Disclaimer: I do not own Noblesse or its characters; that right belongs to Lee Gwang-Su.
Author's Notes: This chapter is the start of me breaking away from the core/Main StoryLine of the Manga/manhwa. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now because I don't see the point in wasting your time and mine.
The empty stare Frankenstein gave Crombell as he died showed he felt nothing before turning away. He rushed towards what was left of Crombell's research facility. He hoped that Delphi was okay. Because if there were too much damage that a restoration tank couldn't fix, Frankenstein would desecrate that bastard's corpse.
He did not see Rael, Seira, or Karais. M-21 and Lunark were already waiting by the entrance for him. However, Cromwell's words had him feeling a sense of unease, causing Frankenstein to start running.
"Frankenstein, Crombell has launched Nuclear Missiles," Lunark said once he reached her and M-21.
Cold sweat rolled down his back.
"Frankenstein, I will stop the missiles with the Third Elder and Muzaka's help. rescue Delphi at any cost and return to the house."
Knowing time was precious and arguing with his Master's commands was not prudent, Frankenstein made his way into the depths of the facility. His eyes took note of the layout as he moved so they could come back and harvest anything useful later.
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His eyes were riveted to the tanks. In the front tank was Delphi. She was in nothing but her underclothes. Allowing himself and the others to clearly see the incisions on her abdomen and the rest of her body. It was a blessing she was unconscious as mostly white hair floated around her tiny body.
"What the hell is this?"
At Rael's outburst, Frankenstein looked at the other tanks before responding, "Clones of Delphi using her ovum. But I have no clue who the father could be. Nor do I want to. Let's retrieve Delphi, destroy those other tanks, seal this place, and head home for the time being."
Seira closed the door to the room. She did not have the heart to see such a sad scene. It had been a month since that day, and it was still vivid in her mind, from the fight with Crombell to the launch of the Nuclear Missiles, then finding Delphi in the tank.
But the other tanks (by the dozens) had clones grown from Delphi's ovum(eggs). As a woman, the rage she'd felt was nearly unquenchable. Lanark did not bother to hide the killing intent she felt. It had taken M-21, Regis, and Rael to come to them while Frankenstein and Karais released Delphi, who was unconscious and in deplorable condition.
Then it happened. Frankenstein mumbled 'Master' as Lunark hung her head and whispered 'Lord Muzaka.' No more had to be said. They all knew they had gone to stop the Missiles. But then Delphi had opened her eyes; she screamed in pain mixed with panic, 'No! I give myself instead!'
Instantly it had been as if the world had been washed white. The light was warm and gentle, like the first rays of sunlight at dawn. And Seira had talked with the others, but it had been a silent agreement. They each admitted to seeing images of what could be their futures in that light.
When the light faded or rather was absorbed back into Delphi, Seire noticed her hair was a solid silver-white, with a single golden streak, which Rael had caused. A sense of finalism had settled deep inside herself. Yet now, Delphi was still lying unconscious. At the same time, both the Werewolf Lord, Lord Raizel, and Lord Raskreia (and all those who had helped) were alive and healthy. And that sat wrong not just with her but everyone else in the house.
He looked down at the tiny woman who had invaded his life. Who had from the get-go treated him as Muzaka and the children had, as just another person? She had been a calm, soothing breeze and an agent of chaos since arriving.
Raizel watched as light from the setting sun finally slid from the wall to wash over Delphi. It was causing her (now) white hair to shimmer in a colorful rainbow of pinks, reds, golds, oranges. A sigh he knew only he had seen.
Raizel closed his eyes and recalled the moment Muzaka and himself had engaged the Nuclear Missile. Neither had expected to live. Yet as it exploded, they had both heard Delphi's voice. Her plea was said in pain and panic (that he felt through their bond) before a warm and gentle light enveloped them both. It was the same with the others who had gone to stop Crombell's final attack. Raizel knew she'd not intervened on purpose, but death once more denied him.
A wave of annoyance swept through him. Slowly Raizel opened his eyes and looked at Delphi, whose face had scrunched up as if she'd bit into something sour. His body glowed faintly with the light of her power. It had been happening more frequently, and Raizel knew what it meant.
"No. Stop!"
The pained whimpers from Delphi had Raizel shifting and leaning forward. The annoyance had changed to fear. An emotion he did not associate with her. But he could only be patient until she woke up on her own.
Reaching out, he grasped her tiny hand and held it. This comfort was the only thing he would do until he got his answer from her.
Delphi could feel pressure around one of her hands. It was out of place from the pain she'd been subjected to. So it was on that she focused. Trying her best to determine why only that hand felt pressure? It wasn't painful or even uncomfortable. Whatever was applying the tension was pretty smooth and of a comfortable temperature.
Carefully wiggling her fingers, Delphi tried to remove her hand from the thing applying the pressure. She quickly responded that more force was being used, making Delphi cease trying to extract her hand. Then she was hit by amusement. And she did not feel amused at all. Her mind tried to recall something, but it slipped away too fast.
It was time to wake up, yet Delphi didn't. She knew she was not in the tank anymore. There was no feeling of weightlessness from being buoyed by the semi-thick fluid. Still, Delphi balked at waking up. There was something she didn't want to do.
The pressure on her hand increased again, causing Delphi to feel annoyed. She could feel the frown pulling her lips downward. Once more, she wiggled her fingers as she tried to remove her hand from the vice. Only this time, her hand and arm were pulled. The shock had Delphi's eyes fluttering open to meet a pair of red ones that glowed with amusement.
"Glad you finally decided to cease playing sleeping beauty, Delphi."
A slight haze muddled her thoughts as Delphi looked at the man who had spoken. His words sank in as she felt irritation flood her body. She knew it wasn't her that was feeling this emotion. Gradually the haze lifted, and Delphi recalled who the man was and why she felt his emotion.
"Master, can you let my hand go?" She asked.
The lazy blink of his red eyes was all she got with a wave of confusion. Then the grip on her hand grew harder, so she felt mild pain. Delphi knew he was displeased. She also knew she needed to answer the question he asked before leaving. A sense of being cornered by a predator swelled inside of Delphi as she looked away from her Master, giving a resigned sigh.
Letting her body go lax, Delphi sighed again. Something told her she couldn't ask a question before answering him. Delphi had long known her answer. Cadis Etram De Raizel was alive because the Gods used her as a medium and interfered.
"Yes, I do. But I don't want to be a burden forced upon you against your will," she finally said.
Silence hung in the air between them. It felt suffocating to Delphi.
"Why do you think you'll be a burden? A forced one at that?"
The questions asked took Delphi off guard. Delphi refused to look at the man she called Master. The man, fate itself, decreed she'd be bound to one way or another. In a sudden fit of pique, Delphi once more dropped all the barriers she'd erected around her emotions. She was letting them flow through the link between her and this man. It was like a flood after a dam on a river broke. And her fingers subconsciously curled around the hand that refused to let her own go. This was (in her mind) the only safe way to give him her answer.
TBC!