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Blaise nodded to Chrono in uderstanding. Something terrible had happened. Blaise could see it in Rosette's eyes. Something had hurt her, or them, terribly, and she feared it. She couldn't blame her for not wanting to go back if that place held horrific memories. Then a thought struck her.

"Chrono . . ." She said quietly, bending over to him so Rosette wouldn't hear, "You said you assembled a force to fight demons. Is there any of them that could help us? I understand that you must have lost quite a few of them . . . but are there any left? Chrono, we need all the help we can get."

Booker nodded avidly to Azmaria, "Yes, thank you."

Blaise frowned, seeing how it hurt him. She felt like she had re-opened a healing wound of theirs, but the more information she could get, the more she might be able to piece things together. "Chrono . . . what happened? If you don't want to tell me, that's fine, but I'd like to know."

"Yes, thanks very much." Booker smiled, blushing slightly, "So do you know exactly where we're going?" he then asked, unable to hear the talk going on below. It was a peaceful night and he felt at ease in Azmaria's arms.

Loque looked to Kaden in curiosity then asked him, "The Lieutenant . . . how old is she?"

"Nearly sixteen." he replied, "Why?"

Loque nodded a bit, "She's very young for such a high rank."

"She works harder at what she does than anyone I know. I'm sure diligence gets you places. It certainly got her somewhere."

Blaise jumped as Rosette hit Chrono. The story was deeply troubling and made her think, if such a large group of people . . . perished in such a terrible way, than what chance have we, eight people, got against them? Pushing those thought's from her mind she looked to Rosette with a strange expression on her face. Even she couldn't be sure what the look said, but she now felt great remorse for having to ask.

Holding her hand out to Rosette, she let it hover over her shoulder, unsure if she should even touch her.

"Rosette? . . . I --"

Blaise quickly withdrew her hand, clenching it into a fist and avoiding everyone's gaze. Rosette's words hit her hard, leaving an unbearable stinging feeling. She really hadn't meant anything, she would never mean to hurt Rosette. And Rosette knew that. All she needed was to understand why . . . why was she upset, why did they all have to hide, why were they being hunted? It seemed like the only thing she ever asked anymore was why.

Blaise didn't want to be there anymore, she could feel anger welling up inside her. She was too close to people, feeling constricted, she could snap on anyone. She didn't want to do that. If she stayed, then all she was feeling, anger- remorse - dissapointment, would eventually come out in a way she didn't want.

Keeping her balance, Blaise stood. She was only able to do this because of their slower speed. With one last look of resentment towards Rosette, she aimed for an upcoming branch and grabbed onto it, her feet leaving the strange flying creature. The contact hurt a little but it wasn't anything she'd not felt before.

"Blaise, no!" Kaden shouted, seeing her dangling from the branch as they kept going. "Satella, we have to land! We have to get her!"

Climbing down, Blaise turned the opposite way, and began walking slowly, her thoughts in an angry twist.

The Imperial throne Room was dark and still, the high chair sitting alone in the circular room. The room was massive, the floor covered in polished onyx, the high windows above dancing in dull colors to the light of the full moon. No torches burned, the room was silent and still, with two guards walking the giants circle, their dark eyes hidden by steel helmets. Quiet ruled when the emperor was in his chambers. A silent holder to the most powerful man's chair. A silence banish when a loud groan was heard and the mighty doos to the royal chamber open with a thundering crash and in storm d a man.

The man was tall, though thin and haggard. A long white beard fell from his chin all the way to the floor and his head was bald. He moved swiftly towards his high throne, his yellow and black robe cutting into the dark night as his twelve royal Guards followed after him, each taking their place around the mighty circle. The Emperor seated himself as the doors were closed and for a long time, no sound was heard. Silence came once more. And then the doors flung opened wide and there, silhouetted by the tourchs behind him stood a tall thin figure, whose white hair waved slightly.

The Emperor rose, a mixture of relief and annoyance crossing his wrinkled face.
“Asmudius.” Came the Emperor's booming voice. “I'm glad to see you. But where is Algren? ” Asmudius rose his head and stared into the Emperor's. The white haired figure of Asmudius marched into the room, paused halfway towards his destination, freed his sword and kneeed to the Emperor.

“Father.” Came the voice of Asmudius. But it was could and no other words followed and soon the Emperor spoke again.

“Come my son, what news of my heir? Speak! What message does he bring.” Asmudius smiled darkly, his face hidden by his long hair. A whisper began to fill the room. It was a small, trickling voice, but it was everywhere and the air grew deathly cold. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and then fear gripped him as he realized what the words were.

“Guards, Seize him! Seize him!” But the guards did not move. They stood frozen as the whispering went on. Language filled the air now as Asmudius rose up, his face still hidden by his long hair.

“They listen only to me now. At least their bodies do.” A cackle “But I'm afraid their hearts are still loyal to you. And that won't do. I can't have puppets with hearts loyal to another. Tsk, tsk. So then...” The body of Asmudius spun around, the arms outstretched as he shouted in giddy mirth.

“Royal Guards of the king, tear out your hearts and through them at the feet of the Emperor!” For a moment, stillness ensued. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. Not Until the first Shriek ripped through the air. A guard stood rigid, gasping, blood oozing out of his mouth as he stared at his heart, still pumping in his hands, the blood still rushing from the hole he had made. Fractured bone fell on the floor and the gurad threw the heart before he collapsed to the floor. This grisly scene was repeated over and over till ever guard had done so, blood pooling upon the floor and running in nightmare patterns as the white haired figure cackled madly.

The Emperor watched all this and then raised both his arms and shouted a word of power. Instantly the air began to shimmer and writhe as balls of fire began to rain from the Emperors outstreched palms and struck the white haired man. Blast after blast struck but to no avail, the white haired man still danced madly, the fire burning away his cloths to reveal flesh covered in dark symbols that moved and swam on the flesh. The Emperor concentrated harder but to now avail. On went the dancer through the bloody room and then suddenly the dancer stopped, looked through the walls of fire at the emperor and then in the next instant, the Emperor was upon his knees, the cutlass of the white haired man to his throat.

The Empeor growled and cursed “What are you doing my son?” The white haird figure finally flung the white hair away from his eyes and looked at the Emperor. The Emperor saw no white, no color in the sockets, only two black, burning wholes. The mouth of Asmudius spoke but it was not Asmudius' voice that came out. It was the voice of an old man, sinister and hoarse.

“Why I'm allowing Algren to succeed you father!” But the Empeor wasn't listening. He was rembering who those eyes belonged to. Who had spoken like that a thousand years ago when he, the Emperor had taken the throne.

“Melecus...” whispered the Emperor in stunned silence. Asmudius cackled.

“I see you remember me. And because you do...”The lips of Asmudius parted into a sick smile, the teeth in the mouth long and sharp. “You know what is coming to the Empire. What's coming to this entire world!”

The Emperor never felt the blade cut through his thoat, never felt as the warm blood spilled all over the throne, never felt his head leave his body. Asmudius turned and looked up at the roof high above. He could hear the sounds of soldiers heading this way. It was time for him to leave. And in a cloud of smoke, leave he did.

Booker was jostled slightly as he and Azmaria landed. Tripping forward he managed to regain his balance and composure. Looking to Blaise curiously he watched as she continued to walk without looking back.

"No, I didn't fall." Blaise said coldly, "I jumped."

Booker didn't understand what was happening, "Permission to speak, Lieutenant?"

"Permission denied." she hissed back.

~ * ~

Annalise did as she was told and cowered slightly near Jacob and Fiore as she watched and listened to the men at the open door. The situation was grave.

"Do you bequest assistance, sir?" she asked meekly.

Booker dawdled behind Azmaria, not really having the ability to say anything because he was denied permission.

"Yes, that's part of the reason." Blaise said clearly, still walking at a brisk pace without facing them or turning her head to look. "The second half of it is the fact that Rosette is so keen on locking people out of her past. She reprimands me for prying when she's left me in the dark and it's not right. It's like she's got me on a leash and if I wander too far she'll yank back on the chain. I'm not going to continue following around like her loyal hound with some tidbit of information to keep me happy. I'm not one to be kept stupid, Azmaria, and Rosette should have understood that by now."

~ * ~

Anna stepped back with a nod and sat next to Fiore, hugging her knees tightly. She couldn't help but be frightened after what people had done to her in the past. She was afraid they were coming back for her because she was different.