Chapter 10
Dead Scream

A little less than a week before Setsuna's ninth birthday, Hades received a message from Lady Moira.
"She will not be bringing Setsuna back to Pluto for her birthday this year," he told his father as they sat together in his study. Chronos was only mildly disappointed by the announcement. Certainly, he and Hades had both been looking forward to seeing Setsuna and Moira, and would greatly miss having the child home for her birthday, but at least Chronos would not have to deal with those infernal doubts of his. He did not like that they lingered still after nearly nine years. He was now almost as afraid to ignore his suspicions as he was to acknowledge them, and having the girl about definitely made his secret harder to bear. Still, the time god's relief was not so great that it overshadowed his surprise at his daughter-in-law's announcement.
"Has Moira said why they would not be coming home this year?" he asked. Hades nodded.
"Setsuna's powers are developing most rapidly. She is communicating well with the Voices of the Dead." Hades laughed then. "Apparently, Mother is only just beginning to treat Setsuna like her granddaughter. She is funny that way. Even when I try to speak with her, she seems afraid of me, as if I stopped being her son the day I married Moira." Chronos smiled sadly, and nodded.
"Lora was always frightened of royalty." He sighed wistfully. "I miss you mother, my boy. I wish I could speak with her as you can. The link between our souls will only allow us to speak when she wishes to, and now that I live at the palace, well…you know how she is."
"Father, you speak as if you are not a god!" The god of time snorted.
"My dear boy, I am not Lady Pluto! The abilities of my fellow immortals are not mine to borrow! Lady Pluto and her descendants are the rulers of the afterlife. I am the god of time!" Hades chuckled heartily.
"Alright, Father, alright!" he laughed, parting his hands in mock surrender. "And I do not suppose that you could tell me how I came to possess the same powers as the royal line of Pluto? No, no. Speak not. I know that my gifts are merely a mysterious blessing from Lady Pluto, and the ways of a planetary goddess are not mine to understand."
"Nor are they mine." Chronos reminded his son.
"Yes, yes, I know." Hades conceded quickly, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. Then, more to himself than to his father, he added, "When the gods bless you with gifts, you must use them as they who sent them intended." Chronos raised an eyebrow at the King of Pluto.
"What is that you are saying, my son?"
"Oh, nothing of great importance. I am only acting like a father, longing for my beloved wife and our little one." Chronos grinned wryly.
"Well, as the child's grandfather, 'tis my unpleasant duty to inform you that your daughter is not so little anymore."
"I know this." The seriousness in Hades' tone startled Chronos. Turning to face his son, he found him to be unsmiling, which went quite against his nature. The man's eyes were grim at the prospect of his daughter growing up, without the bittersweet mix of joy and loss one would expect from a parent.
"For the love of Selene, boy!" the Time God exclaimed. "Why so gloomy?"
"Moira said that Setsuna is speaking with the Voices of the Dead. 'Twas less than two years ago that she teleported into my study with Princess Uranus and Princess Neptune."
"Children do grow up quickly," Chronos conceded with a sympathetic smile, "but such is beyond our power." Hades shook his head.
"Father, I know the manner in which a Sailor Soldier is trained, for it is in the same manner that one trains a priest such as myself. I know how long it takes to master each skill. Up until now, my child's powers have progressed as one would expect, but on her eighth birthday, she could not yet hear the Voices of the Dead, and now she can speak with them. When I spoke with Mother last, Setsuna had only heard them for the first time. That she can speak with them so soon…" Chronos suddenly understood why Moira wished to keep her daughter on the moon for her birthday this year.
"Do you believe her awakening is at hand?" he asked. His son nodded.
"I am almost certain."

When Setsuna first heard the Voices of the Dead, she had been awed. When, only a few weeks later, she had learned to speak with those souls she listened to, she had been most pleased with herself. When she began to feel their power coursing through her veins was when she finally started to feel afraid. This power, which came straight from the Voices themselves, was far stronger than the stuff she drew from her Aura—and more dangerous, too. This was the power she would unleash in her own special attack. Having it within her made her feel panicky. With this power, she could kill. Once, Setsuna asked her mother how she could develop her attack. Somehow, she imagined that once she had mastered an attack of her own, the powers she possessed would not seem so scary. Unfortunately, her mother's reply did not encourage her.
"There is little you can do, my child." Lady Moira told her gently. "It will come to you when the time is right. In the meantime, all you can do is continue listening to the Voices of the Dead, and wait for the power they provide you with to shape itself." So, Setsuna listened to the Voices—whether she wanted to or not. As soon as she was able to hear the Voices without going through the process of listening first, they had begun to come to her unbidden. She would hear then chattering through her morning lessons, at mealtimes, even as she was falling asleep! Setsuna opted not to tell her mother of the Voices' unexpected visits. She had found that if she refused to talk back, she would not feel that terrifying surge of power that made her lightheaded. Still, the whole business worried her. Was this supposed to happen?
It seemed to Setsuna that the day before her ninth birthday was the longest of her life. The Voices jabbered at her all through the morning, wishing her a happy birthday and nonsense like that. She knew they were only trying to be kind, but it made it so difficult to concentrate on her lessons! By lunchtime, Setsuna had had enough of their blathering.
Oh, just shut up, you great foolish things! She screamed at them, gritting her teeth and wadding her skirt up in her fists to keep from saying those words aloud. You mustn't speak to me if I do not ask it! Silence yourselves immediately!
Well, I never! The voice of a frumpy old woman huffed. Is this the way children respond to the good wishes of their elders?
Never mind, my dear. A man replied. Princess Pluto is correct. Now is not the proper time for such things. Our apologies, Highness. Good day. With that, the voices were quiet, and Setsuna was left to quell the power she had accidentally summoned in her outburst.
"Are you alright, Setsuna?" Haruka asked in a whisper. Setsuna realized that she had been glaring at her untouched meal. Not for the first time that day, she wished she were spending this birthday on Pluto as she had her others. Turning to her sandy-haired friend, Setsuna forced a smile.
"Yes, I am fine," she whispered back, and began to eat, although her stomach churned, and her hands shook so badly she could hardly hold her fork and knife. None too soon for Setsuna, lunch was over, and it was time for her final lesson of the day.
Without a word, Lady Moira seated herself, and gazed expectantly at her daughter. Setsuna's response was almost automatic. Standing in the center of the room, the princess closed her eyes, and lost herself in the warmth of the dark and silent void, calling for the Voices of the Dead.
The frightening rush of power came upon her faster and stronger than she had expected, its sheer force all but overpowering. Setsuna felt her heart begin to pound, and her throat suddenly tightened. Dizzy with power, Setsuna swayed dangerously, her legs threatening to give way beneath her. Control. She had to gain control over her magic. Forcing herself to breathe deeply, Setsuna sharply ordered her power to settle itself. Its very nature would force it to obey. She was the mistress. Her power was there to serve her. Meekly, her magic receded, fading into the background.
All was silent around her. The Voices of the Dead were quiet. Hello! Setsuna called. I am here! How are you today! She heard nothing. Her polite inquiry went unanswered. Setsuna frowned. What was going on? Usually, souls were speaking to her from the moment she entered the void until the moment she left it. Why were they not speaking to her now? Did they not know she was here?
I am here! She repeated. Come speak with me! There was no response from the Voices of the Dead. Setsuna tasted dread at the back of her throat. Hello? Was this some cruel joke? Were the Voices angry with her for refusing to speak with them all day? Were they now trying to turn the tables on her by refusing to speak with her? Trembling like a little child, Setsuna stretched both hands into the blackness, as if reaching for the Voices of the Dead. The void no longer felt warm. Arctic winds chilled her to the bone.
I am sorry! She cried in desperation. Please speak to me! Only silence answered her plea. Setsuna felt tears wetting her cheeks, but did not bother to wipe them away. They poured from her eyes in rivers, and she made no attempt to dam the flow. Setsuna shivered and sobbed heavily, feeling as wretched and miserable as a starving street orphan. Indeed, what was the difference in their situations? Setsuna was lost within a dark, unfeeling void, cold, frightened, and alone. She had been forsaken, abandoned by the Voices of the Dead.
Say something. She begged. Even in her mind, her voice was no stronger than a feeble whisper. Do not leave me alone.
Blessed warmth spread over her. Slowly, cautiously, Setsuna opened her eyes. She was back with her mother, standing in the middle of that familiar, well-lit room of the Silver Palace. Lady Moira was staring at her strangely, her expression a mixture of confusion and concern.
"Why, whatever is the matter, daughter?" she asked. Setsuna frowned for a moment, and then raised a hand to her cheek. It was wet and hot beneath her fingertips. For a reason she could not fathom, her heart began to beat faster.
"Mother, I…" She was cut off suddenly when a terrible, anguished scream pierced the air. Setsuna felt her blood run cold. The cry was so full of pain it was all she could do to keep from screaming herself until it had stopped. Quivering, the girl glanced about, searching for the source of the cry, but the only other person in the room was Lady Moira. Looking considerably alarmed, the Queen of Pluto gripped her daughter by the shoulders gently, kneeling before her in order to look her in the eye.
"My child," she said lowly, "what is the matter?" Setsuna blinked numbly at her mother. Had she not heard the scream?
"Mother…" Again the cry interrupted her, even louder and more terrible than before. Setsuna screamed before she could stop herself. Jerking away from her mother, she clapped her hands over her ears, desperate to shut out that horrible, horrible cry.
"Setsuna!" Lady Moira exclaimed fearfully, going to the girl and enfolding her in a tight embrace. "Tell me what is wrong, daughter! Please tell me!" Setsuna hardly heard her. Her head was too full of the screaming. Yes, the scream came from within her head. The girl trembled in her mother's arms. The Voices were speaking to her again. Or rather, screaming.
A seconding shriek was added to the first. This one sounded like a fierce battle cry, but it was laced heavily with rage and sorrow. Together, the two voices produced a painful discord, like a choir who lacked the skill and heart to sing. Suddenly, the power she had managed to push into the background came upon her again, so full and strong that it hurt. The force of it tore her from her mother's arms and sent her reeling backwards into the wall. Setsuna could not breathe. She was being choked by her power.
"Setsuna!" Lady Moira cried again as her child slumped against the wall. She wanted to go to the girl, to find some way to help her—even though she knew none existed. To get close to her daughter now would be suicide. There was nothing Moira could do except watch, and pray to the gods it ended quickly.
For all the power flowing through her, Setsuna was sure she had never felt weaker. She felt as though she were drunk on her magic. Her blood sang against her eardrums, burning in her veins one moment, and turning them to ice the next. Her breathing was shallow and labored, and sounded unnaturally dry and harsh to her own ears. And always, there was the hideous chorus of screams, and the excruciating pain of the magic building within her. There was no way to force it back, no way to stop the pain.
No, there was one way. Setsuna forced her eyes open. Although her vision swam, she could still make out Lady Moira standing before her. Setsuna wanted to tell her mother to move, to get out of the room to someplace safe, but did not have the strength. What little strength she did have would have to be put into the task she was about to perform. Slowly, she reached out with a shaking hand.
"Dead Scream," whispered Setsuna. Her power left her in a rush. She saw it approaching her mother with blinding speed, glowing an eerie purplish color, and in that moment, the princess knew what is was to lose her innocence. Then, her world went black.

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Hee, hee! Cliffhanger! I'm so mean, aren't I? Anyway, I would like to extend my thanks to my lovely new editor, Alex. You all should be thanking her, too, because her proof-reading will save me time, and her nagging will motivate me to get off my lazy ass and write, so I'm pretty sure these chapters will be coming out a lot faster now. Of course, your reviews will help, too. (hint, hint)