Author's Note: Sorry this chapter has taken forever to be written but it has gone through at least three re-writes that may be posted up on my on-line journal one day. I am proud of this chapter and hope you will enjoy it. Let's see the Stallens belong at least in part to Amissa, my lovely long-suffering muse. How she can put up with my endless ramble, rewrites and musings, I'll never know but she's a saint for it. She also owns the Moon family. Thanks to Aku Maru and Saerry for helping me with this chapter. Read and review!

Chapter Six: The Aswin Incident

"Mallory, get your ass up!"

Gideon awoke with a start as he felt the covers ripped from him and someone push him out of bed. His training took over for a few moments, as he grabbed his wands and put them in their respective places: one on the inside of his coat, and the other resting on his hip. He pulled on his black boots and slide into his jacket, throwing a hand through his hair and staring blearily at the woman who had awaken him.

It was Art Stallens in full combat gear with her thick blond hair whipping around her like a snake and a look of grim bewilderment clouding her otherwise attractive features. She glared down at him with all the power and grit being both a Hecate royal and a Grunt could produce before moving to the door. Gideon followed, still uncertain of himself and trying for the most part to ignore the fact his entire squad had been alerted.

"Rex, Elwood," Stallens began ordering. "I want you to go down to Divination, and Charms and start pulling the Creatures. Stoker, Rowlings, take Transfiguration, and the Infirmary. You're to round up any Kaga and take them to the Gray Library for round up. Our orders are to contain the Kaga until we can get a better idea of what's going on here."

For a moment the four other Grunts stared at her blankly.

"You have your orders." Art snapped. "Move out! Mallory's with me."

Gideon turned the corner and bit his lip, unwilling to question Art when she was in such a mood but the distress on his comrade's face was enough to goad his curiosity on. He doubled-timed his steps to fall into pace beside her before speaking. "And what is our mission?"

"They killed Marlowe, Gid." She said instead and now Gideon could see tears welling up in Art's dark eyes. "They just killed him like that!"

It took a moment for this to collect in Gideon's mind and he wanted to stop and digest this. Marlowe Stallens. Dead. It seemed impossible. Marlowe was one of the most well loved Aurors in Hecate, Art's grandfather. A kind man, Marlowe was the type of person that never forgot a birthday, anniversary or other occasion his friends cared to remember. He was the kind of man that people wanted to imitate, even if somewhat harsh to his inferiors.

Stallens pushed the old man fiercely, depriving him of his cane and causing the man to fall backwards. The sight of the old man hitting the ground made the civilians in the room jump and squirm but the Hecate personnel didn't seem to notice. A few of the Auror were smiling, while the others lightly applauded. Malachi had turned away and reached over the bar to pick out a bottle to make a drink, completely ignoring the scene; he had taken off his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt revealing a small crooked string of numbers that were tattooed on the inside of his left forearm.

The sharp yell from the ballroom's doorway jerked Gideon's attention back to the scene. Stallens had the man's cane raised over his head as if he had meant to strike him with it, before his uncle Conaire had come to the rescue, following the example of the man Conaire had been talking to.

"Who…who killed him?" Gideon asked after a moment. "How…"

"Do you even need to ask?" Art demanded. "Rio did! That Kaga bitch stormed into his office early this morning, her and Nance probably…" She trailed off after naming Marlowe's Kaga Companion. Companions were those sent to protect and aid their Human Charge like a Guardian Angel. "Hawke found Nance and Marlowe dead."

"Rio killed them both?" Gideon pressed, trying desperately to avoid a truth that was tugging at the corner of his mind. If Rio was responsible for the death of an Auror, Hecate would be shaken. Rio was an uncrowned Queen of the Kaga. As she lead, others would follow…

War…

And right on cue, Claudia's words came back to haunt him.

"Rio has made us new again, proud. We no longer hide in shadow and in fear. She'll lead into revolution. Nothing will be the same anymore. The world is changing, and our time has come…The Angels will make war."

"There are others." Art said grimly. "We don't know how many, but there's others. We have Kaga disappearing from everywhere, bases all over the world…and Merlin knows how many Aurors they're killing before they run. The cowards!"

The Angels were rebelling. There was War in Heaven…

Like Claudia said.

"Who else?" Gideon demanded, his thoughts traveling to Claudia and Tristian, to their daughter. Fear took over, as his hands fell to his wands despite the fact he had no clear idea of what the monster he was about to slay looked like. "Any civilians injured? The Runes…"

Art made a disgusted sign. "You mean the Moon? As soon as Tristian heard about Marlowe Tristian took Claudia back to their Manor." A cold, vicious smile overtook Art's features. "But no worries. We'll get her soon enough."

Gideon made a note and decided it was best to keep silent from now on. He was lost, confused, and this would be as good a time as any to revert to silence and study the circumstances.

From what he saw, this "War" was just as confusing to the rest of Hecate Compound as it was to him. As he followed Art down one corridor and to another, he focused his attention on his surroundings. All around him there was tension in the air, panic. Civilians ran around in their colored-robes as the Aurors swept through Wing after Wing, snatching away the Kaga from their workstations and posts. He could hear some resisting verbally, as confused as their human counterparts as to what would was happening.

As if the Kaga didn't know they had just started a rebellion.

Something caught Gideon's eye and made him stop.

Two Aurors emerged from the Potions Wing, pulling a Kaga Companion with them as they tumbled into the main hall. The Kaga was giant compared to them both, and by far stronger. It was obvious in the way the Kaga swung his thick tree trunk arms forward to rip them from the Aurors. One of them pulled a wand and aimed at him.

"Give me reason." The Auror hissed. "Please!"

Gideon recognized this Auror.

"What do you know of my kind, Creator?" The man asked quietly, but his face was beginning to tighten around the eyes and his voice gradually became steely. "I am nothing to then the tattooed number and a tool for you."

"You are nothing to me then an enslaved beast that has its purposes." The second Auror hissed angrily. The first one reared up. "Remember your place. Kaiser might had treated you like an equal but you're still an animal."

The man's head never moved but Gideon saw his eyes scan the room, before forcing down his head. "Forgive me, sir." He whispered. "Allow me to attend to my Master one last time." There was a long beat. "Please."

"Get out of here, Creature!"

The other Auror from Kaiser's funeral, the one Severus had called Ward. The one who had promised revenge and now seemed ready to take it.

The Kaga reared up, and stared at the wand evenly. Even now, Gideon knew this Creature could rush Wade and take his weapon. Gideon couldn't understand why the Kaga hesitated.

"This isn't over."

The hate in Ward's eyes was thick and made his green eyes glittered like sharpened diamonds. But there was nothing in the Kaga's eyes that mirrored it in any respect. The Creature was instead staring down Ward's hate before shifting in his place uncomfortably. He seemed to exhale a prayer before speaking.

"Honorable sir…" The Kaga began softly, reaching his hands out slowly to show his goodwill. "I will not leave my Charge. My Master is weak, fragile…"

Gideon knew this was true. This Companion belonged to the Potions' Chair, an old sagely man that had none of Marlowe's polishing but every bit the love and compassion that made people gravitate towards him. If Marlowe was loved, the Potions Master was cherished. And judging by this Creature's actions, this devotion was not excluded to the Kaga.

"Who will protect him if not me?" The Creature continued in his earnest plea.

But Ward would have none of it. "Save your tricks, monster!"

"Fox?"

The old Potioner's voice rang against the white walls as he emerged from the office. His whole withered body shook and despite Ward's wand, the Kaga stepped forward to catch the Master as he stumbled. Gideon was shocked to see such gentleness coming from such a giant. But Fox was gentle with the old man, and moved in unison with him as if they had been together enough years to share in their hair turning gray.

"Fox, go with him." The old man whispered.

Fox seemed distressed by this but not because of fear. Again, Gideon seemed to understand that if he had wanted to, Fox could have overpowered Ward and his partner without so much as a second thought.

Could it be the Creature sincerely cared for his Charge?

"Your kind does not love."

"And you, Master?" Fox asked. "What will become of you?"

The man reached up and touched Fox's cheek. "I will wait for my son to return to me and you will return to me. You will be safe, I promise."
Gideon watched as Fox laughed, entertained with the idea that his weak Charge would feel the need to comfort him: an Angel. But after the smile had passed from Fox's lips, the Creature eased his Master into the arms of Ward's partner before bowing his head in submission to Ward. Ward countered by grabbing him roughly and throwing him towards the Gray Library.

Inhaling, Gideon thought back to the funeral. Marlowe and Ward were hardly gentlemen then, while the Kaga; like Kaiser's Alexi, and this one Fox, seemed to be nothing but submissive and respectful.

And he began to wonder how exactly where the Angels rebelling?

What he found when he caught up with Art didn't help appease this either.

Despite the pure horror and ugliest of the situation, Gideon couldn't help but feeling shocked at how insignificant Aswin Hecate looked.

Kaga were considered adults at age ten, and at seven; Gideon thought Aswin would be stronger, healthier then he appeared. He had pictured some ruddy lad, taller then his mates and fuller with a presence that captivated the room and made all those around him turn and take notice.

Instead, Aswin just seemed innocent, and almost weak in this innocence.

He reminded Gideon of the Elysian Fields, an awe-inspiring crystal cabinet that hid dust and broken pieces the owner hoped could not be seen behind the wonders of it's outward beauty. Aswin seemed poised and put together just like the Fields, a thing of beauty, which relied on it's grace to take away from the fact there was nothing underneath.

He was like a origami creation. Beautiful, elegant, but very, very fragile.

And like a discarded paper creature, he rested in death torn and stripped of his grace.

Gideon felt sick at just the sight of innocence, destroyed and found himself wondering what Aswin's last thoughts must have been.

As the nightmares ran though Gideon's mind, he took a step back and brought himself back to the moment, to the reality of the situation.

He was in the office of Master of Arms Tobias Helens and he was only one of a handful

of people who milled about the small crime scene in mute horror.

At the desk, as if she were ignorant of the two people who laid dead and naked in front of her, sat Victoria "Victory" Hawke. Hawke's stern face gave no sign to her thoughts or her emotions as she pushed a curl of gray hair away from her eyes and back behind her ear. Beside her, shuffling through the desk drawers, was her son Aiden "Phoenix" Hawke but he too wasn't speaking. They seemed too engrossed with Helens' files to speak, as if those papers could give any insight into what happened.

But Gideon knew. He had only to look at the scene and allow his mind- cultured and twisted by all those secret poisonous whispers his mother and her harpies had spoken over the years- work and wage what had happened. He thought idly how he never would have guessed his breeding to come in useful this way.

Aswin's body had been found slumped against the desk. The Prince's robes had been torn and his face (though redden and bruised) had been frozen in terror. There was blood under the boy's fingernails, signs of a struggle. There was a thick ring of purple bruising around Aswin's small neck and darker marks the size and shape of fingers.

Over the desk was Tobias Helens, a known pedophile. Helens was a great Auror, one of the best, if not the best and it was because of this talent, his little weakness was overlook. After all, he never touched human children, and because of the Kaga's views on age, it's not like he was really injuring any Kaga children. And also, it's not like the Creatures were here for any other reason then to serve the Humans in whatever purpose a human deemed fit.

That made it all better, right?

Apparently Rio Hecate hadn't thought so.

Gideon turned and saw Peru Arsan, a Kaga from a different base, sitting in a chair while Art Stallens and someone from Interrogations grilled him. Peru, Tobias' Companion, seemed perfectly unfazed by his Master's death. In fact, he seemed almost pleased with it. He sat calmly in his chair and answered the Aurors questions; he had no reason to lie.

Justice has been served, he said.

He had seen Tobias lure Aswin into his office. He heard the scuffle, and realized too late what had happened. Peru was about to go alert Auberon Fay about this but Tobias had stopped, sent him to fetch Marlowe instead. Marlowe returned and together a plan was formed. They would claim it was an accident.

Nance and Peru were horrified. But while Nance could not find the guts to disobey his Master, Peru could. He went for Rio as soon as Marlowe and Nance disappeared to find others to help in this deception.

Then things turned ugly. Rio had come unto the scene and enraged had beaten Tobias to death while Peru watched. Rio then turned on Marlowe for daring to come to Tobias' rescue. Nance had tried to defend his Charge, but both Peru and Rio overtook them. Others followed, (Peru claimed two: Ray Roth, and Mack Silk) and their Companions died with them. Then, they're bloody deed finished, Peru let Rio escape. Four other Kaga aided but he would give no names.

Gideon could tell Art didn't believe Peru about Nance and the others. It was true Silk and Roth's Companions had been found dead with their Masters but because of either hatred, or just the need to paint all of them evil, Art refused to believe any Kaga had died for their Charge. He walked forward, reaching out and feeling Art tense to his touch and then ease into his embrace. He only idly thought of Clare and what his beloved would say at the sight but the guilt dissipated as quickly as it had come. This was not some casual woman he was holding. It was Art. They had a history.

Besides, he always went back to Clare at the end.

Art craned her head and looked deep into his eyes, she took only a moment to gaze at his lips before leaning up for a kiss.

"What's happened? Let me through!"

Gideon pushed away from Art at the sound of the old voice. Sydney Van Ness entered with all the seriousness and pomp afforded to man of his breeding and standing at the Compound. He stood now, in his crimson robes, with an air of authority and dedication to him. He pushed his way past the Aurors, and personnel to Hawke. "Report, what do we have?"

Phoenix looked up for a second. "A problem for the Aurors and IA, not the Seers."

"Don't shut me out, Aiden. We've known each other too long for me to be shut out now."

"Let us do our job, Ness. We'll get him back…"

"Amissa just flooed me in hysterics! She says your boys stormed into the Runes Wing looking for Claudia and scared her half to death…and as soon as I can finally get her to stop screaming, Drake Hollis comes storming into my office saying my Chief's been taken." Gideon's ears perked up at that as he crept closer to the group. Sydney had dropped the act and leaned forward to whisper. "Aiden…there's talk that Rio took Jaron. Can you image what she can do if she…"

"We know." Victory Hawke cut him off. She raised her head and gave him a glare that could freeze water in the middle of the desert. "And that's to be kept under wraps till I say otherwise, understand?"

"It was Seen." He told her. "All of us can sense it. How long do you think it take till the Ovates find out? If he's compromised…if he falls into Shadow…"

"He has his Ovate with him." She assured him but she looked nervous. "That'll buy us some time. Can you get a reading on him?"

"I can't touch his power." Sydney shook his head. Then he glanced over, catching Gideon in his sights for the first time. Something occurred to him. "But I could probably sense Smith."

"Why are you here then?" She asked. "Take a squad and try and scout them out."

"Not a squad." Sydney said, pushing away and already making it to the door. "Rio will see us coming from a mile away. I only need a back-up." He paused for a moment. "Come on, Mallory. You're riding with me."

Gideon looked up, startled. "Wha…what? No, I'm just an Apprentice. A grunt under Laud…I can't…"

"New orders, Grunt." Aiden ordered. He rose and nodded. "You're to aide and assist Van Ness in anyway he needs. Move out and keep in touch."

He swallowed deeply and nodded, mumbling his reply and taking off to follow the Seer. Sydney was already down the hall, already with a form of action brewing in his head. Gideon had to run to catch up with the older man. His mind was swimming with so many questions; Gideon couldn't find a place to begin. He felt stifled suddenly in his uniform and presently he tugged on his collar to give him room to breath.

"Don't worry." He heard Sydney mutter beside him. "Just follow my lead and you'll be fine."

"I'm not afraid."

"You lie terribly."

Gideon swallowed and looked over. "Sir? What's happened?" He didn't know why, but had the distinct impression that Sydney had understood all that transpired today better then anyone else would. The Seer's unique perspective of seeing Hecate both as an Auror and civilian would afford him some wisdom the others couldn't have and he seemed just seasoned enough to understand the horrors and still recoil from them.

Sydney paused and looked at him. They were a few steps away from the Gray Library and as through all of Hecate, the hallway was bathed in sunlight that reflected off the white walls as if the Compound itself glowed. In his early days here, Gideon had thought the place was Heaven. But now, without its gray-clad Angels lurking around, Hecate seemed abandoned and cold. Gideon remained, feeling that way for a long time, waiting for Sydney to answer.

But it was not for the Seer to answer. After a moment, Gideon's head snapped to the direction of the Library. There were a great wail that rose to his ears, admit shouting as something poured from the Library. For a moment, Gideon forgot about Sydney, about his questions and his doubts and followed the noise…

He was not prepared for what he saw.

It would stay him forever, seared into his mind like some dark nightmare. It burst forth; burning like a star in his mind every time he dared called himself righteous and true. It would be his scarlet letter, his mark of shame that would forever take his world and change it. Never again would anything be black and white.

The Kaga were clustered together right outside the Library, with the strongest and the youngest pushed forward. He had always heard, jokingly, that for every Kaga you saw at the Compound there were at least two you didn't and now he saw how true that seemed. There dozens there, possibly hundreds, and they crowded together, forming a circle that three Aurors keep in check.

Ward was in the center of the circle; wand out and a sinister look on his face. Before him on the floor, kneeling with their hands bound behind their backs were six Kaga and among them faces Gideon recognized: the Potion Master's Companion Fox and Kaiser's own Alexi. Of the four remaining, three were women, although one could barely be called that. She looked no older then ten. The only other boy in the group looked seven, possibly younger. He was crying, glancing around the area frighteningly searching for something familiar.

The Kaga forced to watch were crying out, calling encouragements out to him and beseeching the Aurors for mercy. Several male Kaga, primed and hale, were motioning to take his place. Gideon saw a boy, not much older then the child, push past the barrier and run to the kid.

"Eoin!" Alexi shouted suddenly, and the world fell silent. "You have your post to attend to. Return to the others until you are called back."

Eoin's face twisted into an expression of pain and confusion. "No Wise-One." He replied in a broken voice. "Our duty is to preserve life...how can I do that and allow this crime?"

Alexi closed his eyes, inhaling. "Because your Mistress wills it."

Eoin stumbled back from these words, into the arms of a weeping woman. She clung to him to keep him from trying again but Gideon could see the boy would not move again. Eoin had a distant look in his eyes, a cold, disheartening look. "I cannot serve a Will like this…"

"Enough!" Ward said, striding forward. He turned to address the Kaga. "This is what happens to Judas! This is what happens to traitors!"

"These are not traitors…" Gideon murmured to himself, giving words to the Kaga who could only stare mutely as this thing happened. He found himself wondering why weren't they acting. There were only four Aurors, and one Kaga- Alexi himself, as old as he was- could have easily bested them. He found himself wondering why the Kaga were not saving themselves. They had the power…

"Avada Kedreva!"

Gideon stumbled as he saw, for the first time, the Killing Curse in action. Fox's body, strong and able as it was, fell limp under the words: collapsing forward. One of the women followed, then another as one by one Ward walked down the row till all six laid dead. He stood mute for a moment that dragged on for eternity.

He was only vaguely aware of Sydney's hand with it touched his shoulder to pull him away. He followed, mainly because there was nothing else his body could do. He winced from a pain that twisted his stomach into a knot and Gideon was sure he was going to throw up.

"Tell me, Apprentice." He heard Sydney's voice ask. "Is it worth it?"