Everyone stared around in shock. Murmurs like "how did they get in?" or "why didn't we know sooner?" filled the air. A finder came to the table where they were sitting. He had bandages covering half his face. Lavi pushed Marianna up.
"Come with me. Let's leave this to the exorcists." Marianna joined the group behind the finder. "This way. Don't worry, Exorcist Lavi. She'll be safe with me." They ran to the opened doors. All around them the exorcists were arming themselves. Kanda had stepped down to the floor while handing his clarinet to a musician. He pulled Mugen out of nowhere. Allen had his arm activated. Lenalee's legs were glowing, having kept her boots nearby for just an occasion like this. Lavi had a huge hammer in his hand. Bookman stood calmly nearby. Krory now had fangs. Miranda had a a glowing green circle over her right hand. And Aleena was waiting to see what would happen.
"Toma, get everyone to safety." Lavi joined the others in the center of the room. Toma nodded and led everyone to the doorway. As they approached the doorway the walls collapsed as something huge hit it. It was an Akuma with the bulk of an elephant. It also had tentacles.
Some of the females in the group screamed. "Finders, get everyone in the corner. We'll focus our defense there." Everyone ran to the corner. As soon as everyone was there the exorcists stood in front of them. Everyone except Marianna that is. The elephant Akuma had wrapped a couple of tentacles around Marianna. The last thing she heard was Lavi yelling out her name.
"We have the girl. Earl-sama will be pleased. Everyone else keep them busy while we escape." He charged through the room, holding an unconscious Marianna in mid-air. Four other Akuma followed, a couple of them flying types.
"Lavi, take a couple of others and go after her. We'll take of these." Lavi nodded. Aleena and Kanda followed him through the chaos that was formerly the dining hall.
Kanda took the lead, slashing through anyone who got in their way.
The chase led outside into the hilly areas that surrounded th castle that housed Headquarters. At all times the Akuma could be seen. The search led to the rocky peaks of Gnarly Tor. The Akuma seem unimpeded as they ran. "Where's Marianna? I can't see her." Aleena scanned the skies. They saw her now being held by an Akuma that looked like a feathery pterodactyl. She was still unconscious.
"Catch her. She's getting heavy!" The bird dropped her back to the elephant Akuma. Not expecting her, it barely caught her. But in the process, it tripped and dropped her. She went rolling down the steep side of the cliff. Lavi growled.
"Aleena, go after her. We'll handle the Akuma and rejoin down there when we're done." Aleena separated from the group and slid down the mountain after her. As she slid out of site Lavi made his fire seal incinerate a couple of them. Kanda chopped the elephant one in half. Energy slashes from Mugen took care of the flying ones. Without speaking they slid down the mountain after Aleena.
They found Marianna in the arms of Aleena. She was singing again. All over Marianna's body cuts were healing and bruises were disappearing. Her evening dress was shredded. "She'll be fine. She'll be sleeping awhile but she'll be fine." Lavi walked over as the final cut healed. Tenderly he picked his date and held her still form to his chest.
"Let's get back now. Kanda and Aleena stay defensive around me." With Marianna still on his chest, he made his hammer extend after Aleena and Kanda grabbed on.
When they reached the Order, it was in complete chaos. All the Akuma were gone but the Order itself had sustained heavy damage. As they entered the dining room area Bookman approached. "Whenever she is taken care of, I would like to talk to you, Lavi." Lavi nodded as Browyne and Levi approached. As soon as Browyne saw her mistress, an angry look was on her face.
"We'll take care of her. We're not of much use around here." Lavi put Marianna in Levi's arms. Then they walked off.
Later on
Much later Marianna awoke in her room. Lavi stood nearby. "Thank goodness you're awake. Listen, I'm so sorry that happened. Browyne already chewed me out nice and well. When you're fully recovered we'll talk. But meanwhile I have a question for you. Will you be my girlfriend?" Marianna laughed.
Epilogue
Marianna stayed on in the Order as a full-time scientist. Lavi was eventually made Bookman after his teacher Bookman said he would take Lavi as a student again. That's what he wanted to talk to Lavi about when she was taken care of. He was the first Bookman to ever have a wife. Lenalee and Allen went steady as well, despite Komoi's many attempts on Allen's life.
Author's Note
This is the last chapter. Thanks to those who stuck with me until the end. I said 2-4 more chapter. But I suck at math, hence why I failed part 1 of algebra and barely passed part 2! Look for Dream Traveler, coming soon!!!! Sorry about the endings!! I suck at those.
