2.) Staying Out Late
The weight of the world is love.
Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction.
- Allen Ginsberg
REI
The siren like alarm on my phone jerked me up out of bed, it felt like I had only just laid down. I looked over to my phone, my eyes still a bit blurry from sleep. One in the morning. I'd only had three hours of sleep as I had gone to The Gaslight after having dinner with Ami and Makoto.
I thumbed though my apps until I came to the one Artemis had installed, when it opened there was a map location and an estimated time of arrival. I frowned when I saw where it was going to appear in a half an hours time.
The arrival location was right in the middle of a heavily used part of the city, especially at this time of night and it was practically around the corner from my place of work. I groaned as I rolled out of bed, knowing that it would take me about twenty minutes to get there. Twenty five if finding parking was going to be as bad as I expected.
Though I supposed at this point finding parking really should be lower on the list of my priorities. A busy area meant that there was a greater chance of casualties... as well as drawing attention to myself. At least the area would more than likely be populated by drunks and partiers at this point, it'd be easier to escape notice. Generally they were more unobservant than others.
I cringed as I pulled on my jeans and fumbled for my phone again, stuffing it in my pocket remembering one of my daylight encounters with one of these things in the middle of a busy park. The newspapers had lost their shit over that attack but luckily I had escaped notice.
I haphazardly managed to put on a dark hoodie over my t-shirt. The park fiasco had taught me to always bring more to protect your identity than you thought you'd need and that you couldn't always rely on waiting in a concealed spot to spring your trap. I hadn't had anything with me during that encounter and had to do my best to escape notice, I'd been forced to act like just another civilian.
Only the careful placement of my impromptu arsenal and the clever use of bait had solved my problem with that particular shadow. A ruptured motorcycle gas tank and a small spark had allowed me to pull that off. I'd sacrificed my bike to do it but it kept me from having to go all human matchstick in the middle of a crowd.
I pulled on my leather jacket and grabbed my keys from the dish by the door as I slipped my feet into my boots. A quick glance at the window showed that it wasn't raining, I'd take the other motorbike. It'd be a hell of a lot easier to find parking for downtown. Even at this time of night.
Twenty-one minutes later I was cursing as I ditched my bike around the back of my club. This certainly wouldn't help me escape my employees notice, they all knew I avoided this place like the plague whenever I could. There were too many memories here with Minako before my father's company had taken over its management.
I sighed as I yanked off my helmet and pulled up my hood to at least partially conceal my face, then I took out my phone; it would now be able to tell me exactly where to go. I glanced down the darkened street, according to the map the shadow would appear just down this alley.
I gritted my teeth, not liking the fact that civilians were present. A few club-goers were out back having a smoke. I distractedly pulled out my own pack and lit up, doing my best to blend in and not attract undue attention until I couldn't avoid it any longer.
I leaned back against my bike, trying to ignore how much I hated the waiting. The anxiety and stress that would build up while I waited for the damn things to appear always threw me off a bit. I concentrated on my smoking, trying to appear casual while I kept an eye on the crowd of people.
After a few more moments they finished getting their nicotine fix and meandered back into the club. Or at least the majority of them did, one remained outside choosing to light up another smoke; possibly trying to sober up a bit before returning to the party. My frown deepened as I continued to puff on my smoke, seating myself more comfortably on the bike while I waited.
I turned my attention back to the street as a cop car pulled past. Silently I prayed that it wouldn't stop in front of my club; with Christmas drawing near and university students starting to come home for the holidays there were a fair number of under aged people trying to sneak into the bars and clubs.
It was a headache; there were more cops and more liquor inspectors frequenting the establishments; I'd briefed my staff on the issue and they were to check all IDs at the door for any one who looked under forty. It might have seemed like overkill but so far it had been effective, we'd had no slip ups so far but the season was far from over. And it seemed like every 'agent' in town was out to cause us a much hardship as possible.
I strolled to the end of the alley, taking a look at where the cop car was headed. Luckily it looked like they were just checking up on things for they hadn't stopped anywhere in particular. I turned back to the alley way, grateful that it had finally emptied out while my back was turned. I glanced down at my phone again trying to gauge how much time was left before the incursion.
We hadn't been able to improve the accuracy of the app any further than we already had... it was now just a matter of waiting and hoping it would be accurate enough to help me save lives.
Then a scream echoed down the alley towards me. I allowed myself a moment of annoyance before I gave a curse and broke into a run, making my way towards the scream as fast as humanly possible.
As I made my way though the darkened alley a disturbing scene began to play out before me. A shadow was loping after the woman I'd seen earlier. I swore loudly and launched myself at the human shaped shadow as the woman tripped.
Just as the shadow was about to gore her I tackled it, doing my best to wrestle it out of the woman's sight. We were tangled together as we hit the pavement, each scrambling to gain the upper hand.
I was momentarily distracted by the sudden squirming sensation along my arm and chest where I'd come into contact with the shadows previously, it twisted its way towards my heart spreading and expanding almost like an infection. My distraction allowed the shadow to tighten its grip on me... However this time when the shadow phased through my clothes to come into contact with my skin there was none of the pain. There wasn't even any of the numbness. Instead of the cold of last time, it was more of a tingling sensation; pins and needles that come with the warmth of blood returning to your extremities after waking a sleeping limb.
I pushed that aside as well, surging upwards and gripping the humanoid shadow around its throat with my bare hand. This time it was the one to seem surprised and I used this to wrangle it into submission... at least until I managed to toss it into a nearby dumpster and slam the lid on it.
That allowed me enough privacy to light it up, hiding away the flames inside the bin. I took a few steps back, watching the light that managed to escape from underneath the lid fade.
I brushed aside my growing concern over my interaction with the shadows and turned my full attention to the woman who was, understandably, losing her shit. I grumbled quietly to myself as I rounded the corner towards her, more annoyed by this than anything else. Just because I wanted to save people didn't mean I wanted to deal with them.
Dealing with the general populace meant coming up with cover stories to stop this kind of predicament from becoming front page news. As I approached the woman I realized this time... it might not be as hard as I thought it would be. She was fairly intoxicated and hopefully that, combined with the fact the shadow was more human shaped than I was used to, would make her more willing to believe whatever story I came up with. If I was lucky she was intoxicated enough to not even remember these events in the morning.
"What was that thing!? That monster?" The woman asked me, sounding close to hysterical. I raised my hands in a placating manner, saying the first thing that popped into my head.
"Uh, how intoxicated are you?" I asked, with a bit of a laugh. To me it sounded horribly forced but she seemed to relax a bit.
"What?" She asked, sounding like my laugh had caught her off guard enough to bring her level of terror down a bit.
"That was just... a normal guy." I lied, helping her to her feet. She swayed a bit once she was upright so I kept an arm wrapped around her waist to keep her steady. "He was stoned out of his mind, yeah, but definitely not a monster."
"Really?" She asked, sounding confused but reassured. I nodded, her confusion faded a bit; replaced by a bit of embarrassed annoyance with herself. "Wow, I must be a way more drunk than I thought I was."
"Yeah, it happens." I muttered with an attempt at a smile. "Now where were you getting way more drunk than you thought? I think I should get you back to your friends and get you all in a cab home. I think your night is pretty much over, hmm?"
"You're nice." She commented, giving me a bit of a drunken laugh. I tried not to let out an exasperated sigh; you'd think that owning a club would make me more tolerant of dealing with drunks but apparently not.
"So. Which club?" I asked again, dumbing down my question as much as possible.
"Light... something or other." She mumbled, leaning against me as I walked her out of the alley and turned towards the front entrance of the clubs.
"Gaslight?" I asked, hoping that I was guessing wrong. She laughed again, this time it was more of a giggle.
"Yeah that's it." She told me, sounding happy. I looked towards the entrance of my establishment; a small crowd had gathered there. The happy yells and laughter told me it was probably her group of friends. She slipped out of my grasp and wove her way towards them, answering their drunken questioning with half-yells of her own.
I finally allowed myself to let out a grumbling sigh as I went about flagging down one of the cabs, as I turned back in the woman's direction I was met by a pair of lips.
"Thanks for saving me." She told me before trying to pull me in for another kiss. I carefully extricated myself from her grasp and turned my attention to her friends.
"You should probably take her home before she passes out." I told them. "Wouldn't want to get yourselves tossed out of any bars, now would you?"
The rest of her crowd piled into the cab behind her, taking the rowdy drunken air with them. I sighed again, running a hand back through my hair.
It was then I heard one of the bouncers clear his throat. Tonight was just one of those nights that made me wish I had stayed home in bed.
"You're not supposed to be back here tonight." He commented, then glanced at the retreating cab before giving me a sly look. "But I guess I can't blame you for wanting to save a pretty woman. Especially if you get that kind of thank you."
"I can fire you, you know?" I told him. "And god, it is too early to be dealing with this. I'm going home to bed."
"Night boss." He called after me as I walked back towards my motorcycle, hoping that he wouldn't tell anyone about me showing up tonight. I didn't want to explain to anyone what I was doing in the area. Or why I showed up at the club for a second time on my night off. I shook my head again, wanting nothing more than to sleep for the next eternity and a half... it was a shame I had to be up early tomorrow.
MINAKO
I awoke cradled in his arms like I was the most precious thing in the world. And to him I probably was. This was the first morning in what felt like years that I hadn't been jarred awake by an alarm. He'd probably shut it off sometime after I fell asleep last night.
"Good morning." I murmured against his chest. His arm tightened around me briefly.
"Morning Mina. I hope I didn't wake you up." He replied, when I gave him a curious look he chuckled and explained. "I ordered breakfast, it should be here pretty soon."
"Am I finally getting that breakfast in bed that you promised me three months ago?" I asked, teasing him. We hadn't been home since that day so he hadn't yet had the opportunity to cook for me. Kunzite laughed.
"I figure I owe you something special – some grand romantic gesture to show how much I love you." He told me.
"Why? Because you proposed last night and utterly failed in that regard?" I prompted teasingly.
"Yes." He replied, watching me with a shine of humour in his gaze. "What was I thinking? No flowers, no over the top display of my affection for you. I am, without a doubt, the poorest excuse for a boyfriend in the history of Earth."
"And yet, I still said yes." I continued, kissing his cheek softly. "I can't believe I put up with you. Worst fiance ever."
"And?" He asked, this time there was a full fledged grin in place.
"And where's the damn ring?" I teased. "Or did the ever perfect Kunzite actually forget something?"
His grin became more pronounced at my words and his reply was interrupted by a knock on the door of our hotel room. He got out of bed and went to answer it but then he paused.
"Put that on, wouldn't want to give anyone a heart attack now would we? I mean they'd die happy but..." He asked as he tossed me his shirt from last night. I sat up in the bed, pulling on the shirt that wrapped me in his smell. It was like a protective shell between me and the rest of the world.
Kunzite opened the door, taking the tray of food from the waiter at the door. With a quick glance in my direction he called out over his shoulder.
"Now check the left pocket."
I reached down into the breast pocket, already knowing what I'd find there. I shook my head.
"Real romantic Kunzite." I commented sarcastically as I plucked the ring from the pocket of his shirt, I idly wondering how long he'd been carrying it with him. I paused when I saw it, it felt as though my breath had been stolen away.
"Kunzite..." I gasped. It was beautiful. He set down the tray at the foot of the bed and came and sat down next to me, gently taking the ring from my hand and sliding it on to my finger.
"I did good then?" He asked me with a bit of a grin. I leaned forward and kissed him soundly.
"You did good." I told him with a laugh, he laughed as well.
"Good." He replied with another smile, leaning in to kiss me again. I relaxed into it, still slightly disbelieving... How could I have possibly gotten this lucky?
REI
Early the next morning I started the drive out to the country, making my way to my father's house. He had moved out of the city for his health; not that he was really relaxing like he was supposed to, he was still just as consumed by his work as he ever was... only now he was doing it from our vacation home.
I parked my car in front of the house and walked up the path. The door opened just as I reached it, my father's assistant, Silas, welcomed me inside.
"The Chairman is in the study." He told me as he took my coat and scarf. I nodded, of course he was in the study. When I had still been living under his roof, that was the only room I'd ever seen him occupy. His study, his work, was his life there was no room for anything else. Well, not after my mother died.
"How's he been doing?" I asked him, knowing that it was one of the things my father and I would never discuss. It was an unspoken rule between us. He was a proud man... and he refused to talk about his own weaknesses around me. I knew it had almost killed him to ask me to come help him run his company after he had fallen ill. And I wasn't about destroy what pride he had left by bringing up his 'short comings' around him. It was bad enough that he had to ask his estranged daughter to serve as his representative while he 'recovered'... he didn't need it constantly shoved in his face.
"He's doing as well as can be expected. Dr. Ross has advised that he get more rest and they've changed his medication regimen. Hopefully that will yield some more positive results." Silas told me. I nodded. "He has another appointment today. I'll do my best to keep you informed on the situation."
"Thank you." I replied, surprising myself with how sincere I sounded. The man gave a smile then gestured to the door at the end of the hallway.
"You better go, he's been waiting." He told me. I nodded and slowly made my way down the hall. I knocked before entering, shutting the door behind me quietly. My father was seated behind his desk, looking out the window at the fresh falling snow. He turned to study me as I approached.
"Good afternoon Rei." He greeted as he rose from his seat, giving a brief handshake. I nearly rolled my eyes – only in my family...
"Good afternoon sir." I replied, nodding my head slightly. He continued to survey me as he sat back down. "You wished to speak to me?"
"Please sit." He requested, gesturing at the chair across from him. As I sat down, he returned his attention to the window. I glanced out the window, staring out at the falling snow over the mountains. As the silence stretched on I looked back to my father, waiting for him to speak. There was a long sigh on his part before he looked at me again.
"How are you doing?" He asked as if he was trying to do this 'family-thing' properly.
"Well enough." I replied, he gave a curt nod. Somehow, it would seem that we never managed to get this part right.
"And my business?" He asked, I relaxed slightly. This was more familiar territory between the two of us.
"Well enough." I repeated, this time his eyes narrowed. I could tell that my answer wouldn't suffice. I sighed, of course he was more interested in his company than my well being. "If you would like me to be more specific you'll have to tell me what aspect of the company you're asking about."
There was a stony silence between us.
"I want to hear about everything." He told me coldly, almost daring me to question him. I nodded wearily and began reciting what I knew about the recent events at his company. I got the feeling he was testing me, making sure I was worth keeping around. The moment I proved to be even slightly inadequate would be the moment he would no longer have need for me.
"...and the Board of Directors say that we should be able to progress into stage three of development by the end of January." I finished idly, feeling completely uninterested in the conversation at hand. While I may have been adept at this business crap, I found it horribly dull.
"And what about sales at your establishment?" He asked, studying me closely.
"They're more than adequate." I told him. "We're up seven percent over last year, we're still working on boosting our food sales but our liquor sales have more than compensated."
"You are working on boosting your food sales though, right?" He asked, giving a me a stern look. I nodded, meeting his eyes. I almost wanted him to challenge me for more information but he simply shrugged and changed the topic. "And how are the renovations at headquarters coming along? I hope you managed to resolve the issues we spoke about during your last visit."
"They'll be complete within the week."
There was another nod on his behalf. This one had an air of finality about it.
"Was there anything else you wished to talk about?" I asked him after there was a pause in the conversation. Before he could answer, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." My father barked. The door opened as a man walked into the room.
"Ah, Dr. Ross, good to see you again." My father greeted warmly, getting to his feet and shaking the man's hand. I got to my feet as well, half expecting an abrupt dismissal. My father's attention turned back to me.
"Good to see you as well." Dr. Ross replied, drawing my father's attention away from me for the slightest second. "And this must be Rei, correct?"
My father nodded, not saying anything.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you." The doctor told me kindly, obviously sensing the rising tension in the room.
"Likewise doctor, now if you'll excuse me, I have other business to attend to." I told him. I glanced at my father, wondering if I should say goodbye or just get the hell out while I could. I chose the second option for obvious reasons... but just as I was closing the door behind me, my father called out.
"Rei, if you would wait for me in the sitting room, I will join you when I'm done here. We still have much to talk about."
I shook my head. Of course our meeting wasn't over – he hadn't lectured me yet. I left the room, shutting the door behind me quietly before walking through the house to the parlour. Silas glanced towards me as I entered.
"He asked you to stick around, did he?" He questioned idly, his eyes still focused on the newspaper he was holding. With his other hand he brought his coffee to his lips.
"I'm going to assume it's just because he hasn't yelled at me yet. That's always his favourite part of our meetings." I remarked wryly, Silas chuckled. He'd known my family for years, so he was quite familiar with the way things worked between my father and I. He folded the paper and set it aside.
"He's been rather anxious about the company the last few weeks." Silas commented, rotating his mug in his hands.
"I suppose that's not exactly doing wonders for his health... So much for rest and relaxation." I muttered, Silas looked like he agreed with me. There was silence for a few heartbeats before Silas broke it.
"How have you been?" He asked me. "I imagine it's stressful for you, taking over your father's responsibilities the way you have."
I shrugged, not really knowing what to say.
"I never got the feeling you particularly enjoy doing this Rei... so what keeps you here?"
"I have a responsibility to him and I need something to fill the day." I told him. He gave me a bit of an odd look.
"That was unenthusiastic... even for you." He told me. I shrugged, not really caring.
"It's not like people expect too much from me. I'm basically his glorified messenger... well, that and I manage one of his subsidiary business endeavours."
"While I don't necessarily agree with your summary of your job, I feel I must tell you that might change fairly soon." Silas commented. I looked over in mild curiosity.
"Are you saying he's going to fire me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. That certainly would make things more interesting for me.
Silas let out a laugh.
"God no. He would never do that." He told me. "He's too concerned about the future of his company for such a drastic action."
"Ah, right. He needs an heir to his company. How foolish of me..." I murmured. Silas didn't seem to have heard.
"Anyway, what I was saying was that you might be in line for a promotion..." Silas told me. "Your father has been impressed with your work and he thinks that you should have a more official position. Possibly his position... or one as his partner perhaps."
I bit down on my lip lightly, thinking this over. I had been satisfied with my position... it allowed me a degree of obscurity that I didn't think would be allowed if I progressed any further into his world. Right now I was just lingering on the borders, staying away from the politics that accompanied his title. I toed the line and upheld his reputation... and for that I was allowed my freedoms just so long as I was discrete about them. A relationship like that could only go so far though.
On the other hand, a management position brought with it certain perks. Chances were, with a management position, I would be allowed more autonomy within the company... and more control over our direction. This had a certain appeal, I was getting tired of constantly having to justify my actions to the board of directors and my father. The board of directors would be easier to handle if I was on equal footing with them. As for my father, he seemed ready to trust my judgement so I would be out from under his control if I took the promotion – and that would be a welcome freedom.
I sighed. I guess it would really come down to what kind of freedom I wanted to pursue... and how much I was willing to sacrifice to obtain that freedom. I looked over to Silas, he seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. He smiled.
"You've got some decisions to make, huh?" He said. I nodded slightly, studying him closely. I'd known this man for approximately half my life, having met him in my early teens. He'd become my father's assistant in his twenties... and they'd had a strong friendship despite the two decade age gap between. I frowned slightly as I thought this over. He was obviously someone my father trusted and valued. He had considerably more experience with the workings of the company than me... and he wouldn't be retiring for some time.
"So why isn't he promoting you?" I mused, finishing my train of thought out loud without meaning to. Silas looked like he didn't really know what to make of me... but then he chuckled.
"You always were a blunt one..." He acknowledged, giving me a looked that bordered on fondness. I gave a smile in return as I waited for him to answer.
"Rei, I know you and your father don't exactly have a great relationship, I mean ever since your mother died things have been..." Silas' voice trailed off and he gave a vague motion with one hand as he tried to come up with the right word. "Difficult. For both of you."
I wasn't making eye contact with him anymore, I disliked it when people brought up my mother. Before her death my father and I had functioned like a normal family. But the moment she had disappeared from our lives, there was nothing holding us together any more. We had fallen apart and it was something we'd never been able to fix.
"And after all these years Rei, I think this is his way of telling you that you're family. He's always considered his company a family business – despite it being a multimillion dollar company. I think he just wants to share that with you... to try and fix things. It's why he chose to contact you when he fell ill as opposed to bringing in outside help. He wanted to make you a part of his world. He'll never say it but I'm certain that's his reasoning behind it."
"I asked why you weren't promoted, not why I was." I pointed out. Silas sighed.
"Don't be a smart ass." He grumbled. I smirked slightly. "But I suppose he's not leaving me the company because I already have a management position."
I thought about this for a few moment. It was true, he was practically a full partner in my father's company. Even though he acted like he was nothing more than my father's servant, he wielded more power in the company than he let on.
I nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"Is there anything else you want to talk about Rei?" Silas asked, picking up on my thoughtful silence.
"I was wondering if you wanted to be the one in control of the company." I stated clearly.
Silas' eyes narrowed, it seemed I'd caught him off guard again. He leaned back in his chair and studied me, as if appraising an opponent.
"What if I said yes? What would you do?"
"I don't really have a good answer for that. I was merely curious about your aspirations within the company." I replied. "There was no ulterior motive... at least this time."
Silas chuckled softly. The fond look entering his eyes again.
"Then to answer your question honestly, I'm satisfied with my current position but if the chance ever did come up for me to take a firmer grasp on things... I would take it. It's not something I'm actively seeking though."
I nodded. I was thankful for his honesty, it might make my decision easier somewhere down the line.
MICHIRU
"What was so urgent last night that you had to skip our family dinner?" I asked Setsuna as I sat down at the table beside her. It was then I realized that she was wearing the same clothes as the night before. "And might I ask why you didn't come home last night?"
Instead of answering my question Setsuna passed me the newspaper. I rolled my eyes, knowing when I was being put off... but then I caught sight of the page it had been turned to. The article in question was focused on the local candidates in the upcoming election. My eyes were drawn to one name in particular. Senator Beryl Artair.
"It's starting." I breathed, my eyes jerking up to meet Setsuna's. "Is Rei..?"
"Rei is fine, she will find answers soon enough."
"I just wish..." I started, letting my voice trail off. There was so much that I wished I could do for Rei, I wanted to step in and try to force the others to realize all that she had done for them... all that she was doing for them. All that she was doing for us. "I wish I could help her more."
"We both know how your last attempt at helping her went. She wasn't impressed as far as I recall."
"I don't see how having a family means I should stop being there for my friends. And I don't understand how..."
"You don't understand it, really? Or do you just want to convince yourself of that and ignore the fact that she has a point?" Setsuna asked me, an almost accusatory tone entering her voice. "You know very well why Rei refuses to let you or Haruka assist her in her task."
I sighed, looking away from her. Yes, I knew the exact reason why she wanted me to stay as far away from her dealings as possible. She had let the worlds come to ruin in the last world just so she wouldn't have to kill Hotaru... and she'd be damned if she let anything come between our daughter and a normal childhood.
"I don't like seeing her alone." I murmured. Setsuna's hand came to settle on my shoulder.
"I know. Just remember that she won't be forever, it's all about to change." Setsuna's voice trailed off
"You made that sound ominous." I commented receiving only a smile in return which wasn't entirely reassuring. I looked back down at the newspaper in front of me, studying the frozen image of a woman I once hated with all my being. She had taken my entire world away from me... and yet, I couldn't really bring myself to blame her any more.
A frown was slowly building on my face. I still didn't understand why things had turned out the way they did. Why had only a few of us retained our memories of the past life while the rest lived in ignorance? What possible reason did the High Queen have for making Rei suffer alone like this?
The frown deepened. No, I couldn't bring myself to blame Beryl... not when there were much better targets for my resentment.
REI
"The board tells me you've been distracted of late. Is there anything you wish to tell me?" My asked as he sat down across from me, the cold edge in his voice told me he was thinking of only one possible reason for my distraction. An affair. One he completely disapproved of. In truth, what I was caught up in was far more intense and private than a mere affair.
"If you have something to say, Father, just say it." I told him, feeling my mood sink once again. It was always the same thing with him. I was allowed my 'freedoms' as he called it, just so long as I kept it a secret.
"Your indiscretions are your own Rei, I've always been clear on that.." He started and I could sense the old fight rising between us.
"Yes, you've made it perfectly clear how you feel about my taste in relationships." I replied, leaning back in my seat and crossing my arms.
"Everything you do reflects on me... and the company. You are tied to us, you cannot forget that." He warned, getting to his feet as his voice rose in volume. "Your distractions could damage your standing."
"Because what? They threaten your delicate sensibilities?" I asked, unable to keep the sneer from my voice. This family was a joke.
"Your mother..." He started, his voice harsh and commanding as if he was ready to deal out truth. This sharpness hit too close to an old wound for me to handle any longer. I rose to my feet finally, standing toe to toe with him.
"Do not speak to me about my mother!" I yelled, she was the wound that had never healed in this family. It had been left unattended and had festered until there was nothing left of the family I once had. Once that wound had been prodded it was impossible for us to back down. "You have no right to speak to me of her. Not after ripping our family apart."
"You dare to pretend that you knew your mother better than I knew my own wife?" He demanded, his anger rising to match mine.
"No. The man who raised me knew your wife better than you do and if he had no quarrel with the way I am... neither would his daughter. You stopped being my father the day my mother died. And you stopped being my family the day you left me with my grandfather. I have kept my end of the bargain, I have earned my freedom – your reputation be damned."
The fury on my fathers face was frozen in place, the emotions filling the air seemed ready to ignite. Contempt burned within my chest as I turned on heel and walked towards the door.
"Stay out of my life. What we have is just business." I told him as I stepped out of the sitting room. "We stopped being family a long time ago, don't try and pretend otherwise."
"Rei!" He called after me. I shook my head as I grabbed my jacket. I didn't feel like going another twenty rounds with him. I was done with this bullshit.
Silas' eyes met mine as I yanked open the front door. He frowned, giving a sigh while softly shaking his head; there was no judgement in his eyes... which, for some reason, pulled at my heart. Something like guilt was just starting to rise up inside of me. I gritted my teeth and stepped outside, slamming the door behind me.
ARTEMIS
I checked my watch, doing some mental math trying to figure out what time it was where Minako was on tour. After deciding it was a reasonable hour for her I picked up the phone and dialled... hesitating only slightly. I felt guilty over having to bring Minako away from something she loved. She'd come home because of course she would, but she would be coming home to fight. Not to live. I sighed as the phone began to ring, waiting patiently for Minako to answer on the other end of the line.
"Hey Arty. I was just about to call you." Minako said, greeting me with a nickname that had never failed to make me feel warm inside. I seated myself at the kitchen table, knowing this phone call would probably take a while.
"Oh really?" I asked, choosing to settle into the conversation rather than commandeer it. I wanted to pretend that life could be normal for a while longer. After we'd finished catching up we could move on to business.
"Yeah." Minako replied, her voice suddenly sounding almost shy. "I had some news to share with you. Figured since you're like my older brother I'd tell you in person."
I felt my heart soar when she called me family, it was nice to have her feel that way about me. I'd always felt grateful that I'd met her when I did, I'd been given a chance to be a part of her life... I had a chance to help her become the wonderful person I knew she could be.
"So what did you want to talk about, Mina?" I questioned.
"Are you sitting down?" She asked me, a teasing tone in her voice. My mind instantly conjured up the expression that went along with that tone.
"Yup." I replied. "What news do you have that makes you think I'll go weak in the knees?"
"I'm coming home." She told me. I gaped, not really able to form a coherent thought at the moment.
"What?" I finally choked out, so unbelievably grateful for the fact I didn't have to force her to return. I hadn't even had to ask her to come back, some how the universe had decided to intervene on my behalf.
"Yeah, we're scheduling some time off after we finish up this tour. I'll be back for Christmas."
She sounded so incredibly happy at the prospect of returning home that I couldn't bring myself to really do much more than sit there and savour that. Then my brain stumbled across something...
"Wait, we?" I managed to get out, still not understanding how Minako coming home for the holidays had turned into a plural.
"I – Well, I..." Minako hesitated as she tried to figured out how to tell me her news. She sounded almost flustered, it wasn't something I was used to hearing from her. "I'm engaged Arty, Kunzite asked me to marry him."
I almost dropped the phone in my shock, scrambling to grab it before it hit the ground. I quickly brought it back to my ear, hoping that Minako hadn't noticed anything amiss as I scrambled for words.
"Wow. That's... Wow." I said, trying to cover up my growing guilt with fairly authentic speechlessness. "That's... wonderful news."
While part of me was happy that Minako had found some kind of happiness in this world the rest of me felt guilt. The last time I'd seen Rei I'd tried to talk her into having hope where her relationship with Minako was concerned... and now, that was pointless.
I'd known from the beginning that the two of them wouldn't have the easiest relationship but I'd hoped, for both their sakes, that they'd get it sorted out. I'd been so... wrapped up in the past that I'd missed what was going on in the present. And the worst part was that I had dragged Rei into my delusions.
"You don't sound all that thrilled." Minako commented, the barest hint of a frown in her voice. I shook off my guilt, choosing instead to focus on the fact that the woman I'd helped raise was engaged.
"No, I am... I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact my little sister is engaged. Older brothers are allowed some processing time, you know..." I retorted, then my tone became kinda snarky. "And which one was Kunzite again, not that asshole who..."
"You're the worst, you know that right?" Minako interrupted but I could hear and feel the fondness she had for me. "And Kunzite's my manager. And boyfriend of the last two years or so. Please tell me you at least remember him?"
My mind flashed back through all the articles I'd read and all the photos I'd seen of Minako in the last
"When did this happen?" I asked, feeling shellshocked. Minako's laughter echoed through the phone.
"The engagement or the relationship?"
"Engagement." I clarified.
"Last night." She replied, the soft ripples of joy and contentment that flowed through my bond with her just about made me cry. It was so good to feel that from her but I knew it was wrong.
"Well, congratulations Minako. I can't wait to meet him."
"Thanks Artemis." She said softly, sounding a bit homesick. "I've missed you."
Comfortable silence nestled between us until Minako cleared her throat.
"So what was it you were calling about?" She asked. I didn't let myself pause even though there was a flood of thoughts running through my head.
"Nothing, just wanted to catch up." I lied, we could cover the developing situation when she got here. The fact Minako was returning at all would have to be enough for Luna. We'd deal with the fallout when it came.
REI
I looked up as the door to my office opened, it was Ren. Probably here to tell me to quit working so hard and go home as it was well past time for me to be off the clock.
"Hey, what's up?" I asked, then noticed her boyfriend poking his head in the door after her. He was wearing a shit eating grin... which normally meant all productivity on my behalf was going to come to a complete stop.
"Oh god. Don't tell me you're inflicting your boyfriend's presence on me tonight." I groaned, Ren laughed.
"Of course I am. You always feel better after harassing each other for a bit." She told me, sitting down on my desk.
"Who says I need to feel better?" I grumbled darkly at which Ren gave me a look.
"You're all bad-moody. You've been swearing under your breath every ten minutes since you got back and you're doing that brooding thing again." Ren teased, poking a finger against my forehead; trying to smooth out the lines that were forming there prematurely.
"Hm. Right." I muttered as I pushed the offending digit away. I hadn't realized that I'd been swearing out loud all afternoon. "I suppose I might be able to suffer through whatever that idiot of yours has planned."
"You do know I am standing right here, right?" Kade prompted from the doorway. I glared at him.
"Yes Kade. I have eyes." I snapped at him. Wow, I really was in a foul mood.
"I think you're already helping her unwind." Ren commented sarcastically in a mock whisper to her boyfriend. I rolled my eyes.
"Just so you know, Ren, I don't take kindly to people trying plan my evenings for me." I remarked, my tone taking on a scolding edge. She simply sent me a grin.
"I'm your personal assistant, it's part of my job description." She replied cheerily. I almost buried my head in my hands.
"Goddamnit." I swore, unable to stop myself from smiling. I certainly had set myself up for that one. I decided to lay down arms and give in to their plot. "Fine. What are we doing?"
"We are going out into the club and we are having drinks." Kade answered, pulling me out of my seat after he'd gotten a firm hold on my jacket; making sure I couldn't weasel my way out of this.
"Seriously? You know I don't drink." I protested, turning to look at him in disbelief. I thought that they'd at least chose something I was remotely interested or engaged in.
"You don't drink often, there's a difference. And you need to chill the fuck out and have a good time for once in your life." Kade replied with a laugh, using the exact words he'd heard me utter so many times before. Even Ren rolled her eyes at him.
"What he means is that it doesn't matter if you drink or not. You just need a night off." Ren told me. "So you're joining us in the bar and we are going to enjoy ourselves... and you two will talk about something other than work."
She met both Kade's eyes and mine sternly, knowing that without a very strict warning we would probably both end up talking about our businesses or employees or having to deal with the suits back at A.E.D. Corp HQ. We both shared a bit of a guilty glance.
Ren pushed me into the booth next to Kade and slid in on his other side. Almost immediately drinks appeared at our table which made me suspect that Ren had gotten all this set up before even setting foot inside my office. I grumbled quietly to myself as she pushed a large mug of tea across the table towards me.
KADE
It was nearing ten o'clock when suddenly Rei was no longer engaged in our playful banter, her gaze had been drawn over my shoulder towards the bar. A look of... regret now graced her features. I found myself turning to see what she was looking at. My eye caught Ren's as I turned, she looked just as confused as I did.
"Excuse me." Rei stated, slipping by me. I followed her with my eyes as she wove her way through the crowd, coming to a stop in front of one of the most remarkable woman I'd ever seen; she was clad in a black dress with her long red hair gleaming in the lights.
I tore my gaze off the woman, returning my attention to Rei. She seemed cautious, almost apprehensive, about this meeting. They seemed to be deep in conversation, the longer I watched the more apparent it became that there was history between them. A history that seemed to linger painfully between them. I'd never seen Rei look so guilty before.
There was a stuttering awkwardness that was odd to see from Rei, she was actually fumbling for words. And when comparing this to her normal no nonsense attitude, well, it unsettled me.
Ren reached down and took my hand in hers as we watched the redhead lay a hand on Rei's arm in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture. Rei's reaction was more telling than anything else could have been. She pulled back from it, as if deeply blaming herself for something. It was obvious things had ended badly between them...
"She looks so sad." Ren remarked, her voice barely audible over the music. The stranger reached out again, taking Rei's hand as she closed the distance.
"Which one?" I asked, it looked like they were both warring with themselves over something. The redhead gave a sad smile, letting the contact linger between them. Rei hesitated, but only slightly, before gesturing the woman towards her office...and a more secluded area.
"Well now, that's a development." I commented, with a sigh.
"Was it just me or did that look like they were seeing each other for the first time since a particularly nasty break up?" Ren asked, nudging me in the side. I nodded, broken-hearted was the only way to describe how Rei looked during that conversation. Then I paused.
"It's weird though. I thought Rei had only been serious with two people. And that lady isn't either one of them." I replied.
"It is Rei we're talking about." Ren commented, drawing a laugh from me. "She likes her secrets... it wouldn't surprise me if she was keeping something like this from us."
"You think we should wait for her or just head home and give her her privacy?"I asked her as I drained the rest of my drink. Ren met my eyes with a devilish grin.
"Home sounds good. She's not the only one in need of some privacy."
REI
I could feel my employees eyes on me, watching as I approached Beryl at the bar. The two of them who were working in the vicinity shifted closer to us, I was vaguely aware of their conversation beyond the thumping of the music.
They were seeing if anyone knew who my mysterious visitor was. I never brought my personal life to work with me... well aside from my father but that technically was a work relationship. I paused, knowing that if I could hear my employees that they could hear me. I needed to be cautious, knowing for damn sure that they'd listen in.
"I'm sorry, for everything. Your..." I paused, considering what I could possibly say to convey my meaning to her but not any one else. I found my hand searching inside my pocket for my pack of smokes, feeling an almost desperate need to light up. When my hands finally sought out the pack it was empty. "Your proposal – I couldn't. I'm..."
I hesitated again, looking for the words that needed saying. A wave of guilt and regret crashed over me as I thought about the past and everything I'd done wrong. I ran a hand through my hair, pushing it back out of my face and willing my internal distress not to show outwardly. I gave a sigh, trying to cleanse myself of those feelings and continued.
"What I'm trying to say is I wasn't ready to hear what you had to say. And I'm sorry about that. Especially since things turned out the way they did. Everything that happened between us was my fault. I wasn't ready for everything you were trying to tell me."
I crumpled up the empty pack of smokes into a ball, fighting the urge to light it on fire right then and there. Instead I tossed it down the bar, glaring at one of the waitresses; she scurried to pick it up and deposit it in the trash.
I glanced at Beryl, finally meeting her eyes for more than a second, there was a shine in them that made me wonder if her eyes were watering. I looked down at the bar again, not sure of what was going to happen. I almost wanted her to yell at me, to blame me for bringing our worlds crashing down around our ears.
"You don't have to apologize to me, Rei." She told me, placing a hand on my arm; drawing my gaze back to her as I tried to back away from her reassurance but she didn't let me. After her hand left my arm, she closed the distance between us and took my hand in hers.
"Please Rei, just listen." She requested. "You weren't in a good place and I did nothing but make matters worse."
There was a spark between us despite everything. It wasn't in any way romantic, it just showed how much she understood about me. It betrayed our history and as such she understood why I was being so vague.
We needed to remain inconspicuous if we were going to change anything. Revealing our true past to my staff would not help us... If they knew something was up it would eventually trickle down to the others. Despite knowing that my pack of cigarettes was gone and empty I found my hands searching for a smoke to light up. I needed something else to distract me.
"Perhaps we should find somewhere more private to continue this conversation." I suggested, my gaze flicking towards my coworkers; most of whom still seemed to be listening in.
"That would be best. We have a lot to catch up on." Beryl replied, letting a hint of her old seductive power seep into her voice. I gestured for her to follow me and made my way through the club towards my office.
"I hope you offend you with that ruse out there." I told her once we reached the quiet seclusion of my office. I shut the door as I gestured for Beryl to take a seat in front of my desk. She sat herself down, crossing one leg delicately across the other.
"I can't imagine why I would be offended... as I remember, you are a very extraordinary woman. I'd be a fool to be offended." Beryl replied, giving me a very familiar smile.
"I did mean what I said out there." I told her, opening the bottom drawer of my desk as I fought to find the right words. "I am sorry for..."
I shook my head.
"For not trusting you." I finished as I pulled out a bottle, my eyes rose back up to meet hers. I crossed back to the other side of the desk and leaning against it so that I was seated closer to her.
"If I had... had just done something, none of this would have happened." I took a deep breath, letting it out in a hissing sigh. I had had a long time to think about the past life. I had a long time to think about everything I'd done wrong. I poured out a fair measure of scotch into one of the glasses that rested on the book shelf and handed it to Beryl. She took it gently, her fingers brushing mine; her attention did not waver from me as I poured myself a glass. I brought the glass to my lips and she did the same. I had the feeling we both needed the alcohol to allow us to settle into this conversation.
"You can't blame yourself for what happened Rei. Your heart was in the right place." Beryl told me gently, I scoffed. My heart had been with Minako, she had been one of the few things tying me to that place. The only reason for my allegiance was Minako. My heart...
"It wasn't in the right place." I muttered, draining my glass and savouring the burning sensation that travelled down my throat. I already debating about pouring myself another.
"It was with the woman you love. How could that not be the right place?" She asked me, her eyes full of sympathy, I set my glass down on the desk as she finished hers off before continuing. "I realize now that it was cruel of me to offer what I did. That was not my intention but I fear that's how it felt for you. I offered you everything you wanted but you couldn't take it, I knew the moment after offering that it was the wrong thing to do. And I am so sorry that's how things ended between us."
"You were trying to give me something to live for. How could you have known that..." My voice broke, I was unable to verbalize what I'd had with Minako. And what I didn't have this time around.
"That you already belonged to someone. That there was no way for you to ever accept what I wanted to give you." Beryl finished for me.
"That doesn't change the fact that if I simply listened to you eight cultures wouldn't have needlessly perished." I told her, reaching for the bottle of scotch again.
"There are no guarantees that I would have won even if you had joined our side." Beryl attempted to reassure me, I was already shaking my head as she finished her sentence.
"I had a vision of the battle of Mars." I explained, feeling the weight of my regret settle heavily on my shoulders again. I poured us out another heavy dose of alcohol. "They were cut down by your armies and after that I watched as the Empire fell before you. You would have won had I not stood against you."
I looked down at the carpet for a moment, collecting my thoughts as I replaced the stopper on the bottle.
"Even before that I was meddling in your doings. The escape of the Uranians and Neptunians was either achieved by my plan or my hand. Had I stepped back and let you take control of them, the war..." I continued as I set the bottle aside, I stopped speaking as her voice started up.
"There was still no promise that Queen Serenity would let me get that far. In your vision, did you see me ruling over the worlds or did you see them all crumbling into nothing as I was shown?" Beryl cut across me, bringing up a point I hadn't necessarily thought of before. My jaw clenched.
"I take it that means the second one." Beryl said softly, another faint look of reassurance on her face. "I believe that my defeat was fate, there was no way to avoid it. Queen Serenity would never have allowed it, she would rather watch the worlds cease to be than watch darkness overtake them."
"True enough, she wouldn't have given in for anything." I agreed, picking up the glasses again and passing hers back. I sighed, resting my glass against my leg.
"I still feel as though I should have done something, it certainly would help me sleep at night." I admitted, meeting her eyes again. "I just don't want history to repeat itself."
"I know the feeling." Beryl said with a smile as she raised her glass. "To old enemies laying down their swords."
"To not making the same mistakes twice." I stated, bringing my glass against hers. Then we both drank to what I hoped would be a better future. One free of further bloodshed and loss.
Beryl and I both drank in silence for a bit before she met my eyes, leaning towards me.
"I imagine you have questions. I will answer what I can, if you will do the same with me." She offered, I felt my heart leap at finally solving the last mysteries left in my memories. I refilled both glasses again, still wishing that I hadn't finished off my pack of smokes on my drive back from my father's, I certainly could use one right about now.
"I find those terms agreeable." I agreed, "What do you wish to know?"
"How long have you been... aware of what was going on?"
"Almost my entire life, I thought I was going insane. My father thought I just had a vivid imagination. And then one day with Michiru... and it was like she saw something in me that brought everything back for her."
"You don't have any idea why you remember what you do? Or why Queen Serenity's power failed to work on you?"
I sat in silence for a few moments, taking a long drink to fill the silence. I had multiple theories on why my memories had resurfaced when everyone elses remained buried. The first one centred around my contact with the shadows the other focused on my relationship with Minako. Eventually I set the glass down on the desk, deciding to share my thoughts.
"Do the other Terrans remember anything?" I asked, trying to assess the validity of my first theory. "I know Mamoru, this world's reincarnation of Endymion, doesn't but I thought that maybe that was because he hadn't been in contact with the Elder God or its powers as intimately as the rest of you."
"No. They don't recall a thing, at least according to Setsuna." Beryl told me, looking a bit concerned. I leaned back a bit, realizing that I probably should have attempted to speak to Setsuna about the matter before now... though perhaps it was best I hadn't. Knowing her, if she hadn't brought it up with me before now that meant this was the earliest my questions were to be answered.
"Rei?" Beryl asked me, I let my attention return to her. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine." I replied automatically.
"You asked about... what impact Metallia's power had over the others, is there something you're worrying about?"
I clenched my jaw.
"It doesn't matter, that theory is obviously wrong if none of the other Terrans remembered the past. The shadows and Metallia had nothing to do with it." I gritted out. "It means that, well, my memories are my fault. Or Minako's. One of the two."
Beryl gave me a quizzical look but didn't ask me any questions, obviously trying not to pry into my business.
"I don't know if you know this but she was the daughter of the Aphrodite back then, she was a demi-god that I eventually became soulmates with. We performed a ritualistic marriage under the guidance of her mother and, well, I'm bound to the promises I made. The vows she made aren't quite as applicable in this world as they were in the old one... mine still are. I also promised her that I would never forget and that I would always find her. It seems I'm to keep the promises I make to her."
Beryl was silent for a few moments before she stood and wrapped her arms around me in a consoling hug. Instantly I felt the imprints left behind by the shadows spasm wildly, causing me to hunch inwards in pain and gasp for breath; my hand rising to clutch at my heart uselessly. Beryl withdrew immediately, a look of surprise mingled with horror on her face.
"It's still affecting you." She gasped, I took another few shaky breaths as I tried to ignore the writhing sensation in my heart. When it cleared enough I looked up.
"What is it?" I asked, she was looking concerned and a tiny bit scared.
"It was something like an infection, it was meant to help... control people." She explained with a sadness in her voice. "Jadeite went against my orders and attempted to force you over to our side. It was an experiment that had killed all his previous subjects. I always wondered how your survival was possible... And how you remained immune to the subsequent attempts at subduing you."
"To be fair I didn't exactly survive it." I remarked, wondering if that had made enough of a difference... If I had survived the attack all those years ago would I have been brought under the Terran's power?
"What?" Beryl asked weakly, sinking back into the chair again as her face grew pale. I frowned. How did she not know this?
"I died." I told her. "Died and was brought back. I still don't understand how it lingered with me even after I came back... and for a second time too."
"It's not about life and death, it's about the soul." Beryl replied rubbing at her temples. "This infection will continue to influence you as time goes on."
"And what of my influence on the shadows?" I asked, finding myself morbidly curious as to how this whole thing worked.
"Why? Have you noticed a change in how you interact with them?" She questioned. I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, revealing my unmarked skin.
"I've made skin to... skin contact with two of them in the last 48 hours with no marks to show for it. Well, aside from the lingering mark from the killing blow I sustained last time around... that on the other hand seems to be growing." I told her, wondering what she would make of that.
"Through the heart..." Beryl quietly mused to herself, having obviously caught on to where the pain had been coming from. She looked up at me and gave a smile. "Then I suppose it's fortunate that your heart doesn't exactly belong to you, isn't it?"
"Are you saying that because of Minako..?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. As long as you have her, or at least have faith in the fact that your relationship is strong, there's nothing to worry about. I'd go as far as saying that you could even begin to strengthen your power over what shadow remains without worry. You'd be able to use it."
I allowed myself a smile, looking down at my hands.
"Well then, that should be useful." I commented, putting my worry aside; ready to return our attention to other topics of importance. "Any other questions?"
"Not at the moment, though I seem to recall that you had some... I assume they haven't been answered yet?"
I paused, unsure if I should bring up my next area of concern.
"So what you were seeking last time, the Omphalos, the Baetylus, the Source, whatever you want to call it... it really existed?" I asked her. I'd only seen vague imprints of it in my visions and memories – a searing light, a destructive pulse of energy; a brief flicker of Ami describing its significance to us. It seemed that whatever Queen Serenity had done to tamper with our memories hadn't worked with me but the Source still remained fogged in my mind.
"Yes, it exists. I can promise you that." Beryl told me. I nodded, not really sure what I was going to do with that bit of information. I had no idea what had been done with it when the worlds had been destroyed... or what it could have become in this one.
"And the Elder God?" I asked, pausing as I thought of Hotaru. "Your Elder God."
"Still here, still waiting. And even more hungry than it was last time." Beryl told me, then there was a small quirk of her lips. A smile. "And yours?"
"A child." I replied, watching the surprise pass across her face. I met her eyes again, studying them carefully. I'd been establishing a baseline by which to read her throughout the conversation and here was the question that truly mattered to me. It was the one I would accept nothing less than the truth as a reply... and I was fairly certain I was adept enough at reading her now to distinguish truth from lie... or half truth.
"What made you join forces with it in the first place?" I questioned.
"It came to me and showed me what it would do if I didn't help it. The world would be consumed and there would be nothing I could do to stop it. We would have to rely on the High Queen and... I wasn't willing to do that. I didn't feel she was worthy of our faith."
"And seeing how things turned out... Well, it seems you made the right choice." I acknowledged in a slightly depressed voice before carrying on the conversation. "So, what happens when the Elder God gets the Source?"
"It consumes it and leaves this world, this universe alone; consuming the Source will allow it to bring its own existence back into balance."
"And what? After that it just leaves us alone?" I asked skeptically with a raised eyebrow.
Beryl gave a sigh, seeming a bit torn on the matter.
"Not exactly. It seems that even after that it will hunger... but it won't be on a planet ending scale any longer. It will find other forms of sustenance, less... substantial forms of sustenance."
"Like what?" I asked coolly, if that thing even considered about touching a single human on Earth I'd do everything in my power to stop it. In the old world we'd, in a sense, given sacrifices to Queen Serenity so we would have peace... I wasn't willing to do that again.
"You honestly don't believe that It or the other Elder Gods are the only threats against humanity's existence?" Beryl asked, I frowned at the somewhat philosophical turn our conversation had taken. I knew my own thoughts on humanity but I also knew we weren't alone in this universe."
"I honestly believe humanity is a bigger threat to itself than anything else out there." I paused, taking in a breath as I tried to think of how to go about saying what was on my mind. "However, that doesn't mean I want to see it held under the thumb of some god that thinks it can rule us just because it can. I don't care if It's an Elder God, I'll not stand by and watch It take control of Earth."
"Controlling the Earth and its' inhabitants isn't exactly what It has in mind." Beryl told me, sound a bit apprehensive about what she was about to bring up.
"So, what, is Its' master plan once it saves us? It'll just let us go on with our lives like nothing happened?" I challenged. Beryl shook her head.
"No. It knows that humanity makes a tempting target... It plans on using Earth as, well, bait."
"It will eat anything that comes after us?" I asked, unsure if that sounded like a good idea.
"It proposed a symbiotic relationship between the two of us. I saw no reason to argue with that idea. It is greater than us by far, greater than anything we could come up with to stop it." Beryl told me gravely.
"Well, that makes things complicated." I muttered to myself, knowing that the others would chose to fight it no matter what the odds were... And I didn't know if I could bring myself to join them in that fight, not with how much I resented the position Queen Serenity had put me in. Especially now that I had gotten the chance to talk with Beryl.
AN: Well, that was long. But hey, second story update in two days.
