Chapter 5

Swirling Mist

The mist swirled around her body, rousing her from the meditation she'd been in to bring her attention to her surroundings. Golden eyes blinked away the haze of the meditation and focused in sharply on the walls that surrounded her. The mist vanished and she found herself staring at the painting that dominated her great grandfather's study, perplexed by its presence. She was at the Hall?

She moved to stand up and stared down at her hands. She looked so...so young...

Standing, Cassandra turned in a small circle, coming to realize that her feet were bare and that she was wearing a cotton sleeping gown, her burgundy locks un-brushed and tangled about her shoulders.

"Mama?" She called, her voice that of a ten year old. "Mama?" Cassandra moved for the door and flung herself out into the hallway where she heard voices, felt the sadness that flavored the air around her. "Mama?"

Stunned, the voices stopped as those in the hallway turned to face her. "Where's mama?"

"Sweetheart," The form that knelt before her was familiar, comforting. "Grandpa, where's mom?"

Cassandra watched that sad smile spread across Daemon Sadi's face as he reached for her, cradling her close. "Your mother is upstairs with your father. She wanted to talk to him about something,"

"Why is everyone so sad?" Cassandra looked over her grandfather's shoulder and stared into Gabrielle's face. "Aunt?"

Wiping her eyes of the tears, Gabrielle moved forward and stroked the burgundy hair from her face. "It's Keira, Cassy. She died this morning,"

"Died?" The mist swirled, thickened and then she was standing in the middle of a courtyard dressed in a black gown of spider silk, her burgundy hair curled and pulled back halfway into an elegant bun. Her gold eyes were filled with tears as she waited near the fountain, staring up at the stone statues that had plagued her dreams for the last several weeks. Her hands shook as she reached up and ran her fingers over the emerald jewels that made up the beasts' eyes. She took a deep breath and felt her body go rigid. She could feel them behind her, could taste their sadness in the air.

"They're gone, aren't they?"

"Yes, witchling. Your grandparents are gone,"

Cassandra turned and faced her great uncle, hating the sorrow and the guilt that swam in his eyes. "I felt it..."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Because, like you, I'm in denial. There's so much I could have done..."

"No, there isn't, sweetheart. Just like there was nothing you could have done to save Aiden from his father. There was nothing you could do because you were only ten," Lucivar moved towards her, embracing her closely. "There's nothing that could have been done. Jaenelle wasn't of the long lived races like you and I. She lived a long and wonderful life with your grandfather, with all of us. Your grandfather went with her because she was his life."

"I know..." Cassandra's voice was small as she took in the world around her. "So what do I do now? I haven't made the Offering, I haven't... well..."

"There's so little Blood left these days," Lucivar shrugged. "You'll be fine. Don't worry about ruling, don't worry about the courts or anything like that, ok? You just be yourself and do whatever you can to keep you going, little witch, because you're the last this family has. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand,"

The mist swirled again and Cassandra growled into the Abyss. "Why are you showing me this? Why are you plaguing me with these memories?" She turned and stared in confusion at her new surroundings. It was a familiar place, not because she'd been there before, but because she'd seen something similar when she'd helped Bulma in her lab. This was a laboratory without a doubt, but what it had to do with her, she had no idea. At least...not until she glanced to her left and stared at the pod before her. Stunned, she reached a hand out and ran her fingers over the bold black lettering of the number 17 on the pods front. Next to it was a similar pod labeled 18, then 19 and 20. The ladder of the four both being open and vacant.

"You've got to be kidding me?" She leaned forward and stared into the glass, amazed at the sight of her Consort in stasis. "What is going on?"

"Does this frighten you?"

Whirling, Cassandra faced the voice and felt anger ripple through her. She knew that face, that voice. "You!"

"I'm surprised you remember me. After all, you were only ten..."

Sick realization of who was truly standing before her settled in and years of forgotten memories, forgotten hurt came hurdling back to her. Shocked, she groped the table before her for support. "You were the one...You were the one that killed Keira. She was your wife!"

Growling, Cassandra reached for the depth of her ebon-gray and found nothing.

"You're in the middle of making your Offering, SaDiablo, you cannot reach your power this deep in the abyss,"

There are other ways to kill a man, Cassandra thought sourly. After all, her great cousin, Surreal, had pulled her aside as a child and had taught her a whole hell of a lot of things about men and how to deal with the nasty ones. And this guy definitely counted as a nasty one.

"Why are we here? Why are we in Dr. Gero's lab?"

She looked up to that old face and noticed the RR patch on the hat he wore. For a moment she was swimming in confusion and then...nothing. "You...you're Dr. Gero!"

"That's right," He raised his right hand and shook the controller he held before her eyes. "And you're about to see my greatest creations,"

He pressed the button on the controller and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The pods behind her had opened and footsteps were heard. Two solid forms now stood behind her and the hand that gripped her shoulder wasn't gentle, wasn't caring. Then again, this wasn't a real reality, it was merely the direction her mind had gone in the abyss while she descended to her real power. She wasn't too terribly worried about anything that might go on.

"Seventeen, please, join me. There is something we must share with Cassandra,"

Without saying a word, Seventeen moved around her and came to stand next to Gero, turning slowly until he faced her. "Cassandra, you remember my son, do you not?"

The shadows the fire cast over his face only added to his sour mood. You lousy son of a bitch!

"I didn't kill him slow enough," Juunanagou heard himself snarling. "I should have bled him dry rather than smash that mechanical head of his into a million pieces."

"There's something else you should know, Juunanagou, about Dr. Gero,"

"Is there?"

Saetan hesitated for a moment, knowing what this last little bit of truth would do to the Android that had become his great granddaughter's Consort. Juunanagou rose from the couch and downed the brandy that awaited him while he waited for Saetan to continue.

"You remember the boy I told you about? Keira and Gero's son?"

"What about him?"

Again, he hesitated. "He is still alive,"

"Why should I care?"

"Because he is you,"

Stunned, Juunanagou's blue eyes snapped towards the Guardian and took in the implications of the words. "What...?"

"Gero is your father. You are his son,"

Silence fell in which neither of them moved. The words settled in on his body, feeling as if he'd just been stabbed in the heart repeatedly. His grip on the goblet he held tightened until it started to crack under the pressure, and when it finally hit him completely, the goblet went flying across the room to explode in the fire. Juunanagou's frustrated, angry, and anguished scream followed it, shaking the foundation of the Keep and startling Saetan a little into moving forward. Juunanagou slipped to his knees and stared into the fire, tears he would never have let loose spilling over his cheeks in torrents. All of this time and the son of a bitch had been his father?

The door opened and Draca stepped inside, her hands clasped before her. "She is coming."

Juunanagou growled and wiped his eyes dry, rising a little shakily to his feet. "I'll go to her,"

"No," Draca closed the door without touching it and stared them down. "The High Lord understands what the next few minutes will decide, however, you do not,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Draca's eyes left his to pin Saetan in his place. "She is stronger than Jaenelle,"

"I know,"

"Her power is much deeper in the abyss,"

"I had believed it might be so,"

Draca's eyes returned to Juunanagou, willing him to understand. "Do not fear her,"

"Oh please, lady. Vegeta could kill me by thumping me on the head now and I'm not afraid of him still. So why should you be worried?"

"Because, had Vegeta's power been contained in a jewel rather than manifesting itself into his body, you would know that he has only reached the power granted to him by his birthright."

"Yeah, yeah, the Legendary Super Saiyajin,"

"But that power in a Jewel?"

"The Ebony," Saetan murmured, nodding.

"Yes, which is exactly why you did not openly object to Bulma taking him as a mate. However, that is not the pinnacle of his power. He has much to learn, much to achieve. He may yet become even stronger. We have all seen how Son Goku has strengthened. Goku shall be stronger by far, of course, but if they fought seriously, it would be a dangerously close battle. The outcome cannot be guessed. Vegeta and Goku will both become far stronger then either are now and only when they reach the pinnacle of that power, their Offering, will they stop getting stronger."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Neither will ever be as strong as the Queen of the Darkness is now,"

He stared at her for a moment, unable to believe what she was saying for the longest moment. But as the doorway was filled with another's presence, that arrogant, playful and boyish smile spread over his lips. "You're late,"

Cassandra looked over at him and smiled faintly, her eyes swimming with emotion...and exhaustion. Saetan's eyes were transfixed by the jewel she was wearing, amazement coursing throughout the room. It wasn't the ebony that Jaenelle had worn, or the Twilights Dawn, but something totally different. It was a black jewel with gray and purple streaks of lightening flashing through it. The power it contained...

The floor fell out from under him and slammed back up again, and for the first time, Cassandra noticed him.

"S-Saetan?"

"Witchling," Saetan smiled at her and stepped forward, embracing her gently. One glance at Draca had him stepping back. "I must speak with Draca. I'll be back in a few minutes,"

"Ok," She smiled gently, watching both of them leave, the door closing behind them.

"Cass?"

"We have to talk," She murmured as she turned and faced him. She was tired, that was painfully obvious, but she wouldn't rest until she got whatever was on her mind out of her system. "I saw something in abyss, Juu. Something about you..."

"And what was that?" He walked towards her, standing directly in front of her, blocking the light from the fire with his body.

"It's about Gero,"

Despite hearing that bastard's name, Juunanagou smiled softly, raising his left hand to gently stroke the burgundy locks from her face. "I know, Cass. Saetan told me,"

"I'm sorry,"

"Don't be," He murmured, lifting his other hand to cup the other side of her face. "Cass, I've been worried sick. You've been in that damned altar room for ninety-six damn hours,"

"Four days? That's how long it took?" Surprised, Cassandra just stared at him, too exhausted to voice the thousands of questions she had. Seeing this, Juunanagou drew her against his chest and lead her over to the couch where he gently eased her onto it. "I can't believe it took that long..." She rubbed her eyes and groaned deeply, her shoulders sagging. "Bulma..."

"I wouldn't worry about her," Juu muttered, sitting back on the couch. "Vegeta hasn't exploded again so I think she did her job,"

Cassandra nodded and leaned against his side, yawning heavily. "I'm tired..."

"Then sleep,"

"Permit me a few moments?" Saetan had rejoined them, slowly coming to kneel before her.

"I thought you were gone..."

He smiled gently, stroking her hands with his long, black tinted nails. "I made a promise and I intend to keep it." When her look turned to confusion, he shook his head. "I will explain that later. For the moment, there's something else you need to focus on. Someone wants to see you,"

"Who?" As the shadow passed over her form and drew her eyes towards the doorway, emotion clogged her throat and for a moment she stopped breathing. "You're here!"

End of Chapter! Oh boy am I ever late in updating this...but, alas...my laptop died on me so I had to send it back. I'm on my dad's computer in the dining room...needless to say, I hate it because it's so...bleh...but anyway! I have like...three more chapters to update with and I might add one more in tonight. Review with your questions and comments, please! If you're confused about something, I can't fix that problem if you don't voice it to me! XD Love to all!