Author's Notes: Wow! I think that's the fastest I've ever received reviews. Go me! And go you for reviewing! Seeing as how the fic's been well-received by the few avid Noir fic readers, I'll continue quickly.

Twist of Fate – Change of Heart
Chapter Two – Change of Heart

Mireille gazed out the window in the wall opposite her, the moonlight that crept through the glass panes shedding a small square of light on the bed in which she lay. She had awaken what she guessed was nearing an hour ago to find herself tucked comfortably into a small bed in a very dark room. She wasn't sure where she was or how she'd gotten there, but as it occurred to her that she may need to plan an escape the events that had transpired at the Manor overtook her thoughts.

Kirika was dead, that much was true. Chloe was alive, to the extent of her knowledge, though where she did not know. So, where did that leave Mireille? Her family's killer, not to mention her best friend, was dead. Her stint as a member of Noir was over. Or was it?

The Soldats were not exactly a group to be trifled with, as Mireille well knew. Althena would still no doubt be bent on employing her remaining, what had she called them? Saplings? She would no doubt wish to employ her remaining saplings as her pawns. Mireille found her thoughts drifting to Chloe. Was she awake? Was she alive? Was she still angry at Kirika? Was she still bent on becoming Noir? With Mireille?

As the wind outside the window died down slowly Mireille's ears were able to pick out the faint sound of slow and steady breathing from somewhere within the dark room. Listening intently to the sleeping Chloe's breathing Mireille concentrated on regaining her drained stamina. Her inquiring hand found her leg wound under the covers, or found the dressing on the wound, rather. She twitched her leg slightly; and finding no pain as a result she sat up, placing her feet on the cold stone floor, facing the sound of Chloe's soft breathing.

Pushing herself up, she tenderly applied weight to her injured limb. Finding the gentle throb bearable she limped slowly in what she assumed was Chloe's direction. As her shins came in contact with the base of a bed she fumbled around in the darkness, finding Chloe's shoulder and shaking her lightly.

Chloe's voice was groggy and distant, so quiet Mireille was not sure if she had imagined the girl's subdued, "Kirika?"

Mireille cringed at the innocent girl's soft inquiry, taking her breath in sharply. Chloe was asking for Kirika? Did she not know what she had done? Mireille was at a loss for words. What should she say? How would Chloe react?

Chloe's hand reached up to where Mireille was grasping her shoulder, taking Mireille's hand softly in her own. Mireille merely gaped, not knowing what to say. It only took a moment for Chloe's grip to tighten into a vice-like hold around Mireille's slender fingers. The Corsican winced, whimpering a bit but holding her tongue, not knowing who else may be around in this strange dark room.

Chloe's voice was quiet, but like stone, "Who's there," she squeezed Mireille's fingers tighter, so tight the assassin feared they might splinter, "What have you done with Kirika?"

Mireille cringed, groaning a bit as she spoke quietly, "Chloe . . ."

Recognizing the Corsican's voice Chloe's grip loosened, but did not leave Mireille's fingers. She fumbled around in the darkness looking for a weapon of some sort, but finding none, she tugged Mireille's hand, pulling the Corsican closer. Quietly, she whispered to the silent assassin, her menacing tone apparent, "Where are we? Where is Kirika?"

Mireille swallowed hard and whispered back, "I don't know where we are. Kirika is . . . Kirika's—"

"Dead?" Chloe choked out her interruption.

"Yes," Mireille responded, bracing herself for the attack she knew would come. Chloe would no doubt blame Mireille somehow for what had happened. Mireille was wounded but she could still fight back, which she planned to do.

Anticipating an attack, Mireille was a bit surprised when Chloe merely released her hand from her grip and she heard her sigh quietly. "I thought . . . I thought it was just a nightmare," Chloe whimpered more to herself than to Mireille.

Mireille swallowed hard, tentatively sitting on the side of the bed next to the young girl and feeling for her hand, taking it in her own softly, "Chloe . . ."

Author Notes: Kay, so there will be at least four chapters, I've decided. Sorry this took me so long to write. If you can believe it I had everything up until 'Chloe whimpered more to herself than to Mireille' typed out the day after I posted the first chapter, just haven't got around to writing those last two sentences! Hehe, sorry bout that. Umm . . . other than that, check out my website, it's the roxxorz and has undergone major changes, and I'm finally writing more content for my Noir fansite, The Sin Within the Sin. It's getting there. Heh, but as you can see I'm lazy. E-mail me anytime, and I'll try and update soon. Review!