Chapter Seventeen:
"Sappho"

Gravitti walked over to the wall next to the right door and placed hand on it. A portion of the wall flashed red. Light knew it was palm vein recognition reader which scanned a person's hand on a biometric scale.

The technology was based on the unique patterns of veins in the palm of a person's hand. Other biometric technology like fingerprint or iris scans, with palm vein recognition it acquired and stored data and compared it to a record.

Obviously, Light assumed, behind these doors deserved the strictest security protocols.

He knew certain museums and government buildings now had it. ICPO headquarters had the technology and other highly sensitive databanks now used it instead of common passwords. He thought about installing a fingerprint reader for his network at home, but then that would allow every member of the Kira Task Force full access to his system.

But he decided against it. He had too much sensitive data there. And he couldn't let Matsuda anywhere near it.

He didn't want to go through the struggle of trying to restore all the lost data if it was accidentally erased, like he had when L wiped his computers just before he was killed. It took Light over a month to get even a minute bit of the data back.

Save cutting Gravitti's hand off and placing it on the reader, he wouldn't be able to access this room, or indeed, any place. Light figured the whole place he was in had similar security features. He had only seen three rooms so far. He didn't know how large the Evangelist's place was. So, gathering more information was essential into formulating a gameplay of escape. And he needed a way to get the control collar off or everything would be for naught.

GRAVITTI, came a computerized male voice. PALM IDENTITY CONFIRMED. WELCOME TO THE OBSERVATION AREA.

There was a click and the doors unlocked. Each door then began to slide back within the walls like that within the Japanese culture. Gravitti gestured for Light to enter first when the doors were fully back, most likely to make sure he didn't try anything.

Light looked into the OBSERVATION AREA.

Almost immediately, he was taken aback with awe.

Soft classical patio music, Chopin - Nocturne No. 2 in E flat Major, Op. 9, he recognized, filled the large rotunda room, that had to be at least thirty feet high and several dozen meters in length, amidst a low, blue glowering light, with gigantic windows that reached from floor to ceiling, majestically profiling an undersea world, seemingly swimming to the music's allure and symmetry.

It was basically a large aquarium.

He looked in every direction and saw fish and sea life of every variety, all illuminated by natural sunlight.

Gravitti slipped in behind him and the doors shut.

Light heard the doors close, but he was more memorized by the room. Once again, a tribute to ancient Greek culture. The undersea world was that of Poseidon, a god who controlled the oceans and seas. How far below sea level was he? Not very far, judging by the sunlight basking from above and beaming its rays into the water. Or, was this another illusion?

Moments passed, as he gazed around, turning around, looking at its beauty. He found himself spinning around. He blinked.

It was then, he noticed a metal spiral staircase a few meters to his right that lead to a lower tier, and to an open circular, pressurized pool below. The floor was transparent to a degree, albeit tinted, so not to give the venturer vertigo.

Non-verbally, Gravitti gestured him to it, and Light began to descend it to the lower level.

Light was blown away by the magnificence of the lower tier's observation area.

Its vast array of sea life was different here than above due to its depth.

Sunlight was more scarce, so artificial light was used to illuminate the area. The lower tier had to have been another thirty feet high to accommodate all the oceanography and marine biology equipment he saw. The observation glass he wagered had to be several inches thick and well pressurized for an open pool to exist.

He also saw a large computer console on a far wall pouring over data of some sort.

"Glorious, isn't it?" Gravitti said, coming to stand beside him. "A masterpiece designed by the Evangelist to partake the underworld world that he enjoys so much. And this is but one observation area. There are several more on the island. In a way, you and the Evangelist are similar. You both have an interest in the underwater world. You may have majored in law enforcement, but you minored, and it was quite an unorthodox choice, in marine biology, the science aspect of it, that is."

Light frowned. He didn't like it when Epiphany read his mind and he didn't like it now that Gravitti knew so much of his profile. Then again, it was on his transcript when he applied to the police academy. He had nothing to hide. And he didn't even have to hide being Kira here. But he didn't like feeling so exposed to people he didn't know, who knew everything about him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something—someone—swimming, wearing a red wetsuit with an oxygen tank, mask, and flippers. A dolphin swam with the diver without fear and it even let the swimmer pet it. From the way the wetsuit fit around the person's ample frame, Light knew it was a woman.

"Who is that?" he asked.

Gravitti smiled. "That is Sappho, the Evangelist's sister. If her brother is busy, she speaks for him."

Sappho, Light mused. Once again, a name honed in Greek legend. She was an archaic Greek poet from the island of Lesbos. Sappho was known for her lyric poetry, written to be sung while accompanied by a lyre.

No doubt the Evangelist's sister chose it to hide her real name like most people are doing these days to prevent Kira from finding them. It was a major drawback in Kira's plight to rid the world of evil. Even so, he had no cause to kill anyone here yet. But nor could he do so without his watch.

Sappho saw them through the transparent glass. She swam lower and then came up within the open pool in the floor. She pushed herself up and sat on the edge, then swivelled on her butt, and got to her feet. She began to strip out of her scuba gear.

Sappho took off the oxygen tank, mask, and flippers. She then pulled back the protective hood that housed her shoulder length, auburn hair, and unzipped the front of her suit, partially exposing her naked breasts. She was thin and gorgeous with supple white skin the colour of cream. She was five feet, eleven inches tall, the same height as Light, with a healthy and inviting body.

Light gulped. For as long as he could remember, he had a fetish for large breasted women. He didn't know when he developed it, but it was his mindset. Despite Misa being dumb, she had large breasts and that give him an incentive to keep her around. And on those nights he needed comfort, only then, did he enjoy Misa's company in bed.

Sappho put a hand through her soft looking hair and whisked around like a hidden wind had just taken it. Then she looked straight at him, and said, "Who are you? And what do you think you're gawking at?"

Light quickly looked up. He had been gazing at her breasts irrationally, a psychological reflex.

"His name is Light Yagami," Gravitti said with a slight bow. "He was issued an invite by the Evangelist to see him here."

Sappho snapped a glance at Gravitti. "He didn't tell me this," she said with confusion and irritation. "And why was such an invite administered since my brother is not even here at the moment? He departed more than an hour ago."

Gravitti looked confused. "But I just spoke to him on the phone. Where did he go?"

"I escorted him to an awaiting speed boat, we scuba dived together," Sappho explained. "He had an appointment with a member of the League. I was on my return. I know nothing about an invite, he would have told me!"

The League, aka, the League of Darkness, Light knew. Light felt a satisfying smugness that Gravitti was embarrassed and getting chastised, even panicky.

Light said, "That's disappointing. I was looking forward to conversing with the Evangelist. From what you told me, Gravitti, the Evangelist is philanthropist and a caring man who wants nothing but the best for others."

"Yes, my brother is such a person," Sappho said. "He donates a lot of time and money to worthy causes. He's a very religious man and finds solace with those who shares his philosophies like The League, who seeks to use their wisdom and knowledge to benefit all mankind. With their collective efforts, I know the world will become a place where evil is vanquished for good!"

Light eyed her. She shared Kira's philosophy, but her explanation did not fit his knowhow of what he knew of the LOD. Ryuk said the League of Darkness was a branch from the Savant Society, who wished to enslave humankind, allowing Shinigami to ravage the world and kill any human they sought fit to add to their lifespan. Vanquishing evil was not their goal.

Does she not know the truth? Light looked at Gravitti, who expressed little with a poker face. The way Sappho said it, Light wagered she was sincere that her brother was actually a good person. Light said what he did about the Evangelist, because he was trying to garner an emotion response from Gravitti to gather more information. Everything said added to more information he could work with, even a non-verbal response or body language could tell a detective a great deal.

"Light Yagami will be treated as an honoured guest on the island if he has received an invite by my brother," Sappho declared. "Why is dressed so poorly? Who ordered he be dressed so disrespectfully in drags such as this?"

"They were the only clothes available," Gravitti lied. "Unfortunately, Orthrus got a little over-zealous and tore Yagami's attire. I shall fetch some better clothing."

Light saw Sappho looking him over. She mused. "My brother and Light Yagami appear to be the same in height and frame. Retrieve something appropriate from his closest. I don't think he would mind. I will speak to my brother later about this invite. May I call you Light?" He said yes. "I will personally escort you around the island to apologize for my brother's abandonment of his responsibilities in this regard. It should be educational."

"I would enjoy that very much," Light said, engaging Gravitti with a smug smile. Gravitti clenched his jaw in annoyance.

Then Light noticed Sappho looking at his face. Sappho gave Gravitti an irked glare. "I told you to keep Orthrus on a leash! That wolf hound is unstable. And I don't want it wandering the Citadel. Others have expressed concern and fear of your pet."

Gravitti sighed under his breath. Light found it amusing that it was now Gravitti gravelling to another.

"I apologize," he said, somewhat reluctantly. "Orthrus misunderstood some of Light Yagami's physical movements which may have been deemed hostile. He attacked Yagami in defence. The boy, Riki, bandaged his wounds."

"Where did Orthrus bite you, Light?"

Light told her and showed her the areas that he could.

"Riki did a superb job in bandaging up the wounds," she said. Then: "May I see?" Light nodded. Sappho carefully removed the plaster on his cheek. She hissed. He had not seen it. "What a horrible place to have a scar, but it doesn't make you any less handsome." She cupped his cheek and smiled sweetly. "On second thought, I will escort you to my brother's chambers personally, and will pick out something very suited to you. Come with me."

Sappho took Light's left wrist and literally dragged him with her.

Light produced a small smile as he passed Gravitti.

He had defeated Gravitti without even lifting a finger like a brilliant tactician should, not to mention using his inseparable charm. Sometimes the best thing to do when in enemy territory was to just stand back and observe and let things play out on their own. Often things had a way of working for the better. And in this case, The Evangelist, Sappho's brother, skipping out on the invite gave him some unexpected luck. Gravitti had unwittingly relinquished all power over him to her and she accepted him benevolently. Light was no longer a prisoner but an honoured guest. It was an amazing turn of events.

He felt blessed, as if a god was watching over him.

Gravitti stood there bewildered, but clenched his jaw irked, as Light and Sappho left the Observation Room's lower doors. Light took one last glance at the man as he left, sticking out his tongue like a child would mock another.

To be continued...