A/N It's short, but it prepares for the final battle. Thank you for all reviews and encouragement. You guys make my day!
Saya awoke after sleeping nearly 11 hours. Her arms stretched over her head and her toes pointed, causing a few pops. Oh, that feels much better.
She stared at the picture in her hands. She always carried it in her purse. It was a picture of Hagi riding Fury at a blinding speed as his black coattails sailed behind him. Her finger traced the line of his face as she murmured, "I miss you."
Her belly gurgled as she placed a kiss on her free and pressed it to her belly. "Good morning, Son," she greeted. The baby thundered a few kicks to the top of her belly, in her ribcage. He had turned. She pleaded, "Oh, please wait for your father to get here first."
"He will," a voice as smooth as melted butter spoke as the owner entered the room. He was nearly 4 inches shorter than her husband and had long platinum hair and wore a silvery blue modern suit. He noticed the picture in her hand. He mentioned, "It's remarkable. He fits the description perfectly."
She recognized him immediately and growled, eyes glowing red with rage. "You drugged my husband," she accused as she looked at him if he were a worm crawling on the floor."
The knight immediately responded, "I did it to save his life. The First Queen condemned your husband to death. Her first knight and I pleaded for his life and were granted it only if he did not fight us. We lied and told her that the knight that died was killed by you in a fit of rage."
Saya looked surprised. She knew Hagi had gone into a rage once she was drugged, but she didn't know he killed someone. "Do you know how he's doing? Has anyone seen him?"
He smiled and answered, "There is no way anyone is willing to go to him right now. The last we heard, he was destroying cameras and buildings. He has calmed down a little since then. We know those mini earthquakes are from him calling to you."
He decided to get to the matter he came for. "I am the Second Knight of the Azure Queen Chasina."
"Queen Aksaya's daughter?" Saya asked.
"Yes," he informed. He then continued, "I have been studying biology, chemistry, and internal medicine for more than a century. I wish to examine you to make certain the baby and you are okay."
Saya was indeed grateful for the chevalier's help. She had been feeling so anxious for herself and her baby these last few weeks. Saya laid back and felt the soft, smooth hands probe her belly. She wondered at the hands, they were soft, so unlike Hagi's. Her husband's hands were calloused from playing the cello and the decades of fighting they had endured together. Most of the knights were perfectly pressed, every hair in the right place, and adorned in their queen's color.
No one used to fighting looked like them. These men were no warriors, just guards that forgot how to fight. Of course it was easy to understand how it happened. The queens and knights banned together underground when their numbers were decimated by the humans that hunted them. The only two that survived remained here with their servants since that time. No human would think to venture this far below ground and the few that did were easily killed. The knights never needed to fight any real enemies since they were so well guarded by the thick stones that separated them from the surface.
He asked, "Have you been suffering with nausea and blood loss?"
Saya nodded and looked down at her feet, frightened that something was terribly wrong.
"It's normal to get that way when you are about to have a baby and there's a ton of stress weighing you down," he explained. "I know I can't get you to cut out the stress." He looked around himself to emphasize the point, "It seems you can't escape."
She looked down at her feet, saddened by his comment. She missed Hagi, she missed her freedom… she missed sunlight.
He reassured in a voice she barely heard, "He's coming for you. Please, cheer up." He then smiled and reassured, "There are more of us on your side than you think. I also know that you're holding off your labor, waiting for him. Your baby should have been born last week."
Saya looked frightened. She had been pleading with whatever power there was to keep her labor from coming until Hagi came for her, but she didn't know she had that kind of power. Her eyes scanned the room for something- anything that could be used as a weapon. This knight could run back and tell the First Queen and then give her something to force the labor.
The knight reassured her, "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. I wanted to let you know the name I use for myself when I am at the University. My name is Kyle White and I studied under Dr. Collins. He chose Julia Silverstein over me for his assistant. It was all for the best anyway, I really couldn't work with chiropterans posing as a human and expect to not be found out."
Saya was stunned. She never expected the man who had drugged Hagi to be a knight that posed as a human and once worked with Julia! She asked him, "How long have you been studying in the human world?"
"Over 2 centuries," He answered. "I always change names and identities- even my appearance." He proved it by shifting from his current form to a man with short brown hair that was longer on top and styled in a long wave across his forehead. His face became more chiseled with a square jawline and a sharp pointed nose. He smirked as he said, "This is the form I currently use among the humans."
She smiled as she noticed, "You look so different."
"It's good to completely reinvent yourself every 30 years or so. This way, you will fit into the human world without suspicion," he explained. "You should try it. All you need to do is picture what you want to look like in your mind and then command your body to conform."
Saya smiled and decided to wait on that. She briefly thought of what a wonderful trick that would have been during the war. She could just change into someone Diva wouldn't suspect and simply stab her with a bit of her blood- the end of Diva. She then realized Diva's chevaliers would have sensed her presence and her cover would be blown. I was a nice thought though.
She wondered about the man that sat beside her. Was he just trying to trick her into letting her guard down? No- he wouldn't have shown her how to change forms knowing she could just change to look like a servant and walk right out like nothing had happened.
"So, have you been sleeping better now that you have his jacket?" he asked.
She stared at the knight, speechless. "H-how did you know?"
The knight smirked, "My dear Warrior Queen, I am the one that stole it from his closet."
Kai tapped a pencil on the table as he avoided the gaze of his blue-eyed adopted daughter. He was not thrilled that Hagi had requested- no demanded the girls come along. He claimed he needed them. Kanade was an excellent lookout and Hibiki was, like Kai and Hagi, good with battle strategies. Where is that damn cat, anyways? Kai wondered.
"Dad, Uncle Hagi asked…" Hibiki tried to reason, but was cut off when the door opened and David joined them, followed by the damn cat himself.
"Took you long enough, Pretty Boy," Kai commented.
Hagi didn't respond. He knew Kai was just upset about putting the twins in danger. If he could think of another way, he would never have involved the girls. He helped David as he opened a laptop and linked up the GPS Hagi had brought with him.
He walked around the area with the GPS making notes of the subterranean tunnels and rooms that made up the immortal kingdom. He made notations of where the queens were as well as the knights and servants.
David pulled up a map of the information Hagi provided and the meeting began.
Kai noted, "It looks like they each queen has her own chamber, but some are larger than others."
The tunnels connected to a main network of chambers that surrounded a very large chamber. Hagi pointed out each one and named off the queens that lived in each one.
They were surprised when the door opened and John entered the room. "I thought you may need my help since I have lived among the immortals my entire life."
Hagi barely gave a nod as Kai glared suspiciously and Hibiki beamed at the man. He pointed out the space with the red dot in one of the rooms. "This is the chamber of the Red Queen Chitose," he looked at Hagi, "your wife's aunt. I'm not surprised they have her there."
"Why?" David asked.
"It's an ancient custom that when an outside queen visits, she stays with the closest relative," John explained.
He pointed at the largest chamber and informed the group, "This is the throne room. It is where meetings are held and where Her Majesty, the First Queen Aksaya likes to spend her days." He then pointed at the chamber opposite Chitose's and said, "This is where she sleeps at night. The knights stay with their queen at night, unless they are on guard duty."
"How do you know this layout? Didn't you leave the immortals while they were still in the US?" Kai asked.
The knight smirked and answered, "The layout never changes from place to place. Her Majesty Queen Aksaya is very set in her ways and change really agitates her. I can imagine having the Warrior Queen as a guest is really upsetting her."
Upsetting her? Hagi thought What about my wife? She's the one being held against her will. Hagi resisted the urge to say something as he cleared his throat.
Hibiki informed the group, "Aunt Saya was having terrible nightmares for the past month and they have suddenly stopped." She looked at her uncle cautiously, knowing that he may get upset and go off on his own. She was surprised that he seemed calm and completely aware of Saya's nightmares.
He informed the group, "One of the knights stole my charcoal suit jacket from the bedroom closet. He gave it to Saya to calm her nightmares."
"The Second Knight of Queen Chasina," John smiled.
Hagi nodded and responded, "I know."
"You let him break into your room and didn't stop him," Kai shouted and hit his fists on the table. He was not surprised when Hagi was the only one that didn't flinch. "Why didn't you stop him?"
"I knew what he was doing and why he was doing it," Hagi answered calmly.
"You'd be surprised to know just how many of them are on our side," John informed.
Hagi cocked his head and asked, "Why would they betray the First Queen?"
The younger knight smirked, "They simply want to live the lives of free men- not moles that fear the light of day and the ones that may see them." He regarded the older knight with awe. Here he is- the Black Knight himself. I am helping the Black Knight change the world as we know it!
Hibiki and Kai began to point at various places on the map and discuss how they would strike. Hagi joined in and tapped the long elegant finger of his left hand to the central chamber and added, "The roof is the thinnest here. We could break through it and come down on them."
Hibiki's blue eyes misted as Uncle Hagi's deep red ring glittered in the light- reminding her of the day she watched her aunt and uncle say their vows. Kai hugged her and soothed, "We're getting her back, Hibiki. Don't worry."
She turned her sad blue eyes to her uncle's stern expression. Hagi's expression tightened more and he gave her a nod.
David commented, "If only we could gather them into one place."
John took a sharp intake of air and announced, "Leave that to me."
All eyes turned to him, including his wife's who had just joined him. She added, "Yes, we will turn ourselves in to the Queen's Council and face our punishment for rebellion."
Hibiki cried out, "No! I know the punishment is beheading! You can't."
The pair linked hands and responded, "We are content. We will give our lives so that our children can live in a free world and in the light of day."
Hagi nodded and responded, "I thank you for your sacrifice, but it is not necessary. I will stop them before the blade touches either of your necks."
Queen Samantha and John kissed their daughters as tears fell. Their intention was to give their lives so their daughters could live free. They could walk in the sunlight and never fear for their lives. John looked into the face of Kaori as she held the girls with tears streaming down her face, "I know you have and Kai have done an amazing job raising the two youngest Seer Queens. Please, raise our daughters with the same love and respect."
The two newest queens began to wail in unison as their parents disappeared in a gust of wind, leaving behind a haze of blue that only their kind could see. The pair held hands as they transformed into their true forms and flew off toward the North. They knew the Black Knight would make his entrance at sunrise, but he would be too late to save them.
Saya was asleep, curled up in Hagi's jacket as she felt the hard kicks of her son, jolting her from her peaceful slumber. She was surprised when she heard a small voice in her head say, "Father is coming."
Her body was stiff as she rose from the bed and slid the red satin dress over her head. It gathered just under her chest and fell over her swollen belly. She was still quite agile in her heavily pregnant state, but she still felt so weak. It was so draining, being away from him. She needed that ever strong, ever quiet presence to keep her calm.
She sighed as she reverently folded the charcoal jacket and put it on the edge of the bed.
Shouts coming from the through the door caught her attention. She quickly exited the room and found Queen Chitose standing in her plush red sitting room. They both came into the dark tunnel that led to the main meeting place.
Since Saya had calmed down with the assistance of her husband's jacket, she was allowed to roam freely. They knew she couldn't escape.
The two queens came into the great hall and were not surprised to be joined by the other queens and knights. The scene before them was surprising to most, but to Saya, it was an tear-jerking shock.
The First Knight and a few others Saya didn't recognize had two plainly dressed prisoners kneeling before them. Saya knew them! It was the Red Queen Samantha and The Azure Queen Samiyah's First Knight. The First Queen circled them, skirts swishing as she moved.
She drew a sword and brought the singing blade down, nicking the knight's ear. "What you have done is treason!" the First Queen exclaimed. "It is not just treason to me, but to your own kind as well. We have rules here- they protect and preserve our way of life."
Queen Samantha spoke up, "The old ways are no longer relevant. The Black Knight will change the rules when he comes."
The First Queen's eyes darken. She responds, "Where are your daughters?"
"They are safe," Queen Samantha responds with an insolent smirk. "They will be raised to know love, freedom, and laughter. Our daughters were created out of love and they will never have to face the stifling lifestyle that I was born to."
Hagi stood in the dark above the chamber. He could feel his queen's distress and turned to the beam of light that briefly flashed where Nathan was leading the others in. Kai flashed the beam to his face. It looked creepy cast in shadows. He nodded to the dark form crouched in darkness- his signal that they were all inside.
Kai now understood why Hagi wore all the dark clothes- he looked like another errant shadow in the darkness. No wonder the damn cat's so hard to find, even in broad daylight. He mused at the idea of telling the chevalier he should market his own variety of camouflage. That certainly would get him riled… and if he added a little "Pretty Boy" in there- nah! Hagi would kill him.
Hagi listened intently, counting down the minutes it would take for Nathan to sneak everyone into place.
Saya listened to the exchange with tears falling. They were giving their lives, but why? She suddenly felt a prickling in her scalp and felt a familiar presence behind her- a human one. When she turned, she saw Nathan next to Kanade and then Hibiki. Kai was just in front, gun drawn. Nathan carried 2 swords, odd for him.
…But where was Hagi? She felt a sudden thunder as the ceiling came down in front of the First Queen. She jumped back into the arms of her only knight.
Something came down from the hole in the ceiling- something black. It landed next to the couple that were prostrate on the floor. All the immortals moves back.
Saya could barely contain her joy! The music that came from his being, the wavy black hair, the black coat tails- Hagi! He was down on one knee, clothed in solid black and carrying two swords. He thrust the one in his left out and Saya sped through the crowd and caught her weapon.
Remember, Saya, your blood cannot hurt them.
Saya smiled for the first time in a long time and answered him mentally, I missed you.
He turned slightly and gave one of his rare smiles. His eyes came back to the First Queen as the room echoed with the shocked reactions of the room.
"It's him! It's really him!" one shouted.
"He's come to free us!"
All said the same thing, "The Black Knight."
"He's no Black Knight!" the First Queen shouted as she moved to Hagi. The knight with platinum hair came forward and produced a photograph to the First Queen. She growled as she and asked, "Do you expect me to believe this? It could be made up!"
The Seer Queens are next to each other and respond, "The horse's name is Fury and he belongs to Uncle Hagi."
Nathan nodded in agreement.
Hagi raised his eyes to the First Queen. He commanded, "Release Saya and my unborn son to me and there will be no bloodshed." His eyes blazed as he continued, "If you refuse, there will be death."
The Immortal Queen brought her blade in front of her, signaling the knights to defend.
Saya drew her sword and all her followers did the same. There was a sound of metal clicks as Kai cocked the gun.
The Queen smirked at the ridiculous idea of bringing a human to an immortal war, but Kai wasn't alone. Suddenly, an army of Red Shield flooded in, led by David. All guns cocked and swords drawn, the enemies squared off and prepared for battle.