Disclaimer: Don't own D. Gray-Man, never will.
Special Thanks To
All who reviewed, All who faved, All who subscribed, All who voted and All who reads
"Millenie, you're such a big meanie you know?" Road clasped her hands beneath her chin as she lay on her stomach, reading a book. She swung her feet back and forth playfully.
The Earl sat in his rocking chair, knitting. "What did I do, dear? "
"You lied to Chase." The younger Noah tilted her head at the Earl, "Did you forget that only Chase survived…out of the few thousands you tried it on."
The Earl knitted casually. A cute, pastel scarf slowly emerged from his hands. "Chase's blood was the catalyst. Her body will assimilate , it'll be fine." Slowly, the Earl placed down the needles. "However, I didn't expect her to be an exorcist… "
"Either way, she won't survive." Road produced a lollipop and popped it into her mouth. "Sometimes I don't get you, Millenie. You're practically giving the Order what they wanted. If they see her, they will know."
The Millenium Earl laughed, "It's okay. The Order tried it first. I only started experimenting after I saw them do it."
"They must be overjoyed…" The girl smiled, "You gave them a perfect answer."
"The humans leading the Order is clueless. They'll try anything, even if it means falling into depravity. Well, we can't complain. They are helping us, after all."
Road sighed. "Poor Chase. Being used like that…"
The Earl's large grin was unshaken. "I am trying to protect them both. "
"That's a lie too, is it not?"
He shook his head, "He loved her and wanted to protect her, that's why I need to protect them too. "
Road rolled her eyes.
The Millennium Earl glanced down, a trail of tears ran down his left cheek. "I loved him so much…"
"…" Road observed him with cold eyes as she sucked on her lollipop.
"But I hated him even more...
"I want to see them tormented, just like how he tormented me. "
"Komui!" Allen burst through the Ark gate, carrying the unconscious girl in his arms. His heart raced in fear and distress. He could feel himself trembling. His entire lower body was soaked in her blood. The bleeding won't stop…
Link trailed behind in the Ark. The girls blood stained the pure white Ark patches of crimson.
Sighting Allen and Desdemona, nearby scientists sprang into action immediately. They cleared the way for Allen, while someone grabbed Reever, who began to call Komui.
Two scientists carried over a stretcher, which Allen refused, "I'll carry her myself, it'll be faster." He turned to Reever, "Please tell Komui to go to the Infirmary!"
Reever nodded as he spoke into the telephone in his hand.
Running out of the lab, Allen swiftly headed for the stairs. He held the girl tightly against himself, trying not to shake her too much. He glanced down momentarily and frowned anxiously. She was abnormally pale, and her body slowly turned colder against his skin.
It's my fault… Allen tightened his jaws. I didn't protect her…
Running upstairs, Allen saw the Head Nurse with two other nurses waiting by the door of the Infirmary. Another two nurses ran towards Allen, pushing a hospital bed. Seamlessly, they transferred the girl onto the bed gently from Allen's arms.
"Stop the bleeding! Grab two packets from the blood bank, be ready for transfusion! Get warm water! Raise her body temperature!" The Head Nurse shot a string of commands with a calm demeanour, the nurses acted accordingly. They wheeled the girl into the Emergency Room and closed the doors behind them.
The Head Nurse turned to Allen. "What happened?!"
Allen panted, he feels so dizzy. "Her brother put something in her mouth and injected something into her neck and she started to bleed from the place I cut her!"
The Head Nurse couldn't understand him. "Allen, calm down." She noticed his irregularly shallow breathes, and it wasn't from his run: he was hyperventilating. She held Allen's hands, covered in blood, and he realised they were so numb he couldn't feel them. "Allen. Calm down."
"It's my fault…"The boy hung his head and squeezed his eyes shut, his tears falling onto the ground. "Please…save her…"
Head Nurse's serious eyes softened, and she embraced the boy warmly. "She will be okay…Now, you take a deep breath, and hold it for five sec-"
"Where is she?!" Komui's voice boomed across the hallway as he appeared around a corner. The Head Nurse released Allen and gestured Komui to follow her. The two quickly entered the Emergency Room and the door shut once again.
Allen vaguely heard a nurse reporting. "Sir, the abdominal haemorrhage has been controlled. However, we detected serious internal haemorrhage…"
The boy slumped against the wall. He placed his head in his bloody hands and shook. He inhaled until his lungs couldn't expand anymore, held his breath for a few seconds, and exhaled. The dizziness wasn't going away.
He glanced at the fresh blood on his pants and sleeves, and the pools along the corridor and the stairs where he carried her…
God, if you are there…please save her.
It hurts.
Every cell in my body is burning.
Help me.
Chase…
Bidelia…
Desdemona opened her eyes. She couldn't move…It's so painful…
Something cold and metallic was wrapped around her. Chains? She inhaled, but found it difficult. More chains were wrapped tight around her neck.
Before her, a faint white light came into view. A luminous silhouette appeared. It appeared to be a tall woman in a long cloak…her face was blurry.
But Desdemona recognised it.
"What is your decision?" Bidelia's familiar voice rang in her head.
The girl gasped, a stronger wave of pain hit her. She lowered her head as her strength was drained away. Looking down, she saw darkness creeping up her body, slowly engulfing her.
"You can't stay like this. It will destroy you."
The girl shut her eyes tightly. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest.
Help me…
~x.X.x~
"Mony, stop slacking! Help me here!"
Desdemona opened her eyes. A gentle breeze caressed her cheek, and the grass beneath her tickled her skin.
She was lying beneath a tree. A tall, lush tree that rustled in the wind. She blinked and sat up, taking in her surroundings.
It was a peaceful spring afternoon, the sun was gentle and the weather calm. Birds chirped joyous songs in the distance, and little critters carried on their merry ways. She stared blankly at a blue, cloudless sky. Momentarily, her memories failed her. Where was she? What was she doing here…?
"Mony!" With a rustle and thump, a young man with a slightly annoyed expression appeared before her.
She blinked, "Chase…"
He crossed his arms in displeasure. "Mony, we were supposed to do the laundry, remember?"
"Oh…" She can't remember. Standing up gingerly, she spotted something...
A quaint little house stood at the bottom of a hill, next to a creek, surrounded by a low, wooden fence. From one of its chimneys, puffs of white smoke rose into the air.
Who was cooking?
She felt drawn towards the house. Slowly, she walked towards it. Soon, her uncertain steps turned a run, as she felt an urgent need to see the person in the house. A sense of disbelief plagued her.
Bolting through the front door, Desdemona dashed straight for the kitchen. The layout of the house was strangely familiar. She stopped at kitchen door and panted, watching wide-eyed as a black haired woman with an apron added ingredients into a stew.
"Bidelia…" Desdemona breathed quietly.
Bidelia turned with a benign smile. "Mony, is the laundry done?"
The girl bit her lips. She vaguely remembered a nightmare where Bidelia left her. Now, the sight of her made Desdemona feel weak, but relieved.
Without saying a word, the young girl threw herself into her mother's arms, holding onto Bidelia with a strong embrace.
Bidelia was surprised. "Mony, what's wrong?"
Desdemona shook her head. Bidelia's scent and warmth calmed her, and she slowly returned to the reality that welcomed her home.
The three of them were living together, in their own house. It had been many years since they left the circus. There were difficult times, but they endured. Right now, this peace is so extremely precious to her.
"Mony, the laundry-" Chase poked his head into the kitchen, but chuckled when he saw the girl hugging Bidelia. "How old are you?"
Bidelia laughed, "It's okay, Chase. She is only sixteen." She pinched the girls' nose playfully. "Still a baby to me."
Chase tilted his head. "Sixteen is too old to be a baby."
Bidelia reached out and ruffled Chase's hair. "You two will always be my babies, no matter how big you grow."
Chase looked away, slightly embarrassed. "I'm 19 already..."
"I love you, Bidelia." Mony glanced up. "We will always stay together, right?
"Of course." Bidelia smiled reassuringly. "We will always be together."
"Wait, aren't you forgetting something?" Chase suddenly said, his tone was a little strange.
Desdemona glanced at her brother, but froze when she saw blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Fear struck her. She started to remember.
Tuberculosis.
"You're forgetting, aren't you?" He tilted his head as more blood escaped his lips.
The girl reached behind, trying to grab Bidelia. However, she flinched when she touched her mother's hand.
Bidelia was unusually cold…
Desdemona turned back slowly, and her heart skipped a beat.
Bidelia's eyes were closed, her face was pale, and a large, gaping wound bled at her neck, where a tiger bit through her throat...
"You mustn't forget." Chase placed a heavy hand on Desdemona's shoulder. Faintly, her chest began to throb in pain. He placed another hand on her, holding her in place. "Bidelia is gone. There's only the two of us left…We can still stay together…You just have to choose me. Let me in."
Slowly, she felt Chase's large hands closer over her neck.
Then he squeezed.
Komui sat down with a sigh, leaning his elbows on his knees. He took off his glasses, and massaged his temples.
"Chief Komui." A deep voice accompanied the clack of leather shoes on the tiles.
The Chinese man looked up.
Rouvelier stood with Link by his side. He observed Komui with condescending eyes. "Please, do update me on the situation."
Komui stood up. His gaze was stern. "I will report to you once we get more results."
The man's lips pulled into a smile, his moustache moved with his lips. "I believe you already have a solid understanding of the situation." Rouvelier glanced over to Link, who looked straight ahead with a blank expression.
Komui pursed his lips. "There are still uncertainties…it's nothing like what we've seen before. We need more time."
Rouvelier raised his eyebrows. "Link, please seek out Desdemona's nurse. I'm sure she would be happy to have a cup of tea with me."
"I don't believe that is neces-" Komui began.
"Chief Komui." Rouvelier smiled politely at the Supervisor. "Aren't you too busy waiting for results? Some information on the current situation is all I need, after all."
Komui exhaled. "The nurse will not be necessary…I'll give a brief report."
Rouvelier's smile grew wider. "That would be appreciated."
Placing his glasses back on, Komui frowned as he glanced at the ER. "Her condition is critical… There's a high chance she won't get through this…"
"What was the cause?" Rouvelier demanded calmly.
Komui thought over the facts in his mind. "She has a large cut on her abdomen, which was where Allen accidentally cut her. However, it makes no sense, his sword only affects Dark Matter."
Rouvelier looked to Link, who nodded in affirmation.
"She is also suffering from large amounts of internal bleeding in almost every organ, leading to acute anaemia. We are trying to deal with this by blood transfusion. However, her bleeding is not stopping…"
Rouvelier grew impatient. "The cause?"
Komui lowered his head. "We drained the blood pooling in her body cavities. I took some samples and ran some tests on it…it was the most frightening thing I have ever seen."
"What do you mean?"
"Dark matter." Komui buried his face into his palms. "There was a high concentration of Dark Matter in her blood, as well as a large number of akuma cells…That was why Allen's sword hurt her."
Rouvelier frowned, "If that's the case why isn't she dead?"
Komui inhaled. "That's the horrifying part…" He placed a hand over his eyes. "The Dark Matter is taking over her cells, turning them into akuma cells one by one…those cells were her own."
Rouvelier's frowned. "The Dark Matter is turning her into an akuma?"
Komui nodded.
"That's impossible." Rouvelier muttered under his breath. "What are the implications of this?" He glared at Komui, suspicion raw in his eyes.
"Her body is rejecting the Dark Matter." Komui clasped his hands. "But she can't win. She either dies from being unable to assimilate with the Dark Matter, or allow the Dark Matter to convert her every cell, after which she would recover as a living akuma…"
"It's not that simple, is it?"
"No…" Komui shook his head. "Do you know what happens to an exorcist if their synchronisation falls below zero?"
"They will be…fallen…"
Komui nodded. "Either the Dark Matter kills her, or her own Innocence will." He closed his eyes. "This is horrible."
"What is your plan?" Rouvelier's tone was devoid of any emotion. Komui frowned as he felt a certain sense of foreboding.
"We separated her Innocence from her so that it won't interfere with us or hurt her…We will try our best to extract the Dark Matter-"
"No."
"I'm sorry?"
"Do not remove the Dark Matter."
Komui widened his eyes incredulously. "What are you saying-?!"
"I know what it implies." Rouvelier's blank expression fuelled Komui's rising anger.
"I refuse!" The Chinese man brashly stood up. "No matter what, I have to save her!"
Violently, Rouvelier grabbed Komui's collar and pulled the chief towards himself threateningly. Rouvelier glared straight into Komui's eyes. "You know about the first and second exorcist programs don't you?"
Komui frowned.
"You know what they are doing now, too, don't you?"
Link shifted uncomfortably on the side.
Komui looked away. Akuma cell transplants…
"Do you know how many of my family died for this?" Rouvelier pulled on Komui's collar tighter, slightly choking him. "Do you know how many mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters my family had to sacrifice for this?"
Link stepped forward slightly, contemplating whether to calm his superior…
"That girl has the answer to artificial anti-akuma weapons, in her body, right now." Rouvelier shook Komui slightly. "I will not let this chance slip by. I will not let all my family's sacrifices to be in vain. I WILL make sure that no more sacrifices are needed!"
Releasing Komui, Rouvelier took a step back and fixed his comb-over that fell in front of his eyes. Composing himself, he regarded Komui sternly. "Do I need to remind you? Walker was the one who injured her. How his 'attack' is interpreted depends entirely on how 'useful' her injury is…If I decide that Walker's acts were malicious towards a fellow exorcist…that leaves us with only execution."
With a confident turn, Rouvelier paced down the hall, leaving the Infirmary.
Komui was shocked frozen by the threat. He never imagined Rouvelier to use Allen's precarious situation…
Link spared a glance at Komui, before following Rouvelier.
Desdemona gasped as she opened her eyes. She coughed slightly, dizziness came over her. Her lungs were burning.
"Hnng…" She tightened her jaws. A wave of sharp pain bolts through her body with every beat of her heart. She glanced down, the creeping dark void had crawled up to her waist…
The white creature stood before her stoically. Its luminescence stood out from the black surrounds.
"What do you want from me?" Desdemona forced out, glaring at the materialisation of her Innocence.
"It's not about what I want from you." The figure shook its head. "What do you want?"
"I know what you want." A familiar voice spoke from behind her..
"Chase…" She breathed as he looked over her shoulder.
Tendrils of darkness wrapped around the Eurasian male, yet they did not attempt to engulf him, as they are with her….
"I know what you want." Chase repeated. "You want peace, don't you?"
"Peace…?" She repeated. Did she want peace?
"You don't want to fight in this war. You don't have to..." Chase pressed on. "I can take you away."
"Leave…the war?" The girl's mind felt clouded. She was struggling to comprehend everything while bearing with the pain.
"Can you really leave?" The Innocence tilted its head.
"I can help you, Mony." Chase walked up behind the girl, embracing her softly. "Let me in…I'll get rid of your Innocence for you. Leave with me…"
"If you betray me…" The white figure stepped forwards. "I can't let you live."
"Why…" The girl squeezed her eyes shut. "Why did you have to choose me? I didn't want to fight…I don't want to fight anymore…" She hung her head. She felt the heavy darkness around her lower body shifting, almost as if trying to suck her in. However, she felt no motivation to fight it.
The Innocence stepped forwards again. "Do you want to live?"
"I'm tired." Desdemona's tears betrayed her as she began to sob. "Why is Chase…? I don't want to think anymore…let me rest."
Chase stroked her hair slowly. "Don't worry. You'll be safe with me…"
"Will that really be ok?"
The girl frowned. Please stop using Bidelia's voice.
"Aren't you just running away?" It shook its head. "You were always afraid. You never truly accepted me. That's why you are weak…that's why we are weak."
"I have no reason to fight…"
"Are you sure you want it to end like this?" The figure placed a hand on the girl's cheek. "This isn't what your mother wanted…"
"Bidelia?!" Desdemona looked up alarmingly. "What do you…mean?"
"Don't listen to it." Chase tightened his grip. "You know what you want, don't let anything doubt you."
She frowned and tried to move, but the chains secured her in place. "What do you know of Bidelia? Why did she give me this necklace?"
The figure nodded. "It's time I showed you everything…"
Allen waited impatiently in Komui's office. He leant his elbows on his knees and rested his forehead on his hands. All the while, his right foot tapped quickly and continuously, unable to stay still.
The events of the morning haunted him. Margaret and Franz arrived at Headquarters when news of the girl reached them. Allen explained to the best of his ability. Margaret was in tears, and Franz could only comfort her.
Allen's guilt was amplified as he watched the Chapmans' distress. He promised to protect her, but he failed…not to mention it was his sword that cut her.
He waited with them for a few hours for Komui, who finally appeared to speak with them.
Komui appeared to be exhausted, and he wouldn't let out any useful information. He wouldn't tell them what was fed or injected into the girl, and he wasn't clear on how he planned to deal with it either. It seemed that his only goal was convince the Chapmans to return home.
Allen noticed the strange paleness in Komui's face, and his inability to maintain eye contact with Margaret or Franz.
After Margaret's heartbreaking pleads to see the girl, Komui reluctantly allowed them to see Desdemona through a glass window outside the ER. Allen followed, feeling the need to see her. However, it took more out of him than he expected.
She was isolated in a white room, with 5 packets of fresh, red blood being transfused into her simultaneously. Meanwhile, more tubes drained darker blood from her body. Desdemona's pale skin looked lifeless, and the constant beeping from the heart monitor quickly became unbearable.
Margaret wept painfully, and Allen felt helpless.
Komui was eager to send Margaret and Franz home. Margaret insisted on staying, but Komui promised constant contact and pressured their departure.
Allen saw the couple off, at which point Margaret gave Allen an unexpected embrace. "You have to stay strong." She told him as she sobbed. "Don't blame yourself. You have to stay strong…"
"Allen."
Allen was pulled back to reality by Komui's cold voice. He lifted his head and saw the Supervisor entering the office. He looked absolutely exhausted.
"You know what's wrong with Dem, don't you?" Allen's tone was firm. He needs to know what Komui was hiding.
"You have a mission right now. I will brief you." Komui avoided the topic in a straightforward manner.
"You know what's wrong with her. Why aren't you doing anything?" The boy raised his voice in disbelief.
"Go to Italy. A ghost was rumoured to hold chess tournaments at his grave every night."
"Why are you just leaving her there with packets of blood?"
"Link will come with you. Here is the mission briefing." Komui placed a booklet on the table. "Kanda and Miranda will meet you there. Take the Ark."
"Answer me, Komui!" The exorcist walked up to the man's desk and slammed his fist on it.
"You will leave, now!" Komui also slammed his hands onto his table, glaring at Allen with unquestionable authority.
Allen grinded his teeth in frustration. He cannot believe that Komui is going to just let Dem die. Allen's hand trembled: he was angry, but he was also helpless. He was powerless to help her.
He is so afraid, afraid of losing her.
Glancing down at the booklet by his hand, he sighed. He's useless if he stays here. He needs to distract himself. He should go and do the things he can do…
Grabbing the booklet, Allen turned and stormed out of Komui's office, violently slamming the door shut behind him.
Komui exhaled as his legs grew weak. He sank into his chair and buried his face into his hands.
Dem…forgive me.
Please forgive me.
"Do you know what you are holding?" Mana stepped back from Neah, fear and disbelief evident in his tone.
"Of course." Neah panted as he leaned against the wall, his body covered in wounds. In his right hand, he held something luminescent; its green light seeped between his fingers. "Why do you think I tried so hard to get it?"
"What will you do with it?" Mana eyed his brother warily, unable to guess his thoughts.
"She is sleeping." Neah smiled as he straightened his back. "I will wake her up."
"Why?" Mana stepped closer to Neah and shook his shoulder. "Why are you taking all these risks?"
Neah's eyes turned golden suddenly. Mana drew back, the coldness in Neah's eyes shocks him every time… Slowly, Neah's skin turned dark. "I must kill the Earl. I will end all of them."
Mana shook his head in dismay.
"She has the power we need." The Noah placed a firm hand on Mana's shoulder. "She shares our goal."
"You are a Noah!" Mana frowned. "She will kill you too!"
"I don't have to luxury to think about it anymore!" Neah turned away from Mana abruptly. "We are running out of time."
Mana lowered his head.
Neah had changed.
Mana could barely recognise him anymore.
~x.X.x~
Mana rode beside Neah in a carriage, which swayed side to side as it traversed along a dirt road. Mana glanced over, and found Neah staring out of the window, engrossed in thoughts.
"She reminds me of mother." Neah suddenly spoke.
"Who?"
"Bidelia." Neah turned to Mana with a frown. "Do you feel the same?"
Mana tilted his head in thought, but then shook his head. "I don't think so..."
"Really?" Neah lowered his gaze.
"I don't know…" Mana began. "I spent too long of my childhood being unconscious…You spent more time with mother, you would know better than I do."
Neah shook his head. "I feel as if I am confusing memories."
~x.X.x~
"Mana!" Neah dashed through the small inn. He pushed opened a door to find his brother reaching for the handle at the same time.
"What's wrong?" Mana was alarmed.
Neah entered the room and closed the door behind him. His face was pale, and sweat glistened on his forehead. "They are closing their claws on us…"
"What?"
"They are killing all our allies, one by one." Neah grabbed his hair in stress. "The Earl is tracking them down and killing them."
Mana held his breathe. The Earl, who was unsuccessful in capturing Neah, is trying to cut off their blood supply…
"This morning I spotted three Level 1 akumas lurking around the Vaughan mansion…" Neah sounds terrified. "They are the next target."
"We have to leave, now." Mana turned and began packing their small amount of possessions.
"No!" Neah clutched his head. "I can't leave them here to die!"
"We don't have the luxury to protect people!" Mana dragged their luggage out from beneath his bed, throwing pieces of belongings into the spaces between clothes. "We barely survive ourselves."
"I can't leave her to die." Neah leaned against the wall, weak with helplessness. "I need to protect her, at least."
Mana frowned at Neah. This is very unlike him… "Why are you so concerned about her?"
"I don't know!" Neah pulled on his hair in frustration. "I don't know…I just want to protect her…"
"Just because she looks like mother?" Mana raised his eyebrows incredulously.
"…" Neah fell silent, before he gasped. "Mother!"
Mana finished packing, he lifted both cases and prepared to leave. "I don't even understand you anymore. Let's go already."
However, Neah rushed to the desk, holding a luminescent cube in his hands. "Mother can protect her…"
~x.X.x~
"Neah, hurry up…" Mana waited at the door of an ordinary house, inside which was Neah, standing before his piano in the Muscian's room.
"Just a moment more." He said as his fingers glided expertly along the keys.
"Why are you binding it to the Ark as well?"
"The Innocence will protect her. At the same time, she shall protect my key. I trust her."
"Why half the Innocence, then?"
"…" Neah was silent for a while. "I won't let her take over Bidelia."
~x.X.x~
"Listen to me." Neah looked into the Eurasian girl's eyes intently. "Keep the necklace on you. It's important to me."
Bidelia nodded in confusion. She was flustered to have been gifted by her beloved, yet his unusually anxious eyes unsettled her.
"Leave France tomorrow. Your father has made preparations." Neah stood up to leave.
Bidelia tried to reach out to him, but he walked away so fast.
She watched his back as he left the mansion. She had a feeling that that she will never see him again.
~x.X.x~
"Miss Bidelia… bad news…" Bidelia's maid, Tracy, rushed into their inn room with a pale face.
The Eurasian girl looked up from her letter, addressed to her father. "What's wrong?"
"The Master and the Lady…" Tracy swallowed. "Your father and mother…and everyone back at the mansion died in a fire...Your home was burnt down."
Bidelia dropped her pen. It landed on the table, splattering ink across the letter, before rolling off the table and dropping onto the ground, leaving a trail of black ink.
"Pack our bags." Bidelia breathed. Her limbs felt numb and she was frozen. However, her mind was clear. In fact, it was clearer than it had ever been.
In that moment, everything connected. All the details that she cared for resurfaced. She understood.
"Are we returning to France?" The maid inquired with a worried tone.
"No."Bidelia shook her head slowly. "We can never return there ever again."
"What do you mean…?"
"Mother and father…they were killed." The Eurasian girl quickly scrunched up the letter, splattered with ink, and threw it into the fireplace.
As an English noble family in France, their safety was already threatened with the brewing war between the two countries. However, there was also her father's unusually close relationship with Neah, the way they spoke in private all the time, her father's support for Neah in every way…and how her father involved himself in politics and made enemies…
Neah's strange behaviour during their last meeting, his and her father's combined efforts to transport her back to England…
Everything adds up. They were ANTICIPATING something. Something bad…and it happened.
"That's…impossible…" Tracy gasped in horror. "Who would do such a thing?"
Bidelia turned. "A lot of people in France would want my family dead."
"But that's-"
"We don't have time. We can't let them know where we are if we want to live." Bidelia's eyes grew stern and confident. The gravity of the situation and her adrenaline prevented her from feeling the grief she should. "We need to disappear."
"T-that's…" Tracy shut her eyes tightly. Everything was going too fast. She reopened her eyes after a while. "Everywhere you go, Miss Bidelia, I will follow you."
"Thank you…" Bidelia smiled at her, before putting on her coat and hat. "Let's go."
~x.X.x~
"Miss Bidelia…" Tracy lay weakly in Bidelia's arms. Bidelia cradled her tightly, watching in dismay as black pentacles emerged from her skin. Each pentacle grew in size until gradually, the maid's skin was covered in black. "I'm sorry…I can't keep following you…"
Suddenly, Tracy's body turned hard like stone before she crumbled in Bidelia's arms, into a pile of dust at Bidelia's feet.
"No…" Bidelia breathed, "You were all I had left…" Her tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping into the ashes.
In the distance, explosions disturbed a peaceful night. Blood curdling screams accompanied painful cries, chaos ravaged the town.
A group of flying monsters, hideous in appearance, appeared over the sky just moments before. With no warning, they began to attack the townspeople, raining bullets on the town. Every person who was remotely touched by the monsters turned to dust.
Less than a minute ago, Tracy and Bidelia were running for their lives, when a bullet flew their way. Jumping into Bidelia and pushing her out of the way, Tracy shielded the bullet with her body…
Bidelia wiped her eyes as she stood up, the monsters were closing in.
Turning around, she ran a dark alleyway, away from the town centre where most of the massacre continued to occur.
She was frightened, lonely and helpless. Yet within her, a source of strength she never knew she had kept her running for her life.
"Ehehehe, a lamb is trying to escape?"
Bidelia stopped as she spotted two glowing eyes ahead of her. Her heart hammered against her chest painfully, and her hair stood on ends.
Stepping out from the shadows, a tall, distorted humanoid with a helmet on its head approached her. She stepped back as it began to reach its hand towards her. Turning around to run the other way, she was horrified to find another monster blocking her escape.
There was nowhere to run.
The girl closed her eyes and clasped her hands together tightly. She was never a religious person, but at that moment, she felt a certainty that it was the only thing to do.
God, please save me!
Suddenly, Bidelia felt something at her chest vibrate and warm up. She looked down, her necklace was glowing a faint green.
"Gyahhh!" The girl looked back at monster in front of her. It screeched painfully and seemed to be struggling against something. It convulsed violently, as if struck by an invisible bolt of lightning. Quickly, it swelled up and exploded into dust.
Bidelia was shocked, but she began to run along the newly opened path.
"You're not getting away!" The monster behind her screeched with a high pitched laughter. Bidelia ran with all her strength. She glanced over her shoulder to see her predator, but her heart stopped momentarily when she saw its helmet inches from her face.
With a bright flash of green and an aura of black that engulfed the light just as quickly, the monster and the girl was temporarily blinded. Then, the monster was flung backwards and it screamed in agony. "EARLLLLLLLLL, HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
And soon, it too, turned into dust.
Bidelia breathed heavily as she felt her entire body tremble in fear. She turned around slowly in shock, before leaning against the wall for support.
What are these creatures?
Why are they killing everyone?
I need to live.
I need to run away…
~x.X.x~
Bidelia played with her necklace absent-mindedly.
How many years has it been?
The front door opened, and Bidelia turned to see a young man, slightly taller than her and wearing cotton overalls. His brown hair was slightly curled, and airy, while his dirt-smeared face adorned a brilliant smile.
"Welcome back." Bidelia smiled at him as she slowly made her way to the doorway. Her current physique made it difficult to move.
"No no no." The man put down all the tools in his hands and placed his hands on Bidelia's shoulder. "Don't move around too much, okay?"
Bidelia laughed. "I'm not that fragile you know?"
The young man shook his head. "You are my wife, I have to protect you no matter what." He placed a gentle hand on Bidelia's protruded tummy. "Both of you."
"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" Bidelia asked playfully.
"Girl!" The man replied enthusiastically.
However, the Eurasian woman shook her head. "I think it's a boy."
The man scratched his chin. "If you say so…" He beamed at her. "We will have more than one kid anyway, right?"
Bidelia sighed. "Don't get too ahead of yourself. Let me give birth to this one first."
The man smiled and hugged her. "I love you, Bidelia."
Bidelia closed her eyes. "I love you too."
~x.X.x~
"Wahhh Wahhhhhh!"
Bidelia cradled the crying baby in her arms. "Shh…shhhh…" She rocked her arms lovingly back and forth, calming the baby.
"Wa…" Sniffing, the boy slowly stopped crying and began to smile.
"Good Chase." Bidelia rubbed his nose playfully.
"Hee..heee hee." Chase began to laugh as he lifted his arms to touch his mother's cheeks. Bidelia smiled, Chase looked a lot like his father.
Shifting his attention to the sparkly pendant at his mother's chest, the infant boy reached out, trying to grab the dangly object.
However, before he could touch it, Bidelia felt a strange sensation run down her spine, before the little boy's hand was sprung away from the necklace with a quick zap.
"Wa…." Chase's voice wavered and his eyes teared up once more. "WAHHHH!"
Bidelia quickly tucked the pendant further into her shirt, shielding the baby from it. She frowned to herself.
What's wrong with this pendant?
Neah…what is it?
~x.X.x~
"Go! I'll hold them back!" The young man yelled as he threw an axe at the large, bulbous creature raining bullets on their house.
Bidelia held Chase close to her, tears running down her face. "No! You will die!"
"Ahh!" The man was thrown into a wall, and he gritted his teeth. "Go! I will protect you."
"But-"
"GO!"
Wiping her tears, Bidelia turned around and ran. She shielded Chase inside her cloak. Looking back slightly, she saw her husband attacking the monsters in the sky with his hunting rifle, yet the bullets did no damage.
With a pained yelp, Bidelia saw her husband taking a shot to his shoulder. Quickly, pentacles appeared on his skin and covered his pale face in black. Then, he burst into dust.
"No…" Bidelia whispered under her breath. The sight was too familiar to her.
Shutting her eyes tight, she ran forwards with all her might.
She can't give up.
She has to protect her child.
~x.X.x~
Working in the circus was tough. Bidelia was told to assist with the beast tamer, and as a person without much experience with animals, let alone big cats, she found the task daunting.
She pulled the straps on her shoulders, pulling Chase, sitting in a harness on her back, a tad bit higher. He laughed, she smiled.
Chase was her fuel for living. She has to be strong for him, if nothing else.
Bidelia leaned down to lift a bucket of raw meat. However, the sight of fresh, red blood gave her an intensely nauseous feeling. Her legs gave out, and she fell to the ground. The contents of her stomach threatened to come out.
However, due to the lack of food they received, there was nothing to vomit out.
Bidelia frowned and glanced at the red meat, and the sensation came over her again.
She shut her eyes tightly.
She knew this feeling. She knows this feeling well.
Slowly, she placed a hand over her lower abdomen.
No way…
~x.X.x~
"Ma…maaaa…." The little girl beamed brightly at her mother inside her crib.
"Is she trying to say 'Mama'?" The 3 year old Chase asked Bidelia with innocent, wide eyes.
"Yes she is." Bidelia nodded. She reached over and took the girl's hand in hers.
"Why is she so tiny?" The little boy stood on his tip toes, looking over the wooden railing.
"Because she is a baby." Bidelia explained, she rubbed Chase's hair. "You used to be so small too."
"I was?" He asked.
"Yes you were." Bidelia nodded.
"Ma…maaaa…" The baby girl reached out her hand to her mother.
Bidelia smiled even more. Her family makes her so happy.
Without warning, the girl grabbed a solid hold of Bidelia's necklace, which was dangling in front of the little girl's face.
Bidelia panicked initially, and tried to pull back, knowing that this pendant had would hurt her baby.
"Hee hee…"
To her surprise, the girl didn't flinch nor did she pull away. Bidelia watched in curiosity as the girl played with the pendant nonchalantly.
This had never happened before…
~x.X.x~
"Have you heard?" The trapeze raised her voice as she caked powder onto her face. "They said that monsters attacked the next town over. They said whoever was attacked turned into dust!"
Bidelia froze.
"Yeah I heard!" The juggler replied. "It sounds so fake! Who would believe that!"
"I know right?" The trapeze giggled in a high pitch.
Bidelia pursed her lips and frowned. It can't be. After so many years, the monsters seemed to be haunting her wherever she goes…
She shut her eyes tightly. Tracy, her husband, both died by the bullets of those monsters…
She can't risk it. She can't risk either Chase or Mony. She MUST take them and leave this town as soon as possible.
The beast tamer tucked her whip into her belt before heading to Cosmo's tent. She stood outside and called in. "Cosmo. It is me."
"What do you want, woman?" The large man stumbled over, reeking of alcohol.
"I'm quitting."
The blonde man flinched. "Shut up woman. You're not serious."
"I am." Bidelia raised her chin and glared at the man.
The ringleader gritted his teeth, his circus was not somewhere where anyone can come and go as they please...He already lost a clown and an errand boy. He leaned back. "Sure. You can leave."
"I can?" Bidelia didn't expect such an easy agreement.
"Of course you can." Cosmo nodded. "You can even take your brat of a son with you…However, you're not taking the girl."
Bidelia frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean what I say, woman." Cosmo glared at the beast tamer. "That girl is MY property. I wouldn't care if you or your son went onto the streets and starved to death. But that girl is MINE."
Bidelia fumed. "She is no one's property!"
"She IS mine." Cosmo narrowed his eyes.
Bidelia ground her teeth.
"You know…" Cosmo began again. "I'm not that heartless of a man…"
"What's your condition?"Bidelia was fast to pick up the cue.
"Smart woman." The blond man smirked. "If you perform with our newly imported tiger this Christmas and earn me more cash…I might consider letting her go."
Bidelia regarded the man with suspicion. She didn't care about the fact that it might be difficult or dangerous, she doubted that Cosmo will keep his promise.
"Your choice." He shrugged.
"Fine." She turned around. "I'll do it."
Bidelia left and briskly navigated the familiar circus, entering her own tent. She pulled a large trunk out from beneath her bed and opened it. She hesitated as she saw the picture left at the bottom of the trunk…a memoir of a distant life she once had. There was her father, her mother, and her younger self, standing together for a family portrait.
"Bidelia!" A young girl's voice was followed by light footsteps. Mony burst into the tent and beamed. "Bidelia what are you doing?" The girl bounced energetically next to Bidelia.
Bidelia smiled, "Just looking through some old things…"
"Who is it on this picture?" The girl pointed to the portrait.
"Can't you tell?"
Mony pursed her lips and furrowed her brows, staring intently at the picture for a few prolonged moments.
Bidelia glanced over at her daughter and sighed quietly. No matter what, she has to protect her children…
Protect them…
Wait…
The memories of her past encounters with the monsters were fresh in her mind. She glanced down to her pendant quickly.
Her pendant protected her.
Bidelia knew that the pendant was special in a way she couldn't comprehend. The way Neah entrusted it to her was unusual…only if Neah had told her more back then. Bidelia had an ongoing suspicion, an idea that plagued her since the day her husband died…If only she could utilise the power in the pendant, she could have protected him.
Bidelia glanced back at the young girl…
Mony wasn't rejected by the pendant...
Bidelia quickly removed the necklace from around her neck, before beckoning the small girl closer.
The girl complied in confusion, and Bidelia placed the necklace around her small neck. "Listen to me, Mony." Bidelia spoke softly but seriously. "You mustn't take the necklace off, ok?"
"Yes Bidelia." The girl nodded. "What is it?"
"It is something important to me…Protect it for me."
"Don't worry Bidelia." Mony smiled brilliantly. "I will protect it and treasure it."
~x.X.x~
Desdemona opened her eyes with a start, sweat pouring down her forehead. She looked around, where was she?
Dirt ground…colourful tents…
That's right, this is the circus isn't it?
But something's off…
Why is there no sound?
Desdemona shook her head. She walked slowly towards the tent in which her family lived so long ago. Approaching the opening to the tent, the girl heard a resonating voice from within…
"Please, listen to me."
Bidelia?
Desdemona quickly entered the tent, to spot her mother kneeling beside her bed, clasping her pendant in her hands. Her body seemed to be semi-opaque…as if she wasn't really there. Her lips weren't moving, yet the girl can hear her speak.
"Bidelia?"
The woman didn't react.
"Please, listen to my prayer." Her mother's voice continued in her head, Desdemona frowned as she watched her mother from behind.
"You protected me so many times, and now, please continue to protect my daughter. Keep her safe…Keep my children safe."
"Bidelia…" Desdemona tried again, yet her mother still did not react. "Can you…hear me?"
"This is my memory." With a flash of light, the white figure appeared beside the girl. "This was your mother's last words to me."
"Bidelia's…last words?" The girl felt her throat constricting. "She knew what the pendant was?"
The figure shook its head and looked straight ahead. Desdemona shifted her eyes back to Bidelia.
"I lost everyone I cared about: my parents, my friends, my husband…I was powerless to protect them…" Bidelia hesitated. "No, I wasn't powerless…I had your power so close to me, yet I wasn't able to protect those who I loved." She grasped the pendant tight in her hand. "I don't want Mony to feel the same kind of regret and guilt, I don't want her to feel the same helplessness I did. Please, grant her your power, so that she could protect herself and those around her…"
"I couldn't…reject a mother's prayer for her child." The Innocence suddenly spoke.
"Is that why I'm compatible?" Desdemona turned to it. "Because Bidelia asked you to choose me?"
The Innocence shook its head. "You were compatible from the start."
"Especially Chase…"
The girl froze.
Bidelia continued. "I have always told Chase to protect Mony, but there will some things that only she could do for him…If by any chance I will have to leave them, I hope they will always look out for each other and protect each other…"
"Protect Chase…?" Desdemona shook her head. "It doesn't work like that, Bidelia…" She recalled her reunion with her brother who she thought was dead. Not only was he safe and well, but he's on the other side of the war… What can she do?
Should she leave with him? Is that what Bidelia meant by sticking together?
"Ah!" A bolt of pain shot through the girl's head and her legs gave out, causing her to fall to the ground. She trembled as she broke a cold sweat, images from her memory flashed before her eyes. Chase's soul…his distorted and tormented soul…
Her memories were so vivid, she felt the same nausea come over her. A dull, throbbing chest ache made her breathless. She gasped, suddenly realising something blatantly obvious that she never had the chance to realise before.
Chase…the real Chase…is in agony.
...
Something only she could do for him…
"I…"
The Innocence glanced down at the girl.
"I know what I have to do now…"
"Have you made your decision?" The white figure made a sweeping motion with its arm, and the circus dissolved. Her world was once again simply black as far as her eyes could see. Her senses returned to her body, chained and slowly devoured by the darkness.
"I can't let this darkness engulf me." She gripped her hand into a fist. "I won't let it take over me."
The Innocence stepped towards the girl. Its luminescence casted a green light on the blackness around the girl, and immediately, it began to melt and fizzle away. "You can only fight it if you let me in. Accept me, I can lend you my power."
"No…" The girl shook her head.
"If you reject me, I cannot let you live."
"I will not succumb to either of you." Desdemona lifted her chin and stared straight into the creature's face, albeit it being too blurry for her to see.
"That is not a viable choice."
"Shut up." With a loud crack, the chains around her body shattered one by one. "I am not begging for you to spare me, nor am I allowing you to monopolise me."
"…" The Innocence seemed surprised.
"I…" Pulling her arms free, she grabbed onto the chains at her neck and crushed them in her hands. "demand you to give me your power."
The Innocence stayed silent for a while, it seemed to be making a decision. Then, it tilted its head. "If that is your wish…"
"I must live." Desdemona pulled her legs free and began to walk towards the white figure. "There's something I still need to do."
The figure lifted her arms and her cloak opened. "This time, I'll fight with you."
Desdemona stopped in front of it and closed her eyes.
With one swift motion, the figure closed its arms around the girl, enveloping her inside its cloak. A bright light emerged, drowning out the darkness.
"I shall awaken with you, Desdemona."
A/N
WAHHHHH This chapter took so long to write and even longer to edit. I'm so sorry! Much deep, such dreaming, very flashback! Kavi is exhausted! Relationship wise there's nothing going on this chapter, but it's necessary for Dem's character development, I promise! (Which is why Kavi is adamant on making this chapter right)
Did you like this chapter? Is it still confusing?
Tell me what you think!