I'm sorry it took so long and it's not that long of a chapter either TwT I just got my laptop back from it being cleaned up and well, it had a lot of crap inside of it.
Let's give thanks for me having my baby back in my hands and to these people as well:
-Tris PhantomEvans: I'm so glad you liked it! Haha, I used to have a lot of those problems too unlike I started using OneDrive. It's online so it saves all my writing automatically and I haven't lost any contents since. My advice to avoid that, use an online journal like Evernote or OneDrive. They've saved me a bunch of heartache from losing stories -w- And yay! My own Oz rabbit plushie! xD
-LightandDarkHeart: Mm, so you're interested in what Siva maybe huh? Well in about...four or five chapters that question may be partially answered ;3 just saiyan.
-McKaelaShae: Nice name, btw. Thanks a bunches for the story fave and follow! :D Hope the wait was worth it x3
-CrystalHeart950: Thanks so much for the review, fave and follow there, Crystal! Love them a lot and I always pass around cookies (virtual-w-) to those people who give me faves and follows :D Plus you also get a cupcake for review! x3 Great support to know you'll keep reading ;D
Whoa, that's a ton of people c: Love the enthusiasm! I'll keep throwing chapters up at ya'll with this much feedback :'D
So let's get it on with this next one!
Chapter Fourteen
Moon and Star
"It's been a long time since I've been to the theater..." Oz's awed voice made me glance up towards the grand manor that had served as a theater for many years now.
We had all dressed up for the occasion, even Alice and I. And anybody who saw us could tell we were not comfortable at all with it. She wore a dress of dark red and black hues while I wore a dark, sea blue dress with dark and white tones. It was conservative to a degree but not suffocating like Alice's. At least I managed to sneak in my heeled boots on since the dress covered me up until the tip of the shoes. Trying to remain incognito for most of what was the length of the trip, I tried following beside Break as he was the last to exit the carriage.
When he came to face up towards the steps that led to the theater's entrance, I followed his eyes to meet someone I hadn't expected to see.
"Reim?" It was odd seeing him somewhere other than Pandora and the Rainsworth's since he was such a workaholic. My whispered voice didn't transcend far enough for him to hear and he simply continued as if nothing.
"We've been expecting your arrival," he announced as he waited for us. "Now if we may, I shall lead you all to my master, Rufus Barma." It seemed he was in sort of a hurry for as soon as he claimed his task he began to guide us through the place towards where the Duke was.
Duke Rufus Barma, huh? Break had warned me beforehand to not lower my guard in this place. That we had actually been accepted for a hearing was odd enough, it seemed. From what Oz was explaining, it seemed that the man knew a lot about pretty much everything.
According to what I was hearing plus what I knew beforehand from research, Rufus Barma was one of the Four Dukedoms that founded and upheld Pandora. Not only that but he was the oldest of the four.
"He is a duke. The oldest of four."
"Skiá. You sly bastard." I couldn't help but grin at his intelligence and at my own stupidity. How the hell was it that I missed such a straight forth clue?
"Finally discovered what he meant?" Break's hushed voice took my by surprise. I had been so absorbed by my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed that Alice had gone running off somewhere, that Gilbert and Reim had gone searching for her and that only Oz, Break and I had been left behind to wait.
"How would you even know what he said to me?"
He gave me a languid shrug of his shoulders before answering. "Intuition."
Yeah, right. "Really..."
"That man isn't one to lie. He just likes avoiding what he says. Believe me, what information I got from him always required a couple of visits." His eyes were transfixed upon Oz as he kept walking slower than a slug unaware of us talking. "And your poking around finally gave fruition. If anybody knows more than him, it should be Rufus Barma. After all, you haven't gone to him about your supposed brother or that woman. Is your plan to inquire those things straight from the horse's mouth?"
"If he knows about them then yes. Specially if it's about Edea Florence."
"Why her in specifically?" he asked sounding genuinely curious about my choice.
"For some reason, I feel that she's the source of it. If I can find out who she was, I think I'll be able to find more about that Cloude boy. Not only about him but also what they both meant to me in my past. That's why I also want to ask about Sablier, the town where—"
"You and your little brother resided?" I was ready to talk back to him but he quickly avoided me and went towards to where Oz had bumped his head on a wall while not watching where he was going.
Okay, maybe he wasn't far off. Pretty close actually. It bothered me greatly that I was believing this nonsense about me having a younger brother. The memories that I have collected so far, however, tell a whole different story. One that I had no proof if it existed...or of the contrary for that matter.
Even Break who was one hell of a guy at finding stuff that people tended to bury six-feet under, had not found a trace of who in the hell Cloude or Edea Florence were. What he did manage to find about was of Astrovylia and even then the information he had acquired wasn't much to be proud of when it came to him.
All that he had found about Astrovylia, or what my other self had referred to it as, Astro, was a vague storybook history and a name. Apparently, this Chain, that had no known information in Pandora's base, was once deified as a goddess by a tribe of old. A goddess that was the personification of the stars, the one who made them shine in the night sky as guide for those lost. Although named a goddess, it had a genderless form but was deified as a woman. According to that old storybook, each night the goddess would travel through the night heavens and with her Star Seeker would give birth to the stars that were hidden when the sun came to rise. Star Seeker was the name of the staff that she held always on her left hand and that held the three gems personifying the Fates that cradled in a crescent moon the bright full moon sphere that signified the Final Fate.
What made me believe this stupid fairytale was that the staff that had been drawn on the pages was an exact replica of the one I had seen myself holding that night I fought with Cloude in Sablier.
But besides that, there was nothing. Now that I was here at Duke Barma's, though, I was invested on finding some answers.
Finally, and quickly holding my train wreck of thoughts back, we arrived at a curtain that Reim opened. He went in with us following behind him as he greeted the Duke. "Apologies for the disturbance, Master Rufus. I've brought Oz Vessalius along with the others."
"Aiya, aiya, aiya." That voice... shit. "Isn't today such a wonderful day for tea, children?"
"D-Duchess Rainsworth?" This lady...simply amazed me, regardless of how many times I saw her. She was astounding to put it bluntly. She was sitting in her usual wheelchair up to a tea table that was served aplenty with treats and tea. A red haired man stood behind her as if waiting for her beck and call. Her attendant maybe, but I've never seen him around the mansion.
When she began to introduce herself to Oz, I excused myself when I noticed that Break had begun to move away towards the balcony. Coming short behind him, I stood overlooking the stage and front row seats of the theater.
"Claire..."
Yeah, this place didn't just feel creepy. As of now, it started bordering the lines of disturbing. The people seated around and the actors were nothing but what seemed to be clay or stone statues, frozen in grisly expressions to mimic human interaction. Had one not looked closely enough they would have been fooled.
"This—" Break's tone of voice surprised me. He never spoke with such disdain in his voice, not openly at least. "Is such an exaggerated comedy."
Suddenly, the big ruckus that was happening behind us, made be spin on my heels to find a big chunk of...something hanging from the ceiling. No, not something. It looked like a very, very obese and round human being that for some reason traipsed about the ceiling.
"Damn," I hissed under my breath and tried not to laugh when the meatball, as Alice baptized it, had started to cause an even bigger ruckus with its tantrum about Oz's reaction.
I suppose he heard my quiet giggles because he suddenly spun around towards where Break and I were and threw a pen that I barely had time to avoid. "You! You forgetful and insufferable twat! You're one to laugh at the misfortune of others when you, yourself, have the mindset of a mentally hindered child!"
"Twat?! Fuck off, you stupid ass meatball!" I bellowed out with the all the might of my lungs as I insulted him. And I would have even gone after it and sliced him into pieces had Break not held me back from doing so. "Let me go! I'll make him minced meat!"
"Don't waste your energies in vain."
"Huh?" In vain? What was he talking about?
"Take a good look at him. He may be Duke Barma but he isn't the duke," he explained with a hushed voice that actually made me shut up to hear him. I didn't find any meaning to what he was saying since that jackass was really getting on my nerves.
Out of the blue, Duke Barma began bouncing from wall to floor to ceiling and all over the place. A couple of times I had to edge out of the way and on one of those times he precariously bounced off from the balcony and onto the lower floors of the theater. Running out towards the edge of that same balcony, I glanced down to see that he had wrecked quite a few things on his way there.
"Ha! Hoped it hurt, you dumbass!" I bellowed down at him as he began rolling around on the floor.
"Claire!"
Had Break not called out my name to warn me the statue that had plunged a sword towards me would have hit me point blank. Yet, I failed to see the other that joined it and both pushed me over the edge of the balcony. Crying out as I felt myself falling, I grabbed onto whatever my hands could reach and gripped the edge with all my might. But my fingers were quickly slipping and before Break or Gilbert could reach me, I fell down two stories onto the ground below wrecking some chairs.
It took me several seconds to regain my breath and when I did, all I had energy for was to groan in pain. When I finally had air and head back on, I yelled out what I really wanted to say.
"Fuck, my ribs!"
A sudden piercing pain drowned every other away from me when Break placed the end of his scabbard on my left side and put some weight on it.
"Stop whining." He pressed harder on my stomach and this time made me rise up to stand. Ignoring me, Break walked on forth towards where the duke was currently having a tantrum as I followed behind him. "You seem to be quite in the good mood," he commenced while having me stand back a bit behind. "So, let us bring this whole show to an end, Sir Barma. I'm inclined to ask...you're real goal was never Oz but, in fact, it was I you were aiming for, isn't that correct? I had found it curious that after all my inquiries for a hearing with you only to be rejected, it is now you agree without a second thought."
Break? I was completely lost. I knew that he had sought out the duke before from Sharon but I never really knew why either. But he was right, when Oz requested this hearing not only did Duke Barma agree but he invited Break along as well.
"At last, you are here—" Duke Barma's voice came to my ears with a tone that gave me dread and slight fear. Turning towards him, that feeling only intensified at seeing that wide grin that spread from ear to ear making him appear even more disturbing. "The Red-Eyed Ghost."
Red-Eyed...Ghost? Approaching him from the side, I couldn't help but grip Break's sleeve slightly to shake a bit. "Break? What is he talking about?" But before he could answer all I heard was Oz calling out Break's name before all hell broke loose.
Break had slashed away at the duke leaving nothing behind but a carcass just as Oz and the others arrived. Sheathing it back, he raised it high above his head. "It's about time that you show yourself before us—Rufus Barma!" With that proclamation and his stabbing his scabbard at the floor, he unleashed the powers of his Chain, Mad Hatter, and began destroying all the people that had been seated about along with Duke Barma who was disintegrating in thin air.
In seconds, the large menacing presence that was Mad Hatter's prowess went away erasing all that came from the Abyss with it. And with all the surrounding energies gone, I somehow found a very powerful essence that had been hiding itself among the scattered figures. Turning towards it at the same time as Break did, I noticed someone who hadn't been there before. Or at least that I hadn't perceived.
"Well, well," his baritone voice came out as he spoke and the light adapted to the empty place. "The illusion that I poured my heart into so easily wasted. What wretched power, Mad Hatter."
That man...he was the one that was behind Duchess Rainsworth, the one who was standing by as her helper. No, apparently that, too, was a mere ruse to keep playing us. That redhead ahoge was really getting on my nerves now.
But my hatred was rapidly replaced by concern when I began hearing Break coughing profusely.
"Break!" Maybe it had been both Oz and I but I couldn't really discern who had spoken first.
Just then I saw as his body began to loose its balance. I wasn't much farther than a few feet and was able to catch him so that he could use me to lean on but my much shorter and tinier body wouldn't hold on for long. But before he could reach us, Barma came up to impede in his way. And although his body blockaded Oz's path, he was facing us or more to the point, Break.
"How pathetic." Barma then completely turned to glance our way before continuing. "It is because you use your power so recklessly that you end up as such. Useless, unquestionably."
Before I could even retort back with as much putrid hatred as I could muster, I felt Break jerk away from me and throw something at Barma that the man caught in his hand much faster than I could see. "Illusion shall remain illusion. It shall never interfere with reality. It is nothing more than child's play." He held up what Break had thrown at him and I saw then that it had been one of Break's countless candies. "Nevertheless, regardless if it is an illusion, it can still scare people to death." Without a warning, he let the candy slip from his hand and then forcefully stomped on it with his heeled shoes. Break's surmounting coughing took my attention for a brief moment before the man started speaking again. Seriously, he couldn't shut up for a second. "As you said, I seek information that you posses. But before that, how about showing me first that you—" before I could say a word, Break had shoved me brusquely behind him just when Barma charged our way. "Are Kevin Regnard proven!" Break blocked his attack with one of his own and before any of us could intervene Reim won us on that instead getting in the receiving end of Barma's stupid ass fan.
"Useless. Step aside if you're not helping," he proclaimed to Reim whose forehead, I could see, was bleeding from the hit he had gotten.
"But his body—"
"Weakens because of the contract's effect?" he replied with thick sarcasm on his voice. "Did you really believe that?" I knew without asking that Reim's expression had changed because he knew something none knew. "You don't...? The reason for his unstable condition isn't because of the contract itself." He began charging at them again but this time Break protected Reim. "It is because this is the second time!" When the attack hit Break and ripped his clothes, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
An...Illegal Contractor's Seal?!
My brain had stopped processing much of the information afterwards. All I heard were bits and pieces of what Duke Barma was saying.
Ugly.
Twisted.
Sinful person.
Those words struck me hard for some reason. Before I could even figure out why, though, a series of coughs took my attention back.
"Those things..." Break whispered with a small grin. "You needn't say." And without any warning to any of us, he fainted. We had all called out his name but only Reim and I were the closest and the former was the one who caught him when he lost consciousness.
"Break, hang in there." My voice was a bit shaky and I knew why. No matter how fucking annoying and nerve wracking Break was, he was my mentor. And more than that he was the only father figure that I ever had. I admired him very much and he knew it. He was part of my family just like all the others. My obvious concern showed even though I tried hard to hide it but I didn't care. All I cared about was that he was going to be all right.
All the while Reim and I tended to him, I overheard everything that the duke had told Oz and the others. I heard everything about Kevin Regnard, the Red-Eyed Ghost, an illegal contractor that had given 116 people to his Chain. Alas, regardless of his sacrifices, the man had still been sent to the Abyss.
What scared me most was what Alice had said even though I knew it was practically in everyone's head. "What you're saying is that that person...is this guy?"
"You're wrong." My whispers were nothing above that and I could only stare at Break and Reim as I heard all their accusations. "He would never..." But even I had my suspicions and no matter how much I respected and cherished him, I hadn't known him for more than half a year. And that's not enough time to know someone. As much as I hated myself for it, I, too, had my doubts.
"Do you seek to arrest Break as a criminal, Sir Duke Barma?" Oz's abrupt question, I think, took us all by surprise.
"As fun as that might sound—" sadistic bastard. "All I desire is information."
Information. Of course. Break had even told me that if this man had a flaw, if any, it was his ambition for knowledge.
"With what you have, you can ask any one question but that'll be more than enough if you ask the correct one. Remember, all he wants is knowledge. If you know something that he doesn't, he'll negotiate."
The duke then only mentioned what is was that he exactly sought from Break. "As of now, though," he proclaimed as he took a sit on the back of one of the many theater chairs. "All we have left to do is wait his awakening."
All that's left to do for me now...
Ask.
Standing up, I went towards Oz and placed my hand on his shoulder. It was amazing how the boy read me so well that he nodded and went over to Break and attended to him while Gilbert aided Reim. With that peace of mind, I started over for the duke and stood before him.
"What do you want, Chronos' brat?" he called out rudely towards me while hiding his mouth with his opened fan.
Calm down. I can't let myself boil because of this asshole. If I want answers, for this once, I'll have to be the one to bend.
"Since all we are doing now is waiting then I suppose you have time to listen to my request."
"Request?" he repeated not fazed at all and instead scoffed as if my demanding anything from him sounded ludicrous. "I require a price, of equal value I will add. What could you possibly know that I already do not?"
"Astrovylia." With the mention of its name he became quiet and still not making any sort of eye contact with me. After a few seconds though, he closed his eyes in thought before closing his fan and gazing my way.
"Continue."
"No," I declared, standing my ground. "Not until you swear that you will pay me as well for the information I am to give you."
"You're a taxing girl for barely fifteen." He gave it some thought for a couple of seconds before coming to glance my way again. "Fine. I will correspond to whatever you ask. Now, do tell, what is it you know about Astrovylia."
When he told me that, I hesitated for a second. In reality, I didn't know squat other than what Break had told me about it from that storybook. And I'm sure that wouldn't be such good information to exchange.
"Just speak."
Chronos?
"Don't worry. Whatever comes out of you will be from me. I'll tell you what to say."
You knew Astro?
"Just...listen. And repeat."
Putting all my faith in him, I took a deep breath before he began speaking. Shortly after I repeated what he had said.
"Astrovylia. I supposed I knew it better as Astro. When I was small, the time of my life I'm barely starting to remember, it would appear that I was somehow able to summon the staff that contained her powers: the Star Seeker. It is known as a Goddess of Stars because it is in them that it wanders endlessly leaving behind proof of her existence. All constellations told a story which was by its hand that they were portrayed on the night sky. In reality, the power of destiny is what it holds in its hands and is represented by the gems that it holds on that staff: Wisdom of the Past, Power of the Present, and Courage of the Future. All connected to each other by the final fate: Teliki Moira. In all its essence, Astrovylia is a weaver of fate able to manipulate time and space to command destiny itself."
It was all that I had to say. Chronos didn't speak afterwards and I didn't bother to ask why. I was too preoccupied to see if that was enough for my one question.
"Weaver of fate, you say. Interesting." He tapped his chin with his fan while thinking, "Interesting indeed. I am assuming that you are no longer capable of wielding that weapon." Giving him an answer, I shook my head. "Quite disappointing. However, I will abide to our agreement. Ask your question, Emissary of Time. Think well for what you gave me only amounts to one question."
Phrase it well, Claire. You can do it. After giving it enough thought, I took a deep breath and asked.
"I want to know what was the connection between the White Sage known as Edea Florence and a couple of children by the names of Claire and Cloude."
"Such an effortless answer really," he contributed with an air of superiority to him. Not just that but of snide too. Asshole. Out of the inside pockets of his overcoat, he pulled out a small, red leather-bound journal that was a little over half my forearm. It was well bound by thin threads and what I thought was the remains of the lock undone either by time or by force. His hand reached out with it towards me. A little hesitant at first, I ended up taking the journal that was a bit heavier than it looked. "All I have to say about that woman, Edea Florence, is that she perished as a heretic. According to the writings of an old tribe, the White Sage was to be a vowed woman that personified innocence and purity who was hand-picked for the cause of protecting the people. In reality, now, they would have been chosen because of their qualifications to contract with Chains. In specific, the Chain known to you as Astrovylia. But this girl not only broke her vow of protection but also her vow of purity by conceiving a child of a mortal man. Not just a child; she had birthed twins. A baby girl and a baby boy. Twins she had named after the time they were born. Or to be more accurate, the moon and stars of the night they were born under."
Claire and Cloude.
Dun, dun, dunnnn! What could be inside the notebook Barma gave her?! Well, you'll find out shortly since this is a double upload in celebration that I got my baby back! TwT
So hoped you enjoyed and stay tuned ~
