Chapter 9 – Wounded Bodies and Hearts

Footsteps clattered down the hall of the Gallows mansion. Evan was in too big of a hurry to worry about keeping quiet. Maka and Soul were talking with Kid and the other adults. Their conversation about the Cassandra situation seemed less important after Kid explained what happened to his friends.

Evan rounded the last corner leading to the suite that acted as the dispensary. The main door of the suite was left open and medical supplies were scattered about the main room. Evan spotted Stein reading over some papers on a clipboard and Evan casually walked over to him.

"Third door on the left," Stein said without looking up.

"Thanks," Evan muttered.

Evan had to force himself to walk at a normal pace when all he wanted to do was run. He gently opened the door Stein had designated. Inside were two twin sized beds, a small table, and a bench underneath the window.

Sully slept peacefully sprawled out with only his neck wrapped securely in bandages. Sully looked completely normal and the smile on his face told Evan he was definitely enjoying the painkillers. Sid on the other hand was on his side, his forehead drenched in sweat, and he looked as pale as the bed sheets. From what Evan could see of Sid's back it was bandaged, but a faint line of dark stiches curved from his left shoulder blade down to his lower back.

"Stein assured me that it isn't as bad as it looks." Angel said softly, she sat up on the bench and set a book on the floor. Evan turned his gaze over to her. She looked like she hadn't slept in days and her eyes were red with recently shed tears. "If it hadn't been for Free I think we'd be dead."

"Kid mentioned the groups were attacked when I called. A man with red dreadlocks carrying a black katana named Kyoki attacked me." Evan explained.

She mulled over what he said, then spoke softly. "He hit Gold Star first, then me, and ended with you. I'm impressed you got his name since all he did was laugh at me." Angel pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "Care to sit down?"

Evan nodded collapsing on the bench next to her. "Where's Gold Star and Masa?"

"One room over. Mamoru and Mark are across the hall." Angel smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "Are Maka and Soul with my dad?"

"Yeah."

"I know that 'yeah' and that's not a good 'yeah.'" Angel frowned.

"It was difficult to see my parents," he sighed. "Maybe Gramps was right to keep their location from me for so long."

"Did they explain anything to you?"

"No." Evan looked at the ceiling thinking, "You know I can barely remember what they were like. Even before that left they were always off on some mission or whatever. When I think about the people that took care of me as a kid all I see is Gramps and occasionally Kid."

Angel chuckled, "Dad did get stuck babysitting a lot."

"Those were fun times," Evan smiled. "He would go crazy when we decided to rearrange everything that was symmetrical. But shouldn't I have memories of my parents instead?" Evan asked a from forming on his brow.

"Yes," Angel said softly. "Maybe you should give it a few days then try talking to them again. You have the chance to spend time with them now so don't pass it up."

"I'll do that." Evan turned his head noticing the sadness in her eyes. "It bothers you that your mom hasn't come looking for you, doesn't it?"

She nodded, "Dad and Grandpa won't tell me a thing about her so I just keep hoping she'll show up and want to be my mom."

"Until that happens I'm always here for you."

"Same to you."

He smiled and decided to change the subject would be best. "How's everyone doing?"

She set her jaw in the way that told Evan it wasn't good news. "Gold Star's body suffered severe damage to her nerves and muscles when she took the full brunt of that guy's soul wavelength. Mamoru was stabbed straight through the gut, luckily no major organs were hit. Masa slipped and sprained her ankle on the way back to Death City. Mark is fine, although, I think he's exhausted from making sure they all came back safely." Angel paused, her eyes drifting over to Sid and Sully. "Sully's throat was split open and lost a lot of blood. Sid's back was cut open."

"What about you?" Evan asked in a whisper his eyes never wavering from Angel.

"Nothing more than bruises and scratches," she said blankly. She reached up her fingertips brushing his bruised and swollen cheek. "Does it hurt?"

He covered her hand with his, "Not anymore."

A sharp knock at the door caused them to jump apart. Evan thought he saw Angel's cheeks flare red, but he couldn't be sure in the dim light. Liz thrust open the door scanning the room and stopped on Angel. "Kid needs to see you, now."

Angel frowned and looked at Evan, "Please stay with them. I'll be right back."

"Sure," he nodded.

She followed Liz out of the room, the door shutting behind them. Evan stretched out on the bench wondering what Kid could want at this hour. He watched the sun beginning to rise as his chin sank lower and sleep took hold of him.

Gold Star flipped through the channels on the TV in the room she shared with Masa. It was just before sunrise and nothing was on. Every muscle in her body ached and her joints gave waves of protests every time she tried to move. The only physical sign of injury was a nasty red fist print covering her stomach from where the crazy dreadlock guy hit her. Stein had asked her if she wanted meds to help her sleep, but she declined. She was unconscious the whole way back from Siberia so she didn't feel like sleeping now.

Mamoru had told her what all happened after she woke up a few hours ago. Mark closed off Mamoru's stab wound with a few quick stiches and some bandages to absorb any blood. She was surprised by Masa tripping over a fallen tree and spraining her ankle within ten minutes of leaving the cabin. Masa wasn't usually accident prone so Gold Star assumed Masa had been upset and wasn't watching where she was going.

Giving up on channel surfing Gold Star stopped on some infomercial, it was more enjoyable than watching the news.

The door cracked open and Mark poked his head into the room. "Need anything?"

Gold Star shook her head.

"Alright, holler if you do. Dad has some meeting to go to so I'm keeping an eye on everyone." Mark looked exhausted with a dark circle under is good eye and his words were slow.

"Did Evan make it back yet?" She had been worried since he called the day before and hoped nothing horrible happened. They all had been worried.

"Yeah, he arrived a little while ago. He's fine and is sitting with Sid and Sully while Angel's talking to Kid." Mark explained smiling slightly.

"Good," Gold Star smiled back.

Someone shouted something down the hallway and Mark turned to address the person. A moment later he turned back, "Mamoru wants to know if you're up for some spying."

"Give me five minutes."

"Don't overdo it," Mark rolled his eye and left.

Gold Star swallowed her pain and forced herself out of bed. As quickly as she dared she slipped on her black pants over her shorts and grabbed Masa's dark blue hoodie and pulled it on over her tank top. She put on her boots with the stars on the toes since they were only shoes she has access to. She ran her fingers through her hair leaving it down so the thing that identified her as Star Clan was her boots. She tiptoed out of the room and down the hallway where Mamoru was waiting.

"Let's go!" Mamoru jumped up too excited for his own good.

"Don't get into too much trouble." Mark called after them as they left.

"Who are we spying on?" Gold Star whispered as they casually strolled through the mansion.

"Um, Kid's little meeting with all the adults." Mamoru air quoted the word 'adults' since he was eighteen and could consider himself one as well.

"Sounds like we're going to get caught."

"When have we ever gotten caught."

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

He stopped looking down at Gold Star waiting for her answer.

She sighed, "We've never successfully spied on anyone as I recall because you were always too loud and they'd catch us."

"And you aren't loud?" he looked insulted by her accusation.

"I am an assassin." She deadpanned.

He opened his mouth in an attempt at a comeback then snapped it shut again. He continued walking his shoulders sagging a little but a smile quickly returned to his face.

In a matter of minutes Gold Star and Mamoru were leaning against the air vent in the room next to Kid's office. They couldn't hear much of the conversation but some key words drifted up the vent. But from their position they couldn't make heads or tails of hat exactly was being discussed. Mamoru being the obvious spy that he was decided to move in closer, which was standing right in front of the office door with his ear pressed against it. Gold Star took up the role as lookout not bothering to point out that he was going to get caught.

"I think they're talking about Cassandra," Mamoru whispered loudly.

Gold Star rolled her eyes pressing a finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet.

"Angel's in there explaining something about a katana and kishin." He said as if he didn't understand her gesture. "I think someone—"

The door opened inward and Mamoru almost fell over from the sudden motion. He looked up smiling at Crona, "Hey, Dad."

Crona shook his head, "What are you doing?"

"Just checking to see if the draft I felt was coming from this room." Mamoru's ability to lie on the spot never ceased to amaze Gold Star, especially when he lied to his own father.

"Gold Star, explain yourself!" Black Star yelled overdramatically.

"Spying but we couldn't hear anything anyway so we'll be going now." Gold Star pushed Mamoru away igniting a wave of fiery pain to course through her limbs. Every muscle fiber protested against her actions. Suddenly she just wanted to collapse, but she willed herself to stay upright until she was sure her father wasn't watching.

The door slammed shut. Gold Star stopped pushing Mamoru, leaned against the nearest wall, and slid to the floor. She clamped her eyes shut and breathed slowly working to regain control of the pain. Her arms felt like useless pieces of liquid flame, her legs refused to hold her up, and her head threated to send her to a place where the pain wouldn't touch her.

Mamoru rushed to her side, "What do you want me to do?"

"I need a moment." She forced the words out as clearly as possible. Gradually the pain faded but she wasn't in any condition to walk. She wondered how long it would be before she felt like herself again.

"Mamoru, can you carry me back?" She asked weakly.

"It's the least I could do." His tone was a cross between guilt and concern.

As gentle as possible he picked Gold Star up cradling her securely to his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck drawing all the comfort she could from him.