PART IX

A Pact Reforged, an Awakening, and an Abduction

As Satan held Kagura in his arms, Kagura's own feelings for Satan filled her heart and soul as snatches of conversation from another shadowy memory came to her.

"Books are knowledge, and all of the knowledge from these books, it's all inside me. Knowledge is power. People respect someone who's well-informed. No matter who you are, no matter the circumstances of your birth, if you're smart enough, then people can't dismiss you."

Looking up at Satan's face, "I remembered a snatch of conversation from another of my shadowy memories of you. You said 'knowledge is power'."

Satan stilled then looked at his beloved with a smile, "You remembered that as well? You don't know how happy that makes me. What more do you remember?"

Kagura closed her eyes against Satan's chest and he held her again. Another memory soon came to her. It had pulled on her heart and revealed how she had come to love Satan and how he had come to love her.

"Kagura, would you agree to a pact with me? A lot has happened these last few days, and after everything we went through, I made a decision. Though I can't go back and change the circumstances of my birth, I can choose how I live my life. The entire reason I was able to face my issues was because of you Kagura. You're the one who helped me be honest with myself and with others. So if this pact ends up helping you like you helped me then I'd be glad to make a pact with you."

This had touched Kagura deeply and what followed was what had made her fall for Satan.

"Now to the Blood Oath I give to you. I am Satan, Avatar of Wrath. I pledge myself to you Kagura that we may be bound by an unbreakable pact. This I swear to you on both my name as well as the very blood that runs through my veins."

Kagura then remembered the words that Satan had said just before he realized he had fallen in love with her.

"…Then, what is it that I'm feeling? I used to feel nothing but rage, but then you came along and another sort of emotion took root inside me. The way I feel toward you…could this be…love?"

Kagura's eyes opened and smiled as she looked up at Satan again. "Satan, I finally remembered how we are connected and how I had come to love you and you me. I remembered our bond as well."

With that said, Kagura kissed Satan and he kissed her back. When they finished the kiss, a simple gold bracelet with rune writing suddenly appeared around Kagura's wrist, embedded in the bracelet was a glittering green gem. Both Satan and Kagura stared at the bracelet in stunned shock. Seconds later, a green metal wristband appeared around Satan's wrist. Satan's pact with Kagura had returned.

"Umm…Satan, what just happened?"

Satan looked at Kagura and said, "This is the symbol of our pact. It looks like when you remembered me and the connection we had, the pact returned."

"I remember that in one of my memories, you had asked me to make a pact with you. If that's the case, then this bracelet with the green gem and your metal wristband is the pact between you and me?"

Satan nodded.

Kagura went still as another thought came to her. "Then does that mean I also have pacts with the other demons that were listed in the telephone book?"

"Yes. If my suspicions are correct, the pacts you made with us broke because you had amnesia and didn't remember any of us or how we're connected. The only way for the other pacts to return is when your memories of them return along with the memories of your connection to them."

Kagura nodded. "I will try, but at the moment, the next thing I need to remember is what happened to me when I was on that train. The only way to do that is if I go to the train. Do you know the way?"

"Yes, I do. We'll go there after we eat something. I'm getting hungry."

"I'm getting hungry too. I'll make us some sandwiches."

"Okay, do you need help?"

"Sure. Thanks."

Satan followed Kagura to the kitchen, and in companionable silence, made the sandwiches. When the sandwiches were ready, Kagura said, "Let's bring these out to the veranda. The view's great."

"Okay."

Satan and Kagura brought the sandwiches out to the veranda and Satan gaped in awe at the view.

"It's beautiful."

"Yes, it is," Kagura said with a smile.

Both she and Satan sat down and ate their sandwiches as they enjoyed the view. After they finished, they did the dishes together. Once the dishes were done, Kagura called the village harbor's Harbor Master to ask for the Land n' Sea to come pick her up to take her and her friend into town. When the Land n' Sea docked at the pier, both Kagura and Satan boarded it and was brought to the village harbor. There, taking out her own cell phone, she called a taxi. The taxi took both Satan and her back to St. Ives where they walked to the train station which was five minutes away. At the train station, they bought two tickets to St. Erth. After boarding the train, they arrived at St. Erth within 10 minutes. Getting off, Satan led Kagura to where her train had disappeared to.

When they arrived, Satan immediately showed Kagura the tampered railway signal and the cut wires of the railroad telephone. Kagura frowned at how similar the evidence was to what was found during the historical heist. She had gone to the tampered railway signal and asked Satan where the glove was. He said he gave the evidence to the Rail Security officer he was with so that he could report to his superiors.

"So, where is the train?"

Satan pointed to an extremely dark area of the tracks. When Kagura's eyes went to it, she froze as she saw the Dark energy surrounding the area.

"That's a massive amount of Dark energy."

Satan drew in a sharp breath, "You can see the Dark energy?!"

Kagura looked at him then said, "It's massive and is surrounding the whole area. How can I not see it?"

Satan closed his eyes for a minute before replying, "Kagura, Dark energy cannot be seen by human eyes unless they have a massive amount of power or are Arcane Stage magic users. If it was Solomon, he could see it. The powers you have may be great, but should not be at a level in which you could see Dark energy. At your level, you would only be able to sense it."

Kagura felt uneasy. If what Satan said was true, how could she see it in the first place? She didn't remember. She had a feeling that it was probably another memory that she had lost. Kagura would need to regain it too, and regain it fast.

"If what you say is true, then I feel very uneasy. I don't know how I could see it. I have a feeling that it's probably part of the memories I lost. I don't know how to regain those memories yet."

Satan looked at Kagura for a long time before saying, "You have a point there. We'll need to find a way for you to regain those memories as well. However, at the moment, let's figure out what happened to you on that train."

Kagura nodded then hesitated before asking, "You mentioned Arcane Stage magic users earlier. What did you mean by that?"

Satan looked at Kagura then said, "In the Devildom, our magic classes are ranked at different magic stages. A magic user's magical power and skill can be ranked on a ten-level scale, referred to as Magic Stages. Magic users whose magic defy standard conventions and have powers beyond the ten-level scale are known as Arcane Stage magic users. These magic users have extremely advanced and powerful defense, protection, and attack spells."

Kagura looked at Satan in surprise. "There are Arcane Stage magic users with such powers in the Devildom? I thought the only magic there would be demon magic."

Satan sighed, "Have you forgotten what I said about RAD's Exchange Program?"

Kagura blushed. "That means there are a variety of students at RAD, not just demons."

Satan nodded. "If there aren't any more questions, let's walk around the area so you can regain your memories of what happened to you, but do not go anywhere near the Dark energy. It's too dangerous."

Kagura looked at Satan and asked with unease, "How is Dark energy dangerous?"

Satan looked at her seriously, "Dark energy is a mass of negative energy that can corrupt the souls of humans. Any human who touch it or get enveloped by it will be corrupted. The energy can kill humans too."

Kagura went pale. "I'll keep that in mind. I won't go anywhere near it."

Satan nodded and led Kagura to the area, well away from the mass of Dark energy that was emanating from the area.

As Kagura walked around the area, no memories flickered until she was near an area that was rocky grassland. Something about the area felt familiar. Kagura closed her eyes for a few minutes before she remembered. It was the place where she had hit her head after she fell from the train. Her eyes flew open and she saw the flattened grass where her body had landed and rolled. Kagura knew she had to follow the trail of flattened grass, but remembering what Satan had said about the Dark energy, she called to him.

"Satan, I found the area where I hit my head, but I need to follow the trail back to the train to help me remember."

Satan walked toward her and told her firmly, "It's too dangerous. Dark energy has covered the train and seeped into it. Without a Light shield to protect you, the Dark energy will corrupt your soul. It could even kill you."

Kagura sighed. Satan was right. It was a risk she didn't want to take. In order to go near that Dark energy safely, she had to cast a Light shield. A Light shield wasn't that hard to cast…wait…she actually knew how to cast one? How was that possible? Before Kagura could process her thoughts, a strange power suddenly triggered within Kagura. It felt as if it was slowly awakening from a deep slumber. Followed by the slow awakening, came a vast amount of Ancient magical knowledge that had suddenly flowed into Kagura's mind. Seconds later, another memory fragment came to her. She closed her eyes and saw the memory. She was holding a strange spell book in what looked like an old and dusty Library. As she held it, she saw a strange silvery seal locking the book. As she touched the seal, the book opened before her shocked eyes. Before she could process what happened after the book opened, the spell book disappeared from her hands. Kagura's eyes flew open with a gasp.

Satan looked at Kagura and said, "You remembered something. Was it a memory of what happened to you on the train?"

Kagura shook her head. "No, it was something else. I was in what looked like an old and dusty Library holding a spell book with a silver seal. As I touched the seal, the book opened, but before I could process what happened after, the spell book disappeared from my hands."

Satan stared at Kagura stunned. He remembered that Kagura had asked him about a strange spell book with a seal that disappeared after they spent most of the afternoon in his bed. However, Kagura didn't mention opening the book after she touched the seal. She also didn't tell him what happened after she opened the book. Was there something even he did not know about Kagura's lost memories?

"Kagura, that memory is of the time you were living in the Devildom. It was a Library. The Library was in our home. You were living there as well. The book in that memory was a spell book with a seal. You had asked me about it while we were sitting in bed. However, you didn't mention that you opened the book after you touched the seal. You also didn't tell me what happened after you opened the book. Is there something in that memory that both you and I don't know about?"

Kagura said quietly, "I'm sorry Satan but I still don't know what happened after the spell book opened. I don't know if the rest of that memory is sealed or lost, but I will try to remember." Kagura closed her eyes and thought hard before the memory fragment came to her. It was one of her shadowy memories of Satan. She had remembered Satan's scent and had felt his love as she lay in his embrace. Later, she had asked him about a disappearing spell book she found in the Library and whether it was normal for a spell book like that to disappear so suddenly. Kagura's eyes opened. That was all she could remember. The rest was a blank.

"I remembered asking you about the disappearing spell book I found and whether it was normal for it to disappear so suddenly. That's all I could remember. The rest is still a blank. I don't know whether or not I told you about opening the spell book or what happened after it opened. However, I remembered more of the relationship between us. We had been lovers. I felt your love as I lay in your embrace."

Satan nodded in understanding then said, "I understand so I won't push you to remember more about the spell book. That memory will return eventually. When it returns, you can decide to tell me or not."

Kagura nodded, "Thank you Satan."

Satan pulled Kagura into his arms again and rested his cheeks against her dark hair before saying, "I am very happy that you remembered our relationship though. When we get all your memories back, I want us to be lovers again. I love you so very much and want you by my side. Will you agree to it?"

Kagura looked up at her beloved's face then said, "We can still be lovers even without all my memories back. I love you too, Satan."

Satan's breath caught when he heard her words. Oh Kagura. Then he kissed her passionately. Kagura returned his kiss with a passionate one of her own. In the middle of their kiss, Satan gently swept Kagura into his arms and carried her to a safer place before laying her down on the soft grass. She knew his intentions immediately and Kagura wanted it to happen as she pulled Satan toward her. Seconds later, Satan started kissing Kagura everywhere leaving Kagura breathless and wanting more. It wasn't long before his passionate kisses soon turned into exquisite love-making as Satan made Kagura his once more.

After spending half the morning and afternoon in each other's arms, Satan and Kagura found that it was almost evening and they still needed to check the train. Both of them regretfully sat up, straightening their clothes before making their way back to the site where Kagura had hit her head. Both knew that returning to the train was the only way to help Kagura remember what had happened to her on the train.

Now, standing not too far away from the train, Kagura turned to Satan, "Before we got distracted by other things, you mentioned that in order for me to enter the train, I needed a Light shield, right?"

Satan nodded. "Without a Light shield, your soul and life would be at risk. That's something I don't want ever happening to you. I wouldn't be able to bear it."

As Satan said that, he pulled her close and held her. Kagura leaned against his chest taking in his scent, feeling his love as he embraced her. They stood like that for a while before Kagura raised her head and said, "Satan, when you mentioned Light shield, the memory of that disappearing spell book returned to me…followed by the knowledge on how to cast a Light shield. However, I don't know how I know."

Satan looked at Kagura in disbelief before saying quietly, "Kagura, your powers are not only growing and evolving exponentially, but it is also reaching or is at Arcane Stage. How is that possible? You've managed to cast an advanced form of Protection Magic while you were with Inspector McPhee and now you know how to cast a Light shield as well? Gaining so much power in such a short time has never happened to magic users before."

Kagura looked at Satan and said softly, "I don't know what's going on either. I have no idea how I gained so much power in the first place. Ever since my memory fragment of the spell book returned, a trigger of some sort activated a strange power within me. I do not know what this power is and it's a little frightening. Until I can fully unlock that memory, I can not explain anything."

Satan gave Kagura a long look before nodding. "I understand. We'll unlock that memory together after we unlock your memories of what happened to you on the train. Everything will be all right Kagura. I'll make sure of it."

Kagura gave Satan a smile feeling that everything will be all right as long as he was by her side. "Thank you, Satan. I feel a little better now. Shall we go to the train now?"

Satan smiled in return then nodded. When we return to the Devildom, I must inform Lord Diavolo and the others about Kagura's powers. Could she have gained new powers after hitting her head or from opening whatever that spell book was? Satan didn't know, but he will find out for Kagura's sake.

Following the flattened grass up to the train, Satan and Kagura soon saw the train's faint silhouette within the Dark energy. A few seconds later, Kagura felt a sense of unease coming from the train.

"Satan, there's something inside the train that feels wrong."

Satan looked at Kagura then said, "Okay, I'll take a look. You stay here."

Kagura nodded. Satan flickered into his demon form then went inside the train. Kagura blinked in surprise, so that's what his true form looks like. He looks kind of cool, but his fashion sense needs some work. Kagura shook her head. Now was not the time to be thinking about that. There were other problems that needed to be taken care of like finding out what she sensed in the train. Kagura waited outside for Satan's return, but he didn't return, and she was starting to get worried. Seconds later, she sensed Dark magic being cast in the train. Satan! Without thinking, Kagura surrounded herself in an Aura of Light and immediately entered the train. Dark energy swirled around her only to dissipate into nothingness. She looked around and froze when she saw Satan. He was standing in what looked like a glowing circle. As Kagura took a closer look, she drew in a sharp breath when she recognized the circle. She knew without knowing how she knew that it was a demon binding circle.

"Satan!"

"Kagura, stay back!"

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."

Kagura went still. She recognized that voice. She closed her eyes as her memory of what happened to her on the train suddenly came back to her. It was one of the voices who had spoken before she fell from the train.

"It's you! You're one of the shadowy figures who spoke outside my compartment before I fell from the train. What did you do to the passengers and staff?!"

The figure smiled cruelly. "So you remembered, but that's not going to do you any good. My Master has plans for those mortals and for you. You're coming with me."

"I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Is that so? That's too bad. Looks like I'm going to have to force you to come with me."

With that said the figure muttered something in a language that Kagura didn't recognize and clenched a shadowy hand into a fist. She heard Satan's pained gasp and saw him fall to his knees."

"Satan! What are you doing to him?!"

The figure smiled coldly, "I'm crushing his soul. If you don't want me to kill him then be a good girl and come with me."

Satan gasped out painfully, "Don't go to him! I'll be okay."

"Is that so? Then I'm going to have to change that. This time you won't live."

The figure raised his other hand and was about to do the same thing before Kagura shouted, "No! Stop! I'll go with you. Just don't hurt him."

"Kagura, don't do it!"

"I must Satan. It's the only way to save you. I'm sorry."

The figure smiled, "Good girl. Come to me."

Kagura walked toward him as he muttered some more words in the same language. Seconds later, Darkness surrounded her, and she collapsed. The figure caught Kagura, and in a swirling Dark Mist disappeared with her in his arms. At the same time, the binding circle deactivated, and Satan was free. He stared in stunned shock as he watched the two disappear. He had failed to protect his beloved. Kagura was lost to him forever. Seconds later, Satan felt the finishing touch of the Dark spell cast on him before his own soul shattered, and he fell.