Many people have asked "how do you say 'Etoile'?" Most of them get it wrong by saying "Ee-toy-el.", but that's not right. Etoile is French for "star". It should have an accent mark over the first e, making it "Ay-twah". Thank you. (Sadie's edit – it's "ay" like "day", and "twah"…like…umm…?)
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Riprendere
Interlude: Epidemic of Kage
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A tall, beautiful angel walked along one of the many roads of Heliopolis. She was only visiting for the day to confirm something. What it was, she didn't know, but Eos knew, for it was Eos that had summoned her here. But why just this angel? Why just another plain angel?
The facts were that this was no ordinary angel. She may have worn a black skirt with diamond patterns all over it that swept along after her, and a ¾ length pale blue shirt, but that did not make her special or different. Not even her thigh-long silver hair or ruby red eyes changed nothing of her status. The pale mint green wings coming from her shoulderblades made no difference. However, the staff she carried with a green orb floating at the top did. Her name meant shadow. Who was she? She was Kage, the angel of disease. A golden halo floating above the crown of her head completed her designation as an angel.
As she reached the Palace of the Sun, the guards stepped aside and raised their swords to her. She merely smiled to acknowledge them and continued on her way. Kage continued up the golden stairs. Her skirt brushed along the steps she'd already climbed. A smirk grew on her face as she reached the top. The palace was designed with windowsills carved out of red and orange gems, and otherwise, a dome. There was one spire that flew from the heart of the palace, made from the gems inside. The gold set it off perfectly and allowed it to rise. It looked as if the rest were a circular pool of water it was dripping into. Composing her face to a much more polite smile, Kage pressed open the golden doors and entered the Palace of the Sun.
The entire golden exterior of the palace did the inside no justice. Hot-colored gemstones formed a dome above, and allowed the sun's light to stream through. A fountain created from diamonds gurgled directly beneath the peak of the dome. Several potted trees stood around this central room. On the floor was a huge magic circle, drawn in silver and cool-colored gems. It was Luna's Circle, the one that tied this palace to the one of the moon. Doors had been made from gold, and staircases of rubies and garnets.
Kage honestly smiled. This place was beautiful. She walked up two flights of the ruby stairs until she reached a room protected by a star-shaped crest on its door. Pushing it open, it revealed a spacious room. Kage stepped in. She wove her way around a huge painting spread out on the floor and entered one of the smaller side rooms. This room contained a king-sized bed, and in it was a golden-haired girl, sound asleep.
"Eos," Kage whispered, nudging the girl. Eos's clear blue eyes flew open and looked into Kage's.
"Selene is here. And Helios is around." Eos said. Moments later, the two entered the room. Selene was finishing tying her knee-length silvery hair into a braid, and Helios was fiddling with something beneath his messy orange-gold mop. The two smiled upon seeing Kage.
"No, no, don't bother." Helios said. "We were more than honored to hear your speech at Aurora's funeral. And Eos has been feeling much better."
"Well…thank you. I'm glad about Eos, too. Do you know anything about Polaris?" Kage said, leaning her staff against the wall.
"Yes. She came yesterday, looking to thank you." Selene said, sitting down on the bed next to her sister. "She seems to be doing much better. By the way, could you come back with me? There's someone who would like to speak with you."
"Of course. I just came here because Eos called." Kage replied, motioning to Eos. "Do you need anything, now that I'm here?"
"No. I just called because of Selene." Eos said. Selene eyed her younger sister. "Oh, and I wanted to say that I'll be mentioning you in my speech. You know, since Aurora died, I'm now the one female ruler of Heliopolis."
"I will be honored." Kage said, curtsying. "Do you feel that you are completely well once more?" She ruffled the young embodiment of the dawn's hair and grinned once more. But after her moment of fun had ended, her hand automatically went to her forehead. "I agree with myself once more. Stay in bed two more days, then your brother will let you out."
Eos sighed visibly.
"That doesn't mean you can't start doing other things." Kage said. "Your thinking is coherent again with your fever down, and your stomach seems to have settled. But it's still too soon to say that it's gone completely."
At once, her face was lit up again. Kage, too, smiled in spite of herself. It was not often that she was able to deal with people so polite as Eos and her family. It was also not often that they were one of the younger ones, and the fact that this family was practically royalty outside of Heaven. Aurora had been the only one born single, but died only a few weeks ago. Kage had been sorry to see her go at her age, but it was for the best. Since Aurora had proven it, this virus was effective.
"Are you coming?" Selene asked.
"Yes, of course." Kage said. "I'll see you at your speech, Eos. And until then, stay in bed!"
Kage picked her staff up from the wall and walked out the door with Helios and Selene. They smiled and began to head for the one silver door in the palace. Kage walked behind them since her status was lower, but Helios noticed quickly.
"Hey Kage, I've heard something strange." He said, slowing to walk at her pace. He lowered his voice; "There have been rumors among travelers here that an angel caused Aurora's death. Would you happen to have heard similar things?"
Kage paled a little, but covered herself by feigning curiosity. "No, I haven't. I will let you know if I do, or one of your siblings."
"Thanks. Selene, she's right here!" Helios called to his sister. She stopped as she turned the diamond key in the door that led to the bridge between the cities. "Have fun over there! And send Apollo back, he's been missing since forever."
Selene stepped onto the bridge and Kage was right after, shutting the door. Once inside, Selene sighed deeply.
"He was telling you about the rumors, wasn't he." Selene noted flatly. Kage nodded. "I know he's upset over it because she was the sun. I'm upset too…but I don't cling to mindless rumors about it."
They walked along the bridge. The children of the moon and sun shrines, and angels only used it when permitted. The bridge itself was magical, and collapsed the distance around Heaven into about a ten-minute walk. It was in space, but contained by glass. The ground was made of alternating silver and gold bricks and gems splashed into them. It also went to the end of the world, but you had to first go to Lunapolis.
"Finally." Selene said, as if the walk had taken forever. "I'm going to go up to my room. Polaris is in one of the rooms on the second floor."
She pushed the golden door open into the Palace of the Moon. They were on the very top floor of the palace, so Kage simply winked herself outside. It was a simple trick. And at least she didn't have to climb all the silver stairs.
Luna had definitely topped her brother's city when she had designed this. Her design was in silver, which helped. But her palace had turrets with spires all their own, made of different cool-colored gems. They were gently rounded so the curves didn't jut out too much. The windows, like her brother's, were rimmed by gemstones. Alone, the general shape was circular.
Kage pressed on the silver doors and was accepted inside. Helios' circle was inlaid to the floor with gold and red gems. There were several flowers growing here, but most of them were white. The ceiling of this room had been made of glass, and out of it, the moon was visible. There was no fountain, but several statues of the moon had been made in diamond and were set around. The stairs here were made of emerald, peridot, aquamarine, amethyst, and sapphire.
Something told her Polaris was on the third floor, so she climbed the two flights and had to choose between the silver doors. Looking for a door with Polaris' circle on it would be the key. It wasn't hard, since Polaris marked things brightly. Kage almost rushed to the door in fear that Aurora had spread the virus, and its most fatal target was angels. With panic sunk into her mind and a nervous grin on her face, Kage flung the door open.
"There you are!" Polaris exclaimed, sitting in an armchair and sipping her tea. The color washed out of Kage's face in relief. "You look terrible. Do have a seat."
Kage sank into the chair and leaned her staff against it. "Why did you call me here?"
Polaris' wings fluttered anxiously as she poured Kage some tea. "You're under too much stress. You need to stop thinking about others and start thinking about yourself."
Kage would have corrected her, but decided not to. It was true that Polaris was a dear friend, but with this knowledge both of them would be dead. And by both, she didn't include Polaris.
"The reason I wanted you to come here was that I've hear something incredibly strange." Polaris said, handing her the cup. She sat down. "I forget who it was, but someone said that you killed Aurora."
Kage held the tea to her lips, but dared not drink for fear of spewing it back out. Polaris noticed this.
"I'm sorry, Kage…I know you're close to the royal family…" Polaris instantly apologized. Kage set her tea down in her saucer and shook her head sadly. Polaris mistook this and rushed to comfort the other angel.
"Take the extra bed. Dal is elsewhere this evening." Polaris insisted, pointing a finger. Kage had no reason not to comply with the angel's request. But…there was someone else here to see her.
"Who else wanted to talk to me?" Kage asked. Polaris cocked an eyebrow.
"No one…well…Mirllyne wanted to see you earlier about something, and I'm not sure if she's still here." Polaris said. Kage was already out the door by the time she said the last word. "Oh…she's going to bring herself to death by doing that."
Kage remembered Mirllyne. She was one of the elemental angels and was good friends with Arien. And recently, she'd been spending more and more time on Earth. Kage wondered, did this angel have the same dilemma she did, just less severe? Her mind flashed back to him…her designation. But why call him that? Kazuo Shimamura was not an inanimate object.
"I've been looking for you since Selene told me you were back!" The young angel cried, rushing to Kage. Sure enough, Mirllyne was the only one bounding down the hall at the time. "Albireo-sama would like to speak with you."
"Is there transport arranged or will we have to fly?" Kage asked as they walked down the steps. Kage held her staff up so it wouldn't bump.
"Outside, I have a stone." Mirllyne said. "And Arien…"
They stepped outside of the palace and Mirllyne held up a black stone. In seconds, they stood in front of a boy, who was seated on a golden throne. The two angels instantly fell to their knees. He was Albireo. His hair was black as ebony, and his eyes were bright green.
"Kage. I've heard of your exploits." Albireo said. Said angel rose and nodded her head. "I would like you to do me a favor."
Kage was shocked by this. "W-what is it, sir?"
"Mirllyne, you may leave now." Albireo said. Mirllyne scampered from the room. "You, Kage, are the angel of disease. My sister Tsukasa has a terrible illness. Could you, per chance, heal her?"
Kage nodded fervently. Heal his sister, win points, hope for the best. "Yes, sir. Of course I can."
Albireo rose from his throne and motioned for Kage to follow. He opened a small side door. The angel went in first to find Tsukasa, the youngest member of the Chaos family, lying asleep on a huge bed, twisting and turning beneath the covers. Without thinking twice, Kage clapped her hands together softly and laid them on her staff. It changed to a slim blade hanging from a belt.
"How long?" Kage asked, laying a hand to the young girl's forehead.
"Four days. I'll leave you?" Albireo said. Kage nodded. He left the two alone in the room. This wouldn't take very long to find. It had been running around and was simply a weak bacterium.
Kage left the room, leaving a cup of tea behind with Tsukasa. Albireo noted this and waved.
"I'll remember you." He said as she walked out of the double doors in a bow.
Kage was in Heaven. Chaos' home was one of the most northern points, so from here, she could go anywhere. Yggdrasil was flocked at this time of year by angels going to Asgard, and Mount Olympus was just in a constant state of pandemonium. Nirvana would be packed with people, and the worlds beneath Yggdrasil held competitions. The general angel areas were in finals for the next round of angels. The Elemental Temples had prayer at this time of day. So she decided to head out the gates and go to Earth and see Kazuo.
"Kage." A voice said behind her. Kage's heart nearly froze. She turned around to see Dal.
"Yes, Dal?" Kage asked. Dal held out a small ruby star.
"I want you to have this. You helped Polaris. Remember me, Kage." Dal said, placing the star in Kage's palm. Kage curled her fingers around it. "Polaris isn't a classified angel yet, but she will be. I wonder where Etoile is…"
Dal ran off, leaving Kage standing at the golden gates. Dal…Dal Segno. What an angel she could be. I'd say the angel of music. She held up a hand. "To Earth, to Kazuo."
In a flash of light, she was whisked away from Heaven and into a small house. A man with chocolate brown hair and deeply brown eyes was there. He looked about her age, and upon seeing her, hugged her. They kissed for a minute, then Kage smiled.
"You already know, don't you?" Kage asked, smoothing the hair away from his right eye. "Kaz, you do know that I'm pregnant, right?"
Kaz beamed. "Of course I know."
"Good. Then you'll have to know…I'm going to name him Joseph." Kage said. "And using your family name. So he'll be Joseph Shimamura."
"That sounds lovely." Kaz replied. "But what about…"
"I've proven it's effective. I hated doing it…but I suppose guilty conscience will wear off after a while." She said, sitting down. "I'm going to start it tomorrow."
"Then you'd best go back." He advised, kissing her once again. In another flash of light, the angel was home again.
"I ran into your sister." Kage said to Polaris. Polaris nearly jumped out of her skin upon hearing Kage's voice. "And you're welcome, Polaris. I'll help you to become classified. I'll…save you if you ever need it."
Polaris paused for a second. "Thank…thank you, Kage. That's really nice of you to say."
Kage smiled and nodded, knowing the weight of what she'd just said. She'd have to spare Polaris. But there was no need for Polaris to know that she was behind it, was there? She was Kage's senior by about seven thousand years, though she was not yet a classified angel. The one spot they wanted her to take was filled.
"I'm going to," Kage said, but was interrupted by a yawn, "To go to bed."
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Kage woke up hours before Polaris did. Thoughts swirled in her head. Who would be the first to contract this? It had to be an angel she really, really disliked…
Kummi was a conceited little girl. Arien was a positive bitch. Then it struck her. The one person who had been trying to prove her wrong for the last thousand years or so. Kali, the self-claimed angel of love. Her claim had been accepted. The two had been at war since they became classified angels, and it was now time for Kage's revenge.
Silence was kept as Kage slid out the door and into the corridor. Her footsteps were dead silent as they hit the stone beneath. Even the staff, still shaped as a sword, made no sound as she traveled. Kali lived in the end of the world. That was easy to access. Walking on the silver path to the edge of the city, Kage found the bridge that would take her there.
This bridge had nowhere near the splendor the bridge between Heliopolis and Lunapolis did, but to make up for it, the view was incredible. It was only a few minutes before she reached the glass atrium with all its other ways to get to Earth. She navigated easily around.
Finally reaching the room, Kage clapped her hands together and laid them on the sword, and it changed back. She opened the door as quietly as she could, finding the sleeping form of Kali there. Carefully, she traced a circle on her left palm with her right pointer finger, then laid the palm to Kali's cheek. Instantly, she broke out in a fit of coughing and Kage left the room.
It had begun. And now that it had, there was no way to stop it or Kage.
"Kage!" At her name, she turned and found a girl with red eyes and hair dashing toward her. "Have you heard yet? Etoile killed Albireo last night, and…"
"No…no…tell me you're lying…Alpha…you're not serious…" Kage stammered. Alpha nodded.
"ISV confirmed it was true, and my other sisters are going now to check it out." Alpha replied, bouncing on her heels. "I've got to be going too, Kage. I'll see you there, and if not, around!"
She dashed off. Kage was beyond shock. The one person right now who had a favor for her to take was dead. But aside from that, she wanted to skip. Albireo was a tyrant, and tried to rule with a diamond-coated gold-heavy fist. Something in her mind broke away. Now was not the time to start feeling sorry. Now was the time to hide, to pretend she didn't know. Now came the time she needed one more person to give this to.
"You know…" Another feminine voice mused behind her. Easily Kage swiveled around and hit her on the cheek with the circle. As soon as she fell, Kage saw it was another one of the angels-in-training. Oh well.
Running, she ran across the bridge to Lunapolis, and from there teleported herself into Heaven. Well, the farthest she got was the gates, but at least she was in.
"We seem to be in a hurry today." Etoile said, smirking. "The fucking tyrant is gone, and I'm to be tried and frozen in Death's Hall. But before that happens…"
Etoile was what you would describe as individual. She had grown her light midnight blue hair down to her waist and let the ends curl into huge ringlets, but her bangs were restrained from her face by a silver headband with a blue star at the center; recently she'd put silver streaks in. Her eyes were also pale midnight blue, but had several black flecks in them. She wore a skin-tight silver shirt that was cut to her shoulders and chest, letting her tattoos flow. To make up for it, her black skirt was a full one, and her feet were only covered by silver chains with designs at their helm. Several silver bracelets were worn around her wrists, and a few gold ones resided on her ankles. In her hands she clenched a blood-covered sword, which had a star-shaped hilt. Her pale blue wings were freed from the shirt by two star-shaped holes.
"Explain. Why are you doing this?" Etoile asked, placing the blade of her sword firmly into the ground. "Why cause mayhem? Why, Kage? Is it because you are in love with Kazuo?"
Kage's eyes widened. She turned her head away so she didn't have to make eye contact with Etoile. "Yes. I'm pregnant, Etoile. With hopefully a human child so he won't have to suffer because of me."
Etoile gasped a little but placed her hands on Kage's shoulders. "He will be human, but I'll leave it to you to figure out what will happen. I'll tell your sister. I won't tell them Kage, but next time we meet…it better be good."
They hugged, and then ran their separate ways. Kage didn't use the bridges to get to either of the cities, but rather flew to Lunapolis. The entire city was in uproar, but Polaris was still in her room, and Dal was there with her.
"Polaris. Do what I tell you to." Kage said. "Go to the primary white angel area. Tell them that Etoile is being frozen and you'll be the new angel of the stars. Dal?"
"I know, I know." Dal said lazily. "You're leaving. See you later."
Kage flew, and didn't stop until she was home, home with Kazuo.
"You look tired," The Japanese man said. "You flew. Judging by your wings and your breathing."
"We wait, Kaz. Wait and pray." Kage said, taking deep and refreshing breaths. But she managed a smile. "Etoile said that he'd be human. But…she said that it would be harder on him than if he were an angel…"
Kage spent two months with Kazuo, and every day, she was reminded of what she'd done by the feeling of a black hole in her stomach. At the beginning of the third month, she decided to pay a visit back to Heaven. She left in the early morning.
All of Heaven, even the suburbs, were in utter chaos. Pleas were shouted from windows, and as Kage looked around, saw more than just angels dying. Nervousness gripped at her mind as she walked to the Palace of the Sun.
"Oh Kage, thank the Gods you're here!" Apollo cried, restraining himself from falling onto her. "We brought Umbra as soon as she started to show signs of the disease…oh Kage, will you help her?"
Kage allowed herself to be dragged into the palace. The doors were covered by magic circles to show residence, but had an "X" through them for sickness or death. Kage clenched her staff and was brought before a golden door. This one had the crest of the moon on it, with Umbra's mark.
"It's Kage! We thought…we thought the shadows had claimed you too!" Eos wailed, clinging to Kage as if her life depended on it. "Something…different. Something's not right with you."
Kage's attention instantly shifted to Umbra.
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"Tell me what's wrong, Kage." Luna asked. Her eyes burned with wonder. "Something isn't right with you. Eos knows you best, and here we all are, stuck in mayhem. You just healed my sister just by putting your hand on her!"
It wasn't the thought of Umbra, or any of the other angels that troubled her. Over the two months, her mind had wandered along what Etoile had said. He would be human, but he'd be paying…it clicked. Long, long ago when she'd been accepted as a classified angel, they had told her one thing to never, ever do.
To have a child with a human was forbidden. The angel who disobeyed this rule wouldn't be paying the price himself or herself, rather their child would. Their child would be Pandora or Prometheus, depending.
"Oh…oh my God." Kage said. "Prometheus…"
"Yes, what about him?" Luna asked. She turned to look at Kage, who had just gotten the true panic of it set into her. "Kage? Are you okay?"
"Tell me. What happened with Etoile? Mirllyne? Polaris and Dal?" Kage asked weakly.
"They brought back Albireo's spirit and Etoile was frozen. Two days later, Mirllyne was found guilty of loving a human and was banished. Polaris is now the angel of the stars, and Dal is the angel of time." Luna recited, as if this were a common question. "Now Kage, tell me the reason."
Kage vanished in a poof of smoke and wasn't seen for another six months. When she returned, it looked as if hell had risen. There was now a new city built, one that housed the dead. Terror in her heart, she flew slowly to Heaven, and right to the main angel area.
"Kage. I've been waiting." Umbra said. She held out her hands and black bonds wrapped themselves around Kage's wrists. "Luna figured it out a month after you left. Kage, I'm sorry. You're to be frozen. You began this. You will end it. Now."
Kage clapped her hands and the bonds vanished. Another clap and her staff was once more a staff. She held it up and a mass of gray-green gas flowed into it. "How long, Umbra?"
"Three hundred years." Umbra said. In an instant, they were in the courthouses.
"You've done it now, and you're paying the price." Chaos himself said. "He, too, will pay your horrid price. And we're going to make sure you see it."
"Remember me! Remember what I did for you. You will rue the day you stopped this from happening, and I will personally ensure it! And when he is of the age, he will bring you down off your high and mighty post! Mark my words, my epidemic of shadow will never be forgotten!" Kage cried as she was dragged off. Tears streamed down her face.
What had she done? And more importantly, what was she to do?
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"Oh…oh…shit…" Kage muttered as she staggered through the deep snow. She was powerless to do otherwise, and held a small bundle in her arms. There was a church ahead. She ran toward it, but halfway up the steps, tripped.
"Miss?" A man asked her, shaking her arm gently. She looked up.
"Take…take him." Kage said, pushing the bundle toward him. He picked it up. Inside was a baby boy with brown hair and sparkling ruby eyes. "His name…is Joseph…Shima…mura."
The man nodded and smiled. He looked further into the bundle and discovered a ruby star, the same color as the woman's eyes. He smiled and walked back into the church with the baby, not knowing that this child could save or destroy the world some day.
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All I can say (since it was I, the great Sadie) that all the old-school angels use alchemy. Did anyone else find that, since Kage used the transmutation circle for Kali and the other random angel? If not, I promise you'll see Etoile in action with it!