Sinner's Descent
Thanks to the reviewers who took the time to read the story. And no, I can't answer any questions, because Tadpole will have my head if I do. And to sucks, our first flame after seven reviews, no, we don't do 'druhs', whatever that is, and if you wanna flame us, leave your email adress! Show some balls, people! Lol, altogether, the flame was hilarious, and you should read it, by clicking the number next to reviews, just so you can laugh. Now, on to chapter three.
Chapter Three-Moving Behind The Scenes
"Very well, Leonheart." Haschel abruptly dismissed his Advisor, turning to his large, glass windows with a marked frown. So, it seemed that Strife was unwilling to gain cooperation, which presented a greater problem than Haschel had anticipated. Turning with a sigh back to his office, he called for T.G., his partner in crime, as many preffered to put it.
It was a few minutes before the Thundergod arrived, as spick and span as usual. Shiny, polished boots, a crisp white shirt, and dressy black slacks. Haschel could almost laugh at his companion's apparel. It completely belied the wrong tone to Cid's adversaries, something that had greatly benefited them in their years of business together.
"Looking good today, Cid," Haschel said lightly, a smirk settling on his face as Cid gave a mock bow, seating himself across from Haschel.
"What brings me here, old boy?" T.G. inquired, settling down more comfortably in his chair and crossing one ankle over his raised knee. "I am a busy man, you know," he added, giving Haschel a conspiratol wink. Haschel chuckled, shaking his head as he extracted a file from his mountain of papers.
"I figured you would like to know about this," he said casually, tossing it at the Thungergod. Cid caught it easily, lifting the paper and snapping it rigid in a practiced motion as he whipped a set of spectacles out of his breast pocket. He gave a curt nod every now and then, his eyes narrowing with interest as he finally finished the paper.
"Considering what you've given me, Haschel, I'm assuming that you are ready for a plan of action?" Cid asked, putting the tip of his glasses between his teeth after sliding them off his nose. "And may I suggest something?" he added, cocking an eyebrow in Haschel's direction.
"Go right ahead. I'm open for new ideas," Haschel replied gravely, leveling Cid with a suspicious look.
"Please, get rid of the violet tie, Haschel, you dog. It's horrible in comparison to that shirt," Cid said, managing to keep a straight face. Haschel's lips twitched unusually, but he managed to refrain his smile as he gave a serious nod and look to his mentioned tie.
"I'll do that. Any ideas about Strife?" he asked, his chest rising sharply as he managed to turn a laugh into a cough. Cid chuckled, shaking his head and shrugging.
"Not a thing."
Haschel gave a condescending sigh, shaking his head and rolling his eyes as he snatched the file back from Cid. "Great lot of help you are, partner. Anyways, about what I was saying earlier. Perhaps we should pay old Sephiroth a visit. He's evaded us for quite some time, and it would be nice to stop and have a... Friendly chat, wouldn't you agree?" Haschel asked, giving the Thundergod a pointed look.
"Bring in the Negotiatior? Hmm, I like the way you think, old man. I'll get right on it. In the meantime, do go home and change that tie. I mean it, you know," Cid added, giving Haschel a jaunty wave before closing the doors to his office.
Maleficent walked slowly and deliberately through the halls of the building. She rushed for nobody, including the new found leader of Devil's Anthem. Giving the guards at the door to his elaborate office withering looks, she made no effort to speak as they snapped to attention, opening the doors quickly and silently, bowing low to the ground before slamming them shut behind her.
"Ansem," she said simply, inclining her head in silent respect. There were few, in her opinion, who could rival her power's of cunning and scheming, and Ansem was one of them. He was entitled to at least a small show of respect on her part.
"Maleficent," Ansem said, giving her a tight smile. He had been thoroughly evasive the past few days, missing appointments with his new Advisor's and associates. The thought made Maleficent return to her usual demeaning self, and she lifted her chin slightly. Unreliability was not something she tolerated.
"I assume you know why I am here," she said quietly, gazing at him steadily. He matched her eye contact, squinting as if he couldn't see her quite clearly. She lifted an eyebrow slowly, the action causing him to sigh.
"I have been busy, Maleficent." He stood from his chair, hands folded behind his back in a proper manner. Striding toward his filing cabinet, he ran his finger across the lock. The sliding drawer sprang open, and he thumbed through a few files before extracting one rather thick one. "You are here because of the book," he added, setting the file down on his desk.
Maleficent read the title silently, finally dragging her eyes back to Ansem after some time. "Yes."
"Well, don't worry about it. I am unawares as to who took it, though I have a very reasonable guess. Not many know of him," Ansem said, his face becoming blank as he stared back at the witch.
Maleficent let out a hollow, dry chuckle. "I know of the mercenary, Ansem." She narrowed her eyes, moving back toward the door. It was apparent that he would not release any information. "You would be wise to cease this nonsense of feigning innocence. It would also do you well to remember the trouble itcaused for our former leader," she added, pausing for better effect before walking slowly from the office.
Ansem narrowed his eyes at the closing doors, mentally cursing the sneaky witch. She wasn't to be trusted, no matter how usefull her prowess in planning would be. She was too shady and uncertain about her alliegance, something he was not interested in for his plan to overtake the Sectors of Midgar.
Sighing heavily, he thumbed through the file sitting on his desk. He opened it widely, his eyes landing on a single name. "It appears, Sephiroth, that you were quite the troublemaker with your little materia stunt. Perhaps a certain book holds your interest," he muttered, giving the paper a smug look before tossing it back onto his desk. He reached for his secretary's button. He had important things to take care of.
The rain landed heavily on the cement roads of Sector Six, Midgar, forming puddles along the sidewalks. It was a nuisance to many passersyby, as they were usually soaked from head to foot when speeding cars purposefully swerved into the puddles for sport.
Not many people were walking the sidewalks that night. It was cold and bitter in Sector Six, being a close relative of the weather-unreliable Sector Seven. All those who were walking the streets had on tightly pulled hoods and raincoats, making camouflage a very easy feat.
It served it's purpose for the two men standing silently in the alley behind the abandoned church. They were leaning casually under a small lean-to, no doubt built by adsent homeless folks, as if avoiding the rain. They were, however, waiting for a certain someone. Someone who was very important to the plans they had going. Very important indeed.
He arrived shortly, never one to be late for such an important meeting. A hood was pulled over his head, though a few tendrils of silver hair still protruded from the space beneath his ears. The other two snapped to attention when he neared them, his pace brisk and quick.
"Sephiroth. How kind of you to join us," the closest said.
"Cease the pleasantries, Kadaj," Sephiroth said curtly. He narrowed his eyes on his fellow silver-haired companion. "You're communications with the Mako?" he asked, his tone dulled by the pattering of the rain on the roof of the lean-to.
Kadaj managed a dry chuckle, shaking his head and lowering his hood slowly. "Much greater than we believed, Sephiroth. The pools should be thawed by the end of the year, if not sooner," he said crisply, the amusement draining from his face. Sephiroth smiled in satisfaction, though the action did not reach his eyes.
He turned slowly to their third companion, who had remained silent throughout the conversation. "How fares your interaction with the other Alliances?" Sephiroth asked quietly. His tone softened somewhat, though it was still very far from pleasant.
"Ansem has assumed leadership of Devil's Anthem. Haschel is currently hunting you, along with Seifer. Strife has no apparent interest, however," the man replied, his voice low and soft in pitch. Sephiroth nodded, turning back to Kadaj.
"See to it that the Mako plans run smoothly, Kadaj." With that, he resumed his walk on the rain-wettened streets of Sector Six, becoming nothing more than a lingering shadow before he disappeared into another side alley.
"Not a very pleasant fellow, is he?" Kadaj asked, turning to the silent man. His lips shifted in a mocking smile.
"Not very," the silent man agreed, giving a firm nod before disappearing as well.
The scent of lust permeated the air in a thick cloud, settling onto every thing and being in the room. It was laced into the rugs, the chairs, the sofas, even the women settled about on the furniture.
Seifer sat at the far end of the room, surrounded by an entourage of females, all stretched languidly on his lap, vying for his attention, their faces made up heavily. Seifer himself seemed uninterested in the women's attention. He had a thick, double-rolled cigar in his mouth, blowing a cloud of curtling smoke at the women as he scanned the room quickly with his eyes.
"Seifer, honey, don't you wanna have some fun?" one of the women asked, her voice low and purring as she ran an experienced hand over his knee and inner thigh. Seifer gave her a steady look, a smile creeping slowly onto his face. She was an attractive blonde with a killer form, something he looked for in all of his whores.
"Nah, I'm waitin' for someone," he said breezily, swatting her hand away. She gave an exaggerated pout, her hands coming to rest on his chest as she scooted even further onto his lap.
"But I thought I was special," she murmured, leaning in closely, pressing her feminine assets against him in a very seductive manner. "Don't you wanna see how special?" she purred, licking around the shell of his ear.
"Yo! Gippal, there you are!" Seifer called, nearly dumping the scantily clad woman off his lap as he stood to greet his Advisor. "I've been waitin' for an hour!"
"Seifer!" the woman objected, reaching up to grab his hand. Gippal joined Seifer, a feral grin plastered on his face as he eyed the woman.
"Later, Quisty, not now," Seifer said, sighing heavily as he nudged Gippal. "Back room," he ordered, marching across the women scattered about the floors and room, all awaiting the work day to start. "Hey, take it out front!" Seifer bellowed, startling the couple that lay entwined in the single bed contained in the room.
The woman, another blonde, rose quickly, unabashed at her nudity. The male, however, pulled on his shorts, hastily following the woman through the door. Gippal chuckled as he sank down in chair next to the bed, giving Seifer an envious look.
"Ain't you ever tempted?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and giving the rumpled bed a meaningful look. Seifer grinned widely, patting the bed fondly.
"I'm only tempted if they make their money," he replied smartly, settling down in a chair next to Gippal's. "So, did you find him?" he asked, turning to his Advisor.
Gippal shook his head in a defeated manner, his shoulders slumping heavily as he braced his arms on the chair rests. "No luck, man. The guy is fucking invisible. We got patrols in every Sector, and there's still no sight of him," Gippal replied. Seifer confirmed the news with a nod, gripping the armrest tightly.
"We gotta find him before those bastards at Gijitsu or Underground do! I already set the deal with that wierd witch up! I want that money, Gippal!" Seifer exclaimed, throwing his Advisor a testy look. Gippal grimaced, nodding his head in a quick manner.
"Yeah, I know, Seifer. I put up double effort on everything, so we'll see how that goes tomorrow. As for now, we ain't got shit," he said gravely, sighing and resting his cheek on his fist.
Seifer remained silent, opting instead to stare at the rumpled sheets on the bed. He finally stood up, nodding his head jerkily at Gippal. "See that it get's done, Gip," he said, swiftly exiting the room. Gippal stared after him for a while, throwing the door a dirty look.
"'See that it get's done, Gip'," he mocked with a sneer, giving the bed a frustrated look. Fucking Seifer and his arrogant ass. He stood abruptly, making his way to the door. He stopped short when it swung open, admitting a sultry looking female dressed in a bikini bottom and nothing else.
"Seifer said that you could use a distraction. My name's Alma," she said throatily, offering her hand, though it didn't reach for Gippal's own. Gippal smiled, looking back at the closed door. Fucking Seifer and his arrogant ass.
Chapter Three is all done! Everyone should bow, bow low and heavy, to Tadpole! God, I love her! She managed to find, for a hefty price, the one and only Mariah Carey CD I do not own, which I do now! Whoot! She finally found the Daydream CD! Yay! Heehehhee! Bow to Tadpole and her awesomeness, after you read and review!