Slowly all the mysteries will be solved. Just keep reading.
When I first started writing this story I had no intention of making it so complex. I'm really just making it up as it goes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Chrno Crusade. (I get a little more depressed every time I say that)
Azmaria stood in front of the wooden door that lead to Sister Kate's office, normally she wouldn't think twice about going in and having a talk with the strict but kind Head of the NYC Division, but today it wasn't Sister Kate that was behind these doors, and the thoughts of what could happen once she went in made her want to run and hide.
For three years she had been Joshua's colleague and friend, it had been a challenge to approach him due to her shy nature but the boy was so kind to her, so sweet, that she quickly caught herself laughing loudly at his jokes and going out to lunch with him. Having been raised in the Magdalene Order had been comfortable and peaceful but lonely, this was her first time in college, surrounded by so many of her age, her first time going out alone with a boy, even if it was just to get a burger. She knew it was unprofessional, a mockery of the trust Father Remington had given her, but she found herself liking Joshua Christopher and sometimes she forgot that this college life was just an illusion, that she had a mission.
But it was getting harder and harder to remember that she was supposed to be Joshua's watcher not his friend. It was getting harder to look into his eyes and smile when she knew the danger he could be in. So many times she had to bite her tongue so has not reveal the real reason she was there. There were times when she caught herself praying that it wasn't Joshua that was bound, immediately she felt guilty afterwards to condemn Rosette just because of her feelings for Joshua, it was so very selfish of her. She confessed her feelings to Father Remington and was surprised to hear him laugh, he explained that it was natural to feel affection to a person who you spent three years as a friend, even he prayed sometimes that it wasn't Rosette the cursed one, if she was Joshua's friend, has long as she never truly forgot her mission it was ok to have fun.
"And now all those fun times would disappear. Never again will he trust me or look at me as his friend"
With a deep long breath, she opened the door entered the room, taking in his already shocked face, and closed it softly behind her.
-You! It was you!
Shock had disappeared, and fear had been by the more familiar anger. She looked at him with hatred in her eyes, she didn't even cared anymore that he had turned into a monster right in front of her, He has the thing that had been tormenting her for these past years, playing with her like she was some sort of amusement.
Ignoring Remington shouts to step back she pulled herself to full height, which unfortunately didn't even reach his chin, she was so sick and tired of being afraid of him she didn't even care how close she was to him, she even forgot about the dozens of armed soldiers with guns. She punched him as strong as she could; she hit his left cheek, making him turn his faced. She heard a shout and several gasps coming from around her, but her eyes were on him waiting what he was going to do.
-Monster…
She whispered, he turned his face to face her and she was surprised to see his eyes full of sadness and possessiveness. Slowly he raised his hand and cradled her one side of her face, his hand was warm, and his claws although deadly were resting peacefully against her ear.
-It's not what it seems.
She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant by that.
Bang
It was like in the movies, it all seemed to happen in slow motion, the sound echoed in her mind, the hand on her face disappeared as Chrno fell to his side, a small string of blood ran down his face. She screamed in shock and panic as her mind took in his still form on the ground. Remington seeing that she wasn't moving quickly ran to her side and pulled her back outside the circle of soldiers that surrounded Chrno.
-Are you alright? Did he hurt you?
-No! No he never… - she couldn't take her eyes off of him, lying there, bleeding. Suddenly there was movement and her eyes widen.
-Father Remington! He's coming!
Chrno stood up, his face a mask of fury, his eyes gone completely white, when his lips pulled back in a snarl revealing sharp fangs.
-Priest.
Even his voice sounded deadly, the voice of a natural born killer.
-Demon.
Remington's voice wasn't that much different, but it was laced with such burning hatred it contrasted against Chrno's cold indifference.
-You always seem to be getting in my way.
-I should say the same thing myself.
Remington pulled out a sword made of a green light and the air around Chrno was literally sparking with electricity. They were going to fight, she realized, right here, right now, uncaring if they destroyed anything or if an innocent person was caught in the crossfire. She couldn't wrap her head around this, the events of this day replaying in her head finally ending in these two men acting in such a different way she was used to see them.
Somebody grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of a black SUV with smoked windows. The woman, she realized, practically shoved her onto the passenger seat in the back, telling her in a rough voice to buckle up, while she got onto the driver's seat and started the car.
-Wait! What about…
-My orders are to bring you safely to Headquarters. Everything shall be explained to you and your brother there.
-Joshua… but how…
Realizing the woman wasn't going to answer Rosette looked back at the battle unfolding a few meters away and kept watching for as long as she could as the woman drove away.
Remington looked at the figure in front of him, Rosette and Joshua forgotten, his mission forgotten even the Order had been put into a far corner of his mind. Two hundred years had passed since they're last battle, two hundred years yet he hated that creature more now than ever before. He could still remember her face as she took her dying breath, right before he trapped the thing in that cross. He thought about her dying words.
"It's not what it seems." She cried, unable to say anything else. He knew it wasn't, he knew how she had forced by the Dark One to help him on his quest, how he had tortured her and broke her mind. If he could destroy such a pure, delicate being, she who had been literally called the God's chosen daughter, one could only image what he would do to break Rosette's strong spirit. If only he could finish things now, then the past would never be repeated.
He saw the army ready their guns and gave the order to stop but it was too late, gunshots flew from every direction but he knew it would be useless the first shot he fired was just to draw his attention away from Rosette; he knew it wouldn't kill him, already he had a shield around him, bullets full of holly water falling to the ground around him like paper balls.
-Pull back! Pull back you fools!
He shot an attack of demonic energy although the attack didn't hit anyone it unexpectedly hit one of the cars, the explosion injured many, and the Dark One took full advantage of this too attack him directly he blocked the claws with his swords and tried to cut his hand by altering the position of his blade, but bastard was smart and saw through hi plan.
-Even if you slashed it, it would just grow back.
He growled and pushed him back, he always loved to taunt him during their battles it knew if he angered him enough it would make him sloppy. However it didn't mean he didn't like taunting him back, he attacked again as he said:
-Pretty cocky for someone who is two hundred years out of practice.
He blocked his attack with the bone tail and smiled, but he could tell that underneath that face he was furious.
-You really think you can keep me from Rosette. I will find her eventually; we both know how good your protector skills are.
That got to him, his mind filled with memories of her, of had happen because of his failure, soon the image of a broken Rosette replaced the ones of centuries ago taunting him of his future failure. Without thinking he launched himself at him, no strategy in mind just to kill. The demon quickly overpowered him ripping the sword from his hands and throwing him against the wall, before he even had time to fall to his knees it caught him by the neck slamming his head against the wall. He felt pain everywhere, some of his ribs were broken, blood smeared the wall behind him from where his head had hit it, and the demon was slowly cutting his air supply, but the greatest pain was to know he failed again, now Rosette would be at the mercy of the monster, or if the Order couldn't find a way to break the contract dead. And he was going to die now, at the hand of his greatest enemy, after years of preparing for this moment in a few minutes he had lost. He heard screams around him but he was focused on the yellow eyes in front of him, they seemed to regard him almost with pity.
-After so many years you still don't see.
And with those cryptic words the world turned back.
The woman led her down a hallway and pushed her trough a wooden door. She immediately turned back to complain about the rude behavior, of being brought to this building without a word of explanation, but the woman had already left shutting the door.
"Cow"
-Rosette!
She turned to the sound of the cry and was tackled by her brother, who held her so tightly she couldn't even breathe; she wiggled and tried to push him away but the boy was stuck to her like glue.
-Joshua! Get off! What's the matter with you?
Beyond her brother's head, she could see she in some sort of office a desk right in front of a pair of windows, in front of the desk two wooden chairs for some reason a young girl stood beside the chairs her face wet with tears, she looked like someone had ripped her heart out, behind the desk, looking at them with worried eyes was…
"A nun? Why the hell is there a nun here? What the fuck is this place?"
-Joshua what's going on? What is this place?
-I will answer those questions if don't mind Miss Christopher.
The nun voice was very strict, and it made her seem a lot older than she looked. Joshua slowly eased on his grip, but continued to hold her as he too looked back at the woman.
-Please sit down. I apologize for making you wait so long Mrs. Christopher but I believed it would be better if we waited for your sister. After all she is the one which is more affected by what is happening.
The siblings exchanged then sat down on the wooden chairs. Rosette noticed that Joshua was avoiding looking at the crying girl.
-Azmaria you may be excused.
"Azmaria, why does that name sound so familiar? Wait! Isn't she Joshua's friend?"
The girl went quietly to the door glanced one last time at her brother and left. Rosette turned back to the nun and waited for explanations.
-I am Sister Kate the Head of the Magdalene Order New York Brach. As Azmaria already told your brother, we have watching you for a long time to the pint we even sent undercover agents to watch over you, Azmaria was sent to look after your brother and Remington was sent to watch over you, Miss Christopher.
-Why? Why would you play with our lives tike that?
-Joshua…
Her brother wasn't furious, despite his questions, he looked sad. Knowing that one of his closest friends had been sent just to observe him had to be though. Although confused Remington had been only a good client at the restaurant, just somebody she knew.
-Was it because of Chrno? – At the nun's inquisitive look she blushed lightly – The creature…before he looked human. He told me his name was Chrno.
-What creature? – asked Joshua, straitening in his chair.
-It was him wasn't it? The statue from ten years ago?
-Wait the statue is alive?
-Sit down Mr. Christopher. Yes it involves him Miss Christopher, although the name Chrno is unknown to me, in our records he is only called Dark One.
Seeing the scared and confused faces of the teens in front of her the woman sighed. She had always hoped it would be Remington to explain this; he always had the most patience of the two.
-To explain this to you I must ask of you not to interrupt and to keep your minds open. After all you must have realized that we are dealing with the supernatural.
The teens nodded, and went quiet; they wanted answers so badly they would believe almost anything.
-Very well. The Magdalene Order was founded in 17th century as a special branch of the Church; it is dedicated solely to the study, and hunting of demons. Yes demons are real, you saw one yourself Miss Christopher. The demon world and our is separated, we don't know much about it but it is strictly forbidden for demons to abandon their world, however there are times when they manage to escape, either by their own power or summoned by human demon worshipers. The Magdalene Order has to find these demons and destroy them.
-This is unreal… Like something out of those sci-fi films…
-Please don't interrupt Mrs. Christopher! – She snapped at the boy, she asked God to forgive her for being so hard on the teens but hated to be interrupted – A more than two hundred years ago a massive quantity of demons escaped from their word and created havoc across the Earth, many believed that the rapture was upon us and it generated massive panic, these demons were lead by the Dark One, records of him are vague but it they say that he was the more powerful demons that as ever exited, several armies were sent to find him but only a hand full of soldiers came back to write the records everything lead to believe that he was unbeatable, and despite the attempts of the Order he was our greatest enemy for years.
Until two hundred years ago when he was severely weaken, the Order took advantage and managed to seal him with several powerful spells and invocations in a silver cross, the Dark One was then left to the care of an order of monks who could strengthen the spells. In order to elude eventual worshipers the Dark One's location was regularly changed and records of his moving remained a secret, even from the Order. Unfortunately when the order of monks disappeared there were no records of the Dark One's location. For years we have been trying to find him, searching for the tiniest clues that could help us, and when we finally found him we discovered that he had been awaken, by you Miss Christopher.
-What? But I didn't do anything! I don't know anything about demons!
-Do you recognize this? You bleed onto it, ten years ago, didn't you?
She slid the watch across the desk in her direction; she picked it up slowly, staring at her reflection in the glass.
-Yes.
-Demons need to be connected to another entity Miss Christopher, when they are in their own world they are all connected to a single being, their Queen and world Pandemonium. But when they come to this world they need to form a connection with another conscious entity, humans, they anchor their power and make use of the human's energy to heal themselves, without one a demon cannot control his powers to their full extent or heal themselves as quickly. No matter how powerful they are, without their contractors any demon can be defeated. The only reason we were able to imprison the Dark One in the past was due to the sudden death of his contractor and even them we could not kill him, just seal him. Surrounded by holly power as he was it made him unable to be in the conscious plane, until you, Miss Christopher accidentally offered him a way out.
-What do you mean?
-A demon always offers something to his contractor in exchange for their energy, and a pack of blood is forged. By bleeding onto this watch, the Dark One's object of offer, you accidentally offered yourself to form a contract with him, and he took your offer. In other words, you are the Dark One's contractor; your very souls are connected by a bound that most think it is unbreakable. The fact that last night he offered you this watch is proof.
She was so shocked that she couldn't say a word… She and that monster were bound for life, she wouldn't cry, she couldn't cry but had the enormous desire to crawl under a rock and die.
"All of this because I couldn't stay still in a freaking tour... I doomed myself for an adventure…"
Gods how she wanted to cry…
-What do you mean unbreakable? Bound by the soul? There must be a way to break it. It was made by accident!
-The circumstances don't matter your sister is bound to the Dark One and he will not stop until he has her.
That pulled her right out of her depression.
-What do you mean "has me"?
-Last time he was captured was because of his contractor's death I doubt he will let you walk around freely when there are so many risks out there. He is not stupid, it doesn't matter how you are physically or mentally as long as you breathe you are his chance to achieve the level of power he had centuries ago.
She cradled her head with one hand, the other still holding the watch. Everyone stood still waiting for her to break into tears, but she wouldn't cry now, there were questions that still needed to be answered…
-What is going to happen to me? To us? Can we go back to our regular lives?
-For the next couple of weeks I would like you to remain in our custody. We would like to make some test to try to find a way to break your contract. After that it will depend, the demon has already made contact with you, you will have to move to another house no matter what, in the best of cases you may continue living on normally, only security shall be tighter than before. Please understand Miss Christopher that while this may all seem harsh to you, it is always with your safety in mind. There is no telling what the demon would do to if you.
-I see…
-You will stay in our dormitories, they era the two last floors, they are small and simple, since we don't require much and most of our staff as other residences. I'll lead you there.
They got up and followed without a word. What was there to say? The events of this day had been to incredible to take in, they needed time to think, to take in all this and find words to say to each other. But one thing they understood perfectly they're lives would never be the same…Ever…
Sister Kate had lead her to a small white room, it really was simple, a small bed, a bedside table and a closet were the only furniture it had, a small window gave it a soft, comfy glow. She asked the nun to leave her alone for a few hours so she rest after the devastating mornings events, with a look of pity and words of someone bringing something to eat the door closed. As soon as she stopped hearing footsteps against the wood cover floor Rosette collapsed on the ground, tears falling silently through her eyes in a flow she had suppressed for too long.
Memories of today flashed through her mind in a spiral of misery and fear, her only thought was why?
Soon enough she felt the familiar feeling of somebody trying to comfort her. Of course now that she knew what it was she tried to stop it, get away from it, and finally she transmitted her anger from being interrupted from falling into despair, from being used as his toy, from being comforted by the same thing that was destroying her.
"I HATE YOU!" She screamed in her mind, she poured all of her frustrations and pain in that mental link. And for a while she felt nothing, and for the moment she thought he was gone she was a little sad for now she was truly alone, nobody was there to comfort her anymore.
But it came back stronger and more insistent than before accompanied by the same words he told her before.
It's not what it seems.
And so she dragged herself onto the bed and allowed herself to be calmed by his powers, she was to mentally exhaust to fight anyways; there were no more tears to cry. She felt empty, so empty, yet he continued trying to fill her with peaceful feelings. And so she let him pull her to a deep sleep with promises that tomorrow everything would seem better. In her right hand a watch ticked peacefully.
She was in pain, he could feel it. Every pang of misery in her soul made his heart constrict against his chest. He could only imagine what they must have told her to make her this anguished; Rosette had never broken down like this.
"Those Order fools. And they called themselves protectors"
He watched from the shadows as they loaded their injured on the cars, including the priest from his past, and drove away. He was lucky that's all he did to him, after ruining his plan like that. Rosette would never had realized who he really was if he hadn't interrupted, after revealing himself like that he had ruined his chance. No matter soon he would have her with him; those Order dimwits couldn't keep him from his Rosette even if they called they're army in full weight. Actually it wouldn't be so bad, after two hundred years he could use the exercise.
Rosette was still in pain, he tried comforting her like he used to, but she resisted this time, pouring her pain to him, blaming him for it and her disgust at being comforted by him.
I HATE YOU! She screamed over and over again. Yes, those idiots had told her one of their little bedtime stories sending his Rosette into a pit of sadness. They would pay; sooner or later they would all pay the price for hurting his little one.
For now he sent to her his own message, maybe it would raise her hope. Now he had more important things to do, like preparing for when Rosette would come with him, willingly or not.
He knew he had to hurry; she wasn't safe with the Magdalene Order. A few more weeks and they would break the contract. In the worst way possible…
To be Continued
So what do you think?
I'm not good at writing battles. Sorry.
I'm thinking about changing the rating from M to T. If I change it to T there's a chance latter I'll turn back to M.