Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm sorry this is late, I've been bogged down with my studies. Just some clarifications, since the last part was said to be a bit confusing. In that part, the place where the party was, the house of Lord Marcus, was attacked. Setsuna saved Minako, but with all the shock and confusion, nothing registered much to Minako. Later when the situation was controlled, meaning the attackers (Adonis and his minions) disappeared, Minako sees her father dying. Her father tells her, the stories of demons that he had been telling her since she was small were all true and that she is his heir. Now as to what I mean by that, well this chapter will explain it. So read, review and ask me anything else if you're confused.
*This is a Minako centric episode. The rest of the inners won't play a part here. The next chapter will deal with them.
CHAPTER III: ASCENSION
Tick tock…
…Tick tock…
…Tick tock.
The pendulum inside the wooden shell continued it incessant rhythm. The huge room was strangely silent, except for the incessant drone of an ancient clock. Besides it was an equally huge window draped and covered by heavy brocade. The pale afternoon sunlight creep in whatever pane that was not covered by the stifling cloth, it highlighted a huge room that was as cool and as impersonal as a tomb.
Amidst the haunting stillness sat Minako as she stared at her pale reflection in the mirror. Endless blue eyes stared back at her on a face framed by long golden hair twisted elegantly. Her hands fisted at her lap as she continued to stare. Everything felt so wrong to her yet her cool expressionless features carved into an aristocratic hauteur of white marble revealed none of her thoughts, even if underneath the cool facade laid a warm soul brimming with passion.
To see her as a leader of an organization that protected the world against darkness was to see a forgery of an adult. And yet, there was no other path she could take.
She fisted her hands even tighter, not caring if she felt the half-moon crescents of her nails dug into tender flesh.
Her image looked back at her. A form incased with a delicate white blouse buttoned right up the throat, pinned with a medallion with its ruffled cravat. Hugging her waist was the black band of her shirt which swirled delicately down to the floor. A fine lace shawl completed the effect as it lay draped at her shoulders.
She looked beautiful, every inch an elegant lady. It would have made her mother's eyes sparkle in approval. Her mother would have been adorned in a similar style. It was very much proper in her situation. And yet, she could not stand it.
'I am Minako Aino,' she whispered to herself, 'Heir to Ambassador Aino with the knighthood given by the Queen of England and his rank as peer of the realm and leader of the esteemed Section 13 as per orders of the UN.'
She had to be careful with this meeting. She had made a promise to her father upon his death. Never mind that all the pieces fell into place a few days ago. She had made a promise and a pact.
'Three days ago. They died three days ago and I have no time to mourn. It seems as if I had aged a lifetime in one unguarded moment.'
She was an adult now. It didn't matter she was only 12 years old or that the remaining Knights of the Round Table have come to assess her readiness to take the mantle of responsibility.
'Responsibility I never asked and yet am infinitely bound to,' she thought sadly, remembering the words she swore in that hellish night.
Yet, everything felt so unbearable to her. The layers of conservative clothes seemed to weigh down on her.
'This is pathetic,' she thought to herself, to this delicate woman in the glass blinking back. She looked so womanly beautiful, so untouchable. It was as though one glimpse of evil would reduce her to cliché tears like some damsel in distress in those fairytales.
'It is fine for the light within those silly dreams, but this is reality. A reality that will always be tinged in shadows,' she thought to herself, 'I am NOT a hapless maiden.'
The silence was suddenly shattered by the faint whoosh of the doors. She did nothing as she simply watched wordlessly the image reflected in the mirror of Setsuna slowly entering the room followed by a white cat.
"Setsuna. Artemis," she greeted them solemnly.
"You look pretty," Artemis spoke.
She felt herself flinch at those words. She knew Artemis meant well, yet those words seemed to twist at her soul.
"You'll fetch pretty penny at the toy store," Setsuna's almost mocking voice followed coupled by Artemis' outraged call.
She said nothing, knowing the truth in those words. But it cut, so much that the sting felt unbearable. What looked back at her, glossed as the prefect lady and her mantle of leadership, was a fraud. It wasn't her, just some dressed up doll.
She had worn dresses nearly all her life because she had been a child, a student. She was her father's little girl and the culmination of her ambitious mother's hope and dreams. But it was no longer that. She was no longer those things. Her parents were both gone now and all she had left was a promise that she would take her father's place. She had to be a leader now. All this dressed up, dolled up attire was nothing. It was meant to make her look the part of a proper aristocratic young lady, sitting gracefully and lady-like upon the seat of power. She had been told to wear this because it was what was said to be expected of her. But she wasn't a young lady simply handed the title of power, she had to be a warrior amongst an army.
"What do you see when you look at me?" she asked as she turned to face Setsuna with clear unblinking blue eyes.
"What do you want?" Setsuna asked, a cool look grazing her features.
"The truth."
Setsuna smiled as she replied thoughtfully yet bluntly, "I see a child, playing dress-up."
Another indignant snap followed the statement and yet both females ignored it. Two eyes stared back at each other, one in cool blues and the other in fiery blood red, one coming from a girl and another from a woman.
"Thank you," Minako at last spoke in a near whisper, breaking the silence.
"We better go now," Setsuna spoke as a reply, "They're here."
She said nothing anymore and simply stood to leave. Her gaze brushed the blue orbs of her cat companion as a sign of thanks before the wooden door shut ominously behind her. Her eyes closed for a brief instant, the sounds of movement reaching her ears.
"Come," she heard Setsuna beckon, causing her eyes to snap open. She watched the woman's retreating back and the calm unhurried stride that she presented, before she followed her wordlessly across the hall lined with massive portraits.
She ignored them, knowing these images of long dead men and women meant nothing to her. It was a relic of the manor's previous owner, before her father was given it and before she inherited it. But one grabbed her attention. She couldn't help but see it. It was a painting of the huge manor with its oppressive gothic elements. The sight of it seemed to weigh down her. The sheer size of the picture became a painful reminder.
Her gaze had turned inward. Flashes of memories were haunting her, memories of two days ago…
It felt so surreal, the ride across London and towards the city's outskirts. It was all under the gloom of silence and the pitter patter of rain as she sat besides the window, never looking anywhere except her hands. She still was haunted by that night, the night her parents died and the night her world turned upside down. It just happened yesterday and here she was riding across the city streets to fulfill her promise.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she never noticed that the car stopped or Setsuna, her companion, get out until she felt the cool sting of the rain.
"Ms. Aino," Roberts, the chauffer called gently as he stood there holding the door open for her and holding an umbrella.
She murmured her thanks as she stepped out, the gravel strewn path crunching beneath her shoes.
Her eyes widened with surprised at the sight of the structure before her. It was huge, an ancient pile with its hodgepodge of styles. It brought no comfort or admiration to her, only a sense of oppressiveness made even more by the pouring rain.
The door shut gently behind her and she slowly followed the retreating figure of Setsuna into the place.
Every step felt heavy, forced even. Not even her entry into the house or the dash of familiar faces of her father's staff brought warmth into her chilled soul. She barely remembered seeing the miles and miles of hallways and the only thing that struck her was the study. It looked so much like the study she knew her father used in the ambassadorial residence. They were nearly identical down to the scent of spicy cologne that lingered. The only difference was the sheer size of the room and the lines of bookshelves with its books.
"Sit down," she heard a man's voice speak. It was oily, slick like velvet and it made her skin crawl. Her gaze focused at the center of the room and she couldn't help but feel a flash of fury at the sight that greeted her. She found Adam, the traitor she knew before as Adonis, Languidly sitting on her father's chair with her father's desk. She savagely controlled her disgust and with an almost aristocratic hauteur, seated herself.
"Well Ms. Aino," Adam ever so slightly drawled, "What are you going to do?"
"Do what my father wishes," she answered simply, her voice admirably steady and cool while inwardly she seethed.
He stared at her piercing for a minute before leaning forward earnestly as he spoke, "Do you understand what your getting to?" in a cajoling manner.
"Perfectly," she replied, "My father did tell me everything, even if they were under the guise of his stories. And he did leave me everything I needed."
"But surely you are young!" he exclaimed. He sounded so false to her, the concern of his voice or the grandiose manner in which he moved.
"I assure you," she spoke, unable to contain the frigid tone in her voice, "that age doesn't have to do with anything."
He stared at her for an instant, a thoughtful look at his face as he walked towards her. She never flinched nor attempted to stand. She knew she must not show any fear as she calmly steeled herself.
"You don't like me," he said, more of a statement than a question.
"You are at my father's chair and a day hasn't passed since his death."
He laughed, the study bursting with his chuckles as he threw his head backward. She knew he was well aware he looked handsome. Every movement of his was after all calculated to gain admiration and to throw the observer under his spell, but not her, never her.
"Of course," he said at last while still trying to contain his chuckles, "My sincerest apologies, Ms Aino," as he bowed to grasped her hand and raise it to his lips.
Their eyes met and she snatched it away before her could press her lips at her hand. Coolly, she spoke, "If you may, I would like to be alone."
He grinned, seemingly unperturbed by her manner as he straightened up and fixed to leave while saying, "Very well then. The other knights know of your father's wish, they will come to test you two days from now. Good day, Ms. Aino," he greeted and the door clicked shut.
She remained seated, listening to the faint sound of footsteps growing softer and softer by each step. When blessed silence wrapped around the room, another voice shattered it.
"Was it wise?" she heard Setsuna speak behind her.
She wasn't surprised, fully aware of the silent observer in the little confrontation a minute ago. She didn't answer, yet Setsuna was unconcerned as she continued, "It would not be wise to make him an enemy. He is your guardian after all and your ascension is still shaky at best."
Silence. Setsuna's lips twitched at her reaction, or her lack of it.
"Section 13, after all…"
"Section 13 always had only one mission since its birth 7 years ago by the hands of my father," she suddenly spoke, cutting off whatever Setsuna was to say, "It is the extermination of those who have forsaken their humanity and those that made them, those monsters beneath humanity."
'Just like him,' her mind whispered like a promise.
"No exceptions?"
"No exceptions," she answered as she stood up to gaze by the window. She felt the woman's gaze boring at her back, yet she ignored it, just as she ignored the soft muffled thread of feet towards her.
"Even…"
She whirled around, well aware of the underlying meaning beneath those words. Her eyes turned stormy as an acknowledgement of everything that had happened so far.
"Don't mock me!"
Setsuna remained expressionless against her outburst, yet her eyes gleamed with something akin to triumph and amusement. Nothing was said and she was left all alone as Setsuna also turned to go. But not before she placed a silver pistol at the desk with an audible click and said, "Keep this with you at all times. Your father made it for you."
She said nothing, her gaze drawn to the gleaming weapon against the dark warmth of the wood.
…A faint sound of a clearing throat reached her ears, bringing her back to reality. She was now at the end of the hall and huge wooden doors loomed in front of her with Adam besides them. She imperceptibly straightened herself and stepped in, fully aware at the smirk dancing on the man's lips and Setsuna following silently behind her.
The grandfather's clock rang ominously. It was already 3 in the afternoon.
…Bong…
…bong…
…bong.
"Why do you keep on insisting he is still of use," an exasperated Beryl muttered, stretched upon a chaise. She was a picture of languidness; too much that she did not turn to face Metallia but simply muttered her complaint against the window of nothingness.
"He did complete his mission," came the amused reply.
"And he," Beryl snorted in disgust, "failed to kill her."
A slight smirk danced on Metallia's lips, the meaning of 'her' was not lost to her. She knew it had been one obsession of her companion for so long that even she did not know for how long. It seemed almost like an eternity, that burning hatred that consumed Beryl like the fires of hell. She walked towards the window and stood besides the lying figure. She flickered at glance, noting the thin ruby red lips that were twisted into a scowl.
"Did you really want her to go off easy?" she murmured in a seeming distraction yet it was filled with sly undertones.
The words stung to Beryl. It was like a sharp bite of a hissing viper that disappeared as quickly as it came. She stood up quickly in anger. Her body was like a tightly coiled spring as she towered over the virtually unconcerned figure of Metallia and spat out, "Are you…"
"Of course not," Metallia replied in a soothing tone as she interrupted the blooming tirade, "You have to have patience. You wouldn't want her to die ignorant of the pains of losing everything."
Slowly, Beryl's anger evaporated with those words. She then returned to her original position, although a frown decorated her painted lips.
"Don't worry," Metallia assured her, the coldness of void in her eyes disconcerting against the gleaming promise in her voice, "We'll destroy her little by little and Adonis…will lay the first chip."
He saw her again in his dreams. He always saw her, that ocean eyes woman with her forest green hair and sleek chocolate colored skin. He remembered when he first saw her, when his parents laid dead at his feet and when a man with graying blond hair and bright blue eyes took him in out of kindness. It was night, in his dreams as he lay huddled in the warmth of a bed of a seminarian house. She appeared to him then and every night after that with pictures of another woman with laughing emerald eyes. She would usually smile her sad smile, ask him questions, but most of the time, watch with him these pictures of the laughing emerald eyed woman. She was always in his dreams, but never like this. This is the first time she visited his daydreams.
"Nephrite," the tanned woman greeted him gently.
"I hate it when you call me that," he muttered, his brow furrowing, "I'm Nathan, Nathan Bernad. You have never called me by my name," he said mournfully.
"I'm sorry," she replied with a smile, "I just like it better."
He gave a slight sigh. He was used to this exchange of theirs, how he would always insist she use his name yet she never did. A companionable silence blanketed them.
"What do the stars say?" she spoke suddenly, her smile turning pensive.
He stared at her, his chocolate colored eyes showing his confusion at her question. He knew he told her about his gift, yet she never brought it up until now.
'Until now,' he thought, 'Why is it that everything happens now?'
He felt it strange and yet, he answered truthfully, "Vengeance."
"I see," she spoke ever so softly as she looked up against the imaginary forest they were in.
"Why…"
"They disapprove of it, right?" she spoke, interrupting him as her hair whipped as she turned to pin him with the intensity of her gaze.
He nodded dumbly in shock. His answer caused her to smile brilliantly, furthering his bewilderment. Her smile softened at the sight of his expression. Gently, she spoke, reaching out to him as she started to disappear. The forest blurred with her. Her mouth moved yet he couldn't seem to hear her. They seemed to say, "I'm sorry."
'You better go back now,' he heard her whisper in his mind, and before he could say anything, he found himself once again back to reality. He blinked, forcing his vision and mind to clear as he shook his head.
"Anything the matter, Nathan?" a gentle voice reached his ears.
He glanced beside himself, his eyes meeting a kindly old cardinal who he saw as his foster father give him a curious slight smile.
"Nothing, Cardinal Dante" he replied, his tone slightly evasive, "I just got lost in my thoughts."
"I see," the man replied in a knowing tone yet it held no rebuke, only acceptance that caused guilt to twitch his heart, "You better steel yourself then. Here she comes."
He looked at the door, following the gaze of the bishop and everyone else in the room, the remaining 10 men who fairly radiated confidence and arrogance in their power and influence. His jaw dropped when he saw her enter. He was so surprised. It was unexpected. He knew that the Japanese Ambassador, Sir Aino's daughter was young, but he never expected her to look so young or so fragile. He shifted uneasily in his seat, watching as the inquisition began. He couldn't help but pity her. A part of him could not help but see a young girl that would break at a moment's instance. He would have preferred if they would slay the dragons for her. They were men, and it would be such a shame to soil her delicate hands.
Yet even as he thought those things, he knew he cannot afford it. Nobody in this room can, for there was too much at stake.
'I'm sure you understand the danger and the urgency of the situation,' Cardinal Dante's voice echoed in his mind. It was the words his foster father spoke when he said aloud his doubts, 'We have to make sure her father's blood truly flows from her veins.'
He let the message echo repeatedly in his head. He told himself he couldn't pity her. He knew so well what was at stake. He could still remember the events of 7 years ago, when he was a young child of 10. He could still see the bloodied, hacked bodies of his parents as they lay dead on the cobblestone streets of Rome. He could still smell the gagging stench of blood that permeated the air as he stared in shock while a monstrous cloaked figure stalked towards him, claws flashing for the kill. He remembered how he waited for his death and how it never came. The steady stream of gunshots still echoing in his ears as the figure rained blood and turned to dust.
But what he truly could never forget was the sight of a blond man with bright blue eyes holding a smoking pistol while an empty cartridge lay at his feet, and a cardinal running to a stop towards the man. It was the night he first met Ambassador Aino and Cardinal Dante. It was the night he discovered of a newly found world of demons and monsters. It was the night he found a new life.
An immense explosion rang, yet it failed to rock the immense manor that had stood for centuries.
Setsuna watched dispassionately as confusion and even fear ran across most of the room's occupants. She saw them staring the huge windows to see the smoking husks of their cars and the mutilated bodies of their guards.
But what truly garnered her attention was the sight of Minako who had remained seated throughout everything. She wasn't a picture of calm yet, she was still too young. Yet her stiff form radiated determination and courage as her hand steadily closed around the gleaming black pistol that lay in front of her.
Setsuna watched with such intensity that she did not even flinch when the doors slammed open or when an inhuman man sauntered in with his contingent of demons. She never reacted unlike the others who drowned the rooms with their demands or cries of hopelessness. What caused a reaction, a smile to twitch her lips, was the sight of Minako immediately standing up and whirling about as she held the pistol in her hands. The sound of two gunshots rang as it hit the leader right at the heart and at the forehead, causing him to disintegrate into a pile of sand.
Silence.
Setsuna's smile widened into a smirk.
Two gunshots echoed ominously inside the room. It broke through the melee of sounds, leaving behind stunned silence. Everyone stared at the figure of Ambassador Aino's daughter who was the source of the shots. Her hands were surprising steady at the weapon.
"What a woman she would make," the Cardinal murmured softly. His voice was filled with admiration, and it was the sentiment echoed as well by Lord Marcus while the other knights simply stared in a multitude of emotions.
Everyone watched as she immediately aimed the gun at Adam, one of the aide de camps of the deceased Sir Aino.
"Call them off," Minako spoke, her voice laced with ice. It was an unusual; sound to hear from one as young as her, yet as she stood there in her unwavering stance, it fitted her well.
Adam did not answer, but instead calmly met her gaze. The air in the room was tense with anticipation and confusion as the two combatants engaged in a contest of wills. Then for what seemed like an eternity, he laughed.
It was a strange sound to hear against the death and destruction and the circle of savage demons, yet it held nearly everyone at its spell.
"You never trusted me, didn't you," he spoke. It was more of a statement than a question as ironic amusement still tinged his voice, "You had me followed, and I would presume Setsuna did the job. Or was it some else?" he asked, his tone taking a tone of an innuendo.
"Call them off," Minako spoke, ignoring the question as she enunciated every word. Her aim never wavered as her eyes narrowed, her fingers tightening at the trigger as she continued, "Adonis."
A stunned air followed her statement, all eyes were on them, yet Adam simply grinned. He looked unconcerned in his arrogance, triumphant even.
"I applaud your spy's vigilance," he spoke, his voice tinged with mockery, "He's very thorough," then his grin turned savage, "But what will that do for you?" he murmured as a cry of surprise rent through the air.
It was one of the demons that suddenly sprung up and held the Cardinal by the throat with a clawed hand as the other was poised to tear the man's body to shreds. The rest of the occupants stood frozen in uncertainty and palpable fear.
Minako's finger tightened even more at the trigger as she kept her gaze steady at the overconfident man in front of her. She refused to drop her guard and look at the sight the cry brought.
"Well Ms. Aino, what are you going to do?" he mocked with the exact same words he spoke to her days ago, the sinister edge now truly clear in his tone.
Silence.
"Choices, choices, choices," Adam continued his mockery, his voice was a whisper yet it rang clearly across the room, "How will you choose? Can you even choose?" he asked, his voice turning sly.
He watched in an almost sadistic glee as Minako's jaw tightened or that some of the knights look close to praying and begging. His eyes gleamed as he continued his scorn, "Do you want me to choose for you? In fact I'm sure you'd like it."
No response. His grin turned into a knowing smirk as he murmured, "Let's see."
What happened next was seemingly like a blur to nearly everyone. It was a morass of events, piled up one after another in rapid succession. It was like rapid fire snapshots of pictures. To nearly every, all they could see were flashes.
Claws moved to a kill as it descended towards the unflinching hostage. The sound of gunshots immediately followed, coming from Minako who shifted her aim slightly. Bullets zoom past, hitting precisely. Blood splattered in an orgy of violence as the Cardinal crashed to the ground wheezing. With incredible speed, Adam rushed towards Minako who immediately shifted her aim to him. It was all too late. He was too fast, too inhuman. The full windows shattered as the shots turn wild. Blood poured and pandemonium erupted. Glass rained down in a delicate and deadly dance, sending everyone down to their knees with their hands covering their faces as much as they can. Too many sounds echoed amidst the ruin of the grand room. A final crash, then silence.
"SHE'S ESCAPED!"
Nathan cringed as he attempted to cover himself from the raining glass. Crawling across the ruin strewn form, he cautiously reached his foster father who laid nearest to the shattering windows.
"Father Dante," he whispered urgently, he was so worried that he unknowing returned the fond titles he used to call the Cardinal in his youth, "Are you all right?"
He saw the man nod and gave him a comforting smile as both of them continued to stoop against the sights and sounds of destruction. But much to his surprise, just as sudden as the violence started did it suddenly end as well. He raised his head cautiously and cringed when a sheer undulated cry of rage echoed all around.
"SHE"S ESCAPED!" Adam, the cause of it all, roared.
Oddly, the roar was followed by a husky mocking feminine laugh that caught everyone's attention. Nathan couldn't help but stare in shock and confusion as he stared at the other aide de camp, Setsuna, who was laughing with such gusto that she was all but lost in her sardonic merriment.
"WHAT do you think you're doing?!" Adam practically growled, the first word he spoke was a force to reckon in itself.
Nathan felt like he was watching a surreal play as the laughter abruptly stop yet the sardonic amusement remained as the tanned woman turned to face the raging traitor. There was a sarcastic smirk in her lips as she replied, "Shouldn't you be asking that yourself?"
The question hung in the air as she fearlessly walked towards Adam who seemed ready to explode.
"After all," Setsuna whispered slyly when she was just right in front of him, "an incompetent traitor such as you wouldn't stand a chance if you continue to dally."
Everyone gaped at her in surprise at the nerve she displayed while Adam snarled angrily. With the sheer power of his rage, he sent both of them at the wall, slamming Setsuna painfully at the ancient stone. It brought winces to everyone watching, yet she seemed unconcerned and unaffected as she continued to watch Adam with the same sarcastic smile.
"Well?" Setsuna queried in a bored tone, absolutely undaunted by the fact that she was pinned to the wall by a raging man who could kill her or have her killed in a second.
Both combatants stared unblinkingly at each other, one amused and the other in rage. A few seconds passed, although it seemed like an eternity to Nathan, Adam suddenly released Setsuna in a huff and stalked away. His voice rang with a promise as she spoke, "If we don't capture her in half an hour, you'll all die, but you're going be the first to die a painful death, Setsuna!" as he snarled her name.
The door shut ominously behind him and his minions as the sound of the lock being bolted was heard. Uneasiness reigned in everyone's mind and Nathan couldn't help but be drawn to Setsuna. He saw a smirk dance at her features as she spoke, "Heh? Do you think that's going to be easy Adonis? I'll give you 10 minutes and let's see whose going to return."
He stared at her in trepidation, every fiber of his being told him he wouldn't like to see what is to come.
Setsuna watched with amusement as one of the knights paced incessantly back and forth across the room, drawing annoyed and nervous looks from the rest. The steady rhythm and crunch of footsteps was a steady drone and to nearly everyone, it signaled the passage of time, amplifying their dread. But for her, she felt none of the dread and in its place was glee. To her, it had been so long since she had something akin to this entertaining. It was an unpredictable moment, an event teetering at the brink of a thousand possibilities.
She was Pluto, an immortal being that personified death and time. Death, because she brought death to anyone she wished to and held that void's power within her that even death itself could never claim her. Time, because as an immortal being, time was meaningless to her. She was beyond its effects and could bend it to almost every possible whim of hers. Contrary to popular belief, she did not guard time. Time was beyond guarding. But to her, ever single moment in time was a cause for an effect later in the future which will become another cause and another. Yet now was one of this rare moments that she cherished. This is one of the moments that even she was not certain of the future, not even a second of it for a multitude of different possibilities are flashing in her eyes.
"We have to do something!" the formerly pacing knight cried out in frustration, bringing Setsuna out of her thoughts. She looked at the scene unfolding in front of her with interest as she leaned back more comfortably against the wall.
"We're going to die!" the man continued, his Russian accent getting thicker in his agitation, "That girl, if she's wise would never be found so easily. Time's ticking, we'll all be killed."
Murmurs of agreement rose but it quickly died out when the British representative, Lord Marcus spoke, "Be reasonable. Eleven men, a boy and a woman are no match for monsters. We don't even have any weapons."
"I rather do something than simply cower, waiting for my death," the Russian shot back.
"I agree," another man seconded. It was the American representative.
Slowly, the room was abuzz with disagreements. Setsuna said nothing as she continued to observe them, yet the novelty of the event was beginning to disappear in her opinion. Her mind began to wander as she shut off the arguing voices.
Suddenly, something tugged on her awareness which quickly blossomed into movie screen. At first, she was fascinated and then triumphant as she watched the scene unfolded in her mind. The numerous possibilities have now slammed shut and only one remained. She felt herself smirk as she projected herself going down into one bended knee. 'Your orders?' her thoughts whispered even if there was no reply.
"Enough," Cardinal Dante's voice arrested her attention as the images faded from her head. Her vision focused as she watched the Vatican's representative literally drew everyone's attention and silence.
"Have faith," he continued, "The Dame Aino," he said, his words making his opinion very clear, "is her father's daughter, and she has proven minutes ago that his blood flows thickly in her veins."
Setsuna's smirk turned wider when she heard those words. Softly, she whispered to herself, "Dante, you won't be disappointed."
Suddenly, the door was flung open. Standing in the middle of the huge entrance was a wounded Minako whose left sleeve was soaked in blood. Behind and besides her were the disappearing signs of the dead monsters
There was shocked silence at the sight. Even though the Cardinal gave an impassioned plea of belief, it was not enough for them to believe a little girl capable of that. . But what was truly shocking was the sight of a seemingly delicate woman who stood and towered besides Minako. It was a woman with inky black hair and dark violet eyes whose death white skin was incased in a blackened violet gown and whose hand held a wicked glaive.
"The sleeping witch," murmurs from the knights rose as the sight of the woman who grinned savagely at the thick fear that coated the air.
"Saturn," Setsuna whispered as watched with a languid air of satisfaction, Minako heavily crossing the invisible line that determined the boundary between the room and the hall. Calmly, Minako raised her pistol and pointed it at the Russian representative.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" the man cried out.
"Don't play dumb," Minako replied dully.
The man's face contorted into a form of stubbornness as he opened his mouth to protest. Yet before he could speak, Minako savagely cut through his words.
"Your friend, before I killed him, told everything," she spat out, her words dripping with anger and sarcasm, "Those golems that killed those guards where the men you brought!" she hissed angrily as she flung an undeniable proof to her words. It was a shard of crystal that everyone knew so well. It was the fine line that made a person a human or a golem brought about by their free will.
The stone hit the floor, giving off a high pitch ring, jolting nearly everyone from the hypnotic path their gazes took as they followed the flung stone.
"Yes I did do it," the man admitted yet his voice took nothing but pride and a whole-hearted belief in his righteousness.
Setsuna felt laconic amusement as the man took on defending his stance with such fervor against the icy remoteness that seemed to crystallize around Minako. She found it amusing, his train of thought on how he felt that the Knights of the Round Table and Section 13 would crumble under the hands of a young girl, how the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few or one, and how he was only using Adonis in order to find out the heart of their weakness and end this drudgery of a shadow war. When his speech ended, she felt a need to needle Minako so she spoke at last.
"What are you going to do with him then?" she asked slyly.
"You can't kill me," the traitor protested, "You're still a child!"
Minako's features hardened as she raged back with such cold intensity, "I already stained my hands today! Another one won't matter."
Setsuna watched as Minako's lips tightened a bit or that her hands wavered ever so slightly. No one seemed to notice it, except her sharp eyes and she took delight in it.
"I think we should bring him to the court of law," a male's voice heavy with a French accent answered the question.
"I suppose," Minako murmured back.
An almost palpable sense of relief enveloped the Russian. He babbled on his relief as his hand slowly inched towards the inside of his suit in a gesture reminiscent of release.
Minako's blue eyes narrowed and she continued to speak against the babble, her voice turning stern, "But his crime is beyond the human court of law…"
As she finished her words, the man had pulled out a pistol from his jacket and depressed the trigger. Yet she was quicker, shooting him straight to the heart. The shot meant for her turns wild and grazes her cheek yet she doesn't even flinch as blood flows and soaks the white lace of her high-necked blouse. She simply looked on forward as she watched the man collapse into a heap.
Setsuna observed all of these events with a smirk. Her gaze never left Minako who continued to stare at the body of the man she killed. Silence was heavy in the air.
"Setsuna," she called out ever so softly, "The room is not suited any longer for the meeting. Please bring everyone to the conference room in the east wing."
"Of course," Setsuna murmured in assent, the smile still playing at her lips as she gave a half bow of respect and her eyes met the gleaming ones of Saturn.
Minako ignored it as she turned to go while the sound of approaching choppers and the screeching tires of armored trucks filled the air.
A silver haired man greeted Minako as she stepped out of the ruined room with its stunned occupants. She looked at him dully, for even she herself was stunned with her actions. She felt so dead yet the sight of the man seemed to lighten her a bit, even if there was nothing to smile about anymore. She supposed it was because the sight of him brought back those old memories of her, memories of another life and another father, a second father.
'Artemis,' he mind whispered, 'thank you,'
"I gave a distress call to Section 13's squads," the man spoke, "They're early. They were supposed to be out in a mission."
She said nothing, as she drew a little bit of comfort from her nearness to her 'father', before she began to walk across the long stretch of the call to reach the arriving troops. She sensed him fall into a step besides her, before his soothing voice reached her ears, "I better transform back now."
She stopped. Her body turned rigid at his words. She felt him looking at her in confusion but she ignored it. She did not deign to turn as she continued to stiffly stare forward into the expanse of the corridor.
"No," she spoke, increasing his confusion, "You'll be the family's steward from now on."
"And how will explain my sudden presence?"
"They won't," she assured him with such certainty, "You've been in my family for many years, long before I was born."
She began to stride across the hall once again, nearly leaving a stunned and bewildered Artemis who then swiftly caught up.
"I don't understand," he murmured.
"Use your mind suggestion techniques," she replied flatly, her expression cool, "I'll fill you up with the details later and I'll send Setsuna to put fake records in the government files."
"But…" he protested when a sigh from Minako stopped him.
She had stopped once again and her head was now slightly bowed. Slowly, she turned to face him yet she refused to meet his eyes.
"Artemis," she spoke in such a soft voice with a hint of a plea, "you heard what one of them though about me. I can't afford another one like that. These men will need a figure besides me, a man like them who was old enough and has been in this organization ever since it was formed. .."
She stopped speaking. Her voice trailed off, she couldn't continue on saying all the things she wanted to say. It was too much for her, right now, when all that is holding her together was sheer determination and an icy numbness.
Artemis' eyes soften and his hands reached out to Minako's tightly fisted ones. Gently, he smoothen them out as he spoke, "I understand. Let's start with the troops."
"Stand down," Minako spoke across the entrance as a flood of men rushed in, "The situation is under control."
Her expression remained cool as the blond haired man straightened up and looked at her at the eye with his piercing blue eyes. She felt surprise ripple across her, everything about the man was so familiar. It was too familiar.
'Uranus,' she heard Setsuna whisper with sly amusement in her mind.
She ignored it, earning her a laughter that slowly disappeared mockingly. She watched as the men slowly filed out and the man she knew once as Uranus remain.
He was watching her appraisingly, yet she did not let it bother her. Cooly, she spoke, "Are you Captain Harold El Fadil, leader of Section 13's Hunt and Disposal unit?"
"Aye!" he replied as he stiffened to attention, yet his eyes never left hers. Recognition gleamed in his eyes just as it sparkled in hers.
"As I said," she spoke, her voice flat and expressionless as she returned his stare with an equally flat expression, "the situation has been brought under control. The traitors are dead," he voice took on a bitter quality, "It is Adam, Sir Aino's aide de camp, and Vladimir Kruskov, the Russian representative. All that is needed is a clean up. Artemis will lead your men to it."
"He's been here for a long time then?" he asked, a dry knowing tinge in his voice.
"Yes," she replied with an equally dry tone, "Artemis has been the family's steward long before I was born…"
Her voice trailed off as she saw Harold's gaze shift to her right while a heavy choking presence intensified at the back of her brain. She knew what it meant as her eyes narrowed, yet she refused to acknowledge it or the savage disdain it alluded.
"Captain Harold," her voice cracked like a whip, sending his gaze back at her, "You will have two new specialized agents. I'm sure you'll be able to accommodate them," she spoke, irony lacing her voice.
"Two?" he asked, his gaze flickering once more to her right, "But I only see Saturn."
"Saturn and Pluto," she replied blandly as she turned to leave, murmuring, "Artemis, you take care of the rest."
She heard an equally murmured assent but a protest from the Captain stopped her. She twisted her head at the side, refusing to turn and face him as he spoke, "Do you realize how dangerous…"
"I intend to make good use of them," she spoke, cutting him off as her voice brooked no opposition. She did not wait for a reply and continued on her way. Her gaze met Saturn's savage grin who was calmly lounging at the railing of the grand staircase. The grin widened into something akin to a Cheshire cat which she ignored. But she could not ignore her contemptuous whisper in her mind, 'Are you still going back to those battering codgers?'
'I suggest you have a bit more respect,' she warned frostily, earning her a widening of that taunting smirk.
She refused to let it bother her as she swept past her and up the stairs, into the hall, yet the Cheshire cat grin remained embedded in her mind. Suddenly, she felt the stillness of the air at her back and a rustle of fabric as Saturn's mind once again spoke to hers, 'Of course, I'll even take a look. It's going to be interesting.'
Her eyes widened in realization as she whirled around, but all she saw was a fading black portal.
Setsuna watched with extreme boredom as the arguments in the room reached an excruciating degree. The knights were split in their decision, yet even with the high emotions running around, the arguments hurled back and forth have become stale beneath their redundancy. She had to stifle a yawn as she heard over and over again the concern of how could they trust Saturn, the sleeping witch or the destroyer.
'Bored?' Saturn's teasing whisper echoed in her mind.
'These old codgers have nothing better to talk about,' was her dry reply.
'Why don't you show them you're Pluto? That will give them something to talk about.'
'It's interesting,' she replied with a smirk, 'but you're forgetting Minako.'
A light chuckle rang in her mind, before Saturn spoke, 'Yes, it is going to be hard to do whatever we like…But you are right though, she is interesting.'
'Have I ever been wrong?'
Another laugh and Saturn replied, 'No, and she does promise to give us some more entertainment,' the last word spoken surreptitiously.
'Hunt and Disposal unit,' she murmured back in more of a statement than a question. She was distracted as felt a tingle of a nearing presence.
'The very same,' Saturn confirmed as a vision of her smiling savagely entered Setsuna's mind, 'Here she comes.'
'I know,' she replied.
As the words were spoken, the doors opened and Minako entered, plunging the room into silence. Setsuna watched with renewed interest as everyone took their seats. All eyes were still at the bloodied 12 year old girl and tension was high in the air. It increased even more at the appearance of Saturn.
Setsuna felt the beginnings of a smirk in her features as a few of the knights cried out and fear was thick in the sir, like butter.
"Why did you release her?!" one of the knights suddenly gained a voice. It was the Japanese representative, Senator Hino, whose demand was followed by numerous murmured assents.
'Well you little cowards,' Setsuna thought, amused on how most of the so-called knights seemed to gain courage in numbers.
"Her name is Saturn, and she is under the employ of Section 13," came Minako's dry reply.
"Employ?! Section 13?!," Senator Hino demanded, his voice getting progressively louder.
"What would you prefer then?" Minako riposted, "Saturn serves my family? It's just the same."
Silence greeted the statement, the implications and the many meanings clearly hung in the air.
"How sure are you then you could control her?" the senator broke the silence, his voice had lost its hysteria and was replaced by something calmer and more calculating.
Minako's eyes narrowed as Setsuna watched the wheels in the blonde's head literally turn.
"Saturn," Minako's voice cracked against the waiting silence.
Setsuna watched avidly as Saturn calmly glided behind the seated feature of the girl. She wasn't sure what was to happen, but she could literally taste a good entertainment.
"Do you want to test your glaive?" Minako continued, her gaze steadily boring into the Japanese representative, "On Senator Hino's neck."
Cries of fear and protest erupted from nearly everyone's lips. Saturn's lips burst into a full fledged grin as she sprang forward with her glaive drawn towards the designated target. The Japanese senator had fallen backward to his chair, nearly cowering in fear.
"Stop," Minako's voice rang commandingly against the din as Saturn's glaive stopped an inch from the man's neck. Silence reigned yet the air was thick with many thoughts as everyone stared at the still seated statue of a girl.
"Senator Hino," she spoke flatly at the man who continued to breathe harshly against the steel poised at his neck. The man was glaring at her yet she didn't seem to mind as she continued, "if I didn't control her, you would be dead and so would everyone…Saturn," she called, her gaze never wavering, "you may withdraw."
Everyone watched as the glaive withdrew and its owner returned to its former position behind the blond girl. They were almost a strange image, a woman of darkness and a girl of light.
"Well that settles it then," Lord Marcus spoke pleasantly, a sheer contrast to the uncomfortable tension, "Your knighting will be here 5 days from now, and a week from now, you'll have to fly to New York to receive your post from the UN Secretary General."
"Very well," she replied calmly, "Also, my father's funeral will be here, 3 days from now."
"Of course," Lord Marcus replied as he stood up, followed by everyone, "We'll all attend. Good day, Dame Aino."
Artemis calmly entered the conference room in the east wing after having led the knights out of the manor and into their rides. He was surprised to find Minako still seated, staring at nothing in particular. There was something about the air around her that stopped him from calling out her name.
"Artemis," she suddenly spoke with her back facing him, "inform my school. Tell me I'll be dropping out."
He was surprised and shocked even, but he said nothing.
"Also," she continued, "contact the proper authorities. I'm applying to be home schooled."
"If the request is rejected?" he asked, worry was clouding his mind at the listlessness of her demeanor.
"It won't. This is just a formality," was her weary reply.
He wanted to comfort her, yet he knew it was too late. She was beyond comforting, truly far gone underneath the weight of her duty. He had never felt so helpless, but helpless he was, and the only thing he could do was these little things to lighten her load.
"Is there anything else then?" he asked, forcing his voice to remain pleasant and soothing.
"Go to my father's closet," she answered in the same voice and manner, "His suits, have suits like that made for me and also pairs of white gloves and black pillbox hats. I'll also need a wire framed glasses, silver please."
He listened attentively, a dawning horror in him as her voice progressively got softer with each word.
"How many will I have made?" he asked cautiously.
"They're going to be my whole wardrobe."
"Your other clothes?" he asked, fighting to keep the dawning pain in his voice.
"Burn them."
He stared at her, pained. He was pained for her and for himself. He still could remember the smiling bright child she was at the early days of her youth in the silver millennium, and how it was lost during the crushing weight and weariness of duty. And now, even that weary girl who could still smile during the silver millennium was gone as well, replaced by an iron statue molded by destiny brought by age beget and lost in blood.
Okay, 3rd chapters finished. This is my longest ever. As you can see, the senshi here won't have any transformation sequences or lines. I really don't like that and I think it's going to clash with the whole feel of the story. Also, both Pluto and Saturn have an extremely different role in the silver millennium, seen by the way they treated Minako and Uranus' reactions of them. The silver millennium won't be all that rosy, it's an empire which means a lot. Don't worry, its all going to be revealed slowly, I promise. Also, Uranus in this story, both in the present and past, is a guy.
If there are anymore questions just ask. I'll be very happy to answer it. Reviews are very much appreciated as well. Good or bad, I don't care. But I would really really appreciate constructive criticism. Thank you again for those who reviewed, I hope you enjoy this.