13
The Twins immediately halted and turned, the one sliding into the floor disappearing completely into the surface. "Who are you?" "I am nobody," Archangel replied calmly, his face utterly devoid of expression.
The Twin behind him materialized from the floor. "What is your program?" "I used to delete outdated programs. I am now outdated. I chose not to face deletion."
"Your current program?" Said the one behind him.
"That I am unsure of."
"Not sure?" said the one in front, now closing quickly. "What did the Merovingian tell you to do?"
"I regret to say that I have not yet met with him. I have only been outdated for a short time."
"If you delete outdated programs... then why were you on the ceiling?"
"And if you haven't met him, why are you inside the château?"
"I was on the ceiling because I have learned that it is easier to travel in that manner," his hand had not once left his sword hilt, "and I am here to meet with him. I doubt he is expecting me."
"Who modified your program to allow for that?"
"Then how did you get there?"
"I cannot tell, and I walked. A remarkable thing, walking."
"Cannot? Or will not?"
"Yes."
"No one can walk here. It's miles to anything."
"I told you: I am no one."
"You said no body... an interesting proposition," replied the one in back. Archangel kept his face strictly blank and remained silent. The Twins circled him once more. He stood still, watching their movements, trying to get a feel for their fighting style. "How did you get through the locked door?"
"It wasn't locked," he replied.
"How do you feel about the Oracle?"
He shrugged. "She exists, that is all I know. I've not met her, therefore I do not hold an opinion."
"The Merovingian?"
"Same answer. However, I am more inclined to think that he will find me more useful than she would."
"Then how do you feel... about the humans? Both the coppertops and the 'free' ones."
"It depends on whether or not they are trying to kill me. As long as they stay out of my way…" He allowed himself a shrug.
They scrutinised him closely. "You need an appointment to meet with the Merovingian."
"I was unaware of that."
"He's a busy man... doesn't care for people interrupting his work... things happen to those people."
"Bad things, presumably…."
"Things like us happen to them."
"As I said."
"And he especially doesn't like people bothering him here... go to the club or the restaurant if you want to speak with him on matters of business."
Archangel considered his options. Run like hell seemed to be a good one. "Do you want to be thrown out by the front door, or into the city?" Yeah, run like hell was a good option. Hoping Seraph-san had had the sense to leave, Archangel leapt over the heads of the Twins and ran. The Twins instantly dematerialized and rushed after the rebel. Seraph followed them stealthily, eager to give Archangel any edge he needed should the two ghostlike programs catch the young rebel.
Archangel glanced over his shoulder and saw the ghosts. "Kuso!" he muttered, increasing his pace. The immaterial programs slipped into the walls and ceiling, quickly becoming unseen... and untraceable. Archangel released a short burst of language Poitin-san had taught him and ducked down the first corridor he saw, turning on his cell phone. "Salvo-san!"
There was no response on the cell.
He said another word taught to him by the Irishman and kept moving. Suddenly, one of the Twins popped up in front of him, raising his razor to slash. In a flash, Archangel had his kodachi drawn and swept it against the razor hard enough to knock it from the ghost's hand. The twin flashed immaterial, and the other flung the razor back that very moment, catching it in midair. Archangel's eyes narrowed. Not good at all….
He needed to get away from them, and fast.
Suddenly, a cascade of bullets zoomed through, shooting straight for the Twins. The apparitions faded from the material... and gave Angel a perfect window of opportunity.
He made good use of it, running through the wraiths and down the hall. Spotting a door, he ran through it and slammed it shut, pausing to catch his breath. Then he remembered that his pursuers could travel through solid objects and immediately sprang away from the door. Only then did he become aware of the woman in the room with him.
Persephone eyed the boy with a mix of curiosity and surprise. He bore an uncanny resemblance to the firewall Seraph -- not physical, of course, but definitely there. He kept his silver-black hair short, but long enough that it would be a definite pleasure to run her fingers through it. She couldn't see the colour of his eyes due to the dark sunglasses he wore, but she guessed them to be brown -- he was Asian, after all, Japanese to judge by his facial structure. Like Seraph, he wore a white jacket and pair of dark pants, the loose ones of martial artists. Again like Seraph, he wore an undershirt of a dark colour, though his was green where Seraph's was black.
There was a final similarity: Persephone had been programmed in a manner that gave her the ability to read the code of others, what humans referred to as auras. Both Seraph and this boy had auras that formed in the shape of wings. However, Seraph was a firewall. This child was human.
Of course, Seraph's true wings had long ago left him….
"Don't just stand there, boy," she said. "Come here." Slowly, he obeyed her. She stood and walked around him. "I wonder what one such as yourself is doing here, at my husband's home. One might think you have come to assassinate him." He stayed silent, expressionless. "Or," the Italian program continued, stopping in front of him and just barely looking up; he wasn't that much taller than she, "they might think you are here to rescue that human my husband is currently holding captive. Such loyalty you rebels have to each other."
Still he was silent. "Judging by the speed with which you entered my room, I think that the Twins are chasing you." She traced her finger down his chest; he was a handsome boy after all, and young enough that he'd be easy to play with. "I can help you, you know. I will lead you to your friend… but you must give me something in return." She could see him swallow and hid her smile. Altogether too easy.
"What?" he asked in a quiet tone. Ah, a handsome baritone to match his looks as well as an interesting accent. "I can see that you loved someone in your past, and that you lost her. To what, I do not know. However…," she reached up and took the sunglasses off, revealing dark brown eyes as emotionless as his face, "if you want me to help you, to protect you from my husband… I want you to kiss me." That got a reaction out of him. Shock flashed in his eyes, and she smiled in satisfaction. "I want you to kiss me as if I was her, that woman you loved."
He appeared to weigh the options, then at last nodded. He leaned in, gently cupping her face in his hands, and fulfilled her request. It was quite satisfying, but there was a trace of sadness in the kiss as well, a sadness that she knew well. She almost felt sorry for the young rebel.
At last he drew back, and Persephone smiled. "Good. Now--" she was interrupted by the door swinging open and the Merovingian striding in, Bastet at his heels and the Twins flanking him.
"Well... what 'ave we 'ere?"
"Hello, my love," Persephone said innocently. Archangel held still. He was very close to death, and he knew it. "Who are you?" the Merovingian asked Archangel.
"I am nobody," the boy replied.
"Zen no one will look for you in the dungeon," the Merovingian replied. The Twins moved out then, to secure the rebel; Archangel's hand dropped to his kodachi. He'd not go down without a fight.
"I invited him here," Persephone said.
"Zen why did he tell ze Twins different?"
"He was following my instructions," she shot back. The Merovingian looked closely at his wife and the boy. "Oh 'e was, was 'e?" Archangel kept his face carefully expressionless. "Can you not see the resemblance between him and Seraph?" she asked innocently.
"It is zere... but what does zat 'ave to do with anything?"
"He is much like Seraph was in his younger days… only he is not wingless."
Wingless! Does that mean that Seraph-san is the man who started Tenshi no Sento?
"I still fail to see ze import of zis."
"Then it is your loss, husband."
"We do not need another Seraph... one caused enough trouble as it is already."
"You did not ensure his loyalty, husband."
Seraph-san worked for this man!?
"And I suppose this one's loyalty is completely and totally ensured, without question?"
Persephone merely smiled. Bastet was hissing at Archangel, who remained outwardly stoic. The Merovingian smirked. "Take 'im to ze dungeon. We will figure out what to do with 'im later...." The Frenchman was interrupted when the barrel of a gun prodded against the back of his neck. "I do not think so," Seraph calmly replied.
Green eyes turned to blue as Sekhmet took advantage of Bastet's startled reaction and regained control. The Twins started to reach for their guns but halted as the Merovingian snapped, "Do not move, you imbeciles!" Archangel reached down, removing his sunglasses from Persephone's hands and then replacing them upon his face. "My apologies," he told her calmly. She pouted, as if he had betrayed her.
"You will take us to the rebel in your dungeon." Seraph ordered the Merovingian. He grumbled something under his breath. "Now," Sekhmet added, taking the remote from hid hand. Archangel took it from her and destroyed it with one of his shuriken.
EDITED.