###**Into the Fox's Den** _Kenan - Darius' Mansion_ _Early Morning_ Juan’s hand pulled the car right around, the trip little more than an hour and mostly in silence, with the gravel grinding under the wheels as they closed slightly in on the rear gate. Earlier, Rhett and Damon had been dropped off at the front entrance where their task was centered on. Namely, the task was to keep Darius’s goons distracted though the area was likely to become a hot zone in minutes when the two began. In truth, Juan wasn’t really worried but Rhett’s ability had little merit with him since it was only on Kasain and Crow’s word in regards to his skill. It was a fact which didn’t make Juan any more at ease in the situation. Slowly the rear gate began to pull into view and immediately Juan’s gut turned. Something was off as his eyes caught the image of only two guards, identical from the dress code down to the crisp image they both kept up. The only true difference was the sex. One was lighter, curvier, and highly feminine compared to the other. Every few minutes one would hold their fingers to the earpieces they had then pace a few steps only to grind to a halt, coming back to the gate. Juan started to wonder what was going on. Gingerly his body propped upward in his seat and edged to the window, his fingers whitening on the steering wheel, while his head turned to pan the scene. He sought more foxes but came up empty. This fact made him more nervous. Darius wouldn’t have been this sloppy unless… "Shit, Darius you asshole," Juan spat softly beside Kasain. There was only one reason that the security was slack, it was because they were moving Emmet sooner than later and likely before they suspected he would show. Part of him worried he was too late. Juan’s teeth gritted in realization at suspicions, his mind clicking the clues together suddenly, internally cursed the fox demon. His dread poisoned his veins, filling him until he inhaled just to smooth over the anxiety into the back of his head. He leaned back, letting his hand reach for the car door and clicked it open. Cautiously he then edged his foot out on the street for a moment, stalling half way. His head turned slowly back to the Doctor. "I hope you're fast on your feet. It seems the Fox knows me a little too well and decided to move him ahead of schedule..." Throughout the duration of the ride, Kasain gradually became more and more giddy, or was it impatient? Twas hard to tell with the odd mixture of a grin and fidgeting, both with his hands and the bouncing movements of his body. He even twitched every so often, or ran his nails, or a needle along the inside of the car. Whenever he became particularly agitated, the needle would run along any metal near him, making a terrible high pitched noise as the needle cut the weaker material. Every time the doctor did this, it calmed him considerably and he would remain as such for several minutes...when they were lucky. After they had dropped off the other members of their little crew, Kasain began instead to play with the stitching that could be noted on various areas of his body. This preoccupied him till they finally arrived, causing the twisted demon to resew any loose ends in quick and deft movements before exiting the vehicle with Juan. It occurred to him that the whole time he had been riding in something wrought from the body of another demon--a strange and, to any other, disgusting prospect. The doctor however only found it a curious thought and was only pulled from his ponderings upon Juan's swearing. His eyes regaining their manic luster, Kasain listened and watched the man's body language closely, studying him. His subconscious brought back the images and sensations from the man's form as he had become more and more agitated over the past few minutes. When Juan turned to him, the Doctor was grinning. As his words reached the demon's ears, the construct's body elongated till he was roughly 6 feet in height, before shrinking back down to 5'8. His clothing hung off his almost hollow frame as he placed his hand gently on Juan's shoulder, his grin stretching his face just barely past its natural limit. _"Oh, I can mooove qui-quickly just fine,"_ stated his shrill voice in jubilant tones. His unnaturally lanky frame and thin, pushing skeletal guise, was certainly unpleasant to look upon, but at least there was confidence in his manner. _"What has you s-s-sooo dis-eased, _Juan_. Are you in any pain, perhaps? No, think nothing of it,"_ he removed his hand from the man's shoulder, his eyes twitching one after the other three times over as he began to walk in the direction of their VIP's location. _"Your uneasyness will be contagious if you don't quell it, leader. You ought to temper your wits a bit, hehe...hihihih,"_ the doctor giggled slightly, drawing fourth needles from his lab coat with each of his hands, having merely to flick his wrists to do so. _"Now, let's hop to it, I've patients to care for~"_ The shine in his eyes only grew with each step. It was due time for him to _work_. Kasain’s touch had caused a series of invisible fingers to dance down Juan’s spine. His bone columns became abruptly ridged and stiffened, letting tension from the contact fill every single bone in his lithe frame. Inwardly was a struggle while he fought not to jerk completely away. However, the doctor likely would note his dislike of the touch even if it was totally wordless. Not liking the sensation, his eyes held their glance at the demon. Kasain’s shape had changed again to what seemed like a walking bag of bones with a skeletonal frame and hollowed out face, his voice's tones slightly borderline insane in their eerie cheer. Again, in the back of his head, Juan started to deeply wonder what Damon had dragged him into before he shoved it down. It was far too late now as the devil’s deal was struck. His thoughts broke the moment Kasain removed his hand, the doctor’s words echoed within his head, trying to decide if there was any unpleasant effect present on his person. His eyes naturally jerked down to the small pendant resting on his neck. It didn’t glow red which meant nothing, save simple, creepy, touch had happened. He exhaled in relief. Juan’s eyes rose to meet eye to eye with the doctor, still listening to the odd comment and trying to shake off the manic vibe being given by the current forced ally. The pain was something he was accustomed to now that it was a part of him. He watched until the demon removed himself from the car, his eyes twitching, and then started to step to the gate. Juan’s head snapped back to the fox in back then ordered it ahead. It stiffened and started to exit the car, phasing through the door to land outside of it. The slender creature moved ahead to slip into the gate where Juan could use its eyes to see the layout. Or at least the current happenings. His eyebrow raised when Kasain’s hands reached into his lab coat and produced more needles on his other hands, lost in his eagerness to get to the patient within. He could only sigh then continue his way out. His finger heated, sizzling a sigil on the steel plating letting his magic quickly imbue within the etching, followed by filling him with new energy. Already the two human guised foxes had noted the good doctor move toward them. The female was the first to react. Her body twisted about and started to intercept Kasain, her hand reached out to signal him to stop. Reflexively her other hand reached for the gun at her hip and readied to pull it out, the strap removed and the safe quickly snapped off. Juan sighed at the predictable but nuisance behavior with Darius’s lackeys. His hand whipped into his back pocket for a vial, a small green one, which held several ingredients. Air, serpent venom, and battery acid in the thin glass tube corked by a wooden, aged stopper. In his other hand, Juan spoke through his radio clearly to Damon or Rhett. “You boys better get started, quickly. Kasain’s rather hot on my rabbit’s scent and he’s not stopping.” He said quickly, then shoved the radio into the waist of his pants and with a hefty throw, tossed the vial. It shattered when it hit the male’s guard’s coat. Glass broke easily, the liquid splattered over his shoulder and arm where it started to eat at the fabric. It burned and sizzled, devouring the jacket within seconds causing him to yelp. He jerked off his glasses revealing the glowing eyes underneath then started to shift form. The woman, still focused on stopping Kasain, only paused a moment within the demon’s reach to note her companion’s distress and likely its source. His grin tearing jagged lines across his face as the acid struck the man, Kasain's hands flicked forwards and in the moment that the woman turned to check her ally's status, she would find four needles in her body. One in each shoulder, and a third right into the center of her abdomen. Growling softly Kasain's fingers began to work, though they were unseen within his labcoat's many sleeves. The woman's essence froze, contorted, and brought pain far more crippling than any fox, or human, could handle, then amped up higher. _"In the way, little foxes masked. Don't worry Juan, I'll not expose us, t'would only complicate my work,"_ his fingers shuddered and false signals began to be sent to Darius, identical to the ones their little fox spy was sending. _"All is well, for your master, but today you'll be listening to the Dr. Kasain~"_ There was a sweetness in his voice, as if he were talking to a poor injured puppy, rather than two armed demonic servants. As he was speaking, the woman turned on her once ally and shot him in both knees, then moving to tackle him so he could not retaliate. If successful she would draw the fourth needle from the palm of her other hand and stab it into the back of the man's neck. “I would hope so, but the bad news, Doctor. You’re cutting it rather close,” Juan snapped, giving Kasain a warning look and noted the doctor’s capabilities. Already the she-fox was pinned and being rewritten. Juan rapidly returned his attention on the beast that he had earlier spattered, the acid still continued to devour the coat and now some of the concrete now that the fox had discarded it. The fox then threw his body on to all fours, his limbs twisted and distorted, while his fang started to bare. Already his signals became stressed, a signal to Darius something had happen, while his companion was being needled by Dr. Kasain. His shift was cut short when the woman immediately turned, her gun raised then shot. Pop, pop! Two bullets rang out and made Juan halt within his tracks, his hand hovered over another vial, a blue one. His teeth gritted at the sound which seemed to echo all the way around them as it cut off his attempt to silence Darius’s alarm. He watched the fox crumble to the floor with dark blood oozing from where his knees had been shattered. Immediately the she-fox was on him. Her body knocked and weighed him to the ground, the half-changed fox snarled in bewilderment toward her. With a fast movement, her hand drew a needle before she jerked it into the fox’s neck. It whimpered then stilled its struggles. Kasain, regardless, could only grin even larger as the first stages of his work had begun. He had of course, earlier, noted Juan's discomfort at his touch. He reckoned that it was not simply that he had touched him, but a general revulsion. That much he had sensed just from cursory contact with his now-leader, Should his hijacking of the masked woman-fox be entirely successful, the man would find himself unable to move while the acid burned away any useless matter. Meanwhile, Kasain's working hands reformatted his essence, hijacking him as well. _"Ahh, the joys of being a doctor,"_ Kasain would state with a pleased sigh. While there was a manic tone to his voice, his jibbering and fidgety behavior had subsided somewhat. Working was therapeutic for the demon, a strange quirk indeed. Luckily, there was plenty more to be done...plenty more. Juan relaxed when he noted his fighting target was already done, his body edged toward the gate leaving the doctor to his duty. His neck hairs still rose when he turned his back on Kasain, neither being comfortable or at ease with the display of his recent behavior. Part of him was slightly concerned about letting him near Emmet at all though compared to losing his work and risking the damage, Juan chose the latter. He had some confidence any tampering could be undone with time compared to an utter loss. While the doctor rewrote the essence within the second fox, Juan approached the gate carefully. The man’s eyes located a camera when it whirled and twisted its lens upon the pair causing his body to come to a grinding halt. Slowly his hands moved to rest on his hips and remained in plain view, not daring to move any farther. Mentally was another story. A shadow, unnoticed by the machine nuisance, had crept to a position under the camera. In moments, it leaped up and lunged at the camera’s wiring making it spark and hiss until it shut down. Juan relaxed when he noted the machine disable then fully examined the iron wrought gates. On first glanced they seemed to be nothing more than harmless iron, black and well made into a nine foot fence. Juan, unlike most demons, knew better. In the metal mixture was silver, making it very difficult for most demons to scale the barrier and invade the property through human methods. Juan mused at the slight cleverness. He drew close to one of the stone pillars that helped fence in the property and reached his hand out, gently touched it. Juan said one word, “Here,” then placed his thumb to his lips. Then he bit his finger. Blood dripped down as he touched to the wall, searing the symbol into the surface quickly before he took a step back. The brick started to shimmer and warp. Its once solid surface looked like ever shifting water now with the image locked in place. Testing, Juan’s fingers toyed with the wavering image, dancing on the surface. The moment his fingers skimmed it, they made ripples and caused the illusion to part and reveal a doorway. That was what the foxes had been guarding. “After you doctor.” Juan let a small smirk flicker onto his lips and pressed his hand to the door making it creak open. Then he gestured for the fox to head inside. Obediently it went, its head down and ears pinned to its skull which it would be likely followed by Kasain and finally Juan himself after. Tilting his head with curiosity, the doctor tapped the newly formed opening with a needle before chuckling lightly and walking through, the fox leading them safely through the building afterwards. All the while the demon could only think of how wonderful this all was. The excitement, oh and they'd hardly begun. Behind Juan, now hijacked from their master, Darius's, control, the two human shifted foxes walked, one whose body was damaged, the other who was entirely functional and intact. Kasain's body language spoke both of glee and of utter calm. Despite the twitches or shivers every few minutes, everything about his actions was in place. His fingers would twitch about, but it was always in his manipulation of his two newest puppet-patients. He was having fun, but he had not lost sight of why he was _really_ here. This was a mission that, upon Crow's secondary and tertiary inspection, had several purposes besides the one that Juan intended to fulfill. Kasain, while perhaps one of the most difficult to deal with among the individuals that Crow had sent, was also the most reliable. Strange that, eh? As such, Kasain had been told things that Rhett and the other three, well really four, had not. For example, Crow was curious as to their client's true identity, and why Emmet was so important to him. Surely there was more to the situation. Everything had been too calculated and this client far too prepared for it to be anything like familial ties or friendship. No, there were other factors that the man was yet unaware of. Kasain knew this, even if Crow hadn't told him he would've known. The demon had a talent for reading people, but not in the way that demons such as Szayeis did. It was not magic that fascilitated his ability to read others, it was his intuition and his profession. Knowledge of the body in relation to the essence and the essence in relation to the mind made one more sensitive to the emotions and thoughts of others, though not in the sense that most might think. Kasain was neither telepathic nor empathic, he was just adept at reading, and learning, people's tells. Everyone had them, and so few could perfectly hide them that the doctor never had to worry about being lied to, never had to worry about being fooled. He had not survived for so many years out of luck. After a few minutes of walking, Kasain began to hum and jitter a bit more. The effects of his work on the two fox-puppets was wearing off. It was almost like his working with essence and the bodies of patients was some kind of drug to him. Perhaps it was. Juan listened, in total silence, to their footsteps echoing within the narrow tunnel. The sound seemed to become louder the longer they traveled. All around them, it merely bounced off the walls and back at the group making the scene feel more surreal. It made his body tense and wired, expecting something to appear around the next corner. This was too easy thought Juan, his eyes grazed the tunnel’s smooth walls only to see nothing abnormal. Even the minion he had command of seemed unsettled due to the lacking resistance. There was little doubt in Juan’s mind that he knew Darius had predicted he would’ve traveled this way. The only thing that worried him was the fact that it was so…empty. But why? He couldn’t prevent the question from lingering there for several moments, his mind still wary of his surroundings, before he started to slow and finally stopped. Again, that notion of something wrong pricked at his neck hairs causing them to rise in discomfort. Juan voiced his worry out loud. “We should’ve seen a door appear by now.” Instinctively his fingers touched nearest stonewall and reached for something, a blade within his pocket, letting his touch distinguish anything different from the solid surface. It felt like every other stone he had ever touched to his human senses. Still, his gut told him otherwise. His mind snapped to the fox, forcing the creature to stand ready to move should his next magic trigger unexpected results. With the blade in his other hand, Juan’s palm retracted from the wall for a moment then sliced it in a horizontal cut. He hissed in response letting the thick, tar like blood drip for a second. Then he dipped into his ink and smeared a complicated marking upon the flat surface. His fingers grazed into loops and jagged markings as it made a complicated pattern, his hand pulled away once it was completed. Nothing happened, making Juan frown. “That should’ve worked. Unless…” Juan growled softly at his naive expectations. Naturally, he had forgotten Darius might’ve tried to bar any shortcut right to Emmet and that meant there was a dispelling trap around. His eyes flickered around trying to spot something odd around the walls. Any little give away to the area's essence that shimmered or wavered unnaturally in their surroundings would've gave it away. Sadly, Juan lacked the skill to see such a thing which made his task all that much more difficult. Since Juan had stopped, Kasain followed suite, turning towards the man and raising an intrigued eyebrow at his actions. "Oh? If it is analysis of non-living material, I happen to be an expert. Do you...r-require any assistance?" His smile perked then vanished then reformed again, continuously. He was becoming unstable again and working on something inanimate was an act that he was unsure of emotionally. His skills permitted him to be quit effective at it, but his mental state was not so predictably effected by the act. The doctor removed a needle from his coat, and smiled again, his head tilted in question. Juan eyed Kasain. Mentally, he debated on the offer. Weighing their price and consequences before making a choice. On one hand, attempting to do this himself could take too much time and risk Darius discovering their presence here. It was a matter Juan wanted to avoid because he was certian of the ending. On the other, taking Kasain's offer meant he was deeper within Crow's debt. Already the human, he assumed from Damon's retelling, had gained more than he had liked which would farther make his repayment harder. In the end, the driving point came to one key thing: which did he fear more? Crow, an unknown stranger, or Darius? It wasn't a hard choice. Though the unknown made him wary, Darius's punishments were...at best, described as cruel. Namely when he put his mind, creativity, and full effort into the torture. Sadly, for most of those occasions Emmet was the target for such acts. "I rather not, but unless we make this trip quick, Darius will start to notice our presence. That will only complicate things more," Juan began and finally accepted Kasain's offer, looking at the demon to start, "Just point at it and I'll take it out." Nodding the demon strode up to the wall and tapped it several times with the needle, his brows raising inquisitively at the initially results. Didn't seem like much initially. However, when he poked the tip into one of the microscopic pores of the surface he found something else entirely. On first examination, it appeared to be a solid, stonewall. But when Kasain’s needle entered into the wall, its essence shivered. To Juan and the foxes, the wall didn’t do anything to the naked eye yet pulling away the enchantment would reveal it had a small gap in the middle of the stone wall lining the tunnel running from end to the other. As the demon probed deeper, his essence would spread in the normal fashion until it hit something. Something not inanimate or part of the wall. Hidden deeply within it was a creature. It was small, rat like with one eye closed as its claws held tightly to the inch thick stone separating the rat from being seen. Dark little paws gripped the wall’s inside like a sicken vermin desperate to listen and spy. Its spiky and messy fur stuck out in all directions, pouring out illusion magic through its skin which had poured through the stones’ gaps and into the tunnel. This was how Darius had created the endless image and how it had ensnared those traveling within the secret passage, preventing Juan from finding the passageway’s exit. It had already been activated but the rat kept it hidden. Making it seem as if Juan’s magic had failed to work. Kasain had lucked out in the end as his probe came dangerously close to penetrating the large demonic rodent, entering the wall right next to where it had settled. Suddenly its eye snapped open. Its small, crunched up face shifted and spotted the needle’s point now. It hissed. Its swiss cheese like ears rose in alarm then, abruptly, it compressed its body and its six legs hurried along the gap. It brought it right past Juan’s position in its attempt to escape. At sensing it, the Doctor's eyebrows raised. He observed it via his needles and then as it began to attempt to escape, he sent a pulse of essence throughout the illusion and extracted his needle. Instantly the magic that was keeping the facade intact would be sent back towards its source. As it made contact with the small creature, it became electrical energy, at which point the poor beasty would find itself at least mildly stunned by the volts running through its form. _"Tsk tsk, this one needs a vet, luckily I happen to be skilled in _all_ forms of biological structure,"_ he grinned and then motioned to Juan, pointing towards a bit of the wall beneath which the creature was hidden. A gateway had also revealed itself, allowing them to depart the hallway when they wished to do so. _"Mind deonstructing that bit of wall, Darius has the beginnings of an infestation and I'm kind enough to remove the culprit before things...spiral out of hand,"_ it was very apparent by Kasain's somewhat amused and somewhat sarcastic tone, that he knew that Juan and himself were much like pests in Darius' lair. Should Juan comply, Kasain would then stab his needle into the demonic creature, stopping its movement and implanting a false signal to Darius, allowing him to think it was still doing its job properly. He would then extract the needle and move his hand as if to tell Juan to lead on. The rat felt the electrical shock jolt bury deep within its form causing it to stop in its tracks. Its fur, now singed and burnt, cried out in surprise and its muscles tensed in response to the abrupt attack. Slowly a horrible smell began to fill the small gap. One of burnt hair and flesh. Kasain’s little trick had done its job. It had managed to stun the rat, its eye unfocused and the illusion shattered, but it wasn’t dead. A loud shattering sound like broken glass rippled through the air when the door appeared. The illusion cracked then broke into shards, each piece melting into the ground and faded from sight, leaving no evidence it was ever really there. Juan had been watching carefully, noting the eyebrows raised in what he guessed was surprise. That meant he was right. Something was amiss with the surroundings and his magic might’ve not failed on his first assumption, not that it bother him to be wrong. This was a learning experience to discover how well Darius truly knew him after all. So far, Juan found himself liking the results less and less throughout this little trip. The sounds of broken glass made him jump immediately. His hand already pushed off the wall and carved in a sigil into the metal, the finger hissing with the action until a new mark was right below the first. His lips pulled into a smirk when he spotted the steel door, realizing his ridicule in his reaction. He exhaled a breath of relaxation. His eyes studied the shiny and smooth surface, noting how easily the metal stood out against the darker stone for a bit. His mind was eager, almost begging, to leave Kasain to deal with the rat while he entered the room behind the door. Making his way to the coffin in the center and likely horrified at the blood stolen, suspecting his subject and life’s work was gone. His throat tensed. Nearly choking during his attempt to swallow and clear it, his ears filled with the blood sent by his frantic heart which refused to settle. If Darius had destroyed his precious work then the bastard would pay. Pay like any who threaten his goal as another unfortunate individual discovered when he released Isaac from his cage and let him loose so long ago. Juan had little time to reflect on the past, the charred memories, when the Doctor spoke up. He caught a section of the wall with one of his hands, indicating the source of their problem and gaining a flirting grin from the demon. Wasting little time he half turned then sent his hand through the wall. Powder darted up on impact, a hole now where only small stone had been, and covered both demons while Juan’s hand wrapped about the small creature’s stirring body. It squealed. A high, annoying pitched that caused his fingers to tighten reflexively to silence it. He felt a rib crack before he realize it was likely best to give Kasain the rodent, the Doctor’s last words echoed within his head to remind him. He couldn’t help the reply that came next, “It takes a rat to catch one after –“ The thing, aroused from its daze by pain and sound, sank its teeth into the demon’s fingers causing him to tighten his grip. Sadly the rat was not one to understand the danger it was in. Instead, it bit farther and much harder, spilling more tar like blood that started to burn its mouth. Suddenly the reason why clicked. It wanted to die so Darius would know they were here and at the rate it was tearing into Juan, it only had a few seconds to live. “Smart little…damn, wicked sharp teeth.” Juan gritted out between bites, only able to utter one last word. “Quickly.” It stalled out, just like the foxes before it, when Kasain’s needle embedded itself. Still holding it, though wanting to crush the bloody thing, Juan allowed the Doctor his duty while covering their tracks. He tried to ignore the likely rising costs this job required. Finally able to drop the biting menace, he let it fall to the ground with a sickening splat on its four legs then, grudgingly, kick the sucker in their wake. Not hard enough to impact a wall and kill it, but he still got his obvious dislike across very clearly. Pretending his childish act hadn’t occurred; Juan twisted back to the door. “Time to fetch the rabbit.” Juan commented, using the code from the bar though less to humor Damon and more to conceal Emmet’s name. His hand reached out and took the handle, twisting it enough that the steel door creaked open. Cautiously Juan stepped inside. It was a small, empty room. In the center was a single, leather chair built for extended sitting time with a table beside. It was facing a large, onyx coffin with tubes edging from inside, each drawing a familiar red liquid into a small container beside it. Already it had a pint and a half of blood. Rage and hate drove Juan to act rashly. His shoes clipped across the cold floor, reaching the coffin in moment while he bent at the waist to oversee the smaller machine first. His hand jerked and twisted a few knobs causing the red liquid to slow and finally cease all together, pouring what little blood was left within the tubes back into the source. Meanwhile the human at the coffin's core was fading fast, his time quickly ticking away. Staring at the kicked rat for a long moment as Juan entered the room, Kasain's mind stalled, or at least seemed to. Their leader had no mind for it, of this the doctor was quite aware. However, had he been less rash he might have noticed that in his anger, which had almost caused him to crush the rat, he had left traces of his essence on it, traces that the demon's needle aided senses detected quite well. After a few brief moments of this the demon unfroze, turned his head and strode into the room where Juan was already hastily working to stabilize his true patient. Juan inhaled a small breath of relief when he watched the blood stop filling the contraption, the one he had dubbed the blood machine. His face paused over the glass container, square and small, when the tubes finally emptied, leaving only red evidence of the loss. A human could survive on two pints, but any farther loss would end up killing them as they were such weak and fragile creatures. The thought made Juan slightly depressed to realize how pitiful an average human could be. How, when compared to Angels and Demons, they barely could match up in comparison of natural power. The reason his work existed. Thankfully, Emmet wasn’t just an average human. Kasain's eyes were narrowed, he was already focusing in, and he had extracted several more needles, four per hand, to work on this one. _"His blood amount is your concern, I shall deal with the damage and other stabilization,"_ he did not ask, he did not confirm, he merely stated how it would be. Juan may have been assisting Emmet for many years, but Kasain happened to be the one with the expertise. After all, he'd been brought along for a reason, and he fully intended to execute his purpose properly. Juan noted the needles and nodded, his mind already tracked the first fox turn. He had sent it retreating back to the car earlier. It was to retrieve the supplies he needed while they edged farther into the enemy's lair. While he keep note of its path, the minion slipping into the car and gripping the cooler ready with the blood then began to return, Juan examined the coffin. He righted himself up once more then moved to the confining box. His palms brushed the surface, feeling for the hidden engravings before stopping on the one at the center of the lid. Juan noted its location and then edged to the outside. His hand gripped the tube connection as he started to pull them out. Emmet should’ve screamed when the second needle was pulled from his body yet not a single noise came. Juan’s teeth gritted in concern, even while his hand was steady as a rock, and carefully pulling each injected needle out one by one until none remained. He noted, in distaste, they were thicker then he suggested when he first built the damn thing. Likely a change on Darius’s orders to suppress that demonic flaw. The pile had finally reached its max number, the last one dropped and clattered onto the floor leaving them in silence again. His hand then reached for the earlier noted sigil, pressing his palm flat over it. “I’m going to have to mar the sigil in order to open it. Namely as it needs a specialized key and there’s namely only a few ways to disable it without risking the subject. It's likely on Darius’s person. I rather not waste any more time trying to seize it so I hope our friends can hold their attention well. I’ll radio them after I ensure our target is alright.” Juan stated. The sigil cracked and splintered, breaking the magic until it popped open. He stepped back, letting the lid topple with a loud crash into the floor. Within, Emmet hung limply with pale skin and hollowed out eyes, looking slightly undead, while straps latched onto his wrists, waist and throat kept him secured to the back. The man was shirtless and bloodied from where the needles were roughly shoved in. “Shit…” Juan cursed, his weapon already out and quickly slicing the bindings. His arms reached out to prevent Emmet from falling face first into the floor just as the man’s arm took a surprisingly tight grip on Juan’s arm. Pain… small and weak from Emmet’s dehydration magic began to pour into the demon’s flesh. “Emmet, easy… it’s me. Juan.” “J…?” He asked hoarsely, unable to finish the word feeling himself being lowered to the ground. Emmet's knees gave out from under him and his once strong grip faded, losing any balance he had earlier. He was weaker than a newborn lamb, Juan had judged then looked at the Doctor. A grave seriousness had entered the demon's expression upon witnessing Emmet, his patient was indeed in a dire state. He knelt down next to the human, then spoke softly, lowering the tone of his typically shrill voice to a calming one as he spoke quietly in his patient's ear, _"I am a doctor, here to make sure you get through this. You may feel slight discomfort, if you feel at all,"_ Kasain then let the tips of several needles barely lodge in Emmet's body, most of them entering barely several milimeters before the demon stopped and began to transmit essence, his fingers tapping, and removing, then replacing with other needles or moving the removed ones to new locations. Emmet didn’t move when the needles pierced his skin. Juan noticed this, his face flooded with a sickly ashen color as he judged the nerves- likely deaden from the loss of blood- didn’t register the insertions during Kasain’s work. Points hit muscles in the arms, tendons, and key pressure points, all working to help the patient survive. Juan’s body went ridged throughout it all as his fingers kept their firm grip on Emmet’s weak arms, propping him upward for the doctor to work much easier. In addition, he prevented the chill caused by the cold floor from touching the bare skin. Being this weak, Emmet’s immune system couldn’t fight off and getting something of cold thanks to carelessness wasn’t something Juan was going to allow. It felt like he was holding a frail, thin corpse in his hands rather than a living man. It made the demon sick to his insides to know this. His work was fast, and he hummed lightly, lowly for once, creating a soothing sound for the poor human to focus and get lost in while he attempted to stabilize his essence. Finding himself worried, Kasain made contact with the fox servant's psyche and modified some of its abilities, making it faster. It had just the strength to get to them whilst carrying the precious cargo that was his patient's bodily fluids. _"Prepare to administer his fluids, he needs them badly and until he has at least a stable amount I cannot do much more."_ Despite his words, Emmet would appear somewhat rejuvenated, the color having slightly returned to his form. He might even be ever so slightly aware of his surroundings, but still he'd be barely conscious...at best. Hearing Kasain’s comment about fluids, Juan’s eyes darted toward the blood machine. His mind’s gears grinded and toyed with the idea budding in his head, weighing the risks. It was possible. The blood was still fresh with little time to congeal, his eyes judged the appearance carefully, but how clean was it? That was the question pouring through Juan’s mind that moment. If it was tainted or too old, Emmet’s body might end up getting sicker from it then doing any good. Emmet moaned slightly, looking slightly better but not completely. The weakened human’s awareness was only half there while he weakly tried to raise his hand. It never got far but it was easy to judge Emmet’s intentions. He was going to push Kasain away. Despite the soothing tones and calm manner from the attending doctor, Juan could see the Emmet didn’t trust the demon completely. In a normal occasion, this would’ve made him chuckle and sit back to enjoy the scene, but now he swallowed his racism for the time. “Emmet… stop.” He gently replaced the arm he held onto his thigh, keeping it from the floor and from pushing Kasian away. “Save your strength, for her.” Hearing him, Emmet stopped making Juan smile. Then his eyes turned to Kasain, hoping his current scheme was possible, namely after most of what he had witnessed from the odd demon. Blood was essence in one of its purest forms after all. In reason the doctor had the ability to purify it and allowing it be used to help Emmet, at least until the fox arrived, wasn’t it? It was certainly better than nothing in Juan’s mind. “I got a crazy idea darling,” Juan began, his one arm gathered to support most of Emmet as he could in it. His other lowered to the stone and started to sketch an obscure sigil into the floor underneath where he intended to lay Emmet. His eyes caught the doctor move again, pausing long enough to watch. Removing his needles the demon pressed his ear to Emmet's chest, listening to the heartbeat. It was very faint and having heard this he placed a single needle directly over Emmet's chest and let it sink half an inch in, breaking skin and some tissues to do so. It would only feel mildly unpleasant to Emmet due to the sensations he was releasing from the needle via his own essence. Furthermore, once it was in Kasain formulated the essencial form of adrenaline and pushed it through him, gently augmenting his body and allowing it to keep going till they could administer the blood transfusion. He would continue to do this as well as remove impurities from his own essence, transmuting it into an essence devoid of racial nature to act as a temporarily replacement till the fox arrived. He hoped it would not take long. Juan had to control himself from jerking his hand and clasping Kasain’s wrist, and stopping him when the demon’s needle inserted into Emmet’s chest. Instead, his eyes watched with bated breath to see his ‘rabbit’ shift uncomfortably. It wasn’t the pain as it was the pure surprise which had stirred Emmet’s dazed mind, followed by the rush of pure energy into his body. The patient gasped to show he was still alive yet his limbs were still nothing more than lead, unable to move or lift in his condition. “Damn…” Emmet managed to utter, causing Juan to let his breath exhale. “Take him for a moment, and don’t let his body touch the floor. It’s cold as ice and rather he didn’t catch a chill.” Juan said passing Emmet toward Kasain, his body moving, then paused before he added something. “And don’t let his hands touch you or else, you may lose them. I’m going to rig a pump. If I can get it to work and you can purify it, we might be able to stabilize Emmet using the blood we have on hand before the fox gets here. At least enough to move him without killing him. What do you say?” Once Kasain took Emmet from him, Juan shifted to the machine to begin his work. Delicately cradling Emmet with all four of his arms, Kasain watched the human's condition and waited for Juan to begin. He simply nodded in response, saying nothing else due to such being unnecessary. He was maintaining a high level of focus to feed Emmet's body some of his own purified essence, which while not difficult to give, was painful to purify. Luckily, the Doctor had much experience with pain and thus none of it showed in his facial expression or body language. He appeared somber and serious, nothing more, nothing less. Juan’s body hunched over and started to work on it as he ripped out all but one tube, its needled end passed to the doctor to place into Emmet’s body, while his finger pressed to the glass. Again, he etched into it causing a slight shrill noise followed by a hiss to fill the silent room. In its wake was a rune that needed the final touches of being imbued with magic. He had stopped just short of finishing it, his head turned to look at Kasain to signal he was ready. Then he would imbue the symbol with his magic and activating it with the final piece, the box’s gravity shifted allowing it to pump the fluid back through the tube and into Emmet. It was a slow process. Minutes passed, the blood staining the tube again and pouring back into the human. It was causing Juan to hover over the pair, worried it wouldn't work as well as he had hoped. It was a long wait in his mind, his anxiety seemed to flood his head and make time stretch outwards into an endless moment. He noted the thing he had forgotten then using it to distract himself. Hand reached for his radio and opened the frequency so Rhett and Damon would hear him loud and clear. “Currently we have the rabbit Damon, we’re heading back once he's…” Juan’s voice was drowned out by a loud sound. It could easily be heard over the radio because he forgot to remove his thumb. It seems unwanted trouble had found Kasain and Juan. “Grrrrrr….” It was feral and wild, the noise echoed off the small room making it clear they weren’t as alone as Juan first thought. In truth, they both had been too occupied with Emmet to consider Darius had one last line of defense… Small pieces of stone crumbled from the ceiling while nails scrapped across the surface, scrambling quickly to the nearest wall behind the trio. It dropped heavily onto all fours then rose upward with white teeth gleaming through the darkness. Finally, the creature let its fur flush with fresh color as it revealed itself with a foxish smirk extending just inches from its head back. Red eyes glowed with hunger, eagerness to devour the foolish who had wandered into the room. Seven long and very matted tails spread over its form, about the size of a wolfhound due to the room’s size, while it moved toward the pair. Juan knew the animal right off, unable to believe Darius would dare to risk having such a dangerous creature here of all places. _Shit just hit the fan…_ Juan silently cursed putting the radio away. He stepped to the side, only to see the fox’s head jerk into his direction. It…no, she eyed him. It took the demon a moment to realize it but there was a long, faded scar gracing between the fox’s eyes. One he had created a long time ago during her capture. He’d dubbed the bitch Lola since she was hellish catching, making a fine addition to his string of nightmares to remember. Seven tailed kistunes were rare enough. There was only one known to roam hell and now she was staring at him in the face, Juan hoping Kasain was smart enough to remain still. It was that time, the shadow fox had arrived carrying the cooler with Emmet’s blood and plasma. _No…no, this isn’t good._ Seeing the minion arrived had gained the kistune’s attention causing the bitch to snarl then she lunged at it. Juan knew if the fox connected, the cooler was going to suffer. That thought in his mind, Juan hastily summoned his blade and chain to his hands. He jerked the blade to wrap about the kitsune’s foot only to have her spy it. She leapt backward, her front paw batting it away like a cheap toy. “Kasain, get him out of here quickly!” His hand moved to his vials, grabbing two in case the first failed. Likely it would since his opponent could almost match Darius in a fair fight, Juan wasn't sure if he could stall the beast long enough to get the hell out of here. There was little way either of them was going to be able to take her down, let alone within this confined space. He sure hoped Emmet was moveable or all three would die here. With the blood influx begun Kasain worked, having complied with Juan's intentions while they waited. He did as much as he could, barely managing to stabilize the patient before they were rudely interrupted by a rather unwanted guest. Granted, the creature had far more right to be there than they did, but nonetheless the Doctor would have preferred it stay elsewhere. Sadly that was simply not the case, so as Juan confronted it, Kasain rose, Emmet held in two of his arms, whose muscle mass had increased somewhat, while his other two arms donned needles. The fingers on his free hands split in two, so that each hand had 8 fingers and two thumbs. A needle was held between each finger, each which was armed with an Essence-based toxin of sorts mixed with a heavy anesthetic and muscle relaxant. Kasain knew of Kitsune, as he had studied everyone tidbit of information on any race he could find information on. While there wasn't a terribly large amount on their ilk he knew enough to understand how to take one apart or work on one as a patient if he ever needed to. Sadly, he could not predict what abilities this one had, as its amount of tails and the variance between subjects made that nigh impossible. _"I can move him, Juan, but take this,"_ one of the Doctor's arms extended and handed him two needles. _"A single prick can assist in weakening even that foil beast, good luck,"_ Kasain then turned, his arm already back to its normal length, and ran straight at a brick wall in the direction they had come from. A needle flew forth, plunged into the wall and then destabilized it after which the demon's body fat folded forwards, making a cushion so that Emmet would not receive any pressure as the doctor plowed through the wall. After all, while the doctor often appeared frail and many assumed that he was not at all physically developed, this was simply not the case. After all, few demons were of normal human physicality and instead possessed at least increased durability and stamina by comparison. As such Kasain managed to move outside of the room and into the hallway they had come from. From there he would continue to flee, blatantly killing anyone or thing that got in his path as long as they were no where near the Kitsune's caliber. The Kitsune’s head snapped forward, her eyes narrowed on the doctor, the source of the voice, and his patient. She ripped her mouth wider into a snarl, revealing the crocodile like smile that made Juan shiver in discomfort. The demon slowly continued to work his vials’ from their holders and noted which two he had snatched. A dull brown one and a bright green one, both elementals though only the green had some weather angel essence. He had managed to snatch some in the last hundred years or so, even if it costed him heavily for it. He knew hadn’t fully mended from that little excursion nor would he have wanted to repeat it again to replenish his dwindled supplies, but right now was an emergency and likely their only chance to make it out alive. Or at least Emmet if the doc couldn't move him yet. He extended his other hand, careful to keep his occupied one out of sight, while he accepted two needles dropped into his palm. Eyeing them for a moment, Juan made a mental note not to prick himself with them as he placed them in his back pocket. “Noted, Kasain. And look after my rabbit, this shouldn’t take long.” He tried to sound more confident then he felt while he watched Kasain escape in an odd fashion. He smirked and spread his stance, feet braced apart and summoned up his weapon. “Let’s get this party started then. Shall we dance, my sweet?” Meanwhile, when Kasain emerged from the wall and into the hallway, it was clear Darius was now aware of their presence. Odds of when were in favor of Darius's attention being gained when the Kitsune was released as shadows moved and shifted, each one creating a shadowy fox. About six in total appeared, baring their teeth, staring at Kasain before they went on the offensive. Their sole goal was to eliminate the pests and retrieve Emmet. Namely in that order. Noting the shadowy critters, Kasain's eyes narrowed, and while he would have smiled before, he did not now. It seemed that this Darius was going to give him a bit of trouble. How annoying...and nostalgic. Oh well, at least he could _operate_ on new specimen...and that was _always_ fun.

###**Reunion**### ######_(Collab Rtron and Wind)_###### *Early morning,* *Loom’s outskirts* A sleepless night and a frantic mind had given her an excuse to act where she previously hadn’t had one. It hadn’t been hard to find him. All she had to do was appear as soon as he paused for a rest or a kill. That’s how easy it’s ever been. It had been years since Hazumi last saw Lucien. In fact, precisely two-hundred years. Yet he hadn’t changed, not one bit, and neither had she. Two beings stuck in the loop of time. No one could tell that time left an imprint on them. All their wounds were on the inside. For over a hundred years she had been observing that weird creature, one she never properly understood until it was too late and there was no going back. For over a hundred years she had been both hoping and dreading the moment Fate would bring them together again, thinking, wondering how to apologize for what she’d been and how to accuse him of what he’d done. “You should have told me what to do then.” She often thought but knew in her heart that wouldn’t have prevented the disaster but just caused another. So many questions remained, so many alternative paths Fate could have taken should any of them have behaved even the slightest bit differently. Yet… the past was the past and not even the Gods could change it. Now, the future… that was more malleable. And even moreso was the present. She was staring at him with the same unblinking gaze, unable to find the right words to say once again, like so many years ago. It almost seemed like time really hadn’t fazed them, even though it really had. And it was exactly because she had changed that she found it even more difficult now to speak to him, than she had before. Now she could actually reevaluate what had happened, seen it differently, realise the alternatives… And she had oh so many questions… Uncertainly she made another awkward step forward and raised her hand with an open palm. “Hi.” She said simply. She looked older, while on the outside he hadn’t changed. Some part of his mind noted this distantly, while the rest of his mind was effectively shut down by the appearance of Hazumi. Lucien stared at her, just barely keeping his jaw from dropping, unmoving. He had survived the Great War. He had been sealed in Onyx for thousands of years. He had been released and fought in a war that some were calling the Second Great War. He had slain Lords of Hell, and most of the last surviving Archangel Council members. He had watched Heaven burn down around him, and explored most of the Surface world, hunting the Cowards. He had thought that he was beyond being surprised. Evidently, he was wrong. It wasn’t just the fact that her wings were gone and there was a transparent aura of essence that even he, with his ability to sense essence completely gone, could feel. It wasn’t even the fact that she looked older. She was, or had been, a Surface Angel. They aged. They weren’t immortal like their ancestors were. No, it was for something far more…unbelievable. When she finally spoke, he unfroze. He took two steps towards her, and then stopped, remembering that she wouldn’t appreciate being hugged by him. Especially since his armor was filthy, covered in gore and the Gods only knew what else. So, he settled for gripping his sword tighter (he had long since lost his sheath), and speaking. “You’re supposed to be dead.” Not exactly a warm and touching way to begin a reunion, but it was a start. “I watched you become the Essence. I wielded the sword you had become. I lost you to the mad Human Judas, and then I watched as Luciana spread her essence and the Essence across the Human race, effectively destroying you both.” He stopped for a moment and coughed, violently, into his gauntleted hand. Black liquid spewed into it, and he quickly hid it. He wasn’t going to get into that right now. He wouldn’t discuss it ever, preferably. “So, what happened? I know you became the Essence, and I know Luciana spread it across the Human race. I’ve seen a handful of people come back after most of us thought that they were long dead and gone, but none from quite as an impossible certain death scenario as you.” He didn’t relax, even while he spoke. He hadn’t survived this long as a ‘Renegade’, as the rest of the world titled him, without being always ready for an attack, even when he thought he was safe. This scenario, no matter how shocking, was no different. He expected an attack from anything, and would have been pleasantly surprised if nothing tried to kill him. A warm smile spread over her face despite that there was no need for one, and for a moment she thought she felt tears well up in her eyes. Something about this angel made her feel like a little girl again and it wasn't only because she had known him for ages as Chime, as his daughter, as his battle companions. No, it was also the emotions of Hazumi stirring, the feelings of the angel he once knew and showed great and true kindness to that she simply rejected. But through his words, through his simple words, she understood that despite everything he had become the closest thing she'd ever had to a father and a mentor. Yet he had changed in a way he shouldn't have. Not all the wounds he had suffered through the millennia had healed.. and some never would. He didn't have to hide the black mucous from her just because she could see it cruising inside of him the moment she laid eyes on him. His own essence was so corroded by the deadly rust that they might already be inseparable, threatened him with a fate worse than death. Something hot stung her cheek and her hand jerked to feel it. It took her a moment for her puzzled fingers to realise it had been just a tear. She didn't hide it but didn't hide her smile either. Instead she made a step forward and wrapped her arms around Lucien. She didn’t care if her sky-blue dress would start resembling the canvas of the Grat War or even if Lucien added her blood to the rest. "I can't die, Lucien. Not for as long as the worlds stand. Aaurus created the Gates and Gatekeepers to be eternal, and whatever parts of them remain in me, are keeping me here." She explained in his ear. "Only he and the void can destroy us for sure. Until then, I will keep watch over you." She enjoyed the embrace for one more moment before pulling away and forcing the emotions out of her face. "Lucien," she started, "I came here to apologise. To apologise for what you once knew as Hazumi, for having been what I was... I apologise for making only one decision back then and it being wrong and bringing death and destruction. I want to thank you for shaking my belief at that time, asking me to stand for my own, even though I couldn't have, and for forcing the Sword down and creating Zi. I wish... no matter. I'd like to think that I've changed, that I've listened. We established the Academy and gave the Essence to the humans and even though it will never be over, our battle for now has ceased. And you, you have made it happen. Thank you, Lucien." She let the smile protrude again for he both endeared and saddened her. He was no saint and she wouldn't entrust the Essence to him, but he was the closest thing she knew to one and he didn't even want it. Lucien was surprised to see her crying. He was even more surprised to when she hugged him. Was this really the same child he had known two hundred years ago? The proud, so sure of her faith in the Cowards that she was willing to kill him for them, child? The one whose very foundation was shook when he scorned her blind faith? The one who was willing to take in a demon? When she hugged him, he stiffened in surprise. He very nearly stabbed her with his sword, out of reflex. Two hundred years of not being touched except when someone was trying to kill him hasn’t exactly made him ready and willing to be hugged. But he checked himself before he even came close, and after a moment of awkwardly standing there, hugged her back. With one arm of course. He wasn’t about to start letting go of his sword any time soon. “I’ve missed you.” He whispered into her hair, before she explained how she couldn’t die to him. Well, that was a relief. Now, he didn’t have to worry about protecting her. Or rather…them. It’s best not to actually think about it, he decided. When she pulled away, and began to talk, he raised an eyebrow. When she was done he replied, “ One wrong decision bringing death and destruction? Once knew as Hazumi? Who is Zi? We? I made it happen? Two hundred years have passed, and I haven’t been paying that much attention to modern events. Perhaps I’ve forgotten recent events in favor of remembering old ones, but none of what you just said makes any sense to me. Explaining would help immensely.” Hunting down the last of the Cowards hadn’t left much time for him to ponder the meaning of what had happened during the War against Judas. A realization hit him and he nearly winced. If Hazumi was going to keep watch over him, assuming she hadn’t been already, she would likely be watching him be attacked by other Angels, Demons, and students of the Academy sent after him. And she would likely watch him kill both of the Cowards. It was almost enough to make him wince. But not quite. She wouldn’t understand. Few beings would. Most view him as a maniacal murderer. And he didn’t blame them, nor did he expect them to understand. What he was doing was for vengeance, nothing more, nothing less. And it would be done, no matter who was watching, or who tried to stop him. “I hope you know what I’ll be doing while you’re watching me.” It was only when Lucien pointed it out, that Hazumi realised there might still be things he was just left guessing at and couldn’t have known for certain. After all, the story of her existence wasn’t a straight-forward one, nor was the nature of her. But there seemed to be another thing on his mind. “I hope you know what I’ll be doing while you’re watching me.” “I know.” A sad smile crossed her face and was gone in an instant. “I’ve seen.” So she sat down on a rock and she started explaining. She started with the Great War and explained what had happened to Chime and the Violin and how not all the fallen’s bodies nourished the soil and the demons, how some had been prevented from joining the natural cycle of death and instead been trapped in a living prison, the bars of which was the Gatekeeper’s own heart. She explained all of this with a matter-of-factly tone, ignoring the pain and torture she remembered well, seething out the facts. She told him how the Fleshshaper’s experiment was near completion when the fallen angel Kristine approached him and offered to carry it on on the surface, to raise a child to fool the Council and everyone around. She told him how through years and years of careful “nurturing” she had forgotten how to be anything else but a Battle, had truly considered herself a mere angel, dutifully bound to the only woman who was there to guide her. She told him how it was apparently always guidance she was looking for in everyone she met and how she had needed that from him or Azel as well, and how they had thought she should make her own choices. “But I was just a tool back then, Lucien, I couldn’t imagine being anything else. I knew, some part of me, knew that the world’s fate was on my shoulders but I couldn’t carry it alone – I needed a mentor, a player. I assume at the time the Violin part of me had been brought to the surface and free will was a concept I couldn’t grasp. I know that was the Fleshshaper and Kristine’s plan. To bring up a servant, shunned by everyone else and only embraced by them. They knew they were creating a powerful artifact and they wanted to be the only ones capable of wielding it. But Kristine underestimated the affection that grew to my childhood friend, Jed and didn’t realize that would change the Gate’s affinity as well. She couldn’t fathom that someone could have more power over it than her. Well, she was wrong… And the Fleshshaper, he was wrong as well. He didn’t know, or didn’t care, about you and Azel. But in my life you had existed, and you had played a part, and even though I couldn’t do what you expected me to do, I did listen and the Gate did too. So as I desperately tried to imagine all beings being equal and the Council not being saints, the Violin in me was being tuned to a new mindset. In the end he came to get me, wearing the flesh of a Clairvoyant angel of the Council – the one who asked me to annihilate Master Melody’s Academy. He reminded me of what I was, thanks to him” she spat “and wanted me back. Wanted to wield me. I didn’t want him to. I looked around but there was no one I could truly deem worthy… so I decided to surrender my power to whoever reaches me first and to let Fate take its course.” She fell silent for a moment, looking down at her hands. “I only awoke two decades later to realise I’d made the wrong choice. Again, it was you and Luciana who had to tell me. I had brought nothing but death and destruction and had been proud of it. Stupid me. And then, you know the rest. Luciana sacrificed herself to shatter the Essence and the power was given to the human race. I’m supposed to be dead but I can’t die because the world still exists and it needs the Gates and Gatekeepers to support it. I’m not who I was then, and hopefully never will be again, but I can’t pretend that it wasn’t me who let Judas rule for 20 years and let so many die. I have decided not to interfere with any conflicts anymore – the humans and Peace-keepers will know better than me what is right or wrong. And.. I thank you for teaching me all that. Thank you for not giving up on me, despite everything. If it wasn’t for you the Sword would have ended up in the Fleshshaper’s hands, and he knew better than Judas how to use it. The world owes you.” She stood up and dusted her skirt and cleared her throat. “And because of that it should pay you back.” Hazumi raised her golden eyes to Lucien and they were piercing and serious. “I don’t know if what you’re doing is right or wrong, Lucien, so I cannot help you on your quest for revenge… but I won’t stop you. The Peace-keepers will not hear from me about all the deaths that litter your path, they will not know your location.” She hesitated before she spoke again. “And there’s something else. If you want… I might be able to help you get your daughter back.” She finished with a nervous tinge in her voice. “Your daughter had the misfortune to end up in the Fleshshaper’s hands and became a component of the Essence. Due to that, some part of her essence must have been alive. That means she still exists somewhere among the Instruments. If we break them apart, we could try to put her back together.”) Lucien nodded when Hazumi revealed that she had seen his previous actions. He had just wanted to make sure she knew what she was doing. What she would be watching, when she watched over him. Evidently, she knew. And he was satisfied with that, with the fact that she wasn’t misguided by any beliefs that he was someone who wasn’t going to be killing his own kind. Admittedly, if he put it that way, he seemed more like a maniac. And perhaps he was. Regardless, he listened attentively as she explained how she came to be the remains of the Three Gatekeepers, and thousands of other remains. He showed no reaction to the story, and his eyes never remained on Hazumi for long. He was busy scanning the area around them, just to be safe that nothing attacked them without him noticing. Some would call it paranoia. He called it prudence. Regardless, when she finished her explanation, he looked back at her. “The world owes me nothing. I am no more than a blood thirsty killer, hunting down the last of my kind for vengeance. If anything, the world should want my head, for hastening the end of a race.” As she spoke of how she wasn’t going reveal his position to the Musicians, he blinked in surprise. “Thank you. And I don’t know if what I’m doing is right either. But I’m doing it.” He gave a small smile. When she began to speak again, about something else, he raised an eyebrow in question. When she finished, he drew in a sharp breath. For a moment, he seemed to freeze. Then, he rasped out ”How?” with an intensity that surpassed even his rage at the Cowards. His eyes seemed to smolder with the idea of resurrecting his daughter, his true daughter, being so close. As she explained, however, that smolder abruptly went out. Hope was being held over the edge of a cliff, and he was afraid it would fall before he could reach it. “And what would happen if we were to break the Instruments? Would it make things worse than they already are? Because I knew my daughter. She would abhor the world being ruined to bring her back.” Silently, he added, She would abhor what I have done in her name. Lucien paused, not even scanning the surrounding area, as all his attention was at the problem at hand. He wanted, wanted so badly, to agree with Hazumi immediately and get his daughter back as soon as possible. But he couldn’t just do it. He had to think of the repercussions on the world. The repercussions on those that his daughter’s essence had been intertwined with. He didn’t know much about the Musicians and their connection to their Instruments, but he had broken one once. To stop the screaming, he had killed the Musician as well. Their connection was deeper than even blood, he suspected. So what would the damage be if they were suddenly cut off from their Instrument? More importantly, would it be worth it to bring her back? Would it be worth the damage that could be caused? He believed so. He believed that it would all work out in the end, if he could just get his daughter back. Was this rational? He doubted it. Still, he nodded at Hazumi. “How soon can you do this? And how will it affect this Zi? You said she was once a piece of you. That means she has a part of my daughter in her. You’d have to remove that piece as well, in addition to all the Instrument pieces. Wouldn’t that kill her? Or, at the very least, completely and utterly change her against her will. I am willing to do many things, but kill someone without giving them a chance to fight back, or changing them against their will is something I am not willing to do.” He was careful to keep his desire, his need for Zi to be perfectly fine and unaffected out of his voice. That might have pushed Hazumi to a decision that would be harmful to all involved. Strange, how he was willing to kill Angels he had known and fought for all his life, but was unwilling to let a stranger die or be changed. Slowly Hazumi just nodded. "Everything will be fine. I won't even touch Zi." Hazumi's voice was strong and sleek as tempered steel. Her golden eyes pinned on his were weary, careful not to expose any possible concerns she could have. Her very worry was being shut down as her compassion to the world was shifting and focusing solely on Lucien and his daughter. She was going to do everything in her might to reunite them again. "I'll start as soon as possible. It'll take some time but... you can trust me." She concluded and reached out to squeeze Lucien's hand. "In the meantime, please take care of yourself." She asked and turned her back on him. With a simple hand-swipe the essence around her swirled in the form of a translucent griffin that she got on and left. Despite everything she couldn't shake off the bitter feeling that she was betraying him... and the world too.