Kingdom Hearts: Intertwined Souls
By AnimeDutchess
Chapter 15: The Angel's Ballad
A/N: Holy snap, chapter 15 already! I'm really and truly amazed! Anyway, due to just being plain pissed (and being influenced by Jupiter-Lightning) I will now respond to all your reviews that you've sent me from when I stopped. And just to say: This chapter will be two parts- this chapter, which is Helena's dream/memory thing, and the next chapter, which will depict what happens while Helena is out of it. I've actually kinda been wanting to write something like this, so I thank jeffiswrongC for inspiring me! I also thank Lady Sonora for helping me because I was stuck in a rut on one part! Whee!
Talk Back:
jeffiswrongC: As always, you bring up good points and things I've missed, and I thank you for that! Once you point out the problems, I go 'Aww, man, I can't believe I missed that!' I will take your advice on the genetic thing (it was what I was thinking the whole time! Seriously!). I'm trying my hardest to keep up the good work that you guys say I do! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint!
Jupiter-Lightning: See? I'm responding! And yeah, school sucks. Sorry about how long it takes to update. I blame school and lack of ideas. And yeah, Andy Milonakis rocks!
Lady Sonora the Black-Rose: smiles thankies, lots and LOTS of thankies!
RainingHeart: Okay, good, 'cause I want to use it in the next chapter!
Clever Dan: Okay…thanks! Did you wanna be in my fic? 'Cause if you do, I would like more than your name, please! smiles kindly
Emmy19: Please don't be sad! I've just had so much to do…not that it's more important than fanfics and my reviewers, of course! Anyway, you're the first to ask about the glowing man! Good for you! gives you a hug
MoonCresentFox: Gah, don't blow from laughing! Then you can't read the fic anymore! I'm glad you like said fic!
Nalana-the-ruler-of-discord: Hey, glad you like it!
Charter Mage Z: Don't be silly, I use everybody! Glad you like!
Musashi the Master: Glad you like it! No, sorry, the InuYasha world won't be for a while…by the way things are going for this fic, a long while…
Matt of Hyrule: Really? That's good!
Well, the fic awaits! Enjoy!
Oh, and let me explain the Angel society: For angels, you're either a Guardian, Warrior, Scribe, or Citizen. Everyone is a Messenger. These are divided into five ranks of ability, five being the lowest and one being the highest; you take the job your mother had, and most angel families have one or two children (two children always being a boy and a girl); and God is their lord and master (no I'm not imposing religion on you; I made up the family and ranking system). All angels are immortal except if you cut their wings off and make them become human, and then you could kill them like you would any other human. All passed on humans that go to heaven immediately become angels and choose their job from the five positions stated above.
Now the Demon society: It's basically divided into three classes: Aristocratic demons, regular demons (normals), and devils (still considered demons), and then the people who have died and come to Hell, which is the lowest rung on the social ladder. Also, the number of jewels on your head identifies your social rank (i.e. aristocrats have one jewel, normals have two jewels, devils have three jewels. Passed on humans have no jewels and are considered slaves). Lucifer (Satan, the Devil, whatever you wanna call him) is their King. Only Aristocratic Demons are immortal, except if their wings are cut off or they are cut with a pointed cross and not treated within an hour (the whole process of them being killed with a cross can take 8-10 hours). Normals and Devils can be killed like you would any other human, only it takes much longer, and are usually purified within an hour of being in contact with any holy item unless treatment is given within the first ten minutes. Demon families can have any number of children and you can get any job you want. Normals are the only type of demons besides aristocrats that can marry into an aristocratic family.
…Yeah, I felt like telling you guys so you would understand how these worlds are in this fic.
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"Papa!" A young girl that looked to be about two was running around a huge garden. Every flower, from roses to violets, were either white or a very light version of their original colors. The sun shone brightly, and made the young girl's long, platinum blonde hair look almost pure white. Her large, grey eyes flickered in fear as she looked for her papa. She wore a white robe and gold anklets, but no shoes as she ran through the ground made of clouds…
Wait, clouds? Wouldn't it be grass?
…Anyway, she continued to call for her papa until a man came into her view. He had the same exact color hair as the girl, and silver eyes. He wore clothes similar to the girl, except his robe was more masculine and he didn't have anklets. The girl suddenly became more relieved and jumped on the man, knocking him down.
"Papa! I've found you!" The girl cried, smiling, "Where did you go so suddenly?" The man laughed.
"Oh, Helena," He said, "You know I was busy working." Helena pouted.
"Your boss always keeps you away from me," She said as she got off her father. He laughed good-naturedly at her pout as he got up as well. "He knows about me! Why can't he make it so you can stay with me all the time?"
"Helena, you know being a Warrior demands unlimited loyalty to Him," He said, "As with you, you must have unlimited loyalty to your guardee."
"I still don't see why I have to be a guardian angel, while you get to fight bad guys and stuff." Her father sighed.
"As the many times I have told you, your mother was a guardian, and the children must take the same job as the mother." Helena sighed, annoyed.
"O-kaaaay," She said, slightly sad. Her father chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Besides, you need to get back to training." Helena gasped and ran off, waving goodbye to her father. Once she had disappeared from sight, he flopped down onto the clouds and rubbed his temples.
"Why'd you lie to her, Loki?" The man called Loki turned around and faced his good friend Gabriel, who looked similar to Loki except his hair was a darker blonde.
"Lay off, Gabe," Loki said, "I couldn't tell her about Drusilla. I'd break her heart if she knew I was seeing someone besides her mother."
"Her mother?" Gabriel asked, "You mean Cryst? Loki, you gotta let go of Cryst. She willingly became human to run off with some mortal, Helena knows that. Heck, we both know Helena really doesn't think highly of Cryst. She'd be thrilled to know you're dating Dru."
"Yeah, but…" Loki sighed and turned to his friend. "…Fine, I get your point, but I can't tell Helena. Not yet. You know how she gets."
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A few weeks after the day in the garden, the battle for the supremacy of Heaven (yes, this place was Heaven) began. It was chaotic; angel against angel, friend against friend, lover against lover. In the middle of the chaos, Loki was fighting some angels he didn't know, that were on his old friend Lucifer's side, when lo and behold, out from their side came…Drusilla. She had pure white hair and blood red eyes, and her usually white robe was stained with the blood of the immortals. She wore a necklace with a small, heart shaped red gem that Loki had given her when he first realized that he loved her.
"D-Dru?" Loki said in disbelief, "W-why?" Drusilla lowered her head and shed a silent tear.
"H-he told me…He told me to g-go with Lucifer …you know, to make sure the prototype had a wielder in the next g-generation…I'm s-sorry, Loki" She said. She then started sobbing. Loki ran over to her and hugged her.
"Dru…" Loki was relieved that she didn't want to do this of her own free will. He then blinked as an idea popped into his head.
"Dru…I know this sounds crazy, but…" He let go of Drusilla, rummaged through his pockets, pulling out a white silk bag with gold pull-strings. He opened the bag and pulled out a small, white, round, shining stone and pressed it into Drusilla's hand. She looked at it and gasped.
"Loki…you're…giving me…" Loki pressed his hand to Dru's mouth.
"Whatever happens," Loki said, "I want you to have a piece of me."
"But Loki..."
"No buts. Now go. I don't want to fight you." Drusilla nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. Her angel wings sprouted from her back and she flew off into the chaos. Loki sighed in sadness and turned when he felt something tugging his robe. He looked down and saw…Helena.
""H-Helena! What are you doing here? You have no place in battle!" Loki exclaimed. Helena just gave Loki a hard stare.
"Papa, why didn't you tell me you loved Lady Drusilla?" Helena asked. Loki sighed.
"Helena, I'm sorry, but this isn't the place to explain it all. I'll tell you later, so go and hide, right now!" Helena paused, and the nodded and her wings sprouted, lifting her away…
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A sixteen year-old Helena flew through the cosmos to a distant world, a holy aura surrounding her. During the fourteen years since what the angels called The Great Triumph ended, Helena had been trained as a Guardian and a Messenger, but she was also taught by her father's friend Gabriel how to fight. Her eyes had lightened from smoky grey to dazzling silver. She also was in charge of guarding a silver skeleton key that she made into a necklace that always hung on her neck. Right now she was flying to a dark world that He had told her to go to. It was supposed to be her father's mission since he was immune to darkness, but he told Him that there was too much there that would hinder his mission. Namely Lady Drusilla, Helena thought as she closed in on the world. She saw the portal that would let her enter the world, so she closed her eyes and flew straight into it.
The first thing that she felt when she passed through the portal was the over-bearing pain of the darkness that the warriors would talk about so much. It constricted her heart and made everything feel ice cold. She gasped for air and lied on the cold, rocky ground of the world that the portal had led her to. Her vision became hazy.
"Huh…huh…I…I gotta…huh…get to…huh…that Lu…Lucifer guy…huh…" Her breathing became even more labored as she tried to talk. She then felt something…comforting? She looked up. All she saw were innocent red eyes before she fainted.
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Helena's vision was blurry as she blinked her eyes open. Her head was throbbing, and it didn't feel as cold. She really couldn't see anything until they cleared, and when they did…
"Ah!" Helena yelped as she noticed the red eyes looking at her again. The owner of them gasped in surprise.
"You've awakened!" The person exclaimed in a feminine voice. The eyes then left, and Helena stared at the ceiling while the person was gone.
What…what happened to me? Helena thought. The iciness then hit her full-blast, and she cringed and groaned. The person then came back, and by the sound of footfalls, another person had arrived with the first person. Helena felt better once the first person entered the room. Once the pain cleared, Helena got her first good look at the person she woke up to.
It was a girl, most likely a demon. Her long, raven-black hair was tied up in a braid that went a quarter way down her back, and was fastened with an old, ragged black ribbon. She wore what looked like a priestess kimono, but it was purple. She also had on sandals and stockings. Her eyes were a dazzling crimson color. Helena blinked; how in hell had she gotten here?
"How are you feeling?" The demon girl asked, coming closer to Helena. The angel flinched; she had heard that close contact with a demon burned an angel's skin, so she was surprised that, when the girl put her hand on her forehead…it felt like an angel had touched her: her touch radiated sacred and holy power. Helena looked at the girl in confusion. The girl gave a look that clearly said 'WTF?' when she noticed the angel's baffling behavior.
"You…don't have a fever," the girl said, "And you're clearly not from Hell." The girl then had excitement flash across her face. "You're from another world! I get it!"
"Uh…yeah…" Helena said, slightly weirded out by the girl's eagerness. "So, uhm, I was wondering…do you happen to know where the Grand Castle of Hell is?" The girl's face then changed from excitement to suspicion.
"Why?" she asked darkly. Helena then put on her most serious face.
"I am a messenger of Heaven, Helena, Daughter of Loki the Warrior and Cryst the Guardian, a Rank One Guardian, Rank Two Messenger, and a Rank Five Warrior. I have an important message to deliver to King Lucifer of Hell," the angel stated, as though she had repeated her message many times. The demon girl sighed in relief.
"Ah, is that all?" She asked, "Wow, there sure have been a lot of you talking to Father lately. You 'angels' usually don't faint, though." Helena nodded, and then what the demon girl said sank in.
"Wait a minute…did you just refer to the King of Hell as 'Father'?" The crimson-orbed girl nodded. Helena's jaw dropped.
"Wait…that means that you're…and this…and…and…" The demon girl giggled at Helena's babbling.
"Yes, I'm the princess and this is the castle," the girl said, trying not to explode into a fit of giggles. "Don't worry, Miss Helena, I brought my father with me. You can deliver you message and rest for a bit, and then we'll send you on your way." Helena blinked, and then shot out of the bed that she just noticed she had been placed in. She stood at attention as King Lucifer came into her view.
He didn't look as scary as people said he looked: Red hair, black eyes, olive colored skin (okay I know that doesn't look that good but not everyone in Hell can be as pale as chalk), and he was wearing an average-looking black business suit with an average looking red tie and average-looking black dress shoes. The only thing un-average about him were the two horns (she had expected goat-like horns, but they were more like mini stalagmites) protruding from the sides of his head, the crown he wore, which looked pretty much like a headband made of silver with black pearls protruding out of it around his whole head in the forehead area, and the single black jewel right under his crown.
"Miss Angel," He said in a voice that made both Helena's and (though she didn't notice at the time) his daughter's spine tingle, "Please, follow the princess and I to the throne room to deliver your message in an orderly fashion." He then turned on his heel and left the room. Helena blinked in confusion.
"Well…that was short. I was expecting to deliver my message here." The princess nodded and placed a hand on Helena's shoulder. Helena noticed again the pure power flowing from her touch.
"Don't worry; Father is always like this," the girl said, "He wants everything, including me, the heir to the throne, royal, prim, proper, and so on. Definitely not something he picked up before he was cast out." Helena giggled. The demon girl then motioned for Helena to follow her, and so she did, through twisting corridors, winding staircases, and long hallways. And all the while, they talked.
"So…You're training to be the queen?"
"Yep. Oh, and I'm Lilith by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Lilith. You have a pretty name; were you named after your mother?"
"No, not my mother. I don't even know what her first name was."
"…'Was'?"
"Yeah…i-it's a long story."
"Don't worry; I've got plenty of-"
"I don't wanna talk about it. To put it simply, she died."
"… Oh. Okay, then. So, uh…basically, all day you stay in the castle and learn how to balance books on your head and stuff?"
"Hee hee… yeah, stuff like that. It's kinda fun."
"Fun? Girl, are you even a demon?"
"Uh, yeah… how else would I be the princess of Hell?"
"Really? You seem too nice and innocent to be a demon."
"Heh, yeah, everyone says that."
"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"…"
"You don't wanna talk about it?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"So, like, how long was I out for?"
"About four hours."
"…All-righty then…so like, even though you're a princess, you're still a demon, so I would assume you know at least SOME basic hand-to-hand combat?"
"Basic? Some? Ha, that's a laugh!"
"So I'm assuming you're some sort of expert?"
"I'll show you after you're done delivering the message. Oh, and we're almost to the throne room. There it is now!"
Helena entered the throne room, and her jaw dropped. It was beautiful…if you were into a mixture of gothic, Halloween, Transylvania, torture, and regal finery. The carpet was made of black velvet, the walls were painted blood-red (or with actual blood-Helena didn't feel like finding out). The tapestries were black with purple and orange thread that made pictures that depicted the Great Triumph (here called The Great Failure), the Casting Down, and a whole host of Demonic historic events that Helena had never heard about. A lavish fountain was in the center of the room (but instead of water coming out of it, it was blood. Creepy!), and a long, red carpet let right through the room, only divided by the fountain. There were many other doors on the sides of the room.
At the end of the long throne room was a large area risen off the ground with four golden thrones on it. In the highest one was seated the King, resting a cheek upon his hand in a bored fashion. The second highest one held a lovely young woman with honey blonde hair and golden eyes. She had two gold jewels on her forehead, and she wore a silver tiara with a black opal in the center. She wore a regal black velvet dress and (Helena slightly blushed at this) the woman looked pregnant.
The king had the third highest throne on his left side (Helena assumed it was for Lilith), and the woman (who Helena assumed was Lilith's stepmother) had a small throne on her right. Lilith gave Helena a reassuring wink before running off to her throne. Lucifer, however, grabbed her sleeve as she neared the throne.
"Lilith Ann," He said, using the girl's middle name, "This is a matter only I and Nanali can discuss with Miss Angel. Please go wait outside the throne room." Lilith opened her mouth to protest, but she sighed and turned around and walked to the throne room's vast doors and waited there, straining her ears to hear Helena's message.
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Helena sighed as she flew through the portal yet again, still on her once-a-week schedule that He had out on her. It had been a year since she had met Lilith, and they had become great friends, considering that Helena would faint from pain if Lilith wasn't around. Helena would go through the portal and meet Lilith in the morning, and they would go back to the castle. Helena would deliver her message to Lucifer, and then he would give her a message to deliver to Him, and then he would ask if Helena would be staying for the rest of the day. The first time he asked it had shocked Helena, but the King had told her that he wanted Lilith to have a friend from the outside. She said yes, and then said yes for every time he asked it again. She then would explore the world known as Hell with Lilith, and on occasion, with Lilith's friends, the Mistress Assassins, who she had learned had taught Lilith the ins and outs of combat. She had picked up quite a few techniques from them, too, and she was now a Rank Three Warrior.
She had also learned that the woman Nanali was indeed Lilith's stepmother, who used to be Lilith's nanny and was right now 4 years pregnant. You see, demons reproduce like humans, only it takes 9 years for the baby to be born. Demons also only age one year for every ten, can start reproducing at age six, and once aristocrat women or those married into an aristocratic family had their first child, they stayed the age of when they gave birth to the child for 100 years, so it's all very complicated, confusing, and strange.
Today, though, was a happy yet sad day. Helena had not only come to deliver her message, but it was also Lilith's fifteenth birthday. It was sad because…well, she didn't want to think about it.
"Helena!" The blonde angel quickly snapped out of her thoughts as Lilith ran towards her. Her hair had grown down to halfway down her back, but other than that nothing had really changed about her. The demon quickly glomped the angel.
"Uh…Lil…you're…crushing…me…" Helena managed to say, turning blue. Lilith gasped and let go of Helena.
"I'm SO glad you came!" Lilith exclaimed, jumping up and down hyperly. "So? What'd ya get me?" Helena giggled at Lilith's eagerness.
"Your present is a surprise," Helena explained as they started walking towards the Grand Castle. "You'll get it when it's time." Lilith pouted, but didn't protest as they reached the Grand Castle. It was basically right on the edge of the capital city called Tsin, and the drawbridge was pointing towards the border instead of towards the city. Lilith signaled the knight in the watchtower, and he opened the drawbridge, revealing a long path through the garden that stopped at the huge double doors that lead to the Main Corridor.
Which has every hallway connected to it, and a stairway leading to the upper floors, but that has a big door in front of it that goes to the throne room, which also has doors to other areas, Helena thought, having memorized the way to the throne room just for kicks. As they walked this long way, Helena noticed lavish gothic decorations all over the place.
"Hey, is this all for your fifteenth birthday party?" Helena asked, looking around.
"Yup. Father went all out, since this is the last birthday party before my Sweet Sixteen! Which is in ten years and you're coming, right?"
"Uh…I'll try. So, like, who did you invite?"
"Oh, you know, you, Father, Nan-Nan, Mistress Anoka, Mistress Mimeo, Mistress Sabine-"
"Basically, you invited all the Mistress Assassins?"
"Heh, yeah. They're inviting their boyfriends, too."
"Oh, this is gonna be one rocking party."
"Don't I know it! Oh look, we're here!" Lilith pointed out that they were, in fact, at the throne room. Lucifer and Nanali were waiting on their thrones, looking in a rather cheerful mood. Lilith, a look of joy spreading on her face, ran over to them and gave them both hugs and kisses. During this expression of affection, Helena looked at the many historic tapestries that hung from the ceiling. There were two that she found most particularly interesting: one, which showed a beautiful, female demon being struck in the heart with a cross by a smaller, female demon. The other one exhibited that same smaller demon being shoved into what looked like a portal while others looked on, not lifting a finger to help. Helena had always wondered what the had meant, but she never had the time to ask.
"Miss Helena," Lucifer addressed, catching the attention of the angel. She immediately snapped to attention. "You have a message, correct? I am also most grateful that you could attend Lilith Ann's party on such short notice."
"Yes, Sir," Helena said, speaking in her most professional tone, "Permission to deliver message, Sir?" Lucifer looked sideways to Lilith, who was sitting in her throne and giving her father a cute little 'Pretty-Please-Daddy' face, and he sighed.
"All right, Lilith, since today is your birthday, you may stay and listen to the message." Lilith squealed in delight. Helena inwardly smiled; she had taught Lilith that look because she had been so desperate to hear the messages, and Helena would never tell her them. Helena also felt some regret, though; she had planned on telling this to Lilith before she left…
"Sir, it has come to His attention that you are the one who opened the portal here. We have sent our people to explore the other worlds for more possible portals, and one was found in the world called Hollow Bastion. This portal is able to transfer anyone here or back, not just the one way for your people and dead sinners or the any way for us. Since this has become a threat, we will have to close both portals, therefore cutting off ties with Heaven. Those who die will still come here. We are sorry for this abandonment, but we feel it is the only way to prevent further darkness from spreading. I assume you know of the arising Heartless problem. We have achieved in making the ultimate weapon and we have already appointed it to one of the humans. Unfortunately, the prototype of the ultimate weapon that was made and used during the Great Triumph will be staying with us. We are sorry that we cannot return it to you, for we know it is an important part of Demonic history. End message." Helena bowed. Lucifer nodded in understanding.
"I see. And who will be sealing these portals?" He asked.
"I will, Sir. When I leave. I didn't want to do this, but it was His will." Lucifer sighed.
"I guess, if that's what He wills…not that I listen to Him," the king said, "Carry on, then. Nanali then spoke up.
"Oh Helena, we will miss you! It disappoints me that you won't be able to see the baby when it is born," She said, indicating her swollen stomach.
Lilith just looked at Helena, her mouth agape, a mixture of shock, sadness, and anger combining on her face and being perfectly reflected in her eyes. Helena just wanted to cry right then and there; she never, ever wanted to abandon Lilith. They had vowed to be friends until the end of time the day they met, and they both knew that being separated would prevent that. Helena bowed again.
"I'll be in the garden, Lil," she said softly, and she quickly turned on her heel and ran towards the doors. Lilith got up to go after her, but her stepmother grabbed the hem of her sleeve.
"Let her calm down," Nanali said, "She's as distraught as you are; it's clearly in her eyes." Lilith blinked, then nodded.
"Yes, Nan-Nan."
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Helena let tears roll off her face as she sat in the darkest part of the garden, where she and Lilith would sit for hours talking. As she ignored the icy pangs of pain from the darkness, she wiped her eyes with the back of her wrist. It just WASN'T fair. She never wanted to tell Lilith the news like that. She sniffed, but immediately perked up when she heard someone slowly approaching the area.
Hmm…doesn't sound like Lil… she thought, staying frozen in her spot. She then spotted a female demon. From what she could see from such a far away distance ( because Lilith and Helena's spot was cleverly concealed and this mysterious person was several yards away), the girl was thirteen, had black hair, and was pregnant. VERY pregnant.
Helena shivered slightly. Only the royal family, friends and servants of the royal family, and messengers could come into the castle, and Helena had seen every person in Hell with Lilith, so why didn't she recognize this person? She had an amazing memory; there was no reason she wouldn't remember a pregnant thirteen-year old, so why…?
The girl quickly looked in her direction. Helena froze. She could see the girl's icy black eyes piercing into her own. The girl then sprouted her demonic wings and flew over to Helena. The angel didn't make a sound as the demon girl landed gracefully in front of her. Helena then noticed the single black jewel on her forehead-an aristocrat, for sure.
"Hmm…interesting…so, you're one of these 'angels' I've heard so much about?" The girl asked in a voice that rivaled her eyes in coldness. Helena nodded, slightly fearful. The demon girl 'hmph'ed.
"Eh, that's cool. I'm Mildred. The, uh…cousin of the princess," she said, her voice now dripping with resent. Helena gave Mildred one of those 'You-Don't-Scare-Me-What-Now-Bitch' faces as she got up, dusting herself off and pretending that she hadn't just been scared of the demon that held no threat for her.
"Helena. So, are you here for Lilith's party?" She asked. Mildred snorted. "Yeah, sure, whatever. Can you get me to the throne room? I need to talk with Fa-I mean, Uncle Lucifer." Helena nodded, and led the strange demon girl to the throne room.
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Helena sighed as she scanned the empty throne room. "Guess they had to talk stuff over," She said, thinking about her message and feeling sad again, "I'm sure they'll be back soon, Mil…Mil?" Helena spun around, scanning the room for Mildred. She found her at the smallest throne, looking for something.
"Mil, you okay?" She asked, walking over to the demon. Mildred looked at Helena.
"Do you know why Lilith has a stepmother?" Mildred asked. Helena shook her head. "No. She never told me why."
"Well, Helena," Mildred said, "Lilith used to have a sister. On Lilith's seventh birthday, her sister murdered her mother. That's what that tapestry means," Mildred said, pointing to the tapestry with the small demon stabbing the larger demon. "The other one is when they banished her sister through that portal. That's why they opened it." Helena just stared at the tapestries, a revelation of horror spreading across her face. Demons really WERE corrupt. No wonder they had been banished; they were all horrible and-
No, no, that's not true, Helena thought, thinking about Lady Drusilla. Her father had told her Lady Drusilla's reason for going with The Devil, and she had nothing against her.
"Hey, I bet you'd get a kick out of Lilith's mom's name."
Helena turned to Mildred, a questioning look on her face.
"Well, do you wanna know?" Helena nodded.
"Well…her name was Drusilla."
Helena almost fainted. It HAD to be a coincidence. It HAD to be. There was no way that this Drusilla could be the same Drusilla the former angel, Drusilla the angel with the power to use the prototype that Helena now guarded…
"Yeah, that's who you're thinking of. I can read minds, kid." Helena turned to Mildred, suspicion emerging. She grabbed hold of the skeleton key on her neck, and a worn-looking staff that was shaped like a key appeared in her hands. She pointed the key teeth end towards Mildred.
"Who in all the hells are you?" Helena asked in a low voice. Mildred 'heh'ed and her wings burst from her back.
"Who d'you think, kid?"
"Don't call me kid. I'm older than you."
"Whatever. So, please tell me, who do you think I am?" Helena growled at Mildred's cockiness. She inched towards her cautiously. If Mildred hadn't been pregnant, Helena would've impaled her by now.
"Hm, so you won't kill be because of this?" Mildred asked, pointing towards her stomach. Helena growled, cursing her morals. Mildred gave a small laugh before reaching in between the cushions of the smallest throne and pulling out a glowing dagger. She slowly brought the dagger dangerously close to her stomach. Helena gasped and clenched the strange staff she held tighter.
"You wouldn't," The angel hissed.
"I would," The demon laughed.
"You'll kill not only the child, but yourself!"
"Hey, I'm just giving myself a C-section. Happens all the time 'round these parts…oh wait, you didn't know that because you're just a stupid angel. And that reminds me…shouldn't you be in pain now?" Helena gasped as she felt the full blast of icy pain shut down her body, the key-like staff falling from her hands. She was perplexed: how had she been ignoring it?
"I cast a hex on you so you wouldn't feel anything until I wanted you to. Now, you're powerless to stop me." Mildred then took the dagger and, positioning it carefully, stabbed herself slightly and cut a rather large line along her stomach. Helena would have screamed in terror if she had the energy to. But, to her surprise, no blood gushed out; instead, a black light emerged from the cut and escaped into the air, gathering into something.
"M-Mille?"
Mildred turned around and saw Lilith standing at the doorway, a horrified look on her face. Mildred smirked. The cut along her torso had already healed and left a horrid scar, and the mass of black light was still in the air above them, not yet having taken a desirable shape.
"Hey, Lil. How long's it been, huh? Eighty years, I believe?"
"Don't talk to me that way, you psychopath."
"Oh, how hurtful. And to think I'm your one and only sister."
S-Sister? Helena thought; since Lilith had come into the room, she could just stay conscious.
"I have no sister."
"Oh Lil, you don't understand. Mother was lying to everyone. Father was and is lying to everyone. I'm the only one who speaks the truth."
"Oh yeah? About what?"
"Well, how about the fact that your life is a lie, fabricated by others?"
"You're the one who lies, Mildred Sarah!"
"So you choose to stay hidden in the world of trickery our loving parents put you in?" Mildred asked in a psychotic voice, "What a dear shame…I was hoping you'd at least think about joining me in overthrowing the kingdom, but know I see that your other half has influenced you already…it seems I'll need a new plan." The black light then formed an object wrapped in a black blanket and it floated over to Mildred. She smirked, and then flew off, breaking through the ceiling. Lilith stood there in shock for a few minutes, and then she ran over to Helena.
"Oh Helena, are you alright?" She asked. Helena blinked, her strength returning and questions popping up faster than weeds in her mind. She couldn't think clearly.
"Helena, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Can you ever forgive me?" Helena looked at Lilith and gave her a small smile.
"Of course I can. How can I not? You're my best friend…" Helena got up and gave Lilith a hug. Lilith was startled, but she smiled and hugged back.
"…This is why…I have to leave…now…"
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry, Lil…please forgive me." Helena then pinched a spot on Lilith's neck, making her faint.
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Helena ran down into a stone cavern. She had already sealed the first portal into Hell, and now she had to seal the last one at Hollow Bastion. Hot tears cascaded down her face as she prepared everything for the sealing spell.
"Helena, I have to tell you something."
Helena turned around and faced her father, who had slipped in as Helena was preparing for the spell. She wiped her tears and ran over to him, grabbing him in a huge hug.
"Sh, Helena, it's alright," Loki said, stroking her head, "You'll see Lilith again soon." Helena hiccupped and stared at her father.
"How do you know that?" She asked, her voice cracking with emotion. Her father smiled sadly and whispered in her ear for about five minutes. Helena's eyes opened wide as he pulled away.
"But that means that…she and I…and she…wow, this is-" Loki pressed his hand on Helena's mouth, silencing her.
"She cannot know until He permits it," Loki said, "I know you don't want to lie to her, but this is how things should be. Please…trust me." He then turned and left.
"Wait, Dad, no! Please, I have to tell her! I don't want to seal her away!" She yelled. And that's when Helena awoke with a start.
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A/N: Dammit, usually that would only take a few days, but this chapter took forever! I blame school and my own procrastination! Not to mention writer's block! Still, this chapter is longer that the last few (I think), so that should make up for something, right? I really hope you enjoyed it and I'm sorry for the wait! Alright, remember: next chapter tells us what everybody else did while Helena was off in flashback-dream land. And I hope more of the full story got out to you! I answered and created so many questions! And most of those questions won't be answered for a long time! So just bear with me and please review, no matter how much you hate me for making you guys wait! Ja Ne!-AnimeDutchess
P.S.: After the next chapter is up, I'm going to start on a FullMetal Alchemist fic, so please, if you like FMA, look for it!