Sorry about errors in the writing, I don't have this beta read so there's no one to blame there but I typically don't make a lot of mistakes I don't think. Anyway here goes another chapter, really enjoying working on this again for you guys. ^^ Enjoy yourselves. This chapter though, was inspired by a song and if you know the reference of the chapter name brownie points for you.

Chapter 14: The Path To Decay

Lightning

"Do you have a messenger boy?" Lightning tapped her fingers along the worn counter in front of the same inn keeper that Fang had gotten to know on their original trip down to ORPHAN tower. Most inns within the castle walls had messengers dedicated to nothing more than sending military messages, they were paid handsomely from the senders of course.

"The royal family was so kind as to pay for us to have one, he doesn't get much work though. I'm not supposed to send him with per..."

"I am Lightning Farron and I will be commissioning the use of your messenger." She slammed her coin-purse down onto the bar and narrowed her gaze towards the inn keeper. "This should cover both the cost of these commoners and the messenger."

The inn keeper just stared until her fingers settled on the pouch brimming with coins. She gave a nod towards the back entrance before retreating away from the rather intimidating princess for work in the kitchen. Lightning shook her head but she followed his nod anyway. In truth she didn't really want the messenger himself, their steeds were supposed to be the fastest in area and while Odin was the fastest horse in the kingdom by far he was exhausted from the work of carrying their new comrades.

The small stable out the back held only two horses and instantly it was obvious which was the messenger's. The pure white steed brought the briefest of smiles to Lightning's lips. If nothing else she always appreciated a powerful horse. Her fingers raised to reach for the horse only for a small and decidedly sharp rock ricocheted off her gauntlet and hit her square in the face. While it wasn't entirely as painful as she thought it was going to be the sharp sting and shock of it had her reeling back.

"Back off Alexander!" With her hand to her nose she turned to glare at the boy. "H-he's not yours..." Suddenly the snow haired boy wasn't as bold when her gaze locked onto him and he realized how well equipped she was. "I-I'm sorry! D-don't h-hurt me!" He begged and this was more amusing, softening her glare into a very puzzled look.

"I need to borrow him, it's a matter for the royal family." She took a step to the boy and extended her hand that had been across her face, a small cut across the bridge of her nose where the stone had made contact. She mostly ignored it. "I am Lightning Farron."

He tentatively took her hand, well expecting to be shoved back down or slapped even but no such pain came. "Hope." He mumbled, surprised her managed to get his name out with stuttering more. "I can't s-say no t-to a princess." He paused and folded his hands, staring down at the floor.

"Right." She nodded, turning back to Alexander, as Hope had called out, and stroked his mane gently. "I'll return him in good shape, I promise."

"O-ok."

Fang

Despite all her urges to just head straight into the comfort of a bed Fang had promised Lightning she'd check on Serah. Regaining the use of her legs to climb the stairs had been no easy task, using her lance as a staff to lean against with one hand as the other held securely onto the railing. Nearly at the top of the stairs she caught the small gasp, the cry out for Snow that seemed muffled by something. Adrenaline took the edge of her throbbing muscles once she slammed into the door only to find it securely closed. Sunshine would kill her if anything happened to Serah so with a silent apology to the beautiful wooden door she brought her spear back and cut into the wood. One swing and a crack appeared, another and it widened. She stopped counting after three until the door just about fell off its hinges with her desperation.

It looked as though a tornado had rocked through the room. Serah's bedding lay strewn everywhere, one shutter snapped off the window with the edges of the fabric shredded. The most important detail was that Serah was missing, no squeaks or whimpers issued from her hiding anywhere. Nevertheless, with her noisy entrance, Fang checked each of the usual hiding places. Under the bed, no Serah. Closet, no Serah. The private bathroom, no Serah.

"Snow! Guards, someone!" She shouted, giving a grown as her fist hit the wall. "Lightning is going to kill me..."

"What is...Etro..." Snow looked around the room, doing the same checks that Fang had only with a bit more fear in his actions.

In any other circumstance the care he showed might have been heartening but at this point in time it only worsened the tension. Fang and Snow simply stared at each other, unsure of what to say and even more unsure of what had happened to Serah. Surely they would have heard screams at some point if someone had broken in, or they would have heard the crashing of glass and snapping of wood. But no, even the cry that Fang had managed to hear sounded so far off and like someone had a hand over Serah's mouth. But there were no signs of someone else being there. The glass had shattered on the stone floor not underfoot, the shredding of the fabric not claws or even as if a blade had done it. Everything seemed too precise, too well orchestrated. Barring that, they were on the third floor of a walled in castle, it seemed humanly impossible. It was humanly impossible.

"Lightning will kill us before we can find her." Snow nodded and huffed in agreement, his fists still clenched tightly to his sides. "Then she'll tear the city apart looking for the girl." Snow just nodded again, grinding his teeth together.

"I was supposed to be her hero." He suddenly spoke, making Fang jump slightly. "i promised I'd protect her from...whatever that was before. The damned dead walking!"

Fang winced when his fist contacted the stone hard enough to break bones, and if she wasn't mistaken she heard a snap or two. She looked away, studying the bits of glass and cloth that littered the ground. It wasn't until now she noticed it, a little piece of what almost seemed to be crystal so out of place among the well crafted glass. She reached for it but pulled her hand back, there was something ominous to the shimmering piece of crystal. With a deep breath she grabbed it anyway, dropping it instantly as she felt exactly how cold it was. She shuddered, the cold seeming to seep in a bit further than her fingertips.

"Blasted..."

Well now, we're all fucked aren't we?

Well I hope you all liked it, if you want in the comments feel free to say anything you could guess has happened to Serah. I'll be writing a lot more since I'm losing internet and I'll post the sections when I manage some more funds. Love ya all, and I'll be back with posts.