Chapter 35: Nothing and Everything

Song recommendation: "Better alone"(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL5PSuwM-5w)/ isolation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5WREEIcvZI)

"If you change your mind, you know where to find me," Varseille stood in front of the throne with Kalandra at his side.

She glanced around at the demons lining the hall. "Are you sure about this?" she said to Ace.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Well, I owe you my life. I won't forget it," she said quietly.

"It's better if you do," Ace replied coolly.

Varseille stood with wide pleading eyes looking as if he had more to say but turned swiftly. He left the room without another word and Kalandra followed. As they turned to leave, Ace felt a familiar cool hand around his neck.

"Is it wise to send them away?" Lucia whispered in his ear.

"I guess we'll find out," he replied, rising from the throne.

The moment he did, Rinn stepped out in front of him with a sincere smile.

"Did you say something, my lord?" she asked.

Ace glanced back. Once more Lucia was gone. He turned back to Rinn. "No, it's nothing,"

He stepped out into the hall and headed towards the western tower. It was a tall pointed building. Ace had gotten used to sleeping there. It reminded him of the palace of swords. He reached the room and closed the door. He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes.

"I have another gift for you,"

Ace rose wrathfully. He threw the close thing next to him across the room. The metal wine glass clattered on the floor. Lucia stared down at it with a smile. Her blank eyes came up to meet him unflinchingly.

"No more!" Ace breath became unhinged, "No gifts, no more visions, no more visits! What is it that you want?"

"Have I ever asked you for anything?" she said quietly. "I enjoy your company. Don't you enjoy spending time with me?"

"No, I don't, you evil witch!" Ace spat.

She rose soundlessly and stepped towards him. She held up a black-robed arm that covered her eerily white skin. Ace stared at her surprised. He felt the same feeling of dread that haunted his dream.

"How about now?" she dropped the veil covering her face.

Ace stepped back in dismay. The figure stepped towards him. The fragile features and porcelain white skin was uncanny. Even the eyes, ever slightly watering and the softest shade of pink still held resemblance. It was them, down to the gossamer hair and the expression that always seemed to be smiling even without trying.

"Clover?" Ace's mouth opened slightly, "No, you're not Clover...no..noo...you're not Clover,"

"Aren't I?" came the reply.

Ace stumbled back. He hit the bed and fell back as the figure leaned over him with a smile.

"Stop it.." Ace exhaled rapidly, but the spell was almost too real.

The touch, the smell, everything was the same. The shadow of Clover caressed his cheek and leaned in for a kiss. Ace flew from the bed startled by his own submissiveness.

"I SAID STOP IT!!" Ace stared down angrily. "Why don't you just show me your true face?! What? Are you so hideous you have to hide behind the faces of others?!"

"My true face?" they titled their head back and started to laugh lightly.

"What? You can't do it?" Ace returned viciously.

"Call me by my true name and I might," they answered with a dark smile.

"You're true name?" Ace's brow furrowed.

He had long since held some suspicions, and yet even though the name was on the tip of his tongue, he felt too afraid to say it. Every instinct in his body told him not to invoke it. The dark red eyes watching him felt like they might devour him completely.

"I don't know," he replied in a low voice.

"No?" came a reply without conviction, "well then, you shall have to suffice with this,"

Once more Ace found himself staring at the familiar sad green eyes to which he had grown accustomed. He inhaled sharply and quickly turned away.

"How long are you going to torment me?" he muttered.

The white hands came around his throat. The shimmering scarlet locks tickled his face. She clung to him and he knew he ought to repel her but he could not. He could feel her skin against his back but there was no noise. No breath. No heartbeat.

"For as long as it takes."

Ace stared down, inhaling rapidly and trembling. His heart was racing so quickly, he thought it might stop altogether. He wanted to run but his body wouldn't comply. He hadn't felt fear like this in some time.

Suddenly, the weight upon him vanished. He pivoted around staring at the empty room apprehensively. He hovered breathlessly by the door. It took several minutes for him to recover enough to move.

"Rinn!" he called down.

She appeared at once.

"Yes, my lord?" She gave a low bow.

"I wish to speak to one of the bone women. Tell her to come find me this evening,"

"As you wish," Rinn nodded.

"And Rinn," Ace turned back to his room. "See that no one disturbs me until then,"

"Yes, my lord," Rinn smiled as the door closed.

By evening Ace heard a light rap at his door. Was it that time already? He had been sitting in darkness since morning. What had seemed like minutes had elapsed into hours. He opened the door with as much composure as he could muster.

The small bony old woman gave a slight bow and entered the room by candlelight. Two girls came behind her. Both were attired in black. They laid a bowl upon the table and left the room. The old woman gestured Ace to sit and he obliged.

"Do you know why I called you?" he asked, staring apprehensively into the white liquid inside the bowl.

"Yes, my lord," answered the priestess.

"You told me about my fortune before?" he said slowly.

"Yes,"

"I didn't believe you. You said a boy who was supposed to die was looking for me. You meant Sena, right?"

"It could be,"

"It is!" Ace said with more ferociousness than intended. He inhaled sharply, " Well he didn't die, so that means I am going to die...is that right?"

"Death is a cycle. One thing dies so another is born. The light must end so there can be darkness and in turn, the darkness must end so there can be light,"

"Then we're both dead already?" Ace's eyes widened.

"It could be,"

"Not what could be!" Ace slammed his fist against the table, "tell me what is,"

The old woman held out her scrawny wrists and dipped them into the white liquid. She dug around within its depths and finally, a hand emerged with a charged piece of bone.

"Past. Present. Future. What do you wish to see?"

"Future," Ace sniffed.

"I see a raging storm break. Silence and sleep.."

"What else?" Ace demanded.

"Then a terrible slumber ends at last. The hands of love recede,"

"What else?!" ACe exclaimed.

"I see no more..."

"Keep looking!" Ace interceded, "Tell me something that makes sense!"

"I cannot.."

"Just look!" he cried.

The old woman became quiet, "It is dark...so dark... Ark!...what is this?" The woman's hand began to tremble, "The moon eclipsing the sun...I see his face! Pulchra luna mea! Veni domum. Veni domum!"

"What are you saying?" Ace entreated, "I don't understand!"

The priestesses hands were still locked in an upright grip. Her face was looking up rigidly into a distance Ace could not see. She didn't respond.

"What is it?" Ace exhaled breathlessly, "what did you see?"

Still, there was no answer. Ace stood up and walked towards her. "Are you alright..." he began.

At that moment, the old woman fell to the floor. Ace flinched and fell back startled. He quickly regained composure, opened the door and called out:

"Rinn?!" Ace yelled down the hall.

Rinn appeared at once.

"There's something wrong with her," he motioned to the old woman with some agitation. Rinn knelt down beside the bone priestess then returned her face to Ace.

"She is dead," Rinn said with a smile

"Fuck," Ace muttered under his breath turning away from Rinn.

He glanced quickly back at the old woman still lying on the floor. The piece of charged bone was still wrapped tightly in the priestess's hand. Ace felt cold all over. Even after witnessing the countless bodies on the battlefield, he never felt this way. He felt as though he might be sick.

"Shall I call for another?" Rinn added.

"No," Ace shook his head weakly.

Rinn waved her hand and more demons appeared dragging the old woman and her wares out of the room.

"Is there anything else you need, my lord?" Rinn asked once it was done.

Ace looked up at her shining red eyes, "no," he replied carefully.

She left the room with a further bow and shut the door behind her. Ace sat upon the bed staring blankly ahead. What was this feeling?

"Are you so afraid of me?" came a voice at his side.

Ace didn't look over. His fists balled around the bedsheets to stop the shaking. He was afraid, but he didn't know why.

"You aren't really called Lucia, are you? " he asked in a voice barely a whisper. "Who are you?"

"You know already," was the reply.

"What do you want from me?" Ace faltered.

"Nothing and everything."