A/N: Here's Chapter 3 as promised! I checked this one myself, so if you notice any mistakes, please let me know. Enjoy!
Angeni and Allen where standing outside the hotel they had been residing in. Angeni was fidgeting like crazy, anxious about the time she had wasted.
'Cross is going to kill me…' she groaned inwardly, finally realizing the trouble she was in if Cross found out. Allen buttoned his coat with the upmost care, an amused smile on his face at her antics. Angeni watched him with her purple eyes, restless at their lack of progress. It had been three days since Angeni ran into Allen and the Earl and she wanted to get a move on. She was normally a patient person, but the need to get to Headquarters before Cross discovered she had dawdled weighed heavy on her mind. Knowing full well the discomfort she was feeling, Allen dragged his feet at every opportunity, much to her annoyance.
"Come on Allen! Even Tim thinks it's time to go!" Angeni said, tapping her foot. Timcampy zoomed around her head, orbiting like a satellite.
Allen smiled at her patiently, knowing it would only agitate her farther. He struggled momentarily with the last button, as he only could use one arm. Allen's arm was in a sling from the fight with the akuma and the doctor said it would take about a week before he could take it out. Angeni sighed in exasperation and swiftly buttoned the last button for him.
"In a rush are we?" Allen asked grinning.
"Not at all," she replied sharply, knowing what was coming.
'Here we go… the same speech…'
"You should have obeyed Master in the first place. You're forever rebelling against him; wouldn't it be better to just listen instead of facing his punishments?" They both shivered at the thought, reminiscing Cross's various "training methods".
"Now that you're done lecturing me… can we go now?" Angeni growled, still a little disturbed at the thought of Cross finding out she disregarded his orders again.
"Of course; I have something to do first." Without any explanation, he strode up the street. Angeni sighed and followed him, understanding it would be better to humor him than rush him out.
'Allen's a nice person at heart and I can't afford to abuse his good nature like I do.' Angeni smiled to herself. Allen was a great friend, like a wise younger brother; the least she could do was show him some respect. Allen ambled up the streets, looking at the houses. Angeni cocked her head to the side as she often did when she was thinking and watched him.
'He seems to know where he's going…' She grinned suddenly.
'Maybe it's a girl…' She snickered slightly at the thought, causing Allen to look back in alarm.
"What?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously. Angeni shook her head, trying her best to look innocent.
"It's nothing important, I just realized you need a haircut," she said lightly, ruffling his hair like she used to when they trained together. Allen scowled slightly, pushing her hand away.
"I'm sure that's what you where thinking… I have known you for far too long to believe something like that."
Angeni chuckled.
"I think you know me too well."
Allen led them to the richer part of town; large houses sat behind fences, their lawns neatly manicured. Angeni looked around, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"What are we doing here Allen?" she asked, not hiding the irritation in her voice. Allen looked back at her, an encouraging smile on his face.
"It's just up ahead," he told her, a guilty look on his face. Angeni frowned; she didn't like being in this part of town and Allen knew it.
'Too many memories…'
Professor Celeste, a French historian, and his wife Amber had lived in an enormous house in America, where she was from. They had adopted Angeni out of a small missionary when she was just a baby. The wife had always wanted a child.
'That was a place where I always felt welcome… well… for the most part.' Angeni chuckled softly, savoring the memories. The professor didn't like the idea of a child in the house, but as time went by he grew fond of Angeni, treating her like she was his own blood.
'They didn't even mind my weird purple eyes…' Her face grew serious for a moment, considering that fact.
'Cross told me later that it was the Innocence that made them that color… I wonder why…'
"Angeni! What's wrong?" Allen's voice snapped her out of her reverie. Allen was about a hundred feet ahead of her. Angeni looked around in surprise, her face pink from embarrassment; she hadn't even realized she stopped walking.
"Sorry! I'm coming!" She ran to catch up with him. He stared at her in concern.
"Are you okay?" Angeni nodded, slightly angry with herself for not paying more attention to her surroundings.
'That kind of obliviousness can get a girl killed…' Allen was still watching her, studying her closely.
"Shall we then?" Angeni said briskly, feeling uncomfortable. Allen nodded slowly.
"The place is right here," he told her, pointing out the mansion he was entering. Three stories, numerous tall, shuttered windows, and a large fountain in the courtyard; beautifully built in a simplistic way but it still made Angeni's skin crawl. She made a face, curious as to why he was going in there.
"Don't be long," she said, fidgeting with her coat. Allen gave her a sympathetic look, fully aware of how uncomfortable she was.
"I'll be quick, I promise." He waved and trotted up to the door. Timcampy zipped around Allen's head once before deciding to stay with Angeni. The gold golem landed on her head, its wings twitching slightly. Angeni sighed, pushing back her bangs behind her ear, her brain somehow registering she needed a haircut too; her bangs had grown down in her eyes.
"I know Tim; I want to get moving too…" She looked up at the house again, wishing she could still be in America and the world of the Millennium Earl was just a story, or a dream. She pictured herself sitting in Professor Celeste's study, reading his research books and long novels with the big, difficult words.
'I was two and had mastered reading in my mind…'
The professor would come in, raising a fuss about his books and papers being touched by a child. Although he was pleased with her interest in learning, his novels were far too advanced for a child her age. He scolded her, saying she should be out playing with dolls and cooking with his wife, Amber.
'I remember looking at him stubbornly, telling him I could read it. I tried reading a sentence aloud. I go halfway through and go stuck on the word "perception".' She giggled, remembering the look on his face.
'I was frustrated but he was so surprised I got as far as I did. I think that's when his heart finally opened up to me…' Her grin faded as reality came rushing back; she struggled to bury her feelings.
'Things are different now… I'm just glad I got the time I did with them.'
Angeni shook her head to clear it, shaking loose the though of what was talking Allen so long. As if on cue, the said white haired boy stepped out of the mansion. He paused momentarily at the door, gazing up at a window. Angeni watched him with slight interest. He waved to an unseen person before trotting up to Angeni.
"What took you so long? I was about to send Timcampy to get you." She poked him, unable to hide her humor. Timcampy flew over to Allen tugging on his scarf before resting on his head.
"I'm ready now," he informed her.
"Good, I wouldn't want to leave you behind," she said playfully. Allen frowned.
"First of all, I'm the younger one; aren't you supposed to look out for me?" He pouted, making Angeni snort at the pathetic face he was making.
"Nice try Allen, I know you can take care of yourself."
He sent her a fleeting smile that didn't reach hid eyes; Angeni was unable to read the thoughts or feelings on his face as she usually could. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, causing him to look up at her.
"Come on, we are in this together," she smiled, tugging at his hand. Allen returned the smile, whatever morose feelings he had before where gone. Angeni dropped his hand and glanced ahead, her lavender eyes glowing.
"There's no turning back now," She told him, walking up the road. With her best friend at her side and Tim leading the way, she really believed those words to be true.
*********** o(:3) ***********
"Why did they build this thing here?" Allen groaned.
"Shut it! You've said that six times now!" Angeni said through clenched teeth; all the enthusiasm they both had from before had vanished. Black Order was a lot farther then they both expected and it had taken almost two weeks to get there. It had been a long, grueling journey, but they finally arrived. Allen had almost fainted at the sight of the cliff they had to climb to get to the Black Order.
"We're almost to the top anyway." Allen got up first, turning to help Angeni over the ledge. Their shoulders drooped when they saw the long flight of stairs that lead up to the building. Angeni observed the black golems circling in the sky.
'They're watching us…' she thought, impressed at the level of security.
"And up the stairs we go," Allen sighed. Angeni followed, thankful they were finally here. They stepped up to the gate, looking around.
"Who do we talk to?" Allen asked. As soon as the words left his mouth, a black golem zipped down, hovering a few feet away from them. Allen, looking unsure what to, addressed the golem.
"Excuse us!" he called.
"I'm Allen Walker and this is Angeni Celeste. We where sent here on recommendation by Cross Marian." While Allen was busy talking with the staff, Angeni was inspecting the building with mild interest. It towered above them like a mountain, dark and foreboding. The walls looked thick and unyielding, painted black.
'It's hard to believe the army of God resides here…' She thought with slight amusement.
'How ironic.'
"Please get examined by the Gatekeeper behind you," the golem ordered.
"Gatekeeper?" Allen questioned. Angeni suddenly shrieked, causing Allen to whip around in alarm. The Gatekeeper had moved, looming over Angeni, who was currently brandishing her fists, breathing heavily.
"I won't hurt you," the Gatekeeper informed her, chuckling. Once she relaxed, he scanned her, determining she was human.
"She's human!" the Gatekeeper called. Angeni moved aside so Allen could be examined next. He stepped up and was scanned. In Angeni's opinion, the Gatekeeper looked confused.
'Why's it taking so long? Something's wrong…'
No sooner had she thought that, the Gatekeeper sounded an alarm.
"He's out! The pentacle mark on his head is the sign of the Earl!" the panicky voice of the Gatekeeper made Angeni and Allen jump.
"What?" Allen protested.
"I'm human!" A chill went down Angeni's spine.
'It's too late for that…' She mused, she could hear the alarms; the whole building was in an uproar. A shadow passed over the moon; Angeni looked up for the source, her eyes catching sight of a figure on the roof. His blade was drawn, catching in the moonlight. His voice echoed down to them, demanding and harsh.
"You have some serious guts coming here."
A/N: Hmm... I wonder who that is... :3 thank you for reading! Please review and tell me what you think!