Chapter 4
Varen knelt down and touched the dirt placing his palm on it and leaving it there for a few moments. He looked around making sure that no one was around before looking back down at the dirt. It was later in the afternoon, and most everyone was still working on ways to salvage whatever they could from the wreckage or attending to other matters. All around him mounds of dirt were laid out in rows. The victims of the assault on West Genetics were buried here. There was no time for funerals or proper goodbyes knowing that Chevalier would return any day.
Varen closed his eyes and took a breath holding it for a second before letting his stigmata amplify his senses. This was a test he had to do, and it had to be done alone. He pressed harder on the dirt opening his eyes as lines of stigma energy crossed his irises. He had to confirm if what Chiffon had told him the last time he had seen her that night in Kipswitch was true. A sharp pain crossed his body making him cringe, but he held the connection with his stigmata in place. Another wave hit him and his bit down hard closing his eyes against the pain.
All at once the pain and pressure stopped and he opened his eyes. The area around him was the same, but the sky had an orange and red tint to it. In the distance enormous fires raged giving the impression that the world itself was on fire. He lifted his hand from the dirt and stood preparing himself mentally for what came next.
"I know you're there, but which one answered?" He asked out loud.
"One?" A female voice answered from behind him.
"So it's true then? He can't let go?" Another said. He turned around slowly facing two girls standing side by side ahead of him.
"His guilt won't allow him to. So we must wait." Chiffon said. His sister Rin nodded slowly. Varen closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing and nerves.
"I need to know what you are. Please, give me something to explain all of this?" Varen asked trembling.
"We are an echo. The remnants of our stigmata energy drawn to you. Your will alone sustains us and continues our existence." Rin answered.
"Then…you aren't really who you are? It's just a projection of your stigmata energy?" Varen asked. His sister laughed shaking her head.
"Not quite. You are correct that we are a projection of stigmata energy. However, we are every bit the same people you once knew. We remain in this state for as long as you keep us here. Such is the way of your powers." Rin explained.
"As I told you before, unless you forgive yourself and let us go we are forced to remain." Chiffon added.
"Why is everything like this? All this fire and destruction, how can I change it?" Varen begged.
"I left the answer with you when I died. It is up to you to find out what it is. Unless you realize the truth behind it, this will become a reality. It is the only way to change the future." Chiffon answered.
"You will find it if you search hard enough. Something that only you can find." Rin said. Her head snapped to the side a look of fear crossing her face.
"She comes!" Rin exclaimed. Chiffon ran forward grabbing Varen's hands.
"Hurry Varen. There is not much time left. Find it and unlock the gift I left you. Hurry!" Chiffon yelled as she and Rin began to disappear.
"No! Tell me what it is! Please!" He shouted throwing his arms around Chiffon.
"So warm, hold me tighter Justicar, like you once did my sister." Varen eyes widened hearing the voice coming from the girl he held was no longer Chiffon's. He pushed her back standing face to face with Charon Fairchild.
"You…" He stammered stepping backwards.
"You think you are safe in your dreams? You are not safe anywhere. You and I are so much alike. You are not the only one who can commune with the dead. Were you speaking with my dear sister?" Charon laughed and Varen shut his eyes trying to break off his connection to the stigmata.
"Get out of my head!" He screamed, but could not sever the connection.
"No, no, no, you cannot leave yet. I wish to spend some quality time with you." The girl smiled. Only a few strands of black hair dropped in front of her face. He could see her much more clearly now and was taken aback at how similar she looked to Chiffon. Her features were a bit sharper, but the similarities were striking.
"What are you doing?" Varen asked angrily. Charon merely wagged a finger at him.
"Tsk tsk Justicar do not lose your temper. I don't know what might happen if I feel threatened. You use your power to speak to others through your stigmata. It's quite clever really and I thought I might join you this time. I can sense you every time you do it you know?" She smiled.
"This isn't real it's just a stigmata connection." He said making her laugh loudly.
"Oh Justicar you are too much fun. Of course it's a stigmata connection! That doesn't make it any less real! Your very body, like my own, is made up of stigmata. This isn't just some dream world where you can simply run away and wake up safe and sound. You could die here." She said.
"You lie." He argued and she took a step towards him.
"I never lie." She snapped back angrily.
"What do you want?" Varen asked watching her warily. He felt like he was watching a wild animal circling her prey. Toying with him before she pounced.
"I want to know what makes you tick. You and I are the same. We are Novaborn. We are not artificials like the Pandora we both stand beside. You and I are much more than them." Charon said walking up to stand toe to toe with him. He felt a wave of terror wash over him looking to her stigmata eyes unsure what she would do.
"You were made in a lab. Just a science experiment." He answered back. Her lips curled up into a smile.
"Ah, so you know about that. It doesn't matter how I was born. All that matters is who I am now. The fact does not change that you and I are the same. We don't need to let everything end in war." She said.
"Then you will surrender?" He asked making her laugh once more and lean her head against his chest. He stiffened and sucked in his breath.
"You want revenge on Chevalier for what they've done? I can help you with that." She said reaching a hand up to take his face. Her touch made his skin crawl, but looking into her eyes made it impossible to pull away.
"How?" He asked.
"I will help you to kill every last one of them. When we're done not a single Chevalier official will draw breath. Claire will help too of course. Our sister and your friend will be avenged." Charon answered sweetly.
"At what cost?" Varen asked and she closed her eyes wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Give yourself to me. I can make you happy, I'm sure of it. Together there is no one that could ever stand in our way. We would be gods among men. Our children would be the first to be born to two Novaborn parents. They would be the next generation of humankind." She said and Varen pushed her back and stepped away.
"You're insane!" He shouted, but she stepped forward grabbing his shirt pulling him back to her.
"You could learn to love me, like you did my sister. I will love you back. Anything you want and I will give it to you. Take my body and use it as much as you like." She said her voice low and passionate. Varen grabbed her hands pulling them off of him.
"Go to hell." He said coldly. Her expression turned sad as she looked down at the ground between them.
"So, are you saying you could never love me?" Charon asked softly.
"There's only one Fairchild I loved. I could never care for a murderer like you." He answered. He fell backwards grabbing his shoulder as blood sprayed out. A katana was clutched in Charon's hand dripping with blood. He had never even seen her move.
"I warned you not to make me feel threatened. There is nothing my sister had that I don't also possess. I'll say this one last time Justicar. Give yourself to me. Kneel before me and swear your body and soul to me. Do this and all of your friends will live. Chevalier will fall and in its place you and I shall reign. Swear it!" She yelled leveling the katana towards him. Varen winced looking at the blood on his hand then back at her. He walked towards her holding her gaze as he did so. He stopped as his chest came into contact with her blade and he reached up pushing it aside.
"How can I trust you?" He asked coming face to face with her once more.
"Because I never lie." Varen reached his hands up running his palms along her face. One side smearing his blood along her cheek. Charon did not seem to mind closing her eyes and tilting her head.
"You swear?" He asked brushing his nose against hers. Her lips parted and he felt her body push against his. The katana dissolved into the air as she put her arms around his neck once more.
"Yes…" She whispered tilting her head further and opening her mouth to kiss him. Varen slammed his forehead into her face sending her stumbling backwards. Blood covered her face from her nose and she sputtered spitting a mouthful of blood out.
"There's nothing you can offer to make me touch you!" Varen shouted trying once more to sever his connection to the stigmata energy holding him in this place. Once more he found his attempts blocked and looked up to see Charon's face twisted in rage. The blood covering her face only served to make her more terrifying. The flames all around them grew in intensity and wind swirled around the girl.
"Then you can die here and now Justicar! Your family and friend's blood will be on your hands for this!" Charon roared, her katana appearing in her hand once more. Black plates of armor materialized around her dropping into place around her body. A face mask formed over her face covering her features.
"Then kill me, if you can!" Varen challenged. Charon stalked forward and Varen brought his volt weapon into his hands readying himself.
"You and your friends barely held your own against Claire. I am something else entirely." Charon said running forward. Varen braced his body ready to accept her charge.