Author's Note: Preliminary warning that the battle sequence in this chapter gets somewhat graphic.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Remembrance of Ecclesia: Alliance

Shanoa wasn't intimidated by the guard at the door.

In years past she would have been. Perhaps even scared off at the first sign she'd have an obstacle to overcome, but that had long since been beaten out of her. And after the emotional turmoil she'd endured for more than a day she was too desperate for answers to be stopped by someone she could overpower with ease.

The man was tall and broad. She recognized him but couldn't put a name to the face. He was dressed in hard leather armor crafted to give off the appearance of normal clothing. She knew the equipment well; Albus often wore it out in the field. A sword, sheathed in its scabbard, hung at the man's hip. A flint-lock pistol holstered on the opposite side. It would be overkill were he guarding anyone else's door. His gaze fixed on Shanoa as soon as she entered his line of sight.

"I'm here to see Barlowe," she said as she came to a stop in front of the man.

He studied her for longer than was necessary. He knew who – what – she was. He should also know Barlowe had a vested interest in whatever Ecclesia's Blade had to say.

"Please wait a moment," the guard said.

He opened the door and retreated inside, all while managing to keep the front of his body faced towards Shanoa. The man was prepared for an assassin, she'd give him that. Over a minute passed as she waited, arms crossed over her chest. Her body, her stance, gave the impression of stability, though it didn't reflect her internal state. A growing necessary skill, yet troublesome.

At last, the door opened once more, and the guard emerged. His expression remained stoic as he held it ajar. "Come in."

Shanoa entered with a surprising lack of trepidation. She'd never been inside of Barlowe's personal quarters before, though they were as grandiose as she expected. This first room was a mixture of a large study and living area. A desk and chair were cordoned off in one section of the space, along with a standing globe and framed maps hung on the paneled walls. Huge, wood bookcases lined the room; their shelves filled with manuscripts. A flare of jealousy burned in her chest. It made sense Barlowe was allowed such a luxury. He'd earned the right, but still, she couldn't help but yearn.

Couches stood around an ornate rug placed before a massive stone fireplace. Wood crackled in the hearth as flames cast flickering light across the entire room. Barlowe sat before the small blaze, dressed in more casual robes than his usual fashion, with a book open on his lap. He looked up as she approached. For a moment, she thought she saw the flicker of annoyance cross his face before being replaced with understandable concern.

"Shanoa," he said with a hint of wariness in his voice.

"Master Barlowe."

"What are you doing up so late? It's almost past curfew."

"I wanted to..." She paused and glanced over her shoulder. The guard remained standing in the open doorway, well within earshot. Shanoa bowed her head towards her Elder in unspoken deference. "I humbly request your counsel."

"It can't wait?"

"I apologize, sir, but it cannot."

There was a pregnant pause before Barlowe nodded to the guard. Shanoa heard the door close behind her, though the guard had the good sense to leave it unlocked. The unease churning in the pit of her stomach grew worse once they were alone. A surprise, considering she'd expected the opposite. Barlowe continued to regard her with the same look of concern and curiosity.

"Is this about your mission the other day?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"You didn't indicate anything was wrong when you gave me your verbal report."

"I." Her voice grew momentarily quiet. She didn't feel anything amiss in this room, and she doubted Aurelia was permitted to spy on her within Barlowe's private quarters. Yet seeing the pale woman merge with darkness itself stirred a foreign sense of paranoia to rise within Shanoa's mind. "I would prefer to keep this matter private."

His brow furrowed. "You don't feel comfortable speaking of it in front of Aurelia?"

"I only just met her, sir." It wasn't a complete lie, though she still loathed having to tell it. "I trust in my fellow acolytes, but I can't help being wary of strangers."

"She isn't a stranger." Barlowe's voice had taken on a harder edge. One that indicated she'd crossed into dangerous territory. "As you said, she's another member of our Order."

"I know," Shanoa said quickly, "and I ask you to forgive any transgression, but I also wouldn't have said anything if it had been Albus beside me."

Barlowe's expression softened at the confession. "Is that so?" he asked.

She nodded.

He sighed and set down the book in his hands. He indicated to the couch across from him. "Please, sit."

Shanoa complied, though she felt awkward being in such a casual position near the man who held command over her entire life.

"What ails you, my child?"

"The man we… I killed. The necromancer. I…" Shanoa paused to take a deep breath. Her answer had to be clear and concise. The last thing she wanted was for Barlowe to misunderstand. "You trained me to be a soldier, sir. To fight battles in the name of our Order and the righteous cause we serve. But I didn't face that man in combat. Aurelia had to force him to stand against me, and even then, it wasn't a battle. He wasn't some foe to overcome. He was, for all intents and purposes, a normal man. I… I didn't feel like a warrior, Master. I felt like an executioner." Shanoa glanced away; her eyes turned to the twisting flames in the hearth beside her. "And that doesn't sit right with me."

Silence followed. Shanoa kept her eyes trained on the fire. She couldn't bear to see any displeasure on Barlowe's face. It would only cement her failure.

"How is this any different from your past missions?" he asked in a nonjudgmental voice, but it still stung.

"I'm not sure. I only know, on a base level, something was off. My enemies are never that hesitant, sir. They always attack me outright once they recognize my intent." She paused again. "This man…"

"You don't believe he would have chosen to attack you?" Barlowe asked when she failed to continue.

"Perhaps?" Shanoa's face pinched in consternation. "I- I try to trust in my instincts, but for some reason I feel guilty over this man's death, even though I shouldn't. What he did was heinous. Despicable beyond words. I watched him desecrate a corpse, and yet…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And yet something in me is screaming I shouldn't have done it."

"What alternative punishment would you have preferred?" Barlowe asked. There was an accusation in there, even if his tone didn't reflect it.

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't know. I just… I believe in Ecclesia. In being your Blade, but I must confess that." She winced, closing her eyes, in anticipation of what her words would incur. "For the first time, my belief has wavered."

She heard Barlowe emit a long sigh.

"That's a powerful statement, Shanoa."

"Forgive me, Master. I know how foolish I sound-"

"Yes, but you are not the first to express such doubt."

She opened her eyes, turning her face towards Barlowe in shock. He seemed confused by her response.

"Do you think none of my children have ever fallen astray?" he asked. "This happens more often than you'd think. Usually after we send a young acolyte into the wider world for the first time. While I shielded you from many of the horrors humanity can create, this does leave you naïve in the ways of how to combat the wiles of darker forces."

She inhaled a sharp breath through her clenched teeth. This was exactly what she'd feared. She'd allowed a wicked man to inspire her to lose even a shred of faith.

Barlowe gave her a kinder look. "I don't fault you, Shanoa. In fact, I commend you for coming to me for proper guidance." His lips curved in a soft, pride-filled smile. "Honesty has always been one of your strongest virtues."

"You- you're not angry?"

"I am upset, but as I said, this can be corrected. I have done it before, and with children much less willing to see reason." Barlowe's aura shifted as he transitioned into the role of mentor. "Do you know the beauty of an organizational structure such as the one we have in Ecclesia? Each role is isolated; an island unto itself. Your duties don't conflict or intersect with your brother's, for example. Just as each Elder on the council is tasked with overseeing a different branch of our Order. But those individual roles, while independent, are supportive of each other, and all these pieces together make up a solid whole.

"This is done to maximize our effectiveness. I wouldn't burden a soldier with the task of magical research, and vice versa." He held her gaze, and Shanoa knew she should take his next words to heart. "Just as I would not ask you to venture beyond your duties as our Blade.

"Your role is one of action, not determination. The targets we task you with eliminating were first monitored by our Scouts or, in this case, Aurelia specifically. They all compile a detailed dossier before submitting their findings. The Elder council reviews this document, weighs the sins committed by these men and women, and the final judgment is unanimously agreed upon. Know that you are our last resort, Shanoa. A weapon we do not deploy lightly."

Barlowe leaned forward in his chair, never breaking eye contact. Shanoa couldn't look away. There was power in his eyes. A command she could not refute. The light from the nearby flames danced within them, adding to the overall might of her patriarch's presence.

"That man tricked you," Barlowe said in a weighty voice. "He put on a passive guise in an attempt to buy himself enough time for a revenant to come to his aide. That was, in part, why this particular necromancer posed such a danger. He had a psychic link to his servants. The ability to command them without the use of words. Had you lingered a few seconds longer the nearby corpses would have ambushed you to protect their master. That is why we deigned to send you. Such a powerful foe required an equally powerful response."

"He could…" Shanoa trailed off. Was she so blind?

"You were standing near a corpse, correct?"

"Yes." Bile churned in the pit of Shanoa's stomach at the realization. "A young woman."

"How sickening. Such a ferocious beast deserved his end." Barlowe shook his head. "Heed my words, Shanoa. Never doubt the guilt of those we send you to kill. Never second guess your mission. You don't see the whole picture, but that is by design." The fierceness in his eyes was replaced by love. The surge of emotion this simple look elicited was almost enough to bring Shanoa to tears. "You are still my child, and I will protect you from as much ugliness as I can."

Of course that was it. Why had she ever questioned otherwise? Yes, she had her silent quarrels with him, wanted to be more in his eyes, but – despite his overprotectiveness – Barlowe did genuinely care for her wellbeing. The same as any member of a family would, and such a relationship did not foster lies. The necromancer? He lied. He had dared to cheat death itself, and she would be a fool to believe there was goodness in anyone Barlowe and the Elders had deemed evil.

"I'm sorry I doubted, sir," she said in a meek voice.

"Always remember: your place is not to question why. Leave that to those of us better equipped to face the nightmares such questions bring."

His words were final, and she had no desire to argue otherwise.

Shanoa hung her head. "Yes."

"You should head off to bed." Barlowe retrieved the book from his lap. "It wouldn't be good form for our Blade to be seen wandering the halls after curfew."

"Of course." She stood up and began to make her way towards the door.

"Shanoa."

The young warrior paused when he said her name. She turned around to see Barlowe staring at her intently.

"I implore you to speak freely in front of Aurelia," he said. "Due to the classified nature of your missions it's imperative you two maintain active discourse."

That was another qualm he'd recognized without Shanoa voicing it out loud. When they returned from the mission, Barlowe made her swear to secrecy about her partnership with Aurelia. It was out of precaution, he said, in case word began to circulate amongst their enemies that Ecclesia's two most powerful forces were working together. The less their foes were prepared to fight against their assault the better. But it meant no one in Ecclesia was allowed to know, either. Not even Albus.

She had to trust in him that this was the right decision. That he saw all the pieces, while she did not. The lesson resounded in Shanoa's mind once more. Hers was not to question why.

"She may be reserved, but Aurelia is one of the finest field agents Ecclesia has ever seen. You are Ecclesia's Blade, but Aurelia is the sword in the darkness. The arm of justice that goes unseen by mortal eyes," Barlowe continued. "As I said yesterday, the two of you fighting in tandem would create an unstoppable force." His eyes hardened the slightest bit. "And I would hate to see that potential squandered."

She paused a moment, allowing the words to sink in before she responded. "Yes, Master."

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Shanoa bowed and took her leave.

IXI

- Age 17 -

Missions with Aurelia became a regularity.

The pale woman was not much in the way of companionship. She was quiet and reserved; a far cry from Albus' more boisterous personality. It was a change Shanoa had trouble acclimating to, though the unease was not one-sided. They kept their relationship professional, but it wasn't anything more or less than what it needed to be to make them an effective unit. Aurelia never pushed her for anything that could resemble a friendship. Shanoa, for her part, wasn't inclined to fraternize with her appointed stalker, despite Barlowe's assertions of trust.

Aurelia still followed her, at times. It was somewhat easier to locate where she was in a room now that Shanoa knew of her ability to blend with shadows. Whenever the young warrior felt the tell-tale signs of being watched she'd narrow her eyes, glaring at each dark place within sight. A silent act of defiance neither of them acknowledged while out in the field. In truth, Shanoa wasn't sure how to breach the subject without putting Aurelia on the defensive. The only words she could come up with were accusatory in nature. From a rational standpoint, she knew Aurelia was simply following orders, but it was difficult to reconcile that fact with the emotional strain she'd endured. Thus, the barrier between them subsisted.

Five months into their partnership, Barlowe tasked them with wiping out a coven of vampires Aurelia discovered during her usual, non-stalker duties. The fiends had made their home in a derelict castle overseeing a major thoroughfare. A rather cliché choice for their base of operations, though no less deadly for the innocents the coven had slaughtered. Barlowe stressed this was their most dangerous mission to date. Vampires were formidable enough on their own, let alone in a pack both Aurelia's and subsequent Scout reports indicated contained at least nine members. It would serve as a true test of their partnership, he'd declared.

Neither woman voiced an objection.

They departed mid-morning; hours the vampires were guaranteed to be dormant. The sky was clear, affording ample sunlight they could use as a tactical advantage. Aurelia provided Shanoa with a red talisman once they were outside the fortress. The younger woman remained silent as she took the slip of paper and tore it in half without waiting for her companion. She was bound to follow Aurelia's orders, to abide her persistent watchful eyes, but she could be somewhat indignant about it without placing either of them in jeopardy. So, Shanoa allowed herself the occasional small act of defiance.

When her post-warp disorientation faded, the young warrior found she was standing atop a large hill with a steep downgrade that stopped at a large road below. Her gaze sought the ancient castle, ignoring Aurelia's sudden appearance beside her. The sight was more pitiful than menacing. The castle might have been impressive a few centuries ago but appeared to be in a state of active rot. There were holes in the roof, a couple of the stone walls had collapsed, and thick green vines choked the exterior. Shanoa wondered how anything – even the undead – could stand to live in such a place.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shanoa saw Aurelia pull her brown cloak tighter around her body, as though she was burrowing deeper into it. Shanoa turned her head as she stared at her companion. That cloak was a constant fixture in the other woman's day attire. The only time she'd seen Aurelia without it was on a nighttime mission, but otherwise it was always there; hood pulled over her head whenever they were outside.

"Why do you wear that cloak?" Shanoa asked, unaware she'd voiced the question out loud until it was too late.

"I'm an albino, in case you haven't noticed." Aurelia's neutral expression hadn't wavered, though there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Shanoa ignored the potential barb. "I don't know what that means."

"Albinism is a somewhat rare medical condition. I was born without any pigmentation in my skin and hair. My unusual eye color is also a direct result of this… 'affliction' is a harsh word, but sometimes quite accurate." She met Shanoa's gaze for a long moment. To her surprise, an emotion swirled in those unusual eyes, but Aurelia turned away before Shanoa could identify it. "In any case, the lack of pigmentation leaves me susceptible to sunburn regardless of how harsh or weak the sunlight is. I wear the cloak for my own protection. The less direct exposure I have to the Sun the better."

"Sounds a bit like vampirism," Shanoa said.

"Only without the perks of immortality, a mouth full of daggers, and an unyielding lust for blood." Aurelia tilted her head in thought. "Though I suppose only one of those traits can be construed as positive."

"If you share the same weakness as a vampire then why did Barlowe assign you to this mission?"

Shanoa wasn't sure why she said it. The question crossed the line separating harmless banter and disrespect. Perhaps it was her pent-up frustration at being forced to submit to the whims of her stalker coming to the surface. Aurelia fixed her with a look that could only be construed as a glare. An even more poignant sight on her normally expressionless face.

"I've discovered ways to overcome my light sensitivity, but a vampire will always find death in sunlight." Her voice maintained its measured, unsettling tone. "Perhaps this gives us an advantage. They might underestimate me, the same as you did. Or, better yet, mistake me as one of their own."

Shanoa sighed and hung her head. "I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me," she said in an apologetic voice. "Your appearance doesn't reflect on your capabilities, and I should've known better." The young warrior touched the tattoo on her right arm. "I've received plenty of judgments myself."

Aurelia held the harsh expression for a moment longer before she shifted back into neutrality.

"Let it be indicative of an important lesson. Nothing is a weakness once you've learned how to exploit it to your advantage." Aurelia's eyes made a quick pass of Shanoa's body. "What of your own shortcomings?"

"Master Torey taught me to have none," Shanoa said with a wry, almost mournful smile.

"You're." There was a strange pause. "Human, same as the rest of us. We all have weaknesses."

Shanoa considered her own personal failings. One flaw spung to mind. The same fear that'd driven her to spend a formulative year of her life weighed down in both a metaphorical and literal sense.

"I doubt myself sometimes," Shanoa said in a soft voice.

"I've noticed."

It was a small comment, two words spoken without any zeal, yet they struck at Shanoa's core. What was she doing? Aurelia was a fellow member of Ecclesia. Another soldier fighting against the Chaos of this world. She wasn't the enemy, regardless of how easy it was to paint her as such. Aurelia was ordered to follow Shanoa the same as Shanoa was instructed to adhere to the albino's orders. Every acolyte had a role to play. Shanoa had no right to be upset with Aurelia for adhering to her own.

"I can use it to my advantage, however," Shanoa said. "Master Torey taught me conquering my fear makes me a stronger warrior. I now see fear as a challenge to overcome rather than something to cower before. I'm helping to make the world a safer place, a better place, and the strength that conviction gives me is enough to overcome any obstacle, I've found."

"Then it appears we have that in common," Aurelia said with a slow nod. "Command over our weaknesses, I mean."

"And emotions are another one of yours, right?" the young warrior asked.

For a moment, Shanoa was positive Aurelia was going to laugh.

"Full of questions today." A smile tugged at the corners of her pale lips. "Yes, to an extent, but it's dependent on the situation. It's rarely been a problem when I'm speaking to you." Her face schooled back into a somber expression. "Now, we're wasting daylight. Time to devise a plan of attack."

They conversed in low voices as they studied the castle in tandem. After taking in the general state of the structure, the various points of entry, and the common dangers that came with all vampires, the two women decided on a strategy. A risky endeavor, but – if executed correctly – it would be both highly effective and give them an almost unfair advantage. Under normal circumstances, Shanoa would have protested such a maneuver, yet she deferred to Aurelia's unusual confidence. She had to start working together with this woman. Aurelia deserved a chance, at least.

They approached the castle together, keeping to the shade of trees and underbrush as much as possible. In all likelihood the vampires were asleep, though neither woman wanted to risk being spotted by an undead lookout. Once they reached the outermost wall, they pressed their bodies against the stone and waited for any sign they'd been seen. After a few silent minutes, Aurelia split off, dove into a nearby shadow and left Shanoa alone.

The young warrior looked up, grasped two protruding bricks, and began to climb. It was an easy ascent; the uneven stone bricks offered plenty of footholds. She shied away from the vines, not trusting their durability when pitted against her own weight. Within a few minutes Shanoa emerged atop the only remaining intact section of roof. She didn't venture further than the edge, however. Any movement could result in unwanted noise or even a partial collapse.

Over ten minutes passed in silence. The only sound came from the small gusts of wind as the air rushed past her ears. At last, she saw Aurelia climb out of a shadow cast by a pointed spire positioned a meter away. It was an unnerving sight to watch the older woman emerge from a space that lacked enough spatial coverage to hide her entire body. The parts of her body still touching the shadow were distorted to fit its shape, and the black tar coating her skin served to accentuate the nightmarish quality of the vision. Shanoa didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until a knot came undone in her chest once Aurelia fully emerged.

The albino bade her to follow, and together they climbed to a center beam running the length of the intact section of roof. Aurelia guided her across the beam until she came to a stop between two identical metallic spires. She pointed a pale finger at what lay beneath them.

"Here," Aurelia whispered. "It'll take care of most of them."

"And the others?" Shanoa matched her in volume. While this was her first time hunting vampires, she'd done extensive studies into their nature and abilities. Their hearing, for example, had supernatural strength. The two women couldn't avoid speaking altogether, but it was proactive to lower their voices as much as possible.

"They're in the basement." Aurelia's indifferent mask broke as her lips curved upwards in a slight smirk. "But I have a feeling they'll come to us."

The albino stepped back as Shanoa raised her right arm, her tattoo aglow with the preliminary energy of a Glyph. The form took shape in her mind. She summoned the might of the Earth, great geological formations billions of years old, and fashioned the boulders into a mirror image of her own fist. Once the vision solidified, Shanoa cast Lapiste without uttering a word. She punched – the Glyph following suite – and the force of the blow created a massive, gaping hole in the ancient roof.

Everything became a blur after that.

Sunlight poured into the room below, and the sound of horrid screaming pierced Shanoa's ears. It almost drowned out the loud crack that came from the wooden beam. It took her half a second to realize what was happening; the same instant the roof began to sway.

"Fuck!" She'd done too much damage. Carried away on her own blasted power!

Shanoa dashed for the nearest edge as the roof collapsed, starting from the hole she'd created and expanding outward at a rapid pace. She managed to keep her footing even as the ground gave way beneath her feet. Her arms pumped as she ran, but it was no use. She wasn't going to make it in time. Shanoa made a desperate leap, her arms clawing the air as she reached for the wall still too far off. The last of the roof fell away, condemning her to (what some ridiculous part of her brain estimated even in the face of probable death) a twelve-meter fall.

Her thoughts ceased as instinct took over. The debris would make it a rough landing, at best, provided the unlikely event she avoided being impaled. Shanoa rotated, aiming to land on her side, and relaxed all the muscles in her body. This would be an undignified end to her short-lived legacy. An avoidable tragedy that robbed mankind of its supposed savior. Doomed by a single moment's miscalculation.

Then, something collided with her in midair. Her trajectory shifted, and she found herself flung against the wall she'd tried to reach in desperation. She was pinned against it, positioned about halfway between the debris-strewn floor and where she'd begun her descent. Shanoa looked around in an attempt to discern what had broken her fall.

That's when she saw it.

An arm wrapped around her waist, holding her secure.

'Aurelia.'

Shanoa glanced over her shoulder. Half of the albino's body was absorbed in a shadow, while her torso leaned out, right arm clasped around her fellow acolyte. They waited in silence for the rumbling of the roof collapse to stop. The glare of blue flames caught Shanoa's attention, and she watched as the last of the vampires gathered on the top floor burned to ash.

Once it was over, Aurelia slid down the wall, her body still half held within the shadow that ran in a vertical pillar. She didn't let go until Shanoa's feet touched the fresh debris. The young warrior turned and watched her companion emerge fully from the darkness. She opened her mouth to voice her gratitude, but Aurelia held a finger to her lips. Shanoa took the hint and remained quiet as the albino pointed to a nearby spiral stone staircase descending into the darkness of one of the castle's corner towers.

That's right, there were more.

Aurelia dove back into the shadow as Shanoa rushed towards the stairs. They both knew the vampires wouldn't dare to venture into the sunlight. They'd have to pursue the fiends themselves.

The tight quarters of the tower's interior were far from ideal, but it was the only path that Shanoa could take. The narrow windows were covered by thick wooden boards. In their stead, lit wall sconces provided some illumination. The first landing opened into a room lacking a floor, the second was barricaded shut. As she neared the third, the young warrior heard a vicious snarl come from just around the bend. The creature was upon her with lightning speed as she summoned Melio Secare. It was tall and pale. Its build would have suggested emaciation if not for the ugly sinew pulled tight across its frame. The vampire bore no weapon, though its rakish nails were extended with the clear intent to maul.

Its jaws opened wide as it descended upon its supposed prey. The teeth elongated in the half second she watched. She had to agree with Aurelia. A maw of jagged teeth was not what she'd consider a positive trait. It either didn't notice her summoning the Glyph or failed to react in time. Shanoa's blade solidified as she thrust her arms out. The vampire was impaled on Melio Secare; the sword buried into its undead heart.

A spurt of blood sullied her breastplate once Shanoa pulled the Glyph free. She shoved the dying creature aside, and it landed with a hollow thud as she continued her pursuit. She could hear more coming up the stairs. Shanoa met them head on, barreling into a trio of vampires almost identical to the one she just felled. The warrior wove between two of them, dodging their swipes with feline grace as she sliced open their torsos with Melio Secare. They howled in pain, though not yet crippled by something so benign as evisceration.

A familiar figure leapt out of the shadows next to the third vampire. Shanoa turned her back on the pair, trusting Aurelia's ability to handle the fiend herself. Gunshots rang out as Shanoa summoned Vol Luminato and Melio Secare in tandem. The Glyphs fused, creating a rapier thin blade of blinding light she swung in a horizontal arc. Holy magic radiated from the union, cutting a deadly swath through the air. The injured vampires were thrown back by the force. Their bodies slammed into the tower walls, but the pair stilled. The Glyphs had severed their torsos in half.

Shanoa turned to see Aurelia standing over the lifeless body of the third vampire. The back of its skull had been blown off and bits of gray matter were strewn across the nearby stairs. The albino didn't retreat into a shadow. She waited for Shanoa, and, together, they ran down the stairs in tandem.

The final landing had been barricaded shut as well. When they reached the bottom of the staircase it opened into a large, dank room Shanoa suspected was subterranean. It was sparsely furnished, save for the unsurprising rows of wooden coffins and a pile of human bones in the far corner. Heavy soot blackened the ceiling above large, lit oil lamps. Two vampires stood waiting for them on the opposite side of the room. They had the same genderless motif as the others, and Shanoa wondered if the coven had been blood relatives in life as well as undeath.

One of the vampires curled its upper lip back in a snarl. Its red eyes gleamed in the flickering lamplight as it assessed the two women. It tilted its head towards them.

"Look," the vampire said in a wistful tone, "the reckless humans have come to play."

Both fiends bared their fangs with a hiss. A move meant to intimidate, though it had no effect on Shanoa. She was about to dash forward when she was stopped by the sound of something unexpected. Notes the young warrior never thought she'd hear.

Aurelia laughed.

"I don't think 'humans' is the right word," the albino said in a gleeful voice.

Her comment spurred the vampires to attack. They were upon the women with supernatural speed, but Shanoa had been trained for this; to allow her reflexes to take over when conscious thought would be too slow. She executed a rolling dodge to the side, almost avoiding one vampire's claws. It wasn't quite fast enough, and she felt the nails rake gashes across her exposed lower back. She didn't feel any pain, as expected, even as blood seeped from the open wounds.

Shanoa righted herself as the vampire went in for the kill. In one single, fluid motion she turned, raising herself to a standing position, as her right arm swung in an arc while Melio Falcis formed in her hand. The curved blade of the scythe intercepted the fiend and cleaved its head from its shoulders. The vampire's headless body crumpled to the floor as the decapitated head landed a meter away.

She didn't dismiss the Glyph right away. Shanoa turned towards Aurelia, intent on lending her aid, only to see the albino rip the blade of her strange, half-constituted version of Culter out of the remaining vampire's throat. Blood spurted across her pale skin from the ruptured artery. The vampire fell to its knees, grasping at the wound, before Aurelia drove the knife into the side of its neck a second time. Shanoa watched her tear at the flesh until the creature stopped moving; its own head half removed.

A silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of their heavy breathing. The two women looked at each other, and Shanoa couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips. Slaying vampires was easier than she'd been led to believe. Granted, she had an entire repertoire of Glyphs at her disposal, but Aurelia had fared just as well.

It was in that brief interim she saw it.

Shanoa didn't think. She just acted. The young warrior called upon Rapidus Fio and barreled headlong into Aurelia. The albino let out a startled noise but didn't offer any resistance. Shanoa twisted as they fell, her eyes charting the path of the sword that missed Aurelia's head by mere centimeters. Another moment longer and it would have been a deadly blow. Shanoa summoned and threw an axe on reflex. It was aimed in the general direction of their attacker, but the resulting howl of pain as they landed on the floor was proof it'd hit its mark.

She maintained Rapidus Fio as she leapt to her feet. Another vampire; it must have been hiding in a nearby coffin, waiting to ambush. The creature clutched at the bleeding stump where its right arm had been. The appendage lay unmoving on the floor, the hilt of a sword still clutched in its hand. Shanoa rushed in, swinging Melio Falcis in an upwards arc. The scythe buried deep within the vampire's open mouth. Severed fangs clattered to the floor, and Shanoa saw the tip of the curved blade protruding out of the back of the vampire's head.

After a few seconds Shanoa dismissed both Glyphs. The vampire's body collapsed. There was a small splash as it hit the floor, and Shanoa noted the copious amount of blood sprayed around them. They'd have to take care not to lose traction.

"Is that all of them?" Shanoa asked as she looked around for any lingering villain.

Aurelia sighed as she climbed to her feet. Her cloak was drenched in blood. The albino removed it with a disgusted look on her face.

"Yes." She tossed the cloak atop an adjacent coffin. Her eyes turned to the surprise attacker. "I was wondering where that one went."

The women fell silent once again as they met each other's gaze. After a long minute Shanoa realized that Aurelia was just as hesitant to voice what they both knew. The young warrior took a deep breath and steeled herself.

"I suppose that makes us even," Shanoa said.

A conflicted look crossed Aurelia's face for a fleeting second before she nodded. "I suppose it does."

Silence engulfed them. Shanoa supposed that neither of them was keen to discuss it further, given their somewhat sordid history. Aurelia's gaze fell to Shanoa's side.

"You're hurt," the albino said.

The young warrior looked down. A fair amount of blood coated her skin, though most of it didn't belong to her. Clear trails seeped out of the jagged wounds where the vampire's claws had raked across her flesh. It looked ugly, but it wasn't painful.

"It's nothing," Shanoa said as she brought a hand up to cover the wound. She paused to reconsider before laying her palm flat against it. Probably wouldn't be best to touch open cuts without washing her gore coated hands first.

Aurelia's eyes narrowed at the declaration. She marched over to the younger woman and knelt to make her own assessment of the wound. Shanoa suppressed the urge to put some distance between them. At least Aurelia didn't try to add to the awkwardness of the moment by prodding the wound.

"I beg to disagree," the albino said. "The problem with our training is an injury often feels like nothing even when it's something to be concerned about."

Shanoa almost missed the way Aurelia had phrased it. Our training. Albus hadn't been forced to drink that potion, but Aurelia…?

"I'll live," Shanoa said. She didn't dare voice her new questions out loud.

"Yes, you will." Aurelia rose to her feet and fixed Shanoa with a stern gaze. "Because we're going home right now."

Shanoa was too taken aback to offer an immediate comment. She watched as Aurelia retrieved the red talismans from a small satchel strapped to her side. The young warrior shook her head when Aurelia held one out to her.

"Wait, we can't leave yet," Shanoa said. She glanced at the fresh bodies that littered the floor and the coffins they'd yet to inspect. "We have to make our final assessment. How do we know that they're all dead?"

"I know we killed them all." Aurelia hadn't moved, pale arm still outstretched. A few more seconds passed, but Shanoa remained reluctant to take the talisman. "Didn't you promise Barlowe that you'd follow my orders."

The young warrior stiffened at the reminder. "Yes."

"And are you going to disobey me if I order you to rip this talisman in half?" Aurelia asked.

There was a challenge in the question. One that begged Shanoa to usurp the other woman's authority. But if she were to do that then Shanoa might as well have betrayed Ecclesia itself.

"… No," Shanoa said with a slight frown.

The corners of Aurelia's mouth twitched as she watched Shanoa claim the offered talisman and grip it in both hands, ready.

"Thought not," the albino said in the same, infuriating neutral tone.

Shanoa glared at her. "You don't have to be snippy about it."

Aurelia rolled her eyes at the comment. "If you think I'm being difficult now then I hope for your sake you never see me at my worst."

Shanoa was about to argue further when Aurelia raised her pale, bloody hands and clasped them over her own. With a slight tug she yanked them apart, tearing Shanoa's talisman in the process.

'For the love of-'

The young warrior didn't get to voice the thought before the world fell away. The last thing she saw was the small smirk on Aurelia's lips; then the magic took her.

IXI

Shanoa sat on her bed, reading by lamplight. The book was an adventure tale; her preferred genre whenever she returned from a mission. It scrubbed away any negative feelings she had about the often sordid business of fighting evil. She liked to imagine herself as someone akin to the valiant heroes she read about. A force of good vanquishing the darkness. Only the battles in these stories weren't anywhere near as bloody as she knew actual combat to be. Rare was the heroic protagonist who decapitated humanoid foes without a second thought.

But that was the point of fantasy. To escape life's true horrors. Only, tonight, it wasn't working.

Aurelia had all but dragged Shanoa to the infirmary once they returned to the fortress. That was the last Shanoa had seen of her. The albino, for all her fretting, hadn't followed her subordinate inside. Shanoa endured the medical examination alone, dodging any questions whose answers might be construed as classified information. In truth, she didn't know what details she was privy to share with her fellow acolytes. Barlowe's instructions tended to consist of, 'go here, kill this'. Yes, there'd be a brief explanation as to why Ecclesia was sending its Blade, but nothing extravagant.

"Always remember: your place is not to question why."

Except the medical staff had questioned why their Blade had been put in danger-

"Shanoa."

"Jesus!" she said in a high-pitched yelp.

Shanoa scrambled, attempting to covertly shove the book underneath her pillow and leap to her feet in a single motion. By the time Shanoa stood, empty handed, next to her bed she was too flustered to tell if she succeeded in hiding the object Aurelia had no doubt already seen. The albino was leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room; her pale face illuminated by the glow of the oil lamp. There was an amused glint in her purple eyes as she watched Shanoa compose herself.

"You're lucky I didn't throw something at you," Shanoa said.

Aurelia raised a pale eyebrow. "A Glyph, perhaps?"

"M-maybe."

"Unlikely, you recognized my voice, and I believe if you wanted to hurt me you would have tried to by now." Aurelia's gaze cut to Shanoa's pillow. "I don't think that book is sanctioned reading material."

'Shit.'

"And I don't think it was good form to abort the mission early," Shanoa said. It was the only bit of leverage she had at her disposal. If Aurelia was going to expose her then she could at least attempt to take the albino down with her.

"A decent enough comeback," Aurelia said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I'm actually impressed someone so dedicated to following the rules would commit such a grave offense." The amusement drained from the albino's face. "But I digress, how's your injury?"

"Don't you already know?"

"Despite my orders, I actually do try to afford you some measure of privacy."

Aurelia had the audacity to sound offended. Except, perhaps it wasn't so outlandish, Shanoa conceded. She was always quick to paint Aurelia as the villain. Such treatment would wear on anyone.

"There are places where I will not follow you. Baths and medical exams fall into such restricted territory." Aurelia cast a quick glance at her surroundings. "I also consider your bedroom as part of that category as well. I'm not the kind of stalker who delights in watching you sleep."

"Is." Shanoa paused, a bit taken aback by Aurelia's blunt statement. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"

The albino shrugged. "Just thought it might ease your anxiety if you knew."

"If my bedroom is so forbidden then why did you break your own rule?" Shanoa asked.

There was a brief silence as Aurelia appeared to consider her answer.

"I was… curious."

"About the injury?"

"Yes," Aurelia said a bit too quickly.

They fell quiet once more as Shanoa studied this woman. This enigma of a person who carried such a callous air. But now a crack had started to show. A fissure in the façade that afforded Shanoa her first glimpse of the person lying beneath, and she couldn't deny the fact it had her intrigued.

They were still playing that game of chess, after all. Moving their pieces towards some yet unnamed end. Perhaps she could force Aurelia to play an honest hand and finally bear witness to something real.

"There was quite a bit of grime and foreign matter packed into the wound," Shanoa said, hinging her bets on indulgence being the piece that would sway her… foe? God. This was wrong. They were on the same side. Maybe she should stop playing this game. "It took them a while to clean it," she continued, "but once they did, they discovered the gashes run fairly deep. First stitches I've had in years." Shanoa lifted her night shirt to afford Aurelia a glimpse of the red skin held together by black thread. "I'm barred from physical activity for a week while it heals, but otherwise no real damage done. It's not infected, which is good."

"Well, I'm… glad it's nothing more serious." Aurelia cleared her throat and looked away.

Shanoa waited as the albino wrestled with something. At last, she winced, but arrived at a decision.

"Shanoa, I." Her mouth moved wordlessly for a moment. "I have a proposition, of sorts."

"Of sorts?"

"Yes." Aurelia pushed herself off the wall and began to pace back and forth across the room. Shanoa watched her, almost amused by the constant fidgeting of her arms, as though Aurelia didn't know what to do with them. Perhaps she didn't. "We haven't been the most cordial to each other." Her pacing faltered a moment. "Cordial, right? Yes, that's probably the best term for it." She resumed her frantic march. "Just barely tolerating each other's existence while we're out in the field. Except I think now that, maybe, we could try something… different."

Shanoa wasn't sure what to make of this. It wasn't an act, but certainly a far cry from how she envisioned her night would go.

"Like what?" Shanoa asked, testing the waters.

"Don't misunderstand." Aurelia shot her a hard look; one Shanoa could tell was born out of nerves rather than malicious intent. "I'm not suggesting something as bold as friendship, but a… a truce." The albino cleared her throat again. "That, taking the events of today's mission into consideration, we openly acknowledge the fact we make an effective fighting unit and at least have enough concern for each other's wellbeing to intervene if put in harm's way. I think, perhaps, if we did that, it might strengthen this strange partnership we have. This would, in turn, make us more useful to Ecclesia as a whole and help avoid any further close calls."

Aurelia's wording felt odd. Did she not expect for Shanoa to act the way she did? That she'd fail to protect her if the situation called for it? They weren't friends (absolutely not) but Shanoa still had a vested interest in ensuring both of them survived each mission.

"I don't think either of those close calls were the fault of poor communication," Shanoa said in a soft voice.

Aurelia shook her head. "But next time it could be." She took a shuddering breath. "And, honestly, I don't wish for there to be a next time." She looked at Shanoa then; raw, vulnerable, without any shred of a façade. "For both of us."

Aurelia meant it, every word. Shanoa wasn't sure where this bout of vulnerability had come from, but she was never one to spurn providence.

"Ok, I will make that acknowledgement, but on one condition." Shanoa crossed her arms over her chest and fixed the older woman with a solemn gaze. "You let me see Aurelia."

There, for the first time, Shanoa saw an unguarded expression on the albino's face: utter confusion.

"What?" she asked in a tone that was no doubt harsher than she'd intended.

Shanoa maintained her composure.

"I can see the mask you wear. I always have," the young warrior said. "You ask for a truce, for us to establish this comradery, but how can I trust anything you say while there's this wall of lies between us? If I don't even know who you are? All I know is a title, not the person behind it, and I think at this point I deserve to know. If you let me see past whatever the hell Ecclesia's Shadow is supposed to be, if you let me meet Aurelia, then I will make your pact. But not until then."

They stared at each other for a long time. The confusion in Aurelia's expression gave way to anger, then curiosity, until all was washed away as a great sorrow descended upon her. Shanoa only saw the grief for a moment, though. Aurelia reverted, pulling back into her fortress of impassivity. Then the woman was gone, and all that remained was Ecclesia's Shadow.

"You drive a hard bargain," the albino said in her usual even tone.

Shanoa, emboldened by the brief shattering of her façade, pushed forward.

"Am I really so terrifying that you have to hide yourself from me?" she asked; her voice tender, unconfrontational.

Still, a flash of anger crossed Aurelia's face. "Don't be so arrogant as to think this is all for you."

"Then I guess I'm the only person who won't settle for a charade."

A heavy silence fell between them as they stared at each other. Neither woman backed down, and Shanoa was prepared to wait as long as it took. At last, Aurelia cleared her throat.

"I will." The albino paused. "Consider your terms."

"Good."

"But I make no promises."

"At least we both know where we stand," Shanoa said.

There was another long pause as Aurelia wrestled with a thought.

"Thank you," she said after a time. The mask remained, but her tone was, at least, more genuine. "I wasn't keen on dying today."

Shanoa offered her a small, reassuring smile. "What kind of monster would I be if I just stood there and watched?"

It was a rhetorical question. Shanoa didn't expect an answer, but the comment caused a shift in the other woman. The grief returned, a well of massive sorrow in her purple eyes. She wasn't looking at Shanoa, but through her. To something lying beyond the flesh.

"You'd be human," Aurelia said in a voice seeping with despair.

Then, in the next instant, she was gone. So fast Shanoa didn't even see the black coating cover her skin before the albino merged once again with the darkness. The young warrior – alone, save for the company of her thoughts – could only wonder.