Chapter 14: Lune

Ace opened his eyes.

No sooner than he had heard the words, that warm caress became bitterly cold. Clover's touch was gone. For a moment, Ace was overcome by a bright white, swirling and dazzling. Then it hit him. His heart dropped as he surveyed a dreary snow-coated forest. He was no longer in the demon world.

"CLOVER?!"

Ace fell to his knees bawling like a child until his throat grew hoarse. The pain was exquisite. The winds battered him from all sides. He called Clover's name but he was all alone. Trudging through the blizzard and the deep snow chilled him to the core.

Suddenly a hand grabbed him. He turned with rising hopes. However, they were quickly dashed as he found Bird staring back at him. Ace lost his balance and staggered forward. He fell into Bird as the snow continued to fall wildly.

"I found him!" Bird cried.

That was the last Ace heard before everything went black.

When next he worked, Ace found himself staring at wooden ceiling panels. It was dark. His eyes slowly adjusted to the room. He was sitting in bed in a room he didn't recognise. Without taking any further account of the room, he lurched forward toward the door.

His eyes followed the trail of light leading him around the corridor until he reached the hearth in the morning room. Bird and Michael were sitting around the fireplace. Their eyes came up slowly apprehending him.

"You shouldn't be out of bed," Bird leapt up to help him.

"I'm fine," Ace coughed.

"You were almost freezing to death when I found you. You just showed up outside our camp out of nowhere!" Bird babbled.

"Where are we?" Ace looked at the sparse room. It wasn't the tower in Mirocco.

"Another hideout," Bird explained, "We had to move. The knights came quicker than we expected. I'm surprised you were able to find this place," he added.

"Clover sent you back right? They're the only other person who would know about it," Michael said in a low voice. "Does that mean..."

"Clover won't come back," Ace swallowed the words painfully. His throat still felt dry.

Michael let out a sigh, "I guess that's it then," he said at length. His eyes came to the fire with hopeless resignation.

"But Clover said something strange before they sent me back," Ace said thoughtfully, "Clover said I wouldn't die if I came back,"

"Well then, maybe it's not as bad as we thought?" Bird said cheerfully.

"Don't be naive," Michael retorted, "Haven't you learnt yet Ace? Clover just tells you what you want to hear,"

"I don't think Clover would lie about something like this," Ace frowned.

"I've done the calculations," Michael snapped, "When the demon world is destroyed, it'll be the end for all of us,"

"I can't believe it," Bird said in dismay.

"There's no way the court would have agreed to this even if they knew. It's regrettable..." Michael elucidated. "But we've done everything we could,"

"No!" Ace returned suddenly, "No! I don't accept this,"

"What are you talking about, Ace?" Bird asked, taken aback by his sudden outburst.

"What are you giving up for?" Ace exclaimed, "If we're going to die anyway, we should at least say we tried everything!"

"What can we do, Ace?" Bird's voice trembled, "I don't want to die but we've tried everything,"

"There's one thing we haven't tried," Ace declared, "We can go to the palace ourselves and tell the court!"

"Go back to the capital?" Michael said slowly, "They'll have you in the dungeons before you can open your mouth,"

"We'll see about that," Ace remarked indifferently.

"What are you planning?" Michael shook his head reproachfully but his snakish eyes were already appraising Ace calculatingly.

"I have a plan," Ace proclaimed. "I know you have some secret passages ways to the capital,"

"Bird!" Michael scowled. "What have you been telling him?"

"He asked ages ago..." Bird quickly averted his eyes.

"What does it matter now? There's nothing left to lose," Ace said.

"This is a terrible idea!" Michael snapped, " Your magic is not offensive. What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to need some help," Ace replied.

"I'll go with you," Bird chimed in.

"Oh no, you don't," Michael scoffed, "Bird don't be a fool. Don't you see what he's doing? All he cares about is Clover. Isn't that right?"

"You're right. I don't want Clover to die but I also don't want to see this world destroyed. I don't want to see my friends get hurt. I may not have had the luxury to spend as much time here as the rest of you, but it's still my home," Ace replied flatly.

Bird nodded, "Of course it is,"

"But the fact Clover's life is also in danger might actually be to our advantage,"

"How so?" Michael asked sceptically.

"Because I think there's someone with almost as much to lose if Clover dies," Ace said thoughtfully.

---------------------------------------

It was a little after midday. The sky was a perfect white. Though the storm had subsided a layer of snow still blanketed the ground. Ace had learned that their hideaway was someplace to the north, but Michael had been reluctant to tell him where. No doubt he believed Ace's plan would expose them somehow.

Ace didn't blame him for doubting him. In truth, his 'plan' wasn't so much a plan but a last-ditch effort to save everyone. They didn't have much time left and desperate times call for desperate measures.

It was highly probable that what he was about to do would get him killed but Ace had no choice...

Ace closed his eyes and focused with his arms outstretched. He could feel the wave of emotion intensify. Every time he used his magic it felt like a part of him succumbed to that same darkness.

Ace slowly opened his eyes. Cold steel pressed against his throat. Violet eyes completely devoid of emotion pierced the white screen around them with unrepentant darkness.

"You must have a death wish," Kalanadra said unsmilingly, "I'll grant it for you."

"Before you do that," Ace responded, "Aren't curious about why I brought you here?"

"Not really," Kalandra rebuffed, pushing the daggers further against Ace's neck.

"It's about Clover," Ace said unflinchingly.

"What about Clover?" Kalandra still didn't relent.

"Did you know?" Ace asked flatly.

"About what?" Kalandra smirked, but there was a flicker of angst in her eyes.

"About the necklace," Ace returned, "Clover's not planning to leave the demon world when the Empire destroys it,"

Kalandra peeled back, lowering her blade. Her fists clenched as she stared down bitterly.

"You knew," Ace observed, "and you let Clover go?"

Kalandra's eyes widened irately. She spun around with her dagger drawn, pointing it at Ace wildly.

"If it wasn't for you!" she snarled, "This never would have happened!"

"Come on, Kalandra," Ace returned, "A spell like that can't just be thought of overnight. Clover must have been planning this from before we even met,"

"But Clover didn't have the means to do it until you came along with that damn necklace. And then even when Clover placed the damn thing in your hand, you just gave it back to the Empire. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself, "

"I didn't even know what the necklace did!"Ace snapped. "You must have known but you didn't do anything,"

"I didn't think Clover would actually give it to you or them," Kalandra faltered, "Clover is complicated. Sometimes they seem fine and other times..."

"Other times?" Ace questioned.

"Things changed after the war," Kalandra drew herself in, gritting her teeth. "That fucking woman ruined everything..."

"The Empress of Rotan?"

"Clover was obsessed with her. It happens sometimes. They get really interested in something or someone but usually, it doesn't last long. They find something else and it's fine, but..."

"This time was different. Clover took her to the demon world. Then what happened? They saved her, right?"

"It took them a year to get her back from the demon world," Kalandra smiled, "You know what happens to humans in the demon world, don't you? What a change of character. Demonification brings out the very worst qualities in the soul. She was covered in blood and guts like the rest of them with a big smile on her face."

Ace felt a shiver go down his spine as a recollection of his own caught him off guard. Something in her callous disregard in telling the tale rattled him.

"Mind you," Kalandra went on, "It never brings out something that wasn't there already," she added malevolently.

"So she became a demon." Ace exhaled, "So what?"

"They took turns antagonizing each other."

"Antagonising each other how?"

"I'll leave that to your imagination" Kalandra mused "Suffice to say, Clover even offered to send her home in the end but she refused. She was too busy plotting a revenge of her own,"

"And did she..."

"Oh yes," Kalandra answered. "It was shame Lune had to pay the price,"

"Lune?"

"Clover's mother," Kalandra's eyes narrowed.

"I thought Clover's mother was already dead," Ace's brow furrowed.

"Not that human bitch," Kalandra scoffed, "I'm talking about the Lune. The one who really raised Clover. Didn't they even tell you that much?" Kalandra added with a smug smile.

"It was when Lune died that things changed...I don't know...Clover just wasn't the same. Clover loved her more than life itself," Kalandra said with sudden seriousness.

"Clover loved the Empress that much?"

"No!" Kalandra sighed, "have you been listening? That Empress was the one who took Lune from Clover. Whether Clover really loved that stupid woman or not I can't say, but I know for sure that Clover really loved Lune. ,"

"But Clover had these paintings of the Empress..."

"What paintings of the Empress?" Kalandra said mockingly, "What did she look like? "

"Long white hair and red eyes..."

"That's Lune. You don't recognise her?" Kalandra exhaled with irritation.

"Recognise her? I've never heard of her before,"

" Haven't you heard of the Grandmother?"

"The Grandmother?" Ace ejected, "Of course I have. Every demon has heard of the Grandmother. She was the oldest demon alive. I thought it was just a rumour. You're saying that women raised Clover. I had no idea,"

"I shouldn't have even told you this much but you get the picture. I've tried everything I can think of but Clover won't even speak about it,"

Ace studied her unmoved. "So you've given up? You're just going to let Clover die?"

"It's what Clover wants," she said in a low voice.

"Are you serious?" Ace rejoined. "I thought you loved Clover,"

"I DO love Clover. They're like family to me." Kalandra's eyes twitched, " They took me off the streets. Gave me a home. Never once asking for anything in return. This is just how the world is...If Clover doesn't want to live anymore, I respect their decision. It's a love you wouldn't understand,"

"What if there was a way for Clover to live and not have to suffer?"Ace returned earnestly.

"If there was a way, I would have found it by now," Kalandra said drily.

"Didn't you notice that Clover seemed happier in the Empire?" Ace contended.

"You're not going to tell me you can make Clover happy, are you?" Kalandra scoffed.

"That's not what I was going to say," Ace interjected, "Clover was happier because their magic was under control."

"Maybe," Kalandra shrugged, "but that piece of junk ring could barely hold Clover's power,"

"My necklace is far more powerful than that and it has the power to disrupt magic. Instead of using it to destroy the demon world, what if Clover wore it?"

Kalandra's brow furrowed. For the first time, she took time to mull over the words sincerely.

"What did Clover say about it..." she started.

"Clover's not interested in finding a solution anymore," Ace countered, "You know it as well as I do. They've just been looking for a way out."

"Then this would still be against their wishes," Kalandra said decidedly.

"Only because Clover won't let themself be happy. Not because they can't be happy. How can they be with such a dangerous power? But we could change that," Ace insisted, "If there was any chance for happiness, isn't it worth trying?"

"Happy with you, you mean?" Kalandra responded sharply.

"You know Clover even better than I do," Ace stated soberly, "You know Clover won't forgive me for this, but that's fine. If I promise I can get that necklace around Clover's neck and I'll take all the blame, won't you just consider it? We don't have to tell Clover you helped me. I'll take whatever punishment they give me. I just need your help getting through the doors."

Kalandra's purple eyes surveyed Ace severely yet gravely.

"What do you need me to do?"