These past few hours felt more like a bad dream that was beginning to wear everybody down. Council man Mytho and Rue had been in that operating room for what seemed like days.

Only every once in a while did anyone hear anything coming from the operating room.
Most of the time is was Ahiru and her unwelcomed possessor screaming in agony. But no one really tried to react to it. Except for Fakir and Jaden. Both who seemed to be in agreement for once.

Finally, the lights in the other room had dimmed, and Mytho stumbled out with a clenched fist.
Jaden probably would have stranged him had not Fakir not stepped in between them.
Everyone waited for the final word.

Mytho only opened his fist to reveal a glowing deep red spirit jar.
"What does that mean for our girl?" Edel asked.
"Her vital signs are normal, but she doesn't seem very responsive. I'd like to see if a few of you who have experience in treatments to help her."

Edel nodded, took her child along with Pique and Lillie into the operation room to help.
"Hermia, Lysander. I leave you two in charge for now." Edel called as she walked out.

As the four exited, Mytho turned back to the entourage.
"So what happens now?" Jaden said, practically gritting his teeth.
"I think we need to decide what to do with all of these spirit jars." Mytho answered, he turned to Hermia and Lysander, "What is the most reasonable way to take care of a spirit jar?"

"Well," Hermia began, "If they're spirits with evil intentions, we would have them be burned out by the sun."
"However," Lysander continued, "spirits without those intentions can become unpredictable. If they were willing to become a spirit jar, they create a great protection spell."

"But what if we want to release a spirit that doesn't have evil intentions and wasn't placed in a jar voluntarily?" Fakir asked.
"That's the tricky part," Hermia answered, "there is a ceremony that gypsies have to preform to let them out, but the danger is we don't know what their intentions are."

Since Mytho and Fakir were the only ones not familiar with gypsy customs, they offered their confused looks for more explanation.
"Some spirits that have evil desires can have the temporary ability to cause harm."
"Say for example: if they seek revenge on someone, they can kill that someone with just a touch." Lysander concluded.

"Well if you ask me," Drosselmeyer said sourly, "We should let those spirits lose so they can give Bradly a piece of their minds for murdering so many people!"
"Yeah!" Jaden shouted.
"Don't agree with me kid." Drosselmeyer snapped.

Mytho bit his lip, "I don't want to put my brother on death row because of someone else's revenge. You forget I too was a part of those horrid schemes. If you wish him dead, you might as well kill me too."

Drosselmeyer wasn't quick to respond.
"I don't wish you dead, because you've tried to atone for your mistakes. Bradly refuses to do such. That's why I want him dead."

"But… grandfather," Fakir was still having a rough time calling Drosselmeyer by such a title, "Why do you have to resort to killing? Won't his death and not Mytho's seem unfair to their victims? Mytho has been given the opportunity to change, Bradly just might if given the same chance.

"Well," Jaden's voice expanded, "I think both your corpses can rot in Hell!"

All eyes fell on Jaden, consisting mostly of disturbed or disgusted faces.
Drosselmeyer sighed, completely ignoring Jaden's disturbed comment. "Fakir, you make a good point. Perhaps we can find a better way to make Bradly pay for his crimes."

"So you're just going to give in like that?!" Jaden fumed, "After all that 'justice' talk you kept giving me that sent us spiraling down this crazy journey, you're willing to just sit back and be walked all over?!"

"Take it easy Jaden," came Femio's protests, "Letting your emotions get riled up like this easily leads to deadly consequences."

"Whatever! I don't need this! Not from any of you!"
And with that, Jaden stormed out.
Fakir groaned, but got up to follow him.

Good thing Jaden didn't get too far when Fakir caught up with him.
Fakir placed a hand on Jaden's shoulder, "Hey man, what's bothering you?"

Jaden brushed him off completely. So Fakir persisted even more.
This time, Fakir grabbed both Jaden's shoulders and pined him to the wall.

"I'm serious Jaden, what's your problem?!"
Jaden tried to move free from Fakir's grasp, but Fakir was immoveable at this point.
"I don't like that we've moved to such a pathetic state." Jaden muttered.
"What? You wanted an all out fight, guns blazing, and fists bleeding for justice?"

"You wouldn't understand. You haven't had to struggle for survival."
"Yes I have!" Fakir snapped, "My mother died when I was just a kid. My father soon disappeared after that. I had to survive by joining the Navy."
"So what?"
"Look at it like this, you had a family and a home to come back to. I had nothing but burn marks and traumatizing memories to look back on."

Jaden refused to speak.
Fakir went on, "Trust me when I say a war won't always solve everything. Take the peace when you can. Take right now for instance."

Jaden looked at Fakir questionably.
Fakir moved his right hand in front of Jaden, "Can we call a truce right now? Ahiru is safe, and its better to be allies than enemies."

Jaden was hesitant for a moment. Just then, a thorny voice swirled in his mind.

Why should he trust this guy?

Who's to say he won't manipulate him through this 'truce'?

Then again, why not take the advantage and play him over while formulating his own plan?

This voice wasn't his own, but it sounded familiar to him. The voice's offer was so tempting with words he desired to make true. Alright voice, Jaden would follow your lead.

Jaden threw out his right hand to meet with Fakir's, "Fine, truce."

"Great. Now will you come back to talk this out with the rest of us?"
Jaden nodded, "I'll be right behind you."

Fakir was about to turn back when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

Why was Jaden's shadow so dark all of the sudden?

A/N: Well, school is out, I have free time to write! I may be able to finish this story very soon!
(Then I'll need to start plotting for the next one… if that happens.)

I offer my many thanks to:

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iking (for favoring and reviewing [twice!])
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Free Fallen Sky (for following)
BlindingNight14 (for favoring)

I honestly cannot tell you how happy it makes me to know that you all are enjoying the story so far!

And thank you so much for reading this far with me!