Chapter 2: New Beginnings for Kirika and Mireille.
Mireille sat at the pool table clicking away at her laptop computer. Kirika was going to be visiting today. Since their narrow escape Kirika had decided to go on her own personal journey, to try and make a peaceful life for herself. Kirika had gotten a part time job and a small apartment to live in. She missed Mireille but knew that it was probably best they didn't stay in the same penthouse.
Kirika didn't want to take the chance of relapsing into that state she'd been when she tried to kill Mireille at Altena's Manor. It hurt her to think she could've killed her friend. Mireille thought about Kirika's words to her after she decided to move out, "You're my friend. I don't want to take a chance of hurting you again. I'm going now, Mireiyu." Mireille was a little upset at the brief announcement of Kirika's leaving but understood what she was talking about. Mireille sighed and turned off her laptop.
She got up from her spot and started to tidy things up in the penthouse. She wanted things to look nice for Kirika's visit. The phone rang all the sudden, Mireille picked it up "Hello?" she asked. Silence…then "Noir is reborn." Came from the other end. Mireille's eyes widened "Who is this?" she demanded. The woman on the other end spoke again "Mireille, Altena may have died but her hatred did not. A follower of hers has selected three new inner trees. Please be careful Mireille." With that the mystery caller hung up. There was a knock at the door.
Mireille whirled around and looked through the peephole. It was Kirika. Mireille flung the door open and dragged Kirika (who looked confused) in. "Mireiyu?" Kirika asked in that familiar tone of voice. Mireille looked at her "You're alone, right?" Kirika blinked, then nodded "Un." She did her normal grunt. Mireille quickly slammed the door and locked it. "Why did you ask me that?" Kirika prompted. Mireille looked back at the phone "I got a call right before you knocked on the door." She went on to explain what happened with the call. "Altena had many followers…I wouldn't be surprised if one of them did try to bring back Noir and then…we would be a good target for them." Mireille looked at Kirika, "Then we should be on guard." Kirika nodded "Un."
Mireille looked down; "No matter what we try to do to escape our pasts they come back to haunt us in one way or another." She muttered to herself. Kirika looked away, she knew Mireille was right. Mireille wandered over to her dresser she opened the top drawer where her gun was she knew she'd have to be careful and taking her gun with her everywhere she went was one way to be safe. She loaded it up and placed it in her handbag.
Several years passed and the new trees were growing strong and fearsome. Bali herself had almost become the exact shadow of Chloe. Madeline seemed to have her head together but in a frightening way. Adelirose was the farthest along of all of them and Elizabeth was always right behind them. One day Bali and Madeline were sent out to fulfill a mission. Bali seemed to be fond of the sword and often used one. Madeline on the other hand liked to use a different weapon each trial. "You and Bali are to kill someone very close to the elders. Her name is Mona; she was a former Soldat but betrayed us. This attack will bring you close to the Soldats traitors so be careful. Remember Soldats is with you and so am I. Now go." Bali and Madeline nodded "Yes Madame Elizabeth, may the Black Hand keep you warm." Bali and Madeline pulled on their cloaks and grabbed their swords and went off, heading for Paris.
Mireille had been chatting lately with a policewoman named Mona. They had become good friends and Mireille felt no need to be afraid since to her, Noir was dead. Kirika kept her eye out for any suspicious things about Mireille's new friend and anything that might be suspicious in the general area of Paris. Kirika had moved back in with Mireille for extra protection since they were still on guard since that phone call Mireille had gotten. "Kirika, There has been no sign of any movement from Soldats… do you think that phone call was for real?"
Kirika nodded "Un. If it wasn't for real who else would know about that happened with Soldats and why would they go through the trouble to call you about it?" Mireille just looked at Kirika and then picked her handbag up. "I'm going out, are you coming or not?" Kirika got up from her spot and followed Mireille out the door. Kirika quietly walked after Mireille down the street not even asking where they were going. She didn't need to; Mireille turned around "You know where we're going right?" she asked Kirika who in turn nodded and made her grunt "Un." Mireille smiled "Good, but I'm telling you anyway. We're going to see Mona. She's with the police but I get the feeling there's more to her story. That's why I'm brining you along." Kirika cautiously asked Mireille "do you think she's part of Soldats?" Mireille shook her head "I don't know. She might be." They walked up the steps to an old apartment building.
Mona lived on the top floor. Mireille and Kirika didn't even notice the cloaked women trailing behind them. They reached the stairs and went up. The cloaked women followed so silently that you would almost believe they were supernatural apparitions. Mireille and Kirika walked up to Mona's door. Mireille knocked "Mona! Are you home?" she asked. Mona answered the door "Ah! Mireille my friend, please come in and who is this you have brought with you?" Mona's voice drifted at her last few words when she stared at Kirika's face. "Mireille…who is this?" Mona asked again. Mireille looked down at Kirika "This is Kirika. Do you know her, Mona?" Mona looked troubled "Why yes…actually I do." Mona ushered them both in. The two cloaked women that were on the staircase hid in the dark hallway. Mona sat down and Mireille did likewise, Kirika just stood. Mona held her head in her hands, "Mireille…do you know who this is?" she asked about Kirika. Mireille nodded. Mona looked up "So it's true. Noir is here." Mireille's eyes narrowed "Kirika and I are not Noir." Mona shook her head "No no of course not…not you…but SHE is." Mona looked at Kirika who took a step back. Mireille calmly looked in Kirika's direction and said "Correction, she WAS." Mireille looked back at Mona "So, you're a Soldat hmm?" Mona looked down, ashamed "Yes. Or I was. I left Soldats after they sent her out into the world." Once again a reference to Kirika.
Mireille got up. "That was all I needed to know." Mireille left out the door Kirika following behind. No sooner did they get to the stairs when they heard a scream coming from Mona's apartment. Kirika looked at Mireille. Both grabbed their guns, cocked, loaded them and rushed back to the apartment. Mireille flung the door open, Kirika aimed her gun at one of the two cloaked figures that had invaded Mona's apartment. Mona was lying on the ground staring up at the two cloaked figures. Mireille aimed her gun at the other one. The two chanted in unison "Noir, The name of destiny that has been ordained in the past. Two maidens who reign over death. The Dark Spirit, please guide the lost child. Lead the child back from the edge."
Mireille's eyes widened at this chant "No…ir?" Kirika had the same shocked look. Once the chant was done both figures pulled out swords one had a silver sword the other a gold one. Mireille fired a shot at the one with the gold sword. The figure spun around and deflected the bullet with her sword. Mireille was shocked; she'd NEVER missed before! She turned to Kirika "Kirika! Surely we can do something!" Kirika was at a loss for words but fired several shots at the figures all dodged. The two figures were barely fazed and raised both their swords high above their heads and plunged them into Mona's chest. Mireille screamed the first time she'd done that in a very long time. Kirika came to Mireille's side. Mireille looked up at the two figures that were now facing them "Who are you?" she demanded angrily. The two looked down at her; "We are the ones to be ordained Noir." They said perfectly once again in unison.
It was a situation that reminded Mireille so much both of her parents death so long ago and the first time that they had met Chloe. A window was open and the two figures spun around and jumped out of it. Kirika rushed to the windowsill no sign anywhere of the two cloaked women! Kirika looked slightly upset. Mireille had rushed to Mona's side who was barely clinging to life "Mireille…new…inner…trees…Altena's…followers." With that Mona died. Mireille began to weep "Heaven forbid I have any friends…" she muttered to herself. Kirika kneeled down by Mona's body "Mireiyu, Even when we leave the darkness. The darkness follows us still. Shadows of our pasts, memories that don't seem to fit, anything." Mireille hung her head and got up from her spot. Kirika did the same. They wandered on home not even speaking a word to each other. So many thoughts ran through their minds. The cloaked women, the phone call, Mona's last words…so many things.
Mireille sat at the pool table clicking away at her laptop computer. Kirika was going to be visiting today. Since their narrow escape Kirika had decided to go on her own personal journey, to try and make a peaceful life for herself. Kirika had gotten a part time job and a small apartment to live in. She missed Mireille but knew that it was probably best they didn't stay in the same penthouse.
Kirika didn't want to take the chance of relapsing into that state she'd been when she tried to kill Mireille at Altena's Manor. It hurt her to think she could've killed her friend. Mireille thought about Kirika's words to her after she decided to move out, "You're my friend. I don't want to take a chance of hurting you again. I'm going now, Mireiyu." Mireille was a little upset at the brief announcement of Kirika's leaving but understood what she was talking about. Mireille sighed and turned off her laptop.
She got up from her spot and started to tidy things up in the penthouse. She wanted things to look nice for Kirika's visit. The phone rang all the sudden, Mireille picked it up "Hello?" she asked. Silence…then "Noir is reborn." Came from the other end. Mireille's eyes widened "Who is this?" she demanded. The woman on the other end spoke again "Mireille, Altena may have died but her hatred did not. A follower of hers has selected three new inner trees. Please be careful Mireille." With that the mystery caller hung up. There was a knock at the door.
Mireille whirled around and looked through the peephole. It was Kirika. Mireille flung the door open and dragged Kirika (who looked confused) in. "Mireiyu?" Kirika asked in that familiar tone of voice. Mireille looked at her "You're alone, right?" Kirika blinked, then nodded "Un." She did her normal grunt. Mireille quickly slammed the door and locked it. "Why did you ask me that?" Kirika prompted. Mireille looked back at the phone "I got a call right before you knocked on the door." She went on to explain what happened with the call. "Altena had many followers…I wouldn't be surprised if one of them did try to bring back Noir and then…we would be a good target for them." Mireille looked at Kirika, "Then we should be on guard." Kirika nodded "Un."
Mireille looked down; "No matter what we try to do to escape our pasts they come back to haunt us in one way or another." She muttered to herself. Kirika looked away, she knew Mireille was right. Mireille wandered over to her dresser she opened the top drawer where her gun was she knew she'd have to be careful and taking her gun with her everywhere she went was one way to be safe. She loaded it up and placed it in her handbag.
Several years passed and the new trees were growing strong and fearsome. Bali herself had almost become the exact shadow of Chloe. Madeline seemed to have her head together but in a frightening way. Adelirose was the farthest along of all of them and Elizabeth was always right behind them. One day Bali and Madeline were sent out to fulfill a mission. Bali seemed to be fond of the sword and often used one. Madeline on the other hand liked to use a different weapon each trial. "You and Bali are to kill someone very close to the elders. Her name is Mona; she was a former Soldat but betrayed us. This attack will bring you close to the Soldats traitors so be careful. Remember Soldats is with you and so am I. Now go." Bali and Madeline nodded "Yes Madame Elizabeth, may the Black Hand keep you warm." Bali and Madeline pulled on their cloaks and grabbed their swords and went off, heading for Paris.
Mireille had been chatting lately with a policewoman named Mona. They had become good friends and Mireille felt no need to be afraid since to her, Noir was dead. Kirika kept her eye out for any suspicious things about Mireille's new friend and anything that might be suspicious in the general area of Paris. Kirika had moved back in with Mireille for extra protection since they were still on guard since that phone call Mireille had gotten. "Kirika, There has been no sign of any movement from Soldats… do you think that phone call was for real?"
Kirika nodded "Un. If it wasn't for real who else would know about that happened with Soldats and why would they go through the trouble to call you about it?" Mireille just looked at Kirika and then picked her handbag up. "I'm going out, are you coming or not?" Kirika got up from her spot and followed Mireille out the door. Kirika quietly walked after Mireille down the street not even asking where they were going. She didn't need to; Mireille turned around "You know where we're going right?" she asked Kirika who in turn nodded and made her grunt "Un." Mireille smiled "Good, but I'm telling you anyway. We're going to see Mona. She's with the police but I get the feeling there's more to her story. That's why I'm brining you along." Kirika cautiously asked Mireille "do you think she's part of Soldats?" Mireille shook her head "I don't know. She might be." They walked up the steps to an old apartment building.
Mona lived on the top floor. Mireille and Kirika didn't even notice the cloaked women trailing behind them. They reached the stairs and went up. The cloaked women followed so silently that you would almost believe they were supernatural apparitions. Mireille and Kirika walked up to Mona's door. Mireille knocked "Mona! Are you home?" she asked. Mona answered the door "Ah! Mireille my friend, please come in and who is this you have brought with you?" Mona's voice drifted at her last few words when she stared at Kirika's face. "Mireille…who is this?" Mona asked again. Mireille looked down at Kirika "This is Kirika. Do you know her, Mona?" Mona looked troubled "Why yes…actually I do." Mona ushered them both in. The two cloaked women that were on the staircase hid in the dark hallway. Mona sat down and Mireille did likewise, Kirika just stood. Mona held her head in her hands, "Mireille…do you know who this is?" she asked about Kirika. Mireille nodded. Mona looked up "So it's true. Noir is here." Mireille's eyes narrowed "Kirika and I are not Noir." Mona shook her head "No no of course not…not you…but SHE is." Mona looked at Kirika who took a step back. Mireille calmly looked in Kirika's direction and said "Correction, she WAS." Mireille looked back at Mona "So, you're a Soldat hmm?" Mona looked down, ashamed "Yes. Or I was. I left Soldats after they sent her out into the world." Once again a reference to Kirika.
Mireille got up. "That was all I needed to know." Mireille left out the door Kirika following behind. No sooner did they get to the stairs when they heard a scream coming from Mona's apartment. Kirika looked at Mireille. Both grabbed their guns, cocked, loaded them and rushed back to the apartment. Mireille flung the door open, Kirika aimed her gun at one of the two cloaked figures that had invaded Mona's apartment. Mona was lying on the ground staring up at the two cloaked figures. Mireille aimed her gun at the other one. The two chanted in unison "Noir, The name of destiny that has been ordained in the past. Two maidens who reign over death. The Dark Spirit, please guide the lost child. Lead the child back from the edge."
Mireille's eyes widened at this chant "No…ir?" Kirika had the same shocked look. Once the chant was done both figures pulled out swords one had a silver sword the other a gold one. Mireille fired a shot at the one with the gold sword. The figure spun around and deflected the bullet with her sword. Mireille was shocked; she'd NEVER missed before! She turned to Kirika "Kirika! Surely we can do something!" Kirika was at a loss for words but fired several shots at the figures all dodged. The two figures were barely fazed and raised both their swords high above their heads and plunged them into Mona's chest. Mireille screamed the first time she'd done that in a very long time. Kirika came to Mireille's side. Mireille looked up at the two figures that were now facing them "Who are you?" she demanded angrily. The two looked down at her; "We are the ones to be ordained Noir." They said perfectly once again in unison.
It was a situation that reminded Mireille so much both of her parents death so long ago and the first time that they had met Chloe. A window was open and the two figures spun around and jumped out of it. Kirika rushed to the windowsill no sign anywhere of the two cloaked women! Kirika looked slightly upset. Mireille had rushed to Mona's side who was barely clinging to life "Mireille…new…inner…trees…Altena's…followers." With that Mona died. Mireille began to weep "Heaven forbid I have any friends…" she muttered to herself. Kirika kneeled down by Mona's body "Mireiyu, Even when we leave the darkness. The darkness follows us still. Shadows of our pasts, memories that don't seem to fit, anything." Mireille hung her head and got up from her spot. Kirika did the same. They wandered on home not even speaking a word to each other. So many thoughts ran through their minds. The cloaked women, the phone call, Mona's last words…so many things.