Chapter 13: Revealings
"The measure of a man is what he does with power."
- Plato
-Faction 3-
Silence. That is all she heard as the guests of the ball gathered around the stairwell. Heartbeats. She felt every single one in the room, some slow and calm, others quick and anxious. Her own was among the slow and calm. Sora swallowed, standing up straight at the left side of the stairwell, Sam at the other. Though they may be Lanus' assassins, they were His protectors. Average humans granted the ability of enhanced senses and strength to defend the Savior from outside threats.
Her crimson eyes scanned the room, landing on the trio that she knew to be the biggest threat in the room. People just don't get it, she thought to herself, shifting her deadly gaze to meet Sam's calm one across the way. Her gave her a look as if to tell her to calm down, that no one is crazy enough to try anything. She felt her shoulders relax, a calming breath releasing itself from her lungs.
The door above the stairwells opened, the black swirls that climber her arms tingling with power that was not her own. She straightened even more, facing forward to watch the reactions of many as He descended the stairs.
Steps. That's what she heard next. Confident steps and the surge of power that came with them. He was descending. The expressions of the guests were a sea of mixture. Some seemed excited, happy, triumphant. Others seemed to cower and sink down into themselves, scared by what they were facing. They must not feel it. Sora breathed in, accepting His touch of power. A black cloak with a high collar passed her on the stairs, stopping to stand between both her and Sam. It's about time. She smirked, taking in His height and golden hair. He always wore a red mask, giving more props to his illusion of intimidation.
"Ah. Greetings all!" He opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. Some clapped excitedly and nodded their heads. Some seemed to shake from nerves, while others stared with what seemed to be hate. Those were the ones Sora watched. A deep chuckle left His lips, vibrating the room. "I see that you all seemed to be having a great time, I hope my entrance doesn't cause the air to falter." Sora smirked at his words, making sure the reactions of the guests were good enough.
"For those of you who are still confused, or threw away your invite, It is I, your Lord Myotismon." This resulted in thundering claps from most of the crowd, but some still stared him down. Almost challengingly. Idiots. They don't know what they're up against. Sora shook her head at the challengers, shifting her gaze back to the figure in the middle of the room.
"You all might be wondering why I have requested you all to join me tonight," murmuring could be heard throughout the room. He clasped his hands, the motion alone quick and fluid like dripping oil. "I have a small surprise for some of you." Sora could have sworn he was looking at the trio that had known her name. Who had caused a bit of a fuss. Interesting.
A devious smirk stretched across His red lips, taunting the trio just slightly. Tai felt Kari cringe at the sight, Joe's breathing quickening. It had been years since he had seen the face of the being who changed his life for the worse. Tai stared back, not daring to tear his brown eyes away from the challenging gaze of the black ones across the room. He knows who we are. Only a fool would think of us as average. Tai took in the being, He seemed to have a power radiate off of him. His skin was just as a pale, His blue suit switched to a black as dark as the dress Sora wore.
Myotismon looked away, turning his gaze to his assassins. Tai felt anger bubble in him from the way Sora looked at Myotismon with an approving gaze, Myotismon nodding to her. "I have found a traitor to the Crown. A woman who believes I do no good! That I only want to hurt all!" The nobles in the room applauded. They don't know what it's like to live on the streets. To not be privileged enough to get this type of treatment. Tai thought as he took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Not only did I bring her, but I am sure some will recognize her…" Myotismon motioned to the large doors above, a brunette woman struggling against the grip of the darlklings emerging. Smirking, Myotismon watched as she was dragged down the stairs, her mouth bound by a dark black piece of cloth. "Hello, child." His smiled stretched across his pale skin, his gloved fingers running down her cheek. "Long time no see? Perhaps?" The woman shook her head, screaming at him through the cloth. He knitted his eyebrows, "Still not thankful for all I do?" She shook her head furiously.
Kari gasped at the sight of the woman, her brown hair tugging at her memories. She knew this woman, this woman was Mimi. Kari nudged Tai, feeling him stiffen. He knows. He has to know.
Mimi was breathing heavily, her thoughts traveling at a thousand miles per hour. She thought she would be ready to face Him when the time came, but her reaction shows that she would have never been ready. Her brown eyes searched the room for familiar faces, landing on Joe's. To his left she spotted Tai, then her eyes met Kari's. She saw the recognition. Oh thank god. She knows. Mimi nodded towards the girl, turning to gaze at Sora, her best friend. She sighed in relief until Sora and Myotismon exchanged a knowing glance. Wait… What?
Sora felt that she had seen the captive before, but she pushed the idea to the back of her mind. Just forget. You don't need those who had abandoned you. She let out a shaky breath, watching as Myotismon ran his long fingers along the woman's cheek. A live execution? At a ball? This seems… Out of place. Sora faced the room, trying her best to forget about the emotions the woman brought out of her. She licked her lips, feeling the pull of power Myotismon had on her.
Shifting her gaze to His, she nodded, knowing he would want her assistance. Their gaze was broken as an additional cloaked figure moved to stand next to Mimi. Lanus. Of course. Even just the sight of him made Sora's blood boil, but she knew not to disobey.
"Yes my Lord Myotismon. We found her rummaging through old documents." Lanus' words dripped with evil. Old documents? Sora was a bit confused, but a traitor to the crown was a traitor to all. Myotismon nodded, "Well done finding her. You know all traitors must have a public execution… Though I thought this one would be more entertaining at a ball celebrating me." Mimi's eyes widened as she felt the cold tip of a dagger against her back.
Mytoismon waved a hand, motioning Lanus to take a step back. "Nuh uh uh. You get to do all of the executions. I was thinking maybe…" He acted as if he was looking around, his eyes landing on Sora, "your best student may take a shot at it."
Sora's raised an eyebrow. Me? She thought, the room tensing and waiting for her response. "Me…? I-I couldn't. I'm not equipped." Lanus let out a loud laugh, shaking his head. "Nonsense, Sora. You will do this. Myotismon picking you is an honor." She hated him. Sora didn't want others to see her kill, but the sudden shock she felt in her body reminded her that her choices were thin.
She felt Sam's gaze, telling her to choose her next move wisely. Sora straightened, confidently approaching Myotismon. She gazed up at him, nodding.
Mimi stared at Sora's back, willing her to remember. She felt a stray tear slip down her cheek as she eyes the dark swirls on her friend's arm. Mimi noted the change of Sora's body. Once delicate, her body was now toned, quick, a machine for killing. Why am I losing everyone? Yamato's face flashing in her mind.
"Oh, how perfect." Myotismon turned to clap, exciting the crowd. Sora held her composure, turning slowly to face the bound woman. Lanus pulled the cloth from Mimi's mouth, tossing it to the side. "Do. Not. Hesitate. Not like last time," Lanus said as he moved to stand behind Mimi to watch his star assassin finish her job.
Sora closed her eyes, not wanting to look at the woman before her. Mimi shook her head, quietly whispering a mix of please and Sora's name, her words shaky and uncertain. Reaching for her thigh, Sora unsheathed her prized dagger. Myotismon nodded approval at her, moving next to Lanus.
Power. That's what she was feeling. Sora watched as Mimi shook her head, tears staining her cheeks. Do I… No. You don't. Forget those who abandoned you.
"Sora! No please. It's me! You're friend Mimi." Mimi was pleading as she watched Sora wipe the edge of her dagger, readying to slit her throat. "Y-You can't do this. I know you." She doesn't know anything. Sora's face was unreadable. Mimi closed her eyes, savoring her final breaths.
"Let's hurry it up, dear Sora." The words were a demand from Lord Myotismon, someone Sora knew she needed to listen to. She could feel the nervous energy from Sam. "No. You don't know me." She whispered, her eyes finally meeting the captive's. Mimi sobbed, tearing her eyes away to find those of the others. Kari was frozen, tears on her cheeks. Joe was covering his eyes as Tai watched in horror.
Sora raised her dagger to the side, the blade in line and ready to cut across Mimi's throat. "Sora! No!" The voice was Tai's, but Sora continued to ready her knife. "Silence at once!" Myotismon's words echoed and bounced off of the walls. "Now, let's move on. Hurry, now." Sora nodded, swallowing.
"Now!" The words came from Sam. This was the cue Sora had been waiting for. She lowered her dagger, missing Mimi's throat. As her blade passed Mimi, she flung it, landing her target. Lanus gasped as he felt the sharp edge of the dagger dig into the side of his neck, blood spurting from the deep cut, staining the marble tiles. He fell to his knees, holding his wound as blood filled his mouth. "Y-You… You bitch…" His final words, aimed at Sora.
Gasps and screams filled the room, guests filing out of the doors. Sora didn't hesitate, she cut the rope binding Mimi's wrists, twisting to stab the darkling that jumped towards them. Sam moved fast, lunging towards the darklings that lined the left of the room.
Mimi sprung to her feet, turning to watch Sora tear through the darklings at a fast pace, her daggers leaving her fingers and finding them again. Marla, the captain of the guard, met by Tai's side. "What.. What's going on?" She raised her voice over the screams of the crowd, discarding her gold cloak. Tai shook his head, not too sure himself.
The ballroom was almost empty of scared guests, Myotismon filling with rage. He let out a low growl, watching as his prized fighter tore through every last one of his darklings. "Enough!" His words were loud. The guests stopped in their tracks, Sora and Sam fell to the ground as the electric shock travelled through their bodies. "Kneel before me, now."
Sora's legs moved for her, the black blood from the darklings Sam and her had slaughtered stuck to their skin. "Please explain. What is the meaning of this?" His words were angry. Sora's eyes defiantly stared into his, her mouth a straight line. "It must end, Myotismon. The treatment of the factions is corrupt."
Her words made Him smirk, he raised his hand, slapping her across the face. The pure strength sent Sora into the pile of darklings on the ground. She stood slowly, withdrawing her last two daggers. "Hm. What an entertaining and fun turn of events…" He clenched his fist, sending another shock through Sora that sent her to her knees. "I'll need to sleep on this decision of yours." He closed his black cloak around him, bats circling him as he disappeared.
Sam stood, quickly hurrying to help Sora up. "Five years… And you finally got him." Sora let out a weak laugh, staring at Lanus' lifeless form. "It felt better than I thought it would." She stood, turning just in time to dodge the sword swinging down at her.
"H-Hey!" Sora rolled, Marla standing above her ready to strike. "You. You are the famed assassin who has killed many of my friends!" The sword came down again, Sora dodging with the grace of a feline. "I can explain. I can explain." Sora held up her hands, dropping her final daggers.
"Marla… Back down." The words came from Tai. Marla let out an angry sigh, sheathing his sword back onto her hip. "May I remind you, this one tried killing you, twice. Don't think I didn't see the little balcony fiasco."
Sora shook her head. "It was all an act. If you guys didn't believe that I was far past saving, this wouldn't have gone as smoothly as Sam and I had been planning." Sam chuckled. "I'm not sure if I would use the term smoothly for this…" He motioned to the bloodied tile, the piles of darklings scattered across the room. Sora smirked, turning to face her friends.
"Wait… Y-You know…" Mimi was shaking still, hugging herself. Sora nodded, approaching them slowly. "Yeah… I wasn't going to kill you, Mimi." As she got closer, the four friends leaned away, still nervous about her. "You know, that's brilliant." Joe said, straightening when he noticed the disappointment on Sora's face.
"But how can we trust that you two won't slit our throats in our sleep?" Asked Kari, eyeing her brother. Sora crossed her arms as Sam replied, "We have been through the ultimate hell for the past five years trying to set this plan into motion, we wouldn't throw it all away by killing Sora's old friends." Sora nodded in agreement.
Tai sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Well… Alright. But you two have a lot of explaining to do… Let's all head back to Mel's" he turned to leave, "Marla? You coming?" Marla shook her head. "No. I'm sure Myotismon wants us all back at the castle to discuss your," her eyes shot sharply at Sora, "little fiasco."
Sora rolled her eyes, turning to Sam. "Shall we? We can't go back to the Keep…" She eyed Lanus again, feeling triumph travel through her body. Sam pondered the thought, "I mean why the heck not. Besides, I'd love to get to know you all better…" He winked at Tai, and Tai blinked in confusion.
Sora chuckled as she nudged Sam. "Come on, lets go." She grabbed her daggers off of the floor. "We should pick up our gear from the Keep first. We'll meet you guys there…" She smiled as she turned with Sam to leave.
*Author's Note:
Alright! Here is some fun action and a bit of a huge reunion! For those asking about the pace of the story; I understand it can be slow, but I am trying my best at world building in a way. Everything will lead to something. Thank you for reading :)