201. Of siblings, reunions and a little bit of possibilities

Cassandra Pendragon

I was sweating bullets, torn between disbelieve, anger and… well, yeah, compassion. Why gods, why me? Honestly, the older I got the more I realised that the whole you've got the power to forge your own destiny crap wasn't even close to worth it. Even a life filled with political soirées and an arranged marriage didn't seem so bad anymore. I shot a sideways glance at Ahri… and realised I was simply pitying myself. I'd never be able to twist myself into the kind of conformity society would accept. And I'd rather challenge heaven and hell and everything in between on my own than part with the girl at my side. Now, I only had to own up to my convictions. Unfortunately, that was usually the harder part. Words and deeds and all of that.

"Hon," I sent through my tattoo. "That's two in a day now. Do you… is there any chance that we can still keep the immortals away from us?"

"For a while, maybe. But if either Lilith or Sarai cross paths with our brother… I'm afraid time is running out. Now, there are two people out there who already know we're alive and what we've become. If either one of them gets caught.. they're already being hunted." I thought for a moment.

"I'm going to tell her to come here. Make use of Amazeroth's schemes and wards. You okay with that? Maybe we can keep the lid on things until we're fully grown and have dealt with all the shit that's happening here. I just don't know if that's actually clever or insane."

"A bit of both, I guess. But I don't think there's much of a choice. Leaving them to their own devices… that's even more dangerous. Just make sure you don't invite a devil to our world."

"I won't… besides, I'm here already, aren't I," I added with a grin. She cocked an eyebrow.

"There's only one world where you're known as the devil. That hardly counts. Don't get cocky. Just because she appears vulnerable now, doesn't mean she couldn't annihilate us with a wish, if she so chose. Be careful, Cassy. You're gambling with more than just your life."

"I know… believe me, I'm also not really keen on having our family around, but when in Rome…"

"Fine… I guess it's time to change the rules," I said out loud. "Open your eyes, Sarai."

"But… have you completely lost it? You know what we can see, don't you? I'll know where you are! All hells, I'll probably know exactly who you are. If they catch me…"

"They won't be able to if they can't get to you. And this place… it's safe. I just have to figure out how to get you here without destroying its protection and for that I need to know how much time I have until you come knocking. Besides, you're… family, in more ways than one now. And I still owe you for my last death. I can't have you kicking the curb without a chance to yell at you in person. So open your gods damned eyes and tell me!" She did, albeit reluctantly.

A soft, golden glow filled the room. Aurelia's beautiful eyes were now glowing with the eternal flames of an immortal phoenix, a spark of heaven manifested in the mortal world. She looked around confusedly before her gaze fell onto us. A wry grin spread across her face as she said:

"The sight alone is almost worth it. By the abyss, the both of you are stunning… Argh, these blasted feelings. I never knew beauty could be this dangerous." Her eyes roamed up and down our bodies before she added: "Forgive me, I'm still getting used to… to these forsaken emotions. A damned nuisance," she spat.

"Huh, I actually quite enjoy them," Ahri stated. "But then again, I've grown up with them." She took a small step forward and reached for Sarai's hand. "Before we become distracted by the woes and worries of creation once again, it's good to see you, sister. How are you doing?"

Sarai's self deprecating grin turned into a real smile when she took her hand. "I've been better. Fear and insecurity aren't things I've ever had to deal with, but I got to admit, hope, desire and joy balance the scales. Looking back, I can't even tell you how I ever managed to survive for that long in a grey world. It's almost as… as if I had been truly born for the first time. It's just a pity that everywhere I turn, I find one pitfall after the other. Sometimes I even wonder if I've been cursed. But… right now, seeing the two of you before me, I think I'm happy… ironic, considering that I've probably just made everything a million times worse. But still, it's good to see you, too."

"Welcome to my life," I replied morosely. "I'm still hoping it's going to get better, but… somehow it doesn't. Still… Aurora once told me that hope is nothing but a decision, a decision to fight for and believe in a brighter tomorrow. At the end of the day, that's all we can ever do, isn't it?"

"I can't remember saying that," Ahri interjected. "But it doesn't sound half bad. And with you by our side," she added in Sarai's direction, "our chances just went up by a landslide."

"Not yet," I said. "First, we have to get her here. So… how long is it going to take?"

"A while, if I were to fly. A year or two, maybe? But I've got a better idea. My essence is still running through Aurelia. With a little luck I might use it to get here directly."

"Luck hasn't exactly been an abundant commodity with us," I mumbled. "How long until you can say for sure?"

"A few minutes. You mentioned the protection of this place. I've got to make sure I can push through. There's just one problem. The connection I'm using right now is more or less undetectable but as soon as I'm going to shove transcendent energies through the link, I'll light up like a Christmas tree. My real body that is. If I can't cross over, I'll have to run. So… before I try, you have to be sure that's what you want."

"And maybe we should talk about what you're going to do afterwards, provided you can't reach us," I pointed out. "I still want you to make your way here, even if it's going to take a while."

"I'll try, but it won't be easy. I already know where you are, approximately at least and I'll have to cross most of the universe. It wouldn't be that bad if I could fly through the Void, but that'd be close to suicide. If I run into even a single one of our siblings it'll be over and then, you'll have to deal with the heavenly host knocking on your door. I'd like to avoid that, if at all possible."

"Me too," Ahri murmured. "Amazeroth might be a genius, but even his wards won't be able to keep the whole host at bay. And that's without taking into consideration that nobody knows how many of them have already been corrupted."

"That's the second time one of you has said that," Sarai interrupted. "Is that what has happened to the others? The demons who turned on their kin and the angels who follow Michael?"

"I can't say for sure," I replied while looking at Ahri to make sure she was fine with me spilling the beans. She only shrugged. "But… probably. It's also the reason why I… we have ended up here in the first place. I want to tell you, but first, I need a promise. Promise me, you won't deceive us, that you're truly who you appear to be and aren't trying to sell us to Michael." She nodded immediately, obviously pleased that I had remembered.

"I'll even do you one better. I promise I'm still myself, I promise I'm still your friend, I promise that I'm not going to sell you out this time around, whatever the cost and I promise that I'll do everything in my power to help you." When I felt the faint stirring of her energies, transmitted through the connection she had established with Aurelia, I smiled gratefully. I'd never have asked her to go that far. If she hadn't somehow learned to break a transcendent promise, she had well and truly tied herself to us.

"Thanks, I… just thanks. Now, listen…" I went straight ahead and told her parts of what we had figured out. That ever since the First War, when the essences of angels and demons had been combined to create the Nine Families, we had known that this union would spell our downfall, that it granted power that even surpassed that of an immortal but that it also corroded their very essence, their purpose. I didn't go into detail about the pact Ahri had been part of when they had first found traces of it manifesting outside an immortal host, nor did I mention Amazeroth's involvement, but I explicitly told her that I suspected Michael of having fallen prey to the Corruption and that I had received proof Delilah definitely had from Chaleb's hands.

She listened attentively and not once did she interrupted me, but I could tell she had her doubts. Understandable, after all, I was pretty much narrating a fairy tale. The only saving grace was the pain and hardship she had been forced to endure over the last couple of years, otherwise she wouldn't have believed a single word. But being forced to watch our siblings turn on each other and hunt down the ones who weren't willing to fall in line had shaken her and she was grasping for any explanation that made even a modicum of sense. And this much, at least, I could provide, even if it seemed rather far fetched.

"By the nine eyes, either Michael has damaged your core beyond belief and you're utterly insane, or we're headed for the most important war in our history," she finally blurted out when I had finished.

"It never stopped," Ahri quietly corrected her. "The war I mean. Ever since the beginning… we're simply trying to finish a conflict that has begun ages ago. It may have laid dormant, hidden underneath the surface but it never truly stopped."

"It hasn't been this bloody for a while, though," I interjected. "Which brings us to the present. How bad has it become? From what you said earlier, Sarai… you made it sound like it's already over. Were you exaggerating?"

"No… not really. Didn't you just tell me that hope is a decision? I'm not ready to roll onto my back and some of the others won't, either. I don't know who, exactly, but maybe I could find out."

"Don't," I immediately blurted out. "It's much too dangerous. They… I think they'll come to us anyways. Just like you and Lilith."

"And what makes you say that?" I hesitated for a moment and then decided to keep my explanation rather vague.

"This life of ours… I think much of it has been orchestrated form the start…" I couldn't go on.

Sarai was shaking her head in disbelief and groaned: "the forsaken know it all. No wonder he hasn't been around. Is he here?" I was flabbergasted. How had she caught on so quickly? Then again, the words orchestrated and immortal probably rang a bell or two.

"Do you mean the Lord of Mirrors," I asked.

"Whom do you think I mean? Father Christmas? Of course I'm talking about Amazeroth."

"I… yes, he is and he has been meddling with my life… our life from the very start." She massaged her temples and stared at the ceiling before she said:

"Maybe you should tell me exactly what you've been up to since you've arrived on this world."

"No, she won't," Mephisto's voice sounded from the door. With a smile, he bowed gallantly and offered Sarai his hand. "The Lady of Dawn, fancy meeting you here. I hope you've been well." She took it but her smile seemed forced and I could practically smell her tension.

"My Lord Mephisto. It seems like the rumours about your untimely demise were premature. I shouldn't be surprised, of course. After all, who has ever seen a demon sacrifice himself?"

"Harsh words, but true none the less. Except for me. Look at me. Do I still look like an immortal to you? I've sacrificed the most essential part of my being. I would never claim altruistic motives, but it's still the truth." Sarai's eyes flashed brightly and her intensity, while she scrutinised Mephisto, made my fur bristle. It almost felt like she was literally drilling a hole through his skull.

"I see," she finally murmured. "But that's reversible. You still held on to the essential structure."

"I know, unfortunately we've lacked the power to do anything about it. At least up until now."

"Is that you're usual, round about way of asking for help," the angel inquired.

"It is. What would become a dangerous adventure with an uncertain outcome for Cassandra is nothing but trivial for you, isn't it? You still hold all your power, even if it's diluted. Are you willing?"

"Have you been listening at the door," Ahri asked indignantly.

"Sure, how else would I know if I was supposed to run and hide? There's a fine line between courage or gallantry and stupidity and I don't intend to ever cross it. Don't act so surprised. If there's another immortal among us, I think I have every right to know what the three of you come up with. Also, someone had to make sure your adopted sister stayed well away from things she couldn't possibly understand. So… you're welcome. Anyways, concerning my question…?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"If you're going to reveal yourself anyways by hurling your powers across the universe, why don't we take it a step further? You know what I need, don't you? A transcendent source I can control. You've full access to your core. You can siphon off a sliver and tie it to my will, that's all I need. Well… maybe a tad more than sliver. Give me something to play with and I'll be as good as new."

"Why haven't you done so already? These two," Sarai pointed at Ahri and me, "have always been stronger than me. I'm quite sure their cores contain more than you can deal with."

"True, but they aren't there yet. If I were to take a spark of their essence it would burn and turn against me. I don't think I'd survive in my current state, never mind actually using their power."

"I see… but I don't think that's my decision to make."

"Huh, what do you mean," I asked confusedly. "Who else has the right to decide how you use your own energy?" She smiled at me.

"You, silly. Remember what I promised? This your world and I'm going to play by your rules."

Mephisto stared at me imploringly but I took a moment to mull it over before I replied:

"I don't really know what the two of you intend to do, so you can hardly expect me to make a decision from the top of my head. What are we actually talking about?"

"Refuelling the seed of my core I still have left. With the drop I've taken from hell and the support of a grown immortal I'll be able to reclaim what's mine." He hesitated before he grudgingly admitted: "but it will take time. Think of it as the metamorphosis of a larva. I'll have to… pupate, to stay within the metaphor."

"So, you're basically going back to hibernation. For how long? Days? Months? Years?"

He shrugged helplessly. "Depends. If she was here I'd say days, at the most. But since I'll have nothing but her help to kickstart the process… remember what I told you back on Boseiju? That you'd have to collect a core from a lower elemental for me? She's pretty much going to circumvent that restriction, nothing more. I… I don't have the foggiest how long it's going to take."

"You've got to be kidding us," Ahri ground out. "Let me get this straight. You think right now is the perfect time to leave us hanging?" He even seemed a bit embarrassed but he stood his ground.

"Yes, I do. Depending on how everything turns out, you'll soon have one, maybe two other immortals at your side and judging from past experiences, things aren't going to get any easier. I'd rather leave you high and dry, with Lilith and possibly Sarai to protect you, while you're dealing with a mortal emperor. From everything I've heard, things might become considerably more difficult in the foreseeable future and I'd rather be around when we have to face our family."