Yay! Have no fear the Summer Vacations are here!
Here it is the 9th chapter of my first fan fiction The Dark One.
Please review and forgive any spelling mistakes.
Father Gillian stared at the blood bath before him with nothing more than an annoyed look and a cup of strong coffee. He could almost envision the future headaches this case will bring him. Starting with the deletion of the memories of half the police force of the small town, keeping the media away, dealing with the destroyed arcade, cleaning this mess and worse of all…
…telling Remington.
Forget about future headaches the one he had now just thinking about picking up the phone and dialing his God dammed number was already splitting his head into two. He knew Remington; he had been his friend for a long time so he knew how deep his hatred and obsession with the Dark One were. To be the one to tell him of the battle and the abduction of the Christopher family, not to mention the suspicion that he had allies.
On the other hand… this was the most action he had ever seen on this organization for a long, long time.
He hated to admit it but in the last decades the Magdalene's Order power in the Catholic Church had been steadily decreasing, and demon sightings had been rare and most of time it was just some low-level garbage almost not worth the time wasted into catching it and destroying it. But this… this was some piece of work.
When he got the call from the spies the Order still had on the police he imagined the possible scenarios for what he would find out there, he now knew he hadn't even been close to brushing the reality of the carnage that awaited him.
Four demons, all high-level, one of them that looked disturbingly like a young boy were found dead, no slaughtered in this small town… the town that was near the place where the Dark One was kept for two centuries. It was too much of a coincidence to let it pass, and he wasn't disappointed, to destroy these demons so completely it had to take enormous strength and power, two things the Dark One possessed. And yet the whiteness talked about two women fighting the demon found in the arcade then driving off with two teenagers, only one of those teenagers was blonde.
The other people on the street saw a child and a young blonde woman go into the alley before the sounds of the battle started, but no one ever saw the woman come out of the alley instead the saw something like a lightning taking off into the sky.
Gillian finished his coffee and pulled out a cigarette, no matter how many years of service he had on the Order the smell of dead bodies always got to him. He took the cell phone out of pocket and stared at it for the fifth time; finally he flipped it open and dialed a number.
"Might as well get it over with."
Joshua Christopher pinched his arm for the twentieth time hoping that this time he would wake up from this nightmare and be back at the hotel room in his comfortable bed with Az and Rosette sleeping soundly on the other side of the room, but no he was still in that bloody car the two woman in the front had been silent for most of the trip, except for the time the their cell phone rang, after a few whispered words the black-haired one handed him the phone saying "your sister wishes to speak to you" and that was it.
He was grateful for the chance to speak with his sister and to know she was alright but still he couldn't delete the images of what had happen in the arcade.
Flashback
He and Az had just finished playing their fourth round of their boxing game, with Az beating him again; he was just going to the change machine for more quarters when Az's voice broke out.
-Where is Rosette?
He looked around and noticed his sister was nowhere in the arcade, he became worried and walked hurriedly to the exit with Azmaria close behind. But his way was blocked by the sudden entrance of a huge man in a trench coat. Joshua tried to go by another path but the man moved to block his way.
-Please calm down boy. Your sister sacrificed too much for you to ruin it now.
He stared at the man who suddenly seemed less human.
-Joshua he's a demon.
Azmaria didn't have to tell him, he could already see the red eyes glinting watching…
-Where is my sister? What do you want with her?
-For now your sister is safe with my brothers. As for we need her for it isn't anything difficult we merely want her to help us to do justice, all she as to do is to attract the Sinner out of hiding.
"Who the hell is the Sinner?"
He tried to push against the man and Azmaria put her hand against her hip only too feel that there was no gun there, they all were back at the inn. The man behind the counter was looking at them curiously for a while but now he seemed more in what was happening behind them.
-Excuse me Sir but we would like for you and the Miss to accompany us.
The demon looked back, shocked. A black haired beautiful woman was standing right behind them and behind them was a busty red haired one.
-Are you demons as well? – Asked Az's soft voice from besides him.
-Do we look like demons to you, girl? We came to pick you up.
The demon turned fully towards the two women, they seemed to notice the man behind the counter. The red haired one seemed anger at his presence and moved restless a hand repeatedly caressing her right hand glove.
-Can we take this outside? I know how your kind hates to call the human's attention.
The demon glanced back at the man and in one swift movement a clawed hand attached to a an arm that seemed to stretch to an impossible length, all made of metal shot out from the trench coat and pierced the man's chest. Blood came out of the wound when the demon removed his hand the man in the counter took a while to understand what was going on but then his face twisted into a grimace of pain and his body fell to the ground away from their sight.
-Laden!
Twin screams echoed before two shining crystal warriors appeared from thin air the demon shed his trench coat revealing his true monstrous form. The black haired one pulled Joshua behind one of the machines while Azmaria ducked behind another one. Then the battle unfolded.
End of Flashback
Joshua shook of the memories of what happened next, it was so quick the arcade was destroyed and the demon was nothing but a bloodstained blob spread across the room. The two women than pushed them into a car and drove off before the police could arrive.
-My sister? The demon said… how is she with you?
-We suspected that they would find your sister soon so we were keeping a close eye on you, and as soon as we detected ugly and his friends here we moved out we came to get you and Chrno went to get your sister.
-Who is Chrno?
The red haired one seemed reluctant to answer and kept on driving but the black haired one said calmly.
-You know him better Sir as The Dark One, but to us his name is Chrno.
Joshua gave a jump, obviously forgetting that he was inside a car and bagging his head on the said car's roof quite violently. While Joshua nursed his abused skull, Azmaria who since she had watched that man died had remained silent just shaking quietly in her seat spoke softly but firmly, for she too was concerned with her friend.
-I think we had been patient enough, tell us who are you, where is Rosette, where are you taking us and what do you want with us?
The red headed driver sighed.
-If it calms you down than fine. I am Satella Harvenheit and this is my older sister Florette. Rosette is at our house and that is where we are taking you now. As for what we want with you directly nothing our main interest is to protect Rosette and since according to Chrno the only way to achieve that is for us to make sure you two are safe too well… here we are.
-But…- Joshua started to say.
-Let's not go into any details without the whole gang, Rosette will want to hear the explanation too.
-So you expect us to just sit tight while the servants of the Dark One take us to God know where.
Joshua was impressed at the amount of violence and resentment in Azmaria's voice and quickly held her trembling hand over her lap. Everything had gone so wrong they had escaped the Order only to wind up in the hands of the demon.
The woman called Satella slammed her hands in the steering wheel in anger and seemed to fight off the temptation to turn to them.
-First of all we aren't anyone's servants we are his friends second we are taking you two to Rosette and safety. So be quiet.
This woman had a temper that could rival Rosette's so Joshua stood still and quiet holding Azmaria's hand and hoping that what this woman said was true and that they were indeed taking them to his sister.
"Rosette I hope you are alright."
The scream of terror echoed in every corner of the mansion no matter how big it was, it bounced off every painting and it hurt the ears of the poor demon who was the cause of it.
Chrno had just been keeping his promise and bringing Rosette new, clean clothes for her to wear instead of the old dirty bloody ones that she had with her. Since he didn't heard the shower running anymore he knocked on the door several times and even told Rosette he was coming in, as there was no answer he entered the empty room and put the clothes on the bed. When the door opened and a gasp was heard, from who he didn't remember.
Rosette had just come out of her shower and since she had no other clothes with her she just tied the fluffy white towel around her body even though that it barely covered her breasts and the junction of her legs at the same time. Hoping that someone had put own new clothes for her got out of the bathroom and was face to face to the demon that made her dreams his playground.
Chrno was like a little dear caught in headlights, eyes wide taking in the most beautiful sight he had the honor of gazing at for as long as he could recall. It was hard to remember the little girl he had formed a bond with ten years ago, they passed by so quickly for him that had such a long life time, but the changes it had done to her were…amazing, she was so… so… indescribable. He was pretty sure he would have had kept staring at her for the rest of the day had not her scream awaken him from his stupor.
He suddenly became aware that he was staring at his almost, but unfortunately not quite, naked contractor closed his eyes and backed away, something that he would quickly discover was a bad combination since he tripped on the rug and in his entire demon glory fell flat on his back. He then decided to open his eyes only to face the furious blushing Rosette.
He was pretty sure by the heat that was radiating from his face that he was blushing too.
-Stop staring!
He closed his eyes again.
-I'm sorry.
-Get out!
-I'm sorry.
Somehow he only stumbled a few times before he managed to open the door and run out of the room with Rosette's final scream of "Pervert" chasing after him.
He stood there leaning against the wall besides the door breathing heavily, desperately trying to keep his body under control. It had been so long since he…
-Chrno you're blushing!
Chrno gave a jump away from the source of the sound but he should have known how it was, in all his years as a warrior there was still only one who could sneak up on him like that.
-Shader how many times do I have to tell you to stop sneaking up on me like that!
-But it's fun! And you're face is all red! So CUTE!
Then she pinched his cheeks in the same manner she had when they were children playing in Pandemonium.
-So… decided to put the moves on her already. What an impatient guy you are.
-It wasn't like that! I just went in there to give some clothes and then she came out and I…I just… It was an accident.
Shader looked at him with a mixture of amusement and mischievousness an expression that always managed to sent shivers down his spine, and not the good kind of shivers the ones when one could feel he would never hear the end of it.
-Amazing… it's true what they say. It's always the quiet ones. Wait until Satella hears about this, all those years trying to loosen you up and all it took was twenty minutes of that in the house for you to turn into a pervert.
-I am not a … Never mind, it was an accident and don't tell Satella or anyone for that matter.
-Don't worry Chrno. It'll be our little secret. Although it is funny, admit it.
-No it is not. It's frustrating and not to mention a disaster. I'm supposed to convince her to stay with me so I can protect her, not that I'm trying to have sex with her.
-Don't want to have sex with her?
There was a pause.
-That's beyond the point. Has Satella and Florette arrived yet?
-No. But they better come soon. Rosette will become very restless if she doesn't see her family. Meanwhile you better go and start making dinner.
-What? Why me?
-Well… Florette isn't here and I can't cook, and Rosette doesn't want to see you, much less cook for you.
A memory from Rosette's adolescence surged from his mind, a plate of apparently innocent cookies if it wasn't Joshua's disgusted and kind of green face, and he shuddered at the thought of eating anything made by his Contractor.
-Frankly I'd rather if Rosette didn't cook at all. I'll be in the kitchen, don't scare her off.
-What do you mean?
-No jumping on top of her, no hugs, no high-pitched squeals.
Shader's hears dropped to an all time low and her tail went very still, dejectedly she walked away back to the lab, and hoped Florette would come home soon, she was really the only one who put up with her. Chrno went to the kitchen, he felt bad for Florette and Satella the Harvenheit family was extremely rich, partly due to several years as art dealers the other was more obscure, bounty-hunters that always got their prey using their unique abilities. However to keep his and Shader's true nature's secret the two last descendents of an incredibly powerful line had decided to live alone with them in the mansion following the death of the family's trusted butler, the only outside the family to know of their secret. Between the four they divided chores, and since most of the rooms weren't used it made the cleaning easier. Still due to Shader's messy habits and Satella's general laziness normally it was him and Florette who did most of the work.
It was amazing how his Legion could cure almost everything that may happen to his body, from a prickled finger to grow back a severed arm and yet his eyes always stung when he had to cut onions.
"Florette please come back."
Remington drove his trusty Harley, his speed was barely bellow the limited, torn between fury and panic, for now fury was winning. Those old fools of the Elders had ruined everything, now the Dark One had his Contractor and two hostages.
"What the hell were they thinking? Sacrificing a young girl instead of killing the real source the problems?"
How Sister Kate put up with their garbage daily was something he would never understand. But then again it was almost natural for those in power to start to ignore the reasons or ideals they started with. He who had witnessed the creation of a Democracy, who had fought in countless wars, had seen a hundred revolutions and most of all he who saw as the Order of Magdalene that he had dedicated his life serving gradually become more a "all howl and no bite", how the Elders became more interested in securing a legion of followers and assuring their position in power than actually helping those who needed. It was, in the least, heartbreaking, so many times he wished he had just died instead of choosing this half-life where he was forced to watch as everything he had cared for disappeared. His family, his hopes, most of his friends, HER, he would make sure the Christopher siblings and Azmaria would not become part of his infinite list of lost ones.
This time he would triumph, this time we would not fail.
It was a sight she never imaged she would see, never in a million years even when this whole mess started she always believed it would be impossible. A demon in a flower printed apron holding what it seemed to be frying pan. It was too funny to even describe. Maybe it was all the stressed or a post-battle shock but all she knew was that it started with a giggle and ended with her knelling over in the kitchen floor clutching her stomach from laughing so hard. The demon in question blushed, which was strange to see in a handsome, muscled grown man but yet strangely adorable.
-It's not funny.
She couldn't even manage to stop laughing for enough time to respond to his ridiculous request.
-Stop laughing!
It took a full minute for her to completely follow that order and even then, when she finally stood up, her left was still clutching her stomach in an attempt to keep the rest of her laughter in.
-What are you doing?
-Dinner, what else? It'll be ready in a half an hour. Your brother and friend must be almost here too. Are your clothes comfortable?
-Yeah. They're just fine, but I want to know if I'll be able to pick up the stuff I left in the inn.
Personally he didn't think Florette's plain, demure dress was suited his Rosette's tastes but for now it would have to do. Tomorrow he and the other could get back her stuff to please her. For now he just wanted her to get out of the kitchen so he could rip this flower nightmare off him and she could stop looking at him like he was some sort of joke.
-The dining room is close by and it has a view to the road so you can see when the others come, just turn left, go down the hallway turn left, second door on the right.
-That's what you call "close by"?
-It is in this house. Try not to get lost.
-I'm not a child that can't even follow directions! Dumbass!
She slammed the door when she left; Chrno's turned back to their meal and sighed, he never imagined this would be how Rosette's first day at this house would turn out like this.
"I'm going to burn this stupid apron."
"What was it? Second door on the left? Go down the hallway and turn right? Or was it left? Shit I'm not asking him for help!"
Rosette Christopher was lost, there was no doubt about, and worse off she couldn't ask for directions because there was no-one in the bloody house but him and she could just picture his arrogant smirk when she came back to the kitchen after storming off, not even his ugly apron would save her the humiliation now.
Frustrated beyond belief she simply decided to open every door in this good-dammed house until she found the stupid dining room. The first three doors were just empty rooms but the fourth one was a beautiful, large rectangular well-lit room it was pretty much empty, except for a few couches and a coffee table in the center of the room but the walls were covered in paintings, it was like walking into a room full of people, a thousand eyes seemed to watch her from the paintings. Slowly Rosette started near the door on the right wall and observed them. It portrayed a different number of people at different time periods; finally she stopped at the most modern of all. It was a family of four, the two daughters, a red haired younger one and her dark haired sister were happily sitting in a red couch, standing behind them were their parents. Rosette stared at the man for a very long time; he seemed strange different, his eyes were strange, too familiar for her to feel comfortable.
Then something caught her eye, a chair it was so simple that she didn't even noticed it when she entered the room, it was a very worn out but still steady wooden chair placed right in front of a very old painting. This one was behind a thick layer of glass and it pictured a beautiful blond woman, her green eyes were calm and gentle but sad. There around her neck was a very familiar watch…
-Hello!
-Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
She turned in panic, she barely had time to take in the cat ears and tail on the strange woman launched herself at her squealing in a high-pitched. After that Rosette spent a few seconds undecided if the demon-woman was trying to smother her or burst her hear drum with the squealing. After a good fight that she lost, the demon finally decided to let go of her. The demon she noticed was wearing a lab coat and had a pair of big round glasses, and besides the obvious inhuman traces she was a very cute woman, who was still babbling in a very annoying way.
-You're so cute. You're even prettier than Chrno described you. Oh!
-Who the hell are you? And stop hugging me!
The woman once again pulled back a couple of steps.
-You sure are a feisty one. Who knew that shy little Chrno would have that kind of taste.
-What?
-I'm Shader, Chrno's sister! I hope we can be good friends I'm sure we'll get along just fine.
-Wait! You're his sister, sorry but I don't see much a family resemblance.
The cat girl took her arm in hers in a friendly way and smiled in a friendly manner. Everything about this demon seemed to radiate cheerfulness; she made Rosette feel more at ease with her than with her supposed brother. Or maybe it was just the absence of that purely male aura that seemed to make her tingle, or of the yummy broad shoulders or the six-pack she could easily use as a washboard…
Somehow she got the feeling she was getting off the point.
-In a way all demons are brothers and sisters, since we have only one mother, so yes despite being very different Chrno is my brother.
Something the demon boy said came back to her, but before she could ask Shader about it the demon woman had dragged her back to the most recent painting of the family.
-Aren't they adorable? Of course they're all grown up nowadays. They are older than you, but you'll meet them soon enough they went to pick up your friends and are running a little late. The red haired one is Satella and the dark haired one is Florette, they are the Harvenheit sisters.
-Harvenheit? – were she had heard that name before?
-You have heard of them? The Harvenheit family deals in art but also is the main investor in other businesses.
Now she remembered, Mrs. Bayard talking about the Harvenheit investment in a luxury restaurant, the famous Harvenheit sister, famous for being stinking rich and reclusive, and now she was in their house, with two demons. Fantastic.
-And the woman? The one on that painting that also wears the watch?
Shader looked at the painting and her joyful smile turned into a sad one.
-That is Magdalene; she was Chrno's Contractor before you. She was an amazing person, so kind, you would have liked her, and personally I don't think it is possible for anyone to hate someone like Magdalene. And you know what? She would have liked you too.
That surprised Rosette, she had learned from Az and from the Order that Mary Magdalene, was a holy woman that had the ability to feel the presence of demonic energy and was helping hunting down the demons that escaped from Pandemonium, she was under the Orders protection when the Dark One had stolen her and forced her to become his Contractor, Remington told her of the tortures that he put her through as a revenge for her work, eventually although accidentally, killing her. Yet why would someone have a painting of an enemy or a tool?
-You must have heard many things about us and about her. I would tell you everything but I'm sure Chrno will tell you when he's ready, I'm sorry for all that you must be going through.
That surprised her as well, in all this time no one, besides Az, had showed her real regret for her situation, how ironic that it was the sister of the one responsible.
The door open, and speak of the devil, literally, Chrno poked out from the opening, unfortunately he had removed the hilarious apron.
-There you are, Rosette you're brother and friend are here. – He took a long look at her. – You got lost didn't you?
-Screw you and your lousy directions!
-My directions are not lousy, you just weren't paying attention.
It was true; she admitted to herself never to him of course, still his words angered her she marched to the door to face him. It was hard to actually face him when even when standing on the tip of her toes the top of her head barely reached his nose.
-What did you just say…?
That…. That jackass of a demon had the nerve of lowering his head down to her level and saying with a smug expression.
-You heard me; it was so simple even a child could do it but actually got lost didn't you?
She punched him, hard, almost broke her hand in the process but left a nice mark on him for her great satisfaction. He fell backwards grabbing his injured cheek.
-What you do that for?
-You deserved it!
-No I didn't!
-How cute! You two fight like an old married couple.
-No we don't!
-No we don't!
-Let's go. Rosette must to see that her friends are okay and we are all hungry, Chrno here is a good cook, even if he doesn't look like it.
The mention of Joshua and Azmaria was enough to calm her down; quietly she followed Shader into the dining room, Chrno was by her side, holding his cheek and glaring at her, she glared back with all her might. The food was already on the table and soon enough in walked in Azmaria and Joshua, looking dirty and tired but uninjured. Rosette only had a brief period of time to recognize the two woman that followed them as two girls in the painting, for as soon as they saw her both younger teens ran into her arms giving her a hug.
-I was so worried about you.
-I know Joshua, I'm sorry.
-Why did you run off like that?
-It wasn't by choice, idiot, they threaten me then Chrno here came and took me here.
-Chrno?
Both Azmaria and Joshua looked over her shoulder to the man with the swollen cheek standing a few feet away. Immediately Azmaria pulled Rosette back a few inches and Joshua got in front of her in a protective manner.
-It's the guy from the gas station!
-It's the Dark One!
Joshua's definition for Chrno confused everyone in the room, except of course the demon itself that had a sudden interest in the carpet, this reaction had Rosette's left eye starting to twitch. Joshua realized the reasons for the curious eyes and spoke to Rosette.
-This guy was at the gas station before we got to the town he helped me pick up the things I drooped.
-You were following us!
Despite Azmaria's angry conclusion Rosette wasn't surprised to know this, indeed she had suspected it since that encounter at the monastery, however her concern was focused on her brother, he was red from anger and Rosette feared that he might collapse at any minute besides that he looked ready to punch Chrno, an action that would result into nothing but harming his own hand. Fortunately Shader in her happy, peppy self could not stand to be in the same room with two cute children and not give them her own greeting. So in two jumps she had tackled Joshua and with a fast arm movement had snatched Azmaria up in her arms and was now proceeding to try to hug them to death.
-They are both so adorable! Look at her, she looks like a little porcelain doll and look at him; don't you just want to pinch his cheeks? - She proceeded to do so – They are so cute together, the perfect little couple.
It was amusing how her brother's face could change from red with anger to pink in embarrassment, and Azmaria's confused and blushing face made Shader's words all the more true. She turned around when she felt the two women behind her move, the red hair, Satella if she recalled correctly approached Chrno who all this time had been watching his sister's antics with a look of despair.
-Chrno your cheek looks a little swollen; I would have thought you would have healed up from the battle with the demons by now.
-It wasn't a demon who did this. It was a harpy.
When Rosette snapped out of her rage induced haze, and gazed at the now knelling demon holding his head while the dark haired woman knelled in front of him and the red haired one was grabbing her arms, immobilizing her that maybe hitting the demon that was currently holding her, her brother and her friend hostage, with what it looked to be a metal tray probably wasn't the best idea in the world, although satisfying… and funny.
-Why did you do that?
-You know why, you jackass! How dare you call me that?
-You know you're not exactly proving me wrong!
-Can't you just feel the love? – said Shader still holding her now shocked and speechless brother and friend.
Everybody choose to ignore that, mostly because responding would drive precious attention away from the spectacle of a twenty-two year old yelling at a demon over two hundred.
-Will you calm down? There go to your brother.
Satella pushed Rosette in Shader's direction and her brother immediately got a hold on her, torn between hugging her from her bravery or scolding her for her stupidity.
"It's the freaking Dark One for heaven's sake. Oh Rosette, like we weren't in trouble before…"
The busty red hair knelled down and in one moment seized the head of the demon wrapped her arms around it and pushed it into her very generous breasts.
-Chrno darling what has that awful girl done to you?
"Darling…darling! That no good…" Rosette decided to stop that train of thought before she began to wonder why did those words affected her, and turned away from the "couple", missing how the demon struggled to get out of the embrace while looking at her with desperate eyes.
"Please not this on top of everything else…"
Finally the desperate demon managed to break away from the woman's hold, the bump was already healing. He looked at the two still confused faces of the teenagers and the back of the head of his Contractor that was making a true effort to ignore his existence.
"Females…"
-Look you are all very tired and hungry, I know you don't trust me or my friends but please consider your options the Order will kill you, Rosette, the moment they find you there are demons out there that will capture you and kill you once they're done with you. I might also guess that you don't have much money left and that the Order has already found your room at the inn, meaning you have just lost your chance to get back all of your things. Listen to reason, we are your best shot at safety.
-Ha! You, the Dark One, help us! What do you think we are, stupid?
The angry tone of her brother's voice was of no surprise to her, it was the hatred in Az's face that shocked, but after all Az had grown up in the Magdalene Order, her parents had even been members, the legend of the Dark One had probably been taught in her History Class or even as a horror story to scare little children. To grow up among such hate, even sweet Azmaria would be influenced by the people that raised her. And here she was, face to face with the biggest enemy her only family had ever faced.
-I'm not going to harm you, no one in this house is. Our objective is to keep you safe, all of you.
-He's right.
-Huh? – Five voices said simultaneously, all looking at the blond young woman with shook, except Florette who only had a blank stare.
Joshua grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the window on the other side of the room Azmaria followed him, the looks they were giving her bothered her, it was like she had grown a second head or had gone completely insane, on the other hand, maybe she had and that was why she was thinking this way.
-Rosette – Azmaria whispered furiously – what are you saying? We can't thrust these people.
-What choice do we have? Azmaria you know the Order, is there any chance they wouldn't know about the attack at the town?
She did not answer.
-Joshua you keep a better track of our finances than me is there any way we can transport ourselves out of this place and go to another one with the money we have got now?
He did not answer.
-Besides you saw how saw how isolated this place is, there is nothing but woods for miles around, do you think they are just going to let us walk through the front door and give us a lift back to civilization?
Neither of them answered.
-I know this isn't a pleasant option, and thrust me…
That moment back in the room, how his eyes had darkened gazing at her almost naked body flashed through her head and the skin on her tingled at the memory of his hickey, of the dark dreams they had shared during all those nights.
-…nobody is more conscious of the danger there is here than me. But we have nowhere else to go, no other options, no money, no transport, and no weapons to fight if we are attacked.
A look of reluctance was shared by the younger ones; all that Rosette said was true, they were caught between a sword and a wall.
-Besides – Rosette's voice lowered even more – no one said this was a permanent thing, we might use this chance to do some more research, find our answers, then as soon as we have the chance, steal a car and some money and get out.
Joshua and Azmaria exchanged a look, neither of them was comfortable about it, but what Rosette said did make a lot of sense, as scary as that was. This was the best place to search for the answers they were looking for, the only place they could go at the moment. The three looked back at the strange group of demons and humans who were looking at them just as curiously. Finally Rosette strode past them and sat down on the table, like this was an everyday occurrence.
-So where is this dinner you spent the afternoon preparing? Unless you botched it of course.
This seemed like the sign for a truce between the two parties, and after Satella, Florette and Shader had presented themselves, Florette served the food and they all sat down to eat, to Rosette's anger and relief the food was delicious and she devoured it with the same voracity she would have to any meal, she ignored the way Joshua and Az were much more reluctant to eat their food, the blank look and the teasing one from the Harvenheit sisters, Shader's cheerful chatter, although she was pleased to notice that the cat-woman ate with the same "passion" as her. But most of all she tried to ignore the demon sitting across her, the way his eyes darkened sometimes when he looked at her, or the way his tongue sometimes darted out to lick his lips when a drop of sauce smudged his mouth, very slowly, like he was doing it on purpose.
To say that dinner had been awkward would have been too kind. All of them, except Shader who never seemed to lose her good nature, had been tired, emotionally exhausted, too distrustful to say a word or all of the above, all of them had been relived when it was over and Florette had suggested they showed the others to their rooms since they were all tired.
The mansion had two floors and the second one was were all the more "personal" rooms were like the bedrooms, a sitting room, a private library so forth. Florette was now leading down the same hallways were was Rosette's room, Azmaria's was right to her right and Joshua's room was two doors beyond Azmaria's. The rooms were all spacious and the most luxurious they had ever been, each room had its own plasma TV and private bathroom. Although Rosette noticed hers has the only one who had a vase with flowers.
She had just got out of the bathroom after changing into the nightgown when there was nock on her door; slowly she opened the door and was surprised to see a distressed Joshua holding a crying Azmaria.
-She came into my room and started crying I didn't know what to do; I figured if we were all together then maybe she would calm down.
The three sat down on the bed, Azmaria still clinging to Joshua.
-I think all of what happen today finally caught up with her.
-I saw a man die today…
Her voice had been soft, against Joshua's chest, but still audible.
-What?
-The arcade owner, the demon that attacked us killed him. – clarified Joshua.
-His blood it was everywhere… and we couldn't help him… all those years in the Order and now an innocent is dead because we went there…
Azmaria broke down in sobs, Joshua held her tightly, he seemed to be struggling with his tears, the weight of Azmaria's words crashed down on Rosette, but she did not search for a shoulder to cry on, instead she got up from the bed and walked to her open window, staring at immensity of threes that surrounded them. Only there, away from the eyes of others did she allowed herself to release a single tear, but even that drop of salted water made her skin burn as it ran down her cheek.
-How did this happened Rosette? How did we get caught up in this hell?
"Because ten years ago a little girl wandered away from her tour group in search of an adventure."
The question remained unanswered as the watch around her neck continued its soft ticking, unaware of the bloodshed it had caused.
And that's that. I'll put up the next chapter as soon as possible.
In the mean time please remember that I would love to get your feedback on this story to know if you are all enjoying reading it, as I am writing it. So please review.
Till next time.