Thanks to YamiTenshi14 for betaing!
Chapter 9
Unlocking the warrior
No sound of screeching hinges met their ears and no sight met their eyes except darkness. Chilling winds whipped through the room causing everyone to shiver and no one question were it came from, considering there was no windows in the room. The slight smell of mold met their noses and they were utterly surprised the smell wasn't more pungent; considering the dark room was a molds perfect breeding ground. Walking seven steeps forward the group stopped when the large doors behind them banged shut taking out the flicker of light that used to illuminate behind them. Quatre was getting more nervous by the second, he was already afraid of small spaces and the power and anger he felt a few feet away wasn't helping matters.
You could hear a rustling echo through the room and after a few moments torches were lit around lighting the previous concealed room in an unnatural light. The first thing the group noticed was the figure that looked a little over a year younger than themselves suspended on the wall by vines. He was wearing tattered black pants and a cloak that hid his features, bits of rusty red flecked the black clothing and long healed scars could be seen through the cuts and wholes of his clothes. Around the figure; on the floor were his feet were suspended, was a slightly raised platform that started right in front of the group covered in an overgrowth of the same vines that held the perfect warrior up. The black vines themselves held power, and just by seeing them he knew there was no way they could be natural, dark leaves highlighted in a silvery crimson, looking beautiful but evil at the same time. Ninga took a quick glance at the person on the wall before reaching up for one of the torches he previously lit and hovered over the vines. He sprinkled a mysterious power that emerged from a pouch in his cloak over the vines and then dropped the torch. The area where the powder had hit emerged in flames and burnt with a blaze for several moments before the room was plunged back into the shadowy mausoleum. Ninga quickly swept away the ashes and uncovered the intricate designed on the platform that was once covered. Underneath the perfect warrior was a beautiful design that curved and arched, looping around several times before branching off to the rest of the platform were operatic marking and scribes. Letters in a foreign language that Duo could not decipher was merged into the design all over the place as if the maker could not keep such words in any longer and had to get them out. The words were so perfectly placed into the rest, resemblance of vines and roses were present; a sun and moon all abstract in appearance but beautiful to the point of speechlessness. Along the edge closer to the group were four spiraling circles; each merging into a point, each placed a prefect distance between the other, measured in the line mess. After the platform cleared Ninga pulled out a silver dagger with intricate red vines snaking up the handle and instructed the group to "Put your pendants in the hole in the center of the circles; in front of you" Duo looked around to the others in confusion "But you said never to take them off" "Put them in the holes" Ninga said forcefully "And after the vines surrounding the perfect warrior disappear quickly put them back on."
Duo was the first to tentatively step forwards and placed his pendant in the hole, and once doing so the others followed his example. Once Ninga checked that they were all in place he steeped up the cloaked figure on the wall and took out the dagger, pressing it against his stomach. With a flick of his hand Ninga made a deep and long swipe pressing the razor sharp edge of the dagger into the soft flesh of the warrior's belly. Before Quatre could object to such behavior Ninga raised the dagger and struck it down into the Warriors chest. All five inches of the dagger was imbedded into his chest and no movement was made by the perfect warrior on the wall. The only thing moving was the trickle of blood dripping from his wounds onto the floor. The group stood shocked and were about to say something when a now large puddle of blood on the ground started to glow and the glowing made its way along the line in the floor moving closer and closer to the pendants. When the mysterious light hit the pendants the room was covered in a bright flash of light that caused everyone to shield their eyes. The black vines that were around the warrior started to reside and by the time everyone had recovered from the unexpected flash of light all singes of the vines were gone and the perfect warrior was lying on the group face down. Trowa was the first to snap out of his shock and grabbed his pendant, the others following him. When all the pendants were securely placed around all the guardians neck did Ninga make his way closer to the warrior and retrieved a broad sword from the wall that was hidden behind the warrior. The sword was cased in a black leather sheath, and Ninga came to stand beside the guardians with the sword in his hands watching the motionless figure on the floor.
The figure didn't stay motionless for long and with a loud grown that echoed through the room the warrior grudgingly lifted himself off the blood covered floor on shaky arms and looked up at the groups from his crouching position. If Duo could have seen his face he would have sworn he was glaring daggers at him. Ninga quickly unsheathed the sword and handed the hilt to the warrior, upon receiving the sword the figure placed the tip on the ground and had the blade facing flat against his body. "These are your new masters, the wielder of the four pendants" The warrior bowed his head until his forehead was touching the hilt of the sword in a gesture of obedience and submission. Ninga nodded his head once seeming to be pleased with himself and turned from the room walking confidently to the large wooden door. The group of guardians stood there shocked and not moving. "Come along, we have to get you some traveling supplies for when you depart tomorrow" Ninga motioned for them to follow him and they started to slowly follow but the perfect warrior didn't move a millimeter from his positions. Seeing the other's questioning glances Ninga informed them that "He'll come along, he's bound to you so he has to."
Quatre sent worried looks back at the perfect warrior in the rear of the group. The dagger that was once pierced into his flesh had been removed at the beginning of the walk to the quarters were they were staying and had been hidden and placed underneath the warrior's cloaks in a hidden sheath. He walked as if no injury had been acquired, but Quatre could see the small trickle of blood that still flowed from the wound on his stomach and the slight way the warrior walked with his arm cradling his stomach. Quatre looked around to try and figure out were they were; it seemed they were being taken to an inn near the center square of the town, and in the town square there was a magnificent statue. It was off an angel, and Quatre was engrossed in its beauty as he latter noted so was the perfect warrior. She was beautiful, sculpted in white marble. Large wings that seamed to glow outstretched and drooping down near the end, so much so that the tips caressed the top of the ground. She was wrapped in a robe tied around her body and fastened with a clip that was engraved with the shape of a phoenix; her face was angular with a soft delicate mouth. Long hair flowed down slightly curled and the bottoms reached her mid thighs and cascaded down her back, seaming to sway in the wind. Eyes stared at Quatre that spoke of love and great sadness but seamed so alive that he wanted to embrace the statue and take away her pain. But the statue was already embraced in multiple chains. There were dark gray chain wrapped around her body, weaving around her wings and her body, pooling in a large pile of gray at the bottom of her feet that made up the statues platform. An angel chained to the ground. Quatre shook his head in sadness, what a depressing statue, yet so beautiful. He glanced back at the perfect warrior who was still looking at the statue, waves of sadness coming off of him, and Quatre heard a single word mutter so quietly, which he was not meant to hear.
"Calmentha"
"Duo?" Quatre asked in the busy streets of the downtown market were they were shopping for supplies for the upcoming trip. Trowa and Wufei were with the perfect warrior picking up a fifth horse for the trek.
"Yeah Quat?" Duo replied, playing with a silver trinket in one of the shops were the owner was waving and telling Duo to not touch unless he was to buy.
"What does Calmentha mean?"
"Where did you hear that?" Duo asked, causing Quatre to put down the orange he was inspecting.
"Why? What does it means?"
"I have no idea, and you know what that means, it's from the language of the Demons or Angels."
"Oh" Quatre muttered picking the orange back up and looking at it once again
"Why'd you ask in the first place, hey were did you hear it from!" Quatre handed the shop owner some money and picked up the bag of oranges and put them oh the horse that was carrying the supplies "When we were walking to the inn the perfect warrior muttered it when he was looking at the statue" Duo seamed to be thinking it over for a second before replying.
"Sorry Quatre I don't know what it means, its defiantly Demon or Angel. And there will be few people that know. The easiest way to find out would to be to ask the warrior dude himself." Quatre looked over to Duo as the walked down the streets and the stables came into view "I have a feeling its personal and he won't want to tell us."
"That's what these…" Duo fingered his pendant "…are for."
"DUO!" Quatre scolded, "We won't force him to tell us!"
Duo gave a small huff in defeat "Can't we use Wu-man's mind reading power to find out?" Duo asked looking hopeful.
"Duo" Quatre sighed "Wufei wouldn't do something that dishonorable just to find the meaning of a word, he dislikes using his mind reading against enemies, and he's not going to use it against an ally."
"Fine you win." Duo huffed, running towards the stables.
"You don't have to sulk Duo!" Quatre yelled after him, the mirth evident in his voice.
"I can sulk if I want to, and I'm not sulking!" Duo yelled back as and after thought.
"Come on Duo I was only playing!" Quatre yelled running to the stable after him.
"This looks like a good horse, and he seams to like him" Wufei said looking at the gray horse muzzling the perfect warriors shoulder.
"Do you like him?" Trowa asked, his question directed at the perfect warrior.
"Hn"
"Is that a yes or a no?" Wufei asked Trowa who only gave him a shrug of his shoulders.
"Great." Wufei exclaimed throwing his hands into the air. "I'm stuck with the two mimes!"
"It could always be worse." Trowa said with a small smile. "You could always be stuck with Duo." A light of understanding seamed to dawn on Wufei "Your right"
"Hey Wu-man!"
"Oh great" Duo came rushing into the stables and spotted the gray horse. Duo's eyes lighted up and he approached the horse and reached out to pet its nose, but the large gray backed up away from the outstretched hand. Duo brushed it off and looked at the horse some more. He was beautiful, large at least 28 hands and had a dark gray coat with lighter main and tail. On the stall beside him was the nameplate engraved with the name Wing and Duo had the urge to reach out and pet the impressive beast once again but his hand was met with air once again. "Seams like he doesn't like you." Wufei laughed reaching out to pet the horse and show Duo up.
"Seams like he doesn't like any of us." Quatre pointed out when the horse moved away form Wufei as well. A smile gracing his lips when the horse started to nuzzle the perfect warrior's shoulder, who reached up and gently scratched his nose, Wing closing his eyes in enjoyment.
"I don't understand why though! Usually animals are eager to talk to me this one won't even acknowledge our existence" Duo said, glaring at the horse that was only affectionate towards the perfect warrior.
"Don't take it personal Duo, he doesn't like any of us" Quatre tried to sympathize.
"Yeah you're right, like horse like owner" Duo muttered looking at the horse that was rubbing its face against the perfect warriors as he rubbed Wings neck.
"Are you going to bed soon?" Duo asked after they were fed a feast of a meal after they were placed in there rooms.
"No, I'm going to the library to met Trowa; I'll see you in the morning Duo." Quatre said with finality in his voice leaving no room for negotiations.
"Alright, night Quat."
"Night Duo" Quatre said watching as Duo walked out of the room. Once he had left, Quatre made his way towards the inn's library, walking down the large hallways to the west wing. The inn was more of a mansion of a house that the owner rented rooms out for travelers. Sitting in the sea of books was Trowa, surrounded by large pillows and a down blanket that was draped over the back of his seat. On Trowa's lap there was a large book that had weathered stains on the pages and tinted a light brown from aging.
"What are you reading?" Quatre asked taking a seat beside him and looking over into the pages of unrecognizable text. The text almost seamed to glow and even if Duo would call him crazy looked beautiful.
"It's an ancient healing book, written in the language of the angels" Trowa said, looking at Quatre when he gasped.
"You can read angel?" Quatre exclaimed, practically pouncing on Trowa in his excitement.
"Yes, Actually I can read and speak it"
"How!" Trowa just shrugged.
"I don't know" One of the first conversations he ever had with Trowa popped into his mind.
"One day I just woke up, I didn't know who I was or where I was but every once in a while I will know something that I never knew before. Like the history of Grenza, Hendiv used to think it was things that I knew before I lost my memory, but I don't think I will ever really know"
"Can you tell me what something means then Trowa, it's been bugging me" Quatre said shyly, but also knowing the Trowa wouldn't reject him.
"I can try but Angel is hard to translate, even this text is hard for me to understand; only Angels can fully know what it means" Seeing Quatre's face fall Trowa finished off with "I can try to tell you the meaning of it, I'll try my best."
"Alright, it's okay if you can't." Quatre said giving Trowa one of his I'm-so-cute-you-can't-hate-me smiles
"So, what's the word?"
"Calmentha"
"Calmentha" Trowa repeated almost as if tasting the word. "A person that takes care of the young, usually a female of the species, a direct relative." Trowa looked at Quatre very seriously "In other words it means…. Mother"
A/N Oh and the plot thickens! Dun dun dun! Yes I haven't updated in, forever! But I was distracted by my other story He's so, so, I'm going to be working on both of them and alternating between writing once chapter for this story then one for He's So, and so on till one of them is done and then I'll focus on that one. Kay? Okay!
If you want me to continue review!