Promise

"Hey sis," a small red-headed girl wearing a red dress whispered, "Where'd Mommy go? She said everything would be ok in the morning. But how can everything be ok if she's not here with us?" The child was no more than five and sitting in a pink and yellow room on a bed with a purple comfiture. A girl that looked exactly like her was holding her close for comfort. The only difference between the two was that the second girl wore a purple dress instead of red. It was clear that they were both related.

"Dominique…I really don't know. But I know that we can go out and look for her! You take the south side of the village while I take the north side. We meet back here in a half hour to discuss what we saw or didn't see. If one of us finds Mommy first, then go and look for the other," the second girl stated.

Dominique whispered, "I wish I could be as strong and brave as you Angelique. But I'm always scared; scared that somebody is going to hurt me because of my powers or that we'll have to fight one another someday. I don't want to be killed by my only sister; nor could I find it in my heart to kill you."

Angelique smiled at her. "Promise me then Dommie. No matter what happens, we will always be the best of friends. If we're both sisters and best friends, then there's nothing wrong. We can make it if we just keep our heads high as Mommy would have done. Don't be afraid; it'll all get better very soon."

S...S

'It's the same dream for three nights in a row,' thought Javelot, 'Ever since I fought the Dark Slayer. She has some strange power that must effect Demons; why else would the Dark Prince suddenly feel regret for his actions and turn to humanity? I must resist her control at any cost; else I may die.'

From the other room, Ciel watched her daughter. She felt fear rise up in her heart as she thought of Prier Dark Slayer. If the Dark Prince could be reverted to his true self with her power, there was reason to fear for Javelot. However, something else seemed to be wrong with the girl. Prier was an interesting specimen for a human. Could she be the Holy Child that Calamity supposedly killed all those years ago?

S...S

"We promised to meet back at the house in a half hour. Then, I saw a grave that the last survivor had erected to Mother. Knowing that she was gone, I ran to find my sister and prepare our exodus. But then, I saw a couple traveling through with their baby son. Due to harsh conditions, they were moving nearer to the city so he would be better nourished. The mother was kind enough to offer her new home to me and my sister. However, I never found her and she never checked back at the house when we planned. I don't know where to start, but something tells me that I will find Dominique," Prier finished.

Francoise whispered, "It must hurt to think about losing a sibling. I can't relate, being an only child and all, but I do think back to the loss of my friends during the war with Darkness. I find it hard to forgive Croix at times despite the fact that he wasn't the one who killed them. Yet you, one who lost her mother and sister because of the Dark Prince, not only can forgive him but you are willing to become his wife."

Prier looked to her; she didn't want to talk about this subject. However, she was surprised to find Culotte was coming to her defense; he still sometimes fought resentment over Alouette's death. "When you are in love, and I mean real love not the crushes you are always finding, there are things you suddenly find yourself able to do. I got stronger because I wanted to protect Sister Alouette. Maybe I was only twelve and maybe Prier saw my crush on her immature. However, I know she was my first love and I understood what was going on. Besides, this is how I have kept myself from hating Croix; I don't like feeling like that towards someone. I remember that he and the Dark Prince were just two separate entities within the same body and once he felt the strength to fight back he and Prier destroyed her."

"Calamity fired the shots at our house in any case; remember she didn't want Croix to fight to protect his remaining friend. Besides all that, my mother died like the other Maidens of Light; she used the last of her power to weaken the Dark Prince and buy time for someone to save him," Prier added.

Jacques threw in, "And after all, the real issue at hand is searching for Prier's sister. Was there any other place that you might find her? Any place you two had spoken of visiting or running to in the event that your mother was gone? Well, names might not be important due to the time that passed."

Prier put her right pointer finger on her cheek. "Well, we weren't good at geography anyway and couldn't read maps; neither of us knew the name of our hometown. But now that I think about it, I said I would take Dommie and run to a place where nobody would ever hurt her; she was always afraid of someone killing her for her Dark powers. There was this little lake near our village where Mom used to take us fishing. I was a natural at it. So I decided that we would live off the land near that lake. You know, that's where we might find a clue! Jacques…you're a genius!" She grabbed Croix's hand and pulled him out the door. Something was calling to her, telling her that she would find her answers.

Looking behind, Prier could see her friends following. She was happy to know how loyal the group could be. They would do anything to help one another. And knowing Culotte still thought of her as his big sister, despite the fact that she wasn't related to him by blood, gave her extreme happiness. No matter what she found out about Dominique's fate, she would always have this family she had made.

S...S

"Javelot," Sang ordered, "Prier Dark Slayer is heading for a certain lake. I want you to intercept her and her band of misfits. Kill everyone except the child and the rust haired man. Those two are to be brought before me. Soon, we will give rise to a Demonic nation and eliminate all the worthless humans."

"As you wish, my master," Javelot replied. She then teleported away from the Dark World.

S...S

Tonnerre stated, "And that is what I heard. For some odd reason, Prier Dark Slayer is going to go fishing at a lake near that burnt out…wait a minute! The lake is near the village we stopped at fifteen years ago! Could that witch actually be the little brat? If that's the case, then she's dangerous for our daughter to be around. Perhaps it's her connective love that can break the spells on Dark Humans."

Ciel felt her anger burn; did Lady Sang know this all along? "Curse her! She obviously plans to play with Prier using Javelot. We'll deal with her later. Right now, however, we are to stop our baby from getting too close. I will not lose my child; not like before." She felt anger rising up within her; there would be a time for revenge shortly. It doesn't matter whether you are human or Demon; a mother is a mother.

Teefa's Last Words...

Everything comes to a head with Javelot in the next chapter. Will they be able to show her that she is really a human? Will everyone involved get a major headache; Croix, break out the aspirin again. And am I just as my annoying partner says and am being too obvious? Don't mind me; I'm slightly insane.

No, I didn't abandon this story. I was waiting and waiting for a review on my little plot twist that never came and finally just gave up the ghost and added a new chapter. Plus, I've been taking a Creative Writing class this semester that has taken up most of my time. But at least the teacher is letting me write a fanfic collection for the course so expect me to post some of the series sometime in late December or early January; it's a set of short stories about Prier and Croix's interractions and the major headaches they go through because they can't understand their feelings.