As the title might hint, this isn't a chapter of the regular story but one that I wanted and that needed to be told. This is the story of one character that not many got to see develop. But hopefully with this two part interlope. Note that the two chapters will be scattered. The next will be some chapters afterward. Just fyi -w-
EDIT: Well, this is awkward x3 This chapter was supposed to be in between Box of Regrets and Nightmare xD I messed up somehow. So I guess this little story will be your treat for the weekend :3 Yeah, no real story update for this weekend but hopefully you'll forgive me with this little tale I have to tell. Both of these chapters will have no number since they aren't part of the main story hence the (...) Think of it as sort of a hidden chapter in the series
Thanks to these amazing people :D
-Marronn: Oh goodness, I can't believe you just binged read twenty chapters xD that's amazing! And thanks so much!
-LightandDarkHeart: Yep, my mourning period started when I wrote it. Let's have a new one with this one too! xD And don't worry, you'll see exactly how Claire takes it :3 soon...
-Tris PhantomEvans: Thanks a lot for the favorite girl :D Hope to hear from you again this time around :3
Now to what you've all been waiting for :D
Interlope I
The Part of the Story Nobody Heard
Mr. Fang gave us these notebooks to write down what happened to us and what we thought was important to us. So, I guess I'll start with today.
—Fall, I. Year One—
"Ixota ke hajo!" Where's my sister!
But no matter how many times I asked the same question the man before me would not answer. But I supposed that it wasn't because he didn't want to but more because he didn't understand me. His hair was of an orangey blonde and it was spiked. What also stuck out about him was the tattoo that took up the left side of his face. I didn't know who he was or how I had gotten here.
All I remember was the knife that struck my face and how I rapidly fell unconscious. Next thing I knew I woke up in a bed that I didn't recognize with him watching over me. Once I got up he began tending to my wound that had been bandaged while I slept. My bloody clothes were gone and instead I wore a nightshirt and comfortable pants while I slept.
Asking the same question again, he finally sighed when he had tied the bandage around the back of my head. It covering most of the right side of my face since it was slanted that way. My right eye was mostly covered but I could still see fine with my left.
"You must be scared," he admitted when he finished and held me gently by my shoulders. "Don't you worry though. We'll take care of you. You and your sister."
"Ixota et aji?" My sister and I?
They were going to take care of us? But...what about home? What about Mama and Papa?
When he spoke up again he brought my attention back to him. "My name's Fang. And like all of us, you two are now part of the Baskerville Household."
Suddenly the door burst open startling me quite a bit as a girl that looked some years older than me entered with bundles of clothes in her arms. "Fang~ I brought what you asked for!"
"Thanks, Lily."
"No problem. I hope they fit him cute." The girl, Lily, then continued with her giddy talk. "You should have seen his sister with the clothes Miss Lottie put her in. She's adorable!"
"Ixota?" She knows where Claire is?
"That's right." Fang reached out for me and brought me down to stand at the end of the bed. It hurt somewhat when he pulled me up from my sit but once I stood still it quickly went away. "You probably want to see your sister, don't you?" Maybe they'll understand if I gesture them. With a nod, he smiles. "I thought so." He turned to gaze at the door that led into this room. He kneeled before me then to tie the ribbon around my shirt. "There you are."
At catching a glance of myself in the mirror, I could tell that they were rich. These clothes were much more than what we would use. Not many in our town wore these kinds of clothes.
"Well, somebody looks handsome." At hearing the unexpected voice, I turned to find a pretty woman of pink hair that she held in a bun and beautiful gown coming in the room. When she began getting closer I unconsciously tried hiding the bandages in my face. I must look hideous. "Oh, don't you mind that. It'll heal," she assures me with a smile and a petting of my head.
"So, you're this little cherub's brother, huh?" Looking away from the woman, I found a man that had walked in after her. He had long golden hair plaited down his back and shinning green eyes. But what surprised me most was that Claire was in his arms, all dressed in as fancy clothing as mine, and was playing with his hair. "You seem to be somewhat more calm than your sister here."
"Claire, who are these people?" When she heard my voice, her attention finally came over to me.
"They're nice people." She tugged at the man's collar and signaled the floor. At this, he let her down gently on the floor and she came up to me. "Mama sent us here. This must be a safe place. The people have been nice so far. Don't you think so too?"
I gave them a once over before grimacing at the ground. "This isn't our home though." At that, Claire poked my forehead hard enough for me to look up at her and frown. "What was that for?!"
"For being such a bummer." Before I could reproach though she held onto my hands with her own. And when she gazed up at me it was hard not to see the tears that wanted to run down her face. Even with that, she still held a small smile on her face. "Mama wanted for us to keep going. Keep moving forward. They're...not going to be here anymore, Cloude. We need to trust that the people Mama sent us too will take care of us. And if anything happens we'll always have each other, right?"
I nod at her words of encouragement, "Forever and always."
"Seems you two get along just well." Out of the blue, the man with the blonde hair hoisted us both up and poised us on either shoulder. At first it was startling but when I glanced over at Claire and saw how happy this made her, I decided to fold in as well.
—Fall, III. Year One—
It's been already two whole days that we've been here. Yesterday we began our lessons with the blonde man, Jack Vessalius. He was teaching us how to speak, write, and read their language. Since ours was quite different from theirs I now understood the difficulty they had when we first got here. The first thing we learned was how to say and write our names.
Though I know how much smarter Claire is, there is a flaw that she has. She can't take up to her surroundings like I do. Unless things don't hit her straight in her face she won't notice them. In a way, I suppose she could be called...naïve? Yeah, naïve.
On the other hand, these past two days I went around asking people about where and what this place was. And most importantly about the people who lived here.
When I would ask anybody in general they would only say that this was to be our home. That we were the emissaries of the Abyss that had answered the call to serve our master, the man we saw the first day we arrived, Glen. But when I wanted to find out more about what these 'emissaries' where I couldn't find a single written clue. And whenever I asked they would respond with 'that's who we are'.
But the major break through was when I asked Miss Lily who seemed a lot more open-minded about telling me. "We're the chosen ones of the Abyss," she said regent-like but with a grand smirk on her face. "And as such we now serve Master Glen as his loyal men."
The Abyss?
I wonder...what could that be?
—Fall, XIX. Year One—
We've been let out more than usual nowadays. And since Jack comes by mostly everyday we've gone out and played around in the inner gardens. Today we were playing hide and seek. Jack and Claire where seeking and I was supposed to be hiding when I found it.
A huge tower standing in the far end of the gardens. And through the only window I saw the silhouette of a girl. I could barely tell that her hair was long and maybe dark brown. Her eyes were a mystery to me along with why she was there.
I wonder...who is that girl up there?
—Winter, I. Year One—
It's winter already. Meaning that our name day is around the corner. It would mark the fifth year since our birth. Birth...day was what they called it here.
Ah...I miss Mama and Papa. I wanted to spend more birthdays with them.
But I didn't let those thoughts squander the present. Everyday was fun. Jack would come during the weekdays and we would spend the weekends with the Baskervilles. Mostly with Lily since all the others would be busy doing work or other things. But we never complained. We enjoyed every day of it.
—Winter, IV. Year One—
We stumbled upon something odd today. It was a weekend so we had all the day to ourselves. We had been playing tag and found a secret passage way that led into a hidden grove.
There we stumbled upon a lone grave under a huge tree.
"Huh? It says something on it?" Claire leaned down trying to read the engravings on the tombstone. "La...—ce?"
"It says Lacie," I corrected her at reading the name.
"I wonder who's La—ce."
"Lacie..." But my correction went to deaf ears. Then again, I wondered the same thing myself.
—Winter, XXIX. Year One. 12:00 am—
December 29th is today...
Happy birthday Claire. Happy birthday me.
Today we turn five. A year older than yesterday and from tomorrow only getting older. I stayed awake just so I could write this down. You're soundly asleep beside me and are snoring a little. You're such a heavy sleeper that my writing and shuffling around doesn't seem to bother you much. Even if I told you, you would never believe me.
I'm happy. Even when Mama and Papa aren't here, we still have each other. And that's all I ever need. I'll always be happy having you with me, Claire.
I love you, Claire. Happy birthday, ixote dei luna.
—5:00 pm—
"What's this all about?" Jack had brought us out before dinner but instead of taking us to the dinning room, he covered our eyes and guided us somewhere else.
"You'll see." I heard a door open and he pushed us ahead. "Ready?" We both nodded I suppose for he then took the blindfolds away from our eyes.
"Happy Birthday, Claire and Cloude!"
Everybody that we new was there and had chanted out to us in celebration. Miss Lottie, Mr. Fang, Mr. Doug, and Lily. They had thrown a party together for us.
Before I could help myself, I voiced my thought. "Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'?" Lottie asked a bit baffled. "We're family now and we're celebrating your birthday."
"Lottie-san is right," Fang agreed with a smile. "In a sense, you are our youngest siblings after Lily."
"I always wanted cute, younger siblings!" Lily burst out with a smile.
"Congratulations, children," Doug added showing one of his rare smiles.
"And tonight we celebrate!" Jack cheered.
When I looked over her shoulder and saw Claire, I noticed the tears in her eyes. It was clear that she missed them too.
I came over to her and held her hands. "Ixote, ni kiago, miok? Aniya mire ako tonaca." Sister, don't cry, okay? They're looking after us...
—11:59 pm—
I put the journal down and glance over at her sleeping. Looking sullenly down, I recalled something that she had told me sometime ago.
"I hate being alone."
Alone... At that thought the girl from that tower came to mind. With that I got up and put shoes on before grabbing the piece of cake that was left on the bed stand. Claire's insistence on taking it to bed had worked for something. Taking it, I headed out and towards the inner gardens where that tower was. It took me a few minutes but I got to the top of the stairs and went through the heavy curtains that were placed as a door.
"Alone..." My murmur was ragged because of my panting. That's right, this girl was always alone. I've never seen her out of that tower. I wonder how she ended up there. Why is she up here? Was it because she wanted to or because somebody told her to?
Shaking the questions out of my head I placed the plate with the slice of cake on the tea table in front of the grandfather clock.
"Meow!"
The sudden sound startled me and made me jump back. Holding my chest in fear of letting my heart burst out of its place, I looked down to see a black cat with a red ribbon and a bell on its neck walk in from nowhere. It scared the living lights out of me.
"Cheshire...?" The sleepy voice caught me off guard. At facing upward, I saw the face of the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Her amethyst eyes groggily gazed my way while with one hand she rubbed at one. Her white nightgown was rumpled and her long, chocolate hair was messy. She must have been sleeping. When she finally seemed to notice me there she frowned and asked, "You're not...Cheshire..."
"I-I'm sorry...—I-I..."
"Who are you?" she asked finally looking at me. "Why are you here?"
After finding the strength to regain my composure, I faced her and spoke clearly. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to bring you this." I motioned to the piece of cake beside me. "I just thought you might like some?"
"Huh?" she looked over to the table before rubbing her eyes and looking again. Her sleepy eyes suddenly shined and a frown sprouted on her face. "Cake?"
"It's...from a party. I-I'm really sorry for disturbing you so late at night."
"Thank you." At hearing her say that, I glanced up to see her frown replaced by a smile. "That's very nice of you. I'm Alice."
Alice...
"I-I'm C-Cloude."
She giggled a bit before speaking. "Like the ones in the sky." She gazed away as if lost in thought then returned her gaze towards me. "Come visit again. I'll be happy to play with you during the day."
"S-Sure." Before I could even say anything stupid, I quickly left that place. But I felt happy that she had liked it. It wasn't like with Claire. This feeling...it was something different.
—Winter, XXXI. Year One—
The days have become busier by the month. Claire and I just started our training for combat. We both were holding two different lessons with Miss Charlotte and Mr. Fang. We spend a little less time together nowadays but I still try to make up for the time lost.
Since Jack's lessons were in the morning and the training in the afternoon, I had a tiny break where I could go out. During those times—
"You came!" she called with a huge grin on her face while she bit into one of her favorite stuffed animals.
During those times I went and visited Alice. She was quite a handful but it was something that I ended up liking about her. She's always herself. Someday, I'll bring Claire to meet her too. They would get along well. Our next day off, I'll bring her here.
—Spring, XV. Year Two—
Spring's finally here. Today was one of our days off but unfortunately I couldn't take Claire to meet Alice. When I had asked Jack about why I couldn't he said that it was because Master Glen didn't want to let us. I didn't understand why but I listened to him.
So today we simply went outside to play in the gardens. After playing tag for a while, we sat down winded and tired.
"I feel like singing something!" Claire called hoisting herself up to a stand.
"Go for it," I agreed while I remained seated. She stood still for a few seconds before she started singing. She loved doing that. In the middle of anything, she would burst into song much like how Mama would. When she was done, I clapped and she bowed before me with a giggle. But out of nowhere her eyes dazed and suddenly she fainted.
"Claire!"
Afterward when I had brought her to Jack, he told me that it was just a fever and that with rest and nourishment she would get better.
But I knew otherwise. This kind of thing had happened before but not with Claire. I remember on nights when I couldn't sleep, I would catch a glimpse of Mama coughing and Papa soothingly rubbing her back. When I confronted him about it, he would only say that Mama was sick but would be better soon. When it kept happening and I kept asking, Papa finally caved in and told me.
"It is what happens to all White Sages, son. They are the pythoness of her people and yours. It's a tragic fate that is given to those chosen by the depths. This is because they have to keep singing until they can't anymore. And Clarice well... Just take care of your sister for us, son."
But he didn't have to say it for me to understand. Claire was Mama's first-born daughter and that meant that she would inherit that fate.
The White Sage's fate.
I stormed out of the room before Jack could stop me. Nothing stopped me and I just ran and ran until I was lost and didn't know where I was. With that single song Claire had doomed herself. But no, it couldn't be. It can't be!
"What's the matter? Worried about your dear Clarice." At gazing up towards the source of the voice, I found Alice looking down from her window. But...something was odd. "Do you want to save your sister dearest?"
This wasn't Alice. "Who are you?"
She only giggled and disappeared into her room. Wanting answers, I headed up the tower and burst into her room and found her sitting down in her couch.
"H-How..." I inquired, my breath ragged from running all the way up here. "How do I save her?"
"First you need to know what's going to happen to her. Then you can work on how to stop it." She sat idly in her couch while holding a white rabbit doll. "But first you must vow to me that if I do this for you, you will become my loyal servant as the Emissary of Space."
This brought up the same question from before. "Who are you?"
"I'm Alice," she said calmly with a grin. But this one didn't fill me with warmth. Instead all I felt was coldness. "But then again, I'm not the Alice you know. I'm her twin."
"Her...twin?" I repeated baffled by the idea.
"She and I exchange places every half a day. It's only been a coincidence that you have met her when you come." She turned to look up at me from jesting with her toy. "So, are you willing to?"
"How can I know you're telling me the truth? How can I trust you?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Truth is you can't. But really, what other option do you have?"
She was right. As much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't deal with this on my own. If she had someway to help me then—
"Fine."
"Vow to me, then."
Clicking my tongue and slightly baring my teeth in annoyance I did as I was told. I kneeled down on one knee and placed my fist across my chest. "I will, mia Dominia." How I hated using that phrase. She wasn't my dominion. I didn't belong to her. The only one I belong to now laid resting in bed. But she would be agonizing again soon. That I wouldn't let happen. And because of that I would reduce myself to this.
Suddenly, chains wrapped themselves around my arms and legs and lifted me from the floor. Feeling something that began to suck the air out of my lungs, I gasped for air before I felt it return to me. The chains suddenly let go of my legs and lowered me, leaving me to kneel while my arms were spread out above my head. At opening my eyes I was shocked at seeing I wasn't at the tower anymore. The room looked like an exact replica and it would've been too had the dolls in the shelves not been cackling and laughing.
"He's here!" "We've found him!" "Can we call her now?" "She'll be happy to finally meet him!"
"Who are you?" At looking up I was surprised to see a young man squatting before me and glaring down at me. Or at least someone that looked like a man but had cat ears and a tail while on his neck rested a red ribbon with a bell.
"Leave him alone, Cheshire."
Cheshire? That black cat? Her voice brought my head up to see where she was and widened at seeing Alice. She wasn't the same Alice I had seen seconds ago. No, this one instead was all white. Her hair and attire changed into a blinding, incandescent white.
"Alice...?"
"It's me. Don't fret," she answered before walking up to me.
"Is this...really you?" I asked still unable to believe the contrast.
"Yes." She answered with such nonchalance that it stunned me a bit. "I had you brought here because my time out there had finished."
"Where is 'here'?"
She chuckled as if my question amused her. "My room, silly."
"No, you know what I mean." I cringed at how the chains got tighter at my lipping off. "Where is this place?"
"Our birthplace, mine and Alice's. The Abyss."
"Why...did you bring me here?"
"Because she wanted to meet you as soon as possible," she replied with a wave of her hand. "And with her it'll be easier for you to see what I want to show you." She stepped aside to show the glowing silhouette of a doe come forth towards me. The instant I saw it, I recognized it.
"You..." It had been there that night with that other one...when Mama— "Lacri...mosa."
"I am here to join you and fulfill my purpose and to give you yours." The chains holding me up suddenly shattered and left me to fall forth in all fours. When I glanced up it was to see the doe bowing its head down towards me. "I am your eternal companion in this fight. For you are the one that created my being in the Abyss."
"I...created you?" I repeated a bit at a loss.
"You posses the powers of the Bearer of Space," Alice explained. It truthfully left me more confused than before. "Years ago when that single power waned into two, they ended up latching on you and your sister. When those powers separated they created two Chains that represented it. One who controls time. Another who controls space. Together they can open a gate to the Abyss and grant you the chance to try and change history. But separate they can do nothing. You hold space—"
"Claire holds time."
"Yes. She is who holds my beloved's hand in battle." By now I had gotten used to the soothing woman's voice that ran in my head when Lacrimosa spoke. "Although I cannot hold a contract with you in your current state, I will remain within you to prevent others from contracting you." With that she became a sphere of light and entered my body.
"With her you have what's necessary to catch a glimpse of what I can show you." I stood up and faced Alice who first gazed at me before pointing towards the exit of her room. "On the other side, she's waiting for you."
"She?"
"The one that will show you what will happen to your sister if you do not succeed."
Dread filled me but before I let it stop me, I stepped through the curtains. My eyes were shut tight but when I opened them I found myself in the mansion. In our room. Gazing around I noticed that on a calendar it read December 29th. When the ticking of a clock took my attention, I glanced over to the grandfather clock that stood in here. The minute and hour hand were stuck but the seconds one kept ticking but didn't move. The time was frozen at 12:28 pm. Heading out, I opened the door and went through it. But at reaching the other side I met with what I never wanted to see.
I was in the middle of a dark valley it seemed. It was full of blackened rock and broken city parts. Ruins were everywhere and nothing I could see was recognizable. Nothing except Claire. But she seemed older. And what shocked me most was what had gone through her.
I—or someone seemingly older than me— was lying on the floor on my back while Claire stood over me, protecting me. And through her, piercing her, were about six spears that had been thrown at her chest. Her eyes was glazed over, her skin pale and lips of a bluish hue. And then I got the shock of my live. Feet away, behind Claire was the one who had attacked her. It had been me. A white and black contrast of myself.
When that realization hit me, something pulled me away, taking my breath with it. My vision blurred and a second later it focused back to show me Alice's room in the Abyss.
"W-What—" I had no words. The scene had left me completely speechless.
"What you just saw...it's a glimpse of the future. At least of the one that so far this world is heading to." Alice walked over to me and kneeled to bring my chin up to look at her. "That is how Claire's going to die."
"H-How can I stop it?" I asked unable to think of anything else. All I wanted to know was how to avoid that horrid scene from coming true.
"I'll tell you but first I need some information—"
"I'll do anything."
She stood up and walked away before looking over her shoulder towards me. "Then first become stronger. That's what I need of you right now. If you don't there's no way you'll be able to stop that future from happening."
"Fine."
I'll do whatever it takes. Damn the costs. Just as long...as I could stop that from happening.
I won't let you die, Claire. That...will never happen. I don't care what I have to do. I don't care who I have to sacrifice. As long as it is to keep you beside me, smiling, I will do whatever I need to do.
Even defy fate itself.
Well, how was it? :3 Hope this clears up some of the plot holes that were left during the actual story c; if not they will be after the next chapter :D Stay tuned for it!
