Chapter 42

Waking up several hours later, in Ash's arms, with him sleeping as well, startled Melyssa. She didn't remember falling asleep. They had been talking, or rather him convincing her not to leave Class VII and…that was all she remembered. Maybe she was more tired than she thought. Carefully, she extricated herself from his arms and covered him back up with the blanket, kissing his forehead.

"I owe you one, Carbide." She murmured quietly, not wanting to disturb him and went to take a shower.

Before long, with dinner consumed, it was finally time to put the liberation of her father into action. Rean explained to them what would happen and, one by one, each of them were encased in a lavender glow. It was an invisibility and detection spell, which would help them immensely. The only problem with this plan was not being able to warn Mr. Brackett of the spells, but they would cross that bridge when they came to it. Melyssa had her hair pinned back in a tight bun and her game face on, more than ready to do this. That nap with Ash had rejuvenated her and she was full of energy, ready to unleash Gehenna on Ouroboros for hurting her family.

Rean had very carefully explained everything. They would go in using the buddy system because that was how Combat Links worked. Given how Ash seemed to be the only one Melyssa was on proper speaking terms with tonight -not that he blamed her-, he paired them. If anyone had to switch out, he prayed she was near him or Crow because he wasn't sure where Altina stood and Kurt had been quiet. Juna was a definite no, there was no trust there between them anymore. That was actually kind of amusing when he thought about it. The original intent of this mission had been to BUILD trust between Crow and Melyssa, which had been achieved. In the process, trust had been broken between Melyssa and others. Time would prove she was no traitor and hopefully things would be able to be mended between everyone.

Leaving the warehouse, Melyssa and Ash stayed close together while following Rean and Crow. Kurt, Sara and Emma were behind as backup and Emma was their saving grace. Silently, thanks to Emma's magic, they made their way through Jurai, passing by both the fish market store as well as the Brackett's home. Melyssa didn't glance at them, her eyes straight ahead and her face stoic. Nobody spoke, just walked and soon, they made their way to the nobility part of Jurai.

"Okay, we're about halfway there now, right Celine?" Rean asked, once they were through the front gates of Jurai and on their way deeper into the woods going west.

"Yes, for the 100th time, Ashen." That was her little nickname for him. "Just keep going west and you will come across an abandoned church."

"Goddess…" Everyone stopped to look at Melyssa and she frowned, lowering her eyes from everyone. "It's Jurai's old Septian Church. The Imperial government built a new one in town and this one shut down soon after. I used to come here as a child and it's been abandoned for years." It was also very disrespectful Ouroboros was using it as a hideout and to hold her father captive.

"So how much farther is it?"

"About another mile."

"Let's go, we're making good time."

Everyone nodded, pressing onward and Ash reached down to squeeze Melyssa's hand, letting her know he was here for her completely.

Considering how little respect Ouroboros had for anything, Rean wasn't surprised at all by their using a church as a hideout. "Melyssa," He halted, forcing everyone else to stop as well and gestured them in so they didn't have to talk overly loud and risk being heard. "We need to know everything you remember about the church." He said, his tone letting everyone else know he wasn't debating this or the stop. "What you remember about the way in, other doors, the layout… anything that stands out and that you can remember."

No pressure there, Ash thought, coming up to stand behind her.

"Ouroboros seeks out the live relics the churches safeguard." Crow said after a moment, shifting from one foot to the other. "This church has been abandoned, but there still may be something of use there."

"Or they're just bastards who are squatting and we need to evict them."

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Melyssa's head and her gaze shifted from Rean to Crow, wondering if he would remember. It didn't seem like it. "There's an entrance in the back that leads to below the church, where there used to be Sunday School for kids. Crow and I used to attend here and we can get to the top of the church that way, unless they are below."

"They are." Celine affirmed, waving her tail slowly back and forth. "They are definitely holed up downstairs and I don't remember seeing a back entrance, so more than likely, they don't know it's there either."

"That's our way in, Rean." Sara drew her gun and sword, nodding her appreciation at Melyssa. "Good memory, you'd be a great Bracer."

"Thanks?" Melyssa didn't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment as Rean began leading the way again, all of them heading deeper into the woods.

Ten minutes later, they had finally arrived.

"It's overgrown." Crow said, moving to crouch besides Melyssa. "No wonder they didn't find it." Even in the darkness, by the light of the moon and stars they were able to make most everything out. The 'abandoned' church had been left to nature and slowly, she was reclaiming the land. "If you didn't already know it was there…"

"And you two do." Ash chuckled softly. "So how do we get in?"

"We'll have to get through that brush and the ivy…" It wouldn't be hard to use a sword to hack it down though it was potentially nosy. "Unless magic can handle that?"

"Emma?" Rean looked at their witch.

Nodding, Emma stepped forward with Celine, leading the way toward the back through the very tall grass and brush, until they arrived at the back entrance. Chanting, her purple hue engulfed the outside of the church, which wouldn't be noticed by Ouroboros since they were inside. When the hue was gone, the church was no longer overgrown by nature and the back door stared them in the face.

"Wow…" Melyssa could only blink, realizing just now how powerful Emma actually was. "That's…"

"Scary as Gehenna." Ash finished in a mutter, making a mental note NOT to piss the witch off in the future.

Sara chuckled, used to seeing Emma in action by now and winked at her.

"I unlocked the door as well, so it should open easy enough without much noise." Emma informed them, watching Rean step forward with his Tachi and, sure enough, with a small yank on the rusted handle, it opened.

"Wait." Melyssa stopped them from advancing, chewing her bottom lip. "Don't you think it's a little strange there's NO guards out here? I know the church was overrun with nature, but…knowing Class VII is in town, wouldn't they want to guard this place a little more carefully?"

Sara frowned, that observation not crossing her mind until now. "Now that you mention it, that is a little weird…"

"Celine, when you came here last night, were there any guards out front or anywhere patrolling the church?" Emma asked, looking down at her familiar.

Celine shook her head. "No."

Melyssa felt her stomach tighten and her heart began racing a little faster than normal, that same feeling of dread washing over her as it did while on the train. "S-Something's not right here…"

"Only one way to find out. Your call, Instructor." Kurt folded his arms in front of his chest, awaiting orders.

They couldn't turn back now, could they?

Rean felt it in his gut, something was off, something was wrong here. The whole thing felt wrong. Even opening that door felt wrong. Ouroboros had their own methods of detection and preventing themselves from being found and yet… this was easy, too easy. But Mr. Brackett was here and if they turned back now, they might lose their one and only chance to rescue him. This felt like a trap and Ouroboros was likely waiting to kill them all as soon as they entered.

"We go forward." He said finally, knowing this was going to be a moment he looked back on and regretted, providing they made it through this. "Crow and Carbide, on point. Melyssa, you need to remain behind Carbide." Since they were in theory Combat Link partners. He trusted Crow and Ash to have his back because he would take the lead, that was his job as Instructor. "Emma… if we have to beat a quick retreat?"

"I will do my best to make sure all fingers and toes arrive with the rest of your bodies."

Celine growled uncertainly.

Rean stared at Celine. The lack of a quip or snarky comment was what made that feeling of dread intensify. Taking a deep breath, he felt the other two men fall into place behind him, and stepped into the church.

"I got your back, Mel." Ash assured her in a whisper, wanting to assure her he wouldn't let anything happen, if he could help it.

Melyssa nodded, not trusting her voice at the moment and one by one, they entered the church's basement. In the distance, they could hear voices, but they were too faint to make out. However, the closer they trekked down the corridor, the clearer they became.

Dad! Melyssa's mind shouted, hearing him and clutched the handle on her Cutlass, ready to battle and save him. As soon as they turned the corner, Rean stopped everyone as they pressed against the wall and only him and Crow watched the scene unfold before them.

"For the LAST time, Robert, when are you going to stop being stubborn and give us what we want?" Mariabell Crois demanded, who was also the third Anguis of Ouroboros and one of the Grandmaster's main hands. She was incredibly powerful, her weapon a lethal blood red staff with turquoise jewels in it. Her magic was deadly and could instant kill anyone.

Robert Brackett looked at the blonde, his eyes narrowed with his hands clasped behind his back. "I already told you, when you live up to your end of the bargain, I'll live up to mine."

"Or perhaps I should just end you here and now. That would solve all of our problems now, wouldn't it?" She took her staff and hooked it beneath his chin, her eyes glowing wickedly down at him. "I am SURE the Grandmaster would understand if I cut down one of his Enforcers for betraying us."

"I didn't!"

"Oh? Then why haven't we been able to catch your precious daughter, hmm? What was her name again? I forget…"

"Melyssa." A dark, sinister voice echoed around the room as footsteps thundered on the wooden floor. "That precious morsel that escaped my fire in Crossbell. I never forget a face as lovely as hers. And if it wasn't for that damn Golden Rakshasa saving her, I could be having fun with her right NOW."

Robert gritted his teeth. "Leave Melyssa out of this! I already told you, she's not a danger to the plan! Heidel Rogner has this sham of an election in the bag and you said I only had to sacrifice one of my family to make it happen!"

"True." Mariabell couldn't deny that, studying her nails. "Your father was a threat to us, so we had to extinguish him. It's as simple as that, but now that your daughter is on the WRONG side, along with your wife, well…"

"They have nothing to do with this, Mariabell!" Roger grabbed her by the throat and yanked her against him, gritting his teeth. "They don't even know of my involvement or suspect anything, and as far as I know, they think the Golden Rakshasa is working with us! It's all going according to plan, if you'd just be patient a little longer."

McBurn yawned obnoxiously. "This is boring me. We done with this meeting yet?"

Emma, get us out of here NOW! Rean sent to her telepathically, a trick she had taught him a few years ago after they graduated from Thors.

Emma nodded, glancing down at Celine.

Rean stepped through Crow and Ash to get to Melyssa who had gone stark white. Her father… he had betrayed them, sacrificed his father… he was giving them something in exchange for something. But if he had already ensured this election had happened… why were they still keeping him? What else did they want from him? More importantly, what was it Roger was getting from the Ouroboros?

"No." He mouthed, wrapping one arm around Melyssa, pinning her arm and Cutlass to her side.

They were not prepared for this at all and the heightened emotions, the shock was not going to do any of them any favors. Drawing her into his body, he bent down and rest his head on hers, feeling Emma's magic washing over them. Melyssa was trembling like a leaf, tears stinging her eyes, but they hadn't fallen yet. She was in complete shock and didn't even notice them disappear out of the church to transport back to the warehouse.

Her own father…had her grandfather murdered, his father? Her own father was an Enforcer of Ouroboros?! Melyssa couldn't have heard that right or there had to be some mistake…NOTHING MADE SENSE ANYMORE! How long had this been going on? Her mother didn't have a clue and thought he'd been kidnapped, but he had orchestrated his father's murder! Did that mean her father set up what happened in Crossbell as well? Aurelia was innocent, she hadn't betrayed them and…Melyssa began glowing orange, her anger overtaking every other emotion in her body.

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!" She shrieked out at the top of her lungs, blowing Rean and everyone else back several feet.

Then, she unsheathed her Cutlass – the Cutlass her Papa gave her – and tossed it to the side, ripping off her belt with her holder attached. Murder, betrayal…she felt all of it. Thankfully, they had made it back in time before she completely lost her temper.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Lyssa!" Crow was scrambling to his feet, his back and his butt throbbing from that unexpected landing.

Miranda had not been asleep, she had been sitting with the others, waiting anxiously for news on what had happened. From the explosion her daughter emanated, she knew nothing good and her heart sank in fear for her husband. Was he dead? That was the only logical conclusion she could reach. Her eyes widened, a hand moving to her mouth as Melyssa tossed her things aside, things she had loved and ran away for, the ability to learn how to walk that path.

"Robert, is he?" She couldn't even finish the word, moving to her daughter, tears glistening in her eyes.

Rean shook his head no, watching helplessly as Melyssa shoved Crow away from her.

"GET AWAY FROM ME! DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Melyssa dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around her stomach, screaming out her pain, agony, sadness…everything she felt came spilling out. Her father, a man she looked up to and loved with all of her heart and soul…he was in the enemy camp all along. Slowly, the orange aura surrounding her faded as Melyssa heaved her breathing, tears pouring from her eyes like two rapid streams.

"W-Why? Why, Aidios? Why my family? Is this punishment for leaving, for pursuing the path of the sword? Am I being punished? D-Dad…D-Daddy, why? WHY?!" Clenching her fists tightly, Melyssa drove them down onto the hard flooring and remained on her knees, not caring who heard her. "McBurn wanted to rip my spirit out piece by piece and he'll get his chance. Tonight." Jumping to her feet, Melyssa grabbed her Cutlass and went to Emma, who looked downright terrified. "Send me back! SEND ME BACK THERE NOW! I have to know! I have to hear it from his mouth why he did this! Why he had Papa murdered and why he wants Heidel Rogner to be mayor of Jurai! I HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH!"

"M-Melyssa, you have to calm down, please…"

"NO! I AM DONE BEING CALM! I AM DONE BEING RATIONAL! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! I'M GOING TO KILL MCBURN AND ALL THE OTHERS FOR DOING THIS TO MY FAMILY! I'M GOING TO KILL THEM ALL! AND NOBODY IS GOING TO STOP ME!"

Emma knew what she had to do and closed her eyes, waving her hand while casting a quick spell.

A second later, Melyssa dropped like a sack of potatoes, her Cutlass skidding to the floor.