Chapter thirteen: Out in the open.
Mello and Near sneak around the orphanage keeping to the shadows. They get to the library but the doors are locked at this time.
Mello looks to Near.
Near uses some of his magic then silently gestures for Mello to follow. He leads Mello into a spot of heavy darkness by the doorway to the library and they get into the library like that using the darkness like a doorway thanks to Near's magic.
"I'll take left, you take right?" Mello suggests quietly.
"Sounds good." Near nods in agreement and the two split up to look for anything useful.
They spend all night there just looking for anything at all that will help them make sure that the plan will be as good as possible since it's a risky thing to do.
One mess up could mean possibly sending those Near rescued back to their lives of hell.
They cannot afford that mistake to happen.
After a bit of searching they find a few books but the sun rise is approaching.
Mello remembers the titles then they move to sneak out of the library successfully doing so.
Once they get outside Near thanks Mello only to fly off.
Mello heads to his room before he's caught.
A little later Mello heads down for breakfast but sees Rodger watching him.
"What the hell?! Is he serious?" He whispers to himself then he continues on. He can't help but feel the stare of someone watching him…. Just who though!? He tries to shake it off but it won't go away. He heads to first class and the teacher keeps glancing to him. He is getting frustrated at this. He heads out of the class right at the bell and he spots Rodger with two other men.
Rodger turns around and glances to him then brings the men over. "Ah Mello. A moment?"
Mello stops but stays on guard.
"These two gentlemen are FBI." Rodger says. "They want to ask a few questions."
"Whatever. Ask me here." Mello says.
The one that looks like an older Matt with black hair, a suit and no goggles, frowns. "It'd be better if you come with us."
"Why?" Mello challenges. "This place is no different than an interrogation room." He almost growls.
"You really should come with us." The other says, He has chocolate colored skin and shirt black hair. His deep brown eyes reflect his frown on his face.
"Give me a good reason." Mello says taking a step back knowing this means no good.
"Kid." The older version looking Matt man says with his blue eyes almost boring into Mello's own. "Look. We can do this two ways. Easy where you come with us or hard way where we will take you down if needed."
Mello, quickly knowing what the man are here for, takes another step back with another growl.
"Mello just cooperate and it will all be over." Rodger says.
"Yeah right." Mello turns tail and runs knowing that he will be of no help if he's caught. He has his pride and he keeps his promises.
The men call for him to get back there but Mello quickly moves outside knowing they're following.
He skids to a stop seeing another agent.
"I don't understand kids these days." The new agent says running a hand through his brown hair that goes to his mid cheek.
Mello glares at the three agents around him as he curses in his head.
"Now don't make this any harder." The older somewhat version of Matt says.
Mello spots some movement and understands quickly. He smirks. "Guess today isn't your lucky day." He says. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. Other than one thing I am sick of this place and you most certainly would not understand since you haven't seen the children of the nights home or them." He says.
"So you've been to where he takes them to." The chocolate colored skin agent says with a smile. "More valuable than we thought." He continues. "Now put your hands in the air."
Mello smirks wider and raises his hands into the air closing his eyes with a look of 'HA!' on his face.
The agents move in then suddenly the place becomes dimmer.
Mello opens his eyes half way glancing to the sky seeing the moon in front of the sun.
The agents looks a little surprised at the eclipse.
Mello turns to the agents. "Told you this wasn't your lucky day." He says then as the agents watch, and before they could do anything, Near swoops in linking hands with Mello as he flies by only to start flying away with Mello. He sticks his tongue out at the agents as if to gloat as he and Near fly off.
The dim lighting and the moon looking like a black shape help hide that they disappear into the portal to the children of the nights home.
Some of the children of the night were awaken as Near gently sets Mello on the ground.
Soon all of them sleepily come out to see and even notice the moon in front of the sun.
"What happened?" Daisy asks as Near lands by Mello.
"People were trying to take Mello to get information about this place." Near says.
"Linda I managed to convince her it was a dream since she saw you and me the first time. Rodger tried to confront me about it but I did my best to keep it from him. And Matt eavesdropped but don't worry. Matt can be out eyes and ears on the inside of Whammy's." Mello explains.
"I guess Rodger secretly knew more than he was letting on. Maybe he watched you after confronting you." Near points out.
"However it happened I won't back down on my agreement to help." Mello says.
"Thank you Mello sir." Twinkle says happily.
"Got a plan?" Brianna asks.
"We do have an idea." Mello says with a glance to Near that is returned.
Meanwhile…..
"I'm sorry but they got away." Rodger says on the phone. "Matt has no idea about anything past that Near asked for Mello's help." He says then pauses listening. "Yes I understand." He says then pauses again. "Ok goodbye." He hangs up and turns when there is a knock.
Standing there is Rai.
"How may I help you your highness?" Rodger asks politely.
Rai comes in with her two guards following. "I want you to update me on my brother." She says.
"We heard the song that he uses and he asked Mello for help. But when we tried to get Mello after he agreed. Well Near took him away and left off to somewhere." Rodger says feeling a little intimidated by the guards.
"I see." Rai says walking up to his desk. "Then thank you for sharing." She says. "What is your opinion on the matter? As far as I can guess. You want to stop my brother."
"Of course. What he is doing is a crime." Rodger says.
"Just as I thought." Rai turns away and starts to walk but when she reaches the center point between the two guards she stops looking over her shoulder. "But let me ask you this. If it means that lives are saved instead of killed giving a place of happiness. Then is it really something wrong?" She turns away and leaves telling the guards to come that they are going.
They leave with that leaving Rodger a little surprised and though he knows that kidnapping is wrong… Rai's words brought up something he had been ignoring because he only saw the dark side of what Near is doing.
With Rai…
Rai walks towards the front doors with a hand on her hip not minding any student she and her guards pass. She gets outside and there waiting is carriage she came in. She goes towards it and the guards are given wings by magic. She climbs in and sits back as the door is closed behind her. "The darkness of what Nate is doing is outshined by the light of what he is doing. I am sure he will not have much trouble with convincing others that." She says as the carriage is lifted on the ground taking her back to the palace. She has the curtains pulled closed leaving her in a dimly lit carriage but she doesn't mind. "Just hurry brother and show the world the good of what you are doing." She says. "So your children of the night can peacefully live free."
The guards continue on their way to taking the princess back to the palace and they can't hear her in there but either way it would be none of their business unless it is said that is. So they just continue on with what they have been trained to and that is to serve the royal family.
Silver is waiting in the throne room for Rai to return. He being a good older brother is worried even though she has guards with her. He is also worried about Near despite that what Near is doing is seen as wrong he is still a family member that is cared for….. Silver wishes he didn't have to do what he did to his brother even if it was for the best. He turns to Rai when she enters the throne room. "You look well and that's good." He says.
"Yeah well a simple visit won't mean harm." Rai rolls her eyes slightly.
"Do you still believe in what Near is doing?" Silver questions turning away to face the thrones.
Rai turns away getting ready to head out of the throne room out a door she didn't come in through. "Of course." She says then walks out.
Silver sighs softly and stares at the throne chairs. He remembers so vividly the time that Near was with them and he swears he can see himself with Near sitting on the throne chairs together like the good old days. His memory makes him sigh again. "I understand that he is trying to do the right thing. Near is a good guy but….." He trails off then sighs again this time looking up to a higher point on the wall above the throne chairs. "What should I do? It's obvious old tactics still won't work and…. Is what he doing something we really should look at stopping?" He speaks to himself then goes silent in thought.