As soon as the scream pierced the air, Kratos gripped Raine to him. His eyes searched where the distress had originated, his muscles tense. It had come from the back of the ballroom. A waiter held up a bloodied knife, and was standing over the body of Thurman. The woman who had seen the knife dip into the body fell to her knees and continued to scream. The soldiers stationed around the ballroom ran over to apprehend the man, but as they did, another scream filled the air. Eyes darted to the source of the sound and he held Raine's body against him protectively. At the front, the wait staff lined up, holding a selection of knives and swords, blocking the entrance. The doors were closed and locked. There was no way of getting out.
"I know you all weren't expecting to see me at your…glamourous party." A voice boomed, echoing off the walls. Shiro strode through the line and laughed. "Happy New Year's Eve, everyone. The hypocrisy that you all are enjoying this elaborate fest, while there are victims suffering in the streets."
"Shit." Raine removed herself from his hold and whispered. The angel agreed with her silently.
"I'm here to let you surrender now, fair and square. You people have done nothing to protect the Sylvaranti. You should be ashamed. So now I bring the battle to your doorstep. Now, you can end your reign of stupidity and hand the government over to one who has the real interests of the people at heart." Shiro glowered at the crowd of frightened onlookers.
"The rest of the city guard is outside. You need to get them in here and open the doors so the Convention can escape." The half elven woman whispered to Kratos.
"I may be an angel, but I cannot pass through walls."
"There's an exit through the kitchens. It seems the entire wait staff is on their side. So it must be empty." Kratos nodded and she said, "I will distract them."
"You'll do no such thing." He was not going to let her risk her life so easily.
"I will do my job, and you will do yours." Raine said. The finality in her voice signaled to him he was not to disagree. But everything in his head revolted against it. What if Shiro killed her on the spot to make a point? What if he slowly torutured her and made the others watch? "Kratos. This is the only way. I don't want any more innocent people dying." The sadness in her voice made his fists curl.
"Fine."
Without any hesitation, she strode away from him and weaved through the crowd. "Shiro," she called, as she walked to the middle of the ballroom.
"Ah, Miss Sage. It's been a few weeks since we last met."
Kratos drifted to the back of the crowd, all eyes were glued on the scene unfolding in front of them. He looked to the right and saw the kitchen door unattended.
"Yes. It seems you have a knack for showing up at unexpected places in unexpected times, unwantedly." Raine said.
Shiro laughed. "You have a great sense of humor. It's too bad you're a half elf. Otherwise I'd take you as my wife." Kratos felt his blood boil as he arrived at the kitchen door. He could turn back and rush at Shiro, most likely pinning him to the ground. But there is no telling what the man would order his subordinates to do: most likely kill as many civilians as possible. And he knew that Raine wanted to avoid unnecessary casualties. With one last look at the silver haired half elf Kratos crept through the deserted kitchen. Just as he turned the corner towards the exit, he found himself face to face with two angry-looking humans, both wielding swords.
"Going somewhere, pal?"
Kratos smirked. With a roundhouse kick and a couple of punches to the stomach, the men were down for the count. The angel headed outside and ran to the front of the building, stopping swiftly in his tracks. The stairs were bloodstained with bodies of city guard soldiers. A few of them were still conscious, just badly wounded, and fewer were still in fighting condition, banging on the doors, attempting to get in. This wouldn't be enough manpower to take back the ballroom. He needed more fighters.
The sound of the clock tower burst through his thoughts, and fear flooded him. He and Raine were supposed to be at the Cathedral now, with Colette, Lloyd and Genis. The cathedral wasn't far away, but he couldn't just leave the Convention captured by the Erinyes.
The angel shook his head. Where should he go?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Where is Kratos? Lloyd wondered as he, Genis and Colette stood outside the Martel Cathedral. The moon rose in the sky, shining down on the two as they stood together in silence. The anticipation was palpable; any minute now the Erinyes could show up, intend on taking and possibly killing Colette. And it was just the three of them.
"Do you think something happened to them?" Colette asked.
"I'm not sure." Lloyd responded. His gut told him that there was no way either his father or the professor would miss this, and yet they were not present.
"Raine isn't answering her holocom." Genis said. Lloyd could hear the concern in his best friend's voice.
A group of soldiers approached the trio from the left side of the cathedral and addressed the High Priestess. "The perimeter is secured, my lady. There is no sign of anyone in the vicinity." Lloyd was thankful that Colette had her own set of guards separate from the city guard. At least they were more people around to help them.
"Thank you." Colette nodded. "Please order your men to their posts. I will go inside now."
The solider nodded and gave the order. His men marched to particular locations spread out outside of the cathedral and planted themselves, resolute. Colette turned to Lloyd and Genis and said, "Shall we go in?"
"Sure."
They followed her inside, Lloyd hesitating with each step. Inside, a small part of him he was hoping she would abandon the plan, but he knew that would never happen. Colette had made a decision, and he knew that when she made a decision, she would go through with it to the end. Why was he so nervous? How was this any different from any other battle?
"Lloyd."
He looked up into her blue eyes. "Yeah?"
"Everything's going to be okay." She smiled at him.
He nodded and swallowed, unable to say anything. The door behind him opened and two elderly women walked in. "Are you here for the vigil?" Colette asked.
"Yes, my lady." One of them said.
"Please, come sit. We will be starting shortly." The two women took a seat in one of the pews and spoke in low whispers. The door opened again, and more people began to file into the cathedral. The minutes rolled by as more and more people started to populate the pews. By the end of the small exodus, the pews were half full, more than what Lloyd was expecting, which made him especially nervous. Kratos and Raine should have definitely been there by now, with the city's legion of soldiers. But they were nowhere to be seen.
"I'm going to start." Colette said to Lloyd and Genis, jolting him out of his thoughts.
"Okay." Genis gave her a thumbs up sign.
Lloyd's eyes followed her as she ascended the small stairs at the front of the hall and walked up to the pedestal. He couldn't help but look at her; the lights of the cathedral illuminated her silhouette, and she looked very…angelic. Ironic. He thought how the Professor would be proud of his correct usage of the word. As he and Genis took their places behind her on the small stage, Lloyd could feel the goosebumps on his arms start to spread down his back.
Five minutes rolled by, and there was no sign of any disturbance whatsoever. Genis looked over at him and winked. Something in Lloyd dared to feel calm, but the young swordsman kept himself on high alert. He couldn't be lulled into a false sense of security. There was still a threat.
Ten more minutes of peace and the door opened. A blond haired man stepped through the doorway and sat in a pew in the back. Lloyd's eyes went wide. It was Miguel. Colette saw him as well and stopped mid sentence.
"No, please continue. I'm hanging on your next word." Miguel called from the back of the room. All eyes turned, questioning. And then a few started to recognize him. One older woman shrieked but Miguel ignored the outburst. "Continue, High Priestess." He said.
"If you come here in peace, you are welcome." Colette answered. "But if you are here to scare us, I must ask you to leave. This is a house of peace."
He sneered, the whiteness of his teeth glinting from the light in the cathedral. "Oh, I'm here in peace. I assure you of that."
