Chapter 20

Lark glanced back at Tails as two uniformed attendants fueled the ship they were to take, "Are you sure you want to tag along kid?" he asked, "This could be dangerous and if you fall behind I can't wait for you."

Tails nodded, "I have to at least try to get a message to my friends." he replied.

Lark smiled piteously and looked back as one of the attendants approached and saluted him, "Sir, the jet is all ready for your departure."

"Come on, Miles, we haven't another moment to spare." Lark called back as he headed for the jet.

"How sad."

Cree pulled his head out from under the pillow of his hospital bed and looked around the room. It was empty except for a red fox sitting on the end of his bed, only he wasn't really sitting, more like in a sitting position while hovering a few inches above the sheets.

"Yes, I realize how pathetic I am and that every time I've landed myself in a hospital it's been my own fault!" Cree mumbled, "Would you please go away? If they find me talking to nobody they'll think I'm insane."

"No, no!" Akeii said shaking his head, "I mean you're lying on your death bed and you can't even muster up enough courage to tell Apache those three simple words?"

"It's not as easy as that." Cree said hiding his head under the pillow again.

"Sure it is! Girls love to hear romantic junk!" Akeii shouted back, "Remember what I used to call Anya?"

Cree said something but was muffled by the pillow.

"Didn't catch that." Akeii called.

Cree pulled his head out again, "Yes, you called her 'angel.'" he said, "That sort of thing won't work on Apache, she's not into than that."

"Oh, but I do remember you called her angel once." Akeii snickered, "Opur retiea mih mortau hin muh angelus. How sweet, eh?"

"I was delusional." Cree mumbled angrily, "Besides, it's not like she would understand what that means."

"All the same," Akeii shrugged, "You should still tell her. I almost got you to do it too! You were so close!"

Cree glared at Akeii, "Oh, so that was you?" he asked angrily, "Don't go messing with my head anymore! I actually believed that was my own thought for awhile."

"What does it matter? You ignored me!" Akeii grumbled, "You're the one who's always saying you want to die without any regrets! Aren't you going to regret not saying anything to her?"

Cree laid his head against the pillow again, "What does it matter? If I do actually die then that would just make her feel miserable and if I live..." he paused as he felt his face flush, "Well, that would just be embarrassing."

"What do you mean?" Akeii asked.

"What do you expect me to say to her?" Cree demanded, "'Oh, by the way, I love you?' That's just stupid."

Akeii scratched his head in thought, "Well, you wouldn't put it like that. I'm sure you would be able to put in in better terms-"

"Also," Cree interrupted, "If I live and it somehow gets out that I have feelings for her then she'd be in danger! She's constantly going back and forth from High Rise and if Imperial Soldiers captured her then-" he didn't finish his sentence but looked away.

Akeii bit his lip, "If... if something like that did happen, what would you do?" he asked.

"I don't know..." Cree mumbled, "I'd rather not think about it." Just then he gave a rather violent cough and sprayed dark purple blood across his pillow. He wiped it away with his hand and groaned, "I just... hope Lark gets back in time." he mumbled closing his eyes.

Two squirrels came down the marble stairway in their green soldier uniforms. They had their guns ready in their holsters and seemed cheerful about something. "How does she know they'll be sending someone to the ghettos? And knowing the exact house to wait at, nonetheless!"

The other smiled, "You know how the Empress just knows things sometimes." he replied, "I'm more surprised by who she thinks is coming."

The first soldier gave out a small laugh, "That's right; what business would a general have doing spy work?"

"Would be nice to have those higher officials actually doing work like that, wouldn't it?" At this both soldiers laughed and disappeared down the hall towards the main gate.

Standing in the dark corner below the stairway, Shadow had heard the entire conversation. He stared after the two soldiers suspiciously thinking that now was a good time to take another visit to the ghettos and maybe learn a thing or two about what Levee was planning.

He stepped away from the stairs and quickly went after the soldiers. Of course, he failed to notice Levee standing on the floor above watching him go with a sly smile on her muzzle. She let out a small chuckle as she turned away, "Well done, boys." she whispered to herself.

"Are you still here?" Cree glared up at Akeii who was still hovering at the edge of his bed. Akeii only smiled in reply at which Cree only became more frustrated, "I told you to get lost! I don't want them to think I'm talking to myself."

"But you are talking to yourself." Akeii pointed out, "Besides, it's not like I have anything better to do."

As he spoke Apache came back through the door with Discordia close behind, "Hey Cree, Discordia is going to stay here with you until Lark gets back." she said with a smile.

"If he comes back you mean." Discordia corrected harshly while hiding her face beneath her hood, "And I'm only going to stick around if you turn off these lights."

Akeii looked back at Cree, "Oh, now we get to hang out in the dark with everyone's favorite demon spawn. This is just turning out to be a great day isn't it?" he said with a laugh.

As he finished his sentence Discordia whirled around angrily, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" she demanded. Akeii turned back quickly and found that she was staring directly at him with wide eyes. He returned her shocked stare and there was a moment of silence before Apache interrupted it.

"W-what are you talking about?" she asked, slightly alarmed, "He didn't say anything."

"I guess that's my cue to leave." Akeii mumbled and in an instant he had disappeared.

Discordia continued to glare at where the ghost had been mere moments ago, "Sorry, I must be hearing things." she mumbled. With that she turned and headed over to the corner and sat in one of the chairs.

Apache turned and flicked off the lights for Discordia. She was about to leave when she looked back over at Cree, "Would... would you mind if I stayed awhile too?" she asked meekly.

Oh yes! Please, PLEASE stay with me!

"I don't think you should." Cree glared over at Discordia who was calmly looking up at Apache from underneath her hood, "He's only going to get worse and I don't know if you could to handle some of the things you would see."

Apache stared at Discordia for a moment then looked back to Cree, her disappointment clearly showing in her eyes, "Alright then." she mumbled, "If... you really think that's best."

"I do." Discordia said quickly, "You should leave now. Cree is going to vomit in a second."

Cree continued to glare at Discordia and opened his mouth to argue that he felt fine but the instant he tried to form a word he realized she was right. He clutched his stomach as nausea swept over him and, leaning over the side of the bed, he retched twice and purple blood splattered across the floor.

Discordia only looked on calmly then turned to Apache. Her eyes were wide and brimming with tears as she stared at Cree, "I warned you." Apache turned her frightened gaze over to Discordia again, "You should go now, and send in some orderlies to clean up this mess when you get the chance."

Apache nodded and fled the room, trying to hide her tears. Discordia stood and closed the door after her leaving the two of them in the dark. Cree sat back against the pillow breathing heavily and trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness. He sat up again and looked over to the corner where Discordia sat. Her red eyes gave off a faint glow which was much more pronounced now that it was dark. He glared at her for a moment then, when he was sure he wasn't going to throw up again, he spoke, "Aren't you going to try and help me?" he demanded.

The glow disappeared for a moment as she closed her eyes, "What exactly do you expect?" she said in an amused voice, "Want me to wipe your mouth for you?"

"You're the one with the healing abilities." he argued angrily, "You should be able to do something!"

Discordia opened her eyes again, this time her eyes seemed to have a stronger glow about them, "I can't heal something I can't see; that's why I can't stop the poison and why I couldn't save your hand either." she snapped.

Cree shrank back against the bed and looked away. She never spoke about the times where her powers came up short unless she was truly angry, "Sorry." he said, "It's just..."

Discordia's ears perked up, "Just what?"

Cree looked back at her. His eyes could make out the outline of her body sitting in the chair now that his eyes were somewhat adjusted, "I'm afraid..." he mumbled. He knew he would never have admitted that to anyone else, but it was useless to lie to Discordia; she always seemed to know the truth.

"There's nothing to be afraid of." she said looking over to the door, "Lark doesn't accept failure easily. He'll be back."

Cree smiled and nodded agreement, "That's true." he said. As he continued to look at her through the darkness he could have sworn he saw her smile faintly back at him... if only for a moment.

Tails looked out through the glass as their ship soared upward into the clouds. High Rise was far beneath them and slowly fading into the distance, "How long will it take to get there?" he asked.

Lark looked back at him, "Well, it should be about an hour but if I can maintain this speed we could possibly make it in less."

"That's still awhile." Tails mumbled looking back out the window.

Lark smiled weakly back at the kitsune, "Relax, Miles. It's not like the city's going anywhere." he said turning back to his controls.

"It's not the city I'm worried about." Tails whispered.

"Yeah... I know."