Chapter 16-One Hell of a Night (Preparations)
"Ivy, are you sure your little friend knows what he's talking about?"
"Yes Grandpa, I swear. He said to meet at the old Calworth Mansion! Please Grandpa drive faster!"
"Can't we just call the police?"
" 'e said they'll be some there when we arrive," interrupted Alois,"Now just listen to the lady an' drive."
The old man sighed and obeyed the blond brat. Here he was in the middle of the night listening to the incesent yelling of his granddaughter and her friends. However, despite how their whines made his blood boil, he slowly felt his eyelids get heavier and heavier. The road became blurry and dark and soon there was no road at al, he had drifted to sleep while at the wheel of his car.
"Ivy!" screamed Lydia,"Your grandpa's fallen asleep at the wheel!"
"Ah!" yelled Warren,"Someone do something!"
Chaos ensued. Frightened screams and curses littering the air, nearly suffocated the endangered passengers. Dasan attempted to bring order by taking hold of the wheel, but he couldn't see past the bald head in front him leaving him as useless as the sleeping driver. Then things took an even darker turn. Only yards away from them lay a huge oak tree, stories tall, a magnificant token of years past, and possibly the instrument to their demise. Time seemed to stop as their car slid closer and closer to oak and just as they covered their eyes and took what would seem to be their last breath, they were quickly pulled back to the road and the chaos ceased. Still shaking from the glimpse of the death, the children slowly revealed their eyes and were met with the pleasant face of Ivy's grandfather wide awake and in control.
"What the heck?!" screamed Dasan,"Was that a joke?! You could've gotten us killed!"
"He-He's right!" agreed Lydia,"You nearly scared us to death!"
"Please don't blame Grandpa! It's not his fault. He has this condition, I forget what it's called, but every once in a while he just falls asleep and sometimes I hardly think he knows where he is. He's been suffering from it ever since he was little. When he was in school everyone called him names and thought he was faking it. So when he was awake they called him Real Conroy. So please don't be mad at him. I would've gotten Hamilton to drive but he's over at his friend's house."
Alois sighed.
"It doesn't matter anyway. We're here."
The automobile halted in front of a large metal gate with intricate designs. It must've been a beauty in its day but the passage of time had let nature reclaim its lost territory and the snakes and roses that had been woven in the iron bars had been overtaken by moss and other foliage. The Comittee approached the rusted door with caution, but in a flash of impatience Ivy took hold of the knocker, or tried to at the very least. For as her skin made contact with the metal a spark of light was ignited and as she pulled back from the very force of the shine she found herself upon the cold cobble road, blistered and burns scattered upon her palm.
"Ivy are you alright?" asked her worried friends as she cried out in pain.
"It hurts! It hurts! Someone help me!"
"You need to calm yourself. You pain gives it power," warned a voice from the shadows.
"Who's there?" she asked.
Harmony and Justice emerged from the shadows and slowly knelt beside the injured girl. They briefly explained the door has been modified to only allow certain people entrance into its walls. Those not with proper identification were burned as a warning. Of course they didn't let on that those modifcations were demonic magic and only the servants of Satan could open the door, but even if they were allowed to reveal that information they didn't think she'd believe them. Besides, it was too early in their mission to reveal their true forms or duty to the Reincarnate. That's why they hid their wings when the first batch arrived.
"Can you make it feel better?"
"Don't worry Little one. Everything will be alright," assured Harmony,"You just need to wrap your palm in this cloth to keep it from getting infected and then after we're done here I can give you some medicine alright?"
Ivy nodded.
"Alright."
As Harmony bandaged the young girl, Justice stood beside him nearly envying her partner. He was always superior in skill when dealing with humans. They trusted him and felt comfort. He was a truly sweet angel, the kind humans imagined angels to be. She on the other hand was stubborn and closed off to most of the world, except when on missions and frankly her job dominated her life. She knew that one day she'd have to develop social skills and one day she'd have to interact with other peers besides Harmony, and she even knew that in older age she'd be demoted Gaurdian Angel or Herald.
However, today was not that day. She had souls to save.
"Alright," she spoke,"now that you're patched let's move on with the formalties. You're familar with these people are you not?"
She gestured the other guests Sebastian had retrieved.
"We s-sure do," Lydia answered hestitantly,"Miss Cromwell and Ronald w-work at our school."
"And those two we met when we took Ciel to the movies," said Dasan,"But we don't know who those are."
"Allow me," cooed Sebastian,"These two are Officers Edwin and Johnathan Abrams. They work with me at the police office, and this is a dear friend of mine. He's the local mortician of your town."
"Most call me Morty," he said,"Now in days anyway.''
After their introductions were through Justice once again took command of the situation and when sure everyone was in a position where they could hear her authorative voice she began to explain why they had been gathered.
"I'm sure most of you aware of why you are here, but for those who do not, Ciel Michealis had been taken hostage by an old foe of ours and is currently residing somewhere within this rotting mansion. Your skills are nessessary for his retrival, but I warn you this mission is not for the faint of heart and contains many dangers. However, we will not force you to participate."
"Exactly how many dangers are you talking about?" asked Ronald.
"I won't lie to you. You will bare witness to thing beyond your imagination, unpleasantries that you cannot explain with conventional methods. Injury is probable and trauma likely. However, Harmony and I will to the very best of our abilities attempt to keep you safe, but there are no promises made that we can keep you out of harm's way. You're entering into the Devil's den if you assist us."
"So you're saying you want us to risk our lives to assist you in getting back a single so-...child?" asked William.
"We do," she answered.
"What exactly's in it for us?" asked Grell.
"How about the fact you'll be helping someone selflessly?" inquired Harmony.
"Hmm, doesn't do much for me," he said waltzing over to Sebastian,"But I'm sure you could persuade me couldn't you Bassy."
The moment the firey headed reaper's hand touched Sebastian he found his face flung into the dirt.
"Convincing enough?" he said with devilish grin.
"Enough horse play you two!" the angel commanded,"Are you willing to help us or not?"
"We'll do it," cooed a small voice.
"Who was that?" questioned Harmony.
"I said we'll do it!" cried Ivy so that everyone could hear,"We want to help Ciel! We'll do anything!"
Justice was taken back by the girl's bold words, but as she scanned her face for hesitation or regret she found nothing but determination. She had set a goal for herself and she was going to achieve it, no matter the consequences. Her comittee quickly followed suit, Dasan declaring he would offer anything to see his friend safely returned. Warren and Lydia promised to help in anyway they could, as did Ronald, and the officers said it was their duty to have seen him brought back safe and sound.
Grell sighed.
"Oh fine, I suppose I'll just join your little band wagon. What do you say Will?"
William glared at his fellow reaper and nearly objected, but then again, look who he was dealing with. Whatever protests he could utter they would all be dimissed by the red headed fiend and he knew he would just go about his own way, no matter the strife it caused for his associated. So with a defeated sigh, he nodded in agreement.
"Splendid," the angels agreed.
"Now then, Officer Edwin you and your brother will be the ones making sure everything if flowing smoothly. Harmony and I will provide you with technologies allowing communication with all members of the task force as well as devices that allow you to see their location. It is your job to make sure people are where they need to be before we move into the next phase of the plan. Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am!" they saluted.
"Ronald, Justice and I need you to run the team. We're placing you in charge of Lydia, Dasan, Warren, and Ivy. You need to lead them through the house and make sure no one gets lost in battle. Alright?"
"No problem. I've got this."
"Lydia," she said handing her a large case,"contained within this is a high grade military weapon filled with bullets specifically designed for the enemies you will face today. You are to use this in conflict and keep a look out for the first signs of an enemy attack. Lethal force is authorized. Do not be afraid to aim straight for the heart. These creatures you will go up against will not stop at anything less than a direct hit."
"B-But I've never shot a gun before."
"Trust me, it will come naturally."
As she held the weapon in her hands a strange sense washed over her. She couldn't exactly pin point the emotion. Perhaps it was a mixture of fear and panic, but with undertones of comfort and familiarity. She didn't like this feeling. It frightened her, having the gun feel like it belonged in her arms but somehow it being there brought back bitter, foggy memories.
'I'm scared...I can't do this,' she thought,'No...I can do it..If it's for the Master..'
Suddenly, a pain shot through her head and she became woozy and collapsed to the ground. People were surrounding her asking if she was alright, but she remained thrashing around the grass and burning images clouded her mind, flashing before her, a phantasmagoria of pictures she couldn't clearly see, all she saw were shadows, shadow after shadow after shadow...
"Lydia! Lydia are you alright?'' cried the worried voice of Ivy.
"Y-Yeah..I'm fine."
"Do you remember what you need to do?"
"Protect the young ma-," she shook her head,"Go rescue Ciel."
"That's right! Finny is coming with you guys okay. Miss Cromwell and I are going to stay behind with the officers."
Lydia painfully got to her feet.
"Is anyone else coming?"
"Harmony and I will be joining you, as well as Mr. Sutcliff and Mr. Spears. De-...Mr. Michealis you and the Mortician will be coming as well, will you not?"
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," spoke the Undertaker.
"Neither would I," cried the demon,"This is going to be one hell of a night."
Yay! They're gonna go rescue Ciel from Cadmus! I wonder what horrible surprises and defenses he has waiting in store for them...I hope you're enjoying the story and make sure to review pretty please. God bless and byebye. (Constructive criticism is welcome.)