"We've searched the grounds, there's no sign of Fang." Snow reported as he walked into the office, Serah in tow. "Where could she have vanished to?"
Lightning appeared in a flash of electricity, looking considerably out of breath. The others raised an eyebrow at her while Vanille calmly handed her a water bottle. "How far did you go?" The redhead asked as Lightning downed half the bottle in one hit.
"State lines." She panted, catching her breath. "Both of them. Nothing. Tried every conceivable path she could have taken and come up empty."
Raines folded his arms and stared out the window, his expression grim. "Her disappearance is essentially an admission of her guilt, Farron. Surely you see this."
Withholding a growl, Lightning looked down at her feet to try to stop herself from being consumed by hurt and anger. There had to be more to it. They had come so far together, the restraint Fang had been showing. It couldn't have been just an act. She cursed at herself with a click of her tongue. The fact that all that work appeared to be for nothing hurt her. The fact that it was Fang made it burn.
"We will find her, not you." Lightning replied, her voice firm and unwavering. She wanted to at least hear the words from Fang's mouth, before she disappeared into a Sanctum holding cell for the rest of her likely short life. The sobering realisation that Sanctum could very well execute Fang for her crimes made Lightning sick to her stomach. She needed to find her friend.
"Consider this an official Sanctum manhunt. I'm sorry. It's out of my hands."
"Be reasonable, Raines. If she is really who you're accusing her to be, we would have a better chance of surviving. If she is who you're really think she is, she won't go down without a fight."
The Sanctum director moved to the door of the office, stepping past the other L'cie before stopping and placing a hand on Lightning's shoulder. "Then I pray that you find her before we do."
He left without a further word, Rygdea bowing his head and giving Vanille a sympathetic pat on the back as he followed. A dark silence settled on the L'cie in the room, nobody certain on how to proceed.
Serah bit her lip and stood closer to Snow, revelling in the supportive warmth when he put a gentle arm around her. "Sis, if she hasn't been found along any of the paths out of here, it means she hasn't vanished by conventional methods." She said quietly, drawing her sister's gaze. "Noel has likely helped her escape."
The two sisters stared at each other in silence, the tension unbearable. "So you think she's guilty too." Lightning finally spat, anger making electricity crackle from her eyes. Serah scoffed and folded her arms, trying to remain calm.
"No, I don't, Claire. But I don't know what to think about any of it, something's not right. She's either fled because she's guilty and she did kill Rosch, fled because regardless of whether she did or not she felt like she was condemned anyway... It's not like we all rushed to her defence when she was being accused of killing Rosch. We all know it's in her nature and her history."
Lightning let off a spark of her element, scorching Sazh's desk as it arced. "Just because it's in her nature doesn't mean she hasn't changed." The elder Farron snapped, stepping forward into her sister's space. Serah stood her ground, knowing she was treading on shaky territory.
"I'm not saying she hasn't. But right now all we're doing is speculating. And speculating isn't helping us find. Her."
Snow hissed and swung his arm off Serah in a hurry, patting at his skin. "You're uh... burning up a bit there, babe." He shut up with a squeak when both sisters turned and glared at him.
She's being literal, Serah. You both need to cool your jets." Sazh spoke up while trying to scrub the blackened marks from the desk. "She's very much likely back with the others at Valhalla, if your friend Noel helped her escape. There's not a lot we can do right now. Try to get some sleep, and we'll figure out a plan to get to Fang before the Sanctum in the morning."
Ushering them all out of the office and down the hall, the others made their way to their rooms while Vanille, Serah and Lightning remained at the back of the small group of L'cie. The redhead's expression was dark, her eyes staring off into the distance, like she was looking for something the others couldn't see.
"Serah, you've known Fang longer than the rest of us in recent times. Is there a chance she could have killed Rosch?" Vanille asked, her gaze fixing on the younger elemental. Serah swallowed hard and stared between the two expecting an answer.
"If it was to protect her family, yes."
Lightning growled and turned away, being caught by a hand around her wrist. Serah stepped in close and hugged her tightly, wrapping her arms around her neck.
"She would kill without hesitation if it meant protecting us. We're her family, just as much as they are. And you know what, Claire?"
Serah drew back, so she could look her sister in the eye. "I wouldn't hesitate either." The incredibly blunt, honest response scared Lightning her breath hitching. "And neither would you."
"I... Serah..."
The younger Farron stood back from her and moved to her own room. "Get some sleep, Claire. We'll make a plan to get her back tomorrow."
Vanille watched Serah leave and then dipped her head, continuing down the hall. Drawing a shuddering breath, Lightning slipped into her room and locked the door behind her. She left the lights off, the moon providing a dull illumination.
She pulled out her phone and held it out, scrolling through to dial Fang's number. The shifter had slid it across the bed one night recently while they had been sharing a few more drinks with a smile. Lightning dialled the number and waited while holding her breath. It connected and she exhaled loudly, waiting to hear Fang's voice.
"Well hello, gorgeous."
"Fang. Its me. Please... Tell me you're alri-"
"I'd love to answer and listen to that sexy voice all day, but I'm out doin' some shit. Assume it's cool, whatever I'm up to. Leave a message. Or don't, I never check this shit anyway."
The beep piercing in its finality had Lightning hanging up her phone and throwing it across the room. She ran her fingers through her hair and sat on the edge of her bed. How could she possibly sleep when she has once again lost her friend, and once again broken a promise to stay by her side no matter what. Lightning stood and yanked open her window, climbing up onto the window sill. Looking out across the yard, she prepared herself to climb down when the sound of flapping caught her attention. She glanced up and saw Sazh hovering above her.
"Go to bed, Lightning."
The elemental growled at him, sparking electricity off her fingertips. "You're watching for me to leave because you're paranoid?"
"No, because you're predictable." Sazh sighed, giving her a sad shrug. "You're of no use to her going alone. We will work with Raines to get her safe, and give her the chance to prove herself, or defend her actions. But please go to bed, Claire. Neither Vanille or Serah can afford to lose two sisters in one day."
All of the fight left Lightning and she stepped off the ledge back into her room, sliding the window shut. Once Sazh had left to patrol the rest of the grounds, Lightning picked up her phone and checked for missed calls. Finding nothing she sighed and turned to go to bed. Pausing to pick up the Polaroid sitting on her dresser, her hands shook as she held the photo of her and Fang. A teardrop hit her hand and she bit back a sob.
Lebreau sighed as she closed the door behind her to the cell they were keeping Fang in, stretching out the muscles in her neck. She gasped as she ran into Caius, who was standing in the dark hallway, his face half hidden in shadows.
"Well?"
"She's... Coming along. Another few hours of work and she'll not remember any of them, and be back truly where she belongs." The basilisk replied, a churning in her stomach making her voice waiver. Caius just nodded and walked away, leaving Lebreau sighing sadly as she leant against the wall covered in shadows. She wasn't comfortable in the slightest with what they were doing, but she couldn't tell Caius to stop, not when the telepath was protecting him. He'd rip her throat out before she could even finish a sentence.
A hand slid around her shoulder and she gasped as she was yanked through the wall, into a dark void. The shadows nipped at her skin as they swirled, making her cold where they touched. "Always a flair for the dramatic, Noel." She drawled, folding her arms and waiting for the impending lecture. "Don't tell me you're growing soft too."
The shadow L'cie formed from the darkness, his eyes narrowed. "Surely you know this isn't right, 'breau. The fact that there was anything out into Fang in the first place that made her kill that Sanctum commander without her remembering it is deplorable. But this... This is something else."
The basilisk hissed at him in anger, thankful that they were hidden within the void of the hunter's abilities. "You think I don't know this? It breaks my heart to see our beautiful Fang reduced to this snarling, drooling beast. But Yeul's protecting Caius, and watching me like a hawk. If I even so much as step out of line or say something to let Fang have even a skerrick of will and they will kill me."
Noel felt trapped, even in the safety of the void. His shoulders sagged in defeat. "What do we do?"
"Nothing, for now. There's nothing we can do, they're watching us too much. We just need to wait for an opportune moment. Then go to those idiots at the Haven and get their help." Lebreau answered, staring off into the distance while trying to figure out a plan. "You said she knew the elemental, yeah? Lightning?"
Noel nodded as he opened up an exit to his void, allowing the basilisk to exit the darkness back into the hallway. "They grew up together. Why?"
Shaking her head, Lebreau stepped towards the cell door and dragged her fingers along on the handle. "No reason, just might give me something to work with." She disappeared behind the door and Noel vanished into the darkness.
The cell was small and simply had a chair for Lebreau and chains for Fang as she knelt on the floor in a trance. The camera blinked in the corner as a reminder, not that there needed to be. The telepath was always watching without the need for security cameras.
There was a quiet groan from Fang as the basilisk returned. It made Lebreau's heart sink to see her friend this way, and she began to regret ever letting Caius go as far as he had with his plans. From the first time he loomed behind her, put his claws against her throat and told her to start putting commands into the minds of the others, she struggled with her insidious task. She was far too used to people listening to her, and when she ordered him to release her, he only smiled and squeezed harder. The fear was real, and constantly looming over her head. She didn't know how to ask for help, especially when she was being forced to condition the minds of the other L'cie. How foolish were they, that they were blissfully ignorant of the true madness that lay beneath the surface of their shifter leader.
The subject of her thoughts opened the door slowly and stepped into the cell behind them. Lebreau's breath hitched as she felt Caius move in close behind her.
"Continue."
The order was brief but filled with malice, and Lebreau sighed as she bowed her head and continued.
"How are you feeling, Fang?" She asked, kneeling down and tilting the shifter's jaw up with gentle fingers. Fang murmured, her eyes vacant and unseeing. Lebreau hated seeing her friend like this, but for now they all had a role to play.
"Tell me about your time with the Haven, Fang." She pressed, watching Fang's gaze come back into focus.
"The... Haven? I don't... I don't remember..."
"Of course you don't remember, sweetie. You were never there."
Fang blinked, looking dazed. "I... I wasn't?" She questioned. Lebreau winced at how lost the shifter sounded, but at the pronounced clearing of a throat behind her, she continued.
"No sweetie, you had a terrible dream. You've been here the whole time."
"But... It felt real. My sister..."
Lebreau ran a gentle hand down the side of Fang's face, her expression darkening at the sound of the sad whimper. "Vanille's gone, darling. I know you still struggle with losing her after what you did, but you have to let her go and move on."
Vanille was... gone? Fang repeated the words in her mind, remembering that she hadn't seen her since that terrible night. Lebreau was right. It was likely she didn't survive. But she had felt so real, seeing the scars across her face but yet she still wore a smile.
"You were never at the Haven, Fang. Do you understand? Forget every memory you have of that place. None of it was real."
The Haven... Fang knew of the Haven. She's had far too many run ins with that bunch of narcissistic poster children for peace. "Haven is... They're the enemy."
"That's right, sweetie. You remember, don't you? Wake up and be more aware, come back to us, Fang."
Fang nodded slowly, feeling like there was something important she'd forgotten. The fuzz was clearing from her mind and she shook her head, trying to rid herself of the rest of the wooziness. "God, I feel like I need a drink... 'Breau? What the hell happened?"
Caius stepped forward, staring down at the shifter knelt on the floor. He placed a hand on Lebreau's shoulder and gripped hard, the basilisk keeping a straight face despite the pain of his clawed thumb digging into her back. "There you are, babe. Welcome back. The Haven's got a new telepath that did quite the number on you, darling. You've been trying to kill us for a week. So, sorry about the chains." She cooed with a smile, stroking the shifter's hair.
Fang paled, staring at her hands. "God, 'Breau... I would never... I'm so sorry. What a headtrip. I feel like I've been in a coma for six months."
Caius knelt down and unlocked the shackles around her wrists and helped her up. "You about were. We had to pull you out of a Sanctum facility. The Haven are working with them. We are glad you are home, and yourself again." He said quietly, the slow smile seeming a little off to fang but she couldn't place why.
"The Haven are working with the Sanctum? For Etro's sake, Caius. I knew they were dirty but this is ridiculous. Telepaths... Sanctum scum... What is going on?"
The Valhalla leader looked down at Fang, his height still imposing even when she stood. "Because winter is setting in." He growled, watching her facial features slacken and eyes glaze. Satisfied that the triggers were in place, he leant forward and stared into her hollow eyes. "The Haven and everyone involved with them are the enemy, Fang. They take from us, they put us in chains. They torture us. What do we do with our enemies, Fang?"
The shifter dipped her head with a snarl, her eyes glittering with intent. It felt good to be aware and be home amongst her family, and she shivered as the question burned through her mind. Fang's lips twisted into a cruel, dangerous grin and she brandished her claws.
"We kill them."