Second chapter of Act III up! With this we close the story of Colette's life in Iselia.
Now, some of my readers reported on Forcystus looking a little OOC in the last chapter, but some of them guessed correctly it is because of the demon blood injected in him. You can't have a person inject with the blood of an entirely different kind of creature and not expect him to go under some changes, both physical and mental. You'll notice the other Desian Grand Cardinals are more violent here than their canon counterparts.
Some people also thought that the yuri couple of the fic is Colette and the OC Maki. Let me remind you that in the last chapter I said that one of the members of the yuri couple would appear. You'll soon see what I meant.
Now let's get on with the warnings: this chapter could be fitted in the tragedy gender and also contains a fair amount of gore. Also, there's OC death here, so, you have been warned.
Before we get one with the heavy thing, let's relax with a skit to see how the rest of the heroes are doing. This one is between Emil/Ratatosk, Lloyd, Marta, Tenebrae, Aqua, Sheena and Raine.
Travelers 1
Lloyd: Man, riding in those dragons was awesome! I can't wait to try again.
Ratatosk: Knowing you, you'll get bored in five seconds at the next ride.
Lloyd: What's that supposed to mean?
Marta: Guys, let's stop fighting. Why don't we enjoy the meal? Ratatosk, would you like some of my homemade cooking?
Ratatosk: Hum…
Emil: No thanks… I'm full, Marta. Hehe.
Marta: Oh, okay. What about you Lloyd?
Ratatosk: If you wish to live, better say "no".
Lloyd: Hum… no thanks. I'm waiting to see what Sheena is making.
Tenebrae: Oh, already being picky about what you eat. I wonder how long it will take until you decide to go to the next stage.
Lloyd: You know, I'm starting to agree with Aqua when she says you're spiteful.
Tenebrae: How rude. I was merely making an observation.
Aqua: Nobody cares, Tenebonehead.
Raine: Well, since you're all so full with enthusiasm, how about trying some of my personal cooking?
Emil: Sure.
Lloyd: Yeah. It kinda looks interesting.
Emil & Lloyd: …
Raine: So, how is it?
Lloyd: Must… enter… spirit… form… to prevent… from… dyeing…
Emil: I… don't feel… very good…
Ratatosk: I think I'm… going to revert to… my core again…
Aqua: Hum, Raine what did you gave them to make them look like they're dying?
Raine: Oh, it's just noodles. Well, actually I also experimented putting some green pepper, onions, radish, cabbage and heated it all up. I think that would be the first vegetarian noodle dish in history. Once it's perfected, it's going to be revolutionary!
Sheena: I think I'll cook from now on if we are expected to survive through our travels.
Chapter 18
To Break your Heart
Colette found herself fidgeting during dinner and often casting glances at her mother, who at some point noticed and looked at her with an inquisitive glance. Colette gave a fake smile to dispel any worry, however, she was sure her mother had seen right through it. The two had mastered passing their feelings through simple expressions or body gestures after all.
When it was time to go to bed, Colette decided she couldn't procrastinate anymore and asked her mother if they could talk alone. Amelia nodded knowingly and the two went to her room. Once inside, mother and daughter sat on the older blonde's bed. Amelia then waited for her daughter to talk while Colette collected her thoughts and tried to think on the best way to speak.
"Um… mom… there's something… that I need to tell you…" Colette said in an unsure tone of voice. Amelia smiled gently, encouraging her. "Well… do you remember my friend… Maki?" Amelia nodded. "It's… she and I… we actually…" her mother tilted her head to the side, waiting for her to resume her speech. Colette drew in a deep breath, trying to soothe her nerves. Here goes nothing. "Mom, I… I like her… I mean, I really, really like her."
It took Amelia a total of five seconds to guess what kind of "like" Colette was talking about. When she did, her eyes widened in surprise.
"M-mom?" Colette asked, worry in her voice.
For the first time since she could recall, Colette didn't have any idea of what could be her mother's thoughts and feelings about the situation. Even though the two had developed means to communicate, there were certain occasions when one was too nervous, surprised or shocked that it tended to fail.
Colette then saw her mother reaching for a nearby notebook she kept close to her bed. The blue-eyed girl gulped subconsciously. Her mother only communicated with her through writing when she wanted to leave a very clear message, so there would be no space for her daughter to misinterpret her. Colette observed, her heart beating like a drum in her ears, as her mother reached for a nearby pen and started writing in a page of her notebook.
Amelia then showed her daughter her message, which said, in an inclined writing:
When did you realize it?
"Well…" Colette said, unsure what the question could hint about her mother's reaction to the news. "Today me and Maki… we were… taking a stroll and…" she decided to leave the part about the Human Ranch out so as to not only worry and possibly anger her mother. "we sort of kissed."
Again Amelia seemed mildly surprised. Colette lowered her head and didn't catch the sweet smile her mother gave as she wrote again. When she was done, she put her hand on Colette's and the girl looked up, fixating her eyes on the notebook:
Don't worry about it. I've got to know some good women who are lesbians. Just because they made this choice, it doesn't mean they're different from any other person.
Colette was surprised at her mother's written words. Amelia flipped the page and began writing again, soon showing another message:
This choice makes part of who you are. For me, you'll always be my daughter, no matter what kind of tastes, sexual preferences or even career choices you make. I'll always be here to protect and support you, my little angel, Colette.
Colette then looked to her mother, who simply smiled to her one of the most radiant, reassuring smiles the two were so known by. The younger blonde felt tears of relief coming to her eyes as she hugged her mother, not being able to express how that had lifted a huge weight off her chest. Amelia sat the notebook aside as she tenderly stroked her daughter's hair with a content expression on her face, letting Colette relieve all of the stress she was sure her daughter had been holding onto.
That night the two decided to sleep in the same bed, Colette having gone to sleep right after her tears had ended, emotionally spent from the confession. Her mother happily set her daughter on the side of her bed, while going to sleep herself, embracing Colette in a comforting hug.
- / - / - / - / - / -
Forcystus was briefing his soldiers as they were at the entrance of the Iselia Forest, near the road to Iselia. He had announced first thing in the morning that he would be taking a handful of soldiers for an operation of invasion and capture in Iselia. The troops were surprised at that, but eager to do it none the less.
"Ok, listen up! This mission will require swiftness and efficiency on your part. Iselia has a pretty decent guard, as you all know. Fortunately, our benefactor informed us they will be going to do some field training and most of the city will be attending a sermon in the churches of several districts.
"Our mission is simple: We are to invade the southeast district and apprehend a human girl by the name Colette Brunel. Here…" he took off a projector device and pointed it forward. A holographic image of their target was shown. "...is her visual description. Now, as you all know, Cruxis protect this city…" Forcystus had to suppress the urge to snicker at that. "...but they will not be a hindrance, that is, if we can do this quick enough.
"Our contractor guaranteed he can give us thirty minutes, but no more!" Forcystus emphasized. "So, anybody I see sidetracking, or acting out of the scope of the mission will be punished," Forcystus passed his eyes over the entire crowd to make his point. "Other than that, you are free to do as you please, but remember: the target is to be taken alive! So you must focus on rounding the citizens in the plaza located near the south gate."
The Desian soldiers saluted, confirming their understanding of the orders. Forcystus smiled. That was how he liked to operate; clean and with efficiency as the main premise. If they managed to secure the target within the time limit, he might even allow his men to have some fun with the rest of the time they had in the city.
The green haired Cardinal opened space to any questions, but none of his men asked anything. They had understood what needed to be made. When Forcystus was about to close the briefing, a familiar voice sounded in the clearing:
"I have a question: is there space for two more?"
Oh, Great One, please let it not be her. Forcystus thought with a grim expression on his face. He looked past his troops and, to his horror, saw Alice and her subordinate/slave coming. Crap…
"So, you're taking a stroll around the town, Forcy. But I wonder…" Alice said in her sweet, baby voice. "Is it okay for you to just attack a Cruxis city like that?"
Forcystus opened space through his subordinates, coming face-to-face with Alice. He hid his discomfort behind a serious expression. Back in the Ginnungagap, when the Grand Cardinals and the Desian Generals united for their Game Night (as Forcystus called it) to relief the stress of work, Alice was always present and tried everything that she could to call his attention.
He didn't know if the girl was infatuated with him or if she was just considering making him her toy (the latter made him shudder every time he thought on it), but he knew that out of all the Desian Grand Cardinals, he was the one she liked the most.
According to Alice, Magnius was too much brawny for her tastes. Kvar she didn't have time to consider. Pronyma was a hag and Rodyle was plain creepy (Forcystus snickered when he heard that). So that left him, the youngest and most attractive, according to Alice that is. In the beginning, he though having a fan was nice, but after she started talking with him using some innuendos behind her speech of what she would like to do to him if they were alone, he decided he definitely wasn't a masochist.
"And what are you doing here? From what I heard, Lord Nebilim gave you a reprimand," Forcystus said.
"Oh, but he just said that Alice couldn't chase after Ratatosk, not that she couldn't leave the Ginnungagap," Decus pointed out, shaking his finger.
Forcystus eyed the human. Sometimes he didn't know if he should loath Decus, considering he was of the same race that was responsible for the loss of his arm and almost killed him, or be amused by the fact Alice kept him around. She always said she liked having her personal servant, but Forcystus suspected there was more to it.
"Yeah, so we decided to come and pay you a visit," Alice said.
"Well, as you can see, I'm in the middle of a mission, so now isn't a good time to chat," Forcystus said, relieved he had an excuse. He tried once to deny Alice. Needless to say, the result hadn't been pretty.
"Oh, really? And what is it about?"
Forcystus seethed behind his teeth. Why did the girl have to be so insistent?
"It's a simple retrieval operation, nothing more."
"In Iselia. Isn't that going against… ?" Decus asked, just to be interrupted.
"I don't have to answer that to the two of you. So, if you don't mind… ?" Forcystus was interrupted by Alice before he could finish.
"To help? Of course! Things have been so boring in the Ginnungagap," Alice said in a pouting voice. "And you won't believe what Pronyhag said to me the other day."
"As much as I would like to hear it, I don't have time for this," Forcystus said, his patience wearing thin. "And though I appreciate it, I don't need any help."
Alice seemed to consider that for a moment. Forcystus dared to hope she would just turn and leave, but he had no such luck:
"Then I'll just watch. It's always entertaining to see those humans running for their dear lives when we arrive," she said with the sweetest of smiles.
Forcystus put his palm on his face, dragging his hand across it in exasperation. Sometimes, he really wished Alice accepted Decus' obvious feelings for her and left him alone. Deciding they were already getting late on schedule as it was, the marksman had no other option, but to comply:
"Fine. Just don't get in the way, or I'm going to report you for obstruction."
With that, Forcystus gave the signal and his troops started to move. Alice seemed to beam as she followed him side-by-side. Decus looked to the ground, but followed the two. He didn't like his object of affection following so eagerly another man, but if that was her wish he could do nothing, but to comply…
- / - / - / - / - / -
Colette, her mother and Frank left the church as the sermon ended. This day, the priest had reinforced the Faith's teaching of not meddling with demonic affairs. Colette always listened to the sermons, but sometimes compared the way they preached with her grandmother's. Phaidra often recited the teachings that taught about the necessity of uniting and correcting the wrongs of the past, but in a way to encourage people to do their best.
Sometimes, the blond girl thought that the priests were too much on the recriminatory side, like they were accusing them of having done something wrong. It was true nobody was perfect and people needed to get better, but a little encouragement could also help.
"Hey, Colette!" said girl turned and saw Maki weaving to her. Colette waved back and asked her mother if she could go. Amelia nodded with a smile and let her daughter go meet her best friend. "So, looks like things went smooth with you and your mother," Maki said once the two of them reunited.
"Yup. Mother said she'll always support me, no matter my tastes," Colette said with her radiant smile in place as they walked.
"Man, I'm so jealous of you," Maki said. "Are you sure I can't borrow your mother for one month or two?"
The two girls laughed at that. They decided to go to the nearby ice cream shop, Maki wanted to try out a new flavor they had. After purchasing their sweets the two continued their walk, licking their ice creams.
It was then Maki looked to Colette and pointed to her cheek, saying she got some ice cream on it. Colette was about to wipe it until Maki said to leave her take care of it. The blond girl said "okay", but to her surprise, her friend kissed her cheek. Before, Colette wouldn't have minded it, now though, it made her blush.
"You know, you're also cute when you blush like that," Maki said, smirking. That only made Colette's blush intensify.
The red head was about to say something else when the sound of an explosion made them stop and look behind. They saw smoke rising in the distance, near the walls of the city. More explosions sounded, one of them close enough to make the ground shake.
It was then the two saw people running in panic and the vendors leaving the buildings to see what happened.
"What's going on?" Colette asked in a worried tone.
"THE DESIANS! THE DESIANS INVADED THE TOWN!" somebody screamed as he ran.
"Desians?" Colette exclaimed.. "But… how?"
"The Martel Knights went to do field training this morning," Maki said. She then looked to where the first explosion had come from. "Those bastards probably waited for the opportunity."
- / - / - / - / - / -
The plaza near the south gate was in pandemonium. Desians restrained some civilians, pulling women through their hair and hauling children over their shoulders, throwing them unceremoniously on the space they had made to isolate those to be investigated. Those who tried to resist were quickly killed.
Forcystus looked around the plaza with a satisfied smirk. He then heard somebody shout his name. He looked and saw the Mayor of Iselia, Cruxis' representative, making his way towards him. The green haired Desian knew this would happen, so he left his troops warned before hand to let the mayor come to him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Morton said in an angry scowl. "We made the favor to stay clear from your lands and even stated a municipal law for nobody to disturb the ranch and you do this?"
This inferior being trying to preach to me about gratitude? Human ignorance sure knows no bounds. Forcystus thought. The scene was, in the very least, amusing to him. "Don't come talking about deception to me, human. We're here because two of yours meddled with our ranch."
"And what proofs do you have of that?" Morton demanded.
"Oh, I'll show them soon enough. In the meantime…" he snapped his fingers and two Whip Masters flanked Morton, who looked around in surprise and fear. "Would you mind waiting with your people?"
The Mayor of Iselia threw back a look of hatred at the Cardinal, but went where his people was being rounded, notwithstanding. Alice giggled at that, standing at a fair distance from the green haired Desian. Forcystus called a nearby Commander and asked him if they had located Colette yet.
"Not yet sir. Some inferior beings are escaping to the other districts, though. We're having some trouble rounding them."
"That can be a problem…" Forcystus mused. If they killed the girl, it could complicate things. His visitor hadn't specified why he wanted the girl, but said it was imperative to capture her alive. The Desian Grand Cardinal decided it was time to get serious. "Alice…" he called. The girl came to him, almost jumping in anticipation. "it seems I'll have to take up your offer to help."
"Glad you finally realized it," Alice said with excitement.
The Desian General stood in a casting stance, a green-poison circle appearing beneath her as she chanted in demonic. Forcystus had watched her do that in training and knew she was a demonic summoner. It was then two portals of the same color as the runic circle beneath Alice opened. Several pairs of arms with sharp claws appear from them and creatures of sinister appearance jumped out.
These demons resembled a cross between a spider and a snake. Its body was long and its tail ended with a big, pointed arrow. Most of its body was of an ashen color, with yellow, short hair on its head and long tongues that were constantly out. Eight long arms with sharp, silver claws sprouted from the middle of the demons' bodies, but it was the creatures' face the main responsible for the fame they carried.
The demons didn't have lips, so they had their white, sharp fangs always at the show. Their eyes were of a vibrant yellow, with black slits and a gaze that could only be described as that of madness. Anybody that gazed into those eyes immediately shook in fear as the creatures simply looked down on them with glee at what they would do to them.
Savage Slashers. Quite the nasty things. Forcystus thought. He knew those demons were fast, so no ordinary human could escape them, and they could tear apart anything in a matter of seconds.
Alice passed some instructions to the creatures in demonic tongue. The demons nodded, with growls and grumbles, and soon darted across the plaza and the streets in the fashion of true spiders. The honey-eyed girl looked to Forcystus and smiled at him. The green haired marksman met it with a reluctant expression.
"I hope you at least told them we need the girl alive," Forcystus said.
"Oh, I know…" Alice said. Her tone soon turned malicious and her smile fanged as she giggled. "But that doesn't mean they can't have some fun with the other humans."
- / - / - / - / -
The skies started to get clouded and the sun was hidden. Colette and Maki ran across the streets, trying to flee from the Desians. They heard most people were being captured and those that tried to resist were quickly killed by the invaders.
The houses were either being searched by Desian parties or burned to the ground so nobody could use them as a hiding spot. However, the true horror had just started.
Colette and Maki arrived at the crossroads and saw a crowd of people fleeing, between them children and women. Something dropped from the roof of a nearby building in front of them. The women screamed and protected the children as the otherworldly being stood on eight, long legs, or were it arms?
The demon looked to the crowd in front of it with those yellow, evil eyes which seemed to emanate a feeling of bloodthirsty madness. The crowd immediately panicked and tried to flee. They didn't get too far as the demon crouched and leapt forward. Colette briefly saw several white lines in the air before more than half of the fleeing citizens were instantly cut down, blood flying and splashing everywhere.
The demon didn't give the survivors any time to analyze the scene before it extended its tail, the arrow point piercing one boy and one woman on the chest. The creature then turned with a screech, grabbing the nearest person and opening it mouth up in ninety degrees and put the man's waist near inside it. The deadly jaws closed and the man was snapped in two like he was a twig. The other citizens snapped out of their stupor and tried to leave, just for two more demons to land in front of them and tear the last survivors to shreds with their claws.
Colette felt nauseous just looking at the scene and Maki brought her hands to her mouth. Suddenly, Colette felt dizzy. Her consciousness faltering between reality and what she assumed could only be a dream:
A village completely destroyed… fire… bodies everywhere… blood… a strange armor… red…
Colette was shaken out of her stupor by Maki, who saw she was back to reality and grabbed her hand, the two running away from the scene as the demons gathered over the remains of the people and started to devour it like starving wolfs. In their frantic run, Colette and Make ended up near their school. The building was being searched by the Desians, who were forcing people out of it and turning classrooms upside down.
"Colette! Maki!" a familiar voice called and they turned to see Lilla running to them. There were some bloodstains on her dress, but aside from that she looked unharmed.
Colette and the red head were relieved to see their friend… just for their hearts to stop when a familiar, eight-legged creature landed behind the blue haired girl with a thud. Colette tried to warn her and Lilla stopped and turned, just to see the creature glaring at her with maniacal glee as it raised its sharp claws.
The world seemed to go silent as the claw cut the air. The only sound Maki and Colette registered was the soft thud of Lilla's decapitated head hitting the ground, followed by her body. Colette couldn't hold anymore and went all on four, purging the contents of her last meal out of her stomach as tears came to the corner of Maki's eyes at staring at the corpse of their old friend.
When Colette recovered, the demon had noticed their presence. The two girl's blood ran cold as they gazed into the mad, big, yellow orbs. The demon seemed to scan them for some time until its eyes locked on Colette and the creature let out some short of loud growl. Colette decided that was the cue for them to run and grabbed Maki's arm as they sprint away of the scene, demons starting to appear and coming after them.
The blonde and red head passed by several alleys, some too narrow for the demons to fit in, forcing the creatures to follow them through the roofs as they tried to grab Colette with their long claws. One attempt ended up ripping the shoulder of Colette's white dress and jacket with blue linings. But what disturbed her the most was that she could smell the blood on the demon's sharp claws.
After many turns and running, the girls seemed to have shaken off their pursuers. They were now hiding in an alley that gave view to the entire South Gate plaza. There, the two could see good part of the citizens rounded up in a circled and watched by the Desians.
"Uncle!" Maki exclaimed, recognizing the mayor flanked by two Desians.
"Don't shout Maki. They might hear us," Colette said.
"I know, but…"
"Lord Forcystus!" a Desian called out.
The two girls then looked to the edge of the plaza and saw three Desians wearing different uniforms. One of them had a golden, eye patch-like device and an arm-cannon in place of his right arm. The other was a blond girl with cream-colored vests who appeared to be around Colette's age. The other was a man with blue hair arranged in a ponytail and leaning on an iron maiden besides him.
It was then that Colette noticed one Desian running to the one with the arm-cannon. Colette strained her ears to hear what they were talking. She was never gladder for her excellent hearing.
"We found somebody that matched the description, but…" the Desian started.
"Bring her!" the green haired, Forcystus, obviously, commanded.
"Right away, Sir!"
The Desian made a signal for other two that brought in…
Mother! Colette mentally screamed at seeing her mother being pushed forward by two Desians. Amelia seemed to be struggling a little, but didn't seem to be intimidated or scared at being brought to the commander Desian.
"Now, now, Forcy," the blond Desian girl said. "I didn't know you were looking for a plaything. So, that's the secret mission you couldn't tell me about?"
"Shut up, Alice," Forcystus talked back. The blue haired man made a look of who wanted to jump at the green haired Desian, but restrained himself. "That's not her, though the resemblance is quite remarkable…" Forcystus mused. "Ah, yes. That's probably the mother."
Colette swallowed dry. Those Desians were looking for her. She then remembered the incident yesterday. They probably were doing it in retribution for her and Maki having invaded the terrain of the ranch. The red headed girl at her side had a look that mixed fear and guilt.
"If that's the case, can I have her? I always wanted to have a plaything, but Lord Nebilim never allowed me to get one from any of the missions I went," the Alice girl said with some glee in her voice.
"I never knew you were into girls," Forcystus commented, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.
"Alice, darling… are you… ?" the blue haired man asked, seemed a little hesitant.
"Don't look at me like that, you two," Alice replied in a reprimanding tone. "To me, a toy is a toy. It's not like I'm going to give her flowers and take her to a date or anything," she smiled a sweet smile again. "I just wanna play with her a little. You understand, right Forcy?" she said with a baby tone that Colette found quite creepy.
"Whatever you say…" Forcystus shrugged. "Bring the woman."
Colette finally had enough. She wouldn't let them arrest her mother because of her. Ignoring Maki's protests, she rushed to the plaza, passing some Desians, who were caught off guard when she arrived. The blonde then screamed:
"STOP!"
Forcystus and the others looked at who dared to interrupt them. Amelia looked up and now showed fear at seeing her daughter coming. Forcystus showed a look of comprehension as he saw the blond girl. Maki came right after.
"Ah. So you're Colette Brunel. Am I right?" the Desian asked.
"Let my mother go!" Colette said, trying not to show fear, but her legs were shaking like crazy after everything she saw that day.
"Hahaha! And what makes you think you're in position to make such demands?" he then turned to the other citizens that were rounded up.
Forcystus threw a look at his troops. The Desians nodded in understanding and broke the circle that was barring the denizens of Iselia, going to the entrances of the plaza to block them and cut off any attempt at escape. The Savage Slashers came too, making the Desian troops look even more intimidating. Above them, lightning started to crack in the skies as the clouds darkened.
"Listen up, inferior beings!" Forcystus said for all around to hear. "I am Forcystus Hawk Shooter! One of the Five Desian Grand Cardinals, who rules over the ranches where we cultivate you pathetic humans," Forcystus then pointed to Colette. "You, Colette Brunel, are accused of trespassing our territory and attacking two of our guards. As so, I have come here to deliver punishment upon you and this city."
"You went to the ranch?" Morton said, taking a step towards Colette, looking even more enraged now that he was free from the Desians that were flanking him. "What the hell were you thinking? Didn't we tell you a million times not to meddle with the Desians?"
"I'm… sorry," Colette said, lowering her head.
"Now…" Forcystus said. "Colette Brunel shall be arrested to be faced with her sentence."
Maki's eyes widened at hearing that. Colette looked to everybody around and turned to Forcystus, saying:
"Only if you promise to let my mother and the others go."
"You don't have the right to demand such a thing from me, human," Forcystus spat the last word. "However, if you come with us willingly, I might consider," he said with a snicker.
Besides Forcystus, Alice giggled like she had been told a very juicy gossip. Colette saw she had no option and started to walk towards the Desian Grand Cardinal, but Maki stopped her by standing in front of her and spreading her arms in a protective way.
"Wait! You can't take Colette! I was the one that convinced her to go to the ranch. I'm the responsible for that!" there was a general murmur and whisper between the people of Iselia assembled. Morton looked like somebody had smacked him in the face.
"No, Maki! You can't…" Colette started, but Maki cut her off.
"It's my fault. So, please, take me instead of her," Maki said in a pleading tone.
Forcystus just glared at the red head before scoffing and saying:
"And why would I do that?"
"But…" Maki tried to reason, but Forcystus cut her off.
"Did I not make myself clear, human? Colette is the one we shall take. Now move aside!" he demanded.
Maki seemed to shake in her place and looked back at Colette who whispered a plead for her friend to stop. The red head then shook her head and once more stood in her defiant stance against the Grand Cardinal:
"No! Colette didn't do anything wrong, you don't have the right to take her!"
Forcystus seethed. They were losing time with all this bickering.
"I knew you inferior beings would try some kind of stunt, so I prepared a little something for this occasion," Forcystus said, his smirk coming back and Alice letting out an "uuuuhh".
The green haired marksman raised his good hand and snapped his fingers. At the signal, three Desians came from the direction of the south gate, dragging along something by chains. Colette and Maki gasped at seeing the creature.
It didn't give off the same aura as a demon, but it clearly was dangerous. The monster wore a metal collar around its neck, from where dangled the chains and was mostly green, with yellow sinews along its entire body. It didn't have a face, save for one red sphere in the center of its head. It also had long arms that dragged along the ground with sharp, red claws. The creature looked like some kind of plant monster, but the claws said otherwise. Colette also noticed it was wearing what appeared to be rags, but her focus came back to Forcystus once he spoke:
"Now, Colette… you will come with us, or we will release this creature on the citizens of this pathetic town," the civilians paled and cowered at that.
Colette looked from Maki to the denizens of Iselia. She wanted to help them and was willingly to give herself away to save the city, but Maki wouldn't let she do such a thing, she knew it. Forcystus seemed to get tired of it and finally ordered:
"Very well. Let's see if you're going to continue to resist once you have a real taste of what the Exbelua can do," he snapped his fingers again and the Desians that were restraining the Exbelua let go of its chains, running out of the monster's range as it let out a wail.
The creature seemed to lock its gaze on Colette and Maki. Advancing in long strides, the Exbelua raised its arm to hit them. Maki turned and threw herself at Colette to get them to the ground, before the long arm could hit them. The air agitated violently as the strong blow of the monster missed their heads.
Colette and Maki turned and saw the monster preparing to smash them with the back of its hand. The two rolled in opposite directions as the blow made impact with the earth, making Colette and Maki tremble at the mini-quake it caused. It was clear if they were hit by that creature's blows they were done for.
"Well, well. I must say I'm impressed," Alice said, looking as the two girls that tried to get away from the Exbelua. "This is quite the show you put up, Forcy. Pity I didn't bring any popcorn."
"Thanks," Forcystus said. "I've read that girl's profile and she seem to be the kind hearted type. Pretty much a puppy. Threaten her friends and she'll do everything you want."
"Sounds really pathetic."
"Speaking of pathetic…" he then shot a look at Decus.
"Should I remind you I already killed many of my race under your orders without even blink? I don't have any qualms with doing what is necessary to complete the mission," Decus said.
"Just checking. I saw your face when I brought the Exbelua," the Grand Cardinal gave a snicker at that.
"I just… rather get the job done without playing around with the target."
"Forcystus…" Alice called, now serious. "Can you stop harassing Decus? He's my servant, remember? What he does or not is only of my and Lord Nebilim's concern."
"Alright, alright. Touchy…" Forcystus said.
Back to the one-sided battle. Colette fell when she avoided another hammer strike from the beast, which created impact weaves that tripped her. Maki was frantically looking around. She tried very hard not to pay attention at the Desians laughing at their torment and find something that she could use to distract the monster from her friend. She located a long twig and decided to give it a try.
Colette crawled backwards, trying to get away from the greenish creature, which was closing in and extending its claws to grab her. She closed her eyes and waited for the hand close on her in an iron grip, but only heard the sound of what seemed like a twig breaking as it hit its target. She opened her eyes again and saw the Exbelua turning its head from her to Maki, who was standing behind with the broken half of a twig in her hand.
Maki let go of the piece of wood, as the Exbelua advanced on her. Colette's eyes widened and she looked around for anything that she could use to defend her friend. She looked to the ground and, to her surprise, there was a brown, disk-like blade half-buried on the earth.
She didn't dwell too much on the thought of how that ended up there and clutched the blade, pulling it free from the earth. Turning, she saw Maki tripping and falling on her backside as the Exbelua prepared to smash her with its arm. Colette took aim and threw the chakram which sailed through the air and embedded itself on the back of the monster, making blood fly and the creature wail in pain. Colette then ran and held the creature by its waist, trying to restrain it.
"Leave Maki alone!" Colette shouted.
Suddenly, she felt like her hands were getting warm as they started to glow with a yellow light. The Exbelua wailed in pain as yellow electricity cursed through its entire body. Colette stood there, confused even when the attack stopped and the creature finally stopped moving. Smoke was coming out of the monster as it slumped and fell to the ground.
Maki looked with utter surprise to Colette, who looked back at her friend. If they looked confused, that was nothing compared to looks in the Desians' faces. Decus and Alice had their mouths agape and Forcystus his eye wide. Amelia also was dumbstruck at seeing that her daughter had dominated the monster like that.
Then, to everybody's bigger surprise, the body of the greenish creature started to glow and shrink. The skin turned paler and the yellow sinews disappeared. Claws receded and hair started to grow on its head. In a few seconds, an human body was in the place where before had been the Exbelua.
W-What is happening? The monster… turned into a person? Colette thought. It was then something came to her mind. She heard the Desians did some strange things to their prisoners, like experimenting. Was it possible that she had been fighting a transformed human the entire time? She then looked at the dead man's back and saw the chakram still stuck there, blood now pooling around the corpse. But… that means… I killed somebody! the thought made Colette's heart ache in pain and the girl started trembling once more.
Rain started to pour down as Alice got out of her stupor and walked to her superior in ranking, saying:
"Forcystus. She just…"
"Yeah. She used magic," the Desian Grand Cardinal said, clenching his teeth. "To think she has elven blood in her… that might explain why he wants her," the green haired marksman then looked at Amelia, thinking. But I didn't sense any elven blood on her mother… wait. I can't feel anything that indicates her race. What's going on here?
Forcystus started to feel like he had been deceived and he hated feeling like that. He finally made up his mind and pointed his arm-cannon at Colette, opening it and charging. Decus and Alice saw that and the former human asked:
"Wait. Didn't you say you needed to capture her alive?"
"If she really does have some elven blood in her, this shot wouldn't kill her. Not right away that is," Forcystus added. "Besides…" the Grand Cardinal clenched his teeth. "It seems that somebody has played me for a fool and that makes me absolutely pissed off!"
Once the cannon finished charging, Forcystus released the blast of energy. Maki, who had been paralyzed just as Colette was, looking from the human corpse to her friend, saw the Desian preparing to shoot her crush. The red head warned Colette to look out, but knew the blonde wasn't going to be able to avoid it in time. She then made a decision…
The blond girl looked from Maki to behind her and saw the swirling burst of green energy coming at her. It was then something came in front of her and was hit by the blast in her place. Once more, Colette lost her voice and all senses, save for her sight. In front of her, Maki showed an expression of surprise and pain as she slowly fell forward, the back of her shirt completely destroyed and her skin gravely burned. Colette could even see some blood running besides her mouth.
Colette's hearing came back once Maki hit the wet floor. It took her an entire minute to register what just happened and for her to run and kneel besides her best friend.
"Maki! MAKI!" Colette shouted her hands uselessly in the air near Maki as she looked all over her friend, taking some time to absorb the state which Maki's back was. It was completely burned, skin giving place to burnt muscle and sinew. In some corner of her mind, Colette knew no normal human could ever survive a wound like that, but the rest of her mind still refused to accept the fact. "Maki! Please! Don't die!"
The citizens of Iselia were all mute in awe and surprise. Forcystus cursed. Alice and Decus merely stared. Colette's tears were now joining with the rain drops as she tried to think of something, anything, that could help her friend. It was then she heard a mumble and looked at Maki's face. The red head blinked her eyes before looking at Colette.
"Colette… are you… alright?" Colette could just look at Maki as the red head smiled a weak smile. "Good…"
"Maki. Please… don't die," Colette mumbled, tears falling free as she could just plead for her friend to not depart.
"Colette…" Maki then moved her arm in the direction of Colette, her face contorting in pain from just trying to move. Colette grabbed her hand in a delicate hold. "Never… lose that smile… of ours… never… promise?"
"Maki…" Colette whispered. Maki just kept smiling at her.
"You… were the only person I knew… that made me believe… there's still hope for us… I… love you…" those were the last words Maki managed to say before she closed her eyes and her hand lost all strength, slipping from Colette's hands.
"Maki. Maki! NOOO!" Colette yelled as she lowered herself to her friend's face, crying and sobbing over Maki's corpse, her hands and clothes alright damp with the blood of the Exbelua now having Maki's own mixed.
"Damn these meddlesome humans!" Forcystus cursed, taking aim and preparing to shoot again. "At least now, you don't have anybody else to serve as a shield."
Colette looked up at hearing the Desian Grand Cardinal shoot again. She could only stare at the energy burst coming at her. She didn't find the will to move or even to look surprised or scared. She didn't have the will for anything, anymore. Just one thought came to Colette:
At least… I'll be together with Maki again…
However, once more, destiny seemed to interfere as a white and golden blur came in front of Colette and a hand was raised, stopping the energy blast when it made contact. The energy was absorbed by the hand, which closed once it had completely dispelled the projectile. There was a collective gasp and this time Colette looked surprised at seeing who was in front of her:
"M… mom?"
Amelia was standing there, an angry look on her beautiful and once serene face. The two Desians that had been restraining her had let her slip free in all the surprise of the last events. However, Forcystus was the one more surprised.
It was then a new voice sounded in the plaza. A warped and twisted sounding voice, like it was speaking through some kind of malfunctioning speaker and a metal helmet. A voice that came from Amelia:
"You're not going to hurt anybody here anymore, Forcystus,"
Wind started to blow as Amelia's clothes were picked up by the strange breeze. Forcystus could practically feel the power that wind carried and its origin was Amelia. He located its source coming from her neck.
Wait… No way! How can she… ? was everything Forcystus thought as Amelia crossed her arms forming and "X" and hunching her back as more power flared… demonic power.
The blond woman then threw her head up and let out a scream as her body shone and started to change; her skin turned a shade of poison grin, starting from the scar on her throat. Scales sprout from her legs, hands, shoulders, hips and sides of her face transforming feet and fingers into claws, ripping her shoes. Her hair shone brighter than ever until it seemed to turn into light itself. Her eyes now were two, shinning, golden spots. One single, black wing sprouted from her back, ripping her dress, its span was at least the same size as Amelia and capable of providing cover to her entire front. Her clothes feel to the floor, being destroyed in the transformation, leaving her naked in the middle of the storm, however her appearance was now far from human for anybody to notice anything other than the natural weapons in her body and the great, black wing.
When the winds finally died down and Forcystus and the others could look, they saw what could only be described as a demon. However, there was something very different in her. Her shinning hair, wing and protective stance near her daughter made her look almost like… some kind of demon angel.
What the hell is going on here? How can she be a demon? Forcystus thought in frustration. His visitor never told him anything about that and there was nothing on Amelia's files that indicated something like this.
Suddenly, the demon woman took a step forward and seemed to disappear from everybody's sight just to reappear near Forcystus in a blink of an eye. The Desian Grand Cardinal was so surprised he didn't even registered her hand moving at great speed and hitting him on the stomach, the scales on her knuckle forming little spikes that pierced his uniform, but weren't enough to actually draw blood. Even so, Forcystus lost his air due to the strength of the punch.
Amelia then proceeded to apply a round house kick at the green haired marksman's face. Not giving Forcystus any chance to recover, she dealt a right hook on his jaw with enough strength to raise him from the floor. She grabbed his good arm and spun him around, soon throwing him into a nearby tree.
The Desian Grand Cardinal grumbled as he tried to get up, but was surprised when two spheres of light collided and exploded on him. Amelia ran at him in blinding speed again her hand and feet shining with a yellow glow as she proceeded to kick, punch and even applied some chops on Forcystus' shoulders, side and neck. None of it drew blood from the Desian Grand Cardinal, but it was enough to keep him from countering. He was of a superior ranking and level, compared to Amelia, but that didn't mean he couldn't be shaken or stunned by her strong blows that were packed with pure, chaos energy and light combined.
When Forcystus finally was given a time to recover his breath, he looked at his opponent and saw she joining her hands, the two spheres of light she had charged on each hand grew as she joined them. Forcystus then mumbled:
"Fuck…" This is going to hurt. Were his thoughts before Amelia applied a double palm strike on his chest, the light on her hands slightly burning his aura as a great beam of light was released and pushed him across the plaza. The Desian Grand Cardinal was pushed inside a building by the beam, which caused an explosion and made the building fall upon him.
"Lord Forcystus!" one Desian shouted. He and the other soldiers then turned to Amelia. "You bitch! Kill her!"
The Desians and demons all ran in the direction of Amelia, who simply glared at them by the corners of her brilliant eyes. She then took a deep breath and started to sing in an unknown language. The Desians suddenly stopped and knelt, feeling like somebody had injected a great needle on them and was draining their very life force through it. Alice and Decus tried to cover their ears as they dropped to the floor and Amelia continued to sign. Her voice seemed rebound inside of their heads.
"Wha… what is this?" Decus questioned under his gritted teeth.
"It's… some kind of spell chant," Alice said, as she tried to cover her ears harder, her face contorting into pain. "I've never heard anything like this before. It's like her voice is manipulating the chaos energy even in our aura."
Colette could just stare at her mother as her song put all of the demons and Desians around under some kind of pain spell. Whatever it was, it wasn't affecting Colette or any of the humans around. Her mother's voice didn't sound so wrapped and twisted anymore, it sounded ethereal and melodic, like it was meant to sing rather than speak.
Hearing her mother singing brought back memories, memories that Colette had forgotten. When she was little, her mother used to sing lullabies to her. She didn't know what the words meant, for they were not spoken in common language. She once asked her mother and Amelia told her they were words in elven. However, the song Amelia was singing now sounded different even from the ones she used to sing to Colette.
The air seemed to be sucked in the direction of Amelia as she sang the final note, holding her voice as she reunited all the chaos energy she manipulated trough lyrics. She had put her hands over her chest as she sang and now extended them forward as if she were to receive a gift. In the palm of her hands, formed a sphere containing all of the chaos energy she manipulated with the song. At the end of the last note, the sphere shrunk into nothingness and the air around her seemed to contract and expand rapidly into some kind of sonic boom in the direction of the Desians that were slowly recovering. When the high pressure winds hit them, the chaos energy accumulated on them formed several pillars of energy, which scarred the ground in lines, consuming the Desians and reducing their bodies to nothing.
Decus and Alice were also hit, but they only suffered some injuries and were pushed back several meters. Amelia then looked around at the devastation her spell had caused; the demons had either been obliterated together with the Desians or just parts of their bodies were left. She then looked back at Colette, who hadn't moved from her spot near Maki and stared at her mother in awe.
It was then they heard the sound of rubble being moved and grunts. Amelia looked to the building that she had tried to bury Forcystus under just to see the half-demon making his way out of the rubble. He had a smile on his face as he looked at the demon woman. The Desian Grand Cardinal walked back to the plaza under the rain, saying:
"I must say… that's quite some power you've got there… and, man, a lyric spell. Just who the hell are you?" he was still smiling as he added that last part in a tone of somebody was pleasantly surprised.
"Just a mother defending her daughter from monsters like you," Amelia replied sharply in her once more wrapped and twisted voice.
"That you made quite clear. However…" Forcystus said, wiping a small line of blood coming from his mouth. "As you can see, you're far away from killing me. You sure pack some punches, but it's necessary more than that to harm me."
"You certainly didn't give that impression when I was beating the air out of our lungs not ten seconds ago," Amelia replied.
"You got me with my guard down there. But now that I know what you're capable of…" he lifted his arm-cannon and pointed it to Amelia, not opening the weapon yet. "I'm not going to fall for the same tactics again."
Forcystus now grinned as he prepared to blast the Amelia into oblivion, however, before he could, he felt some kind of presence entering in his mind in the speed of light and leaving a clear, mental message: his time had ran out. He made a surprised face at the sudden intrusion. He knew demons from Lord ranking or near it could send telepathic messages to their brethren, but refrained from doing that due to the incredible strain it put the minds of their subordinates under. Generally, it was used just when you need to pass some kind of quick and urgent message.
He seethed again, lowering his arm-cannon. If he stayed, things would get complicated and he would end up having some explaining to do. Turning to what was left of his troops that had stayed at the edge of the plaza and out of the range of the blonde demon's lyric spell, he gave the order:
"Mission failed. Retreat now!" the Desians complied and picked up the few that were left alive and left. Alice and Decus got up and followed behind the troops, not wanting to stay behind and get a taste of what Amelia had put Forcystus through.
The rain continued to pour down as the Desians finally left the city. Just as the half-demons left, another set of armor clad footsteps echoed. The citizens present looked to the side to see the Martel Knights arriving in the scene. The captain of the troop, a brown haired man with a beard, approached Morton:
"What's going on? We saw some smoke in the horizon and came back to hear the Desians have…" it was then the Captain noticed Amelia who was still standing in the middle of the plaza. "A demon!" he and the rest of the Knights drew their swords, but were stopped once Morton raised his arm in front of them.
"Have the wounded treated and see what you can salvage. I'll see to this," the Captain of the Purge Inquisitors tried to protest, but Morton added. "As Cruxis' Representative, I gave you an order!"
The Captain gritted his teeth. It was true the Purge Inquisitors only answered to the members of highest position in the church and the Cruxis' Representative. The only ones that could negate their orders were Cruxis themselves. Clenching his teeth, he passed the order along and the Martel Knights went to help the wounded.
Morton then walked, not to Amelia, but to Colette, who was still knelled over Maki's corpse. The mayor stopped near her and said:
"You. Get out," Colette made a confused noise. "Get out of our city. Now!"
Colette got up in one motion, covering her mouth with her hands. Amelia walked to her daughter and said:
"Wait. She was just…"
"Shut up, demon!" Morton spat back to Colette's mother, who stopped on her tracks. "The only reason why I don't hand you over to the Purge Inquisitors is because the Faith forces me to repay my debt for you driving the Desians away, but if you push your luck I'll have no qualms with opening an exception this time. I'm sure Cruxis will understand.
"And you!" he pointed to Colette. "We gave you a roof, food and that's how you repay us? Stirring trouble with the Desians. Haven't we told you a thousand times? The Faith clearly states: thou shall not meddle with the demon's business."
"Morton. Please," Phaidra said, Frank following behind her as she tried to plead with the mayor. "She's just a child and…"
"Silence! I've already opened too many exceptions for your sake Phaidra. Now look at what it's done!"
"Yes. Do you have any idea how many people died because of her?" a man nearby said.
"Because of her my son is dead!" a crying mother said. Others also voiced their anger at Colette and she could identify the voices of Lilla's parents between them.
"I… I'm… so sorry…" Colette said, lowering her head as she felt more tears coming.
"You think apologies can fix this?" Morton reprimanded. "By all that you've done we should have you executed. Because of you, my niece is dead! DEAD!" Colette looked up at that and could see some tears at the corner of the mayor's eyes. It was then the reality of everything that happened hit her.
Maki and Lilla were dead and it was all her fault. Her mother was a demon, but she saved them. Even so, Amelia had to reveal herself because Forcystus was targeting her. She, Colette Brun… no, just Colette. Phaidra and Frank didn't deserve a disgrace like her. She was the responsible for all this disaster.
"You take your demon mother and get out of our city. I hereby banish you two!" Morton yelled in a tone of finality.
Colette couldn't hold it anymore and let her tears flow freely.
"I'm… so sorry!" with that, she turned and ran, crying all the way.
The crowd around only voiced their approval at seeing Colette going away and turned, starting to leave without sparing a second glance. Amelia tried to call Colette back, but Morton spoke to her:
"And you. You better never show your face around here again."
"It… it was never our intention…" Amelia said, in an apologizing tone. "I… I just wanted to give a good life to Colette."
"The only good life you two could possibly have is besides other filthy scum like you."
With that, the Cruxis' Representative turned and left. The only ones left standing in the plaza as the rain now subsided were Amelia, Frank and Phaidra. Amelia turned to the Brunels and said in her wrapped voice, with a tone of deep apology:
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused for you. If I could make time go back…" she lowered her head to them and didn't dare to look up.
Phaidra approached the resigned demon woman and put her hand on Amelia's scaled shoulder. The demon-turned mother looked up as Phaidra only smiled at her as said:
"Thanks for saving us all."
Amelia then looked at Frank, who nodded with approval. The demon woman couldn't help, but smile at the family that had helped Colette and her during the last six years. She closed her eyes as tears ran down her face, tears that resembled liquid gold.
From their hiding place, Alice and Decus peered at the scene, having hid as Colette passed near them, but the girl was so distressed she wouldn't have noticed them anyway. Alice then stood on a thoughtful pose. Decus asked what she was thinking and the honey-eyed girl said:
"I'm thinking… what could be the reason for Forcystus wanting to get that Colette girl?"
"Could she be some kind of runaway experiment? Her mother is a demon after all," Decus suggested.
"I don't know…" a smile then came to Alice as she thought of something. "Oh, I got an idea! How about we capture Colette ourselves and bring her to Lord Nebilim? She seems important, so maybe Forcy got this mission from Lord Nebilim himself."
"Yes. That way he might even forgive us for letting Emil escape," Decus said. He then reverted to his usual flattering tone as he spoke to Alice. "Oh, your brilliant intellect never ceases to amaze me, my dearest Alice," he knelt near her, taking her hand and preparing to kiss it, but Alice took it away with a bothered expression and gave some space between him and herself, trying to get out of the range of Decus' now wet form. The smell was simply impossible to stand now.
"Shut up, Decus. And stay away from me," she added. "Now let's go. If that fails, then I'll just have to keep little Colette as my new toy," she added with her malicious, fanged smile and a giggle…