Chapter 4 – Anniversary Celebration
Evan fiddled with the buttons on his pinstriped black vest as he ascended the stairs leading to DWMS's banquet hall. He felt uncomfortable in his dark green dress shirt, silver tie, and stiff leather shoes. If he had a choice he'd be in sneakers and a t-shirt, but he didn't.
"Stop fidgeting, you look great." The sweet voice of Death Angel startled him.
His eyes found her and he had to catch himself before his jaw fell open. She wore a halter topped dark purple knee length dress, with black lace fingerless gloves and tights that matched. Her bangs were pinned back allowing her stranger yellow eyes to be seen without interference.
She let out a small laugh, "If you don't stop staring at me like that you're going to start drooling."
He shook himself, "Sorry, you look amazing."
"She should, it took an hour just to do her hair." Sid said with a large smile. Sid and Sully stood next to each other in identical red jackets and black button up shirts.
"Let's go get some food I'm starving!" Sully dragged his twin deep into the banquet hall to where the food tables were located.
"I found them!" Masa yelled running up to Angel and Evan. Her dark blue six inch heels clacked across the floor and her long blue gown fluttered around her. Masa's face was one of pure bliss most likely from being able to spend hours getting ready without being pestered by Gold Star.
"Can't I go get food with Sid and Sully?" Gold Star complained trailing after Masa. She wore black slacks and a fancy white shirt with a strange gold pattern, not hiding the fact that she hated every moment in nice clothing.
Masa ignored Gold Star and began poking Evan's shirt. "I knew the green shirt would bring out the color of your eyes more!" Masa had given Evan some pointers when he was looking for a decent outfit to wear.
"Yeah, you were," Evan stepped to the side to get Masa to stop poking him. "How about we go eat?"
Gold Star ran for the food without being told twice. Masa rolled her eyes and followed holing her dress up so she wouldn't trip.
"Shall we?" Evan offered his arm to Angel, who smiled and slipped her arm around his.
"You should know Spirit and Lord Death left a few minutes before you got here." She whispered tilting her head in the direction of his ear.
"Do you know why?" He asked forcing himself to keep walking as shock tool over. Spirit would only leave a party with pretty girls if he absolutely had to, there must be a problem to get his gramps to leave willingly.
Her smile widened, "Dr. Stein said there's someone in the Death Room that needed to talk to them."
"Any guesses as to who it was?" Evan slowed his pace trying to buy time before they reached the table where the others were seated.
"Don't I always," she sighed. "I think it was Angela, the witch that Professor Mifune used to protect."
"I thought she went away to find that Free guy and bring him in as an ally."
"So did I," Angel let go of his arm taking the open seat next to Masa.
Evan sat down next to Angel with a slight frown creasing his brow. The events of the last two days weren't adding up. Why would Angela come back without Free? Did her return have anything to do with the black robed guy? He'd have to corner Spirit and see what he could find out.
The conversation carried on at the table with plenty of laughter. Sid and Sully were picking food off of each other's plates like they were having dinner at home instead of a formal celebration. Gold Star was too busy eating to notice anything else or that's what she wanted everyone to think. Masa and Angel were discussing fashion and shoes but Angel seemed distracted.
Evan glanced around the room just to see who was there. Dr. Stein stood off to the side with Marie standing close to his side deep in conversation. Mifune sat at a table next to Tsubaki with his arm draped across the back of her chair. Black Star and Kid were at the food tables their heads low but something in both men's eyes made whatever they were talking about seem troublesome. Liz and Patti were on the dance floor with a few other people laughing and moving to the music. A few other adults and students that Evan recognized had smiling faces and seemed glad to be there.
"I don't see Crona anywhere, wasn't he supposed to be here?" Evan whispered to Angel.
Angel's eyes swept the room, "Yes, he was."
"I have a bad feeling."
She raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"Zombie Sid and Nygus plus Crona are all no shows then Death and Spirit have a mysterious guest. Just isn't sitting right with me." Evan fidgeted in his seat feeling more uneasy by the minute.
Angel furrowed her eyebrows, "You have a point."
Gold Star elbowed Evan, "My dad just took off with Tsubaki. Stein and Marie went out the back in a hurry."
"Mifune's gone too," Evan observed.
"Keep a look out, Dad's about to say a few words." Angel said standing from her seat motioning for Sid and Sully to follow.
Kid was walking towards the front of the room with Liz and Patti on his heels to give his speech for the evening. Angel stood behind him flanked by Sid and Sully, all three of them scanning the room for threats.
"Good evening," Kid began turning the room's attention to him. "I'd like to thank you all for coming to the Death Weapon and Meister Academy Anniversary Celebration." There was a brief applause. "I am proud to announce that the new addition to the library has been completed." More applause wafted from the crowd.
"Well, well, well, the son of Lord Death has finally accomplished something useful for once." A cold, calculated voice boomed through the banquet hall. All the weapons an meisters tensed at the sound. "Or am I wrong, Death the Kid."
Rows of black robed figures filed into the room cutting off all exits. The person that spoke came forwards bearing tattooed arms that resembled a trail of fluttering butterflies. Her dress looked like brightly colored butterfly wings. She had short bright pink hair covered by a strange black hat with long fuzzy antenna working as the brim. Her eyes shinned a mysterious purplish pink that added to the butterfly appearance. "Now don't stop the party on my account."
Evan's hands became fists as he watched the witch stride through the crowd. In the corner of his eye he saw Gold Star's Jaw muscles twitch as she resisted the urge to jump up and fight. Masa looked paler than normal. Angel cocked her head to the side whispering something to Sid and Sully who shifted their feet ready to transform on a moment's notice.
A witch was more than anyone was expecting to run into tonight.
"I'm just here to retrieve a few students and then I'll be on my way." As she spoke her eyes trailed from the table Evan sat at to rest on Angel.
I'd like to see you try," Evan ground the words between his teeth moving to stand beside Angel. Gold Star yanked Masa up and followed him.
"That attitude just won't do." She pointed at Evan a bolt of pink glittering lightning shot out of her finger. Evan's arms turned into scythe blades blocking the attack aimed for his chest.
"Cassandra, I'd advise you to stop this now!" Kid shouted with real anger.
"You know I can't do that. A promise is a promise after all." She smiled.
"Dad, what's she talking about?" Angel whispered fixing her eyes on her father.
Kid looked at his daughter with regret filled eyes.
"Take them by force." Cassandra ordered, fading back into the sea of black robes.
All hell broke loose in slow motion.
An explosion rumbled the very foundations of the DWMA quickly covering all the windows in thick black smoke. Liz and Patti transformed into their gleaming pistol forms, Kid caught them tightening his pinky fingers around the triggers as he bolted from the room chasing after Cassandra. The sea of black robes spread out knocking aside dazed meisters and weapons that weren't prepared for the sudden action.
"Sully! Sid! Now!" A flash of blue trailed through the air landing in the palms of Angel's hands. The weight of the pistols was comforting, her middle fingers hanging over the triggers ready for what was to come.
"Masa, chain scythe mode!" Gold Star barked as Masa flashed a bright yellow. The twin scythes settled into Gold Star's hands with the chain slung over one shoulder so it fell behind her back.
Evan's arms flashed red as black scythe blades covered his forearms. He took up a defensive stance watching the robed people work their way over.
Gold Star was the first to jump into action as she lunged forward slashing at everything that crossed her path. Her assassins speed and precision had the robed men struggling to keep up with her. Masa cycled through different forms with flashes of yellow before being asked to by Gold Star. The pair worked together in a way that struck fear into the faceless black mob.
Evan took the opposite side cutting down the enemy as if it were child's play. Scythes sprouted from him in bursts of red with skill that had taken him years to master. He countered every attack frustrating his attackers to no end.
Angel stayed in her spot preferring to provide cover fire for Gold Star and Evan. She watched the sides of the room where her friends fought while Sid and Sully notified her of any people who were stupid enough to approach her. Blue particles of her soul were amplified by Sid and Sully providing maximum damage as they shot from the guns.
The professors who recovered from the sudden ambush rushed the guests outside to safety. The banquet hall grew empty as black clad men and women fled from the fight they started. Evan chased after them with Gold Star staying close beside him as they worked to take out the remaining enemies. Angel kicked off her high heels running after them not caring if she ruined her tights.
The three meisters found themselves standing outside surrounded by clouds of black smoke and the glow of orange fire.
"Death City, it's—" Angel looked around all words lost in her throat.
"Burning." Evan finished his face falling into a mask of sorrow.
"This can't be happening." Gold Star looked toward the sky feeling like a complete failure.