Chapter 9: Deal With the Devil
"Ienzo, wake up."
The lights in Ienzo's room are turned on and he has an odd sense of déjà vu. However, this time, it's Even who has woken him up, not Aeleus.
"What do you want, Even?" he asks irritably
"Get dressed and come with me," Even says. "Xehanort wants all of us to gather downstairs. He did not specify why he wanted us, only that we should come right away."
"All right, all right," Ienzo grumbles.
He crawls out of bed and starts looking for his clothes. Even politely turns his back while Ienzo changes.
"I'm ready," Ienzo says once he's fully dressed.
Even turns and frowns. "Where is your lab coat?"
"I didn't know I was required to wear it" Ienzo says coolly.
He retrieves it from the closet and puts it on. Then, he follows Even downstairs and is surprised when Even leads him not to his lab, but to Ansem's study.
"What's going on?" Ienzo whispers to Aeleus, going to stand next to him in the corner.
"I'm not sure." Aeleus frowns. "But whatever it is can't be good."
Yeah," Ienzo agrees darkly.
Even clears his throat loudly and the entire room falls silent.
"Thank you all for joining us tonight," he says. "I realize it's quite late."
Ienzo realizes that Even lied to him again; he knows exactly why Xehanort has called all of them here in the middle of the night. In fact, he's probably in on it too. He feels a deep burning hatred for the scientist. He's sick of all the lies and deception.
"As you are all aware, our research was shut down by Ansem who thought it was too dangerous for us to continue. Ansem is wrong. It is not dangerous, it is necessary. Darkness will always exist so what we must do is learn how to exist beside it and not fear it.
"In order to do that, I have created and perfected a machine that creates Heartless artificially. With it, we will be able to go even farther with our studies of the darkness."
Ienzo has heard enough. He turns and heads for the door. Braig teleports in front of him, blocking his path.
"And just where do you think you're going?" he asks.
Ienzo does not flinch. "I'm gong to get Ansem."
"And what makes you think I'm gonna let you do that?" Braig asks. "You think a little pipsqueak like you is gonna get past me? As if!"
"Let him go," Xehanort says.
"What?" Braig asks, scowling.
Ienzo turns around and stares at Xehanort. His eyes glint with a strange light that makes him look inhuman and Ienzo remembers that day in the hallway where Xehanort glinted with that same strange light. He had dismissed that as his imagination, but now he's not so sure.
"I want Ansem to witness this," Xehanort says. "In fact, I will go with Ienzo to fetch him." He walks over to Ienzo. "Step aside, Braig."
Braig mutters something that's probably obscene under his breath, but steps out of the way. Xehanort puts his hand on Ienzo's shoulder.
"Shall we, Ienzo?" he asks softly.
Ienzo nods and exits Ansem's study. Xehanort keeps his hand on Ienzo's shoulder as they walk down the maze of hallways. It's not until they're halfway to the stairs that Xehanort forces Ienzo to stop.
"You must know that I have no qualms about doing what is necessary to achieve my goals even if it means silencing those who get in my way."
"What are you saying?" Ienzo asks even though he already has a good idea.
"Do not get in my way," Xehanort says. "Otherwise, I will have no choice but to make you disappear and I'm quite sure neither of us want that to happen."
That's debatable. I'm beginning to wonder if it would be better if I just disappear.
"And what if I don't care whether I disappear or not?" Ienzo asks.
To his surprise, Xehanort smiles. "I am sure that even if you do not care about what happens to you, you care about what happens to Aeleus."
Ienzo's throat goes dry. "Y…you wouldn't."
"I have already told you, I am not afraid to do what is necessary," Xehanort says.
"Aeleus has nothing to do with this! You would kill an innocent man for the sake of your plans?" Ienzo asks angrily.
"Yes," Xehanort says. "His sacrifice is regrettable, but necessary."
"Please don't," Ienzo begs. "I'm begging you. I will do anything you ask, I swear."
Xehanort's eyes glint maliciously. "Do you mean that?"
"Yes," Ienzo whispers. "I swear it. Just leave Aeleus out of this!"
"Very well then," Xehanort says. "I will hold you to that."
Ienzo doesn't care anymore. He will lie to Aeleus and even hurt him as long as he's safe.
"What do you want me to do?" he asks.
"I want you to get Ansem and convince him to come down to the lab. I don't care what excuse you give him, but you cannot tell him the truth about what we are doing. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I understand," Ienzo whispers.
He feels sick about lying to Ansem like this, but he's protecting Aeleus, who has been more of a father to him than his own foster father. He squares his shoulders and marches up the stairs to the third floor where Ansem's bedroom is and knocks on the door. A few moments pass and then Ansem opens the door in a dressing gown.
"Ienzo? What are you doing up so late? What's wrong?" he asks with a frown.
"There's a problem in Even's lab," Ienzo lies. "Even was doing some sort of an experiment and spilled some chemicals. He needs you right away."
Ansem's frown deepens. "Even was doing an experiment now? In the middle of the night?"
"You'll have to ask him why he's doing an experiment in the middle of the night instead of waiting for morning like a normal, sane person," Ienzo says, rolling his one visible eye for emphasis.
"All right," Ansem says, sighing heavily. "Wait there. I'll only be a moment."
He closes the door and Ienzo lets out a shaky breath. His lie worked on Ansem. The sick feeling surfaces again and he forces it down.
"Well, well," says a voice from the shadows causing Ienzo to jump.
"Show yourself!" he demands.
Xehanort sidles out of the shadows, eyes flickering with amusement.
"I didn't think you would actually pull it off," he says. "You're quite the little liar, aren't you?"
"Shut up!" Ienzo says fiercely. "I've done what you asked. Now give me your word that you won't harm Aeleus."
"Of course," Xehanort says smoothly. "The same cannot be said for your dear Ansem."
"What?" Ienzo gasps.
Ansem's door opens and Ansem steps into the hall fully dressed.
"Ienzo, where are you?" he called out.
"You know what you must do," Xehanort whispers in his ear, slinking back into the shadows.
Ienzo swallows hard and fights back tears. "I'm over here." His voice waivers a bit.
"Ienzo, what's wrong?" Ansem asks.
"I'm sorry," Ienzo whispers.
Xehanort chooses that movement to step out of the shadows.
"Xehanort, what are you doing here?" Ansem asks.
"You were wrong, Ansem," Xehanort practically spits out the man's name. "The darkness is not something we need to fear. It can be controlled."
"Xehanort, you're mad!" Ansem says. "What do you think you can obtain by attempting to control the darkness?"
"Power," Xehanort says. "Power beyond anything you can comprehend. You have been holding me back until now. Well, no longer."
Xehanort holds out his hand. A swirling portal of darkness appears behind Ansem.
"What are you doing?" Ansem asks.
"Simple," Xehanort says. I'm giving you a choice. You can either walk through that portal into a world of darkness never to return, or stay here and be destroyed. So what will it be? Exile or destruction?"
Ansem looks at Ienzo, who works as hard as he can to keep his face neutral.
"I see," he says coldly. "There is nothing more for us to say then."
He calmly steps toward the portal, but stops when there are running footsteps on the stairs. The group, led by Even appears in the hallway. Time seems to stop momentarily as Even an the others freeze place. Then, without saying a word, Ansem steps through the portal and the portal vanishes. The hallway is dead silent for a few moments.
"Xehanort…what have you done?" Even finally breaks the silence.
"I did what was necessary," Xehanort says. "Ansem was only holding us back from our true potential."
"What did you do to him?" Even demands.
"I merely gave him a choice. He could be exile and live or remain here and die. He chose to live in exile in the realm of darkness," Xehanort says. "We cannot go back now. What has been done cannot be undone. All of you now face a choice. You can stand in my way or not. I must warn you that if you stand in my way, you will face the same fate as Ansem, or worse." Nobody dares to say a word. "Shall we proceed, then?"
He takes several steps forward and then collapses. Even hurries to his side.
"Are you all right?" he asks.
"I'm fine." Xehanort struggles to his feet, but collapses again.
"Clearly, you are not fine," Even says. "Come, you should rest. Braig, help me."
Braig moves to Xehanort's side and he and Even help Xehanort to his feet.
"But we are so close to a breakthrough," Xehanort protests.
"I know," Even says gently. "But sometimes things don't go as we plan and we must be flexible. We can put this off for a couple days until you have regained some of your strength."
"All right," Xehanort reluctantly agrees and he allows Even and Braig to lead him away.
"You should all get some rest," Even calls over his shoulder. "It's been a long night."
Then, he, Braig, and Xehanort disappear down the stairs. The rest of the group remains motionless for what seems like an eternity. Aeleus is the first to move. He crosses the hallway and kneels down in front of Ienzo.
"Are you inured?" he asks, gently cupping Ienzo's face with both of his large hands.
Ienzo shakes his head. "He didn't hurt me."
"Good." Aeleus straightens up. "We should do as Even says and rest."
The others nod and slowly disperse. Aeleus watches Ienzo carefully as they return to the second floor. The boy's face appears to be impassive, but Aeleus can't help feeling like once again, Ienzo has shut off his emotions, burying them deep beneath himself.
If only he knew the truth.
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