Storms of the Heart

Ch 12: Alive

Lelouch X OC

Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass. I own my OC

Thank you all for all the lovely reviews, I'm very happy you all are liking the story. As you probably have noticed, my updates are not as often as they used to be. I am getting very busy with college as it is coming to the end of the term and projects need to be finished, I have to study for finals, etc. In addition to that, I have published my Final Fantasy VII story, "Black Rose."

If you are interested, please read and review. I would appreciate it so much. I love to hear all of your comments and thoughts about my stories. Again, I am so grateful for the wonderful reviews, it makes me so happy to read them.

Thank you! :)

~XamandaluvsyaX

"Adelice... oh my god... you're alive...", Euphemia said, tears welling up in her eyes. Adelice smiled a little and nodded, tears welling up in hers too. Euphemia stretched out her hand as Adelice approached her and grabbed her hand. "I thought you were dead...", she whispered, bringing Adelice's hand up to her cheek. "I know..", Adelice whispered and gently tucked some hair behind Euphemia's ear.

One of the guards slowly turned to the two guards standing by the door. "I brought the two hostages that I radioed about earlier for the Lieutenant Colonel to see.". Euphemia and Adelice turned toward the door, Euphemia not letting go of Adelice's hand. Just as the guards were about to open the door, yells and gunshots could be heard from inside.

One of the guards quickly opened the door as he rushed in to see what happened. He was immediately welcomed with a gunshot to the shoulder, making him drop his gun. "Calm yourselves.", a voice called from inside. Adelice frowned as she looked upon the figure of Zero, a deep frown forming on her face. "Zero...", Euphemia said, squeezing Adelice's hand.

"The Lieutenant and the others committed suicide when they realized how meaningless this operation was.", Zero continued. Somehow Adelice didn't believe what he was saying, how could she ever trust the man that killed Clovis. That act was unforgivable. "Euphemia, you were willing to sacrifice yourself for the commoners. You haven't changed."

Euphemia frowned and watched as Zero took a step closer to them. Adelice frowned and was about to run and pull Euphemia with her but Zero stopped her before she could. "Do not bother running, Lady Everard. You both are safest with me.", Zero said, making Adelice frown more. Somehow she doubted that. Another pressing matter, how did this man know her name? Perhaps he had heard her when she yelled but... no... that was impossible she had been sever halls down. There was no way he could have heard her.

"I request both of these ladies alone.", Zero said, motioning for the guards to get out from the doorway. The guards looked from one another but ultimately decided that they didn't stand much of a chance and walked outside the door, shutting it behind them. Adelice's eyes never left Zero as she tried desperately to figure out a way that both her and Euphemia could escape.

Euphemia slowly walked toward Zero, pulling Adelice along. "I heard you are the sub-viceroy now, your highness.", Zero said, staring at Euphemia. "It's not an appointment I'm happy with.", Euphemia answered. "No. It's because Clovis was murdered. That was my handy work.", Zero answered making Adelice frown deeper, her eyes watering a little at the thought of Clovis.

"He begged pathetically for his life to the very end. He pleaded with the same tongue that ordered the death's of elevens.", Zero said, no hesitation at all in his words. Adelice glared at him. "Is that the reason you killed Clovis?", she asked, softly. "No.", he answered her, straight forward. "Then why?! Why did you kill my brother?!", Euphemia yelled at him.

Zero stayed silent for a moment and then took a step forward. "Because Clovis was an offspring of the Britannian Emperor.", Zero answered. "That reminds me... you're one of his children too..aren't you?", Zero asked as he lifted up a gun and pointed at Euphemia. Adelice adrenalin kicked in quickly as she pushed Euphemia back with her hand and stepped in front of her, holding her arms out to both sides, shielding her.

"Adelice...", Euphemia whispered, surprised by her action, frowning a little. No one moved as silence fell over them. Adelice glared at Zero who slowly lowered his gun. "You would give your life for each other.", Zero said, more to himself then to Adelice or Euphemia. Adelice hands slowly fell to her side as she slowly nodded to his statement. Silence fell over them again as she waited for Zero to say something.

Suddenly a white knightmare appeared from outside, Adelice watched as he shot at the building making the whole building shake. Adelice bit her lip, it was now or never for her to run with Euphemia. She quickly grabbed her hand and dragged her with her toward the door.

She was about to yank open the door when she felt a yank on her arm. "Let go!", she yelled and ripped her arm from Zero's grasp. "Do not run. If you run out that hall, you will die. I said you two were safest with me. I will return you all safely. You have my word.", he said, not reaching for her arm again.

Adelice stayed still for a few moment and stared up at him, not knowing if she should trust this man. In the end, there wasn't much she could do. The building shook violently as it started to sink into the ground, the sound of the building shaking was hurting Adelice's ears as she struggled to keep her footing.

Smoke started to rise around the room making her eyes burn. She could just barely make out the outline of Zero now as she held Euphemia's hand. She watched as Zero grabbed something from inside his suit and pushed a little device, making one of the windows explode. The smoke rushed out of the opening as she felt Zero put a hand on her back.

She winced at the touch of his hand, desperately wanting it away from her as soon as possible. A shiver ran down her spine as she though of the same hand that was touching her now was the same that he had used to kill Clovis with. "We're gonna jump to the next floor.", he said, pointing down to a balcony on the level below them.

Adelice frowned and felt a pang of fear. Jumping down a story of a building was not in her list of things to do. She watched as Euphemia slowly inched her way off the window, Zero helping her. Euphemia slowly closed her eyes and jumped, Adelice closed her eyes as well not wanting to watch Euphemia do it.

She heard the soft thud of a body hitting the hard floor and let out a breathe she hadn't realized she had been holding. Euphemia was safe. Zero turned to her and motioned to her with his hand. She slowly approached him and slid out onto the window, stretching herself as far down as she could. She slowly closed her eyes, not wanting to see how far it was and let go.

She felt weightless as her body fell, almost like she was a feather in the wind. She landed with a thud on the ground, knocking the breathe out of her. She winced slightly and looked up to where she had jumped from. Zero could be see peering down at her. Euphemia came up to her and gently held out her hand for Adelice to take.

Adelice smiled up at her and took her friends hand, liking the small gesture of affection. She looked up to see Zero looking down at her. "Go through the room and make a left down the hall. You will be with the others. My men are there to help you.", he said to them and then disappeared from their view. Adelice frowned and turned to look at Euphemia who looked like she wanted to start to cry.

"Euphie, what's wrong?", Adelice asked, looking concerned. Perhaps she had hurt herself during the fall. Adelice's eyes scanned Euphemia... there wasn't a scratch on her. "I can't believe you are alive.", Euphemia whispered. Adelice frowned more as Euphemia face turned into a bright smile. She knew where she was going with this but that could never be, not if she wanted to stay with Lelouch.

"You can come back and live with us.", Euphemia said, still smiling brightly. Adelice shook her head softly and took a step toward Euphemia. "Euphie... It can't be like it was back then...", she said, her blue eyes falling to the floor. "W-why?", Euphie asked, getting a worried look on her face. Adelice shook her head more.

"I like the way my life is now.", she said, meeting Euphemia's eyes. Euphemia's eyes started to get watery. "But... you have to come back..", she whispered, pouting softly. Adelice smiled sadly and took a step closer to Euphemia, cupping the girls face in her hands. "Euphemia.. you have to promise you won't say anything. Pretend I still don't exist.", Adelice said back to her softly.

"No..", Euphemia whispered softly, tears welling up in her eyes. Time was running out as the building started to quickly sink into the ground. Adelice didn't have much time for this. She had to make sure that Euphie wouldn't say anything to give her identity away.

Adelice smiled sadly once again and placed her hands on the girls shoulder, pulling her close to her giving her a hug. "Promise me, please. This is what I want.", Adelice whispered softly. She felt Euphemia relax against her as she hugged and she felt two soft hands touch her back. Euphemia still said nothing making Adelice more anxious. Her arms hugged the princess tighter. "Please..", she begged softly.

Silence fell over the two as they held each other. "I promise.", Euphemia whispered back. Adelice smiled softly and did her best to hide the tears that were starting to fill her eyes. "Goodbye." She felt Euphemia's hands slowly leave her body as Euphie said goodbye so softly, with one swift motion Adelice walked passed her and out the door, not wanting to look back at her. It was time for her to say goodbye to the past.

Adelice quickly ran down the hall the way Zero had directed her to. She saw a group of people, dressed in black, visors covering their face. Those must have been the "men" Zero was talking about. She caught a glace of Milly and the others, a smile spread on her face as she saw them.

She quickly ran to them. "Adelice? Are you alright? What were you thinking running like that?", Milly scolded, frowning deeply as she held Nina. Adelice was about to answer her when a mans voice cut her off.

"Hurry there isn't much time.", one of the men in the black outfits said as he ushered them down a hall toward a broken part of the building. The building had been sinking quicker then Adelice had thought. The several stories that they had been held hostage at was now just above sea level.

She was ushered into a boat along with Milly, Nina and Shirley. The four girls huddled together as the raft was pushed out into the water, joining more rafter with people already there. She turned her gaze to the side to see Euphemia on her own little raft, safe. Relief came over Adelice now that she knew Euphie would be safe and out of harm.

"Are you all alright?", Adelice asked, looking at them. Nina slowly nodded her head as did Shirley. "We're alright. Just a little in shock.", Milly said, giving a reassuring smile to Adelice who was about to answer back when she was cut off by Zero. He stood on the roof of the now almost collapsed building, his subordinates around him.

"My dear Britannians, have no fear. All of the hostages from the hotel are safe and sound. I, Zero, return them to you unharmed." Adelice slowly leaned forward in the raft, trying to hear what he said better as more of his subordinates gathered around him.

"People! Fear us or rally behind us as you see fit. We are the Black Knights. We of the Black Knights stand for those who have no weapons to wield... regardless if they be Elevens or Britannians. The Japan Liberation Front cowardly took Britannian civilians, held them hostage and then executed them without mercy.", Zero continued.

Adelice frowned as she didn't take her eyes off Zero. Although she didn't like this man, he did help her... but how could she ever condone and forgive Zero for the death of Clovis. Still... she had to admire the way he stood up to all of Britannia, something that no one yet had been able to do.

"It was a meaningless act therefore they have been punished. Just as former Vice-roy Clovis was punished for ordering the slaughter of countless unarmed Elevens.", Zero said, standing tall and proud. Adelice shuddered at the though of Clovis ordering that. It was something she just couldn't believe. Clovis had always been so gentle.

He wouldn't have... he couldn't have ordered that with his own tongue. "We can not stand by and allow such cruelty to be carried out... and so we made him pay for his cruel actions. I will not tolerate a one-sided massacre on the weak by the strong.", Zero announced.

"The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed. Where ever oppressors have used their power by attacking those who are powerless... we shall appear again! No matter how mighty or how strong. Those of you with power fear us. Those of you without power, rally behind us. We the Black Knights shall be the ones that stand in judgment of this world.", Zero finished, holding his hands up in the air.

Adelice was taken aback by his words. Perhaps she agreed but then... how was killing people right? It was a fine line between right and wrong and it seemed like Zero's plan crossed both equally. The lights then had once been shining on Zero now dimmed and within seconds they were gone, like they weren't ever there.

Rescue boats quickly came speeding in every direction to rescue the now freed hostages. Kiyori was quickly lifted into the boat where a medic soon walked up to her. "Miss, are you hurt anywhere?", the young man asked. Adelice slowly shook her head as the young man gently grabbed her arm and took her pulse.

"It's just a few cuts and scrapes. I will be alright.", she said as he took out some bandages from a little pouch. "Are you sure? I can have you taken to a hospital?", he said, wrapping a bandage around her arm. "I'm quite alright. I just want to get back to my loved ones.", Adelice answered him, giving him a small smile.

The young man nodded and wished her well as he went to treat the next hostage. Adelice sighed as she took out her phone quickly. She was surprised to see no calls from Lelouch. Perhaps he was still sleeping? She was going to have to find a way to bring him out of his depression quickly but at the moment she was just happy to be alive.

Lelouch ran his fingers through his hair as he set his Zero mask down on the table and sighed. What a long day. Adelice didn't seem to know that Zero was really him, she didn't stare at him or anything. At least things had gone well. She was safe and so were the rest of the student council. Now he just needed to get home before Adelice did.

He was brought out of his thoughts as he heard his phone vibrated in his pocket. A small smile came to his lips as he saw Adelice's name on the ID. He slowly pressed the answer button and held the phone to his ear. He quickly brought his hand to cover his mouth, to make it sound like he had been asleep. "Adelice?", he asked into the phone softly.

"Lelouch? I'm sorry. Were you still sleeping?", she asked, worry coating her words. "It's alright, I shouldn't have slept this late.", he lied. He could hear her sigh into the phone. "What's wrong?", he asked, trying to make his voice sound like he was truly worried.

"Lelouch... it's a long story. Do you mind if I come over? I don't want to be alone.", she said, her voice cracking like she was about to start crying. Lelouch stayed silent for a minute. "What happened?", he asked again, trying to sound like he was really worried.

"I'll tell you when I get there...it's a long story."

End of Chapter 12

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