17.) The Devil Delivered

I know nothing of God or the Devil.

I have never seen a vision nor learned a secret that would damn or save my soul.

- Anne Rice

REI

As I made my way back down from the summit of Olympus I glanced at the land far below me. The land had been irreversibly changed by the powers I had summoned. The rivers of molten rock that had flowed down from the peak were finally cooling, marking forever the battle that had taken place here.

I looked away from the horizon, turning my attention to closer to the foot of the cliff. I sighed, knowing I wouldn't be satisfied until I found what I was looking for. After scanning the ground for the crumpled body I knew would be there I shook my head. Perhaps it would be best to continue this search once back on solid ground.

The rest of the descent was simple and uninterrupted, when my feet were both firmly planted on the ground I began my search again. Eventually I came across the body I was looking for.

The conviction, bravery, and pride I had seen in him was gone. All that was left was a broken husk of a man. I frowned, death had never been an easy thing to witness. Killing him had not been intentional, but it seemed that it was necessary. I gave a heavy sigh.

I carefully moved the body to an area sheltered by the towering cliffs. If it were possible, I would have returned him to his home world but it seemed unlikely with the war that was now upon us.

I murmured the funeral rites under my breath. I was unsure what the Terran practice was so I hoped that a funeral pyre would suffice for Nephrite. The ground at the foot of the cliff blackened as Nephrite's body ignited. I did my best to ignore the watchful eyes on me as I raised a hand through the flames and inscribed his name into the rock.

The fire faded as his body blew to ash, scattering across the charred landscape. I turned away from the epitaph I had seared onto the mountain of the gods, this would have to serve as a grave for Nephrite and all those I had killed whose names I did not know.

I looked over to where the Autokrator was directing the troops and overseeing our departure, knowing he would want me to check in with him after the battle. I began to make my way towards my brother, many of the soldiers averted their gaze as I passed by. The Ephor who accompanied my brother watched as I wove my way through the crowd towards them.

Hephaestion nudged my brother as I approached, nodding in my direction. Prometheus looked over his shoulder, I caught the smile that passed over his face as he turned towards me.

"I see you didn't fall to your death." He said instead of greeting me. Hephaestion took over what my brother had been doing, leaving the two of us to talk.

"No, I didn't" I replied, skipping over the formalities as well. Prometheus looked like he wanted to say something but seemed to change his mind, looking away from me to study our surroundings as I had down earlier.

"We're lucky that worked..." He remarked, his gaze flicked back to me momentarily. "You had me worried."

The softness of his voice took me by surprise but he brushed it away, quickly returning to talk of the fight as Phobos and Deimos approached us.

"It will take some time to reestablish ourselves, the eruption will have devastated much of the farm land. As soon as we have resolved the Terran issue we'll have to return and begin rebuilding." Prometheus commented. I nodded without meeting his eyes.

"Yes." I agreed quietly. I knew that most of this destruction was my fault and it was a mess I wouldn't be around to help clean up. Phobos and Deimos took their places at my side, Deimos making a soft sighing noise as she caught sight of the tear in my shirt sleeve. Prometheus glanced over at me, a knowing look in his eyes.

"You're not coming back here again, are you?" He asked. Deimos hand carefully brushed against my injured arm, trying to assess how bad it was without disrupting the conversation. I could sense that this would be the last time she and her brother ever let me go into battle alone.

I swept my gaze across the horizon again. The ash fell around us like snow, turning the ground grey. For once the Martian landscape felt calm and peaceful as if the fires had finally purged the planet of war.

"No, I don't think I am." I told him, I didn't mention that I thought that no Martian would ever set foot on Mars again unless we somehow managed to change our fates. But I knew that even if we won, I would not return here. I was eager to leave it all behind.

MINAKO

I could hardly focus on Ami's interpretation of what they had found. After our arrival back on the Moon we had gathered in the common room where Ami had began pouring over the stolen notes again.

I could still remember landing back on the moon and finding out they'd had no word from the Martian army. Numbly I had given Queen Serenity a report on what had happened on Earth and why we had returned with the Terran king in tow. Surprisingly, the Terran had backed up our version of events and even added in some of his own intel... it was little more than vague suspicion but it had certainly helped make us sound more credible and truthful.

The High Queen seemed to be greatly interested in a few particular details of his story and invited him to join her and her daughter for a meal. It seemed like we had lucked out, the Queen didn't suspect we had a hand in the break down of Lunar-Terran relations. I sighed, wishing that we had completed that diplomatic mission before Rei had to go off on her own.

I glanced back around the room, every so often Ami would comment on what she was learning. It hadn't taken her long to get a grasp on what she was reading.

"The whole city was restructured to harness an energy source or help contain it. From what I can tell there's no energy running through it right now... almost as if its dormant." She paused, looking over at me.

"Are you listening Minako?" Ami asked, Makoto grinned at me.

"You were saying something about a sleeping energy source." I mumbled in reply, thankful that I had tuned into her monologue at the right time. Hopefully I was close enough, I had to at least act like I cared.

"No, that's not..." Ami's voice trailed off again as she considered what I'd said. "Wait, what did Rei say that Hades told her?"

I shrugged, I was too busy scanning the sky for any sign of an approaching shuttle to answer what could be a rhetorical question.

"She told us that an Elder God was waking up." Makoto commented. Ami and I both turned to look at her, surprised that she had taken note of what Rei had said. It was out of character for her.

"What? Just because she wasn't my favourite person at the time doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention." Makoto muttered looking a bit annoyed. Then she frowned, meeting Ami's eyes. "You're not asking what I think you're asking... are you?"

I ran over the bits and pieces of Rei's conversations with Ami as well as the last few moments of conversation. I frowned, this revelation overcoming my concern for Rei at the moment.

"You're making it sound like they're weaponizing the Elder God... but I thought they'd already done that with their army. Why would they need to do it again?" I pointed out, tapping my foot impatiently as I glanced out the window again. There was a very real possibility that this waiting would drive me insane.

"I wouldn't exactly say they're weaponizing it. There are some calculations here I don't recognize, it's more advanced then anything I've ever encountered. It's like it is centered around some basic premise I can't even see in the math. It ties into some of the basic laws of physics but..."

"Would it kill you to speak common?" I gritted out, cutting across Ami's speech. She paused, realizing she was losing us. I almost missed the frustration on her face as I looked away.

"My guess is that the machine was created more to access some form of power or dimension than it is to weapon it." Ami replied, attempting to dumb it down for us.

"Yeah, I'm not even going to ask you to try and explain that further." Makoto muttered. "You're saying it's math you don't even comprehend and the machine related to this math does something we've never experienced before..."

"You shouldn't worry yourself over it too much, I mean we did destroy whatever it was they built so its not like they can use it anytime soon." I told Ami, apparently it was the wrong thing to say and I should have just left this to Makoto. I wasn't in any position to be offering comfort or reassurance at the moment.

"If I can understand what it was they were trying to do maybe I can guess what it is they want from us. We still don't know why we're fighting this war in the first place... other than a god is hungry, which still isn't very specific or helpful. I want to know what it is after and why... I have the feeling this holds the answers and we need to find them. I need to find them." Ami snapped, Makoto reached over and took the papers out of her hands, while shooting a look at me that all but told me to stop making matters worse.

"What you need right now is to take a break." Makoto said gently, closing the notebook and folding up the schematics and diagrams. "Take a step back from it, look at it again later. You just need some distance."

Ami looked ready to snarl at her but didn't have the chance before Haruka spoke up.

"It probably doesn't help that Minako's upping the anxiety in this room to nearly intolerable levels." Haruka commented from the other side of the room, doing her best to be gentle about her rebuke. I glared at her, then softened as I met Michiru's eyes. They were seated next to each other on one of the sofas, leafing through a book and looking like they wanted nothing more than to leave the room. I took a deep breath, knowing that they weren't leaving because they were worried about what would happen if the rest of us continued to rile each other up.

"I'm sorry." I started, realizing that I was broadcasting my emotional state. "I'm probably winding you all up. I thought I had a better handle on my emotions, it's just..."

"You're worried... and that's perfectly understandable." Michiru completed, I could see in her expression she was concerned as well. "We haven't heard from Rei in days."

I nodded, looking back out the window, wishing there was something to distract me from the thought of what could have happened on Mars. I knew from experience that if she died I would know... but that wasn't exactly reassuring. Too much could have gone wrong, death certainly wasn't the worst fate she could suffer. And to make matters worse, she was alone.

I looked back on what I could remember from our time on Earth. I had felt her touch briefly during our visit but it had vanished so quickly. I couldn't tell if that was simply because she had finished what she had needed to do or if it was because she...

I closed my eyes, I could hardly bear to finish that thought. If she was hurt and I couldn't get to her... I sighed, trying to not think about it.

I heard the roar of a shuttle's engines somewhere outside. I looked up, seeing a Martian shuttle coming in for landing. I scrambled out of my seat, hardly able to contain myself as I began racing my way to the shuttle pad. Behind me I could hear Haruka begin to laugh but I couldn't bring myself to care.

By the time I reached the grounds the Martians were already unloading the shuttles. The scorch marks on the landing pad had just begun to cool. From the largest shuttle I saw a trio of familiar faces emerge, Rei flicking hair over her shoulder in an annoyed manner.

The relief I felt crashed through me, almost making me feel faint. Rei's head jerked in my direction, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. I slipped through the chaos of the landing pad with ease, approaching her as quickly as I could. My pace slowed as I drew nearer to her, I could feel the uncertainty within her as well as recognizing it with in myself. We had no idea where we stood with one another at the moment.

The goodbye kiss between us played over in my mind for the hundredth time since we parted ways. I knew it had been a spur of the moment thing, something that had happened because we had both been starting down probable death and neither of us wanted to have regrets.

This situation, however, was completely different. We weren't facing down a primordial fear... we were faced with the even greater challenge of trying to build a functioning relationship. That required a firmer foundation and a more cautious approach.

I closed the distance between us, wrapping her in my arms. My chin brushed against her shoulder as I rested my head against hers. I let my eyes shut as I felt her arms close around me, I simply let myself get lost in feeling her safe. The rise and fall of her breathing. The smell of smoke and fire that accompanied her. Her warmth.

We just stood there for a few minutes, silently embracing each other. Then I could feel her shift slightly her hand brushing the back of my neck, pushing hair over my shoulder before she gently stroked a thumb along my cheek. I leaned back slightly, meeting her eyes and enjoying the smile that had reached them. I stepped back from the hug as she lowered her arm from my body, her hand remained on my cheek. I was about to speak when she closed the distance between us again, brushing her lips over mine briefly before stepping back and letting her hand drop.

"It's good to see you're safe." She told me. The words I'd been about to say refused to come out. The kiss hadn't lasted for more than a second but it...

"You too." I replied, unable to adequately address how it had made me feel. "I was worried."

Rei nodded in understanding before looking towards the Palace. I took her hand in mine.

"How did things go on Earth?" Rei asked and rather than the change of topic surprising me, it felt normal. We had addressed the emotional stuff and now we had a job to do. The transition felt natural, I nodded in the direction of the palace.

"I'll fill you in before you go to the throne room to give the High Queen the full report of what happened on Mars."

SETSUNA

We all listened as Rei described the events of Mars to us. The swarming of shadows over her world, their strategies, and a more accurate assessment of their abilities. But that wasn't what caught Ami and Minako's attention... it was when Rei started to talk about the mountain top and what had happened there.

I wasn't really paying attention to the story she was telling, I had already seen it. I was more interested in watching their interactions. Like the way Minako's fingers ran over the bandage on Rei's arm. The way Ami leaned forward at the mention of the portal.

I looked over to Rei as she began to tell us why the portal had shut, the others now knew what had given the game away back on Earth. The death of Nephrite had reverberated across the worlds, sparking war between the two factions. In Rei's eyes I could see the words she didn't say; it was my fault. She had wanted peace for the others, even if she couldn't have it herself.

After her description of the Nephrite's death, the rest of the battle only received a sentence or so of description, it was glossed over in a manner that made me realize she and Minako were going to speak more about it later.

"...And that's pretty much it." Rei completed with a sigh, brushing hair back from her face with one hand, allowing her fingers to trail through it slowly, as if she were distracting herself from something.

"We were all lucky it seems." Minako commented, looking at me with eyes that said she knew it hadn't been luck that got them out of that mess. "Now all that we need to know is what the High Queen wants us to do."

I did my best not to frown. I knew what was coming, the end was drawing near and Queen Serenity would do nothing to prevent it. It seemed we had finally tipped past the point of no return. War had finally reached the Moon. The stakes were set and now all we had to do was watch it play out.

When I looked back at the group I saw that Rei was watching me.

"You know something." Rei acknowledged and that was all she had to say to bring me to everyone's attention.

"I know a great many things." I replied calmly, knowing that this was the time to reveal one of my many bits of knowledge.

"Do you know something you can tell us?" Haruka asked from where she had been seated in silence for most of the conversation. I looked over at her, she knew as well as anyone that there were things I could not reveal and while she did not always respect that... she was doing her best this time.

"Another Old One is stirring." There was a collective uneasiness at my words. "There is no cause for alarm, it is approaching the world in a different manner than the one before it. It is... curious, for lack of a better term."

"How do you know this? Your father?" Minako asked me.

"Ah.. no, we don't exactly speak." I told them, hoping they wouldn't insist on prying into this matter. It was complicated and we didn't exactly have time for it. "This information comes from your relative not mine, Minako."

"My moth... you mean Aphrodite?" She asked, in surprise. I nodded, knowing that Prometheus would knock on the door before they could begin to pester me for details I could not give.

REI

I looked over to Prometheus then back to Setsuna. Talking to her was still an odd experience, it always felt as if you were missing out on the majority of what was said or occurred.

"Yes?" I asked Prometheus.

"The High Queen wants to hear about what happened on Mars." He told me, his voice was laced with a mild tone of annoyance or frustration. Probably at the fact we had to give a report on a fight that she hadn't wanted to take place at all. She had said it was Martian business and no one else's... and now she wanted an update.

It was an understandable response on his part. The war only affected the Martians so it should have simply been their business, not the whole Lunar court.

I got to my feet and was surprised when the others followed suit. They had already heard the story, why were they bothering to join us?

"We talked about it on the shuttle back from Earth, Rei. Nothing is going to stop us from standing together against Earth, even if Queen Serenity doesn't necessarily agree with that course of action." Makoto explained with a shrug when I caught her eye. "We're all in this war now."

"With King Endymion on the Moon we thought it might cross the High Queen's mind to try diplomacy once again and seeing that one of their generals was killed on Mars..." Ami explained, obviously thinking that Serenity would try sell out the Martians to Earth in exchange for peace.

"She stated when we left that Mars would fight this war alone. It's an outcome we were prepared for then and now." I replied with a shrug, knowing from the look in Setsuna's eyes that when we walked into that room the High Queen would declare war. Before anyone else could argue or object Prometheus cut in.

"You don't want to keep the High Queen waiting, do you Rei?" He prodded, obviously wanting to get this over with.

I followed him out of the common room to the throne room, where the High Queen sat with King Endymion and her daughter. Nereid and Proteus were also present, standing off to one side. It seemed they just been giving the Queen an update of some kind. Nereid smiled at me, a look of relief evident in her expression. I gave her a small smile before devoting my attention to the High Queen.

"Your Majesty." I greeted, with a slight bow. "You desired an update?"

"Mars Rei, it is a relief to see you again." She told me and I could have sworn I heard warmth in her voice. Prometheus folded his arms across his chest and scoffed slightly.

"Can we move this along? I imagine Rei has better things to do than give you an update on a war you didn't want us to fight." Prometheus stated, meeting the High Queen's gaze steadily. There was disapproval in both of their eyes. I sighed, feeling Minako come to stand next to me. Her hand slipped in to mine as I tried not to let myself get too annoyed by the High Queen or the Autokrator.

"Perhaps now isn't the time for this conversation? Rei is merely here to provide you with information, I suggest you let her continue." Nereid suggested to the High Queen. Serenity looked between her and I and then nodded.

"I'm listening."

"The invasion of Mars was quite similar to that of the other planets, at least in the initial stages. The fact that the armies of Mars are... substantial slowed the progression across the planet so that we were able to choose where and when we engaged them in open warfare."

"While surveying the battle I came across evidence Terran involvement with the shadows, though you probably have already been briefed on that by the Commander and her team." I stated, nodding slightly in Minako's direction. Serenity gestured for me to continue. "One of the Terran Generals, Nephrite was on Mars directing their troops. I imagine he was also present on Uranus and Neptune as well."

I paused, taking a breath and collecting my thoughts. Nephrite's presence was still bothering me.

"He seemed convinced that my involvement on Mars meant we, the Martians and Terrans, would be able to come to terms. He wished to return and discuss the matter with Beryl, it sounded as though they were simply trying to isolate the Moon from its allies. I'm still not entirely sure what they're after from you or your people, your Majesty, but I know there is something driving them..."

"It's not relevant." The High Queen stated curtly as if she already knew what it was they were after. "What matters now is that we are at war."

"With all due respect your majesty, we might better be able to counteract our enemies movements if we know what is is they want." Ami reasoned, coming to stand next to me.

"I have told you it is irrelevant. Mars Rei has managed to defeat them, we shall continue along this path until we reach its end." The Queen said sharply, her eyes stern.

MINAKO

I watched as Rei glanced at Ami, giving a slight shake of her head. Ami sighed, her gaze returning to the High Queen as she gave a bow.

"As you wish your majesty..." Ami murmured.

"If that's all, I believe we have other matters to attend to." I stated, drawing the High Queen's attention to myself. She nodded dismissively, however Prometheus stepped forward. He looked ready to confront the High Queen. My attention was hastily diverted to Rei as she sucked in a breath. Through my bond with her I felt a stirring of something with in her. A darkness.

I reached out to her as her hand settled over her heart, her eyes closed and I could feel her attempts to steady herself.

"Rei...?" I prompted, worry beginning to tinge my tone.

Her eyes shot open as the sound of an explosion reverberated through the throne room. It was close... what ever it was.

"A Terran portal has been opened." Rei stated, stepping between me and the door. "Something's coming."

The door was forced open, an anxious looking guard stepped through it. Prometheus had turned away from his brewing confrontation with the High Queen to watch the man carefully. I had noticed the forced casualness of his stance and the way his hand had drifted towards his sword.

"There's..." The guard stammered, his face was white and his hair was windblown. "There's a..."

"A what?" Prometheus demanded, apparently annoyed at the man's fumbling. Rei was frowning again, her eyes had yet to leave the door way. I could still feel the darkness inside her twisting and churning.

"A messenger. From Earth." The guard told him shakily, still looking at the High Queen as he tried to gather his composure. The High Queen nodded, looking to Rei and Prometheus.

"If one of you would accompany him in, I would appreciate it." She requested, looking more at Prometheus than Rei. Prometheus let out a soft growl of displeasure as he glanced towards the door.

"They've made their intentions clear." He gritted out. "A dead messenger would supply them with their answer easily enough."

"On the Moon, messengers are protected by the rules of engagement as they are crucial to reestablishing peace." Artemis informed him, his tone was firm – almost reproachful. Prometheus shook his head and muttered something in Martian. I got the impression he was cursing. Neither he nor Rei were moving towards the door. I had to admit, I kind of agreed with them. Queen Serenity had already told us she was... unwilling to come to terms.

"I'll see them in." Artemis said, walking towards the door. When there were no complaints, he stepped through. My worry for him must have been apparent for Rei reached back and gave my hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. The door eased open again and the person who accompanied Artemis back into the room grabbed our full attention.

"By Zeus." Makoto swore quietly, sounding appalled. "They're using children..."

My heart twisted painfully in my chest as I watched the child walk towards the throne. He was no more than twelve and very possibly younger than that. Through Rei an unfamiliar emotion rippled through me, however she was quick to force it down.

"What message have you come to deliver?" Luna asked from her place at the Queen's side, looking slightly troubled.

"We do not ask your surrender or even for your lives. We merely ask you give us The Source... and then this war may end without bloodshed." The boy replied.

"The Source?" I heard Ami ask sharply. I caught the look that passed between Luna and Artemis but I didn't fully understand its significance.

The child turned his head in Ami's direction. His eyes clearly showing his youth, the innocence and life about him.

"That is all we require." He stated clearly.

"I thought that was just a myth..." Ami breathed, I could feel the awe and disbelief coursing through her.

"It is a myth. Nothing more than folktale and fantasy." The High Queen cut in, eyeing the boy coolly. Ami was frowning now. I looked over at her, catching her eye with a questioning look. She shook her head, her eyes flicking to the High Queen with apparent mistrust.

"Give it to us or your cities shall burn." The boy repeated as if he had not heard the Queen.

"What you ask is impossible." The Queen told him sternly.

PROMETHEUS

I was watching the boy carefully as he listened to the Queen's refusal; a scowl grew on his face, looking like a petulant child. I looked over the top of his head at Rei, her face was inscrutable but I knew this was troubling her.

"We are many. There are legions waiting to tear you apart..

"This is sounding less and less like a message and more like a threat, what do you think Rei?" I asked conversationally. Rei remained silent, keeping her attention on the boy.

"That bitch had the power to stop this but she didn't. Power like that is nothing unless you use it." The child hissed in response to my words, his eyes falling contemptuously on Queen Serenity.

"You could have saved us." The boy hissed at the Queen with a feral look on his face.

The child lunged at the High Queen, snarling madly. He barely got two steps before he was stopped short by a vicious backhand across the face. Rei had spun into his path faster than I had imagined possible. It was as if she had been expecting this reaction. Rei's face was frozen as she reached down and dragged him away from the High Queen before hauling him back to his feet. I drew my sword, lowering the tip so it brushed against the boy's throat.

"You could have saved us!" The boy repeated with a snarl, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

I stepped forward, placing myself between the child and Queen Serenity. I did not like the expression on his face, I had see that look before – it was a wild conviction that would only be appeased by blood.

I found my attention diverted to Rei instead. Her knuckles where white where she gripped the boy's arm. I reached over, roughly grasping the boy's shirt before nodding at her. She released him, taking a step back towards Minako and Serenity.

"What is your true purpose here?" I asked him. "It does not seem like you are here to negotiate peace..."

REI

I kept a close watch on the boy, keenly aware of the eyes on me. I couldn't bring myself to look at Minako, fearful of what I might see there if I did. Violence was never something she took lightly. And it was violence against a child no less...

"I asked you a question." Prometheus prompted, the harshness in his voice along with the sword in his had seemed to be quelling the boy's fury. Fear was taking it's place. The dark had retreated back inside the boy for the moment, though I could feel it preparing to attack again.

"Beryl looks after us. She cares for us. Not like her... she was given the chance to help and she didn't." The child whined, sounding like a beaten animal. Despite the pitiful picture he presented I had a hard time believing it, that darkness and drive was just below the surface. "We need The Source to make this right."

"That did not answer my question." Prometheus stated, kneeling in front of the child in a casual manner. "I asked you why you are here. I expect a proper answer this time or I shall draw one forth through more conventional means."

The child looked up at Prometheus, a bit of a smirk growing on his face. Eventually the snivelling child was gone and left in his place was what could only be described as a fanatic.

"I am here to remove the need for negotiations... and failing that I am to deliver a message."

"Remove the need for negotiations?" Serenity asked, the child grinned. The darkness was once again threatening to spill out of the container of his body.

"You." He clarified, his smile bloody. Prometheus looked to the High Queen and in the instant Prometheus was distracted the boy twisted out of his grip, a concealed dagger being drawn.

Instantly I knew how this would unfold were the boy to live. I watched it play out before my eyes.

He would make an attempt on Serenity's life, Makoto would manage to intercept the killing blow before it landed. She would pay dearly for that... and then the boy would be escorted in chains to a makeshift prison in the basement of the palace. The Lunar guard, unaccustomed to witnessing a child in chains, would make several vital mistakes allowing for his escape.

I refused to watch any more play out, deciding to end it before it started. I stepped into his path for the second time, slipping one of the knives from my belt as I caught the boy by the throat with one hand. I jerked him off his feet, bringing him to the ground as I brought the knife to rest between his ribs. I stood, bringing the weapon with me. My jaw tightened, once again I could not bring myself to turn around.

MINAKO

The room exploded with emotion when we saw what Rei had done. The boy was bleeding on the ground, having clearly been dealt a mortal wound. I felt sick, not, I think because of what Rei had done... but rather because of what she was feeling. Her shoulders were stiff, looking like she was braced for an attack.

Fear gripped her, the coldness of the feeling seeping throughout her entire being. She feared us, what we would think, what we would say. The sensation was so consuming there was nothing else in her at the moment. No shame over what she had done, just apprehension over what would come next. My words were to be the knife in the back that she was always expecting. I swallowed down my own emotions, stepping forward and resting a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay." I managed to whisper as I rested my forehead against her back. I felt Rei relax despite the turmoil of emotions that welled up within her after my words. There wasn't time to sort through them as the boy coughed wetly.

"You asked me why I was here..." The boy whispered, looking at Prometheus with an expression almost too calm for someone who was dying. Prometheus knelt down beside him, listening carefully.

"I am the message." The boy murmured, his gaze falling upon the blood on Rei's blade. "More are coming..."

There was a stillness about the throne room as his last breath left his body. A stifling rage built up in the room, High Queen Serenity had risen from her seat with a light in her eyes.

"He was a child!" She exclaimed, looking at Rei in shock and judgement. Rage and grief made up the aghast tone of her voice.

"The boy was here to kill you. No cell would hold him, no one would stand in his way until he had accomplished what he came here to do. Your people are not ready for this type of warfare, your highness, all you see is a child – what he was... was a weapon; a belief, an ideal." Rei replied, I could feel her grip on her composure was tenuous. Her shoulders and arms were tensed like she was trying to stop herself from shaking.

"You can't kill an ideal, you can only kill those who uphold it." Prometheus finished for Rei, then he met her gaze... looking concerned. "I would have done that Rei, you didn't need to..."

"What's done is done." She told him, not looking in his direction.

"I'll take care of the rest." He said, a gentleness in his voice. "You're dismissed."

Rei immediately turned on heel and headed for the exit. The High Queen opened her mouth, I could still feel her anger.

"She is my soldier before she is yours." Prometheus cautioned her. "I have given her permission to go, leave it at that."

I glanced at the two of them before ducking out of the room after Rei, I could hear the others following me.

AN: Sorry for the delay. What doesn't kill you and all that... Long story short, it should never have taken me that long to update no matter what was going on in my life. Brain malfunctions included.