Warning: AU, Fantasy, PG-13, Ran/Ken. :)

Disclaimer: Weiss belongs to Takehito Koyasu and Project Weiss.

First Born: Sacred Flame

Chapter 15: Entering the Temple

Yohji and Omi's horses flew soundlessly into the descending night. The dark wrapped around them, concealing them from view of the Temple below them. There was little wind, but neither spoke. They felt as though the trees of the forest had contained their quiet words as it had hidden them from sight. Out in the open they had no such barrier.

Yohji motioned toward the cloister side of the Temple where a thin shelf of stone protruded above one of the towers. Together they guided their steeds in for a landing. Once dismounted they crouched together and studied the shadowy structure below them.

"You did bring rope?" Omi asked.

"Indeed," the Prince nodded with a smirk, then turned to study the young seer beside him.

"It looks uninhabited, but the quiet feels unnatural," Omi said, oblivious of the Prince's scrutiny. "As though something were lying in wait. Like a spider in a web."

"And we are the flies. You don't have to come with me," Yohji stated quietly, earning him a startled glance from the younger man. "If you are cancelling out the abilities of the other seer then I doubt you'd be anymore effective inside than you are up here. Getting closer is probably unnecessary."

"I'm going with you," Omi said sternly. "If nothing else I'm a second pair of eyes and ears."

The Prince smiled and ruffled the young man's hair.

"I merely suggest," he chuckled. "I wouldn't dare command you."

"Good. Now where's your rope?"

"In the pack on my saddle," Yohji answered getting up to retrieve it. "How are you with a crossbow?"

"Fair enough," Omi answered.

They lowered themselves carefully down the sheer cliff side, onto the flat surface of the parapet around the pointed tower roof. Then they quickly and silently edged their way around to the first window below the roof's edge and let themselves in. It was much darker inside than it had been on the roof. Yohji carefully felt his way around the room with Omi close at his back. When his foot slid off into thin air he felt around until he established that they'd found the opening to a set of stairs, and cautiously started down.

Omi followed. He adjusted the small pack of crossbow bolts Yohji had given him and gripped the weapon tight. He hoped he wouldn't have to use them, but he doubted they'd be that lucky.

They continued down through the tower until they came to a room with a door that opened onto a hallway. There was one lantern lit and it was burning low. From its meager light they made out that it was a short hall with a well worn wooden floor and no decoration on the walls. Not too different from the interior of the tower which had been virtually empty, no doubt due to the draft.

The hall led to a series of rooms, all simply but comfortable furnished with rugs covering the wooden floors and tapestries hung along the walls. A bedroom, sitting room, small library, and what appeared to be an office, all lit by low burning or guttering lanterns. They guessed that they had found the Mother Superior's rooms, and when they found no trace that anything had been disturbed, that she had lit the lanterns herself two nights ago. They hurriedly passed out of the suite and into a larger hallway that had many doors and several low burning lanterns along its length.

Exercising more caution they slunk down one side and around a corner until they came to what appeared to be a centrally located balcony overlooking a large hall. A wide stone staircase led down along the wall farthest from them, to the right. There were several lanterns burning somewhat more brightly in the hall, but they didn't come close to filling it with light, and the large chandelier above them remained unlit ensuring that the balcony itself was in shadow. From all appearances the hall was deserted.

Yohji paused where the wall became railing and peered down.

"What do you think?" Omi asked, leaning in close to the Prince's ear.

"I think we'd be better off finding another way down," Yohji whispered back. "Something's not right here. It's too quiet."

"You still believe they're holding Chiho somewhere in the main Temple?" Omi asked and Yohji nodded.

"This is the cloister and dormitory, where the Sisters' bed cells are. Beyond those double doors," he said softly, indicating two large wooden doors across from the foot of the stairs, "are the parlor, kitchen, dining hall, food storage rooms, and beyond that is the Temple proper."

"Where the chapter hall, school, infirmary, hospice, and everything else are located," Omi breathed.

"Yes, and where the entrance to the sacred chamber is."

"But would they want to keep her near the Scared Flame or away from it?" Omi asked.

"Wha-?" the Prince started to ask, but a movement of the air past his face silenced him and he ducked back away from the balcony.

Omi raised his eyebrows in question but didn't speak as Yohji drew a small mirror out of an inner pocket of his coat and held it so he could see down into the hall. At first nothing was visible, but the flames of the lanterns all danced in a sudden flow of air. From within the space below the balcony came a horrible loud wracking cough and an odor so foul the two companions had to cover their noses and mouths with their sleeves.

Yohji continued to hold the mirror so he could look below. Within it emerged the head and body of a monstrous beast. Its back was to them as it slowly crossed the floor heading toward the double doors, but the Prince could see it clearly. His hand started to shake as he lowered the tiny mirror and turned to watch it with one green eye peeking past the edge of the wall.

Its chest was about level with the top of Omi's head. Its large, arching spine was taller than his own. Everything about the beast was disproportionate, elongated and thin. From its strangely jointed legs to its long snout and whip-thin tail. Only its ribcage and hips were rounded to any extent at all, and then only enough to allow for ease of motion and breath. Every one of its bones was visible inside its sleek black hide. A cruel perversion of nature. There was hardly anything wolf-like about it.

When it reached the doors it sniffed at them before releasing another phlegm filled cough. An answering cough came from beyond the doors and Yohji pressed back against the wall. It wasn't coughing, that was the way it communicated. He shuddered and began to count silently in his head until he was sure the beast was back under the balcony again. Then he took a peek. The hall was empty once more.

Omi was staring at him with wide, frightened eyes and the Prince set a reassuring hand on his shoulder before motioning that they should slowly and quietly cross the balcony, keeping as close to the wall as possible.

They flattened themselves against the wall that traveled parallel to the balcony's railing and soundlessly, at what seemed a snail's pace, made their way across. Past the staircase and down the hall and around another corner. They continued to move quietly and cautiously until they came to an open door that led onto a little staircase. Without moving the door they slipped inside and climbed down to a landing where they paused to breath and rest.

Omi was shaking.

"What was that?" he asked at barely a whisper.

"One of the demon wolves the Sisters told us of," Yohji replied. "Whoever is here has set them to guarding."

"Oh, wonderful," Omi said, releasing a shaky breath. "We can't use magic but they can. That hardly seems fair."

Yohji smiled tightly and rested a hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed.

"What was it you were saying about Chiho?" he asked after a moment.

"I was just wondering," Omi said. "They need her, but would they really keep her near the Flame? How close does she have to be to perform the ritual? In its presence? I thought perhaps they'd be more cautious than that."

Yohji's eyes widened and he grinned.

"You're right," he said suddenly. "Absolutely right. We have to go back out into the hallway and continue to follow it to the other tower."

"What?" Omi asked, growing suddenly pale.

"The other tower, the one that isn't backed up to the wall of the cliff," the Prince said, struggling to keep his voice low. Omi gripped his arm. "It hangs out over the edge of the shelf of stone that holds the cloister."

"So, if she were there she wouldn't be able to climb out a window."

"And if it only leads onto this hallway which leads out to that hall..."

"But what about this staircase?" As if in answer to Omi's question the echo of another wracking cough came from below them. The seer froze in place and quivered like a bow string.

Yohji gently took him by the arm and guided him back up the steps and out into the hallway again.

"It seems to lead down to the rooms at the other end of the lower hall," the Prince whispered right into his ear as they continued on.

Omi simply nodded in reply.

Near the end of the hall they found a set of doors that looked to be in the same location as the Mother Superior's on the other side of the cloister. They made their way inside and through the chain of rooms until they came to a similar short hall as the one at the foot of the other tower. Inside it they found a locked door with what looked to the Prince like a rune painted in blood on it.

"A blood ward," he muttered. "Well, we can't get in this way, but I'm sure this means she's in there."

"How will we get to her?" Omi asked. "Go back out and get the horses?"

Yohji smiled at him and pulled something from within his coat. He held up two straps with what appeared to be metal hooks imbedded in them. The Prince winked an eye at Omi's frown and led him back down the hall to the next door and inside the room beyond.

"Even simpler," the Prince announced. "I'll scale over to the window and bring her out. Once she's on this side of that rune she may be able to lead us down to the sacred chamber."

"I hope its as simple as your confidence implies," Omi stated skeptically.

"Keep watch at the door," Yohji said and without another word turned toward the window.

XXXXXXXXXX

Ran and Ken turned to face the tunnel they thought the voice had come from. It was dark inside and hard to see beyond the edge of the walls, but a slight movement confirmed that someone was in there. Ran tightened his grip on his sword and Ken extended his claws which seemed to inspire another low, mocking laugh.

"How cute," the nasally voice said and a tall, lanky man with long shaggy orange hair stepped into view. He had a sarcastic grin plastered across his face which was thin and pale, his darkly sparkling eyes were green and twinkled maliciously. He was dressed outrageously. Striped pants and lace covered shirt covered by a brilliant green coat. The fringed sash around his waist was yellow and matched the scarf tied around his head, holding his hair out of his eyes. Most irksome was that he didn't seem the least bit overheated.

Ran's eyes narrowed and Ken scowled in distaste, causing another laugh. Green eyes flicked to something behind them and the sarcastic smile widened.

"Exactly what we were hoping for," the man sneered.

An affirmative grunt from behind caused Ken to spin around and press his back into Ran's.

"What is it?" Ran sent.

"Another weirdo," Ken responded. "This one with white hair, short like Keiji's. He's covered with scars and bandages and not much else."

"His name is Farfarello," a familiar and unwelcome voice said in their minds. "And I am Schuldig."

Ran slammed down his shields and narrowed his eyes again at the flamboyant man before him, who bowed elegantly.

"So you're the telepath," Ran stated.

"Indeed, but I'm not alone, I see," Schuldig replied. "How fun. I've never met another telepath before. We are a rare breed."

Ran snorted.

"Soon to be rarer still."

"Hah! Ha-ha-ha!" Schuldig laughed. "Did you hear that, Far? What fun this will be."

"The other one has power," hissed a thin, thready voice. "It looks delicious. I want to taste it."

"Ken...," Ran said softly.

"Let me guess, he's the blood wizard," his partner growled from behind him.

"Hn."

"He is indeed, and a very talented one at that," Schuldig commented almost casually. He took a step out of the mouth of the tunnel, reached behind him as he did so, and drew out a long thin sword. "And I am much more than a mere telepath. Shall we?"

Ken gasped as the wizard with odd yellow eyes pulled a long knife out of the air and drew it across his own arm. His blood dropped onto the gritty ground where it pooled.

"Ken?" Ran asked, a touch anxiously, his back stiffening.

"Worry about the other guy," the former servant stated. "I got this one."

"Right," was all Ran said before stepping away from him.

The wizard lazily ran his blade over his tongue, tasting his own blood as he waved his other hand over the puddle on the ground. It began to boil and grow, taking on a shape that got larger every second. The wizard giggled.

Ken grit his teeth and decided that the "no magic" rule was moot. Reaching inside himself he pulled his potential up into his fists and out. The blades of his bugnuks began to glow a faint blue as the power surged around them.

Farfarello's eyes widened and sparkled with interest.

Ran and Ken jumped away from each other. Ran's blade came into contact with Schuldig's and a loud clang rang across the chamber. Farfarello sent his blood flying at Ken with a flick of one finger. It took on the form of an enormous wolf as it flew, but Ken cut it down effortlessly on his way to meet the wizard, who blocked his attack with a suddenly appearing second blade.

"Pretty claws," Farfarello hissed.

"Thanks," Ken grunted trying to twist his hands free of the knife blades and attack.

"Your partner seems an even match for Farfarello," Schuldig smiled as he and Ran stepped away from each other, and began circling. "I'm glad. So many people are afraid of him. He rarely gets to exercise his full potential."

Ran charged again and the two exchanged blows furiously for a few minutes. Neither one able to get a hit against the other, both searching for any weaknesses to exploit.

Ken dislodged his blades by retracting them and then found himself dodging Farfarello's. He stumbled backwards a step, ducked under one knife and took a swipe at the wizard's exposed side, but the man twisted and they ended up deadlocked again, with their weapons entangled.

"I wonder what I'll be able to make out of your blood," Farfarello said with a small smile. "Something pretty like your friend, perhaps?"

Ken growled deep in his throat.

He dug in his feet and shoved the man away from him with brute strength. The wizard flipped backward with the force of the blow. He landed in a crouch and licked his still bleeding arm as Ken watched, panting. The heat was making it hard to draw enough air to fight.

Schuldig's blade slashed the air as Ran ducked under it and swung up toward the vibrantly colored head of his opponent. The telepath anticipated the blow and dodged, losing a few locks of orange hair but nothing more. They scowled at one another from a short distance as Ran tried to catch his breath. He noticed that Schuldig wasn't even sweating and had to wonder about it.

"You'll pay for that," the telepath spat, pointing at the clump of hair that lay between them. But before he could begin a new attack a chill passed over the air of the chamber.

Ran glanced wearily around, sensing a new presence.

"Schuldig. Farfarello. Report."

The voice seemed to come from all around them. It sounded young, like that of a youth who'd just begun the change from child to man.

"We're busy," Schuldig snapped, directing his gaze toward an area of the ceiling to his left.

"You're playing," the voice corrected. "Crawford wants you both up here."

The telepath sighed in exasperation.

"He never lets us have any fun," he whined. "Tell him he can wait."

Ken kept a weary eye on his opponent as he listened to the strangely emotionless voice of what sounded to him like a kid. Someone younger even than Omi, but without a hint of feeling. It was disturbing and set his teeth on edge. The only warning he had before the attack was the feeling of the air thickening around him. Not enough time to even call out a warning to Ran before they were both lifted off their feet and slammed into the chamber wall. Ken felt the breath leave his lungs and he coughed.

"Enough, Schuldig. Kill them and get up here. Now," the voice said with only the barest hint of irritation.

"Fine," the orange haired man griped, scowling.

Ken glanced at Ran. They were being held immobile against the wall and no amount of struggling was helping, but when he looked at his lover he felt a lead weight of panic settle in his stomach. Ran wasn't struggling or moving at all. He hung limply like a rag doll. A thin trail of blood wound its way down his neck from just behind his left ear where his head had apparently impacted with the stone wall of the chamber.

Ken reacted instantly. His magic rose, slamming into the force that held them, disrupting it. A wave of energy stopped Schuldig and Farfarello in their tracks and threw them back even as he caught Ran, and dashed into the nearest tunnel. He didn't look back as he settled his lover on his shoulder and ran.

"That tingled," Farfarello commented as he rose.

Schuldig staggered to his feet and began dusting himself off.

"You said he was powerful," he reminded his comrade. "Well, Nagi?"

"Interesting," the voice said. "Drive them toward the Flame and let it finish them off. We can't risk him reaching the nun. He's too powerful. I'm not sure I could stop him."

"Far?" Schuldig said glancing at the blood wizard.

He smiled thinly and sliced his right wrist. The blood didn't even have a chance to pool on the ground. As it fell the beasts grew out of it, three in all. A wave of his hand sent them leaping into the tunnel after the fleeing men, growling their odd phlegm-filled coughs in anticipation.

"Satisfied?" Schuldig asked, looking back to the spot where Nagi's consciousness was centered.

"Very." With that his presence faded.

The telepath pouted and sheathed his sword. He sauntered over to his comrade.

"I suppose we should go see what our fearless leader wants," he sneered.

"Crawford's afraid," Farfarello stated, sounding very certain. "He can't see the outcome anymore."

"Hunh. Poor Bradley, finally living like the rest of us."

Farfarello didn't reply, but put the toe of one boot into the small pool of blood left on the ground. In one motion he drew a circle with his foot. Both men stepped inside and were gone with a single muttered word.

XXXXXXXXXX

Ken didn't slow down, he didn't dare. He didn't know what it was that was behind them, but he knew something was back there and getting closer. He could hear them.

Rounding another steep corner he slid to a halt, panting.

Ran still hadn't stirred and Ken couldn't reach him mentally. He didn't dare risk healing the unconscious Lord incase that little bit of energy was the difference between their escape or death. When they were safe he'd take the time to examine and heal him. Meanwhile they had to get out of the tunnel, preferably into one of the smaller crevices. That, he was sure, would slow his pursuers.

The other disadvantage to the tunnel they were in was the steep and sometimes treacherous incline. Some leveler ground would be most welcome. Ken had been traveling upward for long enough that he was certain they were close to the base of the Temple. And it was getting even hotter.

Up ahead he spotted another crevice, one brightly lit and about the size he was thinking of. At the same moment he heard the strange, wet coughing of their pursuers. They were almost upon them.

Ken shifted Ran from his shoulder to his back, holding him in place by his arms, and started up the slope at a scrambling run. He squeezed them into the crevice just as a massive dark shape rounded the corner and let out a horrible phlegmy cry.

Ken worked them in further when he glanced back past Ran's head and got a look at how thin the beasts were. They looked to be more of the kind he'd dispersed in the chamber. If so their ribs and hips were too broad to fit into the tight space of the crevice, but the rest of them could easily slip inside. The first one reached the opening and stuck its head as far in as it could, its wracking coughs filled the air with a rancid odor that made Ken choke and had him scrambling away from them as quickly as he could. The beasts tried to reach them with their claws and snapping jaws, but the opening was just too tight.

As Ken carefully worked them deeper into the crevice he kept his eyes searching for anything resembling a way into the Temple. That was the only reason for the existence of the tunnels, so there had to be a way in somewhere. If they were just under the Temple, or even beside it, then maybe he could find a way inside, find the hole the intruders had made, and find somewhere for them to hide and rest. Somewhere he could take the time to see to Ran.

His hopes were answered when, after sliding around a particularly tight corner, they suddenly emerged into another wide tunnel with a hole that looked more promising. Ken dragged Ran closer, keeping an ear and eye out for any movement or sound. Upon reaching the hole he smiled in relief. The broken stones were cut, and had been placed together to form the wall. He adjusted Ran's weight on his back and stepped carefully through the hole into the cloister.

It was a hallway. One that appeared to curve slowly to the right. Continuing to listen for pursuit Ken began walking along it. His steps echoed and he could hear Ran's feet dragging along behind him. As he moved along he noticed another hole coming up on the left side of the hallway, through the interior wall. As he approached it he became aware of a roaring. A noise that raised the hair on the back of his neck. It was the sound of fire, unconstrained and out of control. Silently he reminded himself not to put this one out.

He came alongside the opening and peeked in. His view, however, was blocked by one of a ring of stone pillars that appeared to circle the interior of the chamber. The sacred chamber, he realized.

Suddenly the sound of claws loping quickly along stone reached his ears, and without thinking he dove through the opening in search of somewhere to hide. Almost as soon as he was through he remembered what the Mother Superior had said, and what Omi had seen. He stumbled and nearly dropped Ran, but caught himself on the pillar. He still couldn't see the Flame and the beast hadn't reached the hole yet. In a moment of irrational hope he dashed to the next pillar, followed by the next. Averting his eyes just in case it helped keep the fire from noticing them.

He stopped behind the fourth pillar from the hole. The circumference of the room was such that they were effectively hidden from the outter passage and the Flame. Ken waited tensely. Straining his ears to listen for any sounds over the roaring of the fire.

He held Ran's arms against his chest, the Lord's chin resting on his shoulder, the left side of his head pressed against Ken's right cheek. The former servant could feel the sticky residue of blood from Ran's wound along the side of his throat where their necks touched. It added to his tension.

When after a few minutes they weren't burned to a crisp or devoured by a ferocious beast, he began to relax. Taking a deep breath he pulled up his magic and sent it whisking over the back of Ran's head. First healing the deep cut and then seeking deeper. He didn't dare spend too much time and withdrew after he'd satisfied himself that Ran wasn't seriously hurt.

Ken took a deep calming breath and turned away from the direction of the hole in the wall. It was time to get out of there and find the nun, or at least Omi and Yohji. They needed to get this job done and quickly. He could feel the fury of the Sacred Flame. None of them would be safe until it was put back into the control of the Sisterhood. Then he could seek out the one who'd hurt Ran. The one whose power rivaled his own, and make him pay.

Settling Ran more firmly he took a step forward, intent on dashing behind the next pillar, but before he could move the roar of the Flame increased. Despite himself he glanced to his left and gasped as a wall of fire rose up and engulfed them.

XXXXXXXXXX

"You called?" Schuldig asked with a sneer as he sauntered into the small ante-room that Crawford had set up as their base of operations.

The severe looking man seated behind the desk pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose with a scowl. The flickering candle light reflected off of the lenses, eerily complimenting the glint in his light brown eyes. He glared first at the flamboyant telepath and then the pale blood wizard.

"Don't give me that look, Brad," Schuldig said throwing himself into one of the available chairs. "You're the one who sent us down there in the first place. Don't get mad at us for being disappointed when you ruin our game."

"It is safer to have them consumed, as they soon shall be," their leader stated. "Farfarello's demons are driving them to the Flame, just as I have foreseen."

"His power will feed the fire," the blood wizard murmured with a note of disappointment.

"I know you wanted to feast on his potential, Far. I apologize. I'll find you another magic user to play with," Crawford said. "Once we are done here."

"He was rare," the pale man pouted. "Hard to find."

Schuldig raised an eyebrow and Crawford simply shook his head in dismissal.

"So, why did you summon us back here instead of letting us finish them?" the telepath asked.

"Because I have the nagging feeling that something is wrong," Crawford stated. "And I can not see what it is."

Schuldig's eyebrows arched again in interest and he glanced at Nagi, who entered the room quietly and stood by the door.

"Have you checked the shields?" Crawford asked.

The thin, frail looking boy nodded. His disinterested eyes settling on their leader.

"There have been two disturbances," he said listlessly. "The one from below, and another from above."

"Where?" Crawford demanded.

"The tower under the cliff face."

"Farfarello," Crawford said, his spectacles flashing, "be so good as to check on our guest."

XXXXXXXXXX

Author's Note: Well, there it is, my first time writing Schwarz. How'd I do? I think I used other authors' versions for inspiration more than the shows or the comics. So, thanks!

Thanks to angel! Cliffhanger one and now cliffhanger two! But soon all will be revealed. ;)

Thanks to Cat in the web! Yes, Schwarz is here! Da-Naaa! As for Chiho, I'm sorry I can't divulge any information pertaining to the plot. ;P But all questions shall be answered...next chapter! ;D