sword is once again consumed in light, "Prepare to be slaughtered!" he cries as he rushes towards Allen.
The poor kid flattens himself against the Gate. "Wait! I am human; I can prove it!" he cries, but Ponytail ignores him.
"Kid, get down!" I cry as Ponytail thrusts his sword directly at Allen's face. I jump to my feet and lunge forward.
Ponytail freezes, the tip of his katana just grazing the end of Allen's nose. His steely eyes flash to me with a look of seething hatred as I stand with one arm wrapped around his neck; the other now completely covered in a blood blade, pressed to his neck. "Take one more step and I slice you to rivets," I snarl.
"Please, just stop," Allen begs, "There should have been a letter sent ahead of me written by Master Cross himself."
Ponytail glares at him, his sword still poised not an inch from the boy's face. "A letter…from the General," he sounds unconvinced.
"Uh, yeah," Allen is fighting to keep his voice even, "It was addressed to some guy named Komui."
"And I have a letter too," I add, "It's in my pocket. I'll get it out if you promise not to shish kebab Allen."
"I'll make no such promise," Ponytail snarls.
At that moment, a voice suddenly blares out of seemingly nowhere. "Kanda, stand down! We found the letter, the kid Allen Walker is not an Akuma. Repeat, he is not an Akuma. Stand down."
We all glance upward towards the dark building behind us.
Allen looks so relieved he might collapse.
Ponytail, or rather Kanda, grunts in acknowledgement, and his sword ceases glowing, although he doesn't lower it. I don't lower my own blade either, and we all awkwardly stand there.
I take the moment to inspect Kanda further. He appears to be in his late teens and of Japanese descent, which is cool because I never saw an ethnic person in my sleepy little country town.
He also really is very pretty, like a super model or something.
"FINE. OPEN!" the Gate suddenly announces, causing all of us to spin around just as the two halves of the gate on either side of its face slowly lift up like the portcullis of a castle with a great thunderous roar.
Allen and I gape at it for a second, before Kanda shoves his sword in Allen's face again, causing the kid to tense up and not look away a second time.
"Congratulations, you two, you've been given permission to enter," announces another voice over seemingly the same loud speaker as the first voice.
Kanda glares upwards, "Hey, Komui, mind filling me in?"
"Sorry about that," the voice chirps in an oddly upbeat manner, "Their story checks out, the boy is Cross's apprentice."
"What about the girl?" Kanda demands.
"I don't think you're in any position to be interrogating me, Pretty Boy," I snarl, pressing my blade more firmly into his throat.
"It's alright, Kanda, you can let them go now," the voice continues.
"Please, please, please," Allen whimpers, having gone practically cross-eyed in order to keep his eye on Kanda's sword.
Kanda looks in no hurry to lower his weapon, but it didn't matter because at that point he got smacked in the head with a clipboard.
Wait…what?
"Kanda, stop with the macho head games," snaps a voice.
I glance around to see a girl standing next to Kanda, a very pretty girl. She's got the skin of a porcelain doll and the figure to match; her legs are polished alabaster for the gods, and her long, silky green hair pulled back into twin pig tails shines in the starlight. Her deep purple eyes are no-nonsense as she glares at Kanda.
"It's okay; you can let him go now," she adds to me.
"Huh? Oh, right," I realize I am staring and quickly drop my eyes as I retract my blade, letting it fall into a puddle at my feet.
"Now, all of you get inside before I close the Gate," the girl adds.
Kanda stalks off ahead of us, grumbling under his breath. Allen and I exchange a glance before we follow him and the girl through the Gate.
It slams behind us with a resounding 'boom', and we find ourselves in a spacious courtyard.
As soon as we cross the threshold, Kanda turns to leave.
"Hey, no fond words of farewell?" I call to him. He pauses and glares at me over his shoulder. I shrug, "Alright then, see ya around, Boy Toy. Maybe I can ride you again sometime," I add with a wink.
Kanda goes crimson with rage, and he looks like he's about to run me through when Allen pipes up.
"Uh, Kanda…Please, tell me I got your name right," Kanda turns his attention to him, showing no increasing interest. Unperturbed, Allen holds out his hand to him. "No hard feelings?"
Kanda glances down at Allen's hand. He snorts, "What fool would shake your hand knowing that you're cursed?" With that, he turns and stalks off.
Allen looks after him, a mixture of horror and shock on his face.
I whistle, "God, what an asshole."
"Oh, don't worry about him," the girl replies dismissively, "He's been a little tense since he got back from his last assignment."
I turn to her, "And what's your deal, Legs?" I ask her.
"I'm Lenalee Lee, Chief Komui's assistant," she explains cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you both. Now, come on, the Chief is waiting to meet with you."
With that, she skips off. Allen and I look at each other, bewildered, before we both unstrap our suitcases from our backs and follow her.
Lenalee leads us out of the courtyard and into the main building of the Black Order Headquarters. The interior is as intimidating as the exterior, consisting of long drafty halls draped in shadows, lined in ancient-looking pillars and stoic guards standing at attention with sharpened spears.
As we walk past, the guards mutter to each other.
"Look at the new guys."
"The boy looks like he's twelve years old."
"Yeah, but he's hair's pure white."
"Rumor has it, he's cursed."
"Speaking of hair, did you see the girl? I've never seen hair that red before."
"And her face is awfully flushed."
I tried to ignore the whispers as Lenalee leads Allen and I further down the hall.
I watch her as we go. God, those legs! And that ass! Is being attractive a job requirement around here?
I jump when Allen suddenly grabs my arm. "Cas," he hisses.
"What?"
"I can't believe we're really here," he whispers, "The Black Order."
I smirk at him. "Same here."
"Come on you two. Hurry up!" Lenalee calls.
Lenalee then proceeded to give us a tour of the Headquarters. There is a bright, high-ceilinged room lined with long wooden tables that serves as a mess hall, three floors worth of training areas, a lounge covered in black and white stripped coaches, there is also a sanatorium, a library, and a dormitory for the staff.
"If they're not on assignments, this is where Exorcists spend most of their time," Lenalee explains. "In fact, most of them learn to call Headquarters home."
Allen smiles, "That's nice. It's like a family."
I snort into my ripped glove. Talk about cheesy.
"Well, every once in a while someone does get fed up and leaves," Lenalee adds.
Allen winces. "Just like Master Cross."
"Where is General Cross, anyways?" Lenalee inquires of him. "Last we heard, he was in India somewhere."
Allen stiffens. "Yeah… about three months ago."
Allen then relays to Lenalee the same story he'd told me on the train, involving General Cross running off and a wine bottle to the skull.
"So, you're Master knocked you unconscious and ran off?" Lenalee exclaims.
Allen sighs, "Yep."
"And what about you?" Lenalee asks, turning to me. "I don't believe I caught your name."
"It's Cas," I reply. "Cas Williams."
Lenalee raises an eyebrow. "Williams? As in General Audrey Williams, former General of the Black Order."
My shoulders slump. "That's the one." I don't like to think of my grandmother much, it usually makes my head hurt.
"Where are we now?" Allen inquires as we pause in front of a large carved door.
"I'll let my brother answer that," Lenalee replies, pushing the door open.
"Welcome!" exclaims a voice, the one I recognize as being the same one from outside. It's owner is a tall man with rather sharp but pleasant features hidden behind a pair of square glaces. He has deep purple hair that is chopped off at the shoulders and mostly hidden under a floppy white beret. He is dressed all in white with a blue coffee mug with a pink bunny on it in one hand. "I am Komui Lee, Chief of the Science Division!" he announces.
"Uh, nice to meet you," I stammer.
"Oh, charmed," Komui agrees, shaking my hand so roughly I thought it might fall of. "Now, I believe you have a letter for me," he adds.
"Letter? Oh right," I exclaim, patting myself down. "Uh…cane." I then reach into my pocket and pull out my cane, much to both Lenalee and Komui's amusing alarm. Unscrewing the top, I pull out the tightly rolled, faded, yellow envelope.
I hand the crinkled piece of parchment to Komui, who peers at it curiously over the rim of his glasses.
'Now, let's see," he muses as he opens the envelope and unfolds the yellowed letter:
"Dear, Chief Komui Lee,
I am writing to you on behalf of my granddaughter Cassandra Williams. She has been found to be a compatible Accommodator and a skilled Exorcist who has trained for several years. I believe it is high time she be handed over to the Order, so her skills may be used to their fullest potential. I do believe she has the capacity to be a worthy Apostle of God.
Signed,
Former Order General Audrey Williams
P.S. Tell Cas: "Don't screw up."
I wilt under the last line. Same old Gram.
"Well, this is just splendid," Komui exclaims, tossing my letter aside like a stray gum wrapper and throwing her arms around my shoulders while I tense in alarm. "it's always so great when the offspring of former Exorcists come home to roost."
"Uh, thanks," I mutter, catching a glimpse of Allen grinning at me over Komui's shoulder.
"On behalf of the Science Division, I'd like to welcome you both, and sorry about the trouble earlier. What a pain!"
Speaking rapidly, Komui leads us through the door, down a set of spiral staircases into a cavernous room lined with dozens of bizarre contraptions that all seem to glow strange colors and make weird noises. Dozens of men and women dressed similarly to Komui are rushing about the computers, most of them casting us curious glances as they go.
"Now then" Komui continues, pausing at the bottom of the steps to turn to Allen and me. "I need to conduct a physical examination of you both, just in case. And I understand that your arm was damaged in that scuffle with Kanda earlier," he adds to Allen. "Why don't you go first, and I'll take a look at it."
Allen nods, "Alright," he grips his left hand, and I can see the limb is trembling slightly as well as an ugly white gash running across his hand. Ouch.
I suddenly clap a hand to my mouth, feeling a familiar burning in the back of my throat.
"Excuse me. Where's your bathroom?" I ask.
"Oh, just down the hall on your left," Lenalee replies.
"Thanks," Trying not to look conspicuous, I turn and hurry down the hall to the closest bathroom.
I quickly shut the door behind me and race over to the toilet. My whole body heaves as a torrent of blood spews from my mouth. I gasp, choking on my own fluids as it pours from between my lips and streams from my noise.
It seems to last forever, and for a moment, I'm certain I'm going to suffocate, but the flow stops as soon as it came, and I'm left gasping over the toilet, struggling for breath.
My whole body trembles as I place a hand over my mouth, feeling burning blood coat my fingers. With a groan, I quickly wipe it away before pushing myself to my feet and staggering over to the sink.
I stare at my reflection in the foggy mirror; I look a mess. My hair is tangled and coated in a fine layer of dust and grime, my face is covered in scratches and smears of mud. There are tears in the knees of my suit pants, my gloves are ripped to shreds and underneath my hands have been rubbed raw and are caked with blood.
With a sigh, I tug of my gloves and run my hands under the sink water, the cold feeling good on my chaffed skin. As I turn off the water, I pause to adjust my sleeves and then I catch a glimpse of intricate black lines peeking up from under the cuffs.
I pull back my sleeves to reveal two words tattooed on my forearms. The left forearm had the word Never and the right had the word Forget
Never Forget
I stare down at the words, intricately looped across my skin.
"I never will, Emma. I promise."
Then I hear Allen scream.
My head snaps up, fear rushing through me like flood gates being opened.
"Allen!" I tear out of the bathroom and take off down the hall back towards the examination room. Lenalee is waiting outside, seemingly engrossed in something on her clipboard.
"Legs!" I call to her. "What's going on? What's happened to Allen? I heard him scream."
Lenalee blinks at me, surprised. Then she smiles, "Oh, don't worry. My brother just gets a little carried away some times."
I gape at her. "Carried away? It sounds like he's being tortured!"
At that moment, the door opens. Allen staggers out, looking worse for wear, with his arm in a sling.
"Kid!" I cry as he collapses onto a bench beside the door.
"I'm never gonna break my arm again," he groans.
I whirl on Komui. "What did you do to him?"
"A simple operation really," Komui replies dismissively, "His arm had some slight nerve damage, that's all. Easily fixed."
"What's wrong with him then?" I demand. "He looks like he's been hit with a train."
"It's just the anesthesia," Komui replies, "It'll wear off in a couple hours, but he won't be able to use his arm until tomorrow morning."
I glance over at Allen, who is looking rather green.
"Don't worry," Komui reassures me, "Your boyfriend will be fine."
Allen's head snaps up, and I feel my face go up in flames. "What?! Oh no, he's not my-we're not."
"We only met yesterday," Allen adds.
"Oh I see," Komui muses, pushing his glasses further up his nose, "I only assumed…Well, no matter. Now then, come with me Cas; it's time for your physical."
I shrink back from him. "Hell no. Get away from me."
"Oh don't be a sissy. Go on," Lenalee insists, lightly knocking me in the back with her clipboard.
I stagger forward into Komui's examination room, and he closes the door before I can turn back around.
The examination room is a small space that looks like the examination room you'd find in a typical doctor's office. There's a bright light hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room, and the walls are lined with cabinets filled with medical tools and supplies.
"Now then, please sit down," Komui gestures to a cot in the center of the room.
Hesitantly, I oblige.
"Now, open your mouth," Komui commands. I do so, and he presses a glass thermometer to my tongue. "Hmm, temperature is reading normal," he declares after a minute, "Although, you look rather feverish."
"I always look like this," I reply simply.
"I see. Now, open your mouth and saw 'ah'."
Komui then proceeds to check my throat, my eyes, my ears, my blood pressure, my muscle coordination, my posture. It was very much like the check-ups I got from the pediatrician as a kid.
"Well, everything seems to be in order, at least with your human organs," Komui declares as he finishes shining the light in my eyes. "You know it's strange, from this close-it might be my imagination-but you look just like...Well, never mind." Komui mutters to himself as he turns to fumble with something behind him.
"What are you doing?" I inquire, craning my neck in the hopes of being able to see.
"Now, on to the matter of your Anti-Akuma Weapon," Komui exclaims with a flourish as he holds aloft the biggest fucking drill I have ever seen. It was the size of Allen!
"What the hell!" I exclaim, shrinking back against the cot.
"Don't worry. It won't hurt…much," Komui insists, revving the drill up.
I wince. No wonder Allen screamed.
"Now, if you would just indicate where your Weapon is, I can make a proper examination," Komui announces, a mad gleam in his eyes he revs the drill louder.
"I can't do that," I exclaim. "My Anti-Akuma weapon is my entire body."
The drill stops suddenly. Komui stares at me, surprised.
I curl my fingers into fists. "I'm not like Allen. My Anti-Akuma Weapon is not a single part of my body, it's everything. It's in everything. It's the very blood that pumps through my veins. I live and breathe my weapon."
Komui regards me thoughtfully. "So, like Allen you are a Parasite-type."
"A what?"
"There are two types of Exorcists," Komui explains, "The rarer of the two are known as Parasite-Type Accommodators who possess the Weapon inside their bodies rather than having it as an object like Equip-Type Exorcists."
"I see," I muse. "So Allen and I are both Parasite-Types."
"Indeed," Komui smiles as he lowers the drill. Thank God. "Both you and Allen are among a chosen few, destined to wield a power far greater than any we can imagine."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
Komui smiles mysteriously. "Come. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
"Are you okay, kid? You look like you've been through the ringer," I say to Allen, who is kneeling on the floor looking as though he is doing his best not to be sick.
I'm sitting beside him atop a gigantic floating platform shaped like an upside down pyramid. Komui stands at the control panel in the center, piloting this strange device further down into the dark bowels of the building.
As we descend into darkness, Komui addresses us.
"Allen, Cas, as Parasite-Type Accommodators, you are both a part of the chosen ones who can best utilize the power of Innocence."
Allen and I stare at him. "Innocence?" Allen asks.
"What's that?" I add.
At that moment, the platform ceases its descent. We are in total darkness, but not for long as a series of strange lights suddenly jump to life.
"God's Innocence to be exact, the unbridled power of omnipotence," booms a voice.
Allen and I get to our feet and turn around to see the strange lights are vaguely illuminating a raised platform above our heads. On the platform are a series of carved thrones and sitting on each throne is a figure draped in hooded robes so thick and dark that nothing of their features can be seen through the gloom.
"I don't understand," Allen says.
"Me either," I add.
"Once again, God has graced us with His presence," a second of the hooded figures adds.
"The Great Generals," Komui explains, "These are the people we answer to: the highest authority in the Black Order below the Vatican itself." He turns to Allen and me, "Now show them how worthy your abilities will be towards the cause."
Before either of us can say anything, a strange feeling suddenly rushes through my body, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Allen yells just as several translucent arms worm their way around his body and lift him off the ground.
"Allen!" I yell, whirling around to see him slowly being taken into the arms of…I don't even know.
"What the hell is that thing?" I gasp. The creature is the only light amidst the black void of the Order's lowermost circle. It swims through the inky shadows like a fish in a dark pool; its entire body seems to be made of a strange pale blue light. It has no skin, no organs, no blood, or bones; it's all just the same light, flowing material. Tentacles and arms drift out from its monstrous form and what appeared to be some kind of a head has blossomed at the top. The creature turns its eyeless face towards me.
"Be still," it utters through feminine lips, "I shall not harm him."
Although I'm scared out of my wits, for both Allen and myself, the voice seeps into me and I suddenly feel at ease. The creature's voice is calm, wise, and undeniably female which gave it a motherly sort of feel to it.
I slowly sink to my knees in spite of myself.
Allen meanwhile continues to squirm in the strange creature's grasp. "What are you doing?" he cries as the being wraps its many arms around Allen's arm.
"Show me your Innocence," the creature whispers.
"Stop it!" Allen cries. "Komui!" Shocks of light leap up from his left arm as the creature's coils tighten around the limb.
"You're wasting your strength," Komui calls to him. "That arm will be useless until tomorrow. So, what do you think Hevlaska? Does this Apostle of God meet your standards?"
Allen thrashes around within the creature, who I could only assume was Hevlaska's, grasp. "Come on you stupid arm, activate!" he cries through gritted teeth.
Pain tingles on the edge of my dull nerves as Allen's arm suddenly elongates, although there is no light, and the shape is twisted and incomplete.
Allen's whole body is rigid, heavy with pain; the useless limb droops at his side.
"Never activate your Weapon when your nerves are damaged," Hevlaska advises, "Relax. I am not your enemy."
From my position on the floor, I watch Allen go limp in Hevlaska's grasp. "Kid…"
Hevlaska then presses her forehead to Allen's and a strange light sparks between them.
"16%...33%...54%...61%...82%"
And then the light dies. "It appears that 82% is the maximum Synchronization reading between you and your Innocence", Hevlaska says to Allen, gently caressing his left arm with one of her tentacles.
"What's Synchronization?" Allen asks.
"The number indicates the level of power your Anti-Akuma Weapon will have," Hevlaska explains, "The lower the number, the more difficult it will be to activate your Weapon and the more at risk you'll be for permanent damage."
As she speaks, Hevlaska gently lowers Allen to the ground. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. The only way I can get a proper reading on your Innocence is through touch."
She then turns to me. "And now for you, Cassandra Williams."
"It's Cas," I correct her, slowly rising to my feet and holding out my hands, "Alright, let's get this over with."
Slowly, Hevlaska's tentacles coil around my arms and gently lift me into the air. I can feel her presence flow around me, and it's the strangest feeling I've ever experienced. I feel hot and cold at the same time, my body shakes as this bizarre sensation surges through me. My blood churns under my skin, frothing like a river full of rapids. My insides turn as I spiral through Hevlaska's form.
Holy shit.
It is like I can feel everything: a being that has lived a hundred years, a being that has long since forgotten what it was like to be human; a being who has served the Order faithfully these long years and who can see the turn of time, but do nothing to stop it. A being alone in a crowded world…
Hevlaska, this is…you.
"Fascinating," Hevlaska muses, "An empathic Innocence, a connection can be forged to anyone else that happens to possess Innocence," Hevlaska glances at Allen, "A connection has already been formed with this young boy."
I can feel Hevlaska's power coursing through me. My body is going mad: my organs feel like they're on fire, my blood floods through my system.
I can barely breathe.
"Cas!" I hear Allen cry as I feel blood pour from my eyes in twin streams like tears, a third trails from the corner of my mouth.
Through my clouded vision, I can see Hevlaska's eyeless face staring down at me. "I see your Innocence, it is-"
"Please don't say it!" I cut her off. "I know. Please, you don't have to say it."
"Very well," Hevlaska relents before slowly lowering me back onto the platform.
I collapse beside Allen, who runs to my side where I crouch gasping and wiping blood from my eyes and mouth. "Cas, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I reply.
Allen turns to Hevlaska. "What exactly can you learn from our Innocence?" he demands of her.
"Allen Walker," Hevlaska declares, "In the future, when Darkness dominates this planet, your Innocence will produce an extraordinary Destroyer of Time."
"A Time Destroyer?" Allen whispers.
"And you, Cas Williams," Hevlaska turns to me, still huddled on the floor, "You shall be a medium: a builder of bridges between the two worlds, one of Light and one of Darkness. Anger and Serenity shall be your guide. Your Innocence shall produce a Creator of Space."
I gawk at her "Huh?"
Komui starts clapping. "I have no idea what that means, but it sounds amazing!" he exclaims, "Hevlaska's prophecies are cryptic, but they're also true. Congrats, kids! This means we can officially trust you."
Allen rounds on Komui and throws a punch in his direction. Komui manages to block it with his clipboard, which snaps in half under the force of Allen's fist.
"Mind putting that down so I can hit you?" Allen growls.
"Relax. It's our policy. Innocence scans are a requirement for all new recruits."
"That's something I think we both would have liked to know as soon as we walked in, Four Eyes," I snap, getting to my feet and crossing my arms over my chest, "So, is there anything else we need to know about?"
"Like this Innocence for example," Allen adds.
Komui slowly lowers his clipboard. "Well, I was about to explain it to you." He pauses to push his glasses further up his nose, "What I'm about to tell you is secret, information only known to the Black Order and to those involved with the Millennium Earl. It all started around a century ago, when a golden cube was discovered within the Earth. Written on it where the following words: 'To the future inhabitants of Earth, we are the ones who defeated the Darkness, but our world soon fell into ruin. This message is a warning to avoid the cataclysm of disaster we have endured. Heed our words. We have little time left.' What we found inside the Cube," Komui continued to explain, "Was a prophecy from an Ancient society older than Rome or Greece or even Egypt. It also contained a set of implicit instructions."
"For what?" Allen asks.
"For the material the Cube is made of," Komui continues, "It's called the God Crystal. It's power is astonishing, and it's what we prefer to call Innocence. The material embedded in your left hand and your blood is made from the God Crystal. Anti-Akuma Weapons are Innocence that has been processed into a usable form. The original wielders of the Cube used this power to battle and destroy the Millennium Earl thousands of years ago. However, the Earl's influence had corrupted the earth so greatly that God was forced to flood it."
"You mean Noah's Flood in the Old Testament?" I ask.
Komui raises an eyebrow, "You've read the Bible, Cas?"
"Cover to cover."
"Yes, this was the Great Flood. However, the prophecy referred to is as the Three Days of Darkness."
"But it was forty days," I try to correct, but Komui goes on.
"The Cube's prophecy also says that the world will come to an end once more at the hands of the Millennium Earl."
Allen and I both gasp in unison. So, the world really is going to end?
I turn to Allen who looks pale as a ghost. I don't feel particularly good myself; it is like an icy hand has closed around my heart.
"As predicted, the Millennium Earl has returned to this world," Komui continues, "The Black Order was created to avert the coming disaster."
"The Cube instructed us to 'Gather Apostles, gather Accommodators, without Accommodators Innocence is incapable of activating'," one of the Generals speaks from their position on the platform.
Almost on instinct, Allen grips his left arm and my hand goes over my chest.
"These Accommodators the General's speaking of are Exorcists," Komui explains, "However, to counteract the power of the Exorcists, the Millennium Earl created Akumas to hunt them down. At its most basic level, Innocence is created from Light, while Akuma's are created from Dark. As the Akuma do his dirty work, the Earl scours the Earth for pieces of Innocence to destroy." Komui pauses to lean against the platform guard rail. "As far as we know, there are 109 pieces of Innocence scattered around the world. Now, it's our duty to collect these pieces before the Earl does. If we fail to do so, it will lead to the annihilation of the entire human race. Allen, Cas, we need your help."
"If we are unable to win this Holy War, the Cube's prophecy will become a reality," one of the General's declares, "And the world as we know it will cease to exist."
"You must fight!" another adds.
"This is your destiny as one's who were chosen by Innocence," the first concludes.
Allen and I stare up at the Generals' shadowed faces. For once in my life, I'm at a loss for words.
However, Komui's expression softens. "I'm looking forward to working with both of you," he says, holding out his hand, "Just know that the pay is awful."
Allen smiles, and I laugh.
We both then shake Komui's hand. "Welcome to the Black Order," he says. "Now, most of our Exorcists aren't here; they're currently stationed in places around the world on assignment, but you'll meet them before long. And the perk of coming together is that you at least know one other Exorcist."
Allen and I grin at each other.
"And Hevlaska is an Exorcists as well," Komui adds.
Allen and I both turn to the strange being in surprise.
"I have been around a long time," Hevlaska explains, "As Guardian, ever since the Black Order was established a century ago. Allen…Cas, may God's divine protection be with you both."
Her words seem to echo throughout my entire body, sinking deep into my skin and into the depths of my boundless blood.
After our session with Hevlaska, Lenalee lead Allen and I to our assigned rooms. After a crazy night, I am dead tired; a sleeping bag on rocks would have looked good to me right now.
What I get instead is a small, but quaint little space. The walls, floor, and ceiling are all a simple grey stone. There is a window across from the door with a bed on one side and a wardrobe on the other. A small table stands next to the bed and there is a desk on the other side of the door with a private bathroom beyond that.
"It's nice," I declare, striding into the room and setting my suitcase down on the bed, "A little plain perhaps, but I can soon fix that."
I then open my periwinkle suitcase and deposit the contents onto my plain black bedspread. I don't have much in the way of clothes: just a simple white nightgown, an extra white dress shirt, a pair of dressier shoes, and a few pairs of socks. I remove my top hat from the top of the pile, which I'd removed before Allen and I began climbing the cliff and go to hang it on a hook on the wardrobe door. i fish around inside my coat pocket and the produce my pipe; hoping for a smoke, I begin digging around for matches but then remember Allen had knocked my box off the cliff.
Damn kid. I put the rest of my clothes inside the wardrobe and then turn back to the bed to empty out a black bag of other odds and ends.
There's a toothbrush, a pack of playing cards, some marbles, dozens of bottles of nail polish, several bottles of ink, folds of tissue paper, a crushed poppy flower, an old ring with a ruby in the center, a small pink stuffed rabbit, and finally a framed photograph.
I pick up the latter and gently brush aside a few flecks of dust from the glass. The photo is old and worn, but still clearly depicts the image of two young girls around seven or eight swinging from the branches of a gnarled old oak. One is undeniably me, with the same golden eyes, perpetual blush, and scarlet hair, although her it is clipped to my chin. I was wearing a pair of worn leather shoes, trousers with suspenders, a white button down and a newsboy cap. The girl dangling from the branch beside me had pink cheeks, a round face, wide brown eyes, and golden hair swept up into an elegant bun and tied with a red ribbon, which matched the crimson dress she wore that was hemmed in mood from an afternoon of playing in the brook.
Emma. Just as she was, the single image of her frozen in time. Happy, smiling…Alive. Those smooth hands, those coffee-colored eyes, hair the color of the sunset.
I remember running my fingers through it, watching the way her dark eyes twinkled in the moonlight.
I feel a twinge in my insides and the ghost of a tear on my cheek.
Quickly I dump the contents of the bag onto my desk, but the picture I tenderly set on the bedside table beside my pillow.
The memory stares back at me through the faded glass.
"Never forget, Emma. Never forget."
A/N: What Cas does to Allen in front of the Gate is exactly what my friend did to me when a wasp got into the classroom XD. And Cas is a bit of a flirt, have you noticed? And if you're confused on Emma, don't worry; all will be explained in good time.