Disclaimer - I do not own DGM
Chapter Eleven - Still Searching
"This is going to be so much fun!"
The sing-songy tone of her voice annoyed the Musician but he followed along behind her none the less. He had other things on his mind, aside from playing this so called game that she seemed so intent upon, but those would just have to wait. For now he was virtually trapped and all but at the mercy of his sister.
"Must you be so enthusiastic?" the mahogany haired youth questioned, arching a brow as he followed along behind her. From previous experience he knew where they were going… and that he would soon be grateful for the fact that defense was his forte.
Because, despite her claims that he was her favorite, Road was ruthless.
"Of course," Road chimed, holding out her hand and happily summoning her door. This led to her own, private realm and was very familiar to all of her siblings though the Musician more so than most. "I get so bored after all… And you're so much fun to play with!"
"Just like a child's plaything," the young man thought ruefully, though he made it a point to keep this particular observation to himself. "That will end up broken and discarded."
"And the others don't cooperate," Road stated in a slightly petulant voice, a pout briefly forming on her lips as she thought of the others. They made excuses as to why they couldn't play her games… or else just outright chose to hide from her.
"You know," Nicholas said as he followed her through the door, absently reaching up and running a hand through his hair. "The others would be more inclined to play your games if you didn't try to kill them in the process."
"I would never hurt my siblings," Road maintained, sounding slightly hurt by his accusation. Turning violet eyes in his direction the young girl pouted. "They're of the Clan of Noah after all… it would take a lot for me to do permanent damage."
"At least of the physical kind," Nicholas muttered under his breath before deciding that it was best to just drop this subject. Speaking of it wasn't really accomplishing anything after all and the Noah of Praise merely wanted to get this so called game over with so that he could continue his investigation into this substance called Innocence and the Exorcists who were supposedly their enemies.
He had a plan of action… all that was left was to gain leave of his sister so that he could put that plan into action. Which of course was going to be easier said than done but Nicholas was fairly certain that he could succeed.
Arriving in Road's special domain, which always reminded Nicholas of a somewhat demented birthday party, the Noah girl turned toward her sibling. Shifting to her 'black' form a smile quickly spread across Road's face. Holding up her hands the Noah of Dreams summoned several of her candles without so much as a word of warning to her brother, the sharpened tips gleaming in the light.
"Ooh," Nicholas said, his tone somewhat taunting as he stared at her weapons, poised for attack and waiting to draw blood. He knew that this would anger her and make the game that much more intense but despite himself the young man couldn't resist. After all he at least deserved to gain some small measure of amusement from the situation. "Such a terrifying sight."
A sadistic smile spread across Road's face as she dropped her hands, sending the candles toward her sibling. "You should spend less time talking and more time running."
Nicholas shook his head, shifting to his Noah form as music seemed to fill the air. "You underestimate me," he said, using his powers to summon golden threads with which he bound the candles that she had launched toward him. This was a new trick that he had recently learned, much more functional than the barrier that he had previously employed.
"That isn't fair," Road exclaimed petulantly as she watched him toss her candles to the ground. Not a single one of them had made contact with his flesh and this fact irritated her to no end. She normally managed to at least scratch him with the first attack… in fact this had to be the first time that he had ever managed to fully block it.
"I disagree," the Musician said, this time using his golden threads to bind his sister. "I think that it is more than fair."
Road screeched as the ropes wrapped around her, pulling her arms against her sides and securing them in place. "What are you doing?"
"Don't get me wrong," Nicholas said, turning away from her as though to leave. "I enjoy your games immensely but I have other matters to attend to at present."
"You can't leave," Road said, smirking despite her current situation. It seemed that the Musician had forgotten that while they were in this space she ran the show. The door that they had entered through had vanished the moment that they had stepped out of it and only she herself had the powers necessary to summon another one. So he was trapped until she saw fit to release him.
Which she vowed wouldn't be anytime soon.
A smirk appeared on the face of the Noah of Praise. "That's what you think my dear sister." Holding out his right hand Nicholas summoned a doorway that she couldn't fail to recognize.
"The Ark?" Road sputtered, completely shocked that he had managed to find a way out of her domain. As well as the fact that he seemed to be able to harness the Ark's powers so effortlessly. "But how…"
"Not sure exactly," Nicholas said, taking a step toward the doorway. Of course he had already known that he could use the piano to control the Ark but the fact that he could summon the doorway without it's use was a new discovery. And one that Nicholas was finding incredibly useful.
"Wait Nicky-pet! You can't actually be planning to leave me like this…" Road's eyes were wide as she watched him preparing to leave. She was still bound by the golden threads and, not matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't seem to free herself.
"The threads will fade after I leave," Nicholas assured her as he continued toward the doorway. "You'll be free in no time… though not before I'm long gone. We'll resume our game later, I promise."
This said Nicholas stepped through the doorway, using the powers of the Ark to escape Road's little playhouse of doom. The sound of her screams filled the air before the doorway closed and Nicholas knew that she would truly be out for his blood after this. Road hated it when her siblings managed to get the best of her after all and wouldn't let this go unchallenged.
But her wrath was something that the Musician had decided to risk, owing to his desire to find answers for the questions that had arisen due to their mission. Using his control over the Ark, the young man made his way to a familiar farm in rural England. Stepping from the doorway and shifting back into his 'white' persona Nicholas quickly made his way toward the front door of the modest farmhouse.
"I'm not sure if he'll have any answers," Nicholas thought to himself as he reached a gloved hand out toward the door. "But it's worth a shot at least."
With this thought in mind the young man knocked lightly on the door, using his customary series of knocks. Leaving no doubt as to who it was at the door. "I hope that he's at home," Nicholas thought as he stepped back and waited for his brother to answer the familiar call.
It wasn't long before the door was wrenched open to reveal a startled looking Mana. "Nicholas," he exclaimed, pulling the younger male into an embrace. "It's good to see you but… um… what exactly are you doing here?" He had been led to believe that visits from his little brother would be few and far between and yet here the boy was standing on his doorstep.
"I have a few questions," Nicholas replied as he returned his brother's embrace. "I've made a few discoveries during my time with the other so called members of the Clan of Noah and nothing makes sense. They've inadvertently spilled a few secrets that I can't exactly ask them about directly so I thought I'd come to you. And I know it's a long shot but I was hoping that you might know something about it."
Seemingly taken aback by this confession from his brother, who rarely admitted to being confused about anything, Mana stepped back and gestured for the boy to enter the house. "I'm not sure how much help I'll be Nicky but I'll do the best I can."
Flinching at the nickname, which was far too similar to what Road often chose to call him, Nicholas stepped inside the house.
Closing the door once the younger male had entered the house Mana turned his attention once more to his little brother. "Let's go into the parlor and we'll talk."
Nodding Nicholas followed his brother into the familiar space. The old piano was still in the same position, the only difference that there was now sheet music resting on top of it. This brought a smile to Nicholas' face as he realized that Mana was still teaching himself to play. Walking by the piano Nicholas chose a seat on the worn sofa while Mana sat in an armchair that was positioned directly across from it.
"So what is it that you wanted to ask?" Mana questioned, interlacing his fingers as he stared into his brother's eyes.
"Have you ever heard of a substance known as Innocence?" Nicholas asked, thinking about Sophia's words and the secrets that she had inadvertently spilled. She hadn't given a hint to the purpose of finding it but had as much as said that the collection of this unknown substance was their plan.
Placing the tips of his fingers to his chin Mana gave the question a great deal of thought before he was finally forced to concede that he never had. "I'm afraid not Nicky."
Undeterred Nicholas moved on to the next topic of conversation, his hopes not having been completely dashed as of yet. Just because his brother hadn't heard of one didn't mean that he hadn't heard of the other. "How about a group of people known as Exorcists?"
"Well that could have any number of meanings," Mana said, having actually encountered this term. Unfortunately it had been used to describe several different things, which made it all but impossible to say for certain which type of Exorcist that his brother was seeking knowledge on. "But it sounds as though it should have something to do with the Church."
"Perhaps," Nicholas said, his voice reflecting the slight disappointment that he felt. He had hoped that his brother would be of more assistance. "Mana… can you do me a favor?"
The boy fully realized that, having abandoned his brother, he wasn't exactly in a position to ask for anything. And that Mana would have every right to refuse him. But, even knowing this, he was going to do it anyway and hope for the best.
"What is it Nicky?" Mana asked, more than a little surprised that Nicholas was asking him for anything. His little brother had always had an independent streak that was a mile long so this came as somewhat of a shock. Of course he would do all that was in his power to help the boy.
"Can you help me find information on these Exorcists and the Innocence?" There was an earnest expression in the younger male's eyes as he made this request of his brother. "I wouldn't ask but it's really important."
"Don't worry about it Nicky," Mana said, picking up on the fact that whatever it was this information seemed vitally important to his brother. "I'll do everything in my power to help you."
Nicholas offered his brother the ghost of a smile. "Thank you Mana. I owe you one."
Mana waved off the boy's words of gratitude. He didn't understand why the boy seemed surprised by his agreement to help. Nicholas was the only family that remained to him after all so of course he would do whatever he could to help him out. Even if he didn't completely understand the situation. "Don't worry about it boy. I'll see what I can find out."
Getting to his feet the mahogany haired youth offered Mana his hand. "I should probably go back… I don't know how safe it is for me to be here."
Rising at the same time as his brother Mana accepted the hand that the younger male held out to him. Grasping it firmly he nodded his head, offering Nicholas an encouraging smile. "Come back soon Nicholas and I'll see what kind of information I can dig up."
Nicholas nodded before leaving the home in which he had grown up… and the brother who had all but raised him.
A/N - Wow, nearly five months without an update. That's pretty pathetic and I apologize profusely. -bows- Hope that you enjoyed this chapter.
