Chapter 45

Two days had passed since her sparring/make out session with Rean and Melyssa had kept completely to herself. Everybody except Melyssa and Miranda weren't on board with Rean's plan. Even Sara, Fie, Emma and Celine were against it. Still, Melyssa was done waiting and walked up to Rean, who was sipping a cup of coffee.

"Instructor, have you decided when we're going to put your plan into action?" She asked, sitting across from him at the table and met his eyes. Rean hadn't said more than two words to her in the past two days and she knew it was because he needed time to get over her rejection.

However, the longer they stayed here and waited, the more at risk and in danger they remained.

"Tomorrow."

Rean nodded, having gone out and scouted the abandoned church with Crow's help since Crow was familiar with the area just as much as Melyssa was. He had thought about confiding in Crow, but that felt weird, being rejected by the girl who Crow had rejected. Also, none of Crow's business. Since he had done the 'not friends, Instructor only' bit, Crow was giving him the cold shoulder. Not that that had meant anything when they had gone to scout.

"More than likely, they suspect we were there."

Given the huge spell Emma cast in order to clean up around the church, as well as make it easy to get through the back entrance, that did not surprise Melyssa at all. "They're on guard now, more than ever, aren't they? Have you found a way to contact Robert? Or is that going to be part of the plan tomorrow?"

"Emma is going to cast a spell tonight that will send a message directly to him. We'll need you to write a note to him, asking to meet privately wherever you want and then we can work on formulating a plan." Rean's voice remained even and low, taking another sip of his coffee while staring back at her.

"All right, she'll send it tonight I'm assuming and hopefully, Robert will contact me soon after to set up a time and place."

Rean nodded, glad they were on the same page and stood up from the table. "When you've written the note, give it to me and I'll give it to Emma to do the spell."

"Yes, Instructor." Melyssa went to find a piece of paper and pen to write the note to her father, wondering how she was going to word this.

Miranda set out paper and pen from her satchel, sinking down onto the couch alongside her daughter. She had been informed of the plan and simply nodded, not knowing what else to say. What could she say? Her husband was a murdering, traitorous bastard who had knowingly put their daughter in danger. He had MURDERED his own father! When Melyssa simply stared at the paper, obviously struggling with what to say or at least how to say it, she dropped a kiss on the side of her daughter's head.

"You got this, darling, I know you do." She encouraged quietly.

In his own way, Robert had set Melyssa on this path, with Thors and the sword training.

Looking back at her mother, Melyssa nodded and looked back at the blank sheet of paper, shutting her eyes briefly. She knew exactly what to say and what would make him want to meet her. Putting the pen to paper, Melyssa began to write from her heart and tried to keep it short, simple and to the point.

Dad,

I know the truth about you. Mom does too. You owe us an explanation. Meet me tomorrow night at our house and explain yourself. You owe me that much after sending McBurn after me in Crossbell. And I am asking you to come alone.

Melyssa (Your Mely girl)

"Does that sound okay, Mom?"

Miranda read it and kissed her forehead softly, nodding. "He'll show up." The confidence in her voice almost startled Melyssa, but then again, Miranda knew Robert better than anyone, or at least, she thought she did.

"Hope so." Standing, Melyssa folded her note and walked over to where Rean sat, extending it to him. "It's ready, Instructor."

Now, the waiting game began once Emma sent it.

Waiting sucked. Rean was able to be patient or at least put on a good show, but everyone was now on tenterhooks. Emma had Celine watching over the Brackett house, the familiar would be able to let them know if anyone went there. Given that Ouroboros used traps and set-ups, he wouldn't be surprised if they expected an ambush. Sure enough, before they heard anything back, Celine sent word via Emma that some 'fishermen' had shown up at the Brackett house. She also sent word when they left, adding she would check to make sure they hadn't left any parting 'gifts'.

Miranda wasn't going to lie, she was getting nervous, but she was hiding it. These young people, some of them barely more than children, all seemed antsy as well.

Robert received the note in his sandwich, of all places. He had gone to take a bite and noticed something white sticking out of it. Setting it down, he pulled the piece of paper out and unfolded it, reading what it said. There was no doubt in his mind this was his daughter's handwriting. His heart actually sank at her harsh words – Miranda knew the truth now about him. The love of his life…she knew everything and he now knew the meeting with McBurn and Mariabell last night had been eavesdropped on. Crushing the note in his hand, Robert decided he would humor his daughter, only because he did miss her and maybe he did owe her an explanation.

"See you tomorrow, Mely girl." He rumbled to himself, alone in his room, and proceeded to finish his sandwich.

"Tomorrow… she's to go alone." Not totally, Emma would see to that.

Having a witch was damn useful, as long as she wasn't offering her personal insights to the group at large. That was best done in a one on one environment where people weren't put on the spot. Rean wasn't surprised when Ash opened his mouth to say something only to grit it shut, his teeth gnashing audibly. Ash was not having a good time with all of this. Being friends with someone, being close as Ash and Melyssa were, was both a good and bad thing.

The bad was currently playing out.

"And where will the rest of us be?" Juna asked after a moment of silence, almost leaning into Kurt. She was still feeling awkward after her outburst and accusations, but… she couldn't focus on that. There would be plenty of time once this situation was handled.

"Two of us will go with her, but stay in the shadows and wait to see if she needs backup. I need people we can count on and rely on without letting EMOTIONS get in the way." That was a clear shot toward Ash, who could not seem to accept Melyssa being used as bait against her father to gather intel.

Emma gestured to the necklace Melyssa had on. "This will also protect her. It's a magic shield, of sorts. She can hold her own in a swordfight, but if magic comes into play, the pendant will protect her from harm and instant death."

"So, how are we going to know what's said?"

Emma once again gestured to the pendant. "Not only is this a magic shield, but I've enchanted it to where it's a recording device, of sorts." Magic really was amazing and she had really honed her skills over the past few years. "Everything that is said between them will be recorded and when she's back here, we can listen to it and go from there."

Rean had been right when he gave this to her for her birthday – it really was a protection charm.

"What if McBurn shows up?" Kurt spoke up, usually the silent one of the group, but he had to voice his concerns. "You heard him last night, Instructor, he wants to get his hands on Melyssa."

"And you heard my father tell him to leave me alone." Melyssa recalled coolly, swallowing down her own nerves for the moment. "I don't think he'll bring anyone with him since I'll be going alone."

"So…who is going with for the backup? Bracers are excellent for this kind of thing and I think it should be three people instead of two, especially with who we're dealing with."

Rean stroked his chin, nodding at Sara's advice. "Fine, three can go, but that's it. I'm going and so is Emma, so that only leaves one spot open."

"Why not allow an investigator to assist you?"

Everybody turned to see none other than Machias Regnitz standing in the doorway.

"Machias…" Emma immediately ran to him, tossing her arms around his neck and passionately kissed him, missing her green haired man fiercely. "H-How did you know where to find us?!"

"Well, considering my fiancée IS a witch and taught me a few tricks, it was not hard to deduce, my love."

"Oh, please!" Celine rolled her eyes, sauntering over to them. "He ran into me while I was out patrolling in Jurai earlier and asked where we were located. I'm the one who lead him here."

"And you didn't tell me?!" Emma was going to strangle her familiar.

"Hmph, I don't need to tell you EVERYTHING, Emma."

"Besides, it is a nice surprise, is it not? Celine filled me in on everything already and I have news of my own to share regarding what is happening in Jurai."

Rean gave Machias his attention. "Yes?"

Crow didn't like this plan either. It was stupid. Robert killed his father, he knowingly put Melyssa in danger with McBurn of all people, and they were going to HOPE that he was coming alone because Melyssa was. She had way too much faith in a man who had already killed one of his own. Crow felt traitorous thinking that, but he couldn't help it either. Sometimes, it seemed like Ash was the only sensible one of them all and that was saying something. Even charms could be broken. Emma's magic was strong, but if magic was the end-all, be-all, then there would be no need for conventional weapons or people like them.

"You were correct in your assumptions, Rean." Machias walked over and handed a slew of paperwork to his friend and comrade. "That is the evidence I've collected in the past few days. Jurai is not the only city they are targeting. There has been activity going on in Heimdallr and my father is looking into that, as well as Legram and…Ymir." That made Rean's head snap up, his eyes wide. "Your father has been receiving visits from Heidel Rogner quite a bit lately. He's just a Baron and if the nobility truly wanted to overthrow him and take over Ymir, they could with Ouroboros' help."

Ymir was Rean's hometown. "Oh, Aidios…" Emma murmured, taking some of the paperwork to look over it with Fie and Sara.

"Why hasn't the Bracer Guild been informed of ANY of this, Machias?" Sara demanded, slapping the papers on the table harshly. "It's OUR responsibility to protect the civilians!"

"I do not have an answer for you, Sara. I wish I did. All I know is something is afoot and Jurai is only the beginning. Have you found out anything while you have been here?"

"Actually…" Rean launched into the explanation of everything that had transpired in Jurai, including finding out Melyssa's father, Robert Brackett, is an Enforcer in Ouroboros.

"Goddess…that's…that's ABSURD! And you are, or rather your student, the man's daughter, is meeting with him tomorrow evening?" Machias looked down at Emma, seeing the worry in her eyes and then looked back at Rean. "Surely you have a plan, yes? Enlighten me, perhaps I can strategize and help out."

So Miranda brewed yet another pot of coffee, starting to warn everyone that they were going to be stopping all day tomorrow to relieve themselves due to how much they were drinking, and set out a giant platter of sandwiches and other easy to grab finger foods. She had to keep busy, trying not to pay TOO much attention to the 'war council' as her mind kept referring to it as. Her daughter was going to be in such a dangerous spot and she knew that all it would take was… no, not thinking of it. She was going to have this warehouse looking pristine and not so abandoned by the time she was done, cleaning was putting her on auto mode.

With Machias in the fold, everyone felt a little more at ease because he was a terrific strategist. He agreed with the plan to have backup, but…he managed to convince Rean, without stepping on his toes as an Instructor, to allow someone to go with Melyssa…someone who was like a son to Robert growing up. Crow. He was part of the Noble Faction at one point, so Machias was confident he wouldn't be seen as that much of a threat to Robert. Rean was hesitant to do it, but in the end, he agreed and the team that would be backing them up, in case everything went awry, would be Rean, Emma, Machias and, surprisingly, Ash.

He had listened to the new plan unfold and felt better knowing Melyssa wouldn't be meeting her father alone. That was what bothered him the most and Crow going with her put his mind at ease. Ash requested to be on the backup team and Rean was hesitant to add him to the mix, because of his attitude, but he promised to behave and not act rashly. He also apologized for blowing up over the plan, which left a bitter taste in his mouth, but Ash knew if he had a chance in Gehenna of being added to the backup team, he had to concede he was wrong.

"Not to be a Debbie Downer," Crow said after a moment, hesitating because this WAS a good plan and he all on board with going. "I know we all think he sees me as a son, but he also saw Papa as a father and we know how that ended." He kept it down though, because that was Miranda's father-in-law and he frowned at the look on Melyssa's face. "You know I didn't mean it to be a jerk, Lyssa." He said quietly. "I'm… I've flipped both sides enough to know that I'm not usually considered to be a trustworthy person." If Ouroboros trusted him for even a second, it made him question how they had so much power.

"I understand how you feel, Crow." Machias nodded, acknowledging what Crow said and nobody could dispute it. "But if one of us were to go with her, they would see it as more of a threat than you going. I'm sure they are aware of your education within Class VII at the moment, but like you said, you have played for both sides. Out of all of us, you are the best candidate and…you trust each other, correct? You can link up now?" Rean had confided in him about his worries regarding Crow and Melyssa back at the Twin Dragons tower.

They both looked at each other and nodded. "We did it a few nights ago and it was a success."

"Good, then if things go amiss with your father, the two of you can link up and defend yourselves until the backup arrives. Knowing Ouroboros, Robert will not be alone, so we'll have to stay a ways back."

"How will you know what's happening inside my house then?" Melyssa asked, blinking as Machias pulled out two contraptions to set on the table. They were very small.

"These are a new invention the Institute of Technology in Roer has come up with and I've been using them in my investigations. One of you will stick one in your ear and Rean will get the other one. He will be able to hear everything that is said and if we feel the danger is too much, we will move in." Machias explained, seeing the sheer bewilderment and amazement on everyone's faces at the table.

"I can enchant them to where all of us can hear what is being said, if you want." Emma offered, winking at her husband and felt him squeeze her hand beneath the table.

"That would be a great relief to my mind." Miranda said gratefully, nodding her head in acknowledgment at Emma.

True, hearing her husband's poisonous words and excuses would only shatter the broken pieces of her heart further, but… as long as she was able to know what was going on with her daughter in real time, she would deal with that agony privately and at a later time.

"All right, so everyone knows what is going on, how we're going to do this, and what our back-up plan is?" Rean asked, looking around at everyone assembled, not surprised by all the solemn nods he received. This 'weekend excursion' was turning out to be beyond what they had initially signed up for. "Any questions?"

Everybody shook their heads, all their questions answered and they understood what would go down the following night. The meeting was adjourned with everyone going to do their own thing. Thanks to Emma's magic, she was able to put up 'walls' to give everyone privacy within the warehouse. Emma and Machias went to her room for some alone time with Celine venturing outside to do her usual patrol. Emma had convinced her to help them out, understanding her familiar's frustration, but also acknowledging her wrongdoing when it came to challenging Rean.