~X Cloude's POV X~
-Mr. Fang gave us these journals to keep track of important things from now on, so I'll start with today…-
-Fall, I. Year One-
"Xiote ke hajo?" Where's my sister? I kept asking the same thing over and over to the man with the tattoo on his face and a very orangey blonde hair, I guess. The man was with a little blonde girl. While he cleaned the wound on my face she apparently had gone for some clothes for me. I think they don't understand me. Maybe they talk some other language. Could it be? Yet I still understand them for some reason.
The man bandaged my face quietly. It wasn't until I had asked the same question for the fifth time that he answered with something else.
"You must be scared," he said calmly as he finished my bandages. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of you little ones now. You and your sister."
"Xiote et aji?" My sister and I? Why would they take care of us? We can simply go back to our village and live there. Couldn't we…?
"My name is Fang Baskerville," he called to my attention. "And now both of you are also children of the Baskerville Household."
"Fang~!" the girl exclaimed coming in the room. Some clothes in her hands. "I brought what I could!"
"Thanks Lily," the man, Fang, answered to her.
"I hope they fit him cute!" the girl, Lily, said happily. "You should have seen his sister she's the cutest ever~! I helped Miss Lotti dress her up and she looked cute!~!"
"Xiote?" I exclaimed to her. She knows where Claire is?
"That's right," Fang said lifting me to stand on the bed as he helped me dress myself. It hurt me to move to tell the truth and was glad he helped me. He spoke as he did so, "You probably want to see your sister don't you?" I nodded. Maybe this they'll understand. "I thought so." He did. "Don't worry Miss Lotti is helping your sister's injury and helping her dress as well." I get it. He was telling the truth. He was helping us. They're good people. "There we are," Fang said as he finally finished the bow on my shirt. I looked…fine I guess. They were rich people I could tell.
"Well somebody's really good looking," a woman with pink hair in a bun and pink eyes came in raising her dress as to not drag it on the floor. She was pretty. She came to me and I tried covering my face. I didn't want anyone seeing my face with this ugly cut. "Oh don't be bothered by me looking. It'll heal," she said picking me up and standing me on the floor.
"You must be her brother," I looked up to see a man with golden hair in a plait and a nice greenish outfit that matched perfectly with his emerald eyes. Then I gaped. He was carrying Claire as she playfully jested with his hair. "You're sister very energetic I can tell."
"Claire, where are we?" She turned to me and smiled.
"They're nice people!" she said simply. She tugged at the blonde man as he put her down. It was then that I noticed her bandaged forehead. She, too, was dress in a fancy dress and her hair was well tended and with no blood anywhere. "This is were mommy sent us. This must be a nice place. These people are nice. Don't you think so?" I looked around at them. Even if they were, could we trust them? I suddenly felt a poke on my forehead as Claire poked me.
"What was that for?" I jerked back holding my uninjured part of my forehead.
"To make it hurt," she answered bluntly.
"Huh?"
"You don't get it," she pouted angry. "Mommy trusts this people. She's no going to be here-" her eyes saddened a little as she said this- "with us. But we're still here. You just needed to be reminded that we're here and alive thanks to her and Daddy."
"Yeah…" I said sulking a bit at the memory. "Sorry." She held my hands in hers and swung them up and down playfully. She stopped and smiled at me. I smiled back. She's happy because we live. Together… Like this we'll get through this.
"Seems you two get along just well," the blonde man suddenly picked us up together on each shoulder. I was shocked mostly but as I looked over to Claire she seemed to be enjoying the ride. I smiled a bit…this can't be so bad, right?
-Fall, III. Year One.-
We've already been here for two days now. The blonde man, Jack Vessalius, was taking care of us for the moment. He was teaching us how to speak, write, and read their language. We soon learned how to say, write, and recognize our own names in their language.
Though I know how much more smart Claire is knowledge wise, she is very oblivious to her surroundings unlike me. Two days after we arrived at the Baskervilles Household - as I heard them call themselves - I knew about pretty much what I needed. One, we were now Baskervilles since we came on our own and in turn became emissaries, Claire and I. Two, our master was Glen Baskerville. Wanting to know more about this 'emissaries' we now were I started reading all kinds of books and asking them lot about the subject itself. Though what I mostly got was 'that's who we are'.
However, it was Miss Lily who told me first. Kind of imagined she'd break first of any being the youngest of them."We're chosen ones from the Abyss," she said to me yesterday. "And we are now Master Glen's loyal men."
The Abyss? I wonder…what could that be…
-Fall, XIX. Year One-
Now we're going out more than usual. Jack's being coming a lot lately too and we've played outside in the inner garden. We were playing hide and seek. I was hiding while Jack and Claire looked.
That's when I found that strange tower. And a pretty girl looking to the outside. I felt my cheeks get warm for some reason. She was pretty beautiful. She had dark brown hair as I could see. I couldn't see her eyes very well though.
I wonder…who is she?
-Winter, I. Year One-
Winter. Meaning this was the season of our birthday. Our fifth birthday. Ah…I wished mommy and daddy were still here. They would've loved seeing us grow up more.
Our days here seem to be getting better and better as days went by. Jack visited on the week while we spent the weekends with the Baskervilles - mostly with Lily since all the others had some work to do; nevertheless, we enjoyed our life almost like if it were our first.
-Winter, IV. Year One-
Something peculiar happened today. It was a weekday and Claire and I were playing tag on the gardens. Claire, as intuitive as she is, somehow found this one place. An underground graveyard I would say, maybe. But only a single grave stood under the huge oak planted there.
"Who's this?" Claire asked as she leaned down and brushed the tombstone's engraving. "La…ce?" She said it pronouncing the words she had memorized before.
"It says Lacie," I said kneeling down to read it.
"I wonder who's La-ce," she mispronounced.
"Lacie…" I corrected yet intrigued by the mysterious tombstone.
-Winter, XXIX. Year One. 12:00 am.-
December 29th is today…
Happy Birthday, Claire. Happy Birthday, Me.
Today we are five years old. -clap, clap- a year older from yesterday and from now on only getting older. You're asleep right now next to me…slightly snoring. Hee, you'll never believe me if I tell you so anyways. You wanted to stay up with me but were extremely tired apparently. You're a heavy sleeper anyway so my writing and moving around doesn't bother you.
I'm happy. Even when father or mother aren't with us, I'm still happy. And it's because of you Claire. Because she's here, I can be happy even without them here. I love you, Claire…Happy birthday, xiote dei luna.
~X~
-Winter, XXIX. 5:00 pm.-
"What's this about?" I called as Jack covered my eyes with his left hand and with his right he apparently had Claire's eyes.
"You'll see," he said walking us a bit forward. "Okay ready…?" he uncovered our eyes. My eyes widened as so did Claire's along with the happy smile on her face.
"Happy Birthday! Claire and Cloude!"
Everyone was here. Miss Lotti, Mr. Fang, Mr. Doug, and Lily. They were having a party for us, as I could see.
"Why?" I asked softly confused.
"What do you mean 'why'?" Miss Lotti smiled. "We're family now and we're celebrating our youngest siblings' birthday."
"Miss Lotti is right," Mr. Fang said. "After Lily, you are the youngest."
"I always wanted cuter, litter siblings!" Lily cheered.
"Happy birthday lads," Mr. Doug said bluntly.
"It's a birthday party for you two," Jack said grinning happily.
I looked over at Claire and saw her smile and noticed little tears forming on her eyes. That's true. She missed them too.
"Xiote ni kaigo, miok?" Sister, don't cry, okay? I held her hands and knocked my forehead on hers. "Aniya mire ako tonoca." They're looking after us…
~X~
-Winter, XXIX. 11:49 pm.-
I put the journal down and looked over at her sleeping soundly. I looked down sullen, thinking. Something she'd told me about when we were with mother and father.
"I hate being alone"
Alone? I stood up and put some shoes on quietly. Claire insisted on leaving some cake in our room for the next morning. I know, she's kinda not right in the head when it comes to food. I took the plate on which the piece of cake was and went outside to the inner garden. I panted as I reached the top of the tower's staircase.
"Alone…?" I murmured to myself catching my breath. That's right. This person living here is always alone. I wonder…who is she? Why is she here? Why is she alone? I left the plate on the nearby table by the grandfather clock.
"Meow!" I spun around surprised. I sighed as I saw the black cat there with its red ribbon and bell on.
"You scared me," I called. Wait, why am I talking to a cat?
"Cheshire…?" I heard a faint, sleepy voice call from the other end of the curtain door opposite to were I had came in from. I heard bare footsteps coming and saw her come through it.
I felt my face get warm.
Her dark brown hair looked black with almost no light. And even with only the moonlight shining through the open space I could see that her eyes were a shade of amethyst. She was asleep apparently, for she had a nightgown on. She looked up while rubbing her eyes and found me. I could see now that she was maybe no older than I was. "You're not…Cheshire…" she mumbled in her sleep.
"I-I'm sorry f-for intruding this l-late at night," for some reason I couldn't speak right.
"Who are you?" she asked yawning. "Why are you here?"
"I'm sorry," I recomposed myself. "I just wanted to bring you this." I motioned to the cake on the table. "I was thinking since you were here by yourself that you might want some."
"Huh?" she looked up to the table. Her sleepy eyes somehow got a bit open. "Cake?" she yawned again. Of course it was late.
"It was…" I hesitated. "from a birthday party. I'm sorry for disturbing you this late at night."
"Thank you," I heard her say. She looked tired but smiled at me kindly, "That's very nice of you. I'm Alice."
Alice… "I-I'm Cloude," I said stuttering again.
"Cloude," she said. "Come visit again some other time. I'll be more than happy to play with you in the day."
"S-Sure," I said lowly but she heard me.
I left afterwards. Yet it felt strange. I somehow liked her being happy. It wasn't like Claire and I. No. This…it was something…different.
-Winter, XXXI. Year One.-
It's been somehow more and more busy these days. Lately Claire and I have been separated more and more from each other. But I always find a way to get back to her. We also get to see each other at bedtime. Master Glen has wanted us to have extra lessons besides the ones with Jack. I get to learn fencing with Mr. Fang while Miss Lotti teaches Claire. How strange, though. Why separate us from each other?
Since Jack's lessons are in the after noon and Mr. Fang's lessons are in the morning I get a little break in between. In those times…
"You came!" she says giving me a hug.
I go and visit Alice for ten maybe fifteen minutes a day. She's really a nice person. I'll get Claire to meet her once as well. When we're left a day off, I'll bring her here.
-Spring, XV. Year Two.-
It's finally spring. The blossoms are out and the butterflies are flying around. Claire and I finally get time together. I told Jack about bringing Claire to meet Alice but apparently Master Glen is against us with that. Said that he didn't want us to intrude in that or so according to what Jack told me Master Glen said. So I couldn't take Claire.
Today was one of our days off. We were outside relaxing.
"I wanna sing something!" Claire suddenly rose up happily.
"Go for it," I encouraged. She stood in the middle and started singing.
The dream bud flourishes and looks up at the bright skyFilling our hearts with a tender fragrance.
She's always liked singing. And has a pretty voice too. When mother was alive she used to say that she too sang a long time ago before we were born.
I can hear the rhythm of love,it has transcended the seasons and came to see me.
She's told me before that she'd sometimes feel like singing for some reason or another.
If I whisper "I love you",will the whole world hear it?I lowered my head in embarrassment,but you took my hand and ran!
I clapped as she finished. She spun to my sight and smiled kindly. She truly loves singing. Suddenly her eyes space out and as suddenly she dropped to the floor.
Claire!
I was terrified. I picked her up and brought her to Jack. I was truly terrified. Jack said she had caught a cold, not to worry, that she'd just need some rest.
He was wrong…
This kind of thing…I've seen it before. Mother…she too was sick most of the time. She would rest in bed for many days while Father took care of us. But…why was it?
The White Sage…
It was Mother's being. Her sole being was the cause of her unhealthiness. Because she was the White Sage, her body was deteriorating little by little. Because…
"The White Sage is a Pythoness. A soothsayer for her people and yours," I remember Father telling me one day. "It's a tragic fate for those chosen by the depths to be this pythoness, for they have to sing prayers their whole life until it vanishes away. It most likely as well…because of Clarice being your mother's first-born daughter…that she too…"
Is a White Sage…
Was she going to vanish? Was she too…going to…die?
I stormed out of the room as I heard Jack call out for me many times but I didn't hear.
What Claire had done. Sing a single song. She started a cycle. A cycle that will end with her life ultimately. But why? No! I need to stop it! But…how!
"You want to save her?" I heard a voice above me. Looking up, I didn't notice, I had reached the inner garden and was in front of the tower. "Do you want to save your dear Clarice?"
Alice…? No. This sounded different from the usual Alice I knew. "Who are you?" I asked bluntly.
"You've noticed then," she said going inside her room. I run up the tower and see her inside.
"H-how," I panted. "How can I save her?"
"Simple." She bluntly said while holding a white bunny doll. "Her life exists to create an artificial paradise for your people. Her soothsaying creates such paradise and requires her life force to make it true. A true Pythoness in every meaning." She stood up and walked around. "If you understand this then become my ally. Serve me and me alone as the Emissary of Space." She stood behind me.
"Who are you?" I asked again turning to her.
"My name is Alice," she said coldly. "Yet I'm not the Alice you know. I'm her sister. Her twin."
"Her…" I hesitated. "Twin?"
"She and I exchange places for half a day. It's only a coincidence that you've only met her when she's here," she explain. "Now are you in or out for my deal?"
"Do you truly know how to save her from this?" I asked bluntly.
"Don't doubt me," she said. "I have seen the world's true face many times now so in other words I know very much indeed. Now," she held her hand out to me. "Is it a deal?"
It's to save…
I kneel down on one knee.
The only thing that gives my life meaning…
"I will, mia Domina," It hurts. Calling her such thing, my Dominion. I felt suddenly a cluster of chains uphold my arms and feet. I looked up and noticed I wasn't in that room anymore. It was similar yet unlikely the same one from the tower. The dolls were moving and talking on their shelves.
"He's here~!" "Can we call her now~?" "She'll be happy to see him, won't she?"
"Who are you?" I noticed that in front of me a human or such had barely reached my view. He had a human's body but he had ears and a tail of a cat. His eyes were golden.
"Leave him alone Cheshire," Cheshire? The same name as that cat. I looked up and my eyes widened.
"Alice?"
But how? It looked a lot like her. Except…her hair was snow white and her eyes were a cold amethyst shade.
"It's me, don't fret," the other Alice.
"Is this…your true form?" I asked unconscious of my upholding.
"Yes," she said. "I brought you here since my time up there was done with for the day."
"Where am I?" I asked straight out.
"My room," she chuckled.
"No," I said coldly. "Where is this place."
"The Abyss," she answered noticing my coldness. "Our birthplace."
"Why bring me here?"
"She wanted to meet you as soon as possible," she said. "In order for you to help me, you must at least be at this level."
She moved aside as a shade less doe walked in the room. It stopped in front of me. I recognize this doe.
"You…" when Mother saved us. It appeared with the other. "La…crimosa?"
"I am here for it is time for me to fulfill my true purpose." The chains around me broke loose and I stumbled to the floor. I looked up to see the doe bowing down to me. "I am your humble partner. For you are who created my being in the Abyss."
"I…created you?" I said.
"From the powers of the Bearer of Space," Alice retorted. "Those powers along with your sister's reached the Abyss and two distinct Chains were created. One who controls all aspects of Time. And another that controls all aspects of Space. Both united can change the flow in time and space creating a hole in this place connecting to your world. It may even be strong enough to change a certain point in time and space. You hold Space."
"If I…hold space. Then Claire…"
"She is who holds my beloved's hand," Lacrimosa said her voice as if a woman's. "Child of Space, I will reside in you until your strength is sufficient to uphold my contract." She became a sphere of light and entered my body.
"With her serving you," Alice spoke. "You will have the necessary to serve me." My eyes started getting blurry. "But…it is still not enough to save your sister. What you need is…
…strength…
Strength . If that's what I need to save her then I'll get it with my own hands. And with it I'll destroy that artificial paradise she created. I don't care if others die because of it. If I can maintain the purity of her soul in my heart then I'll sacrifice everything. To keep her alive with me. To keep her smiling beside me…
I'll become a demon myself…
