Anathema's Abode
Chapter 15
Intrigue
"How did the audience with the King go?" Ember questioned hesitatingly as Phantom entered his chambers, violently kicking off his boots onto the dark woven carpet.
"Pariah intends to invade lands on the outskirts of Amity and starve the rebels out of food and supplies," the white haired ghost replied shortly, as he collapsed into a high-backed armchair near his bureau.
"No," Ember breathed in disbelief, as she grabbed at a piece of furniture to stop her legs giving way.
"I couldn't persuade him to change his mind," Phantom whispered bitterly. "Not without arousing his suspicion."
"How many times do I have to tell you that you're not responsible for any of this?" the blue haired ghost shook her head. "You're just doing what's necessary for survival, nothing more, and- what are you doing?" she questioned curiously, as Phantom proceeded to retrieve a quill from his inkwell, pressing its tip to the thick, scented paper of his foolscap.
"Contacting the other warlords," the General gritted his teeth. "They need to begin preparations in order to cater to my Liege's plans."
"Can't this wait till later?" Ember protested. "You're obviously not calm, I can see it. And the last thing we can afford is for you to let something slip to your enemies on paper in your carelessness-"
"I'm fine," Phantom roared.
"No, you're not. You need to rest," the female ghost insisted fiercely, refusing to relent despite the warning signs as her best friend's shoulders stiffened dangerously. "Pariah's already working you to the ground without you making life even more difficult for yourself. Now put that quill down or I'm going to make you."
For a few moments, the white haired ghost appeared to be truly frozen, save for the quill that was shaking from the strength of his vice-like grip. Abruptly, the General grunted, uttering a string of violent profanities before he flung the writing instrument to the side in aggression, roughly tearing the beginnings of his military letter into ribbons.
"I need to find Sam," Phantom uttered haltingly, at length. "To warn her, before it's too late."
"It's too dangerous," Ember planted her fists on her hips in a manner akin to striking a battle stance. "One wrong move could ruin everything we've ever worked to achieve. And the Ghost King isn't going to look kindly on traitors. Do you have any idea how lucky you are that he hasn't seen right through us, dipstick? You go looking for her, and we're as good as dead."
"I'll find a way," he insisted stubbornly. "I have to. With luck, they won't even notice that I'm gone."
"And how the hell are you going to manage that?" his best friend demanded fiercely, her eyes flashing magenta. "You're the Lord General Phantom, at the Ghost King's right hand. All eyes are on you. You take one step out of the Ghost Zone, and every spectre in Amity is going to sense your presence."
"But what if I were to mask my power?" the white haired ghost breathed. "The Night Police can't sense what isn't there. If I were to seek Sam out in my other form-"
"You tried that before," Ember retorted coolly, her nails digging into her forearms as she folded her arms. "It didn't work. Sam wanted nothing to do with your human half. What makes you think that she'd believe you, this time?"
"I have to at least try," Phantom hissed. "If she dies, the entire Brotherhood dies, Ember. Including your old partner. And you can pretend like you don't give a shit about them anymore, but we both know that you're lying to yourself."
"I do care," the flamed haired pyrokine snorted. "I just happen to care more about keeping you alive. I know suicide when I see it."
"Then find her for me," the General pleaded in desperation. "Track her down, and warn her about what Pariah intends for the Brotherhood. Beg her if you must, promise her anything, so long as she agrees to leave Amity Park for good."
"You're obsessed with her," Ember bit out the words. "Do you know that?"
"Please," Phantom implored. "Do this, for me. You said it yourself- if I were to go it would spell our ends. But the Empire believes you nothing more than my chambermaid. No one would notice if you were to go missing for a couple of hours."
A staring match ensued, and Ember failed to stifle a laugh that bubbled out in helpless despair at the look of pathetic, besotted determination on her best friend's face.
"Oh, god," the blue haired woman sighed, as she sunk onto the edge of his bed in near hysterical exasperation. "Come here, you idiot," she patted at the space beside her.
For the first time the entire evening, Phantom complied without complaint, as he obediently joined Ember on his bed, resting his head on her lap as she ran a soothing hand through his stark white hair for the first time in years, her fingers gently smoothing out any knots that she came across in his disheveled locks.
"You haven't left me with very much choice, have you?" she grunted, disgruntled by his tenacity.
"I'm sorry," Phantom's voice was muffled. "But my own choices are even more limited."
"Suppose I seek her out, and she once again refuses to heed your advice?" Ember questioned tentatively, as though she was afraid of his answer. "What then?"
"I don't want to think that far ahead," the General's eyes closed in anguish. "Not yet. Promise me you'll make her believe you."
"I can't promise that, dipstick," his best friend replied gently, as she ruffled his hair. "But I can promise to do my damndest to make sure that she listens."
The pair were interrupted by several crisps knocks of brass on oak coming from the exterior of the General's bedchamber. Cursing under his breath, Phantom jerked upright, the back of his head nearly colliding with Ember's chin in the process. "What could they possibly want this time?" he scowled, ignoring the dirty look on Ember's face regarding his previous clumsiness.
"We'll discuss this later," Ember sighed, running a hand through her own flaming locks in fatigue. "But right now, what do you think you're doing?" she demanded, as Phantom headed towards the heavy oak door to receive the culprit of their interruption. "The Lord General should never have to answer the door to his own chambers," she grimaced at Phantom's thoughtlessness, "even if he is eccentric enough to dismiss half of his household."
"You're right, Ember, you always are," the white haired ghost held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"And yet, you always fail to listen to me," she grumbled, pushing herself to her feet. "Get back on your bed, stupid," she commanded irritably. "We have to at least pretend as though I have reason to be here."
Wordlessly, Phantom complied. He had to pick his battles with great care, especially when he had just won one so significant over Ember. He growled, disgusted at himself. He was already eternally indebted to his best friend, what right did he have to ever ask anything of her, no matter how insignificant? Phantom buried his face in his hands to allow himself one last indulgent moment of sordid self-pity before he shook his head to clear it. It was time, once again, to don the mask of pretence, he noted grimly, keeping his eyes trained on Ember's form as she swung open the great door.
"Princess Dorethea," Ember bobbed a curtsey in utter astonishment as the Midianne stood before her, licking her lips nervously as she clutched at fistfuls of her skirts.
"Princess," Phantom, too, found it unnecessary to feign surprise as he leaped upright from his previous position of forced languor. "What brings you here?"
"Forgive me," Dorethea flushed, as she surveyed the scene before her. "Am I interrupting?"
"I assure you, you are not," the white haired ghost sank into a low bow in acknowledgement. "Forgive me your Highness, this is most embarrassing on my part. Had I been notified of your arrival, I would have made the necessary arrangements to accommodate you."
"There is no need," loose blonde curls that had escaped the Princess' elaborate hairstyle bounced as she shook her head. "Truly, I do not intend to impose on your hospitality for long."
"Leave us," the General gestured absently at his best friend.
"As you wish, my Lord General," Ember curtsied, readily obeying.
Phantom inclined his head to Dorethea in greeting, puzzlement still etched on his features. "How may I be of service? And what has become your guards?"
"They remain in our castle, guarding the exterior of my chambers," the Princess' expression did not lose its gravity. "I will be brief, Lord General, for I do not have long until they discover that I am missing."
"How have you eluded them so far?" Phantom's curiosity was piqued.
"My brother is not the only member of our household that holds some measure of power," the Midianne clasped at the amulet between her breasts, as draconian features abruptly flickered across her lovely face.
"I was not aware that a second Amulet of Chaos existed," the white haired ghost fought not to betray his surprise.
"Not many are," Dorethea's reply was droll, "Brother is hardly keen to advertise the fact that I am his equal in power."
"In which case," Phantom frowned. "What has stopped you from challenging Prince Aragon for the past sixteen hundred years?"
"Succession in our nation runs through the male line of royalty," the medieval Princess clarified. "If not for the Empire's occupation, brother would be King, instead of merely a warlord in Pariah's court. Despite the war, the right to lead is Aragon's by birth, not mine."
"I see," the General offered, unsure as to the appropriate response.
"General Phantom," the briefest flicker of hesitation crossed her features. "I place myself entirely at your mercy by coming here tonight. What I'm about to reveal to you will doom my ally and I, should you ever choose to inform the King."
"What do you mean?" his voice acquired a hard edge. "I warn you, Princess, I am far too busy priming the King's troops for invasion to dabble in petty politics. Losing Pariah's favour will make my duties unnecessarily difficult."
"There is nothing petty about my proposition, Lord General," Dorethea wielded Phantom's title as though it were in itself an insult. "In case it has escaped your notice: I am no narcissistic air-head. I know that you were forcibly recruited," she continued. "I overheard the Fright Knight discuss it with Brother."
"Who else is aware of this fact?" the white haired ghost grimaced. The last thing he and Ember needed was for cracks to appear in their deception. Not when he had just about mastered the art of keeping them from being slain.
"As far as I know, Walker and my brother are the only two of his allies that the Fright Knight has chosen to inform. But I am surprised that this concerns you," the Princess raised a blonde eyebrow. "Whilst the other warlords may not necessarily have accepted you at court, you certainly command their respect and fear."
"What do you want of me?" Phantom queried, resignation evident.
"Nothing as of yet," the Midianne assured him, "treason has never been our aim. I merely extend an offer of alliance, amidst the madness of Pariah's court."
"What of your associate?" the General shook his head in disbelief. This had been the last thing that he had expected; the Princess certainly was full of surprises. "Do you speak for him, as well?"
"We have discussed this beforehand," Dorethea inclined her head in a regal manner. "I would not have approached you otherwise."
"You said it yourself," Phantom arched a white eyebrow. "Amidst such madness, what can you ever hope to accomplish?"
"War has wearied my people," the Princess uttered softly, as she turned to leave. "How can I deny them hope? Think on our offer, General," she paused. "You may have managed to fool the rest of Pariah's court into thinking you're nothing but a ruthless bastard, but we see you otherwise."
-
Damn Phantom, Ember McLain cursed silently to herself as she navigated, unseen, above the rooftops of Amity Park. He probably wouldn't have turned out half as stupid, had Maddie raised him. Why in hell's name had she assented when he had put her up to this monstrously dangerous task? She had always known that one day he was going to get her slain. Not that it mattered, the azure haired woman reminded herself wryly. She was already living on borrowed time- she had been for the last two decades, they both were.
But for now, Ember was alive, and she was dreading this favour immensely. The ghost gritted her teeth as she decreased her altitude, slowing her speed as she strained her eyes for even the slightest sign of a disturbance. She had learned from experience and from babysitting the human girl on Phantom's request that a particularly aggressive commotion usually meant Sam and her partner.
But Phantom's little girlfriend was getting better, Ember grudgingly admitted to herself. The girl was very good. Better than most at that age, including the azure haired ghost herself. And most importantly, Sam was learning to be economical, to make shrewd calculations whilst in the heat of a battle. Ember knew that Maddie had to be proud of her apprentice's progress.
Vlad's apprentice, too, was truly excellent. If they could be kept alive long enough for it to matter, they would one day hit the Empire where it hurt. If there still was a Brotherhood after Pariah Dark was done with them, Ember reminded herself soberly; which meant it was absolutely imperative that the blue haired pyrokine didn't get herself caught tonight.
She had grown complacent and lazy, Ember had known that long before the Fright Knight had confronted her best friend to barter his services to the Ghost King for her safety. And despite her constant admonishment of Phantom's carelessness, the blue haired ghost knew that she too, was to blame. After all, wasn't she the one that ought to know better?
But there were nights where she truly couldn't help herself. At first, she hadn't been able to bear watching her brethren below her, hovering as close to them as she dared, for fear of setting off their detectors; she couldn't stomach the thought of letting them see her- not like this. Especially not Maddie, no matter how much it hurt that her former best friend would no longer be capable of regarding her as nothing more than the enemy.
So she had kept her distance, watching helplessly from the sidelines as her team mates grew up and changed, ascending in the Brotherhood's ranks, or died defying those like her whilst she remained eternally the same. She had hoped against hope, at first. For companionship from her ranks, that some of them would join her in her fate in death. But she remained the only one. For the thousandth time since the night that she had died, Ember wondered if she truly was evil.
To the female ghost's immense sadness, Maddie never returned to the field after that incident, more than twenty years ago. At which point, Ember had been leading a quiet, strifeless existence under the Empire's radar for nearly ten years, wondering why she even existed. All that had ended the instant she learned of Maddie's ambush by the Night Police, and her subsequent possession. Not that the female ghost would ever regret her actions- she had hunted down the bastard that had possessed her best friend and ended him so violently that she still remembered the scent of his destruction, the curling of his smoldering ashes, the shallow heaving of her chest from the breaths she was needlessly taking, just to feel human once more, if only for a moment.
It wasn't long before the rest of the Fright Knight's liegemen caught up with her. She had damned herself in that instant, but even with hindsight, Ember would never change her mind. The loss of anonymity in the Empire's eyes had been a small price to pay for such glorious revenge. As for what happened next- Ember could only laugh in despair, something that she had found herself doing a lot recently. Even now, she was almost ashamed at the lengths to which she had resorted to in order to stave off abject loneliness.
There. Ember bit her lip in concentration as she descended abruptly. The unmistakable plumes of anti-spectral explosives. This could very well be Sam and her partner. She moved in closer, allowing herself to flicker into view as her hunch was confirmed. Three to two? The female ghost raised an eyebrow in amusement as she surveyed the scene before her. Had the pair of them finally learned to fight smart?
Flames licked at her fingertips as Ember hurled throes of fierce blue at Sam's enemies, desperate not to squander the element of surprise; she'd be damned if she left witnesses. The first of the Night Police, she slew on the spot, the other two scattered in blind surprise, leaving themselves wide open as she closed in for the kill, her entire form engulfed in a blue spectral estrus.
"Traitor," one of them screamed in rage and pain as she approached, turning his blade on her. "The Lord General will have your head for this."
"Will he?" Ember sneered, her eyes flaming magenta as she threw up a hand, enveloping their forms in flames, unable to suppress the fierce grin on her features as the skeletal ghosts' remains sputtered and cracked wonderfully in the vicious heat. It had been far too long since she had last fended for herself.
"I didn't get you two by accident, did I?" she queried jovially as she turned to face the pair of ghost hunters, as Sam's eyes widened in outrage, a sharp retort on the tip of her tongue.
"It's good to see you too," Ember commented dryly as she regarded the ghost hunter.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sam shrieked in demand. "Lancer needed the demons alive for weapons tests."
"What does it look like?" Ember snorted softly. "I saved you."
"I didn't need your help," Sam snarled. "Everything was under control."
"I'm sure it was," mockery laced Phantom's associate's tone as she eyed Sam's bare wrists. "Especially since you've managed to lose your ghost gauntlets. How unprofessional," she wrinkled her nose.
"Ember McLain," Valerie bit out the name in distaste, her ecto blaster trained squarely on Ember.
"Vlad's apprentice," the ghost raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement. "How's he been faring lately?"
"That's none of your business, traitor," Valerie hissed.
"They really don't teach you to say thank you, do they?" Ember planted her fists on her hips in amusement, despite herself, "she's just as bad as you are," she grinned at Sam, whose expression was pure venom. "It was nice meeting you, Valerie," the azure haired ghost began airily, "but my business is with Sam, and Sam alone," she tilted her head slightly, and Vlad's apprentice disappeared in a torrent of blue flames.
It took Sam no time at all to retaliate. "Where is she?" the ghost hunter demanded fiercely, blasting artificial spectral energy at the ghost in anger and fear. "What did you do to her?"
"Relax," Ember sighed, shielding herself from Sam's blows. "She's safe. I sent her back to headquarters."
"Why should I believe you?" Sam snarled.
"How about because you don't have a choice?" the female ghost grinned despite herself.
Maddie's apprentice's only reply was a scream of rage as she lunged at Ember, not caring that in her current state she was far outmatched.
"I'll concede that you've been getting less reckless lately," the blue haired ghost shrugged as she sidestepped the blow. "I guess everyone has their off days. But I can tell that you're doing Maddie proud," a note of fondness entered her voice, so subtle that Sam believed that she had imagined it.
"Don't you dare say her name again," the ghost hunter's hackles rose as her hands clenched into fists. "After everything you've done-"
"As charming and pleasant as this conversation is, the real reason I'm here is to issue a second warning," azure eyes hardened as the female ghost interjected roughly, crushing Sam's ecto blaster with a clench of her fist. An unnecessary gesture, but Maddie's apprentice's retort had cut her deeper than she would ever admit. "Phantom has a message for you."
"Then you can tell Phantom exactly what I think of him," Sam hissed.
"Go to hell," Ember snapped. "I think you've done quite enough damage on that front," she continued in stern irritation. "You need to stop dragging Phantom's self-esteem through the mud. And I'm sick of risking my existence for the sake of an ungrateful little brat."
"I never asked you to," Sam growled. "And I never asked Phantom to spare me. I would've been dead, I should've been dead."
"And yet the Lord General has been struggling to keep you alive," the blue haired woman noted wryly, "how unfortunate for you. I can only begin to imagine the immense suffering of your current circumstance."
"He needs to learn that I'd rather be dead than accept his help," Sam uttered coolly, as she turned to leave. She'd rather face the enemy defenseless than have to endure this, when she had spent the past months trying so hard to forget that the white haired ghost ever existed. "He's chosen his side, and I'm sticking by mine."
"Listen, princess," Ember snapped. "If you walk away from me, Maddie's going to die. You all are. The Ghost King has grown impatient- his plans have changed, and he intends to occupy surrounding territories and starve the Brotherhood out like rats."
"Pariah Dark is actively hunting us?" the ghost hunter reiterated softly, willing her knees not to give way.
"Not yet," the urgency had yet to leave Maddie's former partner tone. "His troops await Phantom's command. He can buy the Brotherhood enough time to flee Amity, once and for all."
"Phantom wants us to flee Amity Park," Sam snorted softly. "What else is new? Why does he always assume that we'll take the coward's way out? We're nothing like him."
"If it makes you feel any better, think of it as a tactical retreat," Ember tilted her head as she regarded Sam. "But this decision isn't yours to make," she continued solemnly. "It's Maddie's, and the Council's. I cannot let the prejudices of one as young as you doom the entirety of our-", she winced, "your brethren. Promise me you'll at least relay this information to your mentor," she insisted forcefully, ignoring her previous faux pas.
"You still give a damn about Maddie, don't you?" Sam breathed, comprehension dawning.
"No shit," Ember's lip twisted. "You remind me of what I was like at your age, kid," amusement flashed across Maddie's former partner's features.
"I am nothing like you," the ghost hunter retorted hotly, glowering.
"If you say so," Ember arched an elegant blue eyebrow. "Nice jeans, by the way," she added offhandedly, fighting back a grin as Sam pulled a face in response to the unwanted compliment.
"And take these," a blue estrus swirled in the female ghost's palm as a pair of battered silver bracelets materialized. She stretched out her hand, offering them to Sam. "They're not exactly the latest in anti ghost technology," Ember conceded, "I know that they've got nothing on what Lancer comes up with nowadays, but at least they'll get you out of here."
"Where did you get these?" Sam's tone was accusing, as raven eyebrows narrowed in suspicion.
"Where do you think I got them?" the former Brotherhood member's laugh was bitter. "They were salvaged from my corpse."
"Are you sure that it was just your corpse that you've salvaged?" the ghost hunter refused to relent, as she took several steps back. "How long have you been stealing from us?"
"Why in hell's name would I bother saving anyone else's kit?" bemusement was evident on the azure haired woman's face. "I'm a ghost, remember? I form irrational attachments to shit I used to own as a human. I'm impressed that you actually managed to forget that, ghost hunter," the words were emphasised lightly, almost as though Ember was teasing Sam. "Phantom just might be right, you might not be a lost cause after all."
"You don't know anything about me," Maddie's apprentice hissed, though it lacked a little more conviction this time.
"I never said I did. Don't get me wrong," Ember clarified. "You're a stubborn bitch. And if it was up to me, I'd just let you die. The only reason that I'm letting you have them is because I know that you mean more to Phantom than these do to me. Now take them, you stupid girl."
Having been left with no other choice, Sam snatched the gauntlets from Ember's outstretched hand, and fled.
-
Author's Notes: I'm currently attempting to write like the wind. The grand plan is to have 50k of AA written by the end of the month for nanowrimo, so theoretically I should have ten chapters by the end of the month. I had a late start, since I had to sit an entrance exam on nov 8 and I've been spending the past week being absolutely useless, but hopefully now that I've started the writing will keep coming.
Special thanks go to bloodmoon14 for awesome fanart on deviantart. Especially 'Terror Flight'. :D
As usual, reviews and concrit is greatly appreciated! :D
Hugs and kisses,
Twisted