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The night of a town, plagued by ghosts, murders, and atrocious monstrosities, is long and dark. No one can sleep, yet no one dares to step outside, let alone approach the cemetery.
However, on this particular night, the cemetery is full of sound, full of life. The clang of metal against metal, the thuds of fist impacting flesh, the gurgling of blood, and the quiet taps of chess pieces, moved around a wooden board…
"Bishop to D3." Placing his white chess piece into the position of his desire, Link frowned in concentration. His opponent was no small feat.
Behind him, two finders fiddled with their barrier devices. The lights flicked on and off, struggling against the dying battery. Eventually, it would not turn on at all. An akuma assaulted the small cube repeatedly; glad that the annoying barrier was gone.
Fortunately, Miranda's Innocence provided a second shield of Time Out. She broke a nervous sweat: it was weaker than usual as she was also keeping the chess board in Rewind. She swept her eyes back and forth between Link and the two other exorcists, fighting an elongated battle.
"We're sorry Miss Miranda." The finders placed the devices into their backpacks. "We didn't think we'd need them for long, and didn't bring extra batteries."
The female exorcist forced a smile, trying to keep both Rewind and Time Out functioning, "It's ok…"
"I'M GOING TO DIE!" Beside Miranda, an elderly man with a thick pair of glasses screamed loudly. He was the client, Mr. Martin, who posted for "exorcists" to "exorcise" his ghost brother (who lingers to play chess in the cemetery), also Mr. Martin.
Kanda dodged a swipe by a large, reptilian akuma. His agility easily outmatched his opponent. Kanda landed on his feet and poised Mugen, anticipating the akuma's careless charge. "I'LL BREAK THAT SWORD OF YOURS!"
Kanda smirked. "Break Mugen?" His beloved sword glowed red, "Try it."
Mugen's light grew stronger in a split second, before the fist of the akuma collided with the blade. Soundlessly, the Innocence passed through the akuma's rigid skin, and the large monster stood frozen behind the Japanese.
In a spurting motion, blood sprinkled onto the ground. The akuma was segmented into 3 clean pieces, which fell to the ground, before disintegrating into dust.
The akuma continued to assault Miranda's barrier. "GIVE ME THE INNOCENCE!" It roared. "LET ME IN!"
Miranda's face paled as her barrier bent. "YOU'LL KILL US!"
Mr. Martin turned to Link, terrified. "ARE YOU DONE YET?!"
Link rubbed his chin. "Be quiet. I'm thinking…" He muttered, studying the board intently.
"YOU STUPID, NASTY OLD WOMAN!" The akuma aimed its punches directly at Miranda.
Woop.
Allen appeared between the barrier and the akuma, blocking its fists with his broad sword. "It's not nice…" His eyes were cold and distant. "…to call people names."
Before it could react, Allen swung his sword, severing its arms and abdomen with no hesitation. Miranda and Mr. Martin flinched as a large arm flew their way, bounced off the barrier, before landing on the ground beside them.
Allen deactivated his left arm and stood over the sizzling akuma. "Have mercy on the soul of the akuma…"
"How's the game?" With the akuma gone, Kanda headed towards Link. "I'll kill you if you lose."
Allen, too, made his way over. Just as he looked over Link's shoulder, the man placed down his white queen. "Checkmate…"
The ghost hand pulled back gracefully, satisfied with the result.
"Bravo!" Miranda and the two finders cheered, relieved that their mission is now accomplished.
"We'll be taking that…" Link gestured to the large, emerald ring on the ghost's index finger.
The living Mr. Martin huffed. "Little Brother, you are a pain even in death!" He sighed, his eyes turning softer. "You lost now, there's no more reason for you to stay, right?"
Comprehending his older brother's words, the ghost's hand collapsed, disintegrating into sand, leaving behind the ring.
Kanda picked up the Innocence fragment, and secured it into his cloak. Miranda undid Rewind, and the damage to the chessboard returned. The pieces and the board turned to dust, merging with their owner.
Bidding the client, Mr. Martin, farewell, the exorcists and finders departed the cemetery.
"We have the Innocence." Kanda spoke into his golem, fluttering by his side.
"Well done. Stand by Gate 28, we'll open it. Return to HQ." Reever instructed.
"Very well." Kanda spotted the horse carriage waiting outside.
Allen trailed behind absent-mindedly. He hesitated before entering the carriage, starting at the two horses standing at the front.
"Moyashi, we'll leave you behind."
"My name is Allen." Allen retaliated before climbing onto the carriage.
~x.X.x~
"Gate 28 is inside that Church." One of the finders informed as they alighted the carriage, pointing to a tall clock tower. "We have follow-up duties, so we'll depart here."
Allen smiled courteously. "Take care." Miranda waved her farewell, while Kanda went ahead.
The white haired boy glanced up at the familiar Church…he was only here a few days ago with the girl by his side, lively, albeit angered.
Climbing the small set of stairs before the Church door, Miranda hesitated before knocking. "Is it okay to drop by this late?"
Slowly, one of the large doors creaked open. A young, platinum-blond priest emerged from within, greeting them with a benign smile. "Welcome, exorcists. I am Father Federico." He stepped up to Miranda and held out his hand, palm facing up.
"I-I'm Miranda Lotto." Miranda shook the priest's hand gently.
Father Federico smiled awkwardly. "Um…no…"
Allen stepped up from behind Miranda. "It's not a handshake." He pointed out. "You should write your secret code on his palm with your finger."
"Huh?"
"Before your mission, you learned an 8-digit number, right?"
"Ah!" The woman finally remembered. "I see…" She leaned over the priest's hand, ready to write out her code. "Um…8…3…" she recited as she traced out the numbers.
Behind her, Kanda twitched. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT 'SECRET' MEANS?" He snapped. "SHUT UP AND WRITE!"
"Eep!" Miranda shivered. Kanda is so scary… "S-SORRY!"
"Hey!" Allen stood between Miranda and Kanda, glaring at the taller male. If there was one thing he picked up from the girl, it was 5% of her glare.
"Yeah?" Kanda's eyebrow twitched as he returned with his own glare.
The two males glared at each other for many elongated seconds, one could almost feel the tension materialise as static electricity.
"How many times have you gotten into the same fight?" Link began reading Master Sweets Anthology nonchalantly. "As bearers of the Rose Cross and representatives of the Vatican, you should comport yourselves with more dignity-"
"Shut up." Kanda turned to Link, his glare undiminished.
"…" Link placed down Master Sweets Anthology.
"You talk too much. This has nothing to do with me." The Japanese pivoted on his foot. "I'm going in."
Side stepping Allen and Miranda, Kanda quickly wrote out his secret code and entered the doors.
"I didn't mean to upset him…" Miranda glanced worriedly after Kanda.
Allen sighed. "It's not you, Miranda. He loathes my presence."
Miranda pursed her lips, remembering the revelation about Allen's circumstances, and his devastated mood when he arrived at the mission. She wondered if the two were related…
Having confirmed the identities of all three exorcists and Link, Father Federico led them to a room where the inactive gate was imprinted on the floor. "The gate will open in three minutes." He closed the door and waited quietly.
A deadly silence settled over the room like a thick, smothering fog. Link read Master Sweets Anthology, while Kanda was preoccupied with ignoring everyone else. Meanwhile, Allen stretched Timcampy's cheeks over and over again, visibly tense.
Miranda felt anxious. Being the eldest, she felt a need to comfort Allen. Yet being an adult who rarely did anything right in her past, she doubted her ability in comforting others…
Grumble…
Allen's loudly grumbling stomach disrupted the silence. "I'm starving…" He said quietly.
Miranda reached into her bag. "I have some candy, do you want them?"
Allen eyes instantly sparkled at the mention of food. "Yes please!" Taking the sack of candy, the boy munched on it enthusiastically in his usual bestial manner.
When the clock ticked 5:25, the candies were already gone. With a low hum, glowing polygons projected from the floor. The exorcists bid Father Federico farewell, before stepping through, where two familiar scientists greeted them.
~x.X.x~
It wasn't long before they arrived back at the headquarters. Allen spotted Johnny and another familiar blonde man, middle aged and wearing glasses.
"Welcome back!" They greeted, holding a large box each, wrapped with decorative ribbons.
Allen tilted his head. "You were from Asia branch?"
The man beamed. "I'm glad you remembered me!"
"This is Jiji Lujun, he fought with the superiors and got demoted to Asia. But now he is here." Johnny explained, placing the box he was holding into Allen's hands.
"What is this?" Allen looked down, it was quite heavy.
Jiji stacked his box on top. "Lou Fa made mitarashi dango and steamed dumplings for you."
Allen's eyes brightened. "Wah! Thank you!"
Boom!
With a sudden, deafening crash that shook the building, lights all over the Headquarters flickered off, and then on. Miranda yelped and grabbed onto Johnny, who grabbed onto Jiji, who grabbed onto Allen. Meanwhile, all the scientists looked around in alarm and confusion.
"W-what was that?!" Miranda's voice shook.
"I-it sounds like thunder, but it's far too close!" Johnny pushed his glasses up.
"Thunder?" Allen frowned.
The intercom crackled for a few seconds, before the voice of a distressed scientist began to yell, "WE NEED SUPPORT AT VAULT NO. 5! BRING ALL THE BARRIER DEVICES YOU CAN FIND!"
Muttering and yelling between them, the scientists began to look for said barrier devices. Johnny and Jiji blinked at each other before going to dig out some pretty ancient machinery from an unknown corner.
Allen and Miranda turned back to check on Kanda, but he had already disappeared.
Placing down the boxes, Allen grabbed a random scientist and asked politely. "What is in Vault No. 5?"
The scientist shook his head. "Chief put Darmstatdium's Innocence in there. But why do they need barrier devices, though?"
The boy felt his heart drop. Is she...
The intercom crackled again, this time, it was Komui's strained voice. "All available exorcists, please come to the Infirmary."
"I wonder what is wrong…" Miranda held her hands in front of her chest worriedly as she observed Allen's pale face.
Suddenly breaking into a run towards the Infirmary, the usually polite gentleman left Miranda behind. She was about to asked him to wait, but decided against it as she chased after him herself.
Dashing straight up the stairs, the white haired boy held his breath unconsciously, which made him dizzy. His mind considered the worst situations possible, grew anxious upon these thoughts, and then told himself repeatedly that it was just his imagination.
Please be okay…
Barging into the Infirmary, Allen inhaled deeply to try and control the dizziness. He saw General Klaud, Crowley, Chaoji, Marie and Kanda standing before a glass panel connecting to the Emergency Operation Room. However, the blinds were drawn. An exhausted Komui sat with his head in his hands.
Miranda finally caught up, and urged him to enter when she saw him frozen at the door with a terrified expression. The older woman grew more worried.
Komui looked up. "Allen, Miranda…"
"Why did you want us here?" Kanda folded his arms, impatient.
Allen walked up to the glass, and pressed his hand onto it, trying to see in between the blinds. Yet there was nothing to see. In the background, Allen could hear the quiet beeping of a heart monitor. To some extent, he was relieved. "Komui, what's wrong?"
"Everyone," Komui raised his voice. "We don't have time… So I'll explain everything quickly."
"What did the kid do this time?" Klaud placed a hand on her hip and tilted her head. Lau scratched its head while perching on the woman's shoulder.
"Dem had Dark Matter injected into her. It's turning her cells into akuma cells." Komui was extremely succinct.
Evident shock spread through the exorcists. General Klaud froze, while Allen turned sharply to Komui. "Wait, that can't be…"
"There could be only two outcomes: she either rejects the Dark Matter and die from it, or accepts it and wakes as a living akuma."
"Can't you do something?" Miranda had disbelief written all over her face.
Komui shook his head. "If she does awake as a living akuma…she will be deemed fallen by her Innocence, it will kill her."
"Then take her Innocence away from her!" Klaud suddenly yelled at Komui. It was a shock to most; they had never heard the General talk in any way other than dignified.
"We took Thora away, yes. However, something unexpected happened…" Komui trailed off, his pained expression hinted at the gravity of the situation. Standing up, he tapped on the glass twice.
Slowly, the blinds rose. First, the group saw two nurses standing near the window, operating the blinds and the machines. Then, the sight of an almost unrecognisable figure horrified them.
Upon first glance, it looked like a grotesque insect, with legs sprawled unorderly across the bed. However, upon inspection, they saw that lying beneath a dense black crystal mess, was the female exorcist. A thick band of crystal was secured at her neck, and another around her head, covering her eyes. From her neck, several long columns of crystal emerged and branched numerous times. Following each, they saw its sharp end puncturing the girl's skin, impaling her all over her limbs, chest and abdomen. The wounds were seeping with dark crimson blood, dripping onto the bed and floor. The colour was far too dark to be human blood.
In addition to the crystals, the girl had a myriad of medical tubes connected to her: the electrodes of the heart monitor, and the multitude of IV drips delivering nutrient and blood. They only made the sight more morbid.
Miranda placed her hands before her mouth, and trembled. "No…"
Chaoji stood slightly behind Marie, who was frowning in dismay. Even Kanda's eyes widened at the sight.
Klaud rushed to the glass, Lau hoped off her shoulder and perched on the back of the chair Komui sat in. "What is this…"
"It appears…we found the other half of her Innocence." The Chinese man sounded hesitant.
Klaud gasped, remembering something important. "Her necklace."
"We were careless." Komui nodded.
Klaud thumped on the glass with her fist. Cross warned her about Dem's necklace. He talked about sorcery and protecting something…
"We don't know if it's helping her fight the Dark Matter, or trying to kill her. But, if she does awaken as a living akuma…" Komui pursed his lips. "I need you to stop her before she becomes fallen."
"You mean…" Marie breathed. "We have to kill her?"
Kanda suddenly unsheathed Mugen.
"Kanda what are you-" Marie began.
"She'll die anyway." The Japanese said coldly. "Why don't we just end her now?"
Allen, who had been eerily silent up to this point, appeared before Kanda and pulled on his uniform violently. Kanda glanced down at the shorter exorcist, only to see the boy's eyes were colder and more emotionless than he had ever seen. "Don't you dare touch her…"
"That is right."
Another voice sounded at the door, and the exorcists turned to see Rouvelier, with Link trailing behind.
"None of you are to land a finger on her until after she shows signs of being fallen." Rouvelier's usual calm smile was vastly disturbing. "I will ensure that she has a maximum chance of survival."
Komui tightened his jaws. Although he disagrees, he didn't dare to protest.
A strained silence fell over the group. Kanda shook Allen's hand away. Sheathing Mugen, his arms crossed in front of his chest again.
"Her skin…" Miranda breathed. At the base of the girl's neck, black pentacles crawled up her deadly pale skin, although it was far slower than what the exorcists are used to seeing.
"Akuma virus." Komui nodded.
Crowley stepped forwards with a worried frown. "I can suck it out."
Komui shook his head. "It's from herself. Even if you drain all her blood it won't help. Her akuma cells can always make more."
"Can't we do anything?" Klaud turned to Komui, two streams of tears evident on her face.
"There is nothing to do." Rouvelier cleared his throat, standing with his hands behind his back, observing the girl. "Only, to wait until she wakes."
Klaud glared at the Central man. "If she has to live like this then I'd rather her die."
"Ah…" Allen suddenly grew weak, and his hand covered his left eye, which was throbbing and making him dizzy.
Miranda placed a hand on Allen's shoulder. "Allen, are you okay?"
Knowing that his eye was forced to activate, Allen glanced back towards the girl. His suspicion was mercilessly confirmed.
Beyond the glass, he could see the flickering silhouette of a soul above the girl's head…
The same phenomena as what he saw above her brother…
Allen felt sick.
Beep! Beep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee….
Although quiet, the change in the beeping of the heart monitor alarmed everyone. The nurses inside panicked. "Chief! She's going into cardiac arrest!"
"Defibrillator!" Komui commanded, and one of the nurses pulled from the side two pads.
"Komui…" From the communicator, the Supervisor heard Hevlaska's voice. "Desdemona's synchronisation rate is dropping quickly. I can feel it."
Komui pushed his glasses up, cold sweat formed on his forehead.
Evading the black crystals and placing the two pads on her chest, the nurse activated the defibrillators and the girl's body jerked. The heart monitor returned to beeping as normal, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
However, too soon, the heart monitor flattened again. The nurse acted immediately.
With another jerk of her body, Desdemona's heart beats returned. However, each beat was weaker than the last.
"Komui." Rouvelier's smile disappeared. His forehead was also glistening with nervous sweat. "Keep her alive."
"This is ridiculous." Klaud shook her head as she glared at Rouvelier. "Stop this."
"Synchronisation rate is below 10% now."
Feeling a burning pain in his left eye, Allen tore his eyes away from the scene in the Emergency Operation Room and held it with his left hand. When he pulled his hand back a little, he was shocked to see blood staining his white gloves.
"Allen, your left eye…" Miranda breathed. "It's crying blood."
"Allen, what's wrong?" Komui looked worriedly at Allen, and was surprised by the trail of blood emerging from his activated left eye.
The boy's voice shook. "Her soul is in pain."
"Komui, it's no good. Her rate is almost zero!"
The heart monitor flat lined again, the defibrillator was activated again. Her heart beats returned, again, yet this time, weaker still.
"Don't stop!" Rouvelier asserted. "We need to keep her alive until she accepts the Dark Matter!"
Kanda glanced at Marie, who shook his head at the younger exorcist. This sight was familiar to the two of them, yet they uttered no words.
"This is it." Klaud stomped past Rouvelier, Lau hoped onto its Master's shoulder. "I'm going in."
Boom!
With the roar of thunder more distant than the previous one, the entire Infirmary went dark and the lights didn't flicker back on. Klaud was stopped in her tracks.
Through the wireless communicators, the exorcists could hear the panic and chaos outside. A nameless scientist reported. "Our main power line has burnt! We're switching to our backup system! Electricity will be back…now!"
Right on cue, the lights returned and everything was once again visible. The heart monitor began to operate again…
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee….
As before, the nurses quickly used the defibrillator.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
Klaud inhaled.
The nurse tried the defibrillator once more.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
…
The nurse turned to Komui and shook her head in dismay.
Allen exhaled. His eye had deactivated itself, and it no longer hurts. In fact, he didn't know if he could feel anything.
There was only numbness.
He used a gloved hand to wipe the bloody from his face.
"NO!" Rouvelier suddenly yelled. "NO!" His comb-over fell over his enraged face as he pivoted violently on his toes, storming out of the infirmary with Link tailing behind.
Turning around too, Kanda quietly walked out of the Infirmary with a blank expression. Marie followed after the Japanese worriedly. "Wait, Kanda…"
Komui looked down. "Hevlaska?"
"She's no longer compatible."
Sighing, slightly in grief and slightly in relief, Komui sank onto the floor.
"Allen, wait!"
Upon Miranda's voice, Komui turned to see Allen disappearing into the main corridor of the Infirmary, before he emerged on the other side of the glass panel, intruding into the Emergency room and shocking the nurses packing away their equipment with sullen expressions.
Walking over to the lifeless body lying on the blood-soaked bed, Allen's heart felt so heavy, yet so numb. He glanced over the girl's face that he couldn't see, and stood with his back to the glass panel. He reached for her ice-cold hand.
Feeling his legs grow weak again, he squatted down next to the bed, and held her hand tighter.
Klaud quickly entered the room after Allen. She stood on the other side of the bed and cried while gently stroking her student's hair. "Not you too…"
The observers stood in silence for a few moments. Unsure of what to do, while still trying to accept the situation.
Komui took his glasses off and held them in his hand. How was he going to face the Chapmans again?
"Chief! The situation in Vault 5 is getting worse! We are running out of barrier devices and recharging is taking too long!"
"What?" Komui held his communicator closer. "That shouldn't be? She's already…"
"Komui, something strange is going on." Hevlaska suddenly said. "Her synchronisation rate is rising!"
"What's that?" Chaoji suddenly said, pointing a hand towards the crystals.
Allen and Klaud, too, saw something from the corner of their eyes. Looking to the crystals, they were alarmed by a bright crimson colour, diffusing into the black crystals from the girl's skin. The colour resembled fresh, human blood.
Allen shifted his eyes quickly towards her face as he stood up. The pentacles near her neck were…receding.
"What's going on?" Komui breathed as he leaned into the glass. Once the black crystal turned fully crimson, it began to decrease in size, almost as if it's being absorbed into her body.
The process was quite fast. In a few seconds, the crystals disconnected from each other. Within another few seconds, they almost disappeared completely into her skin.
Allen watched in amazement as the crystals fused with Desdemona's flesh. Once the crystals were gone, the girl's skin was perfectly intact without even a hint of injury. Allen ran a hand over the smooth skin of her forearm, and was shocked to feel that she is now warm.
"Dem…" Klaud gasped as she the soft beeping of the heart monitor.
Allen quickly glanced over at her face, which was now visible as the band had disappeared. Her cheeks had a tint of red, and she looked no different than if she was asleep, albeit having lost a lot of weight.
"Her synchronisation rate is still rising!" Hevlaska said incredulously. "What's happening?"
Komui shook his head, wide eyed. "A miracle…"
"Dem!" Allen felt a need to wake her. She's just asleep… "Dem!"
Klaud stared wide eyed as she saw her student's lips moving slightly. The evident rise and fall of her chest suggested she was breathing. Klaud held her breath and her heart pounded heavily in her ears. The impossible situation was too hard to believe.
"DEM!" Allen yelled again, holding her hand in his tightly. He can't believe this.
"Shut up, Allen…" Desdemona's eyebrows furrowed and she muttered quietly, turning her face away from the loudly shouting boy.
Allen shook, and he couldn't help but laugh weakly. This is the first thing she says to him after coming back from the dead.
Blinking and squinting her eyes at the overly bright light overhead, she glanced around the room but it was blurry. "Where am I?"
Allen and Klaud hesitated at the sight. Her eyes were a brilliant gold, which made her cold and void-like eyes appear even more threatening. Allen noticed their resemblance to the eyes of a Noah, and suspected whether the Dark Matter forcefully activated her Noah gene that resided in every human. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, mostly due to the fact that she is not fallen.
"You're in the Infirmary." Klaud spoke calmly. Her joy that she didn't lose another student was evident in her smile.
"Master?" Desdemona's eyes slowly got used to the bright light. She glanced at Klaud and noticed the dried tears on her Master's face.
Komui, Crowley, Chaoji and Miranda rushed into the Emergency Room, shocked yet extremely relieved at the sudden turn of events. "Dem!" Komui breathed. "This is impossible, you were dead!"
Sighing, the Eurasian girl sat up but flinched as the wound on her abdomen stung. She inspected her bed and the ground. The excess blood stains and its inhumanly dark colour…it must have looked pretty bad. Examining herself, she saw her hospital gown tattered and stained with blood, while a myriad of tubes were attached to her.
"How are you feeling?" Komui rushed to the foot of the bed, observing the girl with a disbelieving frown. "What's wrong with your eyes?"
"Eyes?" Desdemona blinked as she began to tear the heart monitor electrodes off her chest and out of her gown. The monitor flat lined. "What are you talking about?"
Miranda, who was able to hold in her tears in before, could no longer contain them. She cried, sniffing happily. "We were so worried…"
The girl lifted an arm and ran her hand through her hair like she normally would, but her arm felt so heavy, and the IV cords tangled slightly with her hair. "Sorry. It was the only way to deactivate all this Dark Matter."
"What?" Komui frowned. "What do you mean?"
Instinctively reaching for her necklace, she was shocked as, for the first time, it wasn't there. Her neck was bare. "Where is my necklace?"
She frowned as she scanned the blank expressions of the people around her. None of them seemed to be able to answer. However, her eyes grew wide in realisation. "She's still inside me."
Quickly, the girl scanned the room, but couldn't see what she was looking for. "Where's Thora?"
"We didn't want it kill you so we isolated it." Komui explained, puzzled by her words.
Turning and swinging her legs over the ledge of the bed, Desdemona started to pull out the IV needles from her arms. "Where is it?"
The nurses rushed over and helped the girl remove all the needles, applying small bandages on the needle wounds.
"It's in Vault no. 5." The Chinese man frowned. "What are you going to do?"
With all the needles removed, the Eurasian girl jumped off the hospital bed, but was surprised to find there was no strength in her legs. Quickly, Allen reached out and caught the falling girl.
"Dem you're still weak, you can't walk yet." He told her gently, his voice shaky.
"Don't tell me what to do, Walker." Desdemona frowned at Allen. "Ineed to get Thora."
Smiling gently at her, Allen held her upper body with one arm while he bent down and hooked his other arm behind her knees.
"Allen-!" Desdemona was shocked as Allen lifted her up easily.
Turning to Komui, the light in Allen's previously blank eyes returned. "Komui, I'll take her down to the Vault but I don't know the way."
Komui sighed and glanced at the girl. "I'll take you to Thora now but you need to explain everything later." He turned and glanced at the other exorcists. "Can everyone wait in my office?"
Crowley, Chaoji and Miranda nodded.
"I'm coming with you." Klaud announced. Lau hoped onto Allen's shoulder briefly to look at the girl, before jumping back onto Klaud's shoulder.
While the three exorcists headed for Komui's office, the Chinese man led Allen, carrying Dem, and Klaud down several flights of stairs into the basement levels of the new Headquarters. The girl rubbed her bare neck as she leant against Allen's chest.
In the distance, they could hear the rumbling of thunder and the clacking sounds of rain drops hitting against windows and walls. The unrelenting storm outside covered the night sky in a hazy shroud. Neither moon nor stars could be seen.
As they neared, they heard cracks of electricity emerging from the vault, and sparks of blue illuminated the Scientists battling with their barriers just outside.
There was a group of 10 or so Scientists lined up in a semi-circle in front of the large doorway of the Vault. They held a barrier device each between two, projecting onto the doorway hologramic thin films of green. To the side, the thick, steel vault door was discarded, burnt and dented from the inside.
Bzzz Bzzzz Crack!
Standing nearer, Komui and the group were able to see brilliant tendrils of blue lightning flashing across inside the vault, occasionally hitting the barrier.
Komui asked a Scientist nearby who was not holding an operating device. "What happened here?"
"It happened on that first really loud thunder crash." He explained. "The Vault door flew open and all we could see were these blue lightning. We've been trying to keep it in ever since." He looked over to the girl and seemed surprised. "Dem! You're awake! What happened to your eyes?"
"Remove the barriers." Desdemona commanded without replying the scientist. She placed a hand on Allen's chest and pushed him softly. "Let me down."
Allen bent down and gently set her on her feet. Although shaky, she was able to stand by herself. The girl felt a dull pain in her abdomen, where heavy bandages were wrapped around her waist. She held it slightly and Allen frowned at it.
"But won't it burn everything?" The Scientist shook his head.
"It won't." She replied with certainty. The girl shakily squeezed between the Scientists and stood before the barriers. She placed a hand on the barrier, and immediately, all the tendrils directed themselves towards her palm.
The scientists looked to Komui, who nodded. "Deactivate the barriers."
Allen pursed his lips, slightly worried. Wondering what it is that she was trying to do.
One by one, the scientists switched off their barrier devices. The green film grew thinner until there was nothing left. However, the lightning tendrils were still gathered towards her palm.
Unfolding her arm from around her abdomen, Desdemona stepped closer and held both her hands in front of her, palms upwards, as if trying to receive something.
From the place the tendrils gathered, a small, glowing orb began to form. The lightning appeared to condense into the orb.
"Her Innocence lost its physical form…" Allen commented quietly, which earned a silent nod from Komui.
Within a few seconds, all the lightning gathered into the small orb. Shifting, the glowing orb transformed itself into a recognisable shape: the signature cube shape of a piece of raw innocence. However, it was only half the cube. It floated above the girl's palm, being surrounded by a ring of ancient text.
"It's time to wake up." She spoke quietly to her Innocence.
In a process that seemed like melting, the Innocence fragment liquefied and fell into the girl's cupped hands, creating a pool of blue, luminescent liquid.
Komui gasped. "Isn't this...just like Lenalee's?"
Lifting her hands to her face, the girl poured the contents of her hands into her mouth without hesitation and swallowed it all in one go.
Almost immediately, small lacerations in the shape of crosses appeared in a band all around her neck, and blood burst out, forming a thin, loose ring around her neck that crystallised quickly. She flinched slightly, it stings.
"Innocence, activate." She said under her breath. The ring began to glow, and the girl felt the familiar sensation of power welling inside her. Only this time, the power was greater, and it was much easier to manipulate.
A thin, glowing piece of cloth appeared around the girl, draping over her left shoulder. Above her right shoulder, a light piece of armour secured the cloak.
Holding her right arm out, a tendril of white ribbon crawled from her shoulder to her arm in a spiral trail. Ending in a handle-like shape in her hands, the girl closed her hand over it and lowered her arm. The coil fell into her hands, and materialised as a white whip.
Still holding the whip, she clasped her hands before her chest. Desdemona closed her eyes and lowered her head.
"A new form of Innocence?" A scientist muttered. "Impressive…"
"But what is she doing now?" Another whispered.
"Praying."
"What?" Komui looked to Allen. "Praying?"
Allen didn't reply, his eyes were glued on the girl. He felt something stir within him, an endearment he never felt before.
Even though countless prayers were returned to the Earth across millions of years, I will continue to pray.
From her still glowing cloak, white feathers bloomed from between near shoulder blades. Quickly, they formed two large, white wings that spread majestically. More feathers bloomed from her mid back, which formed two smaller wings, following that, one more set of wings sprouted from her lower back: the largest pair of three.
"Woah…" The onlookers gasped at the sight. The Innocence took on a form not unlike an angel.
"Seraphim." Komui spoke under his breath.
Opening her golden eyes that grew even brighter, Desdemona lifted her head towards the roof and dropped her hands.
Patches of black appeared on the glowing Innocence from around the girl's shoulder, the base of each of her wings, and also the place her hand contacted the whip. Growing in size, the patches of black smothered the white light. Quickly, the entirety of her new Innocence was turned into a pitch black. The wound on her neck also healed without a trace.
Exhaling, Desdemona slumped her shoulders. "Deactivate."
Upon command, the wings, cloak and whip disappeared, leaving behind only the crimson ring. It continued to glow until it shifted, morphing into the same necklace she always wore. At the same time, the gold in her eyes faded, returning them to her usual onyx colour.
Feeling weak, the girl faltered. But before she could fall too far, her back bumped into someone and they held her steady. She didn't need to see who it was.
"Komui." Hevlaska's voice came through the communicator. "Please bring Desdemona to me."
"84%" Hevlaska announced, placing the girl gently onto the metal walkway.
"It doubled…as expected, right?" Komui reasoned, activating her full Innocence increased her rate drastically.
"…" Hevlaska was silent.
"What's wrong?" Komui prompted.
The large exorcist observed the girl intently, who clutched her stomach and leaned on the railing to support herself. "The Storm that flooded the world: Bringer of Darkness."
"Is that a prophecy?" Komui guessed.
Desdemona blinked at Hevlaska. "You can see my prophecy now?"
"No. But I know the past."
"My past?" The girl echoed.
"The past of your Innocence. You said that she talks to you. What has she told you?"
Desdemona shook her head. "She showed me memories from when she was still asleep."
Allen scratched his head. He didn't understand a thing. He glanced over at Klaud and Komui, who had the same confusion in their eyes.
"Hevlaska, can you explain?" Komui asked.
Hevlaska nodded. "I shall explain what I know. The Cube spoke of a great battle against the Millennium Earl. Although the ancient humans were triumphant, the war destroyed the world in what was known as the 'Three Days of Darkness' or, the 'Great Flood'.
"Biblically, it was a great storm that drowned Earth. However, in the Ancients' message, they spoke of a single Innocence, so powerful that during the final battle, its power alone drove the world into destruction, eradicating the Noah race and their followers as well. The Ancients called it the 'Bringer of Darkness'."
"Is that…" Komui glanced at Desdemona, "Her Innocence?"
Hevlaska nodded. "Yes, it is."
Desdemona felt a little disbelieving. Was her Innocence meant to be so powerful?
"The Innocence was unlike any other." Hevlaska continued. "The Ancients described it to be 'a crystal that need no accommodator, an angel, the direct executor of God's will'."
"Innocence that doesn't need a host?" Allen understood the cryptic translations. He never thought Innocence could be autonomic.
Komui contemplated. "Direct executors… seraphims?"
Hevlaska nodded. "However, the Innocence fell into a deep slumber after the battle. She was never seen again." She lowered her body and moved her face close to the Eurasian girl. "Why has she awakened now? Why has she chosen a host this time? Why are you not taken over by her? With such a powerful Innocence, why is your rate only 84%?"
Desdemona shook her head. "I don't know…" She touched her necklace, there was still so much she didn't understand.
Klaud frowned. "If it was so powerful, then why did the Ancients have to fight such a long battle? Couldn't it just have eradicated the Earl from the start? Or…was there some reason it could not fight until the very end…for example, it had to conceal itself."
Komui glanced at the General. "You are saying, it is the Heart?"
Klaud nodded. Komui looked to Hevlaska.
Hevlaska shook her head. "We don't know."
Allen watched in worry as he saw the girl's hands tighten around the metal railing. Everything was happening too fast for him to understand, but it must make Dem even more anxious. He wished he knew how to help her…
Komui turned to Desdemona. "You should tell us everything you know as well."
"What do you want to know?"
"Explain what you said," Komui recalled. "Something about deactivating Dark Matter…"
"When I was unconscious…" She placed a hand to her chin, "She said she will save me, and awaken with me. But to do that, I must first die. Then, the Dark Matter will fall dormant, and she can absorb and seal it."
Komui nodded, inspecting a report he was holding. "So that's why all the Dark Matter in your blood is gone." He looked to the girl. "This is the third time a piece of Innocence has protected their host by their own will. First was Allen…"
Allen nodded, remembering his near-death experience.
"And then Lenalee. It might make more sense this time, since your Innocence is self-sentient by nature." Komui pushed his glasses up.
Desdemona stayed silent. She remembered the incidents with Allen and Lenalee, and knew for sure that her Innocence was involved with both cases. She almost died both those times too.
"Desdemona, please answer some of my questions too."
Suddenly, a light shone onto a balcony, overlooking the basement. A composed Rouvelier stood below the light. Link was behind him. "Tell us everything about your brother. If your answer is satisfactory, we will excuse your crime of lying to the Vatican."
Widening her eyes, she turned sharply to Allen and glared at him.
He stepped back slightly. Her eyes flashed golden slightly, and in them he saw accusation, betrayal and hatred. He swallowed and tried to explain, "You were hurt and I-"
She turned away from him abruptly.
He pursed his lips. She won't forgive him no matter what reasons he had…because there was really no reason for him to break his promise. He looked to the floor. He wanted to help, yet it appears to have made things worse for her…
"What are you talking about?" Desdemona looked Rouvelier straight in the eye, unwavering in her glare.
"You do." Rouvelier fixed his own unrelenting gaze. "Your brother, the living akuma, is of great value to our cause. I need to know why and how he has become like so, and you have the answer."
She narrowed her eyes. "He should have been dead."
Rouvelier lifted his chin. "If you refuse to corporate, there will be consequences."
"What will you do?" She challenged Rouvelier. "Will you execute me? Go ahead. The Order needs me, I do not need the Order."
Komui pulled on the girl's shoulder. "Dem…"
Rouvelier began to laugh. "Whoever said anything about executing you?" He shifted his eyes onto Allen. "The host of the 'Fourteenth' must be executed if he shows signs of jeopardising the Order. I'm sure the fact that he gravely injured you won't be taken lightly by the Vatican…"
The girl froze.
"Tsk…" Komui ground his teeth. Rouvelier keeps using the same threat.
Allen's jaw dropped. Rouvelier was extorting her with his life… He glared at Rouvelier as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. Not only could he not help the people around him, he only causes them more trouble. He is a burden to her…
"I don't care." Her voice was as cold as steel. "Kill him."
Komui and Klaud were shocked by the response. However, upon glancing at each other, they confirmed their suspicions in each other's eyes.
Even more shocked, was Rouvelier, who blinked. He never thought the girl was so heartless. He dislikes heartless people, not because of any superficial ideals or morality…He dislikes it when he cannot manipulate others to his will, and callous people have too few weaknesses to exploit.
Allen's heart dropped. He knew the girl was cruel sometimes, but he believed that she had a caring side inside her. Her words stabbed through his heart like the cold, hard blade of a dagger, and it hurts.
It hurts more than when she told him she wouldn't kill him.
He hung his head. She was justified…considering all the pain he caused her, repeatedly.
The girl observed the hesitation of the Central representative. "Aren't you going to do it?" She raised her eyebrows. "If you aren't going to do it, I will."
Removing one hand from the railing, she swiftly swung her arm out. In the millisecond of her movement, a sword materialised in her hand and appeared next to Allen's neck. The boy jumped as the cold blade pressed against his throat. He glanced down.
The entire sword was pitch black, even the blade. It seemed all so unfamiliar until the boy found traces of thin lines on the blade. Immediately, he recognised the segmenting of the blade all along its length: the same as where her old blade whip would disassociate upon a flick of her wrist.
"Wait!" Rouvelier yelled in panic. Despite his threat, Allen Walker cannot die yet.
"What is this?" The girl tilted her head. "You don't want him dead after all?"
"…" Rouvelier had nothing to say.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Lowering her arm, the blade simply disappeared.
Allen realised he held his breath. Inhaling and then exhaling, he felt his heart pounding painfully against his chest. She had grown more frightening…He couldn't explain why.
Rouvelier gritted his teeth. He despises this girl. How dare she humiliate him like so? "Desdemona, if you refuse to speak the truth then it leaves me with no choice but to strip you of your exorcist title and imprison you." Rouvelier announced.
She frowned. She can't be imprisoned, not now. There is something important she has to do. "I already said, I know nothing of why and how he became an akuma. All I know is that he injected his blood into me and fed me Dark Matter in an attempt to make me like him."
Rouvelier's eyebrow moved, but he looks unimpressed.
"What good is it for you to imprison me? I know nothing else." Her eyes grew determined. "There is something I have yet to do."
"Oh?" Rouvelier smirked. Is she growing desperate? "What is it?"
"I know where to find my brother. I will go meet him."
Rouvelier raised his eyebrows. "Where?!"
"Only I know." She held on.
Allen frowned. She's going back there?
Contemplating, Rouvelier weighed his options. If there was a chance to get his hands on the living akuma…even if it's only his blood…
"Very well, go find your brother." Rouvelier nodded. "However, there is one condition."
Desdemona grew wary.
"You must bring him back"
She frowned. "I assure you, he will not want to come here."
Rouvelier smiled. "I never said he has to be alive."
Komui instantly understood what Rouvelier really wanted, and looked worriedly to the girl. However, strangely, there was a glint in her eyes.
"I understand." She nodded at Rouvelier with a courteous smile.
Rouvelier was doubtful. Isn't this too easy? Nevertheless, he continued on. "Inspector Link will accompany you. Don't try anything funny."
Turning around, Rouvelier left the balcony and the light upon it went dark.
"That's the situation now." Komui concluded his explanation.
Miranda, Chaoji and Crowley glanced at each other. The complexity was beyond what they imagined.
"So…what happens now?" Crowley queried softly.
"There is still a pile of missions to get through. Head out as soon as possible." Komui turned to Allen, standing in a corner by himself. "Allen, stay at HQ while Dem rehabilitates, then go with her when she has recovered."
Allen looked up tiredly. "I'm going too?"
Link appeared behind the boy. "Of course. How else am I supposed to supervise both of you at the same time?" The blonde man huffed. The burden of his responsibilities had just doubled. None of them were easy to govern, the girl even more so than Allen.
Komui didn't hear the objection he expected, so he looked over to where Dem was sitting. He saw her with her eyes closed and her head slightly tilted. "Dem?"
Miranda followed Komui's eyes, saw the girl, and started to panic. "DEM?! HAVE YOU FAINTED AGAIN?"
Quickly, Klaud leaned over to her student to check on her. A peaceful expression was on her face as she breathed in and out rhythmically. Klaud crossed her arms. "Calm down Miranda, she's just asleep." From her peripheral vision, she saw Allen exit an alarmed state and sighed in relief.
Komui rubbed his forehead. "Her body took a heavy toll. We should take her back to the Infirmary so she can recover quickly."
For a few seconds, there was silence and inaction. Everyone expected something to happen, and unconsciously, they assumed someone else will do it. However, after a while of it not happening, Komui broke the silence. "Everyone dismissed. I'll ask the nurses to come collect her."
"Ah, no need. We can take her there." Miranda offered, but then realised she didn't have the means to transport the girl.
"I'll carry her." Crowley offered.
"No no no. Let me help. I'm good at carrying things!" Chaoji rushed over, lifting the smaller girl easily in his arms. Bustling with liveliness, he quickly headed for the Infirmary.
As Miranda and Crowley left after Chaoji, Klaud stood up, spotting Allen leaving with his eyes on the floor.
Normally, the one who carries her…
Turning out to the corridor, Klaud placed a hand on the boy's shoulder before he could go too far.
Allen stopped and turned. "Ah, General Klaud…"
Klaud stared into his eyes and spoke firmly. "If you know her, then you wouldn't misunderstand." Removing her hand, she turned to leave the other way.
Allen sighed and looked out the window, where a heavy storm raged on outside. "What is there to misunderstand? With all I've done, she is right to hate me."
Link glanced at the melancholic exorcist. "Even I can tell."
"Huh?"
Link sighed.
"She did the best she could to protect you."
A/N: Ahhh lots happened here argh. Sorry if this chapter is a little depressing at times, and Allen went into The Melancholy of Allen Walker mode again.
BTW due to time constraints I'm looking for a beta. I know mutedsymphony once offered but I haven't heard from you for a while, are you still around? If anyone else can help please PM me or review to contact me X3
On another note, for every 50 viewers, only 1 person reviews. Q n Q Kavi likes reviews even if it's criticism. Feedback fuels writers Q n Q
So if have a little time, won't you type below? It'll make kavi happy and maybe post the next chapter faster? *puppy eyes*
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