Don't leave me alone
Arrival to Index. I can't believe it hasn't been showed in the anime! = =
Chapter 9. ^^
Everybody penetrated in the Vatican, in the courtyard of Holy Office of Index. Everyone was shocked by it. Especially Misuzu, who never came in. She stared up at the HQ, completely astonished by how it was big.
"Index…" She remembered the words of Shiori Momono, also apostle of Index. The Pope was here. Great Mother Johanna she recalled.
"…It didn't change." Samson noticed.
"…Johanna doesn't like changes." Sebastianus said, closing his eyes, trying to avoid Elaine's sad glance toward him.
"…I wonder if it was a good idea to come back." Benedictus looked around. "Everybody stares at us."
"Yes, what's wrong?" Elaine asked them fiercely. People goggled then left. "…Jackasses." She muttered.
Misuzu didn't answer. She felt something wasn't normal there. She felt…a strong…Magic ki which came from very far. But it was too powerful so she couldn't really perceive it clearly.
"Where can we find…?" Misao sighed.
"Underground Library is forbidden I recall." Samson took a pensive look. "I think we should…"
"But I remember that the most powerful magical artifacts are there. Or under Johanna's possession." Benedictus said.
"Johanna…I wonder how she will react to our return." Sebastianus frowned.
"I think she already expected it." Elaine sighed. "How terrific…"
"I will go to see Johanna." Misao claimed. Everyone turned back toward her. "Are you crazy?" Samson came closer to her. "She isn't human."
"Me neither."
"Nobody can talk to her. Just a glance is enough to terrify you." Samson went on. "And what do you want saying to her?"
"…I will ask her magic power. Or just a way to bring Georgius back." Misao said determined.
"How naïve." Benedictus intervened. "Do you really think she would tell it to you? If she told it to everyone, everybody would know her true nature. Then." He paused. "If by miracle she revealed it to you, it would be just with a price in return."
"Benedictus is right." Samson pointed. "You can't."
"If she would like something, I'll tell it to her." Misao said. "I'll give everything she wants."
"And what?" Benedictus smirked, mocking her. "What have you got?"
Misao glanced at Misuzu. Misuzu goggled, guessing her thoughts. "…No. I refuse."
"If this is the only way…" Misao came closer to her. "That's the most wonderful stuffs we have."
"They belong to Kusakabe Clan."
"Index could erase Kusakabe Clan with just a slight." Misao looked down. "Then…You should admit it, Misuzu."
"What?"
"…The Kusakabe Clan is near to disappearance." She declared.
"No! Nothing can be near to disappearance when there is still hope! It's something I learned!" Misuzu claimed, angry. Misao frowned. "Yes…Then a Kusakabe man disappeared."
"…Are you aware of it?" Misuzu frowned. "I still belong to the Clan. I can feel everything about it."
"…" Misuzu looked down, unsure of what to do.
Misao came closer to her. "Misuzu…Recall what I said to you earlier."
"Are you threatening me?" Misuzu spat out. "I think a Kusakabe would have more of humility."
"…Georgius came first." Misao responded. "Kusakabe Clan isn't my problem anymore…Misuzu."
"What's wrong?" Samson asked them, worried. Misao kept smirking to Misuzu.
"I wouldn't be your puppet." Misuzu responded. "Never."
"Wait! I've an idea!" Sebastianus claimed, much to everyone surprise. "What?"
"We aren't forced to see Johanna herself to learn her secrets."
"And how you would like to know the way to bring Georgius back?" Benedictus asked him spitefully.
"…Everybody knows Johanna. But a few people knows her real nature…"
"…"
"We could ask to one of them."
"…Not wrong." Misao realized. "But who?"
"There is Hieronymus, the librarian. The one with a hidden face." Samson recalled. "And there is also the witch, Sophia Measley."
"…"
"A Thule Member." Samson added with disdain.
"It would be perfect!" Misao claimed. "But asking to a witch…"
"It would be still easier than asking to the Pope herself." Elaine nodded. "I'm in."
"…Yes. Where can we find her?" Misao asked.
"…Easy. To her laboratory." Sebastianus answered.
"Very well." Misao claimed. "I will go to see her."
"Maybe she knows nothing." Benedictus noticed.
"We can still ask." Misao nodded. "I will go. Misuzu. Come." Misuzu was unsure but seeing the others members, she ended up by thinking she could still deal with that Sophia. Suddenly, she recalled something. Sophia was Shiori's creator! She could…
"Let's go." Misao cut her thoughts off. Misuzu frowned then followed her unwillingly.
"…My, my." A young woman said when they entered into their laboratory. Misuzu was shocked. She didn't expect her appearance. Sophia was blond-haired, rather young with green and very piercing eyes. She had a smirk as mad scientists had. Misuzu cowered.
"If it isn't Punishement Squad…Are you coming back after all those years…" Sophia faced them. "After 64years old… What's happened to you?"
"You know very well how Liselotte works out, Sophia. You were a Thule Member, weren't you?" Samson spat. Misao calmed him down. "Does Johanna know your return? Of course." Sophia smirked. "Well…You will do honors to me? Thanks. I'm honored."
"Shut up!" Samson cried out. Misao sighed. "Sophia…We have something to ask you."
"But…where is Georgius?" Sophia asked. Misao closed her eyes. "That's why we came to see you."
"…"
When Misao explained everything to her, Sophia didn't seem surprised. "I thought you were dead."
"That's the case." Sebastianus corrected. "Apparently."
"So, what's the problem? Ho I see." Sophia smirked again. "Do you want me to help you?"
"We know you have a lot of knowledge after your Thule experience. And as you know Johanna, you could know a way to bring Georgius back from another dimension."
"After your experience with Liselotte, I thought you had a lot of knowledge." Sophia sighed. "I don't know how I can help you."
"Answer, witch!" Samson cried out. "Our leader is trapped in another dimension with Liselotte your master!"
Sophia took an irritated look. "Hey! I don't have master! I'm free, you old guy! Liselotte isn't my master. Never. Even Johanna can't control me."
"So. Nobody can prevent you to inform us?" Misao smiled.
"You just have pitiful arguments to convince me." Sophia said with contempt.
"So you know something." Samson glared at her. Sophia laughed hard. "I never said I didn't know something, dear."
"So, what do you want us to offer you if you helped us?" Misao said.
"…I'm not really someone who cares about deal." Sophia sighed. "And I don't know what you could offer to me. I'm full. I've my researches here, my bodies…" She glanced at Benedictus crookedly. This latter glared at her. "If you've something, I wouldn't be interested to it."
"You are just like Fu Manchu!" Samson noticed with anger. "Fu Manchu works for his business. I work for my own interest. There is a difference." Sophia mocked him.
"Do you want some money?" Sophia laughed again. "Really. As if money could interest me. Everyone is just superficial."
"We could offer something you could study!" Misao tried again. "Hm…"
"What do you want?" Samson lost patience. Sophia sighed. "You irritate me."
"There is surely something you would like very much." Misao came closer to her. Sophia just watched her specimens which were trapped into a cage put on a desk with no interest. "…"
"Sophia!"
"Humans…you just ask something to your own enemies when there is despair. Pitiful yet so interesting."
"…"
"…So. It would be okay. There is something I want but I'm not sure you could offer it to me." Sophia turned back to them.
"What?" Misao came toward her. "Tell us!"
"…" Sophia smirked, a bit awkward. Misuzu felt there was something wrong.
"…A date."
Everyone goggled, didn't expect it. Sophia laughed. "Researches are good…But I feel very lonely since my daughter is gone. I would like to see people."
"…Are you joking?" "Yes, I'm crazy." Sophia smirked. "So?"
"…" Misao looked down. "...Afterward, you will help us."
"…Yes, why not?" Sophia faced them. "So…You could bring me to dinner?" She turned to Sebastianus, but Elaine came from behind him and she planted before him as fiercely as a tigress.
"Elaine!" Misao glared at her. "Elaine, it's okay." Sebastianus warned her but she didn't listen to him.
"Rah. You are boring." Sophia sighed. "Okay I lost every interest."
"No! Sophia!" Misao begged her. She glanced at the others opportunities. "Benedictus will!"
"In your dreams!" Benedictus cried. Sophia looked down on him. "You are too small for me. And furthermore, you look like my daughter too much! I don't want really…"
"…Bitch." Benedictus muttered.
"…And what about Samson?" Samson glared at her. "Misao…you are doing too much." He muttered. Sophia stared up at him attentively. "…Yes, why not? If we had dinner together, we could introduce to each other…and you would stop to look down on Thule Members…wouldn't you?" Samson glared at both Misao and Sophia. However, seeing Misao's desperate look, he ended up by saying.
"…That's really…for you I do it!" He spat. Misao took a relieved look. Sophia nodded. "Okay. Tonight. At 8:00 pm. Don't be late." Sebastianus patted his shoulder. "Good luck."
"No. Get out of my laboratory. I'm busy here." Sophia said.
Punishement Squad ended up by leaving. Benedictus muttered to Samson: "If you are too bored, you can just make her drinking some wine with some poison with, do you know?"
"…" Samson didn't answer, too aghast for it.
"…Misuzu." Misuzu turned back toward Sophia. "How do you know my name?"
"…Don't be so naive. You know my daughter, don't you?"
"…Shiori?"
"Ursula." Sophia corrected her. "Yes. How is she? Is she okay?"
"…Yes I think." Misuzu said, thinking to her friend who stayed to Japan. Sophia nodded. "Okay. That's everything I wanted to know."
"…Can I give you an advice?" Sophia said.
"…Yes?" Misuzu took a suspicious look. Sophia sighed.
"…Just…be careful with your treasures…You will need to watch for them very soon."
"…What do you mean?" Misuzu goggled. Sophia smirked. "Don't worry…You will know it very soon by yourself."
