

# Pride x Familiar

By Albert Ruckholdt

Copyright 2014 Albert Ruckholdt

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

### Acknowledgments

This is dedicated to my family and friends who supported me on this venture when it first began a few years ago when writing a novel became an undeniable dream.

A special thanks to:

Audrey, who read my early works no matter how dismal they were, and lied to me out of the goodness of her heart.

Emma, who with her teenage outlook on life gave me the confidence to continue on the path I'd chosen.

Shani, who edited and critiqued my work with a sharp tongue, keen eye, and a woman's touch.

My sister and her fiancé, whose quiet support I greatly appreciate.

And my mother, a precious, patient sounding board to the litany of complaints and self-doubt I expressed while writing this novel and its previous incarnations.

Table of Contents

Illustrations (maps, etc.)

Reflections – 0

Prologue

Reflections – 1

Chapter 1 – Reunion

Reflections – 2

Chapter 2 – Countess

Reflections – 3

Chapter 3 – Briefing

Reflections – 4

Chapter 4 – Decision

Reflections – 5

Chapter 5 – Playful

Reflections – 6

Chapter 6 – Princess

Reflections – 7

Chapter 7 – Spirited Away

Reflections – 8

Chapter 8 – Waterworks

Reflections – 9

Chapter 9 – Minor Players

Reflections – 10

Chapter 10 – Aftermath

Chapter 11 – Bloodline

Chapter 12 – Doubt

Chapter 13 – Divisions

Chapter 14 – Crime and Punishment

Reflections – 11

Chapter 15 – Team Galatea

Reflections – 12

Chapter 16 – Revelation

Reflections – 13

Chapter 17 – The Fifth

Reflections – 14

Chapter 18 – Clear Intentions

Chapter 19 – Incapacitated

Chapter 20 – Underground

Chapter 21 – Valkyrie Maiden

Chapter 22 – Brahmastra

Chapter 23 – The Vault

Chapter 24 – Family

Chapter 25 – Ravana

Chapter 26 – Lisanna

Chapter 27 – Avienda

Reflections – 15

Chapter 28 – Truths and Lies

Chapter 29 – Kallum

Epilogue

About the author:

### Illustrations (maps, etc.)

### Reflections – 0.

To this day, nobody knows what triggered the Cataclysm.

That's what it came to be known, a word synonymous with both the massive trans-space shockwave, and the wholesale destruction that it caused.

That shockwave hit the mass shadows of planets, stars, and a host of other celestial bodies.

Anything with a substantial mass shadow that dimpled into the realm of trans-space was smashed to pieces.

If you were on a planet, there was nowhere to run.

The shockwave would shatter the world like a ball made of soft earth.

Even large starships weren't spared.

Many of the super-liners and super-sized military fortresses perished when the trans-light shockwave struck their presence within trans-space.

Racing out from an epicenter near the center of humanity's galactic civilization, the shockwave wiped out billions in the span of a day. Millions more died in the days that followed, as the intersystem civilization was brought to an end.

The Cataclysm brought a finale to humanity's First Golden Age.

It set the stage for the survivors to lay the foundations for the Second Golden Age.

And the remains of those scores of shattered worlds, moons and stars became the material that fueled the expansion of the Hurakan Nebula.

Nobody noticed when the Aventis appeared.

By the time they did, it was already too late.

They were everywhere and anywhere.

From the very beginning they had infiltrated the newly founded United Systems Alliance and the neighboring Coalition of System States.

The problem was that the Aventis looked just like us.

That's because they were us.

They were human, but they were also something more.

They were hosts to the Symbiote.

It was the Symbiote that made the Aventis strong, fast, and hard to kill.

Despite their lack of numbers, they quickly overwhelmed humanity, or should I say, the Regulars.

So, after a few years of struggling against the Aventis – who fell into eight distinct clans known as Prides – humanity gave up and raised the white flag.

At least, that's what history tells us. That's what we're taught in school. That's what dramatic holovid re-enactments portray.

The truth is a little different.

The War of Supremacy wasn't over in a flash. It lasted seven years and took place over hundreds of thousands of cubic light-years.

It was fought inch by inch, light-year by light-year, and the tide of battle only turned in favor of the Aventis late in the war.

The Alliance and Coalition united to form the Human Territories which subsequently became the Human Empire ruled by an empress with a heart of ice.

The Aventis fought under a single banner, preferring not to make claims of territory as the war dragged on.

That was two centuries ago.

It's a history that's a little different from what people know today.

I guess it can't be helped. As the saying goes, history is decided by the victors – the Aventis.

Why they chose to rewrite history, is a mystery to me. Even knowing what I know today, I can't fathom their reasons. But in saying that, I still have a long road of discovery ahead of me.

So it was that more than two centuries after the Cataclysm, people had all but forgotten the point of going to war against these 'superior' humans. And the truth was, the Prides only went to war to ensure their own survival, but afterwards they managed – dare I say 'ruled' – humanity pretty well.

No wars. No conflicts. On the whole, a fairly stable economic and political environment.

Of course, the Aventis remained at the top of the food chain, and Regulars remained one step below. They had preferential treatment in business, education, sports, and pretty much everything else.

But it wasn't all bad for the rest of humanity.

Just not as good as it was for those that belonged to the Prides.

However, the door to joining a Pride wasn't closed.

During their teenage years, a Regular human was tested for compatibility with one of the eight strains of Symbiote that uniquely characterized the eight Prides.

Haruka was tested when she turned sixteen, and her body had a high compatibility with the Avenir Pride.

I was tested too and my results showed negative – I'm talking less than zero – compatibility with all of the eight strains of the Symbiote.

It's like the damn things hated me as much as I hated them.

I had my reasons for hating them; reasons for resenting them.

In truth, I was happy to be left out.

I just never figured I would fall into a _third_ camp.

You see, one day I found out I wasn't as Regular as I thought I was.

I was actually more like an aberration.

An anomaly of great value to the Prides.

But I wasn't the only anomaly around.

There were hundreds like me in the colony alone.

Nonetheless, that did _not_ make me feel any better about the situation I landed in.

### Prologue.

(Caprice)

I was surprised by how quickly she brought us to a stop.

She hit the van I was travelling in with her Fragment, partially crushing the driver's cabin, forcing the vehicle off the street and onto the sidewalk.

It was a stroke of good fortune the sidewalk was empty of pedestrians at the time.

My Fragment reacted automatically, and the Valkyrie Armor manifested in heartbeats, protecting me as I sat in the passenger cabin.

The crippled van crashed into the corner of a building and came to a stop.

As it did, I kicked out the cabin door with my armored legs, sending it flying into the wide alley between the building and its neighbor.

I leapt out expecting to be challenged and I wasn't disappointed.

The wrecked van rocked as our assailant leapt onto the rooftop.

Even though she was wearing a helmet, I could tell I was facing a girl.

Then she leapt toward me.

And she was fast.

I realized in a heartbeat the lev-bike riding suit she wore was a skinsuit in disguise. It amplified her speed and strength beyond human limits.

In contrast, I only had the Valkyrie Armor and my school uniform.

Perhaps she expected to subdue me quickly, and I will admit that with her speed she certainly came close, but after a dozen or more seconds exchanging blows between her jousting lance and my bladed gauntlets, she ran away, and I was left standing in the alley wondering what the Hell had just happened.

I caught a glimpse of her fleeing on the lev-bike she'd used to chase down the van.

Again I wondered, what the Hell had just happened.

I spared the driver and guard in the van a look. They were injured but not mortally. They were Aventis after all, and I could hear an emergency siren in the distance drawing closer by the moment.

I looked down the alley and the buildings.

Yes, I could do it. The walls offered enough purchase for the Valkyrie Armor's legs to kick off.

However if I faced the girl again I would be at a disadvantage.

I needed to even the odds a little.

Using the blades of my left gauntlet I cut the passenger door free of the van, then dragged out the man slumped over the dashboard.

He was an Aventis of the Lanfear Pride, and I needed his blood.

Ignoring the pain as my maxillary canines extended, I bit the soft flesh where the neck met the shoulder, and tasted his blood as it flowed into my mouth.

A mouthful, then a second. It was all I had time for.

The longer I remained by the van, the further away she travelled.

I lay the driver down against the van, then wiped my mouth clean as my canines painfully retracted.

Then I walked quickly into the alley.

I jumped up and then bounded off the nearest wall.

Ricocheting like a bullet between the two buildings, I climbed upwards, finally executing a backward flip as I cleared the shorter of the two.

Landing on the rooftop, I gained my bearings and looked in the direction of the school.

Damn, we were so close to it.

Why had the girl waited so long? Why not strike when we entered the habitat?

I had no doubt she was heading for the school.

No more time to waste.

And then the pain hit me.

The Symbiote elements rich in the Lanfear blood grew at an accelerated rate.

I collapsed onto my hands and knees in agony. I decided not fight against the pain and released a howl as the Symbiote replicated and spread throughout my body.

It might have been minutes before I was able to stand again though my whole body trembled and swayed. A feverish sweat soaked the inside of my uniform.

But I couldn't afford to wait for the effects to completely subside.

I needed to move, and I needed to move now.

Gritting my teeth against the agonizing storm inside my body, I took off at a run, and leapt high over the alleyway and onto the building ahead of me.

While the artificial gravity within the buildings and at street level was the standard gee, the gravity high between the buildings was a tad lower.

This made it easier to jump between buildings.

I ran across a rooftop, and leapt over to the next building.

All the while the Symbiote continued to grow and spread throughout my body.

Soon, very soon, I would start to feel my body _power up_.

Another rooftop. Another jump.

I felt well enough to make the call. I rang Arisa as I ran across a rooftop.

It wasn't easy to run while holding the palm-slate to my ear.

It wasn't any easier to jump from one rooftop to the next.

But this was one call I needed to make.

I heard the call connect as my feet touched ground, and a heartbeat later I heard her voice.

"Caprice, you have news for me—"

"Arisa, you asked me to meet him as your representative. Correct?"

"...eh, yes...."

"You want me to bond him to the Lanfear Pride. Correct?"

"Yes. What's going on Caprice? You sound like you're running."

"In that case...we have a problem."

"What problem?"

"The van you sent for me was hit by a Familiar of unknown affiliation."

There was a long moment of silence. "Are you sure?"

I didn't nod as I ran. "Yes. She was using a Fragment—it resembled a jousting lance. She was also wearing a skinsuit. I didn't get to see her face because she was wearing a helmet."

"Then how do you know it was a girl?"

"Arisa, I know a girl when I see one. She had hips and curves, though her breasts were probably no bigger than mine. And she moved like a girl."

"Very well. Go on."

"The van's a wreck and your men were injured. I survived because my Valkyrie Armor manifested an effect-field around me. I had to leave your men behind. I'm sorry...."

"Gods damn it." It was easy to hear her anger.

I swallowed quickly. "Arisa, I don't know if she's working alone, but she may have followed me when I left Galatea. If that's the case then I have a pretty good idea who she is."

"You don't mean—?"

"Constance."

"Damn it," Arisa yelled. "She must be acting under orders from Prissila. Damn it. What is Prissila thinking?"

I jumped across a wide alley and landed on the next building's rooftop.

"Arisa, I may be wrong. I didn't get to see the girl's face. Maybe Prissila has nothing to do with this."

I ran across the rooftop, avoiding the electronic equipment mounted on it.

I tried keeping my voice steady as I ran. "But if it is Constance, then it means Prissila is ignoring the agreement between your Pride and hers."

Arisa sounded both incredulous and angry. "To strike in daylight like this is crazy. It's sheer lunacy. There's no hiding this from the other Prides."

"You said it yourself. Everyone's been watching him for a year now. Then suddenly the Raynars offer him to the Lanfears. Maybe Prissila doesn't agree with that. Maybe she wants to claim him."

"It doesn't change the fact that what she did is an act of aggression against the Lanfear Pride."

"Arisa, tell me the truth. Do you think she wants him dead?"

"I don't know. I just don't know anymore. Where are you now?"

"Island Two, Habitat One. Running on rooftops. I'm headed to the school. It's about a kilometer away. I should be there in two minutes."

"You're using the Valkyrie Armor?"

"Yes."

"Where is the other Familiar?"

"She's on a lev-bike. I think she's headed for the school. I lost sight of her a while back."

"She's heading for the school? Why would she head to the school...unless she's the only one they dispatched...?" I heard a cry of frustration. "What the Hell is going on?"

I jumped onto the roof of a bridgeway connecting two buildings, then ran along its length before jumping up high onto the next building.

"Caprice—take her out."

Surprise almost caused me to miss my next jump. "Arisa confirm—"

"I said, take her out. Don't kill her, incapacitate her. But stop her from getting to him."

"Is that wise?"

"You let me worry about that. I'm going to have some of our people meet you at the school as soon as possible."

I didn't ask her what that entailed because I didn't expect help to arrive in short order.

Arisa and the Lanfear Pride had been blindsided.

I'd been caught flat-footed too.

For now I would have to deal with this situation on my own.

I made the next jump and landed on a commercial building shaped like an Aztec pyramid. "Very well, I'm going to intercept her as soon as I see her."

I ran the length of a balcony, then kicked off to the next building. When I landed, I heard Arisa ask, "Caprice, do you still have the vial?"

"Yes."

"Good. Whatever you do, you must get that into his bloodstream. You must trigger his Awakening. I won't allow the Ventiss Family to get their hands on him—not after striking at my men."

I swallowed hard as I ran.

"Yes, I understand. I'll make sure he bonds with your blood."

"Go Caprice, fly like the wind. His life may depend on you."

I grit my teeth for a heartbeat, breathing in hard through my nose as I ran across the building's rooftop.

I spoke into the palm-slate in a hurry. "I'll call you when I have news. Good or bad, I'll let you know as soon as I can."

I ended the call, then slowed down in order to pocket my palm-slate.

Afterwards, I ran with all the power and might my Fragment could afford me – all the power I could draw out of it.

The school was up ahead, one district block away.

I cursed myself for losing sight of the rider on that lev-bike, but I had no choice. In order to make good time I had to run as the crow flies, whereas she had to follow the streets and adhere to the traffic...or maybe not.

As I reached the end of the block, I was one jump away from the school. A six lane street lay between me and the ten foot high wall surrounding the school grounds.

Then I caught sight of her.

She parked the lev-bike on a side street adjacent to the school, then ran over to the institution. With the aid of her jousting lance she pole-vaulted over the school wall.

She seemed to know exactly where she was going.

That was when I noticed the small drone hovering over the school – watching it.

Was it guiding her?

If she knew where _he_ was then I would use her to lead me to him.

I took a running leap, and focused the effect-field generated by the Valkyrie Armor into something resembling winged heels.

However, I chose not to fly too high.

Hell, the best I could hope for was a barely controlled glide.

No, make that a barely controlled fall.

I landed on the girl's lev-bike, shattering it into a hundred pieces.

This time she wasn't going to have her way.

#

(Caelum)

I looked out at the habitat sprawled before me and was once again reminded I was living inside a rock.

One rock out of five rocks, with the largest one surrounded by its four smaller kin.

A rock oasis within the edge of an immense cloud of dust and debris – the Hurakan Nebula.

A testament to the wholesale destruction committed by the trans-space shockwave that heralded the Cataclysm.

From the secluded area of the school's rooftop, I could see the habitat and its buildings stretch out for two kilometers into the distance. The rock ceiling overhead was hidden behind an optical field that mimicked a partly sunny day. There was even a breeze blowing strongly, courtesy of the habitat's life support systems.

The nine foot tall wire fencing that surrounded the building's rooftop was the only thing preventing me from taking a dive into the school's central courtyard below.

I stared at the scene before me, closed my eyes for a moment, then paid attention to what she was saying.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I was not alone in this corner of the rooftop.

"Caelum, won't you say anything?"

I leaned my forehead against the fencing, then turned only my head in order to face her. The rest of my body continued to angle forward, braced against the fence on my raised arms.

"What do you want me to say?" I gave her a cheery smile. "Oh, sorry. I should say 'congratulations' shouldn't I?"

She gave me a trouble look.

Actually, she'd been looking troubled ever since she arrived at the rooftop.

I forced a bit more cheer into my smile. "Bet your folks were happy to have their only daughter join a Pride."

"Caelum...please...don't be this way."

"Huh?"

"Tell me the truth. We've been friends for so long—"

"I am telling you the truth. I'm happy for you. You finally get your wish. You'll be joining an Aventis Pride. Isn't that what you always wanted?"

"I wanted both of us to be chosen—"

"Well, it didn't turn out that way." I shrugged. "Who knows, maybe things will change in the future. I still have three years before I'm crossed off their list."

True. Though it was rare for anyone beyond the age of nineteen to be accepted into a Pride, it did happen. However, if the Symbiote didn't find you worthy by then, chances were it never would.

I glanced away for a heartbeat. "Then again, I'd rather I was never chosen."

I turned my body and leaned my back against the fence.

"I am happy for you, Haruka. I really am. You've got a bright future ahead of you now. They'll push you to get the best out of you, but I'm sure you'll be up to the task."

She gave me a pained look this time. "You make it sound like I'm going off to 'magic' school or something."

"Sorry. But everyone knows that in this corner of the galaxy where the Aventis rule, if you're a member of a Pride you get preferential treatment."

"I didn't make that rule."

"I'm not saying you did. It's just the way things work. They won, Regulars like us lost."

She seemed at odds with what to say.

I struggled to keep the cheer in my voice and on my face. "What's with the troubled look?"

Haruka looked away. "Why did you call me up here?"

"To say goodbye."

A sob escaped her lips.

I watched the first tears well up in her eyes then slide down her cheeks.

She swallowed and asked, "Why?"

"You know the answer to that."

"No, I don't. I have absolutely no idea!"

"You're going to be an Aventis, a member of one of the eight Prides."

"So?"

I sighed. "Aventis and Regulars like me don't mix."

"That isn't true."

"Sorry, but it is the truth."

I watched her tears continue to trickle. I felt like my innards were being burned. But there's no avoiding the truth. It bites like Hell and worse when it comes between you and someone you really care about.

Damn it. I had to get this over with before I lost it.

"Haruka, you and I were never _that_ close, so it's not like we're breaking up. We're just...saying goodbye to an old friendship."

"How can you say it like that? How can you sound so freakishly reasonable? Do you know how much this is tearing me up inside?"

"You'll get over it. You'll attend one of the five academies in Pharos for the Aventis, and you'll make new friends—Aventis friends—and you'll find someone 'special' over there. Pretty soon, you'll be right as rain again. You'll forget all about me and start anew."

"Are you doing this to make me hate you? To make it easier for me to leave? And why do we even have to do this?"

"I'm doing this for me."

"What?"

I smiled at her, and this time I meant it. "Haruka, you know how much I hate the Prides."

She pressed her mouth into a thin bloodless line.

I added for good measure, "If I say goodbye now, before you become an Aventis, I won't hate you. If I do this afterwards, it'll be just that much harder for me."

I meant that too.

Once the Haruka before me became one of _them_ , I wouldn't see her as Haruka anymore.

I pushed away from the fence and swung my arms, working the stiffness out of my shoulders.

"So, Haruka. This is goodbye. I'll miss you, but I'll get over you."

I bowed to her formally.

"Thank you...for taking care of me all these years."

When I straightened I saw the ashen look on her face. She swallowed a number of times, before wiping away her tears with the back of a hand.

Then she laughed bitterly. "I see. You were always like this. Always choosing to bear everything even if it made you the villain. I really was right about you. Since there's no easy way for this to happen, you chose to make yourself the bastard of the play."

"No. I just want to forget about you as soon as possible."

Now she looked dismayed.

I smiled nonchalantly, shoved my hands into my school trouser pockets, then felt my palm-slate in one of them. An idea came to mind so I pulled out the palm-slate. Calling up the screen that listed my contacts, I held it up for her to see. I made sure the voice command recognition was turned on.

"Contact listing, Haruka Amiella...delete."

"Confirm delete," my palm-slate requested.

"Confirmed."

I heard a chime and knew the deed was done.

Her horrified look deepened before her expression turned hard and cold over the span of many seconds. Then she took out her palm-slate and held it up for me to see.

"Contact listing, Caelum Desanto...delete."

"Confirm delete," her palm-slate requested.

"Co...con...conf...."

Her hand trembled so much the screen was leaving afterimages in my eyes.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Go on. You can do it."

"Shut up!" she screamed. "Just shut the Hell up!"

She gripped the palm-slate in both hands but her fingers shook badly and wouldn't go near the screen.

"Haruka, you're making this much harder than it has to be."

"Go to Hell! I hate you!"

She turned and ran away, squeezing through the gap between rooftop structures that made this the secluded spot it was.

I stared at the empty space she left behind.

"That's my girl. You never disappoint. So easy to manipulate."

I looked down at my palm-slate.

"I wonder if I should delete all those photos and videos of us together?"

I was busy mulling that for a while when I noticed the palm-slate's screen was wet. I wiped it dry but more drops landed on it.

"Huh?"

I looked up at the habitat's sky. Still partly sunny. No sign of rain. Hell, it never rains inside a habitat.

Then I noticed it was hard to see. My vision was blurred.

I wiped at my eyes and my fingers came away wet.

I looked at them for a while.

"Well I'll be. I guess I haven't forgotten how to cry." I laughed softly. "You hear that Celica, I guess I couldn't keep my promise to you after all."

A simple promise.

To cry for our parents, to cry for family, and no one else.

Well, I had no one else to cry over now.

Yet I was crying over Haruka.

I shuffled over to the fence. It was getting hard to see the school buildings ahead of me, and the habitat skyline beyond it.

I shoved the slate into my pocket before I could accidentally drop it.

I didn't bother wiping my face.

_Big boys don't cry,_ she used to say.

Bloody smart thing to say to a ten year old about to turn eleven.

"Gods damn it...I miss you...Celica."

I bowed my head and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Why...why did it have to be her? Why Haruka?"

Why the Hell was she chosen? Why was her body compatible with the Symbiote? Why did the Prides take everything and everyone that was dear to me?

I hated them.

I blamed them for my parents' deaths.

I blamed them for my sister's death.

Why did we Regulars have to be so subservient to them?

My fingers bent the wire fencing into an unrecognizable tangle.

I held onto it, and hung against it for a long time. Even after the school bell sounded signaling the end to the lunch break, I still hung onto the fence and refused to move.

I had no intention of walking back to class.

I would accept the detention this would garner me, but I wasn't in any state to sit through afternoon lessons.

Around me, the school grounds quickly grew quiet as students ambled, shuffled and straggled back into class. Beyond the grounds, I could hear the sounds of the habitat city.

I squeezed my fingers around the fencing loops, and clenched my teeth for a long, painful moment.

"Damn it...what the Hell have I done...?"

#

(Caprice)

By some miracle – an act of divine intervention from the gods above – both the girl and I managed to get over the school wall and up onto the rooftop without being seen.

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say 'without drawing attention'.

Maybe someone had seen us but thought they were imagining things.

After all, it's not every day you see two young women jumping a ten foot wall and into a school, then scrambling up a sheer building wall on their way to its rooftop.

There are times I really regret wearing a skirt, and this was one of them, as I was sure to give anyone under me a glorious view of my toned derriere.

I also regretted today of all days not having regular clean underwear, and having to resort to my private collection, the kind I would be too afraid to wear out in public.

The kind I would only dare to wear in the privacy of my apartment as a guilty pleasure.

The kind a girl would reserve for a special date with her special guy.

That being said, what in the name of the gods possessed me to buy that ensemble in the first _place!_

It's not like a had a boyfriend or the time for one!

I spent all my free time studying, and training, and what was left over was spent sleeping.

Boyfriend?

What boyfriend?

In any case, this thought, and wondering how I was going to stop my opponent, kept me company as I managed to scramble onto the rooftop, after tossing myself over the mesh security fence.

Again, by some stroke of _extreme_ good fortune, the rooftop courtyard was empty. The students that ate lunch at the various benches and tables had all departed for class. As I landed in a crouch on the permacrete roof, the second bell sounded, announcing that afternoon classes were now in session.

I realized I was going to be late for class as well. Very late. In fact, the way things were turning out I doubted I'd make it back to Galatea for any of the afternoon lessons.

The girl in the black and white skinsuit turned and faced me.

She might have been surprised to see me, but judging from her body language, I didn't think that was the case. There was no way she hadn't sensed me, unless her Fragment lacked a sensorium field and I found that doubtful.

For a heartbeat she stood in the middle of the courtyard, held down by indecision. Then I saw her glance over her right shoulder into the sky over the opposite side of the school building. Ignoring the smaller buildings within the school grounds, the main building was shaped like a giant octagon some three hundred meters across. You could say we were standing on the east side, and the girl was looking at the sky over the west end of the octagon. I glanced in that direction and realized she was looking at the small, discus-like drone that hovered a few hundred feet over that side of the building's rooftop. The thing hadn't moved in a long while, and I was more certain than ever that it was watching someone on the school grounds.

Or someone on the rooftop.

Unfortunately, if someone was there the various machinery penthouses prevented me from seeing them.

I decided enough with the delay, and then leapt toward her.

Now it was my turn to strike, and this time she wasn't going to run away.

With both gauntlet blades fully extended forward, I kicked off and crossed the fifteen feet between her and me in the blink of an eye. My sharp Valkyrie Armored feet flew inches off the ground, before I landed a few feet away from her and delivered the first of many slashing swipes at the girl.

She skipped back repeatedly, somehow managing to elude the blades, but not the piercer-fields that surrounded them.

Even when she managed to block one blade with her lance, the second would come close enough to inflict damage on her skinsuit.

It wasn't long before she was sporting a handful of narrow, long rents that revealed bare skin underneath.

That was to be expected. To wear a skinsuit properly, you had to be buck naked underneath.

I heard her muted cry behind the visor of her helmet. She sounded more frustrated and angry than in pain.

Adjusting the grip on her jousting lance, she wielded the weapon against me in a manner it was probably not designed for. In fact, she wielded it more like a spear.

But the Valkyrie Armor sensed the narrow blade-like piercer-field projecting around the tip of the lance, and I realized I'd better take her seriously or else I'd be wearing a shredded uniform back to class.

Too late. The narrow piercer-field brushed against my midnight-blue blazer, and a thin cut emerged.

I felt a stinging pain as the field drew a line as narrow as a scalpel along the skin of my midriff.

I ignored it.

The Symbiote inside me now would heal the cut in a minute or so.

A cut or two I could afford. If it wasn't deep the Symbiote would ensure there would be no scar.

But blood loss was another matter, and that I couldn't afford.

I blocked the lance and its piercer-field with a gauntlet blade, then struck back.

My moves were reflexive, and as I stepped through one combination after another, careful to defend while attacking, mindful of openings while slashing, a second troubling thought crossed my mind.

Why me?

Why had Arisa chosen me as her representative?

I wasn't the only one with a Fragment in her family's employ. I wasn't the only one the Lanfear Pride had in their _possession_. I had met two others like me over the past month, and both were older, better trained and far more experienced than I was. So why choose me?

I was young, and inexperienced.

I was a first year high-schooler.

I didn't have the practice or training to be doing this.

Since summoning the Valkyrie Armor's blades, I'd spent a mere month practicing with them.

I wasn't ready for this!

So why send me?

Had Arisa really been blindsided? Had she really not expected trouble? Was that why she felt I was up to the task of delivering the vial to the boy?

Wait, I was thinking of him as a boy when he was actually only a couple of weeks older than me.

But that aside, how could Arisa have assumed that the agreement between the Prides would hold?

She knew the Raynars were chomping at the bit after their Primatriarch handed down her decree.

As I defended against the furiously thrusting and jabbing lance, I was starting to curse my lack of ability, and Arisa's lack of foresight.

Then fresh doubts crawled across the back of my mind, doubts that presented a distraction I could ill afford.

What if Arisa had chosen me because the others in her employ were busy dealing with problems elsewhere?

What if this girl in front of me was the least of her worries?

Perhaps by sending me to greet him and bring him into the fold, Arisa had lulled Prissila – or whoever was behind this – into a false sense of security where they believed this girl in front of me was sufficient for the task – whatever it may be.

Through the Valkyrie Amor, I sensed the lance's piercer-field extend significantly.

I backed away, and almost immediately realized she'd feinted and that my footing was wrong. I lacked the stability to weather the next blow which came in the form of a barrier-field shaped like a battering ram of sorts projected ahead of the jousting lance. The impact knocked me off my feet and onto my backside. Remembering that to stay still was to die, I moved, rolling away ungainly from the lance as the barrier-field changed to a piercer-field. The girl plunged the weapon at me, and its tip punched a hole in the ground I'd rolled over a heartbeat ago.

I stopped rolling and kicked out, willing a barrier-field to form around my armored foot. I succeeded and my kick connected with the girl's right leg, sending her back and then down to one knee. It gave me time to gain my feet, and renew the offensive.

But as I slashed, cut and parried against her, all the while dancing between courtyard benches, tables and hard seats, a third realization crossed my mind.

We were both amateurs, and as such we were both making mistakes that leveled the field between us.

Nonetheless, I refused to give up, even as my concentration slipped more often than not, even as I found openings in her defensive posture more often than not – neither of us refused to give up.

Pivoting on one foot, I managed to spin kick and knock her lance aside, my Valkyrie Armored leg protected by a barrier-field against the lance's piercer-field. As risky as it was since for a half second I had presented my back to the girl, the move paid off. With the jousting lance out of the way, I used the kick's momentum to carry me into the next attack.

Slashing down with my right gauntlet blade, the field around it cut a long path down the front of the girl's skinsuit, exposing even more skin that included the creamy curves of her small bosom.

I was right. She was no bigger than I was.

I experienced a brief moment of solidarity with her.

It was a feeling only small breasted girls' like I could empathize and understand.

I had great legs and a great ass, but up top I was less than impressive.

I chocked back a sob.

The distraction cost me.

Swinging the lance back up, the girl generated a barrier-field strong enough to crater a permacrete wall and slammed it into my gut.

It was the Valkyrie Armor that saved me.

I wasn't able to consciously will a barrier-field to block the lance, but the Fragment manifested one automatically, and it spared me from a blow that would have broken most of my ribs and crushed my insides. Even so, I was sent tumbling backwards several yards before a nearby bench brought my careening body to a stop.

For a half dozen heartbeats I was frightened she would finish me off, but instead she dropped to her knees as though exhausted, before recovering a few seconds later.

By then I was staggering to my feet, but hardly ready for another round with her.

But she surprised me.

She retreated with an unsteady run, heading for the rooftop mechanical penthouse at the northern end of the courtyard. Using the jousting lance Fragment to propel herself into the air, she leapt up onto the roof of the building.

Less than steady on my feet, I had no choice but to run after her. I had to really concentrate on maintaining control of the Valkyrie Armor, especially the armored legs that encased mine of flesh and blood.

I crossed the courtyard, and leapt onto the roof of the mechanical penthouse. I was faintly surprised to learn the penthouse ran much of the length of the octagonal building's rooftop.

The girl was a dozen meters ahead of me on the penthouse roof, and running with a purpose now.

When I glanced up and westward, I saw the drone was still hovering over the same spot.

At the speed she and I were running over the rooftop, it wouldn't be long before we circled around to a point under the drone.

I came to the decision I would stop the girl before we arrived there.

In short, I wasn't going to let her get to _him_ first.

Amateur or not, I had my pride as one affiliated with the Lanfears. I wasn't going to disappoint Arisa, who for whatever reason had placed her trust in me to accomplish my duty as her representative.

I picked up my pace, and caught up to the girl easily courtesy of the Valkyrie Armor.

Foregoing a loud war cry, I leapt at her exposed back a moment before she turned around and faced me with the Fragment jousting lance.

My right gauntlet blade held high, I brought it down in the blink of an eye.

This time my piercer-field parted her Fragment's barrier-field, and shock ran through my arm as the blade struck the lance.

And once again battle was joined.

#

(Caelum)

In those minutes after the final bell rang, I wasn't thinking of anything at all.

Maybe it was because my mind was so blank that the feeling of being watched grew on me until I could no longer ignore it.

I looked about slowly, but then felt my gaze drawn upwards.

There was a disc-like object some two or three hundred feet overhead. From where I stood it was hard to tell as I had nothing for a decent frame of reference. But the object didn't look to be too large, maybe a few feet in diameter. In fact, the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of the small traffic monitoring drones you normally saw flying slowly between the buildings of a habitat.

But what was it doing here?

Rather, what was it doing hovering overhead?

I stared at it, growing uneasy with the sensation it was watching me.

Why?

Suddenly I heard something land loudly on the rooftop a few yards away. I turned in fright and saw a bundle of limbs roll across the ground and come to a crashing halt against the wall of the rooftop hut behind me.

It took a moment for me to realize I was looking at a girl, bloodied and beaten to a blue pulp. I could tell she was a girl by her figure alone, though her face was covered by the visor of the helmet she wore. She was dressed in the remains of a bike suit, torn in places too numerous to quickly count. A weird black mist surrounded both her right arm and the long pole that she held in her hand. The mist faded and the pole vanished with it, leaving a sudden chill in the air that I felt all the way to my bones.

My heart jumped then began to beat loudly as my mind questioned what I'd just witnessed.

Was that a Fragment I'd seen fading back into that _other_ space? What did they call it, Pocket Space?

I stared at the girl.

If that was a Fragment, then she must be a—

A second bundle of limbs crashed to the rooftop. This bundle landed much better than the first, and I watched it resolve itself into the slender body of a girl probably no older than I was.

She was wearing a uniform I didn't recognize.

Actually, she was wearing the remains of a uniform. Her midnight blue blazer was in tatters, and I had a clear view of a lacy white bra showing through the rents in her white blouse, and her skirt was sporting several non-regulation slits that revealed smoothly toned thighs and—violet underwear?

She stood up smoothly on legs that resembled those of a mythical armored Valkyrie.

Her forearms were sheathed in black gauntlets, each with a two foot long blade that ran over the top of her hands.

She wasn't looking in my direction but at the girl lying against the wall. When she took a step toward the girl, the newcomer faltered and fell onto her hands and knees.

"Damn—pushed past my limit."

Cold permeated the air, spreading thick and fast over the rooftop. I shivered as that strange black mist enveloped the girl's arms and legs. When it faded, I saw she was wearing school shoes and black stockings.

Now I was certain I'd just seen a Fragment disappear.

What the Hell was going on here?

Who the Hell are these girls?

The girl wearing the remnants of a uniform gained her feet and quickly walked over to the other girl by the wall.

She spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. "Now to find out who you are...."

She nudged the girl harshly, then reached for the latter's neck and chin, and removed the helmet. The girl in the bike suit was clearly unconscious. Her eyes were open and heavily lidded, but she wasn't _home_.

The uniformed girl stared at the comatose one for a long while. I watched her press her lips into a thin line, then reach into her skirt for something.

I was surprised her skirt's pockets were still intact, which was more than could be said for the remains of the palm-slate she pulled out. After staring at it for a moment she put it back into her skirt's pocket, then fished around the other remaining pocket.

I wondered if she was aware of my presence.

I didn't have to wonder for long.

She suddenly stopped feeling around in her pocket and turned to faced me.

I saw her face clearly.

Wow!

What a beauty!

Near raven dark hair, emerald green eyes, and a heart shaped face.

Even with her clothes in shambles and not looking her best, I could proclaim this girl was clearly an eight point five out ten.

The only reason I didn't give her a higher score was because I found her lacking in one critical aspect – a decent chest.

That white lacy bra might as well have been a training bra.

Despite the situation I forgot myself and released a heavy sigh.

Compared to Haruka who had an impressive bust, this girl was a major disappointment.

Even so, I gave her another good look.

On second thoughts, other than her small breasts, she had a fine figure, perfect legs, and her looks made her appear exotic. Maybe I'll give her an eight point eight on the ten scale.

I noticed she was regarding me with a fixed, emotionless expression on her face.

I smiled guiltily. "Ah...hello there."

"Caelum Desanto...."

I blinked and lost my smile.

She knows me? What reason could she have for knowing me?

Eh—this might not be good. Maybe I should be making a quick retreat.

"Who's asking?" I replied as I started backing away from her.

She started walking toward me. "Please don't make this any harder than it needs to be."

My eyes widened. "What?"

Hadn't I just said the same thing to Haruka?

Wait, was this girl here to make me suffer for making Haruka cry? Did Haruka's Pride-to-be send her? Was this retribution for shredding my friendship with her?

I prepared to defend my position on the matter, but then I glanced at the unconscious girl on the ground.

Was I going to end up like her?

The flat-chested girl picked up her pace, then drew a menacing butterfly knife from her skirt pocket.

My eyes grew wide and I began to panic in earnest. "Wait—wait! What the Hell are you doing? You can't bring that into the school. Weapons aren't allowed on school grounds."

"Please don't run away," she said.

Are you serious? Don't run away?

As she raised the knife she added, "This is for your own good."

Gah—she really was serious. Crazily, insanely serious.

Before I could run away she leapt toward me.

I threw my body to the left, hoping the blade would only graze me at best.

But then something odd happened.

Her leap continued carrying her toward me albeit very slowly.

It was like watching a holovid played back at a quarter speed.

Very slow indeed.

I had time to see the artificial sunlight glint off the blade.

Time to see her lips part slightly as she exhaled.

Time to see her body sail past me as I desperately threw myself out of the way.

It was all so surreal.

This had never happened before.

Then I saw surprise spread across her face, before it slowly turned into elation.

Her voice sounded funny, as though I was hearing it at a quarter pace as well.

"Overclocking...excellent...you have...the trait...."

I twisted my body to make use of the momentum I'd gained in order to land on my feet.

Damn, every move I made felt unbearably slow. I realized my body wasn't keeping up with my mind.

Overclocking? Was this what she called overclocking?

She landed lightly on her feet but it didn't prevent her slashed skirt from billowing upwards.

Okay, that had to be violet underwear I just saw.

She charged at me again, but this time she pivoted on her left foot, and lashed at me with her right.

Now I had clear view of what her skirt had been hiding.

Yes—racy violet underwear. It was sheer and seamless with lacy ruffles along the edges.

Holy Molly, this girl was going to be the death of me in more ways than one.

I wonder if Haruka ever wore underwear like that?

I tried throwing my body back, pushing off the ground with everything my legs could muster. Even though I had plenty of time to think through the move, my body failed to respond in time.

But the blow she landed on my chest wasn't as bad as it could have been. I was already moving away from her. Even so, the impact lifted me off my feet and I sailed in slow motion through the air until my back hit the ground.

I felt the air expel from my lungs.

That took a long time.

Pain and shock raced through my body. What should have taken seconds felt like it lasted for a half minute.

Damn, this phenomenon was too weird.

Try as I might I couldn't move in time to stop my assailant from landing on my midriff. She straddled my waist, and I felt the heat from her smooth thighs penetrate my body.

Maybe dying in slow motion wouldn't be so bad.

I looked up into her pretty face and saw the elation on her features.

She looked genuinely happy as she raised the blade over her head.

"Sorry...this...will hurt...a little...."

I reached up as fast as I could but my arms moved unbearably slowly.

She brought the blade down and I felt it pierce my chest, but not my heart.

Blood spurted onto her hands. My blood.

A few droplets landed on her cheeks.

Great – I marred her pretty features.

Then I realized I was probably going to die if my body was spouting so much blood into the air.

The weird time phenomena started to fade and I sensed my surroundings begin to move at a normal pace.

She pulled the knife out of my chest.

If it hurt going in, it hurt twice as much going out.

I struggled to breathe and convulsed on the rooftop while she sat on my midriff.

"Don't worry. This is sure to work. Arisa is positive of what you are, and she's not the only one."

My vision was growing cloudy. I could barely hear what she was saying.

But I did see her pull out and uncap something that resembled a pressurized needle.

She plunged the needle into my neck.

I felt a surge of liquid flood into me.

"She's not wrong. She was right about me—she's right about you. She's definitely not wrong!"

Her elation was turning into desperation.

What the Hell was she saying about me?

Then she leaned close to me.

I smelled the scent of her hair and her perfume as she whispered.

"I'm sorry. This part is going to really hurt."

What—you don't think I'm in pain already?

She was looking at me, our noses only inches apart, when a burning sensation that exceeded the volcano of pain in my chest suddenly spread from my neck to the rest of my body.

If she hadn't been holding me down with her arms, I might have thrashed myself to pieces.

As it was, the only reason I couldn't scream was because I had no air in my lungs.

That and the fact her mouth was smothering mine.

Damn it! What a way to commemorate my first kiss – on the rooftop, with a knife wound to my chest, and a hot girl straddling my pain wracked body.

I passed out without getting the opportunity to be grateful that I did.

#

(Caprice)

I knelt on the rooftop with his head resting on my lap.

It was the classic lap pillow, the kind some girls dream of giving their boyfriends.

The kind guys dream of receiving from their girlfriends.

The kind I never thought I'd be giving a boy when I got up this morning.

He'd stopped thrashing a few minutes ago and fallen into a deep sleep.

The wound was healed in mere minutes. It was frighteningly quick.

No, I would say it was unnaturally quick, even for our kind.

No doubt Arisa's people would be interested to know that.

I brushed away stray strands of hair from his forehead, and studied his sleeping face.

Caelum Desanto...just who are you?

I continued watching him, my face already hot from embarrassment as I gave him the lap pillow, but it grew even hotter when I considered what I'd just done.

I closed my eyes and saw sparks in the darkness.

My first kiss.

I'd given away my first kiss.

With my eyes still closed I shook my head.

No, no, no. That didn't count. It couldn't count. I refuse to accept that as a kiss.

I opened my eyes and studied him again.

Why did I do that?

I sighed softly.

Because I wanted to.

After all, I'd known about him for a month now, since Arisa first spoke to me about him, and this was even before the tests confirmed he was a candidate for Awakening. For a month, I'd kept his holo-photos with me on my palm-slate. When Arisa told me yesterday that I was to be her representative, I felt nervous, anxious, and yes...a little excited.

I ran my fingers over the freshly healed wound on his chest, and made up my mind.

If that kiss didn't count, then the next one would.

I leaned down, and keeping my long hair away from my face, I kissed him gently on the lips.

This...was my first kiss.

I drew back quickly fearing I'd woken him, but I realized he was just murmuring softly in his sleep.

I dipped my head and listened.

"...violet...seamless...violet...lacy...."

My heart stopped, and then started up again a few moments later.

I felt it galloping wildly in my chest, as a mad blush turned my face supernova scarlet.

Dear gods in high heaven.

He'd seen them.

He'd definitely seen them.

No wonder his eyes nearly popped out moments before I delivered that high kick to his chest.

In that moment he'd witnessed my exclusive designer label, limited release, Midnight Parade, lacy violet panties with cute ruffles along the edges.

It wasn't just my first kiss I'd given him.

I'd given him an exclusive view of my guilty pleasure!

My mind overheated and blanked out.

Without a doubt, I fainted on top of him.

### Reflections – 1.

When the Cataclysm ripped the galaxy apart for a radius of fifty three light years, it left behind the Hurakan Nebula.

Basically, the nebula formed from the remains of numerous planets, moons, and stars blown to bits by the trans-light shockwave.

That was more than two centuries ago.

Two hundred and thirty seven years to be exact.

Twenty years later, humanity had picked up the pieces and put together two spheres of political influence.

But the Prides were exposed and all Hell broke loose between Regulars and the Aventis.

The Regulars lost, the Aventis won, and peace settled upon the colonized remnant of the galaxy – one little corner of the galaxy.

Then the Prides initiated the Pharos Project.

To build a colony within the edge of the Hurakan Nebula.

It took forty years to build. First, asteroids of sufficient size were found. They were debris from the numerous planets that were smashed to pieces by the Cataclysm. Today, we call these asteroids The Islands.

Five Islands tied together by powerful effect-fields, and numerous cables as thick as inter-habitat buses.

Giant caverns more than a dozen kilometers long were scooped out inside each of the rock islands. These came to be known as the Habitats. Immense tunnels connected the habitats within an island, allowing people to commute between them. However, pressurized and atmospherically sealed trains ran between the Islands, transporting hundreds of passengers at a time.

I was ten when my parents died.

They were killed in an explosion set off in the largest starship dock Pharos had to offer – the Harbor Sphere of Island One.

A massive empty sphere six kilometers wide, with a hundred docks and berths cut into the rock wall of the harbor.

My parents worked for a shipping company as dockside managers.

That day a bomb was triggered inside a super freighter that had just pulled into the dock.

The vessel went boom.

The dock went boom.

My parents and hundreds of others died in an instant.

That was the day before Pharos was due to celebrate its centenary.

As historians would call it, it was a Day of Infamy.

A centenary marked in blood.

The ones responsible for the explosion announced their existence to the people of Pharos.

They declared their opposition to the Prides.

They went by the name...Crimson Crescent.

### Chapter 1 – Reunion.

(Haruka)

The start of a new school year.

At least I wasn't starting the year at a new school.

I had transferred into Galatea Academy seven months ago, once my body acclimatized to the Avenir Symbiote.

Galatea Academy was one of five premier schools in Pharos catering to the Aventis.

For a colony that consisted of five immense rocks or asteroids, Pharos was the hub of all commerce and traffic into the Hurakan Nebula. The asteroids were referred to as Islands. The smallest was thirty kilometers long and twelve kilometers at it widest. The largest, Island One, was fifty seven kilometers long and twenty two kilometers wide.

Galatea Academy was located inside Habitat One, Island Three, District Dee-Three.

It was a school exclusive to the Prides.

No Regular humans.

Just us Aventis, and a number of Familiars.

When I first joined the Avenir Pride, it took me as long to get used to the changes in my body, as it took to grow accustomed to the new school.

That was to say, it didn't take me long at all. That was because I was welcomed with open arms by my new classmates, and that made the transition easier.

The girls in my class made me at home as best they could.

And the boys did their best to put in a good impression – for obvious reasons.

Because I transferred in halfway during the school year, I had to work extra hard to keep up with the slightly different curriculum. But I persevered, and by the end of the year I found myself in the top ten in my class, and the top twenty in my year.

I was ready to begin my second year of high school with a great deal of pride in what I'd accomplished.

I knew I hadn't disappointed my family either.

If anything, my parents were even more proud of me than before.

Although, there were times I hated the way they bragged of their daughter joining a strong and influential Pride.

I worried my mother would start asking me when I would start dating seriously, and had any good prospects come alone.

I politely sidestepped the issue each time.

I couldn't date anyone seriously.

I didn't have the heart to do so.

My heart was in pieces, and I had no way of putting it back together again.

I forgot to mention that I cried so hard after that day I really wanted to die.

I cried hard for a week.

My parents believed and rightly so that Caelum was at fault. My parents never liked him. They pitied him, an orphan of the state after his sister – his sole remaining relative – died. They sympathized with his circumstances.

But they never found him worthy of me.

And for that I could never forgive them, nor love them like a good daughter should.

And because I loved Caelum I was afraid of telling him how I felt.

I was afraid of hearing him say 'no'.

In the end, I missed my chance to tell him.

When I calmed down and thought about our circumstances, I realized that maybe Caelum was right.

It hurt like Hell to say goodbye, but he'd given me the clean break I would need in order to start again as an Aventis.

To start my new life as a member of the Avenir Pride.

But regardless of the reasons, the end result was a hollow shell.

Me.

I spent time with my new friends.

I spent time with a boy every now and then, and joined my new girlfriends on double dates.

A met a special boy, and little by little he began filling the emptiness that consumed my heart.

And then something happened – something I never dreamt of coming true.

I saw Caelum again.

And he threw my world into a spin.

#

(Haruka)

He stood at the front of the class room.

As a transfer student it was required that he introduce himself.

I felt my heart beating so loudly I thought my classmates would hear it too.

But they were all eyeing him warily, and I quickly understood why.

I looked at him, studying what I could see of him.

He looked a little taller, and he stood a little straighter.

He'd lost some of the fat on his cheeks and the uniform hung well on his body.

His black hair was thick and neatly combed.

He looked older.

He looked...harder, as though he'd acquired an edge he lacked before.

I was starting to understand this wasn't the Caelum Desanto I had known for so many years.

This wasn't the Caelum that I held in my arms when he cried at his parent's funeral.

We weren't children anymore, and that was more than evident in the aura I perceived emanating from him.

It was an aura that quietly, confidently challenged the classroom.

He spoke his name, enunciating it with precision.

He greeted the classroom, the teacher, afforded the usual pleasantries and stated his hopes for a productive year.

I listened to him, yet like all the students in the class, my eyes were inexorably drawn to the left breast of his uniform's blazer. Since becoming an Aventis, my eyesight had grown preternaturally sharp, and I saw the reason my classmates were wary of him.

Two badges pinned side by side.

One held the crest of the Pride he was associated with – the Lanfear Pride.

The second marked him as a Familiar – neither Aventis nor Regular human, but something that lay in between.

Yes, it was clear now. This was not the Caelum I remembered.

He was not the Regular young man I'd left behind seven months ago on that school rooftop.

Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear.

That was his official name now.

I swallowed again, wondering if it was stomach acid I tasted in the back of my mouth. Or was it bile? As I swallowed, I turned my head to look at another member of my class.

She sat at the back of the room, her long raven dark hair framing her heart shaped face. She sat with a perfect posture, as though raised from an early age with all the teachings of a child born into a privileged family. Yet as far as anyone knew she was an orphan of the state.

An orphan of Pharos just like Caelum.

I watched him walk down an aisle of smart desks and seated students.

He walked to the girl at the back of the room, and sat at the empty table on her left.

There were a number of empty tables around her.

For as long as I'd been a part of the class – a mere six months – she had always been alone. She had sat alone, eaten alone, studied alone, and played gym activities alone.

But now she was no longer alone.

She had Caelum sitting to her left.

I watched him nod to her politely, and she returned it with a faint smile.

They wore matching badges on their blazers.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an iron fist.

He had swept his gaze over all my classmates. He had surely seen me seated by the window, a third of the way down the length of the classroom.

And yet, he had walked down the aisle between the smart desks with his eyes focused solely on one individual – the girl that was a Familiar just like him.

Caprice Steiner afil Lanfear.

Not once did Caelum look my way.

My vision swam, and I couldn't prevent my stomach from beginning to heave. I raised my hand, then mumbled something as I staggered to my feet and then stumbled away from my smart desk. I was aware our homeroom teacher, Ms. Clarisse Fauntine, was speaking to me, but I couldn't understand a word of what she said.

I ran to the girls toilets and fell into an empty stall. With my head above the toilet bowl, my stomach heaved and emptied its contents.

It wasn't over until I'd dry retched a few times.

I heard footsteps and the voice of a girl I knew.

"Haruka? Haruka—ah she's in here."

Reaching up I pulled at the paper in the dispenser, hurriedly wiped my mouth, then flushed the toilet.

I looked up at Siobhan.

The blonde girl returned my look before reaching down. She picked me up easily enough and sat me down on the toilet seat. Needless to say she lowered the seat cover first.

"Haruka, look at me. How do you feel?"

"Sick...."

"Is it something you ate? Something you might have drunk last night? Where does it hurt?"

I shook my head, then pressed down on my sizeable chest. "Here...."

"What does she mean?" I recognized that voice as Alistair's. "Is it chest pains? She can't possibly be having a heart attack. She's one of us."

Siobhan was studying me intently. "Haruka? Is it...heartache?"

The pain in my chest grew and I nodded furtively.

She sighed and asked, "He's the Caelum you spoke of...isn't he?"

I nodded fitfully.

Alistair whispered softly, "Oh my gods. But—but Haruka you said he couldn't be an Aventis. You said all his tests were negative."

Siobhan caught my gaze with hers. "You didn't know, did you?"

I shook my head. My throat burned. "I didn't know...I didn't know...he was a Familiar."

Siobhan sighed again. "Let's get you cleaned up and back into class. Or do you want to go to the nurse's office?"

I looked down at the tiling and gave her question serious thought. "Maybe I'll...maybe I'll lie down for a little while."

Siobhan nodded. "Okay. I'll walk with you." She turned and addressed Alistair. "Tell Ms. Fauntine I'm taking Haruka to the nurse's office."

As I washed my face at the hand basin, and rinsed out my mouth, I realized what a fool I'd made of myself. No doubt Caelum was thinking I'd rushed out dramatically just to grab his attention.

I felt ashamed, and I felt scared.

Not once since attending the Academy on my first day, had I ever felt so scared about walking into my classroom.

I looked at Siobhan's reflection in the mirror.

"I've changed my mind. I'll go back to class."

I would have to do so eventually.

I would have to face him eventually.

I dried my face, brushed out my hair with my fingers, then steeled my back.

I walked out of the girls' toilets, down the corridor and then back into my classroom.

I forced myself not to ponder whether Caelum paid any attention to me as I stepped into the room.

But when I sat down, I used the small mirror in my pocket makeup kit to peek his way.

He was busy working on his smart desk with pen stylus in hand.

I snapped the kit shut with a soft click.

#

(Caelum)

Lunch break came around quickly enough.

There were fewer classes today since it was the opening day of the school year.

The opening ceremony had been held during the period normally assigned to morning homeroom. After the one hour ceremony all the new Familiars attending the academy were summoned to the Principal's office. That was the reason why I was late introducing myself to my classmates.

At the Principal's office, I stood with a half dozen other Familiars – two girls and four boys – and listened to the Principal's stern lecture.

I didn't have much of an opportunity to study my companions who appeared to be first year high-schoolers.

Instead, our Principal occupied almost all my attention.

Lavinia Mason was a tall, slender woman whom I would describe as _handsome_ rather than _attractive_. She had a piercing stare that I had trouble meeting. Her business suit which comprised a skirt rather than pants was charcoal grey and crisp. In short, her attire looked brand new. I will admit that while she wasn't attractive, she had the slender physique of a runway model and her legs were nothing short of stunning.

But her tone was cold, and I was distinctly aware that she had no love for Familiars like us. It didn't surprise me, and I could see she was being tolerant of our kind. By the same token, I didn't exactly have fond feelings for the Aventis, so our tolerance was mutual.

The briefing didn't take long. Principal Mason instructed us to download the student handbook for Familiars and to read the rules and regulations outlined within. I had already downloaded it to my palm-slate last night, after gaining access to the academy information network. After reading it, I didn't find it that much different from the school handbook at my old school. But there were rules and rights associated with being a Familiar – rules that were supposed to protect our kind from acts of aggression and victimization expressed by Aventis students.

Mason had said that if we all followed the rules we could enjoy _peaceful_ lives at the academy.

I took that with a kilo of salt.

I wondered how peaceful life would be for a Familiar bonded to a Fragment and classified as a Special.

After the briefing, I hurried over to my assigned homeroom and introduced myself as per the norm for any transfer student.

Now, during lunch break, I sat in the donut shaped cafeteria building at a table on the second level, overlooking the first level below.

Caprice sat across the round table, eating from a meal tray.

I looked down at the food on my tray and started picking at it, before I finally managed to eat a few bites. When I finished eating half the contents on the tray, I went back to gazing over the Aventis students occupying the cafeteria's three levels.

Resting my chin on a palm, I muttered, "This morning went well enough. My grand debut at the prestigious Galatea Academy. Whoopee doo."

"It was well within expectations, though the entrance ceremony was a little tedious."

I shifted my eyes in her direction. "So this is your second year here?"

"You already know that Caelum. Why are you asking me again?"

"Sorry." I looked away.

For six of the past seven months I'd been attending my old school. My status as a Familiar had been kept from the students. That meant I spent six months playing the part of being a Regular just like the rest of my classmates. But now pretend time was over. I couldn't hide what I was from the Aventis student body here at Galatea. The handbook clearly stated that was against the rules.

I fingered the badges pinned to my blazer's breast.

I had received them a week ago from Arisa who'd managed my transfer to Galatea Academy.

In a way, I felt kind of relieved not to be hiding what I was. But it didn't make me feel any better about being a Familiar. Seven months since that fateful day and I sometimes struggled accepting the card Fate had dealt me. There were things I could do now that really worried me. Was I responsible enough to make the best use of my abilities?

Caprice had stopped eating and was quietly studying me. I grew a little uncomfortable under her gaze then realized I was unconsciously stroking my sternum through my shirt.

"Stop that," she said softly. "That wound healed months ago."

"It's a habit, and I still have a scar—thank you very much."

"I already apologized for that, but triggering your Awakening was necessary. The best way is a shock to the system, usually by near fatal wound. Once injected, the Symbiote bonds quickly to your weakened body, triggering the genetic changes and healing you at an accelerated rate before it dies and is absorbed into your body."

"Yes, yes, so you told me before." I remembered waking up with my head on her lap. I also remembered her waking up around the same time. After a little awkwardness between us, Caprice had quickly explained the reasons behind her actions.

As she had that day seven months ago, Caprice continued her explanation. "By bonding you to the Lanfears you gained protection from the other Prides. And even if we leave that aside, the fact that you are bonded means they couldn't fight over you either."

"Yeah, I know that—I mean I know that _now_. Still, it's more a branding than a bonding."

Caprice's eyes narrowed, then she glanced away. "Trust you to think of it that way."

I sighed softly. "I had no idea I was the center of so much attention."

"Neither did we," she said. "However, we should be thankful those elements in the Raynar Pride have been suitably reprimanded and suppressed."

I bit my lower lip. "The Raynars, huh. Closest cousins to the Lanfears."

"Cousins, and nothing more."

I narrowed my eyes as I discretely looked around at the cafeteria. "You think they'll make a move on me now that I'm here? It's been seven months since I became a Familiar."

Caprice stopped eating again. "They'd better not," she whispered. "Next time, I won't be so gentle with them."

Talk about a cold whisper. I actually had to refrain a shudder. If what I witnessed almost seven months ago on the rooftop was 'gentle' I'd hate to see what she meant by 'not so gentle'."

"Besides," she added, "you're not helpless anymore."

Involuntarily I glanced down at my right wrist where the wide bracelet was hidden under my shirt sleeve.

No, I wasn't _as_ helpless anymore, but compared to Caprice, I was like a child venturing onto his first unsteady steps after spending months crawling along the ground.

Thinking I'd better change the subject, I tapped my chest where the scar lay. "You know this does itch every once in a while."

Caprice tightened her fingers on the utensils she held though her face remained blank. "Caelum, I believe I have already made amends to the situation."

"You mean that compensation you paid me?"

Her face was starting to grow a little red.

She knew exactly what I meant by compensation.

I really enjoyed teasing her.

She was a lovely girl, and I especially enjoyed trying to pry that emotionless persona off her face.

I'd also made up my mind some time ago that she was one of the few I'd fight to protect.

She was special to me.

No girl had ever stabbed me in the chest, and then saved me.

You could say she'd left an indelible mark on me.

I watched her swallow as she looked down at the table. Her voice was low, but I heard it clearly. "At the time you said that was all you wanted."

"And I'm truly happy for them." I smiled at her. "I keep them in my top drawer."

The utensils in her hands trembled, though her face was perfectly under control. "If you ever tell anyone about them, I swear I'll stick another knife into you."

"Then you'll have to compensate me with another pair of your racy violet panties."

Caprice exhaled loudly. It sounded like an angry whoosh. Amazingly, she was still expressionless. Well, she'd had plenty of practice being around me for the last six months.

I gave her my customary cheery smile. "Someday, you'll have to wear those panties for me again. Until then, I'm keeping them safe and sound."

"You're incorrigible."

The sound of crashing metal on the ground below made me look over the edge of the balcony railing we were sitting beside.

On the first floor of the cafeteria, a girl had a dropped her food tray on the ground. It didn't look like an accident to me since five other girls faced her in a crescent. They wore the white uniforms of third year seniors. The girl was wearing the midnight blue blazer of a second year student.

Midnight blue, just like mine.

I narrowed my eyes and focused on the pins hanging off her blazer's left breast.

A Familiar of the Sora Pride.

I watched her squat down and patiently pick up the contents of her tray.

Some of the food she could recover, the majority she couldn't.

Her cup had spilled liquid all over the floor between the tray and one of the angry, white uniformed seniors. The senior shouted at the girl, demanding to know how the girl was going to compensate her for her stained uniform.

"Who is that," I asked, "the girl they're bothering?"

"Nobody," Caprice answered. She went back to eating.

I swept my gaze over the students seated at the first level. Most of them were looking away. Nobody was looking to intervene. It was much the same story on the second and third levels.

I said, "She's a Familiar like us."

"And she's new here, just like you."

"So you _do_ know who she is."

Caprice stopped eating. "Her name is Maya Khayman afil Sora. That means she belongs to the Sora Pride. She's a second year student in Class Two Bee."

"If she's new, does that mean she was only recently identified as a Familiar?"

Caprice was quiet for a moment. "No, not really."

"Oh?" I murmured. I shifted my attention. "So who's the witch in white harassing her? I have to say she does look familiar."

Caprice was peering at me. "She's nobody you want to get involved with."

"Oh, why not?"

"She's from the Ventiss Family."

I felt my innards freeze as I slowly faced Caprice. "She's...she's a Raynar?"

She nodded ever so faintly. "Yes."

I swallowed, having lost all my good cheer. "Ventiss. They're the Family that—"

"—broke the agreement between the Raynar and Lanfear Prides and came after you."

I swallowed again, my mouth unpleasantly dry. "I didn't think any of them would be here." I gave Caprice a hard look. "Thanks for telling me when I asked you last week."

"Arisa's orders. Lie to him, quote end quote." Her monotone was unblemished.

"Why?"

"You know the answer to that."

I probably did, if I just stopped and thought about it.

By lying to me they avoided dealing with any protest I might raise.

I was at Galatea now, so what good would complaining do me now?

"That wasn't fair," I muttered. "I try to trust Arisa because in a way she's much like me."

"She only did it for your own good." Caprice waved a fork at the scene below. "However if you must know, her name is Prissila Ventiss Raynar, commonly referred to as the Princess."

"The Princess?"

"Yes, the Princess of the Student Body." Caprice gave me an earnest look that I didn't see often on her face. "I would recommend avoiding Prissila Ventiss Raynar as much as possible."

I frowned at Caprice.

Something about that day on the rooftop came to mind, but for now I decided not to ask. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer to the question.

I looked down at the level below.

The Familiar, Maya Khayman, had ceased attempting to pick up her tray.

She was facing Prissila Ventiss with a dead look in her eyes.

For a long while they simply stared at each other, before Prissila smoothly turned on her high heels and began walking away, her entourage a step behind.

But she suddenly looked up, and my heart froze as our eyes met.

I might have called her a witch, but the Princess was sinfully beautiful, with long golden hair and clear azure eyes, and winning topside curves.

I was grateful my Awakening as a Familiar had improved my eyesight considerably.

I was able to appreciate her beauty even from a distance.

I could feel her gaze pushing against mine.

And I saw the smile on her lips.

Normally this would have been an experience straight out of a romance novel.

Except, Prissila's smile was much like a wolf's.

A hungry smile that was certain to scare away the little lost sheep.

Prissila looked away, and continued walking across the floor below.

My heart kicked over again as my composure fell back into gear.

"Caelum...?"

I nodded weakly while my gaze followed Prissila's progress across the floor until she disappeared from view. "You don't have to tell me, Caprice. I'll stay clear of her."

As the words left my lips, a disappointed thought ran across my mind.

What a waste. That girl was as close to a ten out of ten as I'd ever seen.

I blinked and noticed Maya Khayman had picked up her tray.

She was watching me too, with an unreadable look on her face.

Then she turned away and walked over to the stairs leading up the floors. At the second floor she found herself a table, and ate the remains of her lunch alone.

### Reflections – 2.

The Prides called them Fragments.

They were artifacts found decades after the Cataclysm had torn our little corner of the galaxy apart.

At least, that's what we were told.

From what I understood, they were pieces of numerous larger objects, and only the Prides knew how many of these _completed_ objects could be made. However, the Prides were reluctant to combine the pieces and form a completed item – an Artifact.

I understood their reasons.

If a Fragment on its own was that powerful, then when all the parts were combined the end result would be unstoppable by conventional means. For that reason, the Prides chose to keep the Fragments apart, locked away in secret vaults throughout the asteroid colony of Pharos, and probably elsewhere at covert installations deep within the Hurakan Nebula.

The other reason was the Prides didn't trust us Familiars.

And we Familiars were the only ones that could operate a Fragment.

That being the case, what were Familiars? What made us so special?

Genetically we were almost identical to humans but there were differences, and those differences were what the Fragments reacted to. However, before Arisa's blood triggered my awakening as a Familiar, my genetic sequencing looked unremarkably Regular.

During the bi-annual medical examination conducted at the school, I had recorded negative values when it came to deciding my compatibility to one of the eight Symbiotic strains. What I didn't know was that there were two tests, one for deeming eligibility to a Pride, and one for deeming eligibility as a Familiar.

Two days before Caprice stabbed me on the rooftop, my impending Awakening as a Familiar became known to the Prides.

Two of those Prides moved to _acquire_ me – the Raynars and the Lanfears.

What resulted was a skirmish that led many to believe the Raynars wanted me dead.

The truth was a little different, but I won't spoil the fun at this point.

Because I was 'bonded' or 'branded' to the Lanfear Symbiote my abilities wouldn't fully manifest unless I absorbed the blood of a Lanfear Aventis. If I drank the blood of other Prides, I wouldn't _power up_ to the same degree.

I did say _drink the blood_ of other Prides.

The truth is we Familiars have one trait we share with fictional vampires.

We can drink blood and draw nutrients from it.

At first the thought of drinking human blood turned my stomach. The thought of drinking Aventis blood made me want to slit my wrists.

But I guess things changed, or rather, I changed.

Little by little, I stopped hating the Aventis as much as I did.

But I digress.

That wasn't what I wanted to talk about.

I was talking about the drinking of Aventis blood.

Specifically, I was talking about drinking the blood of Arisa Imreh Lanfear.

My Awakening had triggered genetic and physiological changes. One of those was my ability to extend and retract my canines. I have to admit that was the creepiest change of all, and it made my skin crawl the one time I drew them in and out while watching myself in a mirror.

There were a handful of occasions when I made use of this new ability. I plunged my canines into Arisa's tender flesh, and drank her warm blood as it flowed into my mouth. However, most of the time Arisa's blood was injected into me whenever the Lanfear researchers wanted to test out the abilities of my Fragment with my body fully boosted by her blood.

I've mentioned Arisa a handful of times already.

Who is she?

She is an Aventis, and the niece of the Lanfear Pride's Primatriarch, Yolanda Imreh Lanfear.

Yet she is someone who shares my pain.

She is someone I can connect with, even if only on one level.

That's because Arisa lost her parents in the explosion that took the lives of my parents and hundreds of others.

They had been on the dock awaiting the arrival of the super freighter.

I was ten at the time, close to turning eleven.

She was sixteen, close to turning seventeen.

The moment the bomb on that freighter exploded, the red string of fate tied us together.

### Chapter 2 – Countess.

(Haruka)

I ate lunch.

I smiled and chatted amicably with Siobhan and Alistair.

I tried pushing Caelum out of my mind as best I could, and failed miserably.

He was seated with Caprice Steiner at a table overlooking the open floor of the cafeteria. I watched him through the corner of my eye, grateful for the acute vision of an Aventis.

In the end, I chose to finish lunch quickly. I might have inconvenienced Siobhan and Alistair, but I just couldn't remain in the cafeteria a moment longer.

So I made an excuse and departed for the bookstore that Galatea maintained in the building that housed the cafeteria. Galatea had a number of shops in the building, a sort of mini-mall that students could avail themselves to during lunch break and after classes.

Siobhan and Alistair hurried after me despite telling them I was fine on my own.

Siobhan snorted. "Sure. Like we haven't noticed you looking over at him. You thought you could fool us?"

I had nothing to say to that except, "Sorry...."

Alistair asked smoothly, "You told us once you knew him for ten or so years. Is that true?"

I hesitated before replying, "I've known him since I was five. His family and mine were close. But after his parents died, my family turned their backs on him. All of a sudden, he wasn't good enough to be my friend."

Alistair muttered, "That's a little harsh."

I nodded weakly. "Even so, we remained close friends until last year when I became an Aventis."

Alistair leaned in toward me. "So why did your folks do that?"

"I guess...because they don't like Familiars." I sighed softly. "They're conscious of their social status."

I noticed Siobhan shrug lightly.

"That's understandable," she said, and walked down the aisle looking at the book titles.

Alistair shook her head ever so faintly. "Don't mind her."

"I know," I said. "I'm not going to take it to heart...."

Alistair remained standing beside me. "You said your family and his was close."

I nodded faintly.

Alistair asked, "But if Caelum Desanto's a Familiar, weren't his parents Familiars?"

I looked at Alistair. "No...they were Regulars. They worked for an Aventis shipping company in Island One."

"Hmm," the girl uttered. "Yeah, you told me that before. Sorry, I guess I just forgot."

I went back to regarding the book shelf in front of me.

Caelum's family were Regulars, yet both he and sister became Familiars.

When Celica became a Familiar, it didn't bother me at all, though I remember my parents were a little unnerved. It was around this time they began privately expressing their sentiments against Familiars.

Did it bother me that Caelum also Awakened like his sister had?

No, not in the least.

But what would my parents say if I told them he was a Familiar just like his deceased sister?

I snorted inwardly.

They'd tell me to stay the Hell away from him.

For the remainder of the lunch break, I wandered aimlessly down the aisles, but all the titles I read failed to capture my attention.

I tried putting the matter of Caelum Desanto out of mind, and barely succeeded when classes resumed. Nonetheless, I had to dial the headset's learning aid up to max in order to focus on the lecture.

But when classes ended for the day – a day which felt like it had been stretched to breaking point – there was another surprise in store for us.

A Student Council announcement was made.

Caelum Desanto, and two others were called to the Student Council President's office.

I peeked at him over my shoulder and caught the look of surprise on his face.

Then Caprice touched his arm, and gave him an unreadable look.

Well, it was unreadable to me, but Caelum appeared to read meaning in it.

He nodded faintly and stood up after collecting his school issued carry-bag.

I watched him walk out of the classroom on his way to face the Student Council.

#

(Caelum)

I followed the map on my palm-slate and arrived at the Student Council President's office after a five minute walk.

Galatea was a big school.

Very big.

In fact, Galatea sat on the equivalent of four district blocks.

From overhead, its various buildings were shaped like the letter 'H', lined up side-by-side across a very big patch of land.

There were three such buildings.

One for middle schoolers.

One for high schoolers.

One for administration and other duties, and it was the smaller of the three buildings.

In fact, when viewed from high above, the buildings of Galatea Academy spelled out the word, HIH.

Surrounding the buildings were various plots of land designated for sporting activities. Track-and-Field had its own sporting field, as did the tennis, basketball, and soccer clubs. There were two large gymnasiums – one for the high-schoolers and the other for the middle-schoolers – and each was adjoined to an aquatic center that sported a fifty meter pool.

Last but not least were the student dormitories on the north side of the school, and the various clubroom facilities east and west of the sporting fields.

Galatea had everything the young, future prospective leaders of the eight Prides could ever hope for in a school environment.

It even had two mini-malls, each built adjacent to the two cafeteria buildings.

The Student Council rooms and the President's office were located on the fourth floor of the west wing of the high-school building.

Standing before the President's office, I looked at the sturdy double doors made of real wood – not the synthetic variety, but real, honest to God wood – and trembled a little at the thought of what awaited me beyond those doors.

I knocked on one door loud enough to be heard without sounding like an ogre beating down a dungeon gate.

The door opened automatically a few moments later, and melodious voice called out, "Please enter."

A melodious _female_ voice.

My stomach lurched. Was I stepping into a lioness's den?

What greeted me was a room adorned in opulent, antique furnishings.

Along opposite walls hung the painted portraits of former Student Council presidents.

I looked at them, noticing the majority of past presidents were women.

All damn, fine good looking women.

I scowled inwardly at the handsome faces of the few male presidents.

I guess it was to be expected. Appearances seemed to carry a great deal of weight around here.

It was a known fact the Symbiote had a habit of enacting cosmetic changes to the bodies of those it inhabited. Those changes took place in the first few weeks after the Symbiote entered the host's body. The changes ranged from weight loss, muscle build-up, fuller lips, smoother skin and a near perfect complexion.

I found it all unfair to Regular humankind who had to resort to a plethora of creams and treatments as they struggled to remain on par with the Aventis.

I glared openly at the portraits of the male presidents.

"Ara ara, aren't you making a scary face."

I turned in the direction of the wide, antique desk that would have been perfectly at home in the manor of some rich company CEO. Again, there was no doubting the shine and luster of real, varnished wood. It probably cost more than my parents earned in a year before they passed away.

I stared at the occupant of the high backed leather chair that sat behind the desk.

Her legs were on the table, cast in sheer white stockings befitting the white skirt she wore. The owner of those impressive pins stood up and walked around the desk, choosing to prop herself on its edge. Her crossed legs swung back and forth slowly like pendulums.

My eyes followed her feet like a cat might follow a ball on a string.

She was the second person I'd seen wearing non-regulation footwear within academy grounds.

Prissila Ventiss Raynar was the first.

I looked up at the girl.

Ash grey hair – what a peculiar color – azure almond eyes, and a heart-shaped face. She appeared to have inherited the best of a mixed heritage. I was certain the Symbiote had subsequently played a hand in enhancing her natural beauty.

She had a fine figure, a real work of art. It was hard to ignore her slender yet shapely legs, as it was to ignore her impressive bust line.

After studying her for a few moments, I asked, "I do apologize, but might I ask you a question?"

"Oh?" She raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows at me. "Ask away."

I frowned at the beautiful girl before me. "Who are you?"

She laughed softly under her breath. "I'm the Student Council Vice-President. My name is Simone Alucard Raynar."

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows. "Alucard? You mean as in 'Dracula' spelt in reverse?"

She looked briefly embarrassed. "Eh...yes. Unfortunately so."

I allowed my gaze to wander over her once more. "Another Raynar...."

Her azure eyes widened slightly. "Oh...I see." She sighed softly but I still heard it. "Caelum, please understand, my family—the Alucards—had no part in what happened to you that day. There was no Alucard involved in the actions taken against you."

"How much do you know about what happened?"

She folded her hands over her midriff. "I know that it was foolish for those individuals to strike at the Lanfears."

"Why did they break the agreement between the Prides?"

I almost missed the shrug she gave me. "Caelum, I don't know."

"Could it have something to do with my sister? Did she do something to them—to the Raynars—that convinced them I was a danger?"

For a long moment, Simone was very still and quiet. "You know about your sister?"

I nodded just once. "Yes, Arisa Imreh Lanfear told me the truth after I became a Familiar."

"I see...." Simone looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry Caelum, but I don't have an answer for you."

I swallowed as lightly as I could. Maybe I shouldn't have asked because now I felt as though what happened seven months ago was not put to rest.

I remembered the hungry look Prissila Ventiss had bestowed upon me during lunch break.

No, the matter was definitely not put to rest.

But if it wasn't, and something happened her on school's grounds, how would Caprice react to it? I worried that somehow I was dragging Caprice into a fight in which she had no place.

A really bad feeling crept up my spine. I tried shaking it off by changing the subject.

Let me describe it as a hard right turn in the conversation.

"Simone...that's a lovely name."

She blinked a few times, before breaking into smile. She pushed off the desk, and stepped up to me.

I have to admit, her scent and her beauty made my heart flutter.

I didn't feel it was fair for an Aventis to be as pretty as she was.

I didn't think it was fair on mankind.

Seven months ago I told Haruka I hated the Aventis.

Yet here I was in a school full of them, and completely helpless before this girl.

Reaching up, she pressed a fingertip to my lips. "Silly boy. Don't get ahead of yourself." Then her eyes narrowed. "Did you know that Arisa Imreh and I have known each other for years?"

I shook my head.

Damn that Arisa for not warning me about this girl.

Simone smirked. "Well, she's been like something of an older sister to me. The Imrehs and Alucards have a long history of co-operation between them. I've known Arisa since I was a child." A playful smile curved her lips. "She spoke to me about you."

I felt disoriented. Despite her fingertip running along my lips, I blurted out, "Huh? She did what?"

Simone's smile grew a little stronger. "Arisa told me to be on my best behavior around you."

I felt her fingertip separate from my lips.

Best behavior? Yeah, right.

She leaned forward a little more. "However, she never told me how tempting you would be."

This time I felt my heart jump.

For just one moment I'd forgotten this girl was an Aventis, an entity enhanced by the Symbiote inside her.

For just one moment, I forgot I was supposed to hate her kind.

Simone smiled and spoke in a breathy voice that made my knees weak.

"I fear you're going to bring out the bad in me."

A knock on the door saved me from falling to my knees.

I felt ashamed at how quickly my body had fallen under her spell.

Simone smiled and took a step back.

"Come in," she called out musically.

#

(Haruka)

"We're wasting time, Haruka. You're wasting time."

I ignored Siobhan at first, but now I was tired of her harping. "Go home, Siobhan."

"Not without you."

"I'm waiting here until I talk to him."

"How do you know he'll come out this way?"

"Because the shoe lockers are here. He has to come out this way." With my arms crossed I shifted my weight onto a hip. "I'll wait another half hour."

"Uggh, you're impossible," Siobhan exclaimed. "This guy broke up with you. Why are still so hung up on him?"

"We didn't break up. We were never together."

"That proves my point even more."

"Another half hour. That's all I'm going to wait."

Siobhan found herself a spot on the steps outside the building's entrance. "Fine, then I'll sit here in the meantime."

I stood with my back against a support pillar.

Alistair had run off to get snacks from a vending machine. She sure was taking her sweet time.

The torrent of students leaving the building eventually petered out into a trickle.

I glanced at my wrist watch.

Half an hour and not a minute more.

Siobhan's words caught my attention. "He's a Familiar, Haruka."

"I know that."

"Why are you so hung up on a Familiar?"

"I don't see him as a Familiar. I see him as Caelum Desanto, my childhood friend and someone I really care about."

"You have someone else to care about, or are you forgetting about _him_?"

I froze for a heartbeat, then narrowed my eyes at her. "Why do you hate Familiars so much?"

Siobhan glared at me for the first time in many months.

A really, hard glare.

I watched her swallow down her anger. "I don't hate them. Okay? I just don't like them."

"Why?"

She turned away. "Because they're...they're not human...."

For a moment I really felt like punching her, or at the least slapping her.

I pressed my back against the support pillar behind me.

"Shut up, Siobhan. You don't know anything about them. You have no idea what Familiars are."

"I know more about them than you do."

I clenched my hands and straightened. "Siobhan, just leave. Go home!"

"Fine, then I will." Siobhan grabbed her carry-bag, flung the straps onto her right shoulder and stormed down the steps.

I watched her stride down the path heading to the east side gate some distance away.

"Hey, what's going on?"

I turned my head and saw Alistair walking toward me while carrying drinks and snacks.

She had a confused look on her face, but in moments she seemed to realize what had happened.

Alistair stepped up to me. "Looks like I bought too much."

I looked at the collection she carried in her arms, and laughed softly.

I picked a couple of cans of juice and a snack bar from the bundle.

Alistair sighed and muttered, "So, I guess Siobhan finally hit her limit. Ah"—she frowned as she peered eastward into the distance—"what the heck?"

I looked in the direction she was staring.

An angry blonde girl was walking toward us.

We watched the angry blonde girl stomp up the steps leading to the building's glass entrance.

We watched her dump her carry-bag at her feet, and drop herself onto the top step.

Siobhan wrapped her arms around her bent knees, and glared at Alistair. "Is one of those for me or not?"

Alistair huffed loudly. "You never change, do you?"

"Humph." Siobhan turned away, but still stuck out her right hand toward Alistair. "Give me one."

I watched Alistair shake her head slowly, then step over to Siobhan and hand her a drink.

"Like I said, you never change."

### Reflections – 3.

Let me explain a little more about Fragments.

We already know Fragments are pieces of what the Prides refer to as Artifacts, and they are objects recovered after the Cataclysm from deep inside the Hurakan Nebula.

Who made them is a point of contention, because Fragments – and Artifacts – are simply too advanced and amazing for humans to have created, and there are no records of Fragments and Artifacts existing before the Cataclysm during humanity's First Golden Age.

However, if they were not created _by_ humans, they were at least created _for_ humans.

Specifically, they were created for Familiars.

On this point, there is overwhelming agreement in the scientific community.

Another point of consensus is that the majority of Fragments are designed for conflict.

They're weapons. They're not toys. They're meant for chaos and destruction. They're meant to kill.

As I explained before, when the right pieces are combined in the right order, they form a complete Artifact – a complete weapon. And, as stated earlier, the Prides were reluctant to put an Artifact together, but that did not mean that completed Artifacts did not exist.

In fact, many of them were already being used by Familiars in their service to the Prides.

And many more were held in super-secret high security facilities.

I say many...but not all of them.

The whole story behind Fragments and Artifacts would undoubtedly require a separate volume. I'm not privy to all the details, just a _fragment_ of them, so I have no intention of writing such a book.

However, what I know is that my Fragment – the one I had most compatibility with at that time – was clearly a weapon.

When I wore it on my right forearm in its reduced form, the Fragment was shaped like a wide bracelet about three inches across. I had to wear it over bare skin otherwise the bracelet ring would refuse to close over my forearm. Also, I couldn't wear it on my left arm. Again, the bracelet refused to close.

When I first received it, the Lanfear researchers explained that the remainder of the Fragment existed in something they called Pocket Space.

In other words, the rest of the Fragment was inside a 'pocket' of folded space that had no visible interaction with the space I was able to perceive around me.

However where I went, the _pocket_ went.

It was like dropping a collection of keys into a pocket, leaving only the key ring hanging outside. The bracelet around my right forearm was the 'key ring'.

When my Fragment manifested in the real world, that is, was retrieved from Pocket Space, there was a distinct cold that accompanied it. A real chill that frosted my breath in the air. It was like opening the door to an industrial refrigerator for a short amount of time. Depending on the outside temperature, it could take a while for that chill to dissipate.

The chill was one thing, but the black mist that accompanied a manifestation was something else.

Downright creepy is an understatement.

It took me a while to grow accustomed to its appearance, but certainly not the cold.

When fully manifested, the gauntlet over my right arm resembled a fantastical elliptical shield with a blade, much like a short sword, extending forward. Two other blades ran over the top of the shield and extended out the back by a few inches. These reminded me of the blades you find on ice-skates.

For simplicity's sake I'll refer to the fully manifested blades and shield as the Gauntlet.

My Gauntlet had a couple of useful features.

One, when used as a shield it would generate a really strong effect-field. To put it simply, this field or barrier could handle everything from physical to energy based attacks. To test it out, the researchers once fired a small scale particle cannon at me – the kind of cannon found on a main battle tank.

That was as close as I've ever come to pissing myself in outright fear.

They also used a catapult to fling a small car at me. To my surprise, the shield reconfigured into a wide ellipse. I thought I was going to be crushed, but the barrier extended around me and not just in front of me. It took the impact, and the car broke in two right before my eyes, passing to either side of me before crashing to the ground.

I haven't mentioned the blades. Well, they were just as impressive as the shield feature.

Those blades could cut through almost anything with a single swipe.

In fact, I had to be really careful when practicing with the Gauntlet, lest I lose a limb or two.

I found most of the early experiments and practical tests to be rather terrifying.

But I did find the Fragment to be rather cool.

It was like a magical weapon without being magical. An example of super advanced science at work.

That was one of the reasons the researchers believed Fragments and Artifacts were not of human origin. They were simply too advanced.

But considering how well some of these Fragments appeared to suit the fighting styles of us humans – dare I say Familiars – then perhaps whoever made the Artifacts really did intend for humans to use them.

There was one other possibility to consider when contemplating the origins of the Artifacts and their Fragments – the possibility that these devices came from a time and place far, far into the future.

I did mention these Artifacts only appeared after the Cataclysm.

Well, some researchers believed that the Cataclysm was a form of space-time quake.

They theorized that an event took place in the future, which translated into the past. The result was the massive shockwave in trans-space that propagated at super-luminal speed and ended billions of lives.

If that was indeed the case, then wouldn't the Cataclysm have an indelible effect on our future? After all, if the Aventis were not supposed to inhabit our galaxy for a long time to come, then their appearance in the past would most certainly alter the future yet to take place.

I listened to the arguments and the theories.

Before becoming a Familiar, and before being allocated a Fragment, those arguments and theories were just talk. They were intangible speculation that had little impact on a tiny cog in the wheel such as myself.

But now I didn't think so anymore.

Now I was a part of those theories and speculations.

So when the researchers talked about the Fragments, Artifacts, Aventis and Prides, I listened and I learned from them.

There is one more thing I need to mention.

While the things my Fragment could do amazed me most of the time, they also scared me a great deal.

That old saying 'with great power comes great responsibility' was potently fitting.

I had great power.

But what the Hell did I know about great responsibility?

I was a sixteen year old kid turning on seventeen, with an unhealthy passion for large breasts and women's lingerie.

Give me a break already.

### Chapter 3 – Briefing.

(Caelum)

I studied the School Council President when he walked in.

Severin Kell Avenir.

Tall, well-built, and handsome.

Blonde hair neatly trimmed.

He looked reliable, composed – a man for all seasons. Someone the student body could look to for guidance and support.

He was the sort of man I had every reason to hate.

So I decided to hate him and the Symbiote that probably had a hand in his good looks.

Simone noticed the look on my face but I was in no hurry to wipe it off.

Before Severin Kell had arrived at the Student Council President's room, a knock to the door had announced the arrival of two other individuals.

Two girls had stepped into the room.

One I didn't recognize. She was slender, with a long black hair tied into twin ponytails. She had pleasant features. In a word I would call her cute enough to make a guy's heart skip when she smiled. She introduced herself as Rina Sayen, and I saw the badge that identified her as a Familiar.

She was bonded to the Sora Pride.

The other girl was Maya Khayman. Her introduction was brusque to say the least. Like Rina her badge identified her as affiliated with the Sora Pride.

I noticed the cold look that passed between her and Simone Alucard.

I noticed the way Simone glanced away with a hint of regret in her eyes.

A half minute later, Severin Kell arrived at the room.

The president greeted the two girls first, shaking their hands like a well-polished gentleman.

Rina looked ready to burst into flames or faint when he shook her hand. I could have performed a song and dance all around her and she wouldn't have noticed me.

Her eyes were on Severin Kell, and only Severin Kell.

My level of hatred for him reached a new low – or is that a new high?

However, Maya Khayman gave him a dead fish handshake. I could see she wasn't impressed with him at all.

Was there history between these two?

Then he stepped up to me. We shook hands and exchanged pleasantries that I certainly didn't mean.

Then he asked us all to sit down.

I chose to remain standing.

Simone gave me a sour look, but I ignored her.

Severin looked at us all, then turned to Simone. "Aren't we missing one?"

Simone tipped her head slightly. "Caprice has been appraised of the situation."

Severin stared at her for a long moment.

Simone stared back.

Eventually he shrugged and turned back to the girls and I.

Clearing his throat, Severin said, "I'm glad you could all join us. This is the first time in years we've had so many Familiars attending our school. I consider this a bumper year."

He didn't sound like he was deriding us. He actually sounded grateful.

Aventis tended to look down on us Familiars probably more so than Regulars.

Even the researchers and medical technicians I'd encountered tended to treat us with thinly veiled disdain. There were times I was tempted to take my Fragment and ram its blade up their asses.

Thinking of my Fragment reminded me I had a training session this afternoon.

I discretely glanced at the clock hanging on one wall.

Maya asked drily, "What do you mean a 'bumper year'?"

"Simply that it's been a while since we've had so many Familiars attending Galatea. For the last five years we've rarely had more than two or three attending high-school."

Maya looked confused. "And now?"

Severin smiled warmly. "To have more than a dozen in attendance this year, five of them as second year students, is fortuitous indeed."

"Is that all we are to you?" she groused. "Tools?"

"Not at all," he replied sincerely.

Simone chimed in from her place on the desk. "Mr. President, we're wasting time."

At the interruption, Maya gave the girl a thin, icy look.

Severin waved a hand gently in the air. "Now, now. Let's all get along, shall we?" He took a deep breath. "My apologies for asking, but have all of you been assigned a specific Fragment?"

I narrowed my eyes, fully intending to remain silent.

Neither Caprice nor Arisa had told me how to handle such a question.

However, Maya faced the question head on. "What makes you think we'd tell you?" Her eyes widened then narrowed. "What am I saying—you already know we're bonded to a Fragment."

Severin nodded apologetically. "Yes, I do indeed."

Maya shook her head slowly, and a murderous smile formed on her lips.

Severin's eyes widened and he quickly said, "I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to offend you. The truth is I called you all here because having a Fragment will be of tremendous help."

"How so?" she asked.

"Well, the reason I called you all here is because a situation has developed within the Academy."

I glanced at Simone.

The Vice-President of the Student Council was half lying on Severin's desk like some chanteuse on a piano, with an unreadable look on her face.

Severin continued. "I've spoken to your Guardians, and I have their consent for calling you here, and enlisting your assistance."

I held back a surprised frown.

The Student Council President had spoken to Arisa? It appeared Caprice knew this, so why hadn't she told me?

Maya looked taken aback. "You—you spoke to my mother?"

Severin nodded. "Yes. I discussed the situation with her over a most pleasant lunch. She agreed this would serve as good experience for you."

I got the feeling that was multifaceted response – an answer with many sides to it.

For a heartbeat Maya looked hurt, and then she sat straighter in the chair, and folded her arms. "What do you want from me"—she flicked a glance my way—"I mean from 'us'?"

Severin smiled proudly at her. "Always to the point, Maya."

I frowned.

Definitely some history between these two.

Hey, why was she blushing just now?

I realized I was staring at her. She gave me a hard glare, so I shrugged nonchalantly and turned away.

Severin pulled out a pen remote from his blazer's breast pocket. Waving it about like a wand, he activated an overhead holovid projection system. The lights dimmed and a holovid winked to life in the center of the room.

An emblem floated there – an emblem I recognized.

"Crimson Crescent," I hissed, unable to restrain the antagonism I felt toward them.

Severin nodded. "Yes. We have reason to believe, and reason to fear, that Crimson Crescent has taken an interest in Galatea Academy."

I heard collective gasps from everyone but Severin and Simone.

Maya shot to her feet and glared at Severin. "Don't make jokes like that!"

"It's no joke, Maya," he replied calmly. "In truth, I wish it was."

I swallowed before asking, "How do you know this?"

"While it's true we are not absolutely certain, it's fair to say they're our number one suspects."

"Why?"

He crossed his arms slowly. "Three months ago an incursion into our Academy's network took place. The first of seven security layers was breached in under a minute. These incursions continued for a month, and a total of five layers were penetrated. I consulted with some trusted individuals who found the breaches were executed with phenomenal speed. In fact, they described it as downright frightening."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that whoever is breaking into our information network has some serious hardware at their disposal."

I stared at him for a moment. "Pretend I'm ignorant."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before rubbing it. "In simple terms, the hardware capable of breaking in so quickly is decades, possibly a century more advanced than anything currently available."

I saw the light. "A Fragment."

"Precisely."

"Even so, why suspect Crimson Crescent?"

"Allow me to explain. Fragments are kept under lock and key at various installations maintained by the Prides. The only Fragments out in the open are those already allocated to a Familiar. However, those Fragments are undeniably weapons, almost always melee weapons of various types. The belief that these Fragments belong in a mystical, magical or fantasy realm is hard to dispute when you take into account the nature of their designs. In other words, almost all of these Fragments belong in a fantasy holovid. They are too much like magical weapons."

I wasn't going to dispute his words. My Fragment fell squarely into the realm of fantasy.

Caprice's Fragment was different to mine, but no less 'fantastical'.

Severin continued. "However, Fragments that pose a risk to modern systems such as information networks, control systems, and so on, are considered too dangerous to field. They are not assigned to a Familiar. The likelihood these could be stolen from a Familiar is simply unacceptable to the Powers-that-be."

Stolen? Was he implying that Crimson Crescent might attack a Familiar in order to steal their Fragments?

I pointed out, "But once assigned, a Fragment is bonded to its wielder. Even in death, the Fragment is locked down and can't be used by another Familiar. If Crimson Crescent were to steal a Fragment, they would be unable to use it."

"That is correct. A bonded, or locked down Fragment can only be unlocked by the Prides. This is where something akin to a Master Key comes into play."

"A Master Key?"

"Yes. This is my own personal speculation, but I believe that the Prides possess something akin to a Master Key that can unlock the Fragments. This allows them to be allocated to a different user."

I tipped my head to one side. "But that would imply that only the Prides could steal Fragments from each other."

He took a deep breath. "It does indeed, unless Crimson Crescent is also in possession of a Master Key."

His words rattled me and everyone else in the room, including Simone lying seductively on the desk.

I swallowed past the fear in my throat. "In that case, there's nothing to stop Crimson Crescent from coming after us. They could kill us, steal our Fragments and unlock them for their own use."

Severin nodded slowly in agreement. "That is true. However, the Prides have many Familiars out in the field. If they were concerned about losing those Familiars and their Fragments to Crimson Crescent, they would have recalled all the Fragments and hidden them away."

I frowned. "So you're saying we're safe then? You don't believe Crimson Crescent has a Master Key."

He looked up for a moment, arms still crossed over his chest. "I've looked into this as much as my position within the Avenir Pride can afford. I think it's safe to say, that Crescent doesn't have a Master Key."

I took a breath. His words reassured me a little, but I was still uneasy.

Severin noticed. I could see he was uneasy a well.

I asked, "Where are you going with this explanation?"

He gave me a tight nod. "Allow me to finish."

I shoved my hands into trouser pockets, and kept silent.

Severin resumed after a pause. "We've established that only a Fragment is capable of breaking into our academy's network with such ease. We've also established that Fragments of such ability are kept locked away by the Prides. And we agree that stealing a Fragment used in the field by a Familiar is pointless since you need to unlock them first. We also strongly believe, that Crescent doesn't have the necessary Master Key."

Maya, Rina and I all nodded.

Severin said, "So the question is, how did Crimson Crescent get their hands on such a dangerous Fragment?"

Again, Maya, Rina and I nodded.

"That's because six years ago, Crimson Crescent stole a collection of Fragments being transported to Pharos."

"Six years ago?" I asked, feeling a dull chill run down my back.

He nodded. "The super freighter that exploded was carrying unlocked Fragments recently discovered out in the Hurakan Nebula. That freighter belonged to the Sanreal Pride, and the Sanreals are the most heavily involved in deep nebula exploration. Crimson Crescent used the explosion to disguise the theft of that shipment of Fragments."

I clenched my jaw, but met his gaze.

My parents died because someone decided to steal Fragments?

Severin took a deep breath. "I had to rely on a lot of family connections to learn this. The truth is, if Crimson Crescent hadn't begun breaching our network, I might never have investigated the freighter explosion."

Maya spoke softly. "So you believe the Fragment they are using was in that shipment they stole six years ago."

"Yes, I do. Although we cannot discount the possibility that Crimson Crescent may have stolen an unlocked and un-bonded Fragment from one of the Prides secret facilities."

I shook my head quickly. "It sounds like we're going in circles with this. Without hard facts, we could speculate endlessly."

Severin nodded. "That is indeed true. So for now, we're going to stick with the assumption proposed thus far. Five years ago, Crimson Crescent stole the network breaking Fragment from the super freighter. Agreed?"

After a little while we all nodded in agreement.

Maya asked, "Is it just Galatea Academy being targeted?"

"For the moment, yes. I've had meetings with my contemporaries at Arcala Academy and Phelan Academy, and they've confirmed their schools have not been breached."

Maya asked, "So what's so special about our academy?"

Severin was quiet for a moment. "For the time being, I'm not in a position to comment on that."

Maya scowled. "Then what can you tell us about the network breaches?"

His shoulders sagged a little. "I can tell you that these attacks were initiated within the premises of the Academy."

I blinked a handful of times. "From inside Galatea?"

"Unfortunately...yes." Severin worked the pen remote and the Crimson Crescent emblem vanished, only to be replaced by a very detailed representation of the academy grounds and facilities.

Five little red dots appeared inside a number of the buildings.

Severin waved the remote. "Each breach happened at a different facility within the academy. Computer studies, physics and chemistry laboratories, and the library. All were used at one point or another to access the secure levels of our school's information network. All happened within the span of a month. But they stopped as soon as the school year came to an end."

I asked, "Any idea why?"

Severing glanced at Simone. "We have an idea, but we'll get to that shortly."

I gave Simone a quick look. The serenity on her face conflicted with the tension in her eyes.

Maya asked softly, "Do we know what they are after? Do we know what is being protected by those security layers?"

Severin was quiet for a moment. "I cannot answer that question at this time." He raised a hand to forestall a protest from the girl. "Maya, please. Later, you will understand why this is so. There are some matters I need to confirm before I can even attempt to answer your question."

Simone slipped off the desk, and walked closer to the holovid image representing the Academy grounds. She cleared away the image with her own pen remote, then quietly addressed all of us in the room.

"I'd like all of you to listen carefully. Bringing you all together, and revealing this to you carries a degree of risk for us. To that end, I'm asking you all to keep this a secret. Caprice isn't here, but she does understand the situation. So please, do not discuss this with anyone else. Is that clear?"

She gave each of us a measured look, favoring none over the other.

I gave her a nod. "My lips are sealed."

Maya said, "I understand. My lips are sealed as well."

Rina replied in a like manner.

Simone swept her gaze over all of us again, and I saw relief and gratitude in her eyes.

She smiled and said, "Thank you."

Severin stepped up beside her. "You have my sincere thanks as well."

I felt dark, conflicted feelings from the sincere expressions of appreciation they were bestowing upon us.

I wasn't used to those coming from an Aventis.

When I glanced at Maya and the other girl, they looked troubled and a touch embarrassed as well.

The Student Council President and the Vice-President shared a quiet look, before Severin spoke again.

"There's something else we need to show you."

Simone took a couple of steps back from the center of the room. Severin fiddled with his pen remote and after a while a holovid security recording began to play. It showed a library terminal being operated as though by an invisible user. Then I narrowed my eyes when I noticed the user wasn't quite invisible.

"Thermoptic camouflage," I said.

Severin shook his head tightly. "No, it's better. Every thermoptic camouflage system we know of has one flaw. It cannot hide the user's shadow. This one is nearly perfect. Almost no shadow. The only give away is the fact the terminal is in use. I think it's safe to say, this is another Fragment."

I looked at him. "You're saying it's possible for them to be inside a crowded room, and no one would know they were there?"

"I'm saying that's exactly what happened."

I glanced at the other girls, then turned back to Severin. "What do you mean?"

"Each attack was carried out against our network during school hours, from inside a crowded, occupied room."

I swallowed and voiced an awful conclusion. "So that's why they stopped attacking the network during summer break."

He nodded dejectedly. "No crowded classrooms or laboratories. No students or teachers to use as unwitting hostages while the breach was in progress."

Maya's voice was low and guarded. "Would Crescent really go that far?"

Simone answered her. "I have it on good authority that Crimson Crescent is willing to go much, much further."

I felt her words foreshadowed a dire future for the Academy – for the school I really didn't care for.

But if I didn't care for it, why was I wondering what I could do to help?

I didn't understand my feelings at all.

Severin cut across my confused thoughts.

"Let's bring this meeting to an end. I think we all need some time to think this through on our own."

I gave him a shallow nod, feeling relieved he was bringing the briefing to a close.

I was late, and there was somewhere I urgently needed to be.

#

(Haruka)

I gave him another few minutes, then hefted the straps of my school carry-bag onto my shoulder. Somehow I managed to hold back sighing in disappointed as I stared through the glass doors at the rows of lockers inside the lobby of the building.

I decided to call it quits for today, and try again tomorrow.

Why was I in such a rush?

The school year was just starting, but somehow I felt that if I didn't confront him now, I'd never gather the courage again.

I was being stupid.

Hefting the straps on my shoulder a little higher, I started walking down the steps to the paved path that led all the way to the school's north gate.

I walked with my head bowed down.

Alistair walked beside me, and patted my back in an attempt to encourage me. She pointed out, "There's always tomorrow."

I gave her a nod I didn't agree with. "Yeah, I guess you're right...."

Siobhan walked on my other side and muttered, "He's got you on a string."

Alistair protested, "You're not being fair."

I was about to protest myself when I heard his voice.

"I can't stand that guy. We're late because of him."

Then I heard _her_ voice.

"I called ahead. We're fine on time."

I walked off the path and came to a stop on the grass bordering it. Siobhan and Alistair did the same, flanking me.

Caelum sounded irritated. "Caprice, just let me blame him for something. And what's the deal with him and Maya? They were acting like a couple of ex's."

I could hear their footsteps behind us on the path.

Caprice said, "Maya? You're calling her Maya already?"

"Huh? What's wrong with calling her Maya?"

"I find that a little too familiar."

"Familiar? Are you serious? Wait, are you jealous?"

"Why would you think that?"

Their footsteps drew nearer.

Caelum asked, "You don't like Maya, do you?"

Caprice stated flatly, "I don't know her well enough to answer that. She Awakened last year, and ever since transferring to Galatea she's been in a different class from me."

They were going to walk right by us.

I glimpsed Alistair giving me a concerned look as if to say 'this is your chance'.

I heard Caelum ask, "You never tried making friends with her?"

"No, I have no reason to be friends with her."

He sighed loud enough for me to hear. "Well, it sounds to me like you have a problem with her."

"Caelum, I do not have a problem with Maya Khayman. I just haven't had a suitable reason to interact with her."

They drew abreast of us, and a moment later I watched them walk by. Their shoulders weren't quite touching but there was a degree of familiarity between them that wasn't close to intimacy.

They were like sportsmen, or tennis partners.

Yes, that's right. Like a mixed doubles pair that had been playing together for a long time.

For a little while I studied them as they walked down the path.

Who was I kidding? They were definitely closer than sporting comrades. Just look at the way she's holding her head high as she walks beside him.

And look at the way he appears concerned for offending her sensibilities.

Damn, I was simply kidding myself.

Siobhan stabbed through my melancholy thoughts. "Haruka! Snap out of it! He's getting away."

I shook my head. "No, it's okay."

Siobhan cursed. "I had to wait half an hour with you. No way this is okay!" She stepped onto the path, and cried out, "Caelum Desanto."

"Siobhan, don't—"

Too late. Caelum and Caprice both stopped simultaneously. They both turned quickly in perfect unison. They both shared matching expressions.

Ugh...this was too much to take.

They're in perfect harmony with each other, like a pair of champion ice-skaters.

There I go again with the sporting analogies.

Siobhan didn't let up. "Hey, Desanto. Pay attention to your surroundings."

He gave her a confused look, until his gaze fell on me. I turned away but not before I saw his expression fall.

Siobhan almost screamed. "Hey, don't you walk away from her you damn Familiar!"

What? He's leaving?

I turned to look down the path in his direction.

He had come to a stop again, but he was looking in the direction of the open gate and thus with his back to me. A couple of feet away, Caprice was watching him with a bemused expression that was rare to see on her face.

He slowly turned around and our eyes met.

His mouth opened. I saw his lips move. But no words came out.

He struggled for a long while, a pained look in his eyes, an almost tortured expression on his face.

Then he turned around in a hurry and resumed walking down the path.

Siobhan yelled out, "Hey—"

"Stop it," I begged her. "Please, Siobhan. Let him go, please."

Siobhan cried out, "Bastard. Ah—gods damn him!"

My legs turned rubbery. I had to sit down quickly on the edge of the path or I'd have collapsed hard to the ground.

Alistair rushed toward me in concern. "Haruka?"

"I'm okay. I'm just feeling faint."

I rubbed my eyes and my fingers came away moist.

Damn. I'm losing it. Please, please don't let him see me like this. Please dear gods.

I wiped at my eyes but it only seemed to make things worse.

There was nothing I could do to stop the tears.

I felt Alistair wrap her arms around me as she knelt behind me.

"Haruka...you're not fine. You're very, very far from fine."

I nodded and gave up trying to stop my tears altogether.

I didn't bawl, but I came close.

Really, really close.

### Reflections – 4.

The Symbiote can be classified into eight distinct strains.

These eight strains form the basis for the eight Prides that Aventis fall into.

The known Prides are as follows.

The Avenir Pride, known for its prominence in the domain of finance and business.

The Sora Pride, known for its prominence in the domain of business and entertainment, recently dabbling here and there in deep space mining.

The Sanreal Pride, known for its presence in the world of shipbuilding, shipping, salvaging and surveying.

The Irulan Pride, known for its interests in construction and deep-space colonization.

The Fenrir Pride, recognized for its interests in research and development of new technologies – as well as very _old_ ones.

The Lorian Pride, with deep widespread connections to the learning institutions and academies across the colonized systems.

The Raynar Pride, known for its ties to the military and covert organizations.

And last, but not least, the Lanfear Pride – known as the black sheep Pride.

Courtesy of my bonding to Arisa Imreh's blood – actually to the Symbiote inside her blood – I was bonded to the Lanfears.

As such, my affiliation to them wasn't viewed with much pride by the Aventis of our academy. As mentioned before, the Lanfears weren't very well received. This stemmed from the fact that the Lanfears had a habit of going against the flow. They would frequently paddle upstream when everyone else paddled down. This didn't always work out in their favor, but on the occasions that it did, the Lanfears would profit greatly.

Also, the Lanfears had their fingers in _everything_ , whether legitimate or illegal.

Elements of the other Prides were guilty of crimes as well.

However, it wasn't nearly as much news as when members of the Lanfear Pride got into trouble.

Personally, I felt the other Prides simply had a grudge to bear against the Lanfears. After all, when it came to Fragments, the pieces possessed by the Lanfear Pride were by far the coolest, yet hardly the most dangerous of them all.

### Chapter 4 – Decision.

(Caelum)

First Semester, Week One.

Let me describe it.

After class, I would travel with Caprice to the training center where both our performance and that of our Fragments was studied and measured by Lanfear Pride researchers.

Locations in Pharos were identified as follows: by Island, by habitat, then by district grid.

Galatea Academy resided in Island Three, Habitat One, District Four Alpha.

The training center where Caprice and I worked out at was located in Island Three, Habitat Two, District Two Gee, which happened to be an entertainment district.

I say 'entertainment' not 'red-light' district.

The region was full of clubs, gaming centers, drinking establishments, and VR houses providing a plethora of virtual experiences.

The training center was situated underground, beneath a nightclub owned by Arisa Imreh that hosted a healthy patronage even on school nights.

To arrive at the club, Caprice and I travelled by mag-lev. Not only could the trains travel at high speed through tunnels connecting the habitats, but they were pressurized and designed to travel between the Islands. In other words, they could handle the vacuum of space. Running on flexible mag-lev rails, the trains were like rocket powered caterpillars running along vines between trees. They would exit one asteroid island, run along the mag-lev track and then enter a second asteroid island.

Even if they were pressurized, there was always the uncomfortable sensation in a person's ears upon exit and entry of an Island. It was only a little less bothersome when exiting and entering a habitat.

Caprice and I would enter the club through a side alley. A big, metal door resembling a fire escape exit intersected the permacrete wall of the club building. But it wasn't a fire escape and the only way to open it was to press one's palm against the metal.

A smart door.

Very smart door, indeed.

After recognizing either myself or Caprice, the _smart_ door would unlock for us.

From there we walked down a stairwell to the underground levels. The doors that greeted us at each level were _dumb_ doors and were kept unlocked. Even if they were locked, Caprice and I had a key for them.

The training center was much like a gymnasium or fitness center, except built under Arisa's nightclub. However, this 'fitness center' came complete with medical scanning equipment and our very own researcher or medical technician. I felt like a lab rat whenever I came here, which was to say almost every day for the past seven months since my Awakening.

For two hours we would perform physical training, then spend a good thirty minutes sparring with each other. Most days we trained without the use of Fragments. Most days, Caprice received training from a personal instructor or a holovid program who put her through a regimen of hand-to-hand combat training aimed at making the most use of her Fragment, the Valkyrie Armor.

I had tried to follow along with her during these sessions, but found myself many, many months behind her. As a result, I didn't benefit from them as much as she did.

To me, it felt like there wasn't a fighting style suited for using a shield-blade like my Gauntlet. I had the suspicion I would have to develop my own fighting style; a style that wasn't found in the books. But was I good enough to do that?

The last fifteen to twenty minutes of our sessions were spent having a researcher or medical technician scan our bodies and analyze the results before allowing us to venture back into the outside world.

I felt our researcher had an appearance at odds with the image presented by the other Lanfear researchers I had encountered. Sure, he wore a white lab coat with the freshness of having been dry-cleaned every day, but everything else about him contrasted sharply with that coat.

Allow me to explain.

After I was _diagnosed_ as a Familiar, Arisa arranged new accommodations for me. I was allocated an apartment in the same complex Caprice lived in. In fact, Arisa made sure our apartments were next door to each other. A short while after I moved in, Caprice began making it a habit to watch old 'movies' at my place rather than hers. These were recordings made pre-Cataclysm.

At this point I will state for the record that at no point in time did I _invite_ her into my apartment. She had key to my apartment given to her by Arisa, courtesy of building management. As such, I was helpless to stop her.

One such recording I was forced to watch was a fictitious account of a Terran vampire by the name of Count Dracula who went to a land known as England in search of a worthy mate.

The point I'm trying to make is that the actor who portrayed the Count bore an uncanny resemblance to our resident researcher, from the long straight hair down to the round glasses he wore. I had a sneaky suspicion he had modeled his look after that actor from a bygone era.

As a side note, I should point out that Caprice's fascination with vampires and vampire movies was one of the reasons I picked up on Simone's name – Alucard spells Dracula in reverse.

Dr. Van Deeman – whom I _affectionately_ called Van Demon behind his back – supervised our training regimen. By this I refer to the physical training, not the combat training, but he also monitored our progress with our Fragments. Whatever insights he gained into us Familiars he kept to himself. I wasn't privy to the data, except when he chose to comment on our development.

That's the part that worried me.

Our _development_ , as he put it.

To me it felt like a word with hidden connotations whenever he used it within the context of Familiars.

However, every night he would nod approvingly and successfully sidestep most of my questions.

Caprice rarely spoke to him. It seemed she'd given up trying to get a straight answer from Van _Demon_. Instead, she would confront Arisa whenever she needed an answer.

Speaking of Arisa, I hadn't seen her in weeks. She attended the university in Island Three, Habitat One, and was majoring in business. Needless to say, her absence troubled me a little, but I did my best to shelve away my concern.

However, her recent absence or involvement in my life as a Familiar had left me feeling somewhat abandoned.

In fact after each training session I was left with lingering feelings of disillusionment.

Disillusionment not only toward myself, but mostly toward the Lanfears.

For some time now I'd noticed the disparity in emphasis they were placing on Caprice's training and mine. For the first few weeks while I bonded to the Fragment – the shield-blade – the Lanfears had expressed genuine interest in my development as a _Special_. But then it all petered away and though I was still training diligently and being regularly monitored by medical technicians, I didn't feel the Lanfears were all that _interested_ in what I could do anymore.

My resolve to confront Arisa over this inequality was growing steadily with each passing week.

#

(Caelum)

Lunch break.

First Semester, Week One. Day five – Friday.

I sat across from Caprice at a table in the cafeteria on the second level.

First level was allocated to the first year high-schoolers.

Second level to the second year students.

Third level to the white blazer wearing seniors.

The good thing was the table was beside the panoramic windows overlooking the sporting fields of Galatea Academy to the south. I was munching on fries while admiring the girls from the Track-and-Field team running laps during the break.

I found their dedication admirable.

Their skin glistening with sweat.

Their running clothes moist and clinging tightly to their young nubile bodies.

Their firm, bouncing breasts held securely by the latest in sports bra design.

I reached out for my drink and found it missing.

Unable to tear my gaze away from the sight of so many well developed female bodies, my right hand was forced to fend for itself, searching about blindly for the drink cup.

Then a sharp pain stabbed it.

"What the—?"

I cradled my hand with my left, studying the puncture wounds that were quickly healing. I looked sharply at Caprice.

The fork in her hand was tipped in red.

"What was that for?" I asked in astonishment.

"Your hand was wandering over my tray," she replied flatly while wiping the fork clean.

"Oh...I'm sorry."

Spotting my drink cup I reached for it and took a long sip through the straw. I dare anyone to allege real men don't drink through a straw. Anyway, I turned back to the view out the window. "I'm surprised they're training so early into the year. School started only this week."

Caprice didn't bother looking up from her tray. "Most of them would have been first years that are now on the team as second years. Galatea has won the Pharos Inter-Island Championship four years running. They're favorites to win this year too."

"You ever compete?"

"That's a stupid question. The sports teams are dominated by Aventis. The Regulars play too, but when it comes to competition time there is simply no place for them. All they can do is cheer and keep the benches warm."

She sounded bitter.

I knew what she meant.

A Regular human teenager possessed far less than half the physical prowess of a teenage Aventis. There was no point in competing against one. As a result, the Regulars that joined sporting clubs did so without any intention of competing in the various championships. They played sports for the fun of it, and more often than not teamed up with other Regular humans. You could say there was no fun playing against a 'superior' species and getting your ass handed to you in a 'friendly' match.

Everyone had a place in society as governed by the Prides. For Regulars, that place was one long step below the Aventis.

For Familiars like Caprice and I, our place was somewhere in between the two benchmarks.

When compared to a Regular teenage male of my height and body build, I was clearly stronger and faster by more than half – perhaps as much as three quarters. This was courtesy of the changes my body had undergone at a genetic level.

But in comparison to an Aventis of near age, height and weight, Dr. Van _Demon_ was prone to point out I fell well shy of what the weakest male in that category could achieve.

In other words, I was stronger than a Regular, but weaker than an Aventis.

Looking at Caprice, a girl with exceptional stamina, strength and co-ordination, I wondered how she would fair against someone like Haruka whom I knew was a complete klutz. At least, that was before she joined a Pride and left the lowly ranks of being a Regular.

I had no idea if her co-ordination had improved.

Thinking of Haruka made me sigh inwardly.

I had no idea how I was going to deal with her, and my lack of a plan was killing me slowly.

Suppressing a second sigh, I rephrased my question. "Sorry, I meant to ask, did you ever hope to compete?"

"Yes. Even after I became a Familiar, I still had hopes of competing." She shook her head slowly. "Then I learnt about Fragments and Artifacts and what we could do with them. Arisa hijacked my school life."

I glanced around. I didn't feel comfortable talking of Fragments and Artifacts with so many Aventis around.

I sipped the remainder of my drink through the straw, then placed the empty cup on my tray.

I'd eaten very little of my food.

I just wasn't hungry.

You could say I had too much food for thought.

No, that analogy didn't sound right.

I felt the urge to change the subject. "Caprice, what do you think of Cee Cee having an interest in the Academy?"

"Cee Cee? Oh, you mean them." She put her utensils down. "I agree with the Countess. It's disappointing to think Familiars are working with them."

I frowned slightly. "Who's the Countess?"

"Simone," Caprice explained. She sipped her diet soda.

I had no idea why she drank the stuff. Considering the after school training we were subjected to, it was unlikely she was going to gain weight from drinking a regular soda.

I glanced away for a moment.

Come to think of it, I'd never seen a fat or overweight Aventis.

I glanced around the cafeteria, looking for a heavyset student and not finding one.

Caprice's voice garnered my attention. "I don't relish the prospect of having to face Familiars in battle again."

I wondered if she was referring to the time she fought that Familiar the Raynars had sent to apprehend me.

I shivered inwardly.

Seven months later and I still found it hard to accept how closely my life had been monitored after Celica's death. Yet I'd lived my life as an orphan of the state completely oblivious to it.

Before my thoughts could turn to Prissila Ventiss, I forced myself to relax.

I planted my chin on a palm, and said, "I guess knowing that Familiars are working for the enemy doesn't help our case very much. The Primatriarchs and the Prides are just going to trust us even less."

"True."

I looked out the window. "I wonder what other Fragment Cee Cee has in its possession?"

"I'd like to say it's not for us to worry over," she said softly, sipping the last of her soda and then placing the cup on her tray. "But I fear we'll be the ones on the receiving end of those Fragments."

I harrumphed under my breath. "You're probably right." I glanced at her. "Have you spoken to Arisa?"

"No."

"I get the feeling she's avoiding us...."

"Arisa has her own troubles to attend to."

That may be, but I was starting to feel she'd cut us high and dry. In fact, I felt like she'd deliberately dropped us into the hands of the Student Council.

Into the hands of Simone Alucard Raynar.

My feelings of disillusionment resurfaced. "I get the feeling Arisa's not interested in me anymore."

For a long moment Caprice stopped moving, maybe even breathing. "What do you mean?"

"Well, look at how much work they put into your training, and how little they put into mine."

She was quiet for another long moment. "It's not what you think."

"Really?"

"Yes. From what I understand your progress is being carefully monitored."

I narrowed my eyes at Caprice. "I'm classified as a Special, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, you're registered as a Special affiliated to the Lanfears."

I already knew all that.

I was just leading up to a point.

"How am I expected to operate as one with so little training?"

I saw the unease flicker across her eyes.

I decided not to put her on the spot anymore, and glanced away.

Looking about the interior of the cafeteria, I caught a glimpse of Haruka leaving in the company of two girlfriends.

I pushed past the empty feeling in my chest.

How could I have been so stupid to think that I was over her?

Suddenly my palm-slate vibrated in my pocket.

I pulled it out and looked at the message on the screen.

REPORT TO THE STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE – THE COUNTESS.

"We've been summoned," Caprice stated softly.

I glanced at her. "Why does she call herself the Countess?"

Caprice stood up from her chair. "Count Dracula. Countess Alucard. Something along those lines."

I stood up slowly. "Oh, I get it now...."

We had to hurry. Afternoon classes would resume in twenty minutes.

We arrived at the President's office a few minutes after leaving the cafeteria, and the doors opened for us before Caprice could knock on either of them. I realized the corridor was being watched from inside the room.

Just how extensive were the surveillance systems inside the Academy? Did they spread to every nook and cranny in the school grounds?

The Countess was waiting inside. She was lying sideways on the president's desk, her head propped up on one arm. She smiled and gave the two of us a little wave.

I caught the scowl on Caprice's face before she grew expressionless once more.

The three other occupants were the Severin Kell, Maya Khayman, and Rina Sayen.

The latter gave me a shy smile, whereas Maya didn't even glance my way; her expression was as frosty as an ice comet.

As for Severin Kell, he simply nodded at our arrival. Clearing his throat politely, he said, "I'd like to thank all of you for coming. We're short on time so we'll begin right away."

He waved his pen remote like a sorcerer.

The lights in the room dimmed, and the holovid projection system came into play.

I crossed my arms and studied the images that appeared.

It looked like a collection of buildings of various rectangular dimensions. Some were wide, others taller. Walkways and bridges connected the buildings to each other. As the image slowly rotated I noticed it was possible to get from one building to every other building by using these bridges.

Maya sounded confused. "What is this? A new commercial block being planned inside a habitat?"

Severin shook his head faintly. "No, this is one way to represent our Academy's information network."

I laughed. "This is the school's computer network?"

"This is one way to look at it. These buildings represent domains and sub-domains. The floors can be considered levels of data storage. Databases, files, folders, all of it represented as rooms, cabinets, shelves, lockers, and so on."

I studied the collection of buildings and noticed one of them lacked windows and floors. It resembled a featureless black box. There was a single bridge connecting it to a larger building.

I pointed at it. "That black one—the one that looks like a box. What's in there?"

"We don't know."

I looked at Severin, and spared the Countess a glance. Now she was sitting on the edge of the desk, swinging her legs slowly. "How can you not know what's in there? It's your network, isn't it?"

"It's our Academy's network. However, we're not responsible for it. We didn't design it, and we don't maintain it. Nor are we in a position to make changes to it."

"Huh?"

Severin enlarged the area around the featureless building. He focused on the point where the lone bridge connected to the black wall. Seven doors stood like dominos on the bridge, as though to prevent access to the black building.

He said, "These doors represent the seven security layers that prevent access to this part of the network. So far, five of them have been breached. Based on past experience, we expect that Crescent will have little trouble getting through the last two doors."

I shook my head, feeling frustrated by the questions beginning to well up in my head. "I still don't understand how it's possible that you don't know what's in there?"

Severin sighed. "I said it before. We don't run the network. We have very little authority over it. That includes the way it is protected, and what people choose to put inside."

I pointed at the black building. "But can't you just ask someone what's in there?"

"We did but they're not telling us. In fact, we're not getting any support from the network administrators nor any answers from the private consulting firm that implemented this security model."

Maya asked, "Why not?"

The Countess slipped off the desk and walked over to Severin.

Student Council President and Vice-President stood almost shoulder to shoulder. They regarded each other for a short while before facing us. It was Severin who answered Maya's question.

"Everything the Student Council is doing here...is not sanctioned by the members of the Prides responsible for managing the academy."

I heard the mixed reactions from my fellow Familiars.

The Countess said, "The Powers-that-be are aware of the problem, but they've chosen to leave us out in the cold. They've chosen not to involve us in the matter. As a result, we're not able to get any support from them."

Severin added, "Everything we've done has been without express approval. This includes enlisting the help of various trusted clubs within the academy, and bringing the four of you together."

I asked guardedly, "Then why do it?"

Severin answered, "Because it's our academy, and the Student Council has a responsibility to ensure that our academy is safe, and that its students and teachers are not placed in harm's way."

I muttered bluntly, "That's rather benevolent of you."

Severin arched his eyebrows at me.

The Countess cut in smoothly. "However, while we don't have their express permission, the Powers-that-be haven't done anything to stop us except refusing to answer our questions, and refusing to supply us with the resources we request."

I frowned. "That's a little odd. It's like they've put you in a box but are letting you run around freely inside it."

Severin and the Countess looked bemused at my remark, then shared another long look.

The Countess shrugged. "I guess that's one way to look at it."

Severin looked uncomfortable but appeared to agree. "To all intents and purposes, the Powers-that-be have decided that there's little we can do about the situation. So for now, all we can do is wait and see how they react to the four of them being brought together."

The Countess looked uneasy. "Perhaps they're waiting to see what solution we come up with."

Maya asked, "You mean this is a test? The people in authority over this school are using this situation to test us and the Student Council?"

"Quite possibly," Severin said, "or they're simply ignoring us because they're too busy with matters on their end. Put simply, we don't know what they're thinking or what they're doing to stop Crimson Crescent." He shrugged heavily. "For all we know, they could have given up."

The Countess spoke quickly. "However, we of the Student Council have decided we're not going to let them have their way. Neither the Powers-that-be nor Crimson Crescent. We will not tolerate Crescent setting foot in our academy—period."

I shared an uneasy look with Caprice.

Going it alone against Crimson Crescent?

She gave me the faintest of shrugs.

Severin's next words caught me by surprise. "That being said, while we have the consent of your Guardians to enlist your help, we cannot order you to help us. We can only ask for your help."

I frowned. "Are you saying we can choose to walk away from all this?"

He nodded. "Yes. Your Guardians have left the final decision in your hands."

Maya whispered, "My mother is letting me decide?"

The Countess nodded sagely. "She is indeed. The choice of whether to help us or not lies with you. We will not hold it against you if you choose to walk away."

I studied the slowly revolving image of the Academy's computer network. The black building or box kept drawing my attention, as did the blinking domino doors at the end of the bridge.

I took a deep breath and shoved my hands into my trouser pockets. "I have no love for Crimson Crescent. I'd gladly screw up their plans. Count me in."

Caprice said quietly, "If he's in, then so am I."

Rina Sayen shrugged as she wrapped her arms protectively about her. "I don't know what help I can be, but I'll do what I can...if you'll have me."

In the corner of my eye, I saw Maya Khayman stare at the carpeted floor. She was shaking her head slowly. "I don't know what my mother's thinking, but I think she'd want me to help. So I'll do what I can to protect this school. Besides, my younger sister is here. Even if I'm a disappointment to my family and to her"—she looked up and stared at the Countess—"I no longer want to be a disappointment to myself."

The President and Vice-President stared at the four of us for a long while before bowing respectfully and thanking us.

I almost took a step back, shocked to be treated this way by two Aventis. Actually I was more than shocked. I felt a little repulsed.

Why the Hell are Aventis acting so respectful to us?

Maya looked uncomfortable at first, then bitterly turned away.

Rina looked embarrassed and continued to hug herself.

Caprice was staring at the President and the Countess through narrow eyes.

She spoke in her customary flat voice. "What do you want us to do the next time Crimson Crescent invades this Academy?"

The Countess folded her arms. "We want you to let them break in."

I saw Caprice stare at the mysterious black box.

She asked, "You want to learn what's inside?"

Severin and the Countess nodded guiltily.

"And then what?" she asked. "Will you instruct us to move against Crimson Crescent's operative?"

Severing answered her. "Yes. If the opportunity presents itself, we'd like you to apprehend them—"

"—and steal their Fragment," the Countess declared.

Everyone looked at her, including the President.

With a cunning smile, she admitted, "I know the Powers-that-be will not allow us to keep it, but I'd like us to be the ones to steal it from Crimson Crescent. It might gain us some goodwill points with the Powers-that-be."

I burst into laughter, which earned me a kaleidoscope of looks ranging from confused to annoyed. "You want us to steal the Fragment for you."

The smile on the Countess's lips widened.

Caprice muttered, "Assuming we can capture the intruder...."

The Countess waved a hand lightly. "I have no doubt you can do it."

I gave the other two Familiars a flat look, and turned down the corners of my mouth. "You can't be serious."

"I'm completely serious," Simone claimed.

"Are our Handlers aware of this?" Caprice asked.

I grimaced inwardly when she used the term 'Handler'.

The Aventis preferred to call them Guardians. In fact, Severin and the Countess had been referring to them as Guardians all along.

Our Guardian was Arisa since she was responsible for us, and was ultimately accountable for our actions. That included any successes and failures. But I felt referring to her as our 'Handler' was somewhat demeaning to her and to us.

Arisa was one Aventis I felt I could trust...just barely.

However, I realized Caprice was making our relative social ranking clear by doing this.

Simone looked offended but recovered her composure a heartbeat later. "Yes. Your Guardians have agreed to the terms."

Severin cut in smoothly. "Consider this a test. A demonstration of how well you can work together. A demonstration of _trust_." He smiled thinly. "Of course, if you fail to apprehend the intruder we'll all be held responsible."

I snorted. "We go down, you go down."

"Unfortunately," he agreed.

I exhaled loudly and looked up at the dimly lit ceiling. "Well then, I guess it can't be helped. We'll just have to nab the intruder and steal their Fragment." I had a sudden thought, and looked down at the Countess. "Assuming we capture this individual and you get the Fragment, do we get a prize for our hard work?"

The Countess looked puzzled. "A prize?"

I nodded. "Yep."

I sensed Caprice tense sharply beside me.

"Dear gods," she muttered. "You're not serious are you?"

I frowned at her. "But I haven't asked for anything yet."

"You don't have to. I know you well enough," she retorted despondently, dropping her emotionless persona in the process.

"Ara ara, could it be?" Simone crossed her arms, but then chose to tap her lips with a fingernail.

"But I haven't asked for anything yet," I repeated.

Simone stopped tapping her lips. "Ara ara, are you saying you don't want a prize?"

"I haven't said that either."

She gave me a smile full of regret. "I'm sorry, Caelum, but I can't give you the prize you desire."

I kept my eyes on her face. "You can't?"

She shook her head. "I cannot."

"Why not?"

"Because I make it a habit...not to wear any."

My eyes widened as I realized what Simone Alucard was implying.

There was stunned silence in the room as everyone else realized what she meant.

I heard the air expel out of Caprice's lungs in a furious rush. When I glanced at her, Caprice had grown bright red.

She turned to face me with an accusing look in her eyes.

Oh no! She thinks I told Simone about her black racy underwear in my drawer.

I opened my mouth to deny her accusing thought, but couldn't utter a single syllable in my defense.

Suddenly Simone laughed, and calmly folded her arms under her breasts.

I glanced at the room's other occupants.

Severin regarded me as though I'd just confirmed his worst opinion of me.

Maya considered me akin to toxic waste.

Rina had tears of shame in her eyes.

But Caprice looked ready to knife me on the spot, and her emotionless persona had been completed discarded.

I tried pleading for leniency. "But I didn't...ask for anything."

Severin Kell cleared away the holovid and the room's lighting returned to normal. "I think we should end things here for now," he announced with a faint grimace.

The Countess smiled brightly as she said, "In that case, Caelum. Would you be so kind as to help me out with an errand?"

I gave her wary – no, make that a terrified look. "An—an errand? Me?"

She nodded, and her smile changed. "Yes. It won't take long."

I was reminded of the smile Prissila Ventiss had thrown my way.

I found the two women smiled fearfully alike.

### Reflections – 5.

It wasn't the blood of an Aventis that made me stronger.

It was the parts of the Symbiote swimming around in it that gave me a 'power up'.

Described simply, the Symbiote is like a thread that winds itself through every nook and cranny in the human body. Maybe it's more accurate to describe it like a vine that has access to almost ninety seven percent of the body's internals. As result it's able to heal injuries quickly, and fight off disease, bacteria and viruses well before the human body is even aware of the dangers lurking within.

The Symbiote has an innate understanding of what's harmful to a human.

It's almost like an immune system built upon our immune systems. What the human body knows, it knows. On many occasions it actually knows better, and prevents the body from stupidly harming itself.

In short, without the Symbiote life is a lot tougher.

Aventis, humans that are receptive to the Symbiote, get its full benefits.

Regulars, those that aren't receptive to the entity, get to live life the hard way. It's not to say modern medical science doesn't play a hand in helping Regulars out. Injuries can be healed almost as quickly, but it requires specialized equipment or specially cultivated healing agents.

The Symbiote handles all the repair work the human body needs.

It also makes humans incredibly strong compared to a Regular individual. As such, an Aventis can recover from physical punishment that would land a Regular in hospital.

I've said all this before, but what I want to clarify is that it's the elements of the Symbiote swimming around in an Aventis's bloodstream that bring about a Familiar's true strength.

Even a small amount, like a mouthful, can give me a boost that lasts a couple of hours.

Inside me, the Symbiote quickly takes root. I spend those first few minutes just shy of agony, as it grows throughout my body. But once it's over, I find myself with the all strengths of an Aventis and much more.

However, as the saying goes, a candle that burns twice as brightly burns twice as fast.

The Symbiote burns out quickly inside my body, and I return to being a normal Familiar.

In short, while the Symbiote is jacking up my body, I stand at the top of the food chain.

### Chapter 5 – Playful.

(Caelum)

I followed the Countess as she walked down the hallway and away from the Student Council room.

I had no idea where we were going.

Classes had already resumed.

The few teachers we encountered did not raise an objection to my being in the hallway because I was in the company of the Student Council Vice-President. The Countess greeted each teacher with respect, as befitting her position and that of a lady of reputable upbringing.

I glanced at her butt, wondering if what she said was true.

I hoped it wasn't. It would shatter my metal image of her.

Not to mention the thought of that sumptuous derriere being unsheathed was an insult to lingerie designers and makers throughout the colonized star systems.

We arrived at a large storeroom on the fourth floor. She led the way into the room after unlocking the door by waving her palm-slate over the scanner on the wall beside it.

I followed her into the room. "You know that wasn't the sort of consolation prize I was after."

She walked down the aisles, looking at the labels on the shelves. "Yes, I thought as much."

"So why did you say all that? Were you trying to make trouble for me?"

"Now why would I do that?"

I cocked my head to one side. "What do you really want, Countess?"

She sounded mystified. "I don't follow."

She rounded a corner between upright shelves, and I followed a few steps behind. However, when I rounded the corner she was gone.

Huh?

I picked up the pace and peeked down aisle after aisle.

Did I mention this was a really big storeroom? Well, it was.

Suddenly I felt a hand grab my blazer by the collar and pull me into an aisle. I reacted immediately, slipping out of their grasp and spinning them around before pressing them against an upright shelf that almost reached the ceiling.

I froze when I realized I'd pinned the Countess against it.

She gasped. "Ara ara, aren't we starting off a little rough?"

"Huh?" I backed away in a heartbeat. "Sorry. I thought—actually I didn't think, I just reacted. I'm truly sorry."

Simone darted forward, pushing me into the shelf behind me. The shelf wobbled and some of the contents threatened to fall but thankfully didn't.

I stared at her in confusion and shock. "Countess?"

She drew back, then reached up and grabbed my blazer, holding me in place against the shelves.

I was starting to fear I'd made her angry, but then she bowed her head a little and cast her eyes downward. When I felt her arms tremble, I started thinking something else was the matter.

"Countess?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Caelum, what are we doing?"

"What do you mean...?"

She took a long, heavy breath. "What do we think we can achieve? We're just the Student Council of Galatea Academy. That's all we are. We're just students. I'm sixteen. I shouldn't be thinking about Crimson Crescent, or network breaches, or mysterious data vaults, or skeletons in the Academy's closet."

Her voice grew stronger, and I sensed an underlying current of despair.

She shook her head weakly. "I should be thinking about classes, about studying, about clothes, pop idols, my friends and most importantly the boys that catch my eye. I should be thinking of how to make those boys mine."

Yes, I could hear the despair in her voice.

She shook her head more freely and pressed on.

"Going alone against Crimson Crescent could have serious repercussions for us. I keep thinking Severin and I are doing the wrong thing. But by the same token, by shutting us out, the Powers-that-be are putting us in danger as well. How are we supposed to react to this threat if they won't tell us anything? If we don't try to prepare for it, we'll be helpless. If Crimson Crescent intends to do us harm, don't we have the right to defend ourselves?"

She drew closer, still holding onto my blazer. Then she slowly bowed her head further and pressed her forehead against my collar bone.

My breath caught. I could smell the shampoo in her hair and it seduced my sense of smell.

Damn this girl smelt nice.

Each breath she took burnt through my shirt and into my skin.

My heart was starting to grow undeniably restless within my chest, like a horse held too long at the starting gate.

Yet through it all, I could hear her clearly.

"My sister...she won't tell me anything. She's warned me not to interfere—not to ask too many questions. She's shut me out. But, I can't allow Crescent into this school...I won't allow them into my academy. Galatea is home to my friends and to me."

Her hands tightened on my blazer, creasing it sharply.

She spoke softly. "I am an Aventis of the Raynar Pride. My Pride has been responsible for the safety of Pharos, and of many worlds and colonies for more than a hundred years. I want to protect my academy, my school, and its students. That is my duty as a Raynar."

I listened to her, and I didn't stop her.

I didn't think I could.

I felt she needed to express herself, to voice her fears and doubts before they backed her into a corner.

But then I wondered, why tell me? What did I care about her problems? I had agreed to help because I hated Crimson Crescent, but that didn't mean I cared about the academy.

I despised Aventis. I hated the Prides.

By a twist of fate, I was stuck in a school almost full of her kind. This wasn't paradise for me, this was something of a hell.

And to top it off I was subservient to an Aventis – Arisa Imreh Lanfear.

The Countess was venting her repressed fears and doubts to someone who shouldn't care.

Was that the reason why? Was it because I didn't care that she was able to release her pent up emotions?

Over the top of her head, I stared at the opposite shelf.

I thought of the last seven months since awakening as a Familiar, including my week here at the academy. I thought of how my life had changed, and I had a disconcerting realization run through me.

Did I really hate the Aventis as much as I thought I did?

Did I hate her kind as much as I claimed I did?

I looked down at her as Simone continued to press her forehead into me as though leaning on me for support while hiding herself from view.

Was it right for me to hate this girl?

I took a deep breath, and tried sorting through the muddle my feelings had become.

Was I prejudiced against the Aventis? Did I have a reason to be prejudiced anymore?

Was I prejudiced against Simone?

My throat felt constricted, making it hard to swallow.

I felt even more confused when the Countess straightened and looked at me through pained eyes.

She cleared her throat softly. "Caelum, when Severin and I expressed our thanks, Maya looked bitter. But you looked...disgusted."

I tried looking away but I couldn't.

I thought I heard hurt in her voice. "Do I disgust you, Caelum? In your eyes, am I revolting?"

I clamped my jaw shut, but after a while I gave her an answer. "I've spent the last six years hating your kind for what happened to my parents. And for my sister too." I sucked in a lungful of air. "It's a little hard letting go of that hatred."

She squeezed her eyes shut for a heartbeat. "I'm sorry for what happened to your parents. But...is that reason for you to hate all Aventis? Is that reason for you...to hate me?"

I managed to look away, casting my gaze down between us.

I felt her gaze on me but I didn't return it.

She sighed, undoubtedly finding an answer in my silence. "I see...."

I chose to change the subject. "May I ask you something?"

She smiled wretchedly. "So long as it's not personal."

I shook my head weakly and looked at her. "I'm not going to ask about your underwear or lack thereof."

She rolled her eyes. "Then what do you want to know?"

"Are you planning to bring in outside help?"

Her face was close enough I could feel her breath on my lips. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"We're facing Crimson Crescent. Do you think the four of us are enough?"

I saw a calculating gleam in her eye. "You don't have confidence in your skills and training?"

"Not really. Not against an opponent I can't see."

"You mean you don't have an all seeing third eye."

"Countess, I'm serious here—"

I stopped abruptly. Her arms had slipped around me waist. It wasn't just her breath I could feel on my face. Now her enormous breasts were pressed tightly against my chest.

In one move she made me forget all about the differences between Aventis, Regulars and Familiars. That was the effect her glorious body had on me.

"Countess?" I croaked out, trying to shift my body so that she wouldn't notice my body reacting to her. "What are you doing?"

"Tell me, Caelum."

"Huh? Tell you what?" I squeaked.

She pressed her body even tighter. "Tell me what I need to do."

"Huh? What?"

Damn, there was no hiding it now. There was no way she wouldn't feel my body saluting her.

But I couldn't deny those breasts felt good. Firm and well balanced. I could almost picture their shape and disposition just by contact alone. They pushed into me with every breath she took.

My thoughts fell into complete disarray, but I found myself looking into her azure eyes and suddenly asked, "Were you born an Aventis?"

She hesitated, then nodded very faintly. "Yes. I inherited the Symbiote strain from my mother."

"Oh. That probably explains why...."

"Hmm, what does that explain?" she asked with a playful smile.

"Why you're so beautiful...."

At first her eyes widened, then they narrowed. "The Symbiote may have 'helped' in my development, but it all comes down to good genes. At my age my mother was far prettier than I am. And my elder sister uses her beauty to rip through men like tissue paper. I have nothing on either of them."

I said what came to mind, and regretted it afterwards. "So you're living in their shadow?"

Simone stopped pressing her body into mine but did not move away. "I make my own shadow."

I guess I'd succeeded annoying her. "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you—ah!"

She squeezed herself tightly against me anew.

I was rapidly approaching the limit of my self-control. The sensation of her heavenly bosom pressed into my chest was seriously impeding my sound judgment.

The scent of her hair, the perfume on her skin, was an intoxicating concoction that further addled my brain.

All my senses were being completely overwhelmed by her.

At this point I'd agree to anything she asked of me. I was slipping helplessly and completely into her control.

My voice fell to a hoarse whisper. "Countess...I'm begging you...please stop."

"Ara ara, you really are a little boy."

"Yes...guilty...as charged."

"Never been hugged by a girl?"

"No...just my sister...when I was little."

"I see. You ever kissed a girl?"

My eyes widened and I involuntarily turned away.

"Ara ara, so you have kissed a girl."

I breathed out heavily, regaining a fraction of my composure. "I'm not sure if you can call it a kiss. There was a lot happening at the time."

"Would you like to kiss me?"

My voice almost failed me. "Huh? What?"

Wearing her three inch high heels – definitely non-regulation footwear – she was only a couple of inches shorter than me. But it was a negligible difference in height, and all I needed to do was bend my neck down just a little and our lips would definitely meet.

Her gaze caught mine and I couldn't tear it away.

Then she giggled girlishly and stepped back, releasing me from her embrace.

I felt the last of my strength desert me, and almost slid to the floor. The shelves at my back kept me upright but only barely.

"What was the point of that?" I whispered, unable to hide either my relief and disappointed.

"Payback, for making me compare myself to my mother and sister. I hate doing that."

I sighed inwardly. I was right. I had offended her. "I said I was sorry."

"Apology accepted."

"Isn't that a little late?"

Before she could respond, we heard footsteps enter the room, and a girl's voice asked, "Hello, is anyone in here? The door was open so—oh, Vice-President."

Simone had stepped out into the aisle between the shelves.

I chose to edge away from the corner, and hoped to remain hidden from the newcomer.

"I'm sorry," Simone said. "I was looking for something."

"Oh, is there something I can help you with, Vice-President?"

"Actually, can you tell me why you're not in class?"

"I was sent to pick up these items."

"Oh, I know where those are, but they're not in this storage room. You'll have to try the storage room on the third floor."

"Oh, I see. Thank you. I'll be off then."

"Take care. Don't run in the hallways."

The sound of the girl's footsteps faded as she left the room.

I peeked at Simone. "Countess?"

She stepped out of sight for a short while. When she reappeared she gave me a mischievous smile and winked. "She never suspected a thing. Doesn't that make you feel naughty?"

I pointed vaguely in the direction of her chest. "Actually, she might have noticed your blouse popped a few buttons."

Simone looked down. "Oh, they didn't pop. I unbuttoned them when we first came into the room."

"Huh?" I couldn't help staring at her in disbelief.

She giggled again and stepped up to me. "Want to do them up?"

"Uh, no. I don't think it would be safe for me to do so."

"Caelum...button up my blouse."

My brain missed a gear. She wasn't serious was she? "Countess...?"

She raised her delicate eyebrows at me. "Caelum, you'll be very late for class if you don't."

Then her eyes widened and she smiled coyly.

With her hands behind her back, she slowly rocked her hips from side to side. "Ara ara, could it be you want to play a little more?"

I regarded her for a long moment, wondering if I should just put my foot down and resist her attempts at seduction.

Ah, what the Hell. It's just her blouse, right?

I inhaled wearily. "Buttons. Just the buttons...."

Buttoning up her blouse was easier said than done. My fingers trembled so much it took almost five attempts per button. Plus, I could tell she was pushing up her chest, making it impossible to ignore the white, lacy bra she wore under her uniform. I noticed the light sprinkling of freckles on her cleavage, like chocolate powder on creamy white skin.

"Caelum? Caelum!"

"What?"

"Buttons."

"Oh, sorry."

Damn it, she was smiling mischievously at my distraction.

I was relieved when I finally dealt with the last button.

I leaned against a shelf, breathing heavily in exhaustion.

As such, I was completely unprepared for what happened next.

She leaned forward and kissed my cheek. Not a peck, but a real kiss. Her lips felt warm, moist and very soft.

Then she stepped back.

"That's a good boy. Now let's get you back to class."

I don't remember the trip to my classroom. I just remember arriving at the door where I waited for the Countess to finish speaking to the teacher. Afterwards, I was allowed to attend the rest of the lecture. I felt the eyes of my classmates follow me as I walked to my table and seat.

Huh, why are the girls looking at me funny? And the guys are glaring at me. All I did was arrive late. Why is that such a problem? Were they enjoying the lecture that much?

I sat down at my smart desk, and instructed it out of standby mode.

Caprice's eyes glared at me though her face was perfectly emotionless.

Then she did a double take, and her emotionless mask slipped away.

My mind felt so fuzzy I didn't think much of her reaction, but then I noticed my classmates were still giving me a variety of looks.

I accidently met Haruka's gaze.

She was staring at me in shock, and turned away in a hurry.

Suddenly a paper napkin was shoved into my face.

"Here," Caprice growled. "Use it."

I took it and asked, "To do what?"

"To wipe the lipstick off your face!"

It was the closest I'd heard her come to a shout. It didn't just shock me, but a number of my classmates too.

Then my brain finally kicked back into gear. "Lipstick?"

Caprice's face grew unreadable again, but her eyes burned angrily. "Wipe it off now."

I applied the napkin to my cheeks and saw that it came away stained a lavender color.

I heard our teacher speak from the front of the classroom. "Mr. Desanto, are you settled in?"

I gave our teacher a polite nod. "Yes sir. Very sorry sir."

He cleared his throat loudly, and resumed with the lecture.

I held back a heavy sigh, and did my best to follow the lecture material.

Slipping on the visor and headset, I dialed up the concentration aid to maximum output. In a short while, my mind settled into 'learning mode' and I was able to absorb the material being taught completely devoid of distracting thoughts.

All hail the wonders of the modern classroom.

I'd given up long ago wondering if the learning aids were subjecting us to subliminal brainwashing.

#

(Haruka)

I needed to talk with Caelum, and it had nothing to do with him joining the class while sporting lipstick on his cheek.

No, this matter was entirely something else.

It was the rumor I'd heard from Siobhan and Alistair.

A rumor that the Princess of the Third Year student body had taken an interest in Caelum.

I couldn't think of why she would. Caelum was a Familiar affiliated with the Lanfears. He had nothing to do with the Raynars.

The problem was I knew very little about the Princess. What I did know came from rumor and gossip and female speculation, most of it overheard in the girls' toilets.

I had the impression that few students at Galatea knew the Princess very well.

I had the impression much of the student body wanted to stay well clear of her.

At best she had acquaintances, and the four girls that followed her around were more like ladies-in-waiting than friends.

When those four weren't around, there was one other girl that shadowed the Princess almost like a bodyguard. I had seen that girl around, and she was second year high-schooler but I didn't know what class she was in.

I knew the Ventiss Family was well placed in the medical community, owning a number of hospitals and medical centers within Pharos. But I'd also heard that being part of the Raynar Pride, the Ventiss were also involved in the security of the colony.

And like the Lanfears they had Familiars in their 'employ'.

Is that why Prissila Ventiss was expressing an interest in Caelum?

And why the Hell did he have lipstick on his face?

Wait—wasn't the Vice-President wearing lavender lipstick? Could it be hers?

No, it couldn't be! But what if it was? Did she kiss him? Why would she kiss him?

Oh no—wasn't the Vice-President a Raynar as well?

Ah, I can't think straight.

I dialed up the concentration setting on my visor and headset.

Those distracting thoughts were slowly but surely suppressed into the back of my mind by the lesson material.

But when each class ended, those worries came charging right back at me.

I was glad when school for the day came to a close.

Seated at my smart desk, I peeked over my right shoulder at Caelum. I saw Caprice rise from her table while Caelum remained seated.

I had two choices. Speak to him directly, or pass word along to the only girl in school who wasn't bothered to be seen in his company.

Should I decide by flipping a coin? Wait, I had no coins. Physical currency was no longer used and hadn't been used in centuries.

I frowned. Did they just ignore each other?

Caprice actually looks angry. I didn't know she could make such a face.

Ah, this wasn't good. Not good at all!

I held my head in my hands.

No choice. I'd have to muster the courage to speak to him. The problem was finding the right moment to approach him. Should I send him a message via school information network? No, he'd probably ignore it. He'd been ignoring me for the whole week.

This had to be done face to face to ensure he'd at least listen to me.

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Ah, what the Hell should I do?"

I felt a tap on my shoulder and jumped up and out of my chair in fright.

Caelum was standing beside my table.

I screamed. "Ca—Caelum?"

He looked shocked by my reaction and retreated a step.

I swallowed quickly and said, "Sorry. You just surprised me. I didn't mean anything by it."

He nodded slowly, then straightened as though on guard. "Haruka...can we talk?"

Talk? Did he say talk? Yes, of course. This was good. No, this was perfect. I just needed to slip a warning into the conversation.

I noticed I was biting a nail.

Caelum noticed too. He gave me a really concerned look.

If I kept acting nervous I was going to drive him away.

I took a deep breath to calm my hammering heart. I noticed he had his carry-bag at his hip, with the straps over his right shoulder.

"Going home?" I asked.

"Yeah...but I'd...I'd like to talk to you first."

I looked around. The classroom was emptying pretty quickly of its students. Siobhan and Alistair were watching me from the front of the room. They had their carry-bags at their hips, but looked uncertain as to whether they should leave ahead of me, or wait for me.

I turned to Caelum. "Could you give me a moment?"

He nodded cautiously. "Sure...."

Jeezes, he was acting like I was a bomb with a hair trigger fuse.

I approached Siobhan and Alistair. "You guys go on ahead. I might be a while."

Siobhan eyed me suspiciously. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine. Thanks for asking."

Alistair was staring at Caelum. "Just be careful, Haruka. You don't know what he's capable of."

"Alistair, he's my childhood friend. I know exactly what he's like."

She shook her head. "Haruka, he's a Familiar now. You knew the old him. This is the new Caelum Desanto."

Siobhan added, "Just remember, Familiars are like vampires. Be careful around him."

I felt my stomach tighten.

Siobhan was right. Familiars had the capacity to drink blood and draw strength from it. A Familiar that drank from an Aventis would draw strength from the Symbiote. But the fact they could do so was something that unnerved and frightened both Regulars and Aventis, though I'd heard that some Aventis actually found the act pleasurable.

I swallowed, and nodded a little less confidently than I thought I would. "I'll—I'll be fine. I trust Caelum."

Siobhan and Alistair shared a look, then Siobhan faced me and said, "We'll wait for you at the shoe lockers."

"Ah...okay. But I might be a while."

"We'll wait," Siobhan repeated firmly.

I exhaled slowly. "Thank you."

Alistair said, "Ask him about the lipstick."

I jerked back. "I can't do that. No, no way. Now isn't the time for that."

With a quick wave to my friends, I walked back in a hurry to my smart desk where Caelum was waiting and looking faintly uncomfortable.

"Let's go," I said.

"Uh, where to? The rooftop?"

"No, the rooftop courtyard is automatically locked after lunch break." I finished packing my carry-bag with my belongs, then slipped the straps over my right shoulder. "I know a place."

I led him to the southern courtyard, and to one of the two gardens that bordered it. During lunch break students would sit on the benches or the shaded grass and eat their lunches. But after class, I had noticed students tended to avoid this one garden. I had no idea why but it suited my purpose just fine.

Caelum was looking around curiously. "You Aventis have it really good hear. Nothing like our old school for Regulars."

I stopped walking, turned and looked at him.

I frowned inwardly at his words of distinction. "There are four gardens like this one. Two in the southern courtyard, and two in the northern one. There are also gardens around the club buildings on the south-west side of the school."

His mouth made a few odd shapes as he gazed at the garden surrounding us. "Is that so...."

"Caelum?"

He looked off into the distance for a long while. I was tempted to call out to him again, but I chose to give him a little more time.

He swallowed noticeably. "Haruka, I'm sorry. I didn't know about the lipstick."

"Eh? Ah, it's okay. I don't have a problem with it. You're free to kiss whoever you like."

"No, I didn't kiss anyone. She caught me by surprise—ah."

He stopped quickly, then started to run his fingers through his hair in a panic. Just as quickly his hands came to a stop and he looked at me.

"Haruka, I'm sorry...sorry for running away."

I felt my throat grow a little tight as I realized what he was talking about.

He pressed on. "I saw you and I didn't know how to deal with you."

"Deal with me?"

"I mean, I didn't know what to do or say."

The tightness in my throat grew. I forced my voice through it. "Caelum, how long have known each other?"

"Ah, ten years?"

"Why should now be any different from all the times we've shared in the past?"

"Because you're an Aventis and I'm a Familiar." He said it softly yet with no room for argument.

I took a deep breath. "Then why can't we start over, as Aventis and Familiar? The Prides have no law preventing us from associating with one another. And there's nothing in the student handbook that says we can't talk to each other." I shook my head slowly. "There's no law that says we can't be friends."

He was looking at me with a steady gaze. "You're being naïve, Haruka."

I inhaled sharply.

He shoved his hands into trouser pockets. "Familiars are bonded to the Prides. We're servants to the Prides, but with more privileges than Regulars."

"I know that."

"You're Pride is Avenir. My affiliated Pride is Lanfear."

I swallowed a little. "Yes, I know that."

"Avenir and Lanfear don't mix."

I sighed. "It's not as bad as you make it sound. I've looked into the situation with both Prides. There's no outright animosity between them. In fact they have an amicable relationship here in Pharos." I indicated the Academy buildings beyond the garden. "Here at Galatea, there's no trouble between the two Prides."

"Because they keep away from each other."

"That isn't true...."

"Our social standing is different."

"That hasn't stopped people in the past."

"You mean people in love...."

I thought my heart was going to burst apart the moment he said those words, and he said them while looking straight into my eyes.

He was challenging me to reply with a counter.

Or was he expecting me to agree?

I had trouble meeting his gaze.

Caelum sighed softly, almost lost in the breeze. "Haruka...tell me the truth."

I struggled to get a single word out, yet he remained so calm. "What truth?"

"Did you ever see me as more than a friend? What was I to you?"

My throat tightened painfully, and I couldn't reply.

Long seconds went by, until he eventually chuckled lightly under his breath. He turned his face away. "Sorry. Forget I asked."

My heart was beating painfully in my chest. It was just like that day seven months ago when he bid farewell to our friendship. I was reliving that pain all over again.

Caelum regarded our surroundings. "I made a mess of things. All those years in school, I made a mess of things for you."

I managed a hoarse whisper. "What do you mean?"

"You were popular, Haruka. There were so many guys that wanted to confess to you. So many guys that wanted to approach you."

He wasn't telling me anything new. Why was he bringing this up now?

He shook his head slowly. "I was asked so many times to put in a good word for you because they all saw us as childhood friends and nothing more. As far as they were concerned, the only reason you hung around me was because of that. Why else would a beautiful girl be friends with me? It pissed me off that what they said was true."

I frowned at him.

He muttered loudly, "I got fed up being their errand boy. That landed me in a few fights."

"I know...."

I was the one that would patch him up before classes resumed whenever he returned to the classroom like the walking wounded.

He laughed bitterly. "You'd ask me why, and I'd tell you those guys weren't good enough for you."

I nodded slowly.

He snorted. "Some of those guys were a lot better than me. Some of them would have looked good beside you. Some of those guys, I think I actually approved of."

"...what...?"

"But I was jealous."

My eyes widened for a rapid heartbeat. "Huh?"

"I was jealous of them. I was jealous of every guy that confessed to you, or approached you in a way that made their intentions clear."

I couldn't stop myself frowning. "Why?"

"Because I was afraid they'd take you away from me. And I was envious of their resolve. Then I'd think of my situation and I had no choice but to accept the truth."

"What do you mean? What truth?"

"That we were only childhood friends, and that I had more to risk than they did. It wasn't a case of just crash and burn for me. It wasn't a game for me. If I lost, then I lost for good and it wasn't just a rejection. It was the end of what we had together as _friends_."

"Caelum, you...."

He gave me a nod. "Yeah, I thought about it countless times. I thought about it every time I heard some guy had asked you out and been shot down."

"Why didn't you?"

He looked at me in disbelief. "I just told you why."

I looked at him stupidly. "Did you really think I would reject you?"

Caelum was quiet for a moment before he blurted out, "Of course I did. Why do you think I never asked you?"

"So you'd already decided on the outcome by yourself."

"I already knew the outcome."

I clenched my hands and couldn't stop my arms from trembling. "Do you know how tiring it was to reject each and every guy that came up to me?"

He shook his head. "No, but I did try to save you the trouble."

I growled in my throat. "You would have saved me the trouble if you'd just told me how you felt."

"I couldn't tell you—"

"Because you're a coward."

He blanched, then swallowed a heartbeat later. "I had no choice."

I leaned back and yelled up at the sky.

"Haruka?"

"You are impossible! You are so impossible to deal with."

I was hyperventilating.

Why was I blaming him? I was the same. I fell into the same trap he did. I had the same reasons he did for not confessing. In fact, I was hard set on believing he should be the one to make the first move.

I should have never listened to all those stupid advice columns.

Why the Hell did I read those idiotic magazines? Was I looking for a miracle solution to the problem?

I pressed down on my chest.

This was my problem. I should have fixed it myself rather than listening to someone else's advice.

I should have told him how I felt.

I gasped.

Caelum was standing over me, his arms on my arms. "Haruka? Haruka what's wrong?"

I tried pushing him away but he was stronger than me.

What? I'm an Aventis and he's a Familiar. Shouldn't I be the stronger one?

"Let me go," I pleaded.

"Not until you calm down."

Again I growled in my throat. "Stop acting so mature. This is your fault after all."

"Huh?"

"It's because you never told me the truth."

He dropped his hands from my arms. His expression grew neutral, unreadable. "You haven't answered my question."

I blinked at him dumbly. What question? I tried thinking back to the start of the argument. What had he asked me? Why couldn't I remember?

Caelum saved me from floundering through my short term memory.

"Haruka, did you ever see me as more than just a friend?"

Ah...that question.

His eyes were locked onto mine.

No running away this time. It had finally come to this point, and Caelum wanted an answer.

I opened my mouth, but no air came out. No sound. No words.

Why? Why didn't my voice work? Damn it, not now!

I tried again without success.

Caelum turned away, and my heart sank.

My reaction had hurt him. He took my inability to reply for an answer.

And so he turned away.

But he wasn't moving away. In fact, he was standing in front of me looking toward the trees at the far end of the garden.

I peeked around him, and my breath caught.

A girl stood at the opposite entrance to the garden.

A girl with long, flowing locks of golden hair, a large bust, and enviable figure eight body topping a pair of slender, shapely legs.

The Princess of the Seniors.

Prissila Ventiss Raynar.

Behind her stood another girl with a poise that reminded me of Caprice Steiner. This girl remained a few feet away from Prissila, her eyes watching me, Caelum and the garden in somewhat equal measure.

I glanced at Caelum who was looking at Prissila but I had the feeling he was actually more worried about the girl behind the Princess.

He turned to me quickly, and his gaze forcefully grabbed mine. "Haruka, I'm sorry but I'm going to need your help."

"Wh—what do you want me to do?"

He reached out and took hold of my left wrist. "I'm sorry. I won't take much."

I watched him bring my wrist up to his lips. "Caelum?"

"The bleeding won't last long. Staunch it, and then get out of here."

My eyes grew wide, very wide, at sight of him sink his canines into my wrist.

Siobhan's words came back to me.

Just remember, Familiars are like vampires.

It hurt like Hell when my skin tore.

It hurt even more to watch him drink the crimson fluid that welled up from the wounds.

And then after a few moments it was over.

Caelum had a handkerchief in hand, and he used it to wipe at his mouth a moment before pressing it down on my punctured wrist.

"Keep pressure on it," he said.

I didn't need to be told twice. I looped the handkerchief around my wrist, and applied pressure to the wound. I looked up at him.

Caelum looked to be in pain but he was doing his best to hold it back.

"Go," he said. "Get out of here. She's not here for you."

I started shaking my head, but he reached out and bodily spun me away from him.

"Get going," he snapped while pushing me away. It wasn't hard enough to make me stumble, but I did stagger for several feet.

I half turned to face him. "Caelum—"

I watched him start to unbutton his shirt. "Wh—what are you doing?"

"I don't want it to get dirty."

"What? Why?" I arched my eyebrows at him. "Caelum, do you and the Princess have some sort of relationship."

"Gah—you're not seriously asking me that, are you?"

"Well do you?"

He looked aghast and stopped unbuttoning his shirt. "No—definitely not what you're thinking."

"Then—?"

"Haruka, leave. Everything will be fine, but you need to go."

I started to scowl at him in protest.

Suddenly he was right before me. His eyes looked into mine as though staring straight into my soul. His face, his presence, completely consumed my awareness.

I felt him...inside my mind.

I heard his voice...inside my head.

"Go Haruka. Run."

I could barely breathe let alone protest. Then suddenly my body began to move. It started backing away unsteadily from him.

Then it turned and ran.

I regained control as I fled down the path that led out of the garden. It stretched through an arcade of trees. Once past the trees, the path curved sharply in the direction of the east wing of the academy building.

I ran without looking back.

When I came to a stop, I realized I was standing at the foot of the steps that led up to a glass entrance.

This was the main building and entrance for us high schoolers.

The middle schoolers building was off to the east a couple of hundred meters away.

I looked up and through the wall of tinted glass, and saw a few students milling about inside. They were in the lobby where the shoe lockers stood.

True to their word, Siobhan and Alistair were waiting inside. They were standing near the glass wall, and it was Alistair who saw me first when she turned to look outside.

They both rushed out the entrance and down the steps.

They both cried out, "Haruka."

My breathing had recovered by then. "The Princess came to the garden. She came for Caelum."

Siobhan looked uneasy. "So those rumors were true...." Her voice trailed away when she suddenly reached out and grabbed my wounded left wrist. "What the Hell?" Her eyes bore into me. "Haruka—what the Hell is this?"

"He—he drank from me."

"What? Why?"

I shook my head quickly. "I don't know. But—but it's weird. There was another girl with the Princess but she wasn't one of the regular four. Caelum—Caelum looked afraid of that girl."

A big frown settled on Siobhan's face, but Alistair had grown pale.

"Where—where are they?" Alistair asked.

"The garden. The one we go to sometimes."

Alistair hefted her carry-bag and started to walk in the direction I'd run from.

Siobhan stared at her then called out, "Ally, where are you going?"

Alistair ignored her and picked up her pace.

Siobhan grabbed my shoulders. "Stay here. I'll go after her."

Then she ran after Alistair.

Like Hell was I going to stay here.

I chased after them at a run, and caught up quickly though I felt slightly winded. I was noticeably stronger as an Aventis, but outside of physical education class I never exercised. I was starting to regret my distinct lack of fitness.

Then again, it was hard to exercise with breasts as large as mine.

And I really shouldn't be running around without the _proper support_.

Siobhan asked, "Ally, what's going on? What's got you rattled?"

Alistair replied, "Siobhan, you know about my brother, right?"

"Yeah, he's the—"

"My brother told me the Princess caused trouble for the Raynar and Lanfear Prides a while ago. But it also affected the Ventiss Family's relationship with us Kells. In fact months later and relations between my family and hers are still strained."

"So what's your point? Are you saying the Princess is causing trouble here at the academy?"

Alistair shrugged quickly. "Maybe. But there's something else that worries me."

Siobhan leaned forward as she hurried. "Like what?"

"Caelum Desanto, Caprice Steiner, Maya Khayman and Rina Sayen are not the only Familiars in this school. There are a dozen more Familiars here at Galatea. But there's a second year student, a Familiar in Class Two Cee, and she's a Special."

I was surprised Alistair knew the Familiars by name, but what did she mean by Special?

Alistair glanced at Siobhan. "That girl answers to the Ventiss Family."

I blurted out, "Wait—you mean the girl that shadows the Princess?"

Alistair nodded. "Yes, that girl."

Siobhan growled softly. "So? So what?"

Ahead of us the paved path curved back toward the garden and disappeared behind the arcade of bushy trees.

Quite abruptly Alistair came to a stop, and Siobhan and I almost collided with her.

Since Alistair was blocking my view I moved to my left, and saw a familiar girl standing on the path.

She had long black hair tied high into a single ponytail, and she was dressed in the midnight-blue blazer and white skirt of a second year high-schooler. She had what the boys would call _sexy legs_ , but more importantly she was using those sexy legs to block the footpath.

She faced the three of us. "I suggest you go back."

Alistair inhaled deeply. "What's going on, Steiner?"

"Nothing to do with you," Caprice replied.

Alistair nodded. "Fine. But I still want to know."

Caprice was quiet for a moment. "Did your brother send you? Are you doing his bidding?"

Alistair frowned then shook her head. "I'm here because I just want to know why Prissila Ventiss is seeking out Caelum Desanto. After all, the Ventiss Family has history with us Kells."

Caprice nodded faintly and I almost missed it in the artificial _afternoon_ light. "Yes, as do I. So I suggest for now you let things be and let me handle them."

Alistair hurriedly asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Support Caelum. What else would I do?" She started turning away.

I quickly stepped around Alistair. "Wait. Can you tell us what's going on?"

Caprice remained on the path, half turned in our direction. Her almond eyes betrayed no emotion. She was like a life-sized doll molded with exotic, beautiful features that held not a single trace of life in them.

"Haruka Amiella, you've done enough for now. Please, do not associate with Caelum Desanto anymore."

I felt my stomach harden. "Caelum is my friend. You don't have the right to tell me what to do."

"Then you will get hurt," she stated flatly.

"What? Are you threatening me?"

She shook her head faintly. "No. I'm stating it for your well-being."

"What?"

"Caelum is no longer the Caelum you knew."

"I know that. He's a Familiar. He drank my blood—I know he's different."

Caprice's eyes glanced at my wrist.

I stepped closer. "You can't stop me. If you hurt me, you hurt Caelum. Do you think he would allow you to hurt me? How do you think he'd treat you if you did?"

She remained quiet but her eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch.

I pressed on, and stepped a couple of feet closer. "You think I haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"You play the doll quite well, but it's not perfect. I've watched you around him. That mask of yours slips off when he's around you. You have a rather shy smile don't you."

Her eyes narrowed a little more.

I straightened, feeling a little more confident as I did.

I was willing to bet Caprice wouldn't risk harming me for fear of what Caelum would do if he found out.

I gave her a nod. "I'm not the only one that's noticed. The other girls have too. There are a lot of rumors about the two of you, and it's only been a week since school started."

"What rumors?"

"You figure them out. All you have to do is listen to the talk around you."

"Are these rumors harmful to Caelum?"

I frowned inwardly. "I don't think so."

"Good. If they were, I would have to do something about them."

Her voice wasn't flat anymore. It was cold. So very, very cold.

I took another step closer, but this time she faced me fully.

"I don't have time for you. Go back, or get hurt," she stated with absolute certainty.

"What is Caelum to you?" I asked.

"My friend. My comrade. My partner. He is important to me." There wasn't the slightest hint of hesitation in her voice. "And right now he needs my support."

Caprice turned away and resumed walking down the path in the direction of the garden.

For several heartbeats I fought against the urge not to follow. Fear held me back. I pictured Caprice like an unsheathed knife. Beautiful but deadly.

Would she really hurt me if I continued toward the garden?

Could I use Caelum as a threat against her?

Then Alistair grabbed my shoulder and held me back.

I saw her swallow.

"I didn't count on her being here," Alistair muttered. "I think if we want the truth, I'll have to try getting it out of my brother."

I regarded Alistair for a moment. When I looked down the path again, Caprice had disappeared.

Siobhan's voice was clear in the silence that followed. "Let's get out of here."

I didn't want to leave, but Alistair shook my shoulder. "This was a bad idea. Sibby's right, let's go."

Reluctantly, I gave in to their judgment and followed them as they walked away from the garden.

My thoughts and feelings were a mess.

Caelum's confession of sorts had opened up old hurts and disappointments.

But they'd also made me realize how important he still was to me.

If Caelum was in trouble, I would find a way to help him.

After all, I still owed him an answer.

### Reflections – 6.

I believe without a doubt the Prides' scientists will figure out the workings of the Fragments and Artifacts long before man understands woman.

I just had to say that. Now, on to the briefing.

I have a sister.

Actually, to keep things simple at this stage, let's say I _had_ a sister.

Past tense.

I was ten turning on eleven when my parents died in that freighter explosion.

My sister, Celica, was almost sixteen.

With the death of our parents, and the fact we had no living relatives remaining, we were placed into the care of the Pharos authorities. I had no idea what that meant, and was terrified we would be separated, but the people in charge saw fit to have us live together in an apartment provided by the colony.

I later learnt the Raynar Pride had taken responsibility for us, and seen fit to care for us after we lost our parents. It was the Raynars that arranged for my sister and I to live together. They also saw to our living expenses and other basic needs, as well as our compulsory education.

Despite this, I was angry at the Prides. I held them responsible for the loss of our parents, as much as I held Crimson Crescent responsible. I have to admit, this anger and hatred I felt was something that cultivated very quickly over time.

Strangely, my sister was oddly non-committal whenever I expressed my anger toward the Prides, Aventis and Crimson Crescent. It was as though she simply didn't have an opinion on the matter. Her lack of one would make me even angrier at times.

I was angry, but I was also scared and confused.

You see, my sister had a lot of dealings with the Aventis.

Not long after our parents died, she was transferred to an Academy that catered almost exclusively to Aventis students. It was the kind of school that had no Regulars in their student body. This made no sense to me, since she was clearly not an Aventis.

When I confronted her about it, all she said was that it was something arranged by our parents with the Raynar Pride in the event of their deaths. She said it would ensure she received the best education possible. And it didn't bother her to be surrounded by Aventis day in and day out.

I couldn't accept her explanation, but then again, I was just a kid who knew _nothing_ about the world I lived in.

However, the truth is my sister never told me _anything_. She never spoke about the school. She never spoke about the Aventis, nor the Prides. She never discussed the odd hours she had to keep.

She rarely answered any of my questions.

And she lied to me when she did.

Knowing what I know now, I can appreciate that in her own way she was trying to protect me.

She was trying to shield me from the truth until I was older, and ready to accept that truth.

My sister didn't want me to hate her for something she had no control over.

Like me, Celica tested double negative against all the Symbiotic strains.

Like me she had scored highly as a pre-Awakened Familiar.

And like me, one day she was bonded to a Pride when her body reacted strongly to the Raynar Symbiote.

My sister was a Familiar, and not just any Familiar.

She was special, top her class, crème of the crop.

She joined the Artemis ranks, the elite dark knights that answered only to the Primatriarch Council and the Commander of Special Interventions.

She was that good, or should I say, she was that _bad ass_.

And then one day she died, and left me alone in this horrid reality.

A year later, Caprice stabbed me in the chest and injected me with Arisa's blood, triggering my Awakening as a Familiar.

Unlike Celica, I attended the remaining six months of the year at my school for Regulars, whereas she had transferred right away.

I had Arisa to thank for those six months, and for telling me the truth about my sister.

It was just a pity there was so much even Arisa didn't know.

### Chapter 6 – Princess.

(Caelum)

I kept an eye on Prissila Ventiss Raynar, and an eye on the girl standing behind her.

The girl had short, black hair and was dressed in the uniform of a second year high-schooler.

She wore the badge of a Familiar, and another bearing the Raynar crest.

She was probably bonded to a member of the Ventiss Family.

And she was probably here to protect Prissila from me.

Prissila Ventiss stepped deeper into the garden and closer to me.

The Familiar kept pace a few feet behind her, then moved off the path to stand where she had a clear line of sight to me. Her movements were akin to Caprice's – fluid, graceful and hinting at great strength kept tightly under control.

I had often thought of Caprice as an unsheathed blade.

This girl gave me the same impression.

I had no doubt that she possessed a Fragment, but I had no idea what it might be.

One thing was highly likely – with my limited training I was undoubtedly not match for her even if I used my shield-blade.

Prissila Ventiss broke the silence. "Caelum Desanto, welcome to Galatea Academy."

"...thanks...."

"Oh, no need to thank me."

"Then I won't." I swallowed tightly and asked, "What do you want?"

"We haven't formally met. My name is Prissila Ventiss Raynar." She bowed to me, and that made me feel really uncomfortable.

I swallowed quickly and said, "I know who you are."

"Good. Now that that's over, why are you so nervous?"

She wasn't wrong. I was nervous. Part of my mind was busy thinking through the options I had, and what could I possibly do against Prissila's pet Familiar.

I stated, "You haven't told me why you're here."

"To introduce myself, and to clear up any misunderstandings you may have regarding the Ventiss Family's intentions toward you."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "What misunderstandings?"

"You believe we mean you harm."

"The thought has crossed my mind—a lot. Actually, it's running circles inside my head."

She took a few steps closer. "Then that's one misunderstanding I intend to resolve before it becomes a problem."

In the corner of my eye I watched the Familiar also step closer.

I decided it was time to show some of my cards. I rolled up my right sleeve and exposed the Fragment bracelet on my forearm.

Prissila eyed it with a complete lack of concern. "I think you misunderstand something, Caelum. I didn't come here to fight with you. In fact, you would make short work of me."

"Yeah, but you brought _her_ along."

"True. But she's here to protect me from you."

"From me? In that case, keep your distance."

Prissila came to a stop, and folded her arms under her impressive chest. She regarded me quietly for a long moment. "As a proud member of the Ventiss Family, I wish to make the following quite clear. We have no intention of harming you. We never did."

I swallowed and stared at the beautiful girl, wondering if I could really accept her words for the truth.

I fixed a frown upon her. "Then why attack the Lanfears?"

Prissila gave me a thoughtful look. "Tell me, Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear, what do you know of the circumstances surrounding your Awakening seven months ago."

"I was told there was an agreement between the Raynar and Lanfear Prides. The Raynars offered my guardianship to the Lanfears and they accepted. But your family broke the agreement and came after me."

I had to breathe slowly and deeply for a while. As Haruka's Symbiote spread throughout my body, the pain was making me sweat under my uniform. But I needed all the physical help I could get. I didn't trust Prissila, and I most certainly wasn't going to relax my guard in front of that Familiar. But still, it was hard just to remain standing.

Prissila nodded and smiled faintly. "That is correct. My family disregarded the agreement. We were opposed to it from the beginning."

I frowned at her. "Why? Don't the Prides normally come to an agreement over which Familiars they will assume guardianship? Arisa said there was a system in place that would provide a medium for the Prides to negotiate, barter and bargain over pre-Awakened Familiars like we're some kind of prized animals for sale."

"That is true. Familiars are a rare species and of importance to us."

I didn't like the way she referred to us as a species. But then again, I'd just called my kind _prized animals_ so who was I to talk. "We're important because we can control the Fragments and Artifacts."

She nodded faintly. "Yes."

"So why break the agreement over me?"

"Because you're too important to palm off to another Pride. Way too important."

"Important? Me? Are you sure you have the right Familiar?"

"Yes, you're definitely the one we were after." She tipped her head to a side. "I'm surprised you haven't been told how special you are."

I had trouble believing what she'd just said. "Special? Are you serious?"

"Of course, why else would my family choose to ignore a directive from my Primatriarch and break the agreement."

I shook my head. I wasn't ready to accept her words. "This wasn't what Arisa had told me."

"Oh, what did that woman tell you?"

"Arisa was told me the Ventiss Family has a long history of feuding with the Lanfear Pride and the Imreh Family. She said your family has frequently clashed with hers on everything from business ventures to claims on Familiars. Breaking the agreement between the Raynar and Lanfear Prides was not entirely unexpected. But she admits that on this occasion they were caught with their panties down."

She frowned. "But that's not an explanation."

Prissila was right, it wasn't.

Arisa had avoided answering my question. At the time, I wasn't in a position to press her for an answer.

But maybe now I would get answer.

It certainly seemed like Prissila was willing to give me one.

I asked, "Why do you call me special?"

Prissila inhaled deeply, making her bountiful chest heave magnificently. For a moment, the vision of her bosom rising and falling distracted me from the burning pain within my body. I was so distracted that her next words confused me.

"Caelum Desanto, have you ever heard of the Original Twelve bloodlines?"

"Wh—what? What bloodlines?"

The pain was making my hands tremble and my skin felt like it was on fire. I knew the rate of rapid growth wouldn't last for much longer. I just needed to keep it together for a couple more minutes. I needed the boost it would give me.

But I was having trouble concentrating on her words.

There was no way Prissila hadn't noticed. In fact, I thought she might have been pacing her replies, keeping them short and simple.

Why was she being so considerate toward me?

Prissila breathed in deeply again. "The Original Twelve—"

She stopped sharply, and I sensed someone enter the garden from behind me.

Prissila's pet Familiar shifted her stance, as though preparing for a fight.

But Prissila calmly raised her chin a little and smiled faintly. "You can relax, Steiner. The Ventiss Family doesn't mean Caelum any harm."

I heard the flat response from behind me. "I'll be the judge of that, Princess."

Prissila shrugged and directed her attention on me. "It looks like we'll have to continue this discussion another time."

I shook my head. "Wait, you're not going to tell me?"

"I'm afraid not. But I look forward to discussing this later."

I took a step toward her, aware her Familiar was watching me through narrowed eyes. "Can you at least tell me what the Ventiss Family intended for me?"

Prissila looked bemused, then amused. "Isn't it obvious? We wanted to bond you to us."

"To the Raynar Pride?"

"Yes, and to me. My blood was supposed to awaken you."

I couldn't stop my mouth from falling open.

She smiled at my reaction. "Seven months ago, your test results showed compatibility as a Familiar to four Symbiotic strains. It was quite a change in your body from the test results conducted six months earlier. But what surprised everyone was how immensely compatible your body was with the Raynar Symbiote. The Primatriarchs agreed that the Raynar Pride was the best choice for your affiliation. Raynar blood should have Awakened you."

I stared at her in stunned silence.

I really didn't know what to say to this revelation.

Prissila gave me a regretful smile. "The Ventiss Family had everything in place to bring you in. But then someone decided it was better to leave you in the hands of another Pride—another family. That set off a chain of events that led to the misunderstanding you've been harboring against us."

Prissila's attention shifted to a point off my right shoulder.

I heard grass and soil being stepped on and assumed Caprice was taking a position where she could face off against Prissila's Familiar.

Her voice was as flat as usual. "I think you should leave, Princess. Caelum and I have another commitment."

"Yes, I know." Prissila focused her attention on me. "We need to do this again. But for now, I bid you adieu, Caelum Desanto."

She bowed her head to me, but pointedly ignored Caprice.

However, before she could fully turn away, Prissila said, "A word of advice. Be cautious of Simone Alucard."

Remembering the incident in the storeroom, I snorted involuntarily. "Now I get the warning."

"Better late than never. Her weak attempts at seduction aside, I suggest you think carefully about becoming involved in the Student Council's poorly resourced idea of opposing Crimson Crescent. It's bound to end in failure...and in tragedy."

At her words, my stomach turned to lead.

She knew about the Student Council's intentions?

Prissila didn't give me a chance to respond.

Turning away, she began walking out of the garden.

But her Familiar hung back. The girl spared Caprice a thin, cruel smile. "Next time, Steiner, I won't be caught by surprise."

"What a pity, Constance," Caprice muttered in monotone. "I thought you would have learnt your lesson by now."

The girl shook her head at Caprice, as though she were pitying her. "Next time, I'll be the one teaching you a lesson."

She turned away and walked quickly yet unhurriedly after Prissila.

As she did, I felt the pain in my body ease up considerably.

By now the Avenir Symbiote was firmly entrenched in my body. It would stay there for almost a day before it 'burnt out' and quickly died. Its remains would be consumed by my body.

At least its 'death' wasn't painful like its rapid growth was.

But it was sure to mess up my appetite for the next few days.

I looked at Caprice. "So that's Constance. I guess she hasn't forgiven you for the pounding you gave her on the rooftop."

Caprice gave no indication she'd heard me as she started walking along the path through the garden. She was going to leave the garden via the same exit chosen by Prissila and her Familiar.

I called out to her sharply. "Caprice—is it true?"

She stopped walking. "Is what true?"

"Is it true that I should have been awoken by the blood of a Raynar?"

She had her back to me, but I sensed the disquiet in her. At the least, I thought her voice sounded uneasy.

She replied without turning around. "Does it matter? You're bonded to the Lanfear Pride. Even if the Raynars wanted you now, they can't have you."

She resumed walking.

"Is that really true?" I asked. "Is it really true that I can't change my affiliation?"

I thought I saw her miss a step. At that moment, something became abundantly clear to me.

Caprice was keeping secrets from me.

An unpleasant sensation began festering in my chest. For the first time in the many months since I'd known her, I felt my trust and faith in her begin waver. Maybe she was only doing Arisa's bidding. Perhaps she thought keeping me in the dark was for the best. But I couldn't help feeling betrayed. And yet, I wanted to believe in her...I truly did.

My heart beat a little painfully in my chest as I stared at her slender back.

Caprice recovered and again resumed walking.

I cleared my throat quickly. "Caprice, I didn't tell the Countess about your underwear."

She stopped, and I watched her clench her hands tightly.

From over her shoulder, she growled in a voice that was anything but emotionless. "You expect me to believe you?"

In the past I'd experienced her anger on brief occasions. But I'd never seen her flushed red with anger like she was now.

This was a new Caprice.

A frightening Caprice.

But I'd spoken the truth, and I chose to face her anger without flinching.

I gave her a single nod. "I've never told a single soul."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, because that's something between you and me. A prized secret. A prized possession."

Trembling in fury, she stared at me for a while longer. "Then you tell me, how the Hell did she find out?"

She half ran out of the garden, clearly not wanting to spend another second near me.

With that realization in mind, I debated whether or not to attend training.

Arisa would reprimand me if she learnt I'd missed a session.

But I had a lot on my mind, and there was Caprice to consider. Maybe I should just give her some space, at least for today.

Yet for the life of me, I couldn't understand how the Countess knew of those violet panties from Caprice.

#

(Haruka)

Siobhan, Alistair and I were sitting in a cake shop not far from the Academy.

Three parfaits sat before us on the table, and we ate them in silence using spoons with long, slim handles.

After a few minutes eating in silence, I couldn't hold my tongue anymore.

I looked up at Alistair sitting across from me. "Ally, what's going on?"

Siobhan and Alistair looked up in their own time. They'd been eating their parfaits like automatons.

Alistair put down her parfait spoon. "I'm not sure. That's why I wanted to eavesdrop on whatever the Princess might have said to Desanto."

"Why?" I asked.

She was quiet for a moment. "Because something's happening at the Academy, and I want to know what it is."

Siobhan gave her a complicated look. "Something's happening at Galatea? What makes you say that?"

Alistair shrugged faintly. "Because my brother's been acting anxious for months now. He used to discuss school matters with me at home. Now he rarely talks to me, and when he does he tells me to study hard and keep out of trouble."

I noticed the spoon in her right hand tremble.

Alistair looked down at her gradually melting parfait. "He's become so distant."

Siobhan made a pained expression. "Well, that's understandable. He's got responsibilities he didn't have before. I can't believe his job is easy."

Alistair banged her right hand onto the table. "I'm telling you he wasn't like this even after he took office."

Siobhan raised her hands placatingly. "Okay, okay. Ally calm down. You're making a scene. Want us to get kicked out?"

Alistair glared at Siobhan, but then she turned away and stared down at the parfait in front of her. "But a month ago...a month ago he starts telling me all sorts of stuff. He starts telling me about trouble between the Ventiss Family and a few other Families. He starts telling me to stay away from Prissila. But that's not all."

Her expression grew troubled and she looked up at me.

I almost gulped in response. "Ally? What's wrong?"

Alistair stared at me for a while. "Haruka, I'm sorry. I haven't been honest with you."

I blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

Siobhan looked confused. "Yeah, what do you mean?"

Alistair inhaled deeply. "Haruka, I knew about Caelum transferring to Galatea. I knew he was the same Caelum you spoke about."

I had trouble digesting her statement. "You what?"

A guilty, regretful look blanketed her face. "I'm sorry. I was told not to say anything. I'm so sorry."

I leaned forward across the table. "You were told by whom?"

"By my brother," Alistair admitted. "I knew Caelum was a Familiar. And I knew he was the source of the trouble between various families and Prides. I knew about Prissila causing a stir many months ago over him. I knew all this from my brother."

I clenched my jaw as I struggled to keep my breathing even, and my anger down.

I felt betrayed, but I also understood that Alistair had been told about Caelum in confidence.

Knowing we were good friends, it couldn't have been an easy secret to keep.

I looked down at the table as I asked, "How long have you known?"

"For about a month...."

"A month?" I looked up into Alistair's eyes.

She broke eye contact as she nodded gently. "I'm sorry, Haruka. I'm really, really sorry."

I took a deep breath. "What else do you know about him?"

There was a noticeable hesitation on her part. Alistair looked conflicted but then appeared to come to a resolution.

"I know that he's classified a Special affiliated with the Lanfear Pride."

I frowned. "What's a Special?"

"It's a Familiar gifted with a Fragment—a Familiar entrusted to perform special duties for their affiliated Pride."

I tipped my head slightly. "A Fragment? One of those ancient devices from the time of the Cataclysm?"

Siobhan muttered, "Didn't they say that most of those pieces are broken?"

"That's what the news reports say," Alistair stated. Her voice grew low and uncomfortable. "But not all Fragments are broken. A lot of them work quite well. The problem is that only Familiars can use them, and even then the right Familiar needs to be matched to the right Fragment."

I narrowed my eyes a little. "Caelum has a Fragment?"

Alistair nodded faintly. "Yes, I'm certain he does."

I regarded her for a long, quiet moment. "Ally, do you know if Caprice Steiner is a Special?"

Again, Alistair looked reluctant but once again she pushed through her indecision. "Yes, she's a Special and she has a Fragment as well."

Siobhan straightened. "You mean, if we'd tried to get past her, she could have used it to stop us?"

Siobhan practiced Kendo, and Alistair had been raised on a diet of Aikido since she was knee high. Both could handle their own against a Regular man or two.

Alistair looked thoughtful. "Yes, she could have stopped us easily. But Familiars aren't allowed to use Fragments in public unless it's under special circumstances. Even then, the rules are pretty strict. The use of Fragments in public would rouse fear in the _public_. I mean, Fragments are pretty powerful, and people would start clamoring that something needs to be done about Familiars. Things would turn ugly very fast for the Prides and for Familiars."

Siobhan looked confused. "Then why give Fragments to the Familiars in the first place?"

Alistair shrugged. "I don't know."

Siobhan sat back. "Well, if it was up to me, I'd keep the Fragments under lock and key. Considering Familiars have no love for us Aventis, I can't understand why the Prides trust them with stuff so dangerous."

I thought about Caelum's hatred for the Aventis.

I wondered how he felt being a Familiar affiliated with a Pride.

Would he use his Fragment against the Prides?

I noticed Alistair had grown very quiet. In fact, she wasn't moving at all.

She was looking behind us.

I turned, and saw a good looking young man walk up to our booth. I recognized him a moment later.

Siobhan gasped, "Pres—President."

President of the Galatea Academy Student Council, Severin Kell Avenir, bowed to us in polite greeting.

"Ladies," he said. He gave Siobhan and I a good look, then asked me, "May I sit down, Miss Amiella?"

I nodded unevenly and scooted along the bench seat in order to afford him room to sit.

He sat down beside me, our shoulders a good foot apart.

He fixed Alistair in his sights. "Hello Alistair."

I watched her swallow nervously. "Hello, brother."

Siobhan and I sat deathly still. A dozen reasons for him to be here ran though my head.

Severin Kell folded his arms on the table and swept his gaze over all three of us.

"Alright Alistair, you called me over, and now I'm here."

Siobhan and I stared at the girl in utter disbelief.

Severin Kell smiled warmly at his sister. "Now tell me what's on your mind?"

#

(Caelum)

I skipped Friday afternoon training.

Instead I went home to the apartment Arisa had designated as my home.

I checked for messages but had none.

After eating a processed square meal, I showered and went to bed.

But sleep eluded me, or rather chose to keep its distance.

I couldn't fault it. Haruka's Symbiote was still inside me and would probably continue to 'boost me' for another ten to twelve hours before it began to die out.

I groaned in frustration.

So I lay in near darkness and mentally reviewed a rather mixed day.

I wondered how many more Familiars at Galatea Academy were also bonded with a weapon. Severin had called it a bumper year, but he'd only called in four of us, namely myself, Caprice, Maya and Rina.

But the girl, Constance, was also a Familiar though she was affiliated with the Ventiss Family.

And Prissila Ventiss was aware of the Student Council's plans. How was that possible? Had Severin tried to recruit Prissila's help? Was that how she knew the Student Council had plans against Crimson Crescent? Or was she spying on the Student Council?

I thought about Simone's fears over the Student Council becoming involved in something it wasn't fit to handle. I wondered if she was being dragged into Severin Kell's machinations without much of a choice.

And I wondered how I was going to appease Caprice's anger toward me.

In the end, I managed a handful of hours of sleep and woke up early on Saturday morning.

No overnight message had been recorded by the apartment's information management system. There were no messages recorded on my palm-slate.

How long before Arisa rang and asked what was going on?

I decided to head out early and make up for yesterday's lack of training.

I stopped by Caprice's apartment. When I rang the door no one answered. Checking my palm-slate, I used the linked tracking function to find her location. She was inside, or at least her palm-slate was. I sent her a text message telling her I was heading out to training. Then I left the apartment complex and made my way by mag-lev to the gym in Habitat Two, District Two.

The training center was deserted. There was no one around to perform the medical exam at the completion of training. This wasn't a frequent occurrence, but there were times when Caprice and I would train on our own, and then rejoin the outside world.

An empty gym suited me just fine. I pushed myself, hoping the exercise and holovid combat training would clear my head. In the end, after two hours I'd succeeded in exhausting myself, but as soon as I stopped training my worries started trickling back in.

I realized I had no other way to deal with them but to face them.

The first of which was Caprice.

After showering and changing back into my street clothes, I walked back to the mag-lev station. I joined the pedestrian traffic, though my mind was actually on reviewing the events in the Student Council room.

The Countess had joked about not wearing underwear.

Caprice had quickly presumed the Countess was making a reference to the panties in my possession.

But did the Countess really know about them?

If not, why would she assume I was interested in her underwear as a prize?

Was she just making a general assumption about what interested all teenage boys?

Or did she really know about Caprice giving me her racy violet panties some seven months ago?

I stopped walking.

I told Caprice the truth – I'd never revealed that secret to anyone. I was certain Caprice had never spilled the beans either.

So how did Simone learn of that compensation gift?

I remembered the conversation at the beginning of the week in the cafeteria. Caprice told me she would knife me if I ever told anyone about her panties being in my drawer.

Could it be...our conversation was being monitored?

I was bumped by passing pedestrians. Knocked back into the present, I realized I was a mere hundred feet from mag-lev station entrance, so I quickly walked up to it.

"Desanto."

I stopped and looked around, searching for the girl's voice that called out my name. It was a voice I didn't recognize.

"Desanto, over here."

I turned and saw a sleek, low slung trike parked beside the sidewalk. Leaning against it was a girl dressed in a skintight black riding outfit that followed her slender curves. My interest was split between her and her ride, but then I recognized her face and my innards froze.

She waved me over.

I hesitated for a long while before eventually walking over to her.

"What do you want?" I asked. "You following me?"

"No, but we have surveillance on you."

"Great, that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside."

"It should, after all you're affiliated with another Pride yet we still keep an eye on you."

"Prides spying on each other's Familiars? What a comforting thought."

She pushed off the parked trike and straightened. I noticed that even in booted heels she was a couple of inches shorter than my height of five foot eight.

"Get on," she said and offered me a helmet.

"Why?"

"Because the Princess wants to continue her discussion. I'll take you to her."

I shook my head. "If she wants to talk, she can clear it with my Handler—I mean my _Guardian_."

"That probably wouldn't happen," Constance replied. "In fact, we don't know how much time we'll have before the Lanfears step in." She pushed the helmet against me. "Do you want to know the truth or not?"

"The truth about what?"

"About a lot of things surrounding your life, and what the Prides want from you."

I searched her face, aware that I probably had no way of knowing if she was lying. Then I looked down at the helmet in her hands.

After wondering if it was a good idea to trust her, I took the helmet. "You do know that my palm-slate is being tracked?"

She nodded casually. "Of course. All Familiars are tracked. However, if you stick close to me that won't be a problem. Come on, we need to hurry. I don't want to keep the Princess waiting."

What did she mean by sticking close to her and it wouldn't be a problem?

Shrugging inwardly, I slipped the helmet on my head and tied up the chin straps. I felt the base of the helmet suddenly expand like a curtain around my neck and shoulders.

Constance sat on the trike's long seat and I sat behind her. The girl slipped on a helmet and then tied up the straps. Then I felt a faint shiver run through the machine as it started up.

In-wheel electric motors drove the three wheels.

Constance pulled out smoothly into traffic, and quickly whisked us away from the mag-lev station.

I held onto her, feeling very little wind blow by, and realized it was probably due to an effect-field surrounding the trike, aiding its aerodynamics.

But I was acutely aware of her body as I held onto her.

A very taut and trim body, not unlike Caprice's.

### Reflections – 7.

Before the super freighter exploded in the Harbor Sphere, no one had ever heard of Crimson Crescent.

That is to say, the general public had never heard of them.

Afterwards, the furor over their existence and agenda lasted a couple of months.

But by then, Crimson Crescent had disappeared 'into the woodwork', and the public quickly forgot about them.

Perhaps the Prides' management and control of the information mediums played a part in that.

Nonetheless, mere months after the explosion life returned to 'normal' for those unaffected by the freighter's destruction.

If there was one change to the populace's daily existence, it was the increased security within Pharos, and the greater restrictions on personal freedom. Crimson Crescent's announcement – their declaration of war against the Aventis – gave the Powers-that-be within the Prides a reason to implement those changes. But the general public, being the sheep that they are, accepted all this as necessary for the sake of ensuring their safety. It was the 'price of freedom is eternal vigilance', et cetera, et cetera.

How are you supposed to argue against that?

Well, in many ways, but the problem is that the Powers-that-be are in charge and they don't care for your arguments. They won't even bother pissing on your complaints.

Having said this, life within Pharos didn't change all that much, so it was somewhat easy to grow accustomed to the increased levels of security, especially when you didn't notice they were there.

But what of Crimson Crescent?

For a few of weeks after their explosive debut, the media had tried to interpret their agenda.

The problem was Crimson Crescent had declared war but not declared their agenda. So for a short while people wondered what the organization stood for. On the news networks, experts were asked their opinions on what Crescent's existence meant for the average Joe. What were there motives? What did they hope to achieve? So on and so on.

However, as the months went by the threat they posed failed to materialize. So little by little the average Joe forgot about them.

Perhaps I should say, out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

But even when Crimson Crescent was mentioned – which was rare to say the least – people failed to bat an eyelid.

I hadn't forgotten them, and neither had the people who'd suffered because of that explosion.

People like Arisa.

Then one day I ran into them head first, and I realized the war between them and the Prides was in full swing. Except for years now, that war had been fought in the shadows out in the nebula, and on the worlds of the colonized star systems.

That goes a long way in demonstrating just how effectively the Prides' could handle information control across all mediums. Or perhaps, Crimson Crescent wasn't bothered with keeping the public aware of their existence.

However, the war raged on.

It was a war that had cost lives on both sides – the lives of Familiars and Aventis.

A war with no memorials to commemorate their deaths.

A war people knew nothing about.

A war I was eventually dragged into because of who I was, or rather who I became.

### Chapter 7 – Spirited Away.

(Caelum)

Our destination was an amusement park in Habitat Three within Island Three.

To get there we had travel down the network of tunnels that connected the habitats to each other. We passed through the security toll gates at the entrance to Habitat Three, our entry into the habitat automatically registered. From there it was another fifteen minute ride through midday traffic to the amusement park.

Constance parked the trike in the visitor vehicle parking house opposite the amusement grounds.

Together with her, we walked across to the park. At a distance it was easy to hear the sounds of a thousand people or more enjoying themselves on the dozens of rides and attractions.

Constance paid for the both of us, swiping her palm-slate over the ticket dispenser's scanner.

Two paper-like bracelets were deposited in the machine's small bin. I strapped one onto my left wrist behind my watch. Constance made the same use of the other.

Under the watchful eye of security drones that resembled large bowling pins, we passed through the turnstiles of the entrance gate and into the park.

I realized I hadn't been here in years, not since my parents died.

Celica had often asked me if I wanted to go, but I always politely begged off.

Now years later I had walked through the gates with barely a second thought. I put it down to being distracted by the multitude of worrying thoughts clustering inside my head.

I needed to straighten myself out. Maybe meeting with the Princess was a step in the right direction. However, I wouldn't know until I met and spoke with her.

I'd carried my gym bag with me. At the locker station just inside the park entrance I paid for a locker and shoved my bag into it. I entered a digital code into the locking panel, saved it, then walked out of the station.

Constance made a call on her palm-slate.

I couldn't listen in, but she quickly beckoned me to follow while listening to the party on the other end of the line.

We walked toward a large fountain in the middle of a plaza that was near the entrance gates. A number of guys and girls loitered about, probably waiting for friends or partners to arrive.

My gaze fell on one girl standing with a palm-slate to her right ear, and her left hand planted angrily on her hip. She was dressed in blue-back denim pants, a black T-shirt with violet writing on it – probably the name of a local band – and heeled sandals. Her golden hair was tied up into a messy ponytail.

A couple of young men were obviously trying to pick her up.

At sight of us the Princess pushed her way between the young men and walked toward Constance and I, ending the call she'd been making.

The two guys looked incensed and ready to follow until they realized the girl was no longer alone.

They certainly eyed Constance in her skintight black riding gear.

They gave me a cursory look and dismissed me as no threat.

In truth they were bigger and older than me, and most probably Aventis.

I shrugged inwardly and decided to let the Princess deal with them should they come over.

But when they gave me another look, I met their stares with a smile, almost as though inviting a fight.

In fact, I realized I was actually looking forward to it.

My body was still pumped with the extra strength Haruka's Symbiote imbued in me. Regardless if they were Aventis, I was going to give as good as I got.

I was going to make them bleed.

They started walking toward us, and I started to over-clock.

Then someone grabbed my left hand and pulled me along.

That someone was the Princess.

My over-clocking state faltered and broke. I perceived the surroundings in normal time, rather than quarter speed.

The Princess muttered angrily. "Let's go."

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Constance follow a few steps behind.

Another glance confirmed the two young men were making no move to follow us.

I relaxed a little, until I felt the Princess's fingers tighten around my left hand.

Her hand felt a little smaller than mine, and her fingers were long and slender.

Her hand felt good.

She led us to an area populated with food stalls and kiosks. Only when she stood in front of one of those kiosks did she release my hand.

She bought three sodas in large cups complete with covers and straws. She didn't even ask me what I wanted. Constance accepted her soda with a small thanks, clearly accustomed to the Princess making choices for her.

I looked at the soda she bought me, feeling a little peeved with her behavior.

After a moment debating whether or not to toss it into the nearest disposal bin, I shrugged inwardly once more and drank through the straw. As I did, I gave myself a chance to take in the Princess's casual look.

She looked like any other girl dressed to attend a live performance.

The T-shirt looked a bit faded – and certainly stretched across her chest – but it was unremarkable even with the wild violet writing on the front and back.

I tried not to appear obvious as I ran my gaze over her.

I realized she had a faint smirk on her face and I averted my gaze.

She leaned forward into me. "Not what you expected?"

I shook my head automatically. "Not in the least."

She laughed. "Ha, so what do you think?"

"I'm not sure it's safe for me to answer that."

Her smile faded and her expression grew cloudy. "Mind explaining what you mean by that?"

I drank another mouthful of soda through the straw, swallowed and admitted, "Well, I might give you the wrong idea about me."

"Which would be?" She frowned abruptly. "Wait, you don't like girls?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, I definitely like girls. I'd give you ten out of ten if I was asked to rank you. You're certainly my type."

She blinked slowly a few times. "Ha, well you do sound honest enough." She shrugged and slowly walked away as she sipped her soda. "Ten out of ten. I wonder what Simone would say to that...."

I could be wrong but I thought her cheeks looked a little rosy.

Wait—didn't I just answer her in my own way?

And why was she mentioning the Countess?

Constance stepped up to me. "I'll be around." She leaned her face close to mine. "Treat her like a Princess, is that clear?"

"Ah, yeah. Sure. No problem."

Constance's eyes searched deep into mine. Then she drew back with a predatory smile on her lips. "That's good."

She walked away without another word, disappearing into the slowly moving crowd.

Where was she planning on going?

I sighed and chose not to worry about that. There was no doubt she would be close by in the event something happened.

That thought gave me cause for concern. I looked around at the crowd surrounding us. They looked like regular folks just enjoying a day at the park.

But what if some of them weren't regular folk at all?

Damn, if I kept this up I was going to be swamped by doubts and fears that would manifest into indecision.

I drank down another mouthful of soda, then bitterly chased after the Princess before she attracted more unwanted attention.

#

(Caprice)

The first call I received was from Arisa.

I'd just finished showering and was getting dressed to take my bike out for a ride. The bike was a gift from Arisa. She bought it for me a month ago when I passed my provisional license exams. I had another eleven months to go before I graduated to a full license.

Arisa spoke quickly. Constance had made contact with Caelum, near the gym, about a minute ago.

I felt my heart freeze in a panic.

Arisa told me to get over there as soon as possible.

The second call I received was from Simone Alucard Raynar.

The girl asked me to pick her up on the way. I told her I didn't have a spare helmet, but she told me not to worry.

I realized then that the Countess had been conferenced on Arisa's call.

I collected the bike from the apartment complex's sublevel garage.

Simone was waiting for me outside the mag-lev station where Constance had intercepted Caelum. She was dressed like a regular teenager, in tight denim pants, a sleeveless blouse under a denim jacket, and black and white sneakers on her feet. And she had her own riding helmet in hand.

"How did you get here?" I asked in a flat tone.

"By cab."

"Then why didn't you get a cab all the way to the park?"

"Because I'd rather go in with you."

I gave up trying to argue with her or question her.

The Countess secured her helmet over her head, climbed onto the back of my bike, then wrapped her arms around me. "Let's go."

I wasn't accustomed to tandem riding, but I managed to avoid spilling us both onto the street. It took a good twenty minutes to arrive at the amusement park.

I was lucky. We found parking for the bike close to the park.

I paid for an admission ticket, snapped the water proof paper bracelet around my left wrist, and walked through the turnstiles unchallenged.

The Countess walked right beside me.

I called Arisa. "We're at the park. So what now?"

Arisa said, "Put me on speaker."

I did as she instructed and held the palm-slate between the Countess and I.

The girl was looking about anxiously. "Where the Hell are they?"

Arisa asked through the palm-slate, "What do you plan on doing, Simone?"

The Countess sounded irritated. "I'm planning to separate those two."

I gave the girl a flat look. "What is Prissila planning to do with Caelum? She can't be thinking of harming him."

The Countess continue searching the faces around us. "No, she won't harm him, but I'm worried of what Caelum may do."

I struggled to keep my voice devoid of emotion. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Arisa interrupted me. "Simone, I'll ask you again. What are you going to do?"

The Countess inhaled long and deep. "I'll tell him what he needs to know. I'll tell him the truth."

Arisa asked, "In that case let me ask, have your people secured the park?"

"No, the Ventiss personnel got here first. They've shut the Alucards out."

Arisa said, "Then you'd better hurry, Simone. Get to him before they can stop you."

"They wouldn't dare," the Countess muttered angrily.

"Oh yes they would. Look behind you."

The Countess and I both faced the entrance.

Sure enough, a number of security guards were heading toward Simone and I with purpose.

I asked the Countess, "Are they yours?"

She gave me a pained glance. "Definitely not."

Arisa's voice was clear despite being on speaker. "Caprice, I want you to cover Simone."

"Say again?"

"Make sure she gets to Caelum and Prissila. Do what you need to do."

"Permission to use the Valkyrie Armor?"

She was quiet for a heartbeat. "Very well, permission granted. Non-lethal force and I leave it to your discretion."

I nodded unnecessarily. "I'm wearing the skinsuit you prepared for me. That might be enough. Where are the Princess and Caelum?"

"Sending you the last known holovid feed. They're somewhere near the water course. Oh, how romantic. It looks like they're in the queue to board one of those pedal boats for couples."

It was hard to remain impassive, but I kept my feelings from showing.

"I know where that is," Simone said.

She did? I frowned at her as she turned away smoothly on her sneakered feet, her movements light and precise.

I followed her, keeping an eye on the security guards that were beginning to walk hastily toward us. "Arisa, what's going on? For the Ventiss to make such a fuss to keep us away from Caelum seems a little extreme."

Arisa held back from replying straight away. "Caprice, when this is over there are things I need to tell you."

I frowned inwardly. "Does this have something to do with the Original Twelve?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"Yesterday. It was something the Princess mentioned to Caelum, but she didn't tell him what it was."

Arisa was clearly annoyed. "Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?"

"I'm sorry. It slipped my mind."

I heard her sigh loudly through the palm-slate. "Then you and I definitely need to talk. For now, protect Simone. I have a bad feeling about this situation."

I glanced at the guards again. "Arisa, I have to go."

"I understand. Go Caprice."

I ended the call and slipped the palm-slate into a pocket. The skinsuit doubled as a bike riding suit so it had two pockets I could make use of. While the skinsuit enhanced my strength beyond what was natural for an Aventis, I was going to need a lot more if I was to get the Countess to Caelum and Prissila.

I concentrated my will and directed it at the anklets and bracelets I wore on the outside of the skinsuit. Unlike Caelum's Fragment, mine didn't require contact with my skin in order to function.

I summoned the Valkyrie Armor, and the black mist surrounded my body, chilling both myself and the air around me.

A handful of seconds later I felt the Armor encase my legs and forearms. Now I had an edge no Aventis, even one clad in a skinsuit, could hope to match.

I ran in front of the Countess and crouched down. "Get on," I said.

Simone hesitated until she heard the guards calling loudly for us to stop. That spurred her into action. In a heartbeat the Countess was riding piggyback on my back.

I straightened easily. "Hold on tight—real tight."

"I can't do that without choking you."

"I'll be fine. Just don't break my neck."

Her arms tightened around my neck, but I could still breathe comfortably thanks to the protection the skinsuit offered me.

Crouching a little, I took off at a run. I covered a hundred meters in less than five seconds, and had to be careful not to collide with the various small crowds walking between venues.

The Countess blurted out, "That bridge to the right—take it."

I veered onto it, narrowly avoiding a young family with their kids.

I didn't even have time to apologize.

The Countess instructed, "Left at the end, then straight on until you get to the small fountain."

Following her directions, we not only left the guards behind, we avoided many of the guards running to intercept us.

"This is too much," I muttered. "They're taking this too far."

We neared the fountain.

Simone said, "Take that path to the right that runs diagonal."

Again I changed my vector.

Simone was holding on for dear life but I wasn't about to let her fall.

We neared a water way with a wide bridge running across it.

I saw the queue on the opposite side lining up for the next available boat.

Caelum and Prissila were moments from boarding one.

At sight of them, I felt a dull pang through my chest.

The distraction made me stumble and the Countess cried out in fright. But I recovered without dropping her.

Then I saw movement off to my left and it was too quick to be a Regular.

Too fast even for an Aventis.

A skinsuit clad Familiar.

"Get off," I yelled at the Countess, digging my Valkyrie heels into the ground in an effort to slow down.

Simone practically jumped off my back.

I heard her cry out as she fell and rolled along the ground.

But my attention was on the girl with the long lance aiming her barrier-field at me.

I raised my arms, extending the sharp blades of my gauntlets, and projecting a barrier-field of my own.

Both her barrier and mine collided and the air grew heavy, so much so that I found it a little hard to breathe.

But neither of us backed down, even as the permacrete ground began to crack and shatter under the pressure of our colliding barriers.

I looked at Constance, her face a picture of concentration as she drove her field into mine. "What the Hell are you doing?"

"Keeping the Countess away from the Princess—as instructed!"

The ground between us shattered. As the fragments billowed up into the air, Constance leapt back, putting room between herself and me. I took the reprieve not to withdraw but to attack. The bridge was only meters away. All Simone needed to do was get to the bridge unimpeded.

I slammed my bladed gauntlets into Constance's barrier-field, but their piercer-fields failed to penetrate the girl's barrier. I leaned into her, and pushed against her field with the effect-field generated by my Valkyrie Armor.

The ground underfoot began to crack and shatter like glass.

I felt my footing start to slip.

"Countess—go! Run for the bridge now."

She didn't have to be told twice.

Without needing to look at her, I knew she was running for the bridge. My Awareness was expanded by the Valkyrie Armor. I could point to the Countess with my eyes closed, but right now my eyes were locked on Constance.

Simone sprinted along the bridge.

Constance shifted her stance, and pulled back. Immediately I fell into an overclocked state, and I realized she intended to chase down the Countess. I couldn't allow her to do so, so I leapt at Constance again, and again our barrier-fields clashed as I held her back.

The girl snarled and suddenly her lance changed configuration.

It no longer resembled a jousting lance, but more like drill.

And then a piercer-field stronger than any I'd ever felt cut through my barrier, and I was forced to jump out of the way before I was perforated.

As luck would have it, I landed at the foot of the bridge.

Constance reconfigured her lance back to jousting mode, and I was certain it looked sharper than before.

When I fought her seven months ago, I hadn't witnessed that ability from her Fragment. I had to wonder, was it the same Fragment I'd faced before?

I frowned inwardly. No, this was an example of her interfacing having improved, and thus she had unlocked new abilities in her Fragment.

Damn that piercer-field was strong.

Then I heard something unexpected.

The sound of something falling into water.

In the distance a girl screamed, "She jumped. Did you see that? She jumped into the water."

Another girl yelled, "Is she drowning? Can you see her?"

Yet another person cried out, "Someone call for help. Call security."

Through the Valkyrie Armor's senses I could feel that a small crowd was beginning to gather on the bridge.

Then I heard the inevitable.

"Look—look. What are those?"

"Familiars—look they're Familiars."

"Are those Fragments?"

"Didn't they say Fragments are weapons?"

"Hey, they're fighting."

"Cool—look at those chicks go!"

"They look awesome."

I stared at Constance whose gaze flickered over my shoulder. I didn't lower my guard nor change my stance. "What are you going to do? The Countess is long gone. There's no need to continue this anymore."

Constance's eyes hardened. She wasn't glaring anymore. She was just staring at me coldly with a killing intent in her eyes.

"Actually," she hissed, "there's every reason to keep going."

I didn't get the chance to respond.

But I did get the chance to block her piercer-field with my barrier-field.

I realized there was no turning back now.

There was certainly no running away.

Constance had made up her mind. She was going to make me pay for what I'd done to her seven months ago when I prevented her from getting to Caelum.

I didn't doubt for a moment that she had been held responsible for the Ventiss Family failing to secure him.

I didn't doubt for a moment she blamed me for the humiliation she'd suffered.

I blocked her piercer-field with a heartbeat to spare, but I was unprepared for the sweep she executed with her lance. The weapon's conical form changed in a second to a sharp, bladed form that cut the barrier-field protecting my left flank. Before it could breach the field, I managed to drop my right gauntlet into the blade's path, but the force of the blow knocked me aside.

I actually tumbled through the air before crashing down hard and rolling to a stop along the bank of the artificial waterway that enlarged into one of two small lakes.

Scrambling to my feet, I expected Constance to chase after Simone. Instead the girl came at me, and the bladed lance slashed down at my head.

I used both gauntlets to block her lance. The impact knocked me down to one knee.

She gave me no time to recover, swing it once more, piercing my barrier field and catching me by surprise.

Her blade missed my neck with only inches to spare.

Again my Valkyrie Armor reformed its barrier-field, and as it did, I rolled out of the way.

But Constance chased me down, and we found our positions on the bank reversed, with my back to the bridge. Blow by blow she pushed me back toward it.

Blow by blow I retreated, finding it hard to keep up with her speed and strength.

How could she be so strong?

How could she have improved so much in seventh months?

I started retreating up the bridge, blocking and parrying her thrusts so quickly the skinsuit was having trouble keeping up with me.

Instead of fleeing, the park's patrons were forming a spectating crowd. A dozen at first, then two, then a hundred. All along the bank, and a safe distance away, people ranging from children to young couples and families were watching the spectacle of two Familiars fighting in broad daylight.

Park Security was trying to keep them back, but everyone's attention was on Constance and I. More than a few palm-slates were aimed our way, recording the fight for posterity.

This was really going to cause an incident for the Prides. Covering up or explaining this was going to be a nightmare for the Raynars.

But that wasn't my problem.

My problem was Constance and her Fragment lance with its multiple configurations.

I had no idea if the Countess had reached her goal.

I had no idea how this encounter was going to end.

All I knew was that Constance was out for blood, and one mistake on my part was going to give her what she wanted.

### Reflections – 8.

It is possible for one Fragment to sense another.

This happened when the wielder of a Fragment expressed a particularly strong 'intent', otherwise known as a 'killing intent'.

Their wielder's feelings were amplified by the Fragment, thereby alerting other Fragments in the vicinity to its presence.

I knew this well before I felt Constance express a killing intent toward Caprice at the amusement park.

It was described to me as a sign of an inexperienced wielder, one that didn't know how to control their emotions in a manner that would prevent them from flowing into the Fragment. Such a wielder could not bring out the best in his or her weapon. Their feelings acted as clutter, as _noise_ that interfered with the connection between Familiar and Fragment.

A clear mind.

A clear heart.

No noise.

That translated into perfect harmony with the Fragment.

In other words, if I wanted to use the Gauntlet to the best of its abilities and mine, I had to adopt a particular mindset.

The mindset of a cold-blooded killer.

### Chapter 8 – Waterworks.

(Caelum)

Waiting in line wasn't as bad as I expected.

Maybe it was because I was in the company of gorgeous girl like Prissila Ventiss.

She might not have been dressed to the nines, but there wasn't a guy within a hundred feet that didn't notice her.

If this had been a real 'date', I might have thought all my Christmases had come at once.

But that wasn't the case.

I was standing in line beside her, waiting to board the boat that had arrived and was being readied for us.

Clearing my throat quietly, I asked, "Let me guess. We talk on the boat?"

Her nod was barely noticeable. "Yes. It takes around twenty minutes to travel the length of the water course. That should give us plenty of time."

"Hmm, sounds good."

She gave me sidelong look. "It does?"

I couldn't help grinning at her. You could say standing beside her was making me giddy. "Definitely."

She turned away uncomfortably but her cheeks were definitely rosy.

I thought I heard a commotion from somewhere in the distance, but the chatter around us from the couples waiting in line made me doubt my ears. Also, the attendants motioned for our attention. The boat was ready and they indicated we should board.

Prissila was helped into the boat, which resembled an embarrassingly large yellow duck. It had a roofed cabin and two seats. Although pedal operated, there was a small electric motor to assist those doing the pedaling. There was no propeller, just the duck's two webbed feet to propel us along. I was surprised they hadn't opted for something simpler like a paddle wheel, but I guess the duck boats were reliable enough. Then again, maybe it would break down and we'd get stranded out in the water course.

Naturally the attendant assumed I would be doing the pedaling so he quickly showed me the controls. I nodded and thanked him, then set to work getting us underway. The crew at the dock pushed us off, and then attended to the couple waiting for the boat behind us.

Before boarding I'd glanced at the map of the water course. It wasn't a lake, but an oval shaped course that circled back under the bridge and ended where we boarded. Stopping out on the course wasn't advised unless the boat broke down. Like Prissila said, the whole trip should take around twenty minutes.

So we had twenty minutes to ourselves.

Again, I regretted this wasn't a date. But I really should count myself blessed for the chance to spend time with a hot girl like Prissila. I was ready to forget all about her family's animosity with the Imrehs.

I patted my back pocket. My palm-slate was there. I wondered if I'd get the chance to take a photo with her.

Suddenly I sensed something moving toward us.

Not from the shoreline, but through the water.

And it was moving fast.

I looked to my left, but saw no duck boats in the vicinity.

But I trusted my Fragment's senses. Whatever it was, it would be here in heartbeats.

What happened next took me by surprise, even though I was aware of something arriving at Prissila's side of the boat.

Water fountained into the air, spraying deep into the duck's cabin, and drenching Prissila.

My body dropped into an over-clocked state and I was able to observe the unfolding scene in slow motion.

A girl with long ash grey hair and large breasts emerged from the water like a mermaid. Her clothes were soaked and her white blouse had turned completely transparent – as had her underwear – giving me a view I would treasure for many days to come.

Yes, they were completely outrageous breasts.

It didn't take me a heartbeat to recognize the girl.

I watched her reach out and grab onto the duck, then latch onto Prissila.

Prissila managed one terrified scream before she was pulled out of the duck and into the water. Both girls landed with a large splash that scattered water droplets deep into the duck's interior.

Still over-clocked, I realized I could have easily reached out and kept Prissila in the boat.

But I'd chosen not to, and it had nothing to do with being distracted by Simone Alucards glorious bust.

No, my subconscious desires had taken over.

I wanted to see both girls wet and wild in the water.

So I allowed Prissila to be pulled out of the duck by the Countess.

Still over-clocked, I worked the pedals and rudder wheel, and steered the duck over to the two girls who'd surfaced and were splashing wildly in the water.

Actually, they were grappling together while hurling insults at each other.

Listening to their verbal abuse was making my ears burn and my imagination run riot.

As I angled the duck around to them, I switched to the portside seat as it gave me a better view of the battling vixens.

I heard a rip and a curse.

Prissila's black t-shirt was now an off the shoulder t-shirt.

"You bitch! This is from their live concert," Prissila screamed.

"I know—I was there. Worst night of my life," Simone yelled back.

"You could have left anytime you wanted."

"And how was I expected to get home?"

Water continued to splash wildly around them as the struggled to gain the upper hand on the other.

Prissila snarled, "You could have called for a cab."

"With what? You broke my palm-slate when you knocked me on my ass while dancing."

"That was an accident! When are you going to let it rest?"

Simone yelled, "I was grounded for a month because of you."

"You knew what you were in for when you agreed to sneak out with me."

Prissila talked for too long and swallowed a mouthful of water. She began coughing madly. Unable to fight off Simone, she struggled to stay afloat.

"Two months," Prissila gasped out. "I was grounded...for...two months."

"Serves you right," Simone snarked.

I edged the boat closer but couldn't risk coming within a couple of feet of them.

I was going to have to dive in and then help the girls into the boat.

Then something else unexpected happened.

My Fragment bracelet began to tingle, and even in my over-clocked state my heart grew cold.

Killing intent.

My Fragment had sensed the killing intent from the wielder of another Fragment.

A loud crash rumbled through the air.

I looked up toward the bridge that spanned the water course, and saw powdered permacrete billow into the air and form a grey cloud. Larger pieces of the bridge scattered in all direction, most landing in the water with sharp splashes.

The debris cloud spread quickly over the middle of the bridge, obscuring it. But a heartbeat later two figures emerged. Both leapt backwards out of the cloud and landed on opposite ends of the bridge. Both were roughly two hundred feet from my position on the water course, but I could see them well enough since my eyesight had improved with my awakening as a Familiar.

I recognized them both.

Caprice, in her manifested Valkyrie Armor.

Constance, with her long lance-like Fragment.

I didn't know if the killing intent was coming from Caprice or Constance, but it was certainly being felt by my Fragment.

At that moment I came to a decision.

I wasn't going to allow Caprice to face Constance alone. Even if my combat abilities were well below hers, I would do what I could to support her.

#

(Caprice)

I couldn't believe how strong Constance had become.

When I faced her seventh months ago, I was still coming to grips with the Valkyrie Armor. A month prior, I had succeeded in manifesting the forearm gauntlets with their two foot long blades, and that was after a total of six months training with the Fragment.

The blades had given me the edge to defeat her and get to Caelum first.

Since then I was confident I'd grown stronger and faster, as well as being able to sustain the manifested Fragment for more than ninety minutes.

However, Constance had improved as well. No doubt being handed a painful defeat by my hands had spurred the girl into training hard to develop a better affinity with her Fragment, the jousting lance.

I never expected her progress to give me such a hard time.

In fact, I was fairly certain that if this carried on I would lose.

Constance had surpassed me, even if only by a little.

She charged through the dissipating mist, the lance having reconfigured into a weapon that resembled a tuning fork, except the tines were sharp swords some three feet long.

Over-clocked, I was able to gauge her approach and her intended attack, yet I barely succeeded in parrying the blow she delivered.

Every so often she would attack without an effect-field or piercer-field. It was metal on metal when that happened, and I felt the impact spread across half my body, almost numbing my right arm.

Slashing with my left, I willed a piercer field to form around the blade of my left gauntlet. It struck Constance, but the girl had a tight effect-field wrapped around the right side of her body.

The piercer-field sliced through, but it was delayed enough for Constance to dart back a step, and slice at me again with the bladed tines of her giant tuning fork.

This time I had no choice but to will the formation of a barrier-field.

As expected, she'd slashed at me with a piercer-field around her weapon, but my barrier formed in time to block her attack.

The air between us shimmered and glazed, before shattering like glass.

I was knocked back, and had little time to defend against Constance's next charge. Holding my gauntleted arms protectively before me, the barrier-field I hastily formed slowed the piercing tines but failed to stop them. Against her weapon, the quarter inch thick skinsuit I wore offered me no more protection than paper.

The left tine grazed my right flank, tearing the skinsuit. But the right tine pierced the skinsuit, and stabbed through my breastbone.

I can only describe it as agonizing pain. It felt like a white hot knife had stabbed through my mind. For several heartbeats I was unable to think. The pain swallowed my consciousness and my will to fight. Somehow my Fragment remained manifested, but I could barely stand let alone use it.

Then I felt a sensation akin to flying.

Constance had willed her weapon to generate an effect-field, and the barrier had punched my body hard enough to push it off the blade and send it flying through the air. I don't know how far I flew, except that she grew small rather quickly, but when I landed the agony in my chest and the force of the impact stole my breath.

And then I lost my grip on the Valkyrie Armor.

The cold black mist surrounded my body, and the armor returned to Pocket Space.

Now I was truly defenseless against Constance.

If she wanted me dead, there was nothing I could do to stop her.

And indeed she wanted me dead.

Her Fragment reconfigured back into its default jousting lance form.

With a hand feebly pressing down on the wound in my chest, I watched her gather an effect-field around her legs and feet. A moment later, she used the field to launch herself at me, the tip of her lance aimed straight at my chest.

I chose not to close my eyes but to look her in the eyes all the way through to the moment I was impaled by her lance.

But it never happened.

No longer over-clocked, my mind had trouble processing what I saw.

A blur, human shaped, swept past me and landed hard on the bridge before me.

The air glazed, turning almost opaque as a barrier-field clashed with another field. The affected area was as wide as the bridge and a dozen feet high.

I'd never seen a field so strong before.

I could hear the air crackle and the glazing waver as the field held back Constance and her lance.

My eyes finally settled on the sight of a young man, dressed in denim trousers, running shoes and a loose fitting summer shirt.

A shield-blade wrapped around his right hand and forearm.

And another shield-blade protected his left arm.

Caelum.

Despite the pain that made the rest of my body feel distant and numb, my mind worked well enough to recognize him.

But it had trouble believing what I saw.

Two gauntlets. Two shield-blades. One _growing_ out of each forearm.

I'd never seen the Fragment in that configuration before. The oval shielding had split length wise several times, and extended outwards, offering a wider area of coverage. The sword-like blades resembled the Saracen blades of old. And the barrier-field was stronger than any I'd ever seen Caelum's Fragment produce before today.

But it was the look on Caelum's face, what little of it I could see, that surprised me the most.

The look of pure rage and murderous intent.

A look Constance would probably remember for many years to come.

#

(Caelum)

Ignoring the two girls splashing in the water, I began pedaling furiously while steering for the bridge. The electric motor that supplanted my efforts hummed loudly and the duck swayed considerably as its feet kicked energetically below the water.

Aiming the boat for a point under the bridge where the duck head would come close to it, I stopped pedaling but left the throttle on the electric motor wide open.

Then I climbed out of the cabin, and onto the duck's back.

Holding onto the duck's glass fiber neck, I stood up on the swaying boat.

The underside of the bridge was overhead now.

I jumped up with all the strength my legs could muster, and my fingers caught the bridge. My body swung to and fro for a few frightful moments before I was able to get a better grip on the bridge.

After that I hauled myself up with surprising ease, glad that Haruka's blood was still helping me out by having her Symbiote lend me its strength.

Climbing over the permacrete guardrail, my feet had no sooner touched ground when another violent crash rocked the bridge. Landing on my hands and knees I looked toward the center of the bridge where the two combatants clashed amidst the mist of powdered bridge fragments. Both were moving with lightning speed. If I wasn't over-clocked I'd never be able to follow their movements.

I'd have missed the moment Constance stabbed Caprice in the chest.

In agonizing detail I saw the blade pierce her body, emerging a foot out of her back.

In my mind, that moment lasted an eternity.

I felt an agonizing pain in my chest as surely as though I'd been stabbed by Constance's weapon.

Caprice flew backwards threw the air and landed on the bridge, her body mere meters away from me. Blood spurted from the wound in her chest.

In the next moment, my mind and vision turned white.

When it cleared, I was on my feet and my Fragment had manifested the shield-blade on my right arm. I kicked off the ground, but when I did I moved with far greater speed than ever before. I landed on the bridge at a point between Caprice and Constance who had pushed off in an effect-field assisted leap.

Over-clocked or not, I had no time to think.

I planted myself firmly in front of Constance. She was fixated on Caprice. She hadn't even realized I was already in her path. That gave her no time to make any move to avoid me.

The right shield-blade extended laterally, doubling its width. The barrier-field generated with milliseconds to spare.

When Constance's piercer-field clashed with my barrier, I fully expected to be knocked back, but instead I felt myself anchored to the bridge. I couldn't understand why, until a part of my mind told me I had a shield-blade attached to my left forearm. That shield-blade had extended an effect-field that anchored me to the bridge, and pushed back against Constance.

The barrier-field I'd thrown up between us flexed and wavered but held steady.

I resolved I wouldn't lose to her.

I was going to make Constance hurt for what she'd done.

Blood would be paid by blood.

The moment I sensed her piercer-field weaken, I willed my Fragment to generate a piercer-field around my right blade.

Concentrating even harder, I pushed the image of my intended action into my Fragment.

Then Constance's field collapsed, and I slashed upwards with my right shield-blade.

It was a narrow cut, but it sliced through the protective field generated by her skinsuit.

It sliced the skinsuit, from her navel to her left shoulder.

If not for the field protecting me, her blood would have splashed onto my face and shirt.

As it was, the barrier-field my right gauntlet was also generating slammed into her body, catapulting her backwards through the air like a rag doll.

I think I might have heard a boom in the air, but I could have been wrong. However, I did hear the sound of rushing wind as the shockwave generated by my right shield-blade rolled the length of the bridge.

Constance landed at the distant foot of the bridge. Her body rolled over a number of times before coming to a stop prone where the bridge met the bank of the water course. A wispy black mist surrounded her and the jousting lance she'd held onto disappeared into pocket space.

I stood up slowly, at least it felt slow compared to my movements only heartbeats ago.

I was still over-clocked which is why I felt the bridge a few feet ahead of me begin to break apart.

Without giving it a second thought, I turned and ran for Caprice who'd fallen on her side.

A heartbeat later I released my mental hold on the shield-blades adorning my left and right arms. The cold mist enveloped my body but I kept running for Caprice. By the time I skidded to a crouching halt beside her, my arms were free of the gauntlets.

Caprice's eyes moved, but they were slow to focus on me.

I scooped her up into my arms, her body slick with the blood that pumped feebly through her wound. I pushed off on my bent legs, and ran for the end of the bridge. Behind me, a large section of the bridge broke apart and collapse into the water course. I heard the water geyser into the air but I refused to turn as I ran for the safety of the bank. Only when I'd set foot on _firm_ ground did I slow to a stop and half turn to look behind me.

The bridge was split in two.

A ragged section that could have been many meters across had crashed into the water.

I realized it was fortunate that no one had been anywhere near it at the time.

Then I remembered the Countess and Prissila whom I'd left in the water.

Despite holding onto Caprice, I looked about for the two girls in the direction where I most expected them to have swum ashore.

I guessed right and I saw them running toward me.

But they came to a sudden stop, spying something or someone behind me.

With Caprice in my arms, I half turned and saw hundreds of people lining the bank of the water course. Hundreds more watched from the opposite shore.

And dozens of security guards stood with stun batons raised, uncertain of what to do next.

I understood why.

All of them were terrified. They were terrified of me.

Warm droplets splashed on my cheek.

Caprice coughed up blood and her body shivered violently.

I swallowed and turned to Simone and Prissila.

I dropped to my knees with the girl that until moments ago had never felt so precious to me.

A girl I'd taken for granted for the past seven months.

"Please...help me...help me save her!"

I fought back against the despair tearing into my heart.

I lost.

"Someone—please save her!"

### Reflections – 9.

Considering how powerful Fragments and Artifacts are, why did the Prides assign them to Familiars?

That being asked, not all Familiars are entrusted with a Fragment or Artifact.

The few that are – which I know to be a minority of Familiars– are labeled as Specials.

Within that classification are additional ranks and classes.

A Familiars overall rank is a based on a combination of their Fragment or Artifact, and how well they can use it.

So why entrust powerful weapons to a select few?

Well, because only a Familiar can fight a Familiar.

And because the Prides felt Familiars were ably suited to do their dirty work.

Assassination, covert operations, infiltration and wholesale destruction.

Familiars did it best.

Also, Crimson Crescent wasn't the only adversary the Prides faced. There were a host of other organizations both big and small that made trouble for the Aventis upper echelons, and most of them had Familiars with Fragments in their ranks.

That was something the Powers-that-be kept from the average Jane and Joe.

It was something I had no idea about during my early days as a Familiar.

What is surprising to many is the fact the Prides took no special precautions to prevent their Specials from betraying them. There were no implanted micro-bombs, no lethal viruses, and no exploding collars around their necks.

One reason is that the Symbiote tends to attack such foreign objects inside a host's body. As such, these internal restraints where cleansed whenever a Familiar was boosted by a Symbiote. I did learn this cleansing didn't always work out well and the Symbiote had been known to trigger a micro-bomb or two with harmful results.

External restraints such as explosive chokers and collars didn't fare much better. A skilled Familiar can remove many attached devices by using a Fragment or Artifact to throw them into Pocket Space, thus making short work them.

So the Prides relied on another age old method for control – mental conditioning.

For the most part it was highly effective and successful.

Sad to say, most Specials – myself included – may have suspected this was the case yet we had no supporting evidence.

Then again, we were being _conditioned_ not to worry about being _conditioned_.

In hindsight, it may have been a reason why I stopped despising and resenting the Aventis as much as I did. My hatred for them was slowly eroded by the conditioning.

But that wasn't the conditioning's focus.

It didn't stop us outright from being prejudiced against the Aventis.

It stopped us from harboring thoughts of betraying them.

Suffice to say, it didn't always work, and Crimson Crescent was a perfect case in point.

### Chapter 9 – Minor Players.

(Caelum)

Caprice and Constance were taken to hospital by aerial ambulance.

I wasn't there to witness the ambulances land and depart.

I was handcuffed, and a security collar was snapped around my neck.

If I tried to resist the Enforcers that surrounded me I would receive a very, very painful shock. The collar was likely to fry my nervous system, and I would require medical attention in order to survive let alone recover.

I wasn't in the mood to give anyone any trouble.

Every little bit of strength and defiance I possessed was long gone.

All I could think of was Caprice and the warmth of her blood when it splattered on my face.

It was still on my cheeks, having dried into red crusts on my skin.

The Enforcers hadn't even allowed me to wipe it off.

Then again they didn't remove my handcuffs even after I was brought to the Mobile Enforcement Vehicle. The lev capable vehicle was a cross between a shuttle and a bus. It was pressurized and able to travel between the Islands without the need to board a transport train like the majority of the vehicles that travelled within Pharos.

I was left alone in the small interrogation room inside the MEV, seated on a chair with my hands cuffed behind my back. They hadn't tried removing my Fragment bracelet. Putting the collar on me was probably enough to satisfy their sense of security.

After an hour, maybe less, a tall man in his late twenties entered the room. He introduced himself as Alessandro Alucard Raynar. I learnt he was in charge of the Enforcer division responsible for handling matters relating to Familiars within Island Three. As an added courtesy he told me Simone Alucard was his niece.

I was asked the usual questions regarding my identity. I answered those without hesitation, but when he began to question my actions at the bridge, I refused to answer any questions unless I was in the presence of a Lanfear representative. And then I clammed up, completely refusing to answer any questions he threw my way, no matter how polite and innocent they may have seemed.

I had no experience dealing with a situation like this, so I decided to rely on what I'd seen in holovid dramas.

Alessandro Alucard tried to coerce me to speak up. He even said it would help Caprice's situation.

I just stared at him with my mouth firmly shut.

He left the room not long afterwards. Before leaving, he made show and dance about how generous he'd tried to be, hoping to resolve the situation before charges could be laid.

I just stared at him with my mouth firmly shut.

Then I stared at the one way window facing me on the opposite side of the room.

My Awareness was linked to my Fragment, and I was able to learn how many people were inside the MEV by using the Fragment's sensory abilities. It was something I'd learnt recently from Caprice, and it was one more sign my body and consciousness were tuning to the Fragment. I was able to use my enhanced Awareness to follow the movements of the individuals on the other side of the window.

But as I sat in the interrogation room, and listened to the sounds of my breathing, and the sound of the air-conditioning system, I had to time to think about the manifestation of my two shield-blades.

I had time to wonder if my Fragment was really a Fragment, or an Artifact that was slowly opening itself up to me.

If it was an Artifact, why hadn't the Lanfears told me about it?

Or didn't they know what kind of Fragment they'd given me?

Somehow I felt that hard to believe.

After today's event what would Arisa and Van Demon have to say about me and my Fragment?

Eventually, all my worries came down to a single one.

What would happen to Caprice?

#

(Alessandro)

I studied Desanto as he sat on the uncomfortable chair, and stared straight at where I stood.

I had moved to the left of the window, and Desanto's eyes had moved to follow me.

When I moved right, he looked right, and then his eyes shifted in the direction of the man standing nearby.

Christian Ventiss Raynar.

I wouldn't call him a childhood friend, but he was someone I'd known for many, many years.

He was someone who held the rank of Senior Investigator within the Enforcer Division, while I held the rank of Vice-Commander of Special Interventions.

We were colleagues, but we were not friends.

At least, we were no longer friends.

Knowing that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

But what mattered most in this situation was that technically I outranked him.

Christian spoke softly. "He's using his Fragment's sensorium to know exactly where we are. He can probably tell our age, gender, height and weight via his Fragment."

I snorted. "Would you tell me something I don't know?"

"Desanto was imprinted onto that Fragment three months ago. Before that, his compatibility with all the Fragments the Lanfears tried on him was less than thirty percent." Christian nodded his head at the silent teenager sitting alone in the room. "But that one Fragment recorded a ninety percent resonance with his body. Ninety percent compatibility. That's quite rare these days."

Christian turned his head and faced me.

"And your family gave him to the Lanfears. What the Hell were you thinking?"

"Our esteemed Primatriarch made the decision to offer him to the Lanfears as a gift."

"A gift?"

"Payment for the recent work the Lanfears helped us with."

"That's crap, Alessandro." He pointed at Desanto. "He's a Familiar, and his family has served the Raynars since the days of the war between the Aventis and humanity."

"And they have suffered for it," I replied smoothly. "To that end, our esteemed Primatriarch made a decision to spare him the same fate by having him Awakened by another Pride."

"And so she let slip a very valuable Familiar right through her fingers."

I couldn't help my expression from darkening. "Are you questioning her judgment?"

"We are all questioning her judgment."

"I see. I hope she doesn't hear you, Christian. There could be consequences."

"Don't threaten me, Alessandro. Considering the Primatriarch is a member of the Alucard Family she shouldn't be surprised to find others questioning her decisions."

I took a deep breath before sighing. "Valuable, you say." I shook my head. "They're not tools, Christian, they're people. Try to get that through your thick head."

"Familiars have only one role, and that is to serve the Aventis."

"Is that so? So now you're re-writing history?"

"What?"

I crossed my arms. "Have you forgotten the reason why the Aventis won the conflict for survival against humanity?"

He fell silent but it only lasted a few moments. "You don't believe that farcical reason, do you?"

"Of course I do." I indicated Desanto seated in the interrogation room. "His family bloodline runs all the way back two hundred years to the Familiars that sided with the Aventis. You and I are having this conversation because of the decision his ancestors and many others made the decision to side against humanity. Of course, we all know they did it to bring a quick end to the conflict. But then again, they could have helped humanity rather than us and still brought about a quick resolution to the war."

Christian had a bitter look on his face.

I added, "They sided with us, probably expecting a better future for their kind. They even disarmed themselves of the Artifacts they used in the war. And what did it get them? A life of servitude to the Prides for them and their descendants. An existence where they're treated as a lower caste in our society, barely one step above the Regulars." I crossed my arms. "Aventis and Regulars see them as freaks. How demeaning."

Christian looked incensed. "You would put them above us?"

"Why not? We all know they can do things we can't. If it comes down to the superior species, why is it only they can operate the Fragments and Artifacts?"

"I'm not going to have this debate with you here." He turned to face me fully. "What I will have is your co-operation. We're taking him into custody, and we'll be conducting the questioning."

"On whose authority?"

"Mine. I'm the senior investigator for Island Three. I have the authority."

"Then I will make a request to our Primatriarch that she veto your authority." I shook my head. "You're not getting your hands on him."

"Why are you protecting him?"

I couldn't help raising my voice. "What kind of stupid question is that, Christian? We know all too well how the Ventiss Family looks after its Familiars. I have no doubt your Family's attitude toward them drove that girl to attempted murder."

"That was a personal matter between Steiner and Peligree. That had nothing to do with the Ventiss Family."

"Bullshit!" Now I was seriously pissed. "Every Familiar that has served the Ventiss Family has ended up with _issues_ , and more than a few have taken their own lives. More than a few have defected to Crimson Crescent. You are driving them into the welcoming arms of our enemy."

"Peligree was not instructed to take down Steiner. Don't blame that on the Ventiss Family. As for the others, they simply weren't fit to serve my family."

"I already stated my stance on the matter. I have to admit, I feel sorry for that girl."

"You would feel sorry for a Familiar?"

"Yes. And I feel sorry for your niece as well, trapped in a family like yours. She's becoming as twisted and biased as you are."

"Take care with your next words, Alessandro."

I tapped the one way window. "He stays here. Don't even think of taking him away."

My palm-slate rang and I was spared having to listen to his retort. I fished it out of my jacket's inner pocket. I answered the call, and listened to a subordinate on the other end of the line. "I see. Please show her in."

Ending the call I looked at Christian. "Arisa Imreh Lanfear and her people are here. Would you like to have a few words with her?"

He almost sneered at mention of Arisa's name. "That would be a complete waste of time."

I shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Then I walked away, heading for the vehicle's exit. I opened the door and when I looked out, Arisa was standing at the foot of the retractable stairs.

Her emerald green eyes met my hazel ones.

I watched her fiery red hair catch the breeze and remembered better times between us. Pushing down the hurt in my heart, I greeted her with a polite smile.

"Lady Imreh, if you'll come this way...."

#

(Caprice)

When I woke up, I knew I was in a hospital room.

I could hear the soft beeps of the equipment around me, and I could smell the scent of antiseptics in the air.

Then of course there was the white washed ceiling and walls surrounding me.

My chest ached. For a moment I wondered why until I remembered I'd been stabbed by Constance Peligree.

I remembered seeing Caelum's shield-blade slice through her skinsuit like it was paper and then send her flying through the air.

Was she still alive?

Well, if I was alive, then it stood to reason Constance had most probably survived.

I closed my eyes.

How long had I been unconscious? Was it still Saturday? How the Hell had things turned out this way?

I replayed the events in my mind as best I remembered them.

I had no doubt Constance hated me now more than ever.

But now Caelum had made an enemy of her.

I remembered the look of rage on his face, and I opened my eyes.

No, she had made an enemy of Caelum.

I lifted a hand and rubbed my eyes.

Truly a horrible way to end the day.

I frowned inwardly, wondering once again if it was still Saturday.

Then I heard movement to my right. When I turned my head on the pillow, I saw a young girl dozing on a cushioned chair. She wasn't quite drooling yet, but she was getting close. There was a large data-slate on resting on her lap. It looked like she'd been reading something on it. Her head rolled slightly and she startled herself awake.

"Damn...fell asleep," she muttered. She wiped her lips as she blinked the sleep from her eyes.

Her eyes met mine, and I saw her break into a gentle smile.

"Ara ara, you're awake. Took your time, though."

I looked at Simone Alucard, and couldn't help wondering why she was here watching over me. I swallowed a few times but my voice was no better than a hoarse whisper.

"Why...?"

"Oh, why am I here? Hmm...." Simone shifted her posture on the chair. "Well, you could say I'm watching over since it's my responsibility to do so."

"I don't understand...."

She took a deep breath and released a despondent sigh. "It was my fault you were injured. My fault you had to face off against Constance. I should have just let things be. After all, what damage could Prissila have done? If she told him the truth, would Caelum really react badly against us?" She shook her head. "I just don't know him well, so I panicked. We need him to be a part of the Student Council's plan to oppose Crescent. I didn't want Prissila jeopardizing his involvement." She pursed her lips together in a pout. "Maybe our plans are all wrong. Maybe getting in Crimson Crescent's way is a bad idea...."

I studied her forlorn expression, then shook my head but it was barely noticeable.

If I moved too much my chest really did hurt.

Good gods, how much damage had Constance done with her blade.

I chose to change the subject. "Countess...how did I...survive?"

The girl blinked a few times then broke into a sheepish smile. "Ara ara, well that's simple. I sliced my wrist and poured my blood down your throat. I forced you to drink it no matter what. After that, all we could do was hope the Symbiote healed your injury."

She gave me a curious look.

"You're body reacted quite well to my blood. I know Lanfear and Raynar blood is very close, but to think it could have this kind of healing property on you."

The Countess sagged back in the chair while wrapping her arms about herself.

"But it's all good. You didn't die, though you came close a few times, and that was even with my blood inside you."

I swallowed a couple of times.

I was really thirsty, not to mention my throat was parched.

Simone appeared to notice. She operated the bed's controls in order to raise me to a semi-seated position. Then she filled a plastic cup with water and gently handed it to me. I sipped the water carefully. It felt good as it slid down my throat, but a dull ache bloomed into fresh pain as it travelled down the length of my chest.

I grimaced against the pain.

Simone noticed and said, "You had a nasty stab wound. I'm afraid it's going to leave a scar. You're going to have choose your bikini's carefully for the next few years."

I gave her a sour look.

Her words made me feel depressed, as did the thought of disappointing Caelum if he ever saw me in a bikini.

How would he react if he saw me in a swimsuit?

Oh my gods! I forgot all about Caelum!

I looked at Simone and winced as I turned my head a little too quickly. "Countess, what happened to Caelum? Where is he?"

Simone looked pained and didn't respond right away. "He's...he's in custody."

"Why?"

The Countess folded her hands on her lap. "Because Constance Peligree almost died. In fact she flat-lined several times. Her injuries were much more severe than yours. Caelum sliced her body almost in half. They had to inject Prissila's blood into Constance in an absolute hurry."

I remembered a fountain of blood jetting out of Constance the moment Caelum swung his shield-blade upwards. The piercer-field generated by his Fragment had ripped through Constance's barrier-field like a knife through paper.

The Countess continued softly. "You could say the Ventiss Family are royally pissed. Not only at Caelum, but Prissila as well. They hold her partly responsible for what happened yesterday. But Caelum's ability shocked everyone. The fact he could so easily dispatch Constance has set more than a few hairs on end."

The girl looked down at her hands then folded them neatly on her lap.

"So Caelum has been kept in custody while my family and the Lanfears petition for his release. Last I heard, the Primatriarchs of both Prides were involved in the disagreement." She gave me yet another despondent look. "There's also the problem of hiding what happened from the public. So many people witnessed and recorded the encounter that it's been impossible to cover up. Believe me when I say the Prides are trying, but the holovids keep popping up all over the cynet."

I frowned at her. "Countess, are you saying—are you saying everyone knows about what happened?"

The Countess exhaled loudly. "Not everyone, but certainly a large percentage of Pharos's population." She gave me a smile full of mixed feelings. "I'm afraid that you, Constance and Caelum have become quite infamous."

I raised my head off the pillow. "People...know about me?"

Simone let out a very heavy sigh. "Oh, they certainly do. It didn't take them long to figure out who you were. There was even a reward posted on the cynet boards to anyone who could identify all three of you."

I lay back and stared at the line where the ceiling met the far wall.

"Famous...infamous...."

The Countess stood up slowly and stretched her body. "Damn, I need a shower...."

I couldn't help looking at her. She was dressed in a black blouse, and black slacks. I was ashamed to admit she had an excellent figure, though I thought her breasts were a little too large for her. Actually, they were _too_ damn large.

No wonder Caelum was so interested in them.

Her breasts had felt quite firm against my back when I carried her.

I reached up and touched my chest where the pain lay.

Not fair. It really wasn't fair. I was proud of my body, except for my _inadequate_ chest.

And now there was this scar to consider.

I felt like crying.

"Hey, hey, Caprice—what's wrong?"

Simone was standing close to the bed, leaning over me with a concerned look.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

"Why are you crying? Does it hurt? I can call the nurse."

"I'm...I'm crying?"

I reached up and touched my cheeks, feeling the moisture there.

Simone sat down on the edge of the bed. She looked like she wanted to reach out and comfort me but didn't know how much pain that would cause me.

Again it was impossible to ignore her voluptuous figure.

Gods, even if it was wrong I still envied her.

The Countess swallowed and spoke in a firm, confident tone. "Caprice, Caelum will be fine. We'll have him released soon, and I won't allow his Fragment to be taken from him."

Huh? She misunderstood the reason for my tears.

But when she mentioned Caelum I felt truly ashamed over my reasons for crying.

My lack of decent breasts was the least of my problems.

The Countess pressed on. "My family won't allow Constance's actions to bear on him. She tried to kill you and for that the Ventiss Family is already on the back foot. And as I said before, Prissila is in hot water for giving Constance the order to keep me from interfering. But the fact Constance tried to kill you will drive a resolution firmly in Caelum's favor."

I wiped at my tears with my fingertips. "What about me?"

"You're in the clear. You were defending me and yourself. You don't have to worry."

"Would they really take Caelum's Fragment from him?"

"I'm sure they'll try." The Countess paused for a long moment. "I have to admit, after seeing its power as a Fragment, maybe it's a good thing it's not an Artifact."

I tried not to frown.

If it was an Artifact and Caelum was slowly drawing out its full potential, then did that mean the Lanfears had lied to us all this time?

Or were they simply unable to tell whether it was a Fragment or an Artifact?

Something the Countess had said earlier came back to mind.

"Countess, how long was I asleep?"

She blinked in mild surprise. "Ara ara, I forgot to mention its Sunday evening."

It was my turn to blink quickly. I stared at her with a disbelieving face.

The Countess patted my arm. "Don't worry. You're almost healed. The doctors say you'll be fine in a few days. However, they aren't expecting to discharge you until Wednesday. So for now just rest." She gave me a conspiratorial look. "Say, can I get you anything to read?"

I mulled her offer over. "Okay...."

She smiled then laughed mysteriously before saying, "I have a lot you might find interesting." She leaned close to me. "But you have to keep it a secret. Promise?"

I regarded her warily for a moment, then gave her a nod. "Promise...."

The Countess sat back in her chair then bent down. I heard the rustle of fabric.

I realized she had a bag at the foot of her chair.

When she straightened, Simone had a second data-slate in her hands. She hummed to herself as she worked through the various menus. After a few moments she handed the slate to me.

I looked at the reading material she had downloaded into the device.

I read the titles, then I turned and regarded Simone critically. "Romance novels?"

Simone's smile grew slightly nervous. "You—you could call them that."

I blinked a few times. "Countess, these books—"

She laughed quickly and waved a hand. "Ah well—just don't tell my mother."

I looked at the selection of books presented on the slate's screen.

Hesitantly and with great trepidation, I picked a title.

Little did I know what I was getting into.

#

(Alessandro)

"Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

I looked at Severin Kell's holovid image projected on the wall unit in my office.

He was quiet and thoughtful for a moment. "So an agreement has been reached between the Primatriarchs?"

"Not exactly. There's still some debate going on. However, it's been agreed unanimously that if we allow the Galatea Academy Student Council to continue with its own plans, they will undoubtedly unravel Commander Alucard's preparations for Crimson Crescent."

"And what preparations would those be?"

"Severin, you're not really expecting me to tell you."

He nodded. "It is within my purview to ask."

"Then my answer is, you are not in a position to expect an answer."

"I see. As expected of the Powers-that-be. Consummate arrogance." He smiled thinly. "So the fate of the academy is in the hands of Simone's mother. I'm considerably reassured we'll at least see the end of the school year."

"If you do as you're told, there's a good chance you'll be able to graduate at the end of the year as well." I relaxed a little a more in my high backed leather chair. "Now, to put it simply, the Student Council will work with Commander Alucard's personnel. You will follow the instructions to the letter. You will not deviate from them, and you will not question them. You are children who chose to play in an adult's world. And this is how adults treat children who trespass into that world."

His smile grew. "I see. Anything else?"

"Keep in line those Familiars you've recruited to your cause. For now, nothing more."

Severin Kell looked amused. "So the Student Council is now a puppet of Selena Alucard. Correct?"

"The Student Council is under Commander Alucard's authority."

"So you're not going to tell us what measures she has in place against Crescent."

"Don't ask the same question again, Kell."

I watched him nod faintly.

His amused look was beginning to irritate me.

"In that case, Captain Alucard, would you mind telling me when Desanto will be released?"

"He's been released into the custody of Arisa Imreh Lanfear."

"With or without his Fragment?"

I hesitated for just a moment, then gave Kell a smile of my own. "Without it...of course."

Inwardly, I regretted the decision, but there was no other way to get a compromise out of the Ventiss Family, and even the Raynar Primatriarch had agreed it was a good decision.

Kell frowned noticeably. "That is indeed a pity."

Yes, it was. But Desanto's demonstration of the Fragment's power had resulted in many loudly voiced concerns.

Arisa had no choice but to agree to the condition for his release. Needless to say, she was incensed. I didn't doubt for a moment she would have killed the Ventiss Family representative had the two of them been alone in the same room.

Kell's voice intruded into my thoughts. "Well, if there's nothing else, then I bid you adieu."

He ended the connection before I could utter a word.

Bastard.

If his family wasn't directly related to the Avenir Primatriarch, I doubt he'd be so arrogant. But in the end, he was just being true to the character of an Avenir.

I turned my chair so that I could look out my office window.

Through plasti-steel glass I could see out into the interior of Island Three's Habitat Three.

The mammoth rock cavern was observing a night time cycle.

I looked at the thousands of lights shining from the hundreds of buildings that occupied the habitat. Far below, the nighttime crowds made their way down the sidewalks, and traffic continued relentlessly lurching through the habitat's streets.

I held back a bitter sigh.

With this, those kids will be spared. Alucard had no intention of having them face off against Crimson Crescent, and I agreed with her.

With their lack of training and experience, they would be slaughtered.

But if they could be properly trained, they were a resource that could be utilized.

To that end, I believe Severin Kell realized this which was why he had agreed so easily to hand control of the Student Council over to the commander.

I had to admit, I was interested in seeing how things would pan out.

### Reflections – 10.

As I've explained before, the Cataclysm left behind a giant cloud of dust and debris that was christened the Hurakan Nebula. The asteroid Island colony of Pharos floated a couple of light-years within its border.

But I haven't explained what purpose Pharos served.

The colony was an oasis – a port of call for the hundreds of starships that traveled back and forth through the mapped regions of the nebula. Freighters, mining ships, resource vessels, they all dove into the murky, cloudy space and kept the machinery of commerce and industry running.

The Hurakan is a source of raw material. Trillions upon trillions of tonnes of it – the remains of shattered star systems and planetary bodies the trans-light shockwave claimed in the first hours of the Cataclysm. All of this material was simply too much to pass up. Even while Pharos was being constructed, mining and shipping companies were already charting and staking claims on territory within the nebula.

It didn't seem to matter that the Hurakan was a graveyard to the billions of people that died on those worlds.

The Aventis are as greedy as the next Regular.

However, there was another reason for building Pharos.

It served as a home for the Prides intent on harvesting the Fragments and Artifacts slowly trickling out of the nebula. The Sanreal Pride used its ship building prowess and its experienced crews to sail deep into the nebula, acting as pathfinders for the mining and resource ships that would eventually follow.

The Sanreals were always at the forefront of exploration.

The other Prides would make efforts to compete against them, but the Sanreals had kept their edge over the competition for decades, until the Lanfears happened upon a collection of Fragments that boosted their efforts at space exploration. Fairly soon, they were finding some rather juicy Fragments on their own.

If they weren't trusted before, the Lanfear Pride was trusted even less afterwards.

By the same coin, the Lanfears had never trusted the other seven Prides, not even their close cousins the Raynars. That's not to say they didn't work together with the Prides, they just did so with a measure of caution best reserved for dealing with dangerous foes.

I might be generalizing too much.

I knew that Arisa had a good relationship with the Countess, and with Severin Kell.

In any case, the point I was trying to make was that Fragments and Artifacts found out in the Hurakan were returned to a secret repository on Pharos to be shared between the Prides. Each piece was carefully analyzed, and tested, then the Prides would follow procedure and allocate them to a compatible Familiar if one was available.

However, there was little doubt in Arisa's mind that the Prides were careful with what they shared. In other words, they undoubtedly kept the best pieces for themselves.

What separated the Lanfears from the other Prides was they spared little effort concealing this fact.

### Chapter 10 – Aftermath.

(Caelum)

I was released from custody on Sunday evening.

After spending the equivalent of a full day in an Enforcer containment cell, a small two by two meter block, I was happy to leave.

I kept my mouth shut and my eyes locked straight ahead.

The Enforcer sergeant handed me my belongings which had been taken from me on Saturday, namely my gym bag, palm-slate and id wallet.

Then I was escorted to the building's exit where a Lanfear representative was waiting for me. The young woman had the typical executive secretary look down to a tee.

She introduced herself as Arisa's personal secretary so I wasn't that far off the mark.

She walked me to a car, and once inside the vehicle it whisked us away from the building, merging easily into the evening traffic.

Arisa's secretary, Danaan, informed me I was to move into Galatea Academy's dorms for male students. In fact my belongings had already been moved into my new abode.

I asked her about Caprice, but all she told me was that Caprice was recovering well. However, I was prohibited from seeing her until her discharge from hospital which was expected to be around Wednesday. Afterwards, Danaan politely refused to answer any further questions regarding Caprice.

So I sat quietly in the car, and proceeded to ignore the woman entirely.

The car took us to the entrance to the boy's dormitory building where the dorm manager, a middle aged man that could easily double for a professional wrestler greeted Danaan and I.

I was relieved to hear there was no roommate to deal with. Compared to the cell I'd occupied for a full day, I found my new dwellings to be quite spacious. Essentially it was eight meters long, and five meters wide, with a bathroom and shower taking one corner of the floor space. This gave the room a distinct L shape. There was a smart desk, a writing desk, a holovid system, and a small refrigerator. The bed was wide and comfortable.

My necessities had all been stored away in the closet and drawers. Someone had even gone through the process of setting up my books and slates in an orderly fashion on the shelving.

I was curious about one thing, and so I carefully examined the contents of the drawers containing my clothes.

I found them at the back of the top drawer of the wardrobe insert in the closet – Caprice's racy violet panties.

Though I was relieved to find them, I had to wonder at the reaction of whoever had packed up my belongings. I was even more surprised to find the panties had been put back in the equivalent location. I wasn't sure what to make of that.

Since I was pretty much settled in, I checked out the dormitory cafeteria which was open until seven on Sunday's. The place was almost empty. Only a handful of Academy students occupied it.

I didn't bother going over to say hello.

What was the point?

A Familiar saying hello to the Aventis?

Truth was, I was too tired to be friendly.

With only a few minutes to spare, I avoided going hungry that night. Even then, all I was served by the kitchen staff were some small cold sandwiches, but it was better than nothing. Unfortunately, after eating just half a sandwich I found myself full, and had to bin the rest of the food. My lack of appetite was a result of having the Symbiote inside my body. It would take a couple of days for my eating habits to return to normal, as my body fed off the Symbiote degrading within me.

I chose not to linger in the cafeteria or anywhere else.

Dorm curfew was ten p.m.

In my room I showered, changed into clean pajamas and fell into bed.

As I lay down staring up at the ceiling, I raised my right arm and examined my wrist.

No bracelet. No Fragment. It had been returned to the Lanfears, and I had no word on whether I'd be using it again.

I noticed how helpless I felt without it.

My world felt a lot smaller now.

Despite feeling exhausted, I had trouble sleeping.

#

(Caelum)

Second week, Monday morning.

From the looks I received from my fellow dorm residents, while I struggled to eat a light breakfast, I had a fair idea of what to expect when I arrived in class for homeroom.

Sure enough, when I opened the door and stepped inside, almost all conversation came to a stop. Almost all eyes focused on me, and I had two choices: meet their gazes or ignore them.

I chose a mixture of the two, glancing at a few faces; ignoring the rest.

I walked to my smart desk, feeling my classmates' attention on me.

With this I was certain Saturday's event had circulated throughout Island Three, if not all of Pharos.

I laughed inwardly, and tasted bitterness in my mouth.

When I swept my gaze over the classroom, I saw varied looks on my classmates' faces. I hazarded a guess most of them were probably wondering if I had my Fragment with me.

Would I use it on them?

Was that the question I read in their eyes?

I was starting to get pissed and eventually I slammed my school carry-bag on the desk and glared back at the faces looking at me.

"If you having something to say, Aventis, then say it!"

A few turned away.

A lot more returned my glare with disdain, especially the guys.

I met each one with a challenge and the promise of violence in my eyes.

The girls sneered at me so I concentrated on extending my canines as I had that afternoon in the garden. Pushing past the pain, I gave the girls a hungry smile that made full use of my long teeth. This brought about the reaction I wanted.

They blanched and turned away.

I laughed under my breath as I forced my canines to retract.

It really was painful, but the satisfaction of seeing the girls turn away in fear was worth every bit of the pain.

Then Haruka stepped into the room.

At sight of her my heart skipped a beat.

I sat down at my desk, trying to act nonchalant and probably failing. By some miracle our eyes had failed to meet, but I was aware of her glancing my way.

Then something unexpected happened.

She walked over to my smart desk.

I had no choice but to look up at her.

She looked down at me with an unreadable look I invariably saw on Caprice. She spoke softly but I heard her clearly.

"Lunch time, at the garden."

What? Why did she walk over to tell me that? She could have just mailed the message to my account or did she believe I wouldn't read it.

She was probably right and probably wrong. I would definitely read it, but it would take me a while to work up the courage to do so.

I guess she wasn't in the mood to wait for an answer. Haruka turned away and then walked to her desk, perfectly oblivious to the curious stares she was receiving from our classmates.

#

(Haruka)

When classes broke for lunch, I told Siobhan and Alistair I had a pressing engagement which earned me sour looks.

They knew I was going to meet Caelum.

I told them I'd be fine, and ignored their concerned looks.

While I did take their words to heart, I wasn't going to be dissuaded.

When I arrived at the garden it wasn't empty, but there was a secluded area yet to be occupied. That's where I waited for Caelum, under the shade of a tall, thick tree.

I thought he would keep me waiting, but he didn't.

Not long after he stepped into the garden, the few students making use of it noticed him and began to cast wary, fearful looks his way.

I had debated meeting him in the rooftop courtyard, but at the last moment I chose the garden instead.

He walked up to me with a guarded look on his face. "Aren't you taking a risk, Haruka? Word of this will get around."

I nodded a little. "Yes, I know."

"Then why?"

"Because I'm your friend, and right now you need a friend."

His face darkened. "What?"

I had expected this reaction from him. I closed my eyes for a moment. "Caelum, the School Council President spoke to me, and to Alistair and Siobhan on Friday. We know what you're doing for the academy."

This time, Caelum actually grew a little pale.

So he didn't know that Severin Kell had spoken to us. Seeing his reaction, I chose to tell him what happened after I fled the garden on Friday afternoon.

He listened without interrupting me. Not once did he glance away.

By the time I finished, Caelum had wary look on his face. "Severin Kell told you about the Fragments?"

"I already knew what a Fragment was. After all, it's common knowledge they're pieces left behind after the Cataclysm. I also knew that only Familiars were able to use them, activate them, or operate them." I gave him a steady look. "The President told me you and Caprice possess a Fragment. He said you were designated as Specials."

"Yeah, we do."

I noticed him reach for his right wrist but then abruptly stop. He dropped his arms to his sides.

Caelum asked, "What else did Severin Kell say to you? Actually, why did he seek you out?"

"Alistair is his younger sister. She called him after our encounter with Caprice. She wanted to know what was going on. He agreed, probably because he was worried about her and what she might say or do. She's an Avenir like I am. So is Siobhan."

"I see. Birds of a feather flock together."

"You're one to talk," I snapped in a flash of anger. "Little Miss Faint Smile is a Lanfear like you."

He frowned for a heartbeat. "Faint Smile? You mean Caprice?" His expression grew hard, and I could tell I'd stepped on a nerve. "Caprice is affiliated with the Lanfears. So am I. That doesn't make us part of the Pride. To put it simply we're dogs on a leash. If we weren't on a leash, people would be scared of us."

I almost blurted out that people were already scared of him and Caprice, and that included most of our classmates who were acting tough and arrogant to hide their fear.

But given the chance, I didn't doubt any of them would stand up and chant, "Burn them, burn them. Death to Familiars."

Pathetic.

I shook my head in exasperation. "Whatever. I didn't ask you here to fight with you. But even so, you have no right to criticize me or whom I choose as my friends."

He was quiet for a little while. "Friends, huh." He looked down and laughed under his breath. "Yeah. You're right. They're your friends. What do I care. But why do you want to be my friend all of a sudden."

"Caelum...I've never stopped being your friend. You shut me out, I didn't."

He was quiet for a long while. Then he looked away and shook his head slowly.

"I'm sorry Haruka. I can't accept your friendship. Not like this."

I felt my chest grow a little tight. "Caelum—"

"You'll just get hurt," he said gently and looked back at me, "and I can't bear to see that happen."

I shook my head quickly. "Caelum, that won't happen. I'm not as naïve as I was half a year ago. I know where I stand. I know where you stand."

"No, Haruka you don't. You don't know anything about us Familiars. You don't know what's expected of us, or what we're involved in."

"I just told you, the Council President filled us in. I know all about Crimson Crescent." Hurriedly I lowered my voice and furtively glanced at the other students in the garden. Thankfully there were none close by.

Taking a deep breath, I said, "I know about their attempts to break in."

Caelum gave me a dumbfounded look. He blinked a few times before asking, "He told you about that?"

I nodded.

He was quiet for another moment before bursting out into pained laughter. "I don't believe this. That son of a bitch blabbed to you. What the Hell is his angle?"

I saw anger and disbelief cross his face as he slowly shook his head.

Caelum muttered. "What the Hell is that bastard after? Does he want you involved?" His eyes focused on me. "No, I won't allow that."

"Allow what?"

"Haruka, you need to stay out of my world. You have a nice, safe world now, a place where you belong. You have your friends, and your family, and I'm sure before long you'll have a boyfriend. I promise I won't get in the way like before."

Hearing that my ears flushed hotly.

I realized he didn't know.

That was going to surprise him in a negative way.

Caelum continued after a beat. "But my world is different from yours, and in my world the Aventis can get hurt. In my world, Familiars die for their affiliated Pride."

I gave him a dulled horrified look. "What?"

Caelum sighed loudly. "I didn't understand it at first. I've spent the last seven months taking things for granted, living with my head in the sand, and ignoring the state of play. But relations between the Prides aren't all that smooth. There's a great deal of rivalry going on, and I think in part it's centered on their respective Familiars."

I regained control of my expression, but didn't understand what he was saying. "What do you mean?"

He struggled to give me answer. I saw that struggle play out across his face.

Eventually he exhaled loudly. "It's something I came to realize after what happened on Saturday. I think the Prides are fostering their rivalry upon their Familiars. What happened between Caprice and Constance is an example of that."

I tilted my head slightly and swallowed heavily. "Caelum, what _did_ happen on Saturday? All the media will say is that there was an incident and that the Prides were making no comment on the matter. Everyone has their own opinions, and it didn't take long for people to learn who you all were."

Caelum grimaced and glanced away.

I took a step closer to him. "Caelum, what's wrong? What's going on?"

"I can't tell you." He saw my protest and quickly added, "No, Haruka, please don't ask me. Truthfully, I don't know much myself, and I'm not getting answers from the Lanfears and their supposed to be my guardians."

He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, and then glared at the ground between us.

I didn't like the silence that fell over us. "Caelum, is the school in danger? Are you in danger?"

He snorted and shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. Right now I can't do anything about Crescent's plans for the school. I'm out of the game—that's all I'll say, Haruka."

He looked frustrated. I could see it now and feel it as well.

Something serious had happened on Saturday, and he was bottling in his reaction. But it wasn't working. He wasn't coping with it.

I reached out to him, but he stepped back.

The warning look in his eyes, and the subtle shake of his head hurt my feelings more than he probably realized.

"I have to go," he muttered.

Abruptly, he turned around and began walking out of the garden.

I stood there feeling hurt and stupid for trying to reach out to him – for trying to bridge the gap between us.

I felt foolish for trying to mend our friendship.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe I should butt out and stay safe within my little world.

But I couldn't do that.

I just couldn't turn my back on him.

Caelum needed help. He needed someone to support him.

But if it wasn't me...then who?

#

(Caelum)

After class, I headed to training.

The sublevel gym was empty. Not a single technician in sight.

I guessed Arisa had given them the day off.

It didn't bother me in the least. I just went about my usual training routine.

What bothered me was not having Caprice around. Training in the gym just wasn't the same without her.

I had to concentrate hard on my usual exercise routine.

As I trained, I accepted a couple of truths regarding my situation.

The first was that without my Fragment, I felt weaker.

Not just physically but psychologically as well. The Fragment had given me an inner and outer strength that helped me push past my feelings of inadequacy toward the Aventis. With it, I had felt I was their equal if not better, perhaps even larger than life considering how amazing and terrifying the Gauntlet was.

Now I was back to being something between a Regular and an Aventis, and I was having trouble adjusting. Maybe it was like that saying, the taller you stand the harder you can fall.

I felt I'd fallen quite hard.

The second truth I had to acknowledge and live with was my diminished spatial awareness.

It felt considerably smaller and lacked the clarity and scope the Fragment had added to it.

Over the span of the last three months, I had grown accustomed to the Fragment enhancing my Awareness. I could walk into a room and know its size and the placement of all objects within it, including people. I could step out into the street, and be aware of everything within a hundred feet. Perhaps not _everything_ but I was certainly more spatially aware than a Regular human, maybe even more than an Aventis.

Yet surprisingly, I was never overwhelmed by the additional sensory input.

Was my brain somehow 'altered' by the Fragment, preventing it from _locking up_ under the extra load?

Was this what Van Demon had referred to when he spoke of our _ongoing development_ as Familiars?

Regardless, I felt incomplete without my Fragment, and wondered if I wasn't suffering withdrawal symptoms.

I finished training, showered, and changed back into my school uniform but chose not to wear the blazer. My gym clothes needed a wash so I stuffed them into a second bag I kept in my locker. I slung the straps of my school carry-bag over my right shoulder while carrying the gym bag in my left hand.

When I walked out of the small change room, I had a surprise waiting for me.

The Countess was sitting on the worn couch that adorned one long wall of the gym floor.

I felt ambivalent at sight of her. I wasn't ready to deal with more _personal_ attention. In fact, I didn't want any.

I walked up to her, and Simone stood up and faced me. She had changed out of her uniform and into casual wear. In summary, her outfit consisted of a short, pleated peach skirt, and matching sleeveless blouse, while on her feet she wore tanned, ankle high boots.

Despondent as I was about my situation, I had to admit she looked good.

No, she looked better than good.

She really was a beautiful girl.

I cleared my throat. "How did you get in here?"

She smiled sheepishly. "Arisa gave me access. I spoke to her, and told her I thought you might want some company."

"You thought wrong."

I started walking past her.

"Ara ara, leaving so soon?"

"Sorry Countess. I'm not pleasant company at the moment."

Her left hand snaked out and caught my left arm. "Please Caelum...can we talk? Even if just a little."

I stopped in my tracks and I gave her a hard look. "About what?"

She shrugged weakly. "Well, why don't you tell me how you're doing?"

"I'm doing just fine. They took my Fragment, nothing else."

"Ah...yes, you're right." She glanced down.

I regarded her for a moment then asked in a low tone, "How's Caprice?"

The Countess looked up. "She's healing really quickly. The doctors plan to discharge her tomorrow evening. She'll be back in class on Wednesday. She'll need to return to hospital for more checkups but the doctors don't see complications with her recovery."

That wasn't much different from what Arisa's secretary had told me. Maybe I should be reassured that their stories matched up so well.

I started walking away again. "I see. Thanks for telling me."

The Countess's grip on my arm turned to steel.

I tensed sharply. "Let go of my arm, Countess. I won't ask you again."

"Ara ara, so you blame me for what happened."

I frowned at her. "How can you sound so carefree?"

She shook her head. "You misunderstand. I'm not being carefree at all."

I hesitated for a moment. "Do I blame you? Yes. I blame you for Caprice's injury. If you hadn't shown up, Caprice and Constance wouldn't have had their death match. I wouldn't have injured Constance, and I wouldn't have lost my Fragment."

She released my arm. "Yes...you're right. I'm sorry. For everything, I'm truly sorry."

I couldn't hide my doubts from her. "Are you really? What were you doing there, Countess? Why did you show up in a hurry? As much as I enjoyed the sight of you in wet clothing, in the end the price was too much to pay." I turned my body to face her fully. "Why did you interfere with Prissila? What were you afraid she would tell me?"

I watched her face grow blank as she sought to hide her state of mind from me.

The Countess inhaled deeply. "Caelum, I promise, I will have your Fragment returned to you."

"That's not an answer, Countess."

"I know." She folded her hands over her midriff.

She wasn't going to give me an answer. I could see that now. Maybe I should approach Prissila and get my answers from her.

While regarding Simone, I asked, "What makes you think they'll return my Fragment?"

"Because my mother needs you. She needs your strength, and for that, she needs you and your Fragment."

"Your mother?"

Again she took a deep breath. "Caelum, my mother is the commander of the Special Interventions Division. In other words, she's in charge of operations that deal with Crimson Crescent within Pharos. However, on occasion she is involved in missions against Crescent that take place outside the colony."

I couldn't help but swallow hard at hearing those words. "You're mother?"

The Countess nodded. "I'm sorry for not telling you before."

I took a deep breath of my own. "And she needs my help?"

Again, the Countess nodded.

I couldn't help shrugging in bemusement. "Why? What can I possibly offer her?"

"I told you already. The strength you gain with your Fragment."

"But to what end?"

"To stop Crimson Crescent. To protect the Prides and the people of Pharos."

I should have anticipated that answer.

It sounded like a textbook reply.

I took a couple of deep breaths. "Prissila said that I was important to the Prides. She went as far as to call me special. But I don't feel the Lanfears are treating me in any special way. They're devoting more time and resources to Caprice than to me."

The Countess looked uncomfortable. "Yes, it would seem that way."

"If that's the case, why did they agree to take me in? Why bother with me at all? Why didn't the Raynars assume guardianship over me? Everything that's happened so far makes me wonder if I'm affiliated with the wrong Pride."

Simone didn't give me an answer. Instead her gaze searched my face for a long while.

I felt unsettled by her silent scrutiny. "Countess, are you going to tell me why or not?"

She inhaled slowly, then gave me a weak nod. "I will tell you the truth, Caelum. I'll tell you what Prissila was going to tell you at the amusement park. But first I need to tell you about your family."

"My family is dead. What more is there to know?"

"Your family is not dead."

I thought my eyes would pop out when I heard her. "What?"

The Countess swallowed quickly. "Your sister is alive."

For a long moment I could only stare at her in disbelief. Then I grew angry. Very angry. I dropped the bags I carried and grabbed Simone by her shoulders.

Somehow, by some miracle, I held back from yelling at her.

But shaking her hard was another matter. "That's a lie. I saw her body. I identified it. The Enforcers showed me the gene scan. I saw her _body_."

Simone reached up and gently cupped my face.

"No, Caelum. Celica is alive. Your sister is alive and with Crimson Crescent."

### Chapter 11 – Bloodline.

(Caelum)

I stared at Simone.

My mind had stopped working.

For a long, long while I couldn't think of anything beyond her last words.

Celica was alive and with Crescent.

It couldn't be. It had to be a lie. It just had to be!

Simone Alucard was the quintessence of a femme fatale. I couldn't bring myself to trust her or I was certain to be doomed.

Maybe I was already doomed.

But what if she was telling the truth?

What if Celica was really alive?

How was I supposed to deal with this revelation?

For starters, I had to jump start my mind.

It was Simone's slap that kicked my brain back in gear.

I grabbed her hand before she could slap me again.

"Simone—stop it. That really hurt."

"Well you weren't answering me! Your eyes went blank and I thought you'd slipped into a standing coma."

"I wasn't in any coma," I retorted loudly, and succeeded in lowering both her hands away from my face. Damn she was strong. I had to put real effort into moving her arms.

"Whatever—it scared the Hell out of me."

Was that concern in her voice, or was I imagining it? No, I didn't have time to dwell on it.

I swallowed and took a couple of deep breaths. "Simone, I'm fine. Well, maybe not fine but I'm _back_ if that means anything to you."

She eyed me carefully. "Yes, yes it does."

I felt her arms relax, but I chose to be vigilant. I still held onto her hands. One slap was enough. My left cheek really burned. My jaw felt a little bruised as well.

Swallowing hard, I asked in a low voice, "Tell me the truth. Don't lie to me."

"It's no lie, Caelum. Celica is alive, and we know she's with Crimson Crescent."

I shook my head weakly. "How can that be possible?"

"Because my family kept the truth from you. It was my mother's decision as Commander of Special Interventions."

I stared at Simone for a long while, searching her face for the lie, but again I just didn't have the talent to find it.

The Countess shifted her hands. Now I was no longer holding onto them. Rather, we were holding onto each other. For a heartbeat I considered pulling away, but Simone's fingers gently squeezed mine, and I lost the urge to break free.

The Countess spoke in a clear voice that carried between us.

"My mother, Selena Alucard Raynar, made the decision to falsify your sister's death."

"Why?"

"Because it was easier to make you accept her death, than the alternative."

"Which was?"

"That Celica was ordered to infiltrate Crimson Crescent."

This time I pulled free of Simone's grip.

I took a step back as I shook my head in denial. "That's nonsense. That's complete nonsense. My sister hated Crescent almost as much as I do. Infiltrate them? She'd rather slaughter them all."

"Caelum listen to me!" The Countess balled her hands into fists. "Celica was an Artemis. She was the best of the current crop. But after she came back from a mission to recover an Artifact from Crescent, I heard that she changed. She started questioning the Prides. She started questioning my mother, her commander. And she turned against my sister Silia who served alongside her as an Artemis. Not long afterwards, she was caught stealing a Fragment from a secure facility. My mother said an operation was initiated to hunt her down, but the real objective was to have Celica rescued by Crimson Crescent and taken into their ranks. Her treachery was just an elaborate cover story. All of it was a lie to make Crimson Crescent believe that Celica Desanto had betrayed her masters."

She paused for breath before adding, "But her death was faked in order to cut her ties with you. It was meant to set you free, even if it turned you into an orphan. Rather than spending your life wondering if your sister would ever return, it was better to have you believe she was dead. It would give you the chance to move on, even if it made you despise the Aventis and Crescent even more."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Arisa had told me about Celica Awakening as a Familiar and being recruited into Artemis. I learnt all this after I Awakened so Simone's words were not news to me. But a mission to infiltrate Crescent was, and I found it hard to accept that Celica was the right person for the job.

I gave Simone a hard look. "Is this what Prissila was going to tell me at the amusement park?"

The Countess looked hesitant. "Perhaps. We don't know what the Ventiss family knows about your sister's involvement with Crescent. But we couldn't take the risk of having Prissila reveal the truth. Prissila probably thought we wouldn't try to intervene in a public area, but she was wrong. And we were afraid of how you would react."

"You tried to stop her because you were afraid I'd do something in public?"

If so that meant that the Raynars and Lanfears didn't trust me. It meant they didn't trust me with a Fragment. In that case, why give me such a powerful Fragment?

But what disturbed me the most, was the fact that Simone didn't trust me.

I realized that her opinion of me mattered to me.

I asked her rather harshly, "What did you think I was going to do?"

She shook her head fervently. "I don't know. I just know that I didn't want her talking to you."

"Why, Simone?"

"Because I wanted to be the one to tell you the truth."

"What truth? Are you talking about Celica, or is there something more?"

The Countess took a handful of slow breaths. "Caelum, listen to me carefully. Before you transferred to Galatea Academy, my mother spoke to me privately. She said there were things I needed to know about you. Important things."

"Such as?"

The Countess exhaled softly. "My mother told me about your sister. She also told me about your parents, and about your ancestors. She told me about your family bloodline."

"My bloodline?"

Simone nodded. "My mother said that originally it was my blood that was supposed to trigger your Awakening as a Familiar." She pressed down upon her chest. "My mother wanted the two of us to be bonded to each other. Arisa Imreh was not part of the plan."

"Then why weren't we bonded?"

She shook her head and her ash grey locks swayed. "I don't know. At the last minute the Raynar Primatriarch sent word that you were to be left alone. In fact, she contacted the Lanfears and offered you to them. Arisa Imreh jumped at the opportunity. But the Ventiss Family was livid. They had plans for Prissila to bond with you. When she learnt about the Primatriarch's directive, Prissila took matters into her own hands. Her family may have considered breaking the agreement, but it was Prissila who actually broke it. She sent Constance to your school, but Constance saw that Caprice was also headed your way. As a result, Constance clashed with Caprice and tried preventing the Lanfears from getting to you."

I narrowed my eyes at the Countess. "Prissila broke the agreement? Was she punished for what she did?"

The Countess grimaced. "Severely reprimanding the only daughter of the Ventiss Family would have affected the stability within our Pride. The Ventiss Family has a lot of support within the Raynar Pride, so there wasn't much our Primatriarch could do to them or to her. And the Ventiss Family knows this. Primavera Ventiss was almost elected Primatriarch of the Raynar Pride here in Pharos."

I frowned. "Primavera Ventiss?"

Simone nodded. "Prissila's mother. To say she resents an Alucard being elected as Primatriarch is a gross understatement. But these days Primavera has the support of almost half the Pride, while Serenity Alucard is supported by the remaining majority."

I couldn't help but sigh loudly. "I get the feeling that if Prissila had bonded me to her, her standing would have improved within the Raynar Pride. Not only that, the Ventiss Family might have gained from having me in their ranks of affiliated Familiars."

The Countess breathed in slowly. "Yes, that's true. Over the last fifteen years or so, it's become popular for prominent members within a Pride to bond Familiars to them. By bonding you to her, Arisa Imreh gains considerable standing within the Lanfear Pride even though she's the niece of the Lanfear Primatriarch. She's using her new found standing to progress her plans. Unfortunately, now that you've lost your Fragment, her standing has taken quite a hit."

"I...I see...."

Again she pressed down upon her chest. "Caelum, you're right—all of this is my fault. After what my mother told me, I didn't know how to handle it. When I learnt Prissila had whisked you away to the amusement park, I panicked." She looked down and grimaced. "It would have been better if she'd never told me the truth. I wouldn't have over-reacted. Now everything has gone to Hell."

I watched her tremble slightly as silence descended between us.

I chose not to let it linger.

"Simone, you mentioned something about my bloodline. What did you mean?"

She wet her lips slowly, and then swallowed. "Caelum, what do you know about your family's ancestry?"

I gave her question some serious thought. The truth was, I knew almost nothing about my family, or my grandparents. Neither my parents nor my sister ever spoke of our relatives. After my parents died, Celica and I learnt that it was confirmed we were both orphans. But our genealogy wasn't made available to us. At the time I was too young to be interested in our family tree and I was grieving over the death of our parents.

I shook my head at Simone. "Close to nothing."

She nodded but it was more for her benefit than mine. "That's to be expected."

"Why?"

"Because your ancestry has been classified by the Prides. In fact, in many instances it's been rewritten to hide the truth—to keep others from knowing about you."

I blinked quickly in shock. "Why? Why go that far? What's so special about my family?"

"It's your bloodline, Caelum. Your bloodline dates back to the Cataclysm. But there are no records of your ancestors from before then. It's as though your family came into existence _after_ the Cataclysm took place."

My shock jumped up a notch. "No records before the Cataclysm...?"

For a heartbeat, Simone actually looked afraid. But she nodded ever so slowly and ever so faintly.

My voice was barely above a whisper. "How...how can that be?"

Simone shook her head. "We don't know. My mother says that nobody knows where your family came from. And it's not just your family, Caelum. There are eleven other families that have no origins."

I mulled her words over.

Eleven other families.

Twelve families in total.

I asked cautiously, "Prissila mentioned something about the Original Twelve. Is this what she meant?"

Simone stepped closer to me.

Her sweet fragrance reminded me of our time together in the storage room.

She spoke softly. "The Original Twelve refers to the twelve families of Familiars that fought for the Aventis during the War of Supremacy. The twelve families that originated _after_ the Cataclysm. It is said they wielded Artifacts of immense power, and that they helped bring an end to the war between humanity and the Aventis."

"The Original Twelve were Familiars?"

"Yes." She leaned forward, our lips only inches apart. "Just like everyone in your family."

I inhaled loudly. "What do you mean _everyone_?"

"Everyone in your family line has been a Familiar, all the way back to the Cataclysm. Your parents, your sister, your grandparents and great grandparents. Even when your family line branched from the main line, they too were Familiars. All the members of your bloodline have had a high compatibility with the Fragments."

I blinked in disbelief. "All...all of them?"

She nodded. "And all of them have served the Raynar Pride. You are the only exception. The first to be bonded to another Pride."

I swallowed hard then abruptly burst into nervous laughter. "Simone...tell me you're lying...."

Simone's face fell into faint despair, killing my forced mirth in a heartbeat.

She shook her head gently. "No, Caelum. It's no lie. Your family—your bloodline—have been Familiars since the earliest records we have of them."

Even if I doubted her, I saw that she believed her words. Simone was convinced that what she was telling me was the absolute truth.

I lost my will to laugh in the face of her conviction.

She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Caelum, but it's the truth. You and Celica are descendants of an Original Twelve bloodline. This is what Prissila meant when she said you were special. This is why her family considered breaking the agreement. They wanted to keep your bloodline in the service of the Raynars, not the Lanfears."

She reached out and took my hands, holding them tenderly.

I lacked the will to break free of her hold.

Simone spoke in a reverent tone. "If you're ancestors hadn't fought for us, the Aventis would have lost the war, and you and I would have never met."

I looked into her eyes, feeling almost overwhelmed by her revelation. But if there was more to know, then I needed to know it now.

I squeezed her fingers gently. "Simone, please...tell me everything you know. Don't leave anything out."

Her smile made my heart skip a little. "I'll tell you everything I know. At least, I'll tell you everything my mother told me."

#

(Haruka)

School Week Two. Tuesday morning.

I came to school feeling like a wet rag.

I'd tossed and turned most of the night, trying to figure out Caelum.

Trying to figure out my feelings, and wondering if there was a chance to bridge the gap between us.

Wondering if I should even try.

I was feeling confused, depressed, despondent, and useless to myself and anyone else.

I arrived at my classroom more than half an hour before homeroom was scheduled to start.

I had an unexpected guest.

Duncan Armand Avenir was a senior, and someone I grew to know over the past few months.

To say that we dated was not a stretch. In fact, we were _almost_ dating. We spent time together whenever I joined Siobhan and Alistair in the company of Duncan and his friends, which was to say quite often. Very often. So in that respect, we were both standing at the proverbial dating line, just waiting to take the next step.

I was comfortable around him, and in truth he made me feel special. He was kind, courteous, and he paid special attention to me on each occasion we were together.

At school we ate lunch together a few times, and while I heard rumors and gossip behind my back, I was thankfully untroubled by the usual bitchiness that seems to accompany the jealousy that girls my age can express.

Oh, I should mention that in any girl's book, Duncan is quite the catch.

He's tall, easy on the eyes, and lithely built, which suits him well as a member of the competing basketball team. He isn't the star player, but he's rarely benched, and last year he made a name for himself as a promising rising star.

So here I was 'almost' dating an eligible senior.

I guess I was lucky.

Caelum was right. He had made a mess of my love life, but I'd held myself back as well.

The end result was that I lacked experience when it came to dating the opposite sex.

I could have been tricked by an unscrupulous senior, but I lucked out.

Duncan was someone that I felt I could open up to.

He eased the emptiness in my heart, the void that resulted when Caelum and I parted ways.

By the time my second year of high school started, I had pretty much decided to open up to him, and was ready to say 'yes' if he ever asked me that all important question.

No, I'm not talking about getting engaged.

I'm talking about the other question – the boyfriend-girlfriend question.

But then Caelum stormed right back into my life, rear-ending my first week back in school.

Rear-ending all my carefully laid out plans!

Aggh, he could be such a pain in the ass!

So I arrived at my homeroom, and a short while later I saw Duncan peek in through the open door. Surprised to see him, I quickly met him in the hallway outside.

"Hi," he said, looking a little embarrassed.

I smiled stupidly up at him. "Hi back." Stupid heart calm down! "Why are you here?"

"To see you."

"Ah...oh. Really?"

He gave me a bemused smile. "Well, yeah. This is your homeroom."

I looked up at the sign beside the door. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Stupid, stupid heart! I'm having trouble hearing him. Stop beating so loudly.

Wait, why was I getting so flustered? Last year and over the break I was totally at ease beside him. Then again, it was rare for the two of us to be alone. Siobhan and Alistair were usually beside me whenever Duncan was around.

I frowned inwardly.

Maybe this is was how I was supposed to feel.

Maybe this was a natural reaction for a girl when she's...falling in love?

"Haruka?"

"Hah—yes?"

"This Saturday, are you busy?"

"Heh—Saturday? No, I don't think so. I'd have to check with Siobhan and Alistair, but I don't think anything was planned."

My palms were beginning to sweat. I hid my hands behind my back. I worried my face would break out into a sweat.

And my damn heart was being a nuisance.

I can't hear him if you keep drumming like that.

Duncan swallowed noticeably. "Great, then would you go out with me?"

I blinked and blanked out for a moment. "Huh?"

"You and me, just the two of us. This Saturday. A date."

"Uh...just us? For real?"

"Yes, for real."

I didn't know how to answer him.

Part of me wanted to jump for joy.

But another part of me was scared.

I was scared of letting go of Caelum.

I was scared it would harm my chances of mending our friendship.

Duncan was looking down at me with a nervous, expectant look. "Haruka?"

I swallowed and gave Duncan a quick nod. "Ah, this Saturday. Yeah, I'm free. Sounds good."

I realized I'd given him an answer without discussing it with Siobhan and Alistair.

He broke into a relieved smile. "Then it's a date."

I started to smile back.

In the corner of my eye I saw a familiar face walking toward us.

I turned and faced that familiar face.

Caelum was looking in my direction, yet his eyes were focused on a point beyond me.

It was only when he arrived at the door that his attention centered on me.

I stared at him, and Caelum stared right back.

I smiled nervously. "Ah—morning."

His gaze flickered to Duncan. I didn't miss the hard, flat look Caelum gave him. Then he muttered, "Morning...."

With a tight bow to me, and the merest of nods to Duncan, he stepped through the open door and into the classroom.

I looked away, trying hard to steady my jumbled feelings. My heart was racing and making me tremble at the same time.

Duncan's voice was low and concerned. "Haruka? What's wrong?"

I shook my head, unable to meet his eyes and shrugged lightly. "Nothing—nothing's wrong."

Duncan asked me in a low voice, "He's the Familiar people are talking about—the one in the holovids uploaded to various sites on the cynet. Am I wrong?"

I looked up at him. "Yes. His name is Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear."

Duncan was quiet for a long moment. "Haruka, how well do you know him?"

For a heartbeat, I debated telling him the truth. "We grew up together. He's my childhood friend."

Duncan looked confused, then grew deeply concerned. "And what about now?"

"He's still my childhood friend, Duncan."

"And your friend, too?"

"Ah...I don't know. We had a falling out when I joined the Avenir Pride during the middle of last year. Our friendship kind of came to an end."

"Was he a Familiar at the time?"

"No. He was a Regular. In fact, I had no idea he would be coming here. We hadn't seen or spoken to each other for seven months. Then he suddenly transfers into my class at the beginning of the school year."

Duncan gave the classroom a heavily guarded look, then focused on me again. "Haruka, I'm worried what people will think of you, or do to you if word gets out your childhood friends."

I frowned hard at Duncan. "What are you saying?"

"I'm just worried some of the student body may give you a hard time."

"You mean _bully_ me?" I understood his reasoning, and the thought had crossed my mind. "Why are you mentioning this? Did you hear something?"

I watched a range of conflicted emotions run across his face. Eventually he said, "I heard some of the girls talking. Apparently they saw the two of you talking in the garden, and now there are rumors floating around."

I folded my arms under my breasts. "What kind of rumors?"

He looked distinctly uncomfortable. Even his shrug which was supposed to dismiss my question was heavy and conflicted. "Rumors that the two of you are dating in secret. That you're hiding a secret, illicit love for each other. That kind of thing."

"A secret illicit love?" I pursed my lips into a thin, bloodless line. "Unbelievable," I muttered.

Duncan was eyeing me nervously. "They're not true, right?"

"Let me ask you something, is this why you came down to see me before homeroom?"

"No, not at all. I came down because—because I've been wanting to ask you out for a long time. That's the truth."

I sighed heavily, closed my eyes and shook my head slowly.

I didn't open my eyes again until a short while later.

"Duncan, the rumors are not true. Caelum and I danced around each other for too long. We missed our chance and now he's a Familiar and I'm an Aventis of the Avenir Pride."

He looked troubled. "Then there's nothing between the two of you?"

I replied as easily as I could but I was growing irritated. "Other than a broken friendship, no."

He studied me anxiously for a quick moment before noticeably relaxing. "I'm sorry Haruka. I didn't mean to pry or hurt your feelings."

"You just wanted to be sure."

He nodded before he could stop himself.

I couldn't help but sigh again. "Duncan...if you're not sure about me, then don't ask me out. It really hurts when people doubt my feelings for them."

He looked shocked, and his gaze wandered all over my face. "Haruka—"

"Class is about to start. I need to go."

I turned without another word or a backward glance at him.

I steeled my shoulders and back as I walked through the door and into my classroom.

I don't know for how long he stood near the door before leaving.

Truthfully, I didn't want to know.

My heart was beating painfully hard and my chest ached. It was a struggle to keep the hurt from showing on my face.

As I walked to my smart desk, I glanced at Caelum through the corner of my eye.

He was staring at the display surface of his smart desk, but he wasn't moving.

I sat down at my own desk.

Later, when Siobhan and Alistair arrived at the classroom, I greeted them with a cheery smile and wave. I prayed they wouldn't see through my façade.

#

(Caelum)

For the first time in a while, I managed to get through a day of school without being blindsided by unexpected events.

Actually, that's a complete lie.

My day went to pieces the moment I saw Haruka talking with that handsome senior.

I kept the study aid in my visor and headset dialed up to max. It was the only way to get through classes. I knew this was going to give me a headache later, but I had no choice.

It was either that or struggle through the day.

When lunch break came round, I skipped lunch. I wasn't all that hungry, though I expected my appetite to return later today. I was looking forward to dinner even if it was cafeteria food from the dormitory kitchen.

The truth was I just wanted to be alone.

Getting onto the rooftop courtyard was easy. I climbed the roofs of the permacrete huts on the building's roof, and found myself a spot to lie down on.

And that's how I spent my lunch break.

Lying on a flat roof, with arms folded behind my head for a pillow.

Just staring up at the artificial sky of the habitat – a sky some fifteen hundred feet above me – while listening to the sounds of the students eating lunch on the rooftop courtyard a short distance away. I heard the sounds of their conversations, and I heard the sounds of the habitat surrounding the Academy.

And I really struggled to get through the pain in my heart.

I knew I was being foolish, and selfish. I knew I was acting like I did in the old days, before she became an Aventis and was sought after by the boys; before the days I became a Familiar, and fought off countless numbers of her suitors.

I knew all that.

And I understood that I couldn't go back to those days.

I had to let Haruka go, and I had to do it properly.

Not a selfish goodbye full of bitterness and anguish like I did seven months ago,

A proper goodbye.

And maybe, just maybe, we could start again...as friends.

But never more than friends.

And that was what I found unbearably difficult to accept.

I heard the sounds of someone moving about on the rooftop.

"Caelum? Caelum are you up there? Gods damn it. I know I saw him come through here."

Damn, I knew that voice. How could I not know that voice?

Haruka had followed me. I hadn't expected that and now I was trapped.

"Caelum? Where are you?"

Crap. If she didn't pipe down she'd attract attention.

I sat up, then stood up and walked to the edge of the hut's rooftop. "Hey, keep it down."

She looked up and grimaced. "So that's where you were." She walked to the hut's wall and stretched her arms toward me. "Lift me up."

"Haruka, what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you. Now lift me up."

I glanced around, wondering how much attention she was drawing. Then I resigned myself to fate and crouched near the edge of the hut's flat roof. I grabbed her hands, and found it surprisingly easy to lift her up onto the roof.

Haruka muttered, "Thanks". She patted herself down and straightened her uniform. "You're quite strong."

"As expected," I muttered back. "Why won't you respect my privacy?"

I didn't wait for an answer. I just walked back to my spot on the roof and lay down like before, with my arms folded behind my head for a pillow.

I closed my eyes, but heard her clearly.

"His name is Duncan Armand Avenir. He's a senior, Class Three Aye."

Opening one eye, I peered at her. "I didn't ask."

"No, but you were wondering. In fact it's been bugging you since morning."

"So why are you telling me?"

"Because if I don't tell you, you'll sulk around for hours, days, maybe weeks."

"This may come as a surprise, Haruka, but I do have other problems to deal with. You're dating life isn't one of them."

"Yeah, I'll bet it isn't."

"Would you just leave."

In defiance she sat down beside me on the roof, bending her legs and draping her arms over her knees. "Duncan and I have been going out as friends for a while now, almost always in the company of our respective friends. Today he asked me out on a proper date."

I opened both eyes and stared at her. "Hey, I said I wasn't asking."

She met my gaze. "Does it bother you that much?"

"Not at all. I couldn't care less who you _date_."

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you on Friday, when it was just the two of us in the garden."

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

Yes, I was annoyed she hadn't told me back then.

I was also annoyed she hadn't mentioned it yesterday.

I swallowed but held my tongue.

Haruka broke the silence that fell between us. "Hey, Caelum, say something."

"What do you want me to say? Congratulations Haruka, he seems like a _swell_ guy. How's that?"

"My mistake for asking," she muttered.

I opened my eyes and peered at her.

Haruka was looking down at her arms folded around her knees. "I wanted to tell you. I just...didn't know how."

"Haruka, it's fine. Really, I'm not bothered by it at all—" I stopped sharply, and turned my head away.

For a while I didn't know what to say. Everything that came to mind felt harsh and abrasive, so I chose to say nothing until my emotions had calmed down.

I was annoyed. I couldn't deny it anymore.

And I felt hurt. She kept talking about us being friends, but she kept this a secret.

After a minute of silence, I shook my head slowly. "It's fine. Really, it's okay. You have your life and I have mine. There's no need to explain."

"Yes there is." With that I felt her hands grab my hair and pull me upright.

"Damn it that hurts!"

"Caelum, look at me."

"First, let go of my hair."

She complied so I acquiesced to give her my undivided attention.

Haruka narrowed her eyes at me. "Caelum, listen carefully. Duncan and I are testing the waters. We're not dating—we're _almost_ dating—but we both like each other. Unfortunately he got on my nerves this morning and I brushed him off. And it's all your fault." She paused then added, "Actually, it's my fault."

"Huh? What are you trying to say?"

"People saw us talking in the garden yesterday, and now it seems there are rumors floating around concerning us."

"But there is no _us_ ," I pointed out.

"Precisely," she agreed with a nod. She turned away and looked out at the school grounds visible from the rooftop. "And now Duncan is beginning to doubt me. I told him his lack of faith in me hurt and I left him standing outside homeroom."

"Lack of faith? Wouldn't that imply you're already dating?"

Haruka sighed loudly but it sounded more like a grunt. "Yes, quite the conundrum."

"No it's not a conundrum. You're just messing up your descriptions. In other words, you're giving him the wrong idea."

"So how do I fix it?"

I stared at her in growing disbelief. "You're asking me? Why? This isn't my problem."

"Caelum, tell me how to fix it."

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, then I gave up and lay back down on my arms. "I don't know. Go talk to the student councilor. She gets paid by the hour, I don't."

"Caelum," she growled and reached for me again.

This time I was ready for her and grabbed her hands, but as we struggled on the rooftop, I ended up pulling Haruka onto me.

"Ooof," I expelled as one of her knees connected with my groin.

Haruka couldn't catch herself and landed on my chest.

Actually, her rather large breasts landed on my chest, absorbing the impact like a set of twin cushions.

Despite the pain in my lower region, I couldn't ignore the feeling of her wholesome fullness pressed down on either side of my solar plexus.

Wow, they were so soft yet firm too, and their shape was amazing.

I knew she had an impressive bust, but I'd never had physical contact with it. I wouldn't have dreamt of touching her without her permission. Absolutely not.

Pain or no pain, my lower extremity was beginning to make its approval felt.

Surely she could feel _that_? Her knee was right on it.

I felt myself blush in embarrassment as I lost control of _it_. No amount of pleading was going to get it to back down.

My eyes were wide open, and so were Haruka's.

Large, brown eyes that were warm and inviting.

I swallowed in mounting panic as I felt myself fall into her gaze. "Ha—Haruka? Um, it's not what you think?"

She remained silent, and I could feel her body rise and fall with every breath she took as she continued to lie on my chest. I didn't need my Fragment to allow me to sense the beating of her heart. I could hear it and feel it as clearly as I could feel mine.

After what felt like an interminable length of time, Haruka slowly shifted her body over me, dragging herself higher. Now her face was directly above my face, and our lips were only inches apart.

I knew in a heartbeat what she had in mind. I had to try and talk her out of it.

I had to at least make an effort – token resistance as it were.

"Haruka, don't. You'll regret it—"

I lost my lips to her.

I couldn't stop her from kissing me, and I mean properly kissing me.

Down below, my body was raising the mast and hoisting the white flag in defeat.

I couldn't stop her any more than I could halt time.

After a little while I gave up and nervously wrapped my arms around her, my hands settling on the small of her back.

It wasn't how I'd ever pictured kissing her, but then again, very rarely do plans like these go to plan.

But what right did I have to complain.

I was kissing the girl of my dreams; the girl I'd fought for on countless occasions; the girl I'd hoped would one day walk by my side as my girlfriend and maybe more.

She broke the kiss, and drew back a little.

I felt the warmth between us slowly wane away as her eyes searched my face.

She didn't move, she just kept looking at me, blinking slowly with her long dark lashes.

She was so beautiful. If I was dreaming all of this I would cry and tear apart my room upon waking up.

But I wasn't waking up.

She felt real, as did her taste in my mouth. As did the warmth of her body, and the softness of her firm breasts.

What was she waiting for?

Was she waiting for me to make the next move?

Was that it?

Was she giving me the chance to decide how this ended...or how this began?

I swallowed down her taste in my mouth – a rather pleasant taste.

Make a choice. Take a chance. Grab onto her and don't let go!

Did I have the courage to do that?

I was a Familiar, and she was an Aventis, something I'd convinced myself I hated.

But as I looked up at her, how could I dream of hating her? How could I have ever said those hurtful words to her seven months ago?

How I could I have been so stupid?

I reached up and cupped her face, and then drew her lips down onto mine.

This time, I was the one kissing her.

After all these years, I finally had her in my arms, and I had no intention of letting her go.

How could I have so stupidly tried to cut my ties with her?

I loved this girl. I'd loved her for so long, there was no way I could ever stop loving her.

Her lips separated from mine, and raised herself on her elbows.

A sudden fear gripped my heart and an emptiness filled my chest.

She was going to leave.

She was going to rise to her feet at any moment and then leave.

And then she would act as if none of this had happened.

I felt the emptiness inside me swell to agonizing proportions until it bordered on the unbearable.

The dream was coming to an end.

It really was time to wake up and face reality.

I swallowed in anguish as I looked up at her.

Her eyes were clear, and her face was flushed but her expression was calm and serene. How could she think of shattering my heart while looking at me with such a face?

I couldn't find the strength to say anything, not even plead with her not to leave.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

Haruka's voice was a whisper.

"I love you...."

I felt my heart beat painfully. Would she still leave, after saying those words? Would she flee the rooftop?

My voice was anything but steady, but it was there when I needed it.

"Haruka...please, don't go. Please, don't ever leave me again."

She blinked slowly, then broke into a smile.

"No, I won't ever leave. And I won't allow you to leave me either."

With her fingertips, she brushed away the moisture in the corner of my left eye.

"Big boys don't cry," she whispered, then lowered her lips to mine once again.

### Chapter 12 – Doubt.

(Haruka)

First Semester, School Week Two.

Tuesday went by.

Wednesday come along.

I had a message from Duncan on my school mail account. He wanted to talk. The tone of his message was apologetic.

I read it a couple of times and wondered what I would say to him.

I liked him, I truly did.

But I'd gone and complicated everything.

I had chased Caelum down, intending to explain everything and come clean. Instead, I'd taken the _bull by the horns_ and subsequently lost control of my heart.

I'd let the reins of self-control slip free of my grasp, and spent the remainder of the lunch break kissing him over and over on the hard rooftop.

I loved him.

I'd always loved him.

I couldn't run away from the truth anymore.

I didn't care what my parents thought.

I didn't care what my classmates thought.

I didn't care if I was bullied or harassed.

It couldn't change how I felt about him.

I really, truly, madly and very deeply loved him.

And I knew he felt the same away about me.

It wasn't the Countess he loved.

It wasn't Caprice Steiner.

It was me. Of that there was no doubt in my heart.

So now I had a problem – what to do about Duncan?

But before then, I needed to talk to Siobhan and Alistair. I needed to tell them the truth, and hope for their understanding and support.

The door to homeroom opened and Caprice Steiner walked in. The room grew quiet as she entered, and a number of eyes followed her progress to the back of the room. With her customary lack of expression she walked to her smart desk and sat down.

I glanced at her over my shoulder.

I wasn't the only one throwing glances her way.

From the holovids uploaded to the cynet I knew she'd been injured. She'd been stabbed through her chest by a three foot long blade. And yet here she was, sitting at her desk four days later looking as good as new.

Even an Aventis couldn't achieve that kind of recovery.

Inhuman. No, it was beyond human. A preternatural healing ability amplified exponentially by interaction with the Symbiote.

She was something not quite human and not quite Aventis.

Something _familiar_ to both.

Caprice's eyes met mine. Her expression was flat and dull, but not her eyes. They looked into me, into my soul as the saying goes, and I suddenly feared she knew everything that happened between Caelum and I on the rooftop.

I tore my gaze away and looked to the front of the classroom.

That couldn't be? How could she know, unless someone was watching us.

The door to the classroom opened again and a number of my classmates wandered in.

Caelum followed a few steps behind, closing the door as soon as he entered the room. His gaze went to me, and I saw the flicker of a smile on his face, but then his eyes found Caprice and a look of shock spread across his face.

Shock that quickly turned to relief.

He walked quickly up to her and sat down at his smart desk that was situated beside hers.

He looked happy to see her, and I saw the familiar faint smile she often bestowed on him adorn her face.

I turned away, unable to watch them anymore.

I understood what he was doing, ignoring me while at the same time acknowledging me.

There was no choice. I had matters to deal with on my end, loose ends to tie up. Caelum had promised to leave them in my hands. So for the time being he acted as though yesterday never happened.

But it did happen, and I couldn't help the painful jealousy that welled up in my chest.

I wanted him to look at me that way.

I wanted him to pay attention to me that way.

I clenched my hands under my desk, digging my nails into my palms until I felt them slick with my blood.

#

(Haruka)

Lunch time.

Siobhan, Alistair and I were sitting on the edge of the sports field where the Track-and-Field club was doing their daily round of training during the break.

I had talked them into coming here to the grassy knoll overlooking the field.

There were a few students around, but none close enough to overhear us, even if they had the improved hearing that comes with being an Aventis.

I told them about yesterday's experience with Caelum on the rooftop.

Siobhan stopped eating, put her lunch box aside on the grass beside her, and then grabbed her hair in despair.

"Haruka, please tell me you just made all that up."

"No, I didn't. It happened."

Siobhan groaned. "No, no, no. This is bad. This is really bad."

"Why is it bad?"

"Because a lot of students know that Duncan is keen on you. I heard it on the grapevine. He couldn't wait for school to being again so that he could see you often."

"Okay...."

"Don't you get it? If you dump him what do you think people are going to say?"

Alistair added her thoughts. "Dumping a star athletic, grade aye student, all around nice guy with good looks for a Familiar that's infamous on the cynet for destroying private property." She laughed while sipping her canned soda. "How romantic."

I felt somewhat aghast when she put it that way.

Alistair and Siobhan stared at me.

Siobhan muttered loudly, "What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't. I wasn't thinking at all. I let my heart take over."

Alistair quipped, "You're doomed."

Siobhan whined, "She's doomed? What about us? What are they going to think of us?"

I arched my eyebrows at them. "Well thank you for the support." I stood up, and took the remains of my lunch with me. Conveniently it was contained in a plastic container that I could seal up like a lunch box.

Alistair asked, "Where are you going?"

"To find Caelum and to indulge in my _illicit_ affair."

"Well, good luck," she said, "especially now that Caprice Steiner is back."

I froze for a heartbeat then looked down at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Alistair looked up at me. "You're being naïve."

I felt a flicker of irritation toward Alistair. "I'm being naïve? You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, I do." Alistair closed her plastic container. Unlike Siobhan and I, Alistair had finished eating the contents. "Haruka, you should take a good look at the holovids people uploaded."

I hesitated before asking, "Why?"

"Because you'll find the answer to the question you've been denying to yourself."

"And what question would that be?"

Alistair stood up then stepped up to me until she filled most of my vision. "The question of whether or not Caprice Steiner holds a place in his heart."

I didn't know how to respond to her. At the very least, I had nothing remotely intelligent to say, so I chose not to say anything.

But now I had no idea what to do.

What if Alistair was right?

What if Caelum had lost a part of his heart to Caprice?

I knew nothing of what his relationship was with that girl. There was seven months of his life that were a complete mystery to me.

Alistair sighed in sympathy or was that empathy. "You should be careful of the Countess as well."

I blinked. "The Countess?"

"Simone Alucard Raynar," Alistair explained. "On condition of anonymity, my brother let slip that the Countess has expressed an interest in him."

I stared at Alistair. Condition of anonymity? I shook my head inwardly. "What kind of interest?"

Alistair looked at me through narrowed eyes. "A very, _very_ serious interest. And that girl is gorgeous and extremely determined. So whether you like it or not, you've got some serious competition to contend with."

I took a half step back. "Then...then what should I do?"

Alistair glanced away for a moment. "Why not test Caelum's love for you?"

"Huh?"

"Why not use Duncan as the perfect foil?"

Siobhan stood up in a rush. "No, that's too evil."

"Is it?" Alistair asked.

Siobhan countered, "Then let me just call it _dangerous_."

Alistair regarded the two of us. "Let's put it this way. Let's assume Haruka was just lost in the moment. I mean, she's a girl with deep feelings for Caelum Desanto. It's understandable that in such a situation she would be swept away by the strength of her emotions. I have to admit, Caelum isn't hard on the eyes. Quite the opposite. And he looks quite well built, though he's not as tall as some of the other guys." She shrugged. "It's not something I mind."

I blinked hard, feeling jealousy pierce my chest. "What—what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that quite a few girls, even some in our class, have voiced an interest in him."

"You're lying," I blurted out.

Alistair shook her head, but it was Siobhan that replied in a disgusted tone. "No, she's not. I've heard girls talk about him in the toilets. I was really surprised. Actually, I was damn well shocked. I mean, he's only been here a week and a bit and he's already caught the eye of more than a few girls in our year."

I shook my head. "No, that's not possible."

Siobhan was scratching her left cheek. "Nope, it's definitely true. I think it's because Familiars are like a forbidden fruit to us Aventis girls, especially the pureblooded girls."

I gasped, "Huh?"

Alistair nodded with a faint, playful smile on her lips. "What she's saying, is that while we Aventis look down upon Familiars, we can't help the rush that comes from _conquering_ them. Or maybe it's something more—something physiological."

"Ah...I'm not following you."

Alistair gave me pensive yet still annoyingly playful look. "Then let me ask you this. Are you more attracted to Caelum now or before he became a Familiar?"

"Now, definitely now. Oops." I slapped both hands over my mouth.

What the Hell did I just say?

Alistair giggled. "You see. It's documented that Regulars undergo changes when they become Aventis. Improvements which make us stand out from the Regulars, and I'm not talking about our physical abilities. I'm talking about our appearances and the like."

I lowered my hands.

Yes, I'd read that too in more than a handful of teenage magazines. In fact, given the option Regular guys almost always preferred Aventis girls to Regular girls.

Alistair carried on. "So our changes give us a leg up on the competition. Stealing a Regular boy from his Regular girlfriend is a piece of cake. Likewise for an Aventis guy. Regulars just can't resist us."

I nodded weakly. It didn't sound nice, but she was right. Even walking down the street, I drew the eye of every Regular guy around me. So too did Alistair and Siobhan when the three of us went shopping.

Siobhan sidled a little closer. "You're just quoting that magazine you showed me."

Alistair shrugged and pulled out her palm-slate from a blazer inside pocket. She thumbed the screen a few times then showed me the article displayed on the slate.

"According to this," she said, "Aventis girls admitted to feeling _something_ attract them to a Familiar male that they didn't normally feel when around a Regular or Aventis male. And it's not just girls. Aventis guys see Familiar girls as a guilty pleasure, but also can't deny that they're attracted to them for reasons they just can't explain."

I read the article quickly.

It couldn't be true. Were my feelings toward Caelum being amplified or coerced simply because he was a Familiar? Was there really something about him that would attract girls like bees to honey? Or was that bears to honey?

Alistair pocketed her palm-slate before I could finish reading the article. "In short, what you felt on the rooftop with Caelum was simply some sort of unquantifiable reaction the Symbiote induced in you because of your proximity to a Familiar."

I noticed the light begin to shine on Siobhan's eyes.

"I get it now," Siobhan said. "Haruka fell victim to Desanto's pheromones or something. Something that makes the Symbiote inside her trigger a strong attraction to him."

Alistair nodded sagely. "Not just Haruka. Most probably other girls in our class as well. But they're doing a good job hiding it, though I've noticed the looks he gets between classes." She faced me fully. "So before you go and dump Duncan, maybe you should test out the waters a little better."

I shook my head weakly. "That can't be. That can't be right. I know what I felt and it was real."

"Of course it was, you felt your body's reaction to him being a Familiar. It was real, but only when you're around him or near him. It's all a proximity thing."

"No, that's not true," I denied. "What I felt is the love I've held for him for many years. I love Caelum. Maybe my attraction to him was _enhanced_ by being close to him, but it had nothing to do with him being a Familiar."

Alistair gently raised her hands and shrugged in defeat. "Well, I tried getting you to see the light but I've failed. Nonetheless, you really should think twice about dumping Duncan."

"I can't dump him if we're not going out."

"True, but if you cut him high and dry, you might regret it later. This place can be pretty harsh on girls that do that."

I felt a pang of fear stab my heart. "You mean, I'm stuck? I can't say no to him or the student body will turn against me?"

"I'm saying that Duncan has a lot of girls wishing they were in your place. And he's a star on the basketball team so there's prestige with dating a star athlete. Melanie Cardwell, the girls' swim team ace of aces, has had her eyes on him for a while—long before you showed up. Needless to say, she does not _like_ you."

I waved my hands between us. "But I didn't pursue Duncan. He pursued me."

"That makes no difference to a girl like her because he really likes you, and now you're going to break his heart."

I grimaced, feeling trapped on all sides. Running my fingers through my hair I asked, "Then what the Hell am I supposed to do?"

Siobhan sighed as she nodded. "That's a really good question...."

"Like I said," Alistair pressed on, "you should test out your feelings for Duncan. And you should test out Caelum's feelings for you. Find out just how serious he is about you."

I swallowed and took a deep breath. "And what if it's true love between us?"

Alistair smiled sweetly and gave me a thumbs up. "Then I'll back you up all the way."

I felt a chill run down my spine.

Siobhan gave Alistair a narrow look. "Why would you do that?"

Alistair faced Siobhan and held up a finger. "Because I have no love for Simone Alucard who's after Caelum, and who's simply trying to hitch a ride to glory on my brother's coat tails." She clenched her right hand into a fist and pumped it into the air. "For that reason, I'll gladly help Haruka on the road to true love."

I stared at Alistair for a long while.

I couldn't help sounding sour.

"Thanks, you're a true friend."

#

(Caprice)

I sat across Caelum at a table in the cafeteria.

He was staring at me with a funny look on his face. The fork he held had stopped halfway to his lips.

"She reads...erotic...fiction...?"

I gave him a shallow nod. I had just finished eating through a half dozen bagels. I didn't normally eat such food, but today I had a craving for them. I blamed it on my recovery and on the Symbiote inside my body. Unlike Caelum, I didn't suffer from a lack of appetite when the Symbiote briefly took residence within me. However, I was left craving food I wouldn't usually consume. Many months ago, he told me he envied that about me.

I dabbed my lips clean with a paper napkin. "Quite erotic. I had trouble reading it at first."

"At first...."

"Yes. Then it grew on me."

"I see...it grew on you...."

I gave him a flat look. "Once you ignore the erotic content, you can immerse yourself in the story itself."

He gave me a lopsided frown. "But isn't that beside the point?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, don't you think the point of reading erotic fiction is because it's _erotic_?" His frown flipped to the other side of this face. "It's like buying a porn magazine for the sake of the articles rather than the naked girls."

"I wouldn't know."

"Uh...really?"

I nodded firmly but faintly. "But it's not all that interesting."

"Ah—" He gaped then slowly closed his mouth for a moment. "Didn't you say it _grew_ on you."

"I meant the story grew on me. I apologize for the misunderstanding."

Caelum regarded me quietly for a moment. "So how many did you read?"

"Three of them. The Countess recommended one where the protagonist is the student council president of an elite school."

"Oh really...."

"Yes, and she finds herself involved in various, sexual encounters."

"Is that so? Give me an example."

"Well, there's one scene where she and a boy from the student council engage in activities while inside a storeroom. They make a mess of the place."

Caelum dropped his utensils. "Wh—what did you say?"

My palm-slate chimed a few times.

I read the message that had arrived..

Caelum glanced at my palm-slate, his utensils and lunch forgotten. "A message?"

"Yes, I've been summoned to the Student Council President's office."

"I see. Well, you'd better go. Don't keep him waiting."

"Caelum—"

"Go Caprice." He gave me a firm smile. "Don't waste time. I'll be waiting for you here or I'll see you back in class."

I didn't feel like leaving him. I considered ignoring the summons, but Caelum regarded me with a steady look.

"Caprice, go for the both of us."

He went back to eating his lunch, some sort of pasta with an overabundance of shredded cheese.

For a few moments I watched him eat his meal with glee. He also had a window seat so he could observe the girls in the Track-and-Field club run around the sporting track. I sighed inwardly as I watched him engrossed in the vision of the girls wearing their skintight shorts and tank tops.

I spared a look around the cafeteria. To my chagrin, he wasn't the only one lecherously admiring the girls from a distance.

Once more I sighed inwardly, then left him to enjoy his lunch meal and the view.

He hadn't fooled me though.

I could sense his bitterness at having been left out of the summons. He might have agreed to reluctantly help the Student Council, but I knew that he was also glad to have a reason to use his Fragment and to put months of training into effect.

It was a reason to inflict trouble on Crimson Crescent.

But now his Fragment had been taken from him by the Lanfears who'd bestowed it on him.

How could he not feel bitter and betrayed?

At the exit to the cafeteria I glanced over my shoulder at him.

Caelum was looking down at the pasta on his plate with a despondent look on his face.

A dull ache spread across my chest. I turned away and hurriedly exited the cafeteria.

I didn't want to see him this way. It reminded me of the first days of his training, where he struggled with the simplest and easiest of moves; where he struggled for even a few minutes on the exercise equipment.

But he'd persevered. He'd pushed on, and little by little those months of training had paid off. I'd seen firsthand how strong a Familiar he was, and I'd witnessed him manifesting both shield-blades. His predecessor had taken a half year to achieve that. Caelum had done it in three months.

I arrived at the Student Council room feeling bitter and angry as well.

I was glad the door opened before I knocked on it.

I might have punched a jagged hole in it.

I managed a deep breath before entering the room.

I wasn't the first to arrive, but most probably the last.

Maya Khayman stood beside Rina Sayen. To the right of them and beside a wall of shelves stood the last person I ever expected to see in the room.

Constance Peligree.

I almost summoned my Valkyrie Armor on the spot, but a sharp cry from Simone Alucard held me back at the last heartbeat.

I couldn't help throwing Simone a hard, disbelieving look. "What the Hell is this?"

"It's a compromise," Severin Kell responded indifferently while cutting off Simone.

Simone was left open mouthed. I didn't miss the glare she gave Severin, and realized all was not well between them. It was clear to see that Simone resented Severin. That resentment had been absent last week.

Saturday's debacle must have driven a wedge between them.

There was one more person in the room.

The golden haired, buxom beauty, Prissila Ventiss Raynar. She was dressed in the white uniform of a senior like Severin. Her skirt looked a little shorter than regulation wise, and her school blouse was stretched around her chest much like Simone's. Both girls wore designer label high heels on their feet.

In terms of looks, I noticed how evenly matched the two girls were.

I snorted inwardly and crossed my arms, unable to relax in the presence of the person who'd tried to kill me only four days ago.

I swallowed down some of my apprehension, and asked, "Why is she here?"

Severin replied in a cold manner, "As I stated, it's a compromise between the Raynar, Lanfear, Sora and Avenir Prides."

Maya Khayman placed a hand on her hip. "Care to explain?"

Severin swept his gaze over us all and it ended upon Simone. "The Student Council's actions against Crimson Crescent are now under the supervision of Special Interventions."

Maya and Rina looked confused.

Constance bit her lower lip with an expression that said she was here under duress.

Prissila Ventiss had a veiled look of unhappiness, while Simone Alucard grimaced ever so faintly.

As for Severin Kell, his appearance betrayed nothing.

He looked like an unflappable butler.

As for me, I succeeded in slipping into my disaffected persona, but I had a little trouble holding onto it.

Severin cleared his throat subtly and carried on.

"The actions of the Student Council did not go unnoticed, which is entirely understandable. In addition, the events at the amusement park on Saturday highlighted a degree of miscommunication and lack of co-operation between various parties that resulted in a very public demonstration of what Familiars are capable of."

He gave Constance and I meaningful looks.

"In response, the Primatriarchs of the involved Prides convened and delegated responsibility for our actions to the Special Interventions Division. In effect, we are under their control. Either we accept this turn of events or the Student Council will be temporarily suspended and lose its authority here at Galatea."

Maya sounded shocked. "You're not serious?"

"I am completely serious. At the very least, the Student Council would be forbidden from any involvement in the protection of the academy from Crimson Crescent. If we want a part to play, we do as the Powers-that-be decree, or we leave the matter to them entirely."

Maya's nod was barely noticeable. "Maybe it's better that way. Maybe we shouldn't get involved."

Severin blinked and fixed a narrow look upon her. "Explain what you mean."

Maya snorted softly. "Do I have to? Look at us. We've never worked together. We're not trained to fight the Familiars of Crimson Crescent—and don't you dare tell me that Crescent doesn't have experienced Familiars in its ranks. In short, we'd make piss poor opponents to them. More than likely we'd all be killed."

I noticed the dark frown on Constance's face, but surprisingly she held tongue and remained silent.

Was she thinking of how easily Caelum had dispatched her on Saturday?

If Crescent's Familiars were able to use their Fragments as well if not better than Caelum, then what chance would any of us have?

I realized that I was thinking of Caelum as being on a level above mine.

For the most part that was wrong.

Caelum's fighting prowess was weak compared to mine, and the use of his Fragment was always unbalanced because he could only summon one of the two shield-blades. But on the occasion he summoned both of them, he was clearly a threat despite having weak combat skills. Saturday might have been the first time I'd witnessed both shield-blades manifesting, but I had no doubt it would grow progressively easier for him to summon them.

It would take time, and a great deal of effort, but there was no doubt in my heart that Caelum was a far stronger Familiar than I was.

After all, after a year of using my mother's Fragment, the Valkyrie Armor, I was unable to fully manifest it. At best, I could only call upon the leg armament and the bladed gauntlets. Arisa had told me the Valkyrie Armor was an Artifact, not a Fragment that had been in my bloodline for generations, always handed down from mother to daughter.

However, I was yet to call upon its true power.

That both frustrated and shamed me.

I looked at Severin. "I agree with Maya. Regardless of how we see ourselves, none of us are able to face Crimson Crescent. We've never worked together, and more to the point, we don't trust each other." I held back from looking across at Constance. "It's impossible for us to work effectively." I paused before adding, "And we've lost Caelum. Even if he lacks training, you're all aware of how strong his Gauntlet is."

Prissila Ventiss smiled broadly. "Well said, Lanfear."

I asked her, "Why are you here?"

"You mentioned trust. Well, the Ventiss Family doesn't trust the Alucard Family. To that end, we have now become involved in order to gauge for ourselves how trustworthy and dependable you all are. What better way than to become part of the _operation_."

Severin folded his hands behind his back. "It's as she says. An agreement was reached between the Ventiss and Alucard factions within the Raynar Pride. Part of that agreement was that Familiars affiliated with both families would work together to protect the academy from Crimson Crescent."

I glanced at Simone, then focused on Severin. "The Alucard Family has a Familiar chained to them?"

Prissila raised an eyebrow at me. "Chained? What an interesting point of view."

I ignored her and kept my attention on Severin. "Are they a member of the student body here at Galatea?"

"No, they're not. They're transferring in from a sister academy. The problem is that some transfers take longer than others. They won't be here until early next week."

Prissila's lips drew back into a pained smile. "To think the Alucards had bonded such a strong Familiar. I'm jealous."

Simone sniped, "Don't you mean envious?"

The girls glared at each other, completely disregarding the company they were in. Prissila didn't notice Constance clenching her jaw, but I did.

Maya sighed and shook her head. "I never thought this would happen...."

"What does that mean?" Prissila asked haughtily.

"All three of us together again...in the same room."

It was impossible to miss the reaction on Prissila and Simone's faces. A feeling of deep regret marred their features. A few moments went by and Prissila bit her lower lip while Simone turned away with a look of veiled anguish.

Maya sighed again, and planted both hands on her hips. "Well, let's leave that aside for now." She addressed Severin. "As I said, we're not ready to face Crescent. So what do we do about it?"

Severin replied, "An arrangement has been made to alleviate that problem."

Maya's face gave him a half smile. "Oh? What kind of arrangement?"

"Every day after class and on weekends, you will be transported to a training facility. It's used by the Artemis, and will provide the perfect environment to improve your skills."

Maya couldn't help but be impressed. "An Artemis training center? Wow, that's pulling some strings." She frowned a heartbeat later. "I should point out this is going to affect our school studies."

"I know. To that end, special dispensation will be granted to all of you, including extra course credits. But you'll still need to study for mid-terms and finals."

Maya laughed and brushed a hand through her dark hair. "Ha ha, well that will keep mother on my back. I hope she appreciates what we're doing for the sake of her Pride."

I interrupted by asking, "When do we start?"

"Today. You're expected to train for at least three months, regardless of whether Crescent make their move or not."

Maya frowned. "We're being trained to work as a unit? Wouldn't that put us in competition with the Artemis squads?"

"That's not a concern," Severin calmly stated.

Maya was deathly still for many heartbeats. Then she shrugged and folded her arms under her modest breasts. "If you say so...."

I asked, "What about Caelum Desanto? When will his Fragment be returned to him?"

Severin shook his head. "I don't know. For now, he's no longer involved with this operation."

I stared at him flatly. "Very well. Then consider me no longer involved either."

I turned and started walking toward the door.

Simone's voice chased me. "Caprice—what do you mean?"

I paused and half turned. "I agreed to be a part of this because Caelum agreed to help. If he's no longer a part of this operation, then neither am I." I chose to turn and bowed to her politely. "Thank you, and goodbye."

I opened the door and walked out.

"Caprice—wait." Simone chased me into the wide corridor outside. "Caprice, we need you. We need your talent and your skill. We need your strength."

I continued walking. "Then hurry up and get Caelum's Fragment re-instated to him."

"I can't do that. You have to believe me that I've tried. I thought my mother would agree with me, but instead she's refused to help me. I don't have anything to bargain with. I have no leverage over her."

I stopped and half turned my body in order to look at her. "What do you mean?"

The Countess looked despairingly at me. "I don't have any means to convince my mother to help. In fact, I learnt that Caelum is being considered a liability. The Powers-that-be are glad he isn't involved with the intervention."

I held back a frown, even though it would have been faint. "Why is that? Shouldn't they welcome all the help they can get?"

"That's true...but Caelum's situation is somewhat complicated." She looked really troubled, and I couldn't help showing her a little of my confusion.

"Please explain."

Simone sighed. "I can't. In fact, I may have said too much. But please, do me this one favor. Please, talk it over with Caelum. If he agrees you should help, then won't you come back to us?"

I thought her proposal over. "I will speak to Caelum. I won't promise you anything else."

Simone gave me a relieved smile, even though I hadn't committed to helping the Student Council.

Did she have that much faith Caelum would convince me to continue helping Simone and Severin?

I turned away, and continued walking away.

Her voice chased me. "Caprice, I'll send you the details of where to meet after classes end."

I didn't acknowledge her. Instead, I bit the inside of my mouth and tried to ignore the unease bubbling in my chest.

I walked a little faster back to the cafeteria, hoping to join up with Caelum and talk the matter over with him.

### Chapter 13 – Divisions.

(Caelum)

I watched the girls from Track-and-Field run around the sports field.

However, I was remembering that time with Simone in the storeroom. Her scent and warmth came to mind.

I couldn't believe she was acting out a scene from a book she'd read.

And it was an erotic book to boot.

Sighing inwardly in dismay, I regarded the girls running around the track.

Such trim and taut bodies.

Maybe I should try my hand at erotic fiction.

Perhaps a story involving the girls of the Track-and-Field club.

Ah what the Hell am I thinking?

My eyes caught sight of Haruka arguing with her friends, or deep in an _animated_ discussion. Though far away, I could see it was Siobhan, Alistair and Haruka on the grassy knoll overlooking the running track.

Since parting ways after lunch time yesterday, she and I hadn't spoken a word to each other. We had a messaged each other a few times, but today those had come to an end.

I understood she had issues she needed to resolve on her end, such as that senior who was interested in her, Duncan Armand Avenir. He was the biggest problem she had to deal with.

If she needed my support I was going to be there for her. The problem was I had no idea how to help her. I had no idea if she'd spoken to Duncan, or was planning to, or how she was thinking of breaking the news to him.

I was also worried that she might be having second thoughts about _us_. After all, both of us were caught up in the moment and we said some pretty heartfelt words. But now that both our heads and hearts were clearer, was she having doubts?

Was I having doubts?

No, I was certain of how I felt toward her. I really did love her.

And yet...why was I feeling guilty?

I looked at the empty seat across from me.

When I thought I would lose Caprice, my heart felt as though it was being crushed by an industrial press. I hadn't realized until that moment how much Caprice meant to me.

So the question I'd been asking myself was...did I love Caprice?

Seeing her back in class, I wanted to walk up to her, pick her up and hug her tightly.

And those were my honest feelings.

I loved Haruka, but did I also love Caprice?

I looked out the window at the scene of Haruka and her friends packing up and leaving the grassy knoll.

My feelings aside, I knew how Haruka felt about me. But I had no idea how Caprice felt. There were times I thought she barely tolerated me. And then there were times she would smile faintly at me, and my chest would ache while my heartbeat grew fast.

I looked down at my empty plate, a part of me glad my appetite had returned.

I looked down and wondered how I would resolve my problems of the heart.

I shook my head inwardly.

I was too young to be having these issues. And there were more important problems to deal with, such as getting my Fragment back and dealing with Crimson Crescent.

I looked up and saw an unexpected sight. Duncan Armand Avenir was walking toward me. He stopped at the table.

"Caelum Desanto, might we talk?"

I took a long, quiet breath as I regarded him silently for a long moment. "Talk about what?"

"About a mutual interest?"

I laughed under my breath. "Don't mince words with me. I don't have the time nor the patience for it."

"I won't take long," he said.

It didn't look like he was going to take no for an answer.

I kept him waiting for another long moment, my gaze firmly locked on his face.

Then I shrugged half-heartedly and waved at the chair Caprice had vacated some ten minutes ago.

"Thank you," Duncan said as he pulled the chair back and then sat down opposite me.

Since he was tall and damn well good looking, it was no wonder he attracted the attention of the female student body. I was getting pissed off just staring at him.

His confident yet earnest expression was making my blood boil.

If he turns out to be a nice guy, I'll kill him.

"I'll be honest," Duncan said. "I like Haruka Amiella. I like her a lot, probably more than any girl I've ever come across."

"Really. And what do you like about her?"

"I like her positive outlook in life."

I felt like laughing at that.

Duncan continued obliviously. "I like her honesty, and I like her spirit. I find that we have a lot in common, and my friends approve of her. She's kind and sweet. She smart and easy to talk to."

"Is that so...and is that all?"

In the corner of my eye, I noticed the girls in the nearby tables were glancing our way. They gave Duncan admiring looks. They gave me curious and unpleasant glares. They were probably mortified to see such a handsome senior talking to a lowly Familiar like me. Was I going to damage his reputation and corrode his good looks by breathing in his direction?

Uggh, I was starting to grow irritated.

Duncan frowned. "What do you mean 'is that all'?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Well, I thought her looks might count for something."

He gave me a faintly withering look. "Yes, Haruka is a very attractive girl."

Aggh, I couldn't take this anymore.

I leaned forward and slapped the table. "Okay. Time out! Let's drop the niceties. Haruka is a very attractive girl? Give me a gods damn break. She's not an attractive girl! She's a babe. She's hot. She's the kind of girl you want a poster of on your wall. She's so hot she can stop traffic, and she was hot before she became one of your kind. So now she's easily a nine point five out ten."

"Eh," Duncan uttered.

"Believe me I'd give her a ten out of ten, but then I'd feel biased. I mean, I've known her since we were kids, so of course I'd naturally want to bump up her rating but a nine point five is a top mark." I pointed at him. "Don't you agree?"

"Ah...yes...."

"Great! Now don't tell me you haven't thought of her in a swimsuit, or skimpy lingerie. I mean, she's got the body for it."

"Uh, well, it's not like I haven't wondered—"

"And those breasts." I mimed fondling them. "I mean, can you imagine what they feel like? They must be amazing. Firm and soft and heavy. One look and you know babies aren't light weight, and they've got just the right bounce. You're not going to tell me you haven't peeked down her top?"

"Ah, well, maybe once or twice."

I slapped the table again. "Once or twice isn't good enough. You have to take every opportunity that comes your way. Those puppies were grown to be looked at. You have to appreciate them at every turn." I stood up and leaned on the table. "You have to grab her with both hands, wrap her in your arms, and _feel_ them against your chest. If you can't do that you're not man enough for her."

Duncan rose to his feet and glared down at me. "What the Hell are you trying to say?"

"I'm telling you to be a man and take that girl before someone takes her away from you."

Now he looked stunned. "What?"

I challenged him with a smile. "Better get a good grip on her or Haruka's going to slip through your fingers. In fact, she's already slipping out of your grasp."

"I definitely have a good grip on her—just you watch. This time next week, that girl will be mine, and I'll let the whole colony know about it."

I laughed at his bravado. "You seriously think you have what it takes to make her yours? Is Haruka really number one in your heart? Aren't you just playing around with her?"

Duncan punched the table. "Haruka is number one in my heart. In fact, she's the only one in my heart." He slapped his chest hard. "There's no other girl in here!"

Almost on queue I heard the sound of crashing plastic plates and trays, and more than a few cups and utensils.

Duncan and I turned slowly to witness a sea of female eyes staring at us.

It seemed every girl in the cafeteria had caught onto our conversation, and was now gaping at us with shocked expressions.

Then quite a few broke down in tears.

"It's over. It's all over," an unidentified girl cried. "I can't even dream anymore."

"Aggh, no wonder he never replied to my love letter," another girl wailed.

"I knew he liked someone, but why is it that second year girl?"

"What's so good about her?"

"It's those breasts she has! Tear them off."

"What the Hell is it with men and large breasts? What's so good about them?"

"It's not fair. And I drink milk every day!"

"Death to girls with large breasts."

"There's one. Look at her. She's so shameless. Aggh, I'm going to wipe that smile off her face."

I stared at the commotion beginning to brew around us.

Little by little, more and more girls were starting to argue and loudly complain.

One girl slapped her hands on a table. "It's true! Paul pays more attention to my sister than me—and he's supposed to be _my boyfriend_!" She pounded the table. "And it's all because she's a Dee cup! It's not fair."

"Every time we're at the water park, Marcus is always ogling the girls busting out of their swimsuits. What's wrong with my swimsuit? I look good in a swimsuit."

"I hate the posters he has on his bedroom walls."

"I'm going to delete all the wallpaper images on his slate."

"Why did he choose my cousin and not me?"

"He said he likes them small but I know he's lying!"

"I'm tired of wearing falsies for his sake."

"My push-up bra is so uncomfortable."

"My legs are better than hers, but he's always checking out my sister's chest."

"Big breasted cows."

"Damn show offs."

Then someone laughed and I clearly heard a girl say, "Talk about envious."

"Flat chested and hopeless."

"No wonder they can't keep their boys."

"Men like something to hold onto, little girl."

"I got no complaints from Kaden. There's no way he'd ever stray."

Suddenly one half of the cafeteria grew quiet.

The other half seemed to notice and stopped bragging rather quickly.

Duncan and I stood silently, watching the cafeteria polarize into two camps with messy battle lines drawn all over the place.

Girl glared at girl.

Friends eyed their friends with either envy or scorn.

And then some nameless idiot from the male camp broke the silence with a loud battlecry.

"Big breasts forever!"

The male camp erupted into cheers.

"All hail Dee cup and above!"

Yes, the cafeteria had definitely polarized. The battle lines were drawn and a small scale war over a millennia old rivalry erupted.

Small breasts versus large breasts.

"Emily you bitch! You let my Daniel fondle you during karaoke! Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"Charlie was slobbering all over your chest Cassandra and you let him!"

"What—you saw that? You were watching us!"

"Karen lost her top on purpose down the water slide, then made my Marcus fetch it for her."

"What a shameless bitch."

"I found your photo on his palm-slate, Maria!"

"Hey, he begged me for it. He promised not to tell you."

I stared in horror and disbelief at what I was seeing.

Oh my gods! What have I done! I really have started a war.

Across all three floors, girls hurled accusations and insults at each other. Friendships went south in a heartbeat, and I heard a few slaps ring out. Somewhere to my left I heard the sound of fabric tearing.

"You ripped my blouse, you bitch!"

"Trying to hide your big tits, were you."

"Give Adrian back to me to you cow."

"I'm sick and tired of boys asking me for your number. It's always you they ask about. What the Hell is wrong with me?"

"My breasts didn't grow when I became an Aventis. What am I supposed to do now?"

From a corner of the cafeteria I heard a loud crash as chairs tumbled over.

Now things were getting serious and some of the braver guys were stepping in to stop the various struggles breaking out. I witnessed one high-school senior separate two girls tearing at each other's hair.

"Cassie—stop it. Calm down. You and Marina are friends."

"You're protecting her. Look, she's hiding behind your back."

"Jeezes, Cassie, you're over-reacting."

"I hate this. You never look at me the way you do her. Why? What's wrong with me?" The girl popped open her blouse. "What? These aren't big enough for you?"

I thought the senior's eyes were going to pop out.

"No—no, they're perfect."

The girl hiding behind him suddenly grabbed his right hand and pressed it down on her chest. "Huh? What about these? You don't think these are better?"

Even from a distance I could see his fingers automatically fondle her mammoth chest.

"Wow, so soft."

Ah, you idiot! You made things worse!

The girl, Cassie, screamed and landed a kick to his crotch. Before he hit the ground, she'd tossed a drink at her _former_ friend.

Duncan took a step forward. "We have to do something."

I glanced at him in disbelief. "Are you kidding? Do what? We can't step in there. We can't choose one side without pissing off the other."

He started moving forward again but I grabbed his arm.

"You walk in there, they'll eat you alive."

"If we don't stop them, we'll have a war on our hands."

"It's already a war, and we kicked it off."

"What? How?"

I really couldn't believe this guy was a grade Aye student. "Don't you get it? You and I both admitted we like large breasts. That means half the female student body is against us. They'll never listen to us. They'll lynch us."

As though proving my point I pointed at two small breasted girls chasing a young man across the cafeteria floor.

"Liam get back here."

"Cheating bastard, don't run away."

Duncan looked aghast. "We—we have to call security or the teachers."

I pointed at the entrance to the cafeteria on our level. "Looks like they're already here."

I didn't recognize the female teacher, but she certainly had a figure and face you'd find hard to forget. My attention centered on her chest, and I had a sudden sinking feeling that her arrival was going to make matters worse.

Behind her, a half dozen burly security guards arrived and formed a line abreast, but the men looked downright reluctant to step one foot deeper into the cafeteria. In a way they were hiding behind the buxom brunette of a teacher.

The female teacher yelled loudly, trying to compete with the din of the commotion. She had a small loudspeaker in her left hand which she brought up to her full lips. "That's enough. Stand where you are and don't move. Every student is to cease their activities right now."

"Oh no—it's Miss Katrim."

"Miss Katrim's here."

"Aggh, it's Miss Twin Peaks."

Miss Katrim did indeed fit the bill. Quite an impressive rack she was sporting.

An envious female voice cursed loudly. "Look at her puffing out her chest."

"Even the teachers are big. It's not fair."

"She's not helping my self-esteem."

"This academy is biased!"

"They hired her because of her bust."

I didn't know where the cries were coming from. It sounded as though from a number of places, but they were all girls voicing their disapproval of the well-proportioned young woman.

Miss Katrim had turned bright red. She seemed at a loss for what to say, then abruptly demanded, "Who said that? Come down here right now. I will not tolerate this insolence."

On the third level, one girl walked to the round balcony overlooking the center of the cafeteria – its atrium. She had short blonde hair, and stunning legs, but where it counted – in my humble opinion – she was doomed to a life of mediocrity. "We demand changes to the teaching staff. We feel large breasts are not appropriate in a teaching environment."

"What?" Katrim looked stunned. "What in Pharos are you saying?"

The girl pointed and declared, "You give boys the wrong idea about women. Women are not all about their chests. There's more to us than just our cup size."

"Wh—what?"

The girl folded her arms under her prepubescent chest. "It's no wonder they can't concentrate in your class."

I swallowed loudly, amazed at this girl's bravery and forceful convictions. She was clearly leadership material. Man, she had beautiful baby blue eyes.

But her chest! Ah, what a tragedy. Even I could tell she wasn't anywhere near _modestly_ sized.

I glanced at Duncan.

He was looking at the girl with admiration and a hint of pain.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hey, you suddenly like them small?"

He shot me a surprised look. "No, big is better—ah what the Hell did you make me say."

I waved my hand at the girl standing before the balcony railing. "Do you know her?"

He looked troubled then really guilty. "Ah, yeah, I do."

"Who is she?"

"Melanie Cardwell. We're childhood friends." He sighed heavily and stared at the floor. "She's had a thing for me for a while now. And she dislikes Haruka. More like hates Haruka...."

I looked at the girl again. "Damn, she's beautiful. I mean really, really beautiful."

"Yes, I know. However, as you can see, she really hates being...small...."

I nodded in abject sympathy. "It really is a tragedy, otherwise she'd be perfect."

The cafeteria had quieted down considerably as everyone's attention was focused on the stand-off between Melanie and Miss Katrim.

But then someone unbalanced the situation with a few choice words.

"Hey Melanie, so that's why you're such a fast swimmer. No drag."

"The swim team ace has such a sleek figure. Get it? She's sleek—sleek."

"She's so hydro-dynamic."

"But she'd make a poor mermaid."

"Even mermaids have larger breasts."

I was starting to feel sorry for the girl. Her proud, confident expression crumbled a little with each successive jibe at her expense.

"Hey Melanie, no wonder Duncan made a place for Haruka in his heart."

"No amount of padding is going to help, Melanie."

"Give up Melanie. You're not in Haruka's league."

"Let's give Melanie an Aye rating."

Some of her haters began to chant. "Aye cup. Aye cup. Aye cup."

I saw her break into tears, and something snapped deep inside my chest.

Before I knew it I'd run toward the inner balcony guardrail, picked up an empty chair, raised it high overhead and thrown it clear across the cafeteria floor. It sailed high over the balcony before it fell and crashed loudly on the ground floor some twenty feet below.

"Shut the Hell up!"

I didn't know I could yell so loud but I didn't think my voice could take it either.

"All of you, shut the Hell up!"

I was trembling with anger. I didn't know why, but the sight of Melanie – a girl I didn't even know – slowly breaking down in tears had boiled my blood in an instant.

"How the Hell can you make such a special girl cry."

I kicked the glass wall that ran under the balcony railing, and it cracked in a starfish pattern.

"You big tit cows have nothing but your breasts going for you. Just wait till you get older. Let's see where those are hanging after you've popped out your third kid."

I can't believe I just said that.

But I couldn't stop myself.

I was like boulder on a downhill roll, and nothing was going to stop me.

I pointed at Melanie and yelled, "I see nothing wrong with that girl. She's perfect. To Hell with all you jerks for making her cry."

I grabbed another nearby chair, lifted it over my head and smashed it down on the railing.

A number of girls screamed in fright and suddenly there was no one within fifty feet of me except for Duncan.

I turned and pointed harshly at him.

"You want big, then good luck with Haruka. Melanie is better off without you. You're a jerk who couldn't appreciate her and it's clear you don't deserve her either."

Duncan stared at me in shock.

I waved a piece of plastic chair at him. "If I had your good looks, I'd be lining up for a chance to go out with a girl like Melanie. Ah, good looking guys like you _piss me off_. You have it all and you leave nothing for the rest of us."

I threw the piece of chair at him, deliberately aiming to miss but only by a few inches.

Duncan ducked involuntarily.

Was this really going to work?

I mean, I was making a huge scene, but at least everyone was focused on me.

Plus, I was kind of pissed at Duncan.

Apart from her chest, Melanie Cardwell was easily a nine point five on the ten scale. Damn, I would have to revise the scale, especially since I have a thing for blondes with blue eyes.

A loud voice blared out. "You there. You are destroying academy property. Cease and desist."

Miss Katrim sounded like a wannabe Enforcer?

She was waving madly in my direction. "Guards, apprehend that student. Take him into custody."

The guards looked hesitant for a few moments, then charged in my direction.

Okay—so they're focus was definitely on me.

I looked down over the guardrail at the floor below.

A twenty foot drop, more than six meters.

Could I handle it without my Fragment?

As a Familiar I could take more punishment than a Regular, but it was still a twenty foot drop and I needed to survive without injury.

To Hell with it—here goes nothing.

I climbed over the railing, then while holding on I looked up at the hundred odd faces gaping at me.

Then I looked in Melanie's direction.

Ah, at least she'd stopped crying. She was staring wide eyed at the scale of my wild antics.

I raised a hand high as I heard the running guards grow nearer. "Melanie, you're perfect—don't change a thing."

Then I jumped to the ground floor of the cafeteria.

I flexed my legs, took the impact and let it shoot up through my body. Then I tumbled forward, and by some miracle I executed a neat roll.

Months of training had finally paid off in the most unexpected circumstances.

I gained my feet and stood up despite the pain lancing through my legs.

Damn, that really hurt. My legs felt like they'd been stabbed by sharp needles.

But I looked up at the blonde beauty with clear blue eyes, and waved at her triumphantly while Katrim's voice thundered loudly.

"How dare you! Stay right where you are. Guards—apprehend that hooligan."

Damn, time to run away.

I winced as I first started walking, then jogging across the ground floor of the cafeteria. I pushed open the glass exit doors, and then made a dash for freedom.

Eventually I needed to be caught, but I still wanted to give the student body in the cafeteria a good show so I ran for the athletics ground where the girls of the Track-and-Field club were slowly finishing up their training session.

When I arrived at the sporting field I slowed to a stop, and collapsed on the grassy ground.

The guards caught up to me a couple of minutes later.

Six burly men surrounded me while I lay on the ground.

I stood up slowly and raised my hands in defeat.

"I surrender."

The head guard shook his head. "You've got balls, kid, even for a Familiar."

I sensed one of the guards step up to me from behind.

The shock from a stun baton ran through my body.

Oddly, it wasn't enough to make me lose consciousness, but I decided to play along.

I collapsed to my knees, then closed my eyes as I fell forward on the soft ground.

Now all I had to do was fake being unconscious and hopefully I'd get off with just a warning.

### Chapter 14 – Crime and Punishment.

(Haruka)

School Week Two. Wednesday.

After lunch, the entire high-school student body – in the vicinity of fourteen hundred students – was corralled into the gymnasium floor and an impromptu assembly was held.

I had no idea what was going on. Siobhan, Alistair and I had just returned to class when the students were called to gather at the gym. I didn't see Caelum amongst the students in our class, and for some reason that triggered warning bells inside my head.

The school principal presided over the assembly, but it was the Student Council President who explained the situation.

That's when I learnt of the mini-war that took place within the cafeteria.

A conflict between a divided female student body.

Girls with large breasts facing off against those with small breasts. It seemed the millennia old rivalry between big and small had come to a head within the academy grounds. Dirty laundry was aired, and differences were loudly expressed.

In other words, to quote Caelum, it was a Bust War.

In fact, it was already being called the War of the Busts.

I looked around me, and noticed sour and smug faces alike. Envious and gloating expression faintly veiled behind clenched teeth and thin smiles.

And I noticed I was receiving quite a few derisive looks, many from my female classmates.

Even Siobhan appeared uncomfortable. Like me, she was comfortable Dee cup.

But Alistair was barely a Bee cup, and I suspected she added some padding to her bra.

Thus I realized that this War of the Busts was threatening to come between my friends.

In fact, I noticed Alistair had an increasingly sullen look on her face.

I whispered, "Alistair?"

She ignored me and angrily folded her arms over her small chest.

No way! Was this how our friendship would end? A look at Siobhan confirmed she was worried about this development between us.

This couldn't be happening.

How the Hell had this all started?

Then I heard the Student Council President begin listing out the names of students identified as most responsible for the unrest in the cafeteria. This included those identified as starting the altercation as well as promoting it. As each name was called out, the students had to walk to the back of the gym.

Most I didn't know, but there was one name that made my stomach sink.

Severin Kell spoke clearly with a voice full of presidential authority. "As the main instigator of this unrest, Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear is suspended for one week and will pay reparations to the academy for the property he damaged."

Huh? What did he just say? Caelum was the cause of this war?

Kell continued smoothly. "For her insubordination and clear disregard of authority, Melanie Cardwell afil Avenir, will be suspended for two days. In addition, she has been suspended from her position on the academy swim team pending further disciplinary action."

Now that was a surprise. The ace of the swimming team was being suspended. She was one of the reasons Galatea Academy won the swimming competition last year.

I blinked in surprise.

Melanie Cardwell was a Familiar?

Weren't Familiars supposed to be weaker than us Aventis? How could she be such a superb swimmer? How could she compete alongside the Aventis? And she was the swim team's ace to boot.

I heard loud mutterings of dissent amongst the girls around me.

"Not fair. Melanie didn't do anything wrong."

"She stood up for us against Twin Peaks Katrim."

"And now she's being punished."

"That is _so_ not fair. It's all that Amiella's fault. Stealing Duncan from Melanie started all this."

Severin Kell cleared his throat and it carried loudly on the public address speakers.

He continued once quiet returned to the gym floor. "Caelum Desanto and Melanie Cardwell will also participate in after school cleanup duties alongside students currently serving out their detention sentences. The other students suspended over this incident will not be required to serve out an additional punishment. With this announcement, I hand over proceedings to Principal Mason."

He stepped aside for our Principal, Lavinia Mason. She had a piercing stare that was said to intimidate most if not all the academy staff. Very few people could say no to her. It could also be said she _ruled_ Galatea Academy, rather than led it.

Severin Kell bowed politely, then walked back to his place in the background, alongside Simone Alucard and the other members of the Student Council.

My eyes were focused on Principal Mason, my ears listened to her speech, but my attention was definitely elsewhere.

So it was just Caelum and Melanie that were held most responsible.

I felt queasy.

The furtive stares I was garnering were anything but friendly.

Then I heard a male classmate whisper, "Duncan was there as well. Why wasn't he suspended? Why does Desanto have to bear the blame?"

"Yeah, Desanto was right. The good looking guys always get all the breaks. Pisses me off."

"And wasn't Armand the one who shouted out that Haruka was the only one in his heart?"

"Yeah he started the whole thing."

My heart jumped and crashed into my ribcage. When it landed it was panicked and wouldn't stop beating fast.

Another male student whispered, "I think they made Desanto the scapegoat because he's a Familiar."

"No, don't you get it? He made himself the villain and by doing that he stopped the fight in the cafeteria. And he stopped the girls from making fun of Melanie."

"I get it. He's a fan of big breasts yet he supported Melanie when the girls made her cry."

"I guess he can't stand the sight of a girl crying."

"Damn that bastard. What a heart of gold."

"What a great guy...."

Someone sobbed, "Even though he's a Familiar, he's so selfless."

"And he likes them small too."

"...small boobies are the best..."

Siobhan whispered angrily, "Will you guys shut up. Stop putting that Familiar on a pedestal. He's a _pervert_. Can't you see that?"

One guy hissed back, "I happen to like small breasts. Does that make me a pervert too?"

Another said, "Yeah, the kind that fit in your hand are perfect. Too big and your hand gets swallowed up."

Someone else added, "She's top heavy. She doesn't understand us."

A girl snapped, "Shut up, Gunther. You think we like having heavy breasts? These things are a pain to lug around, and it's hard to find the right bra."

Alistair snorted loudly. "So says the girl who enjoys being ogled during swim class."

"I do not _enjoy_ being ogled."

"That's bullshit, Éclair. You wear last year's swimsuit so it can stretch more around your chest."

"Shut up, Alistair. At least I've got something to show."

"You swim backstroke so your tits stick up out of the water!"

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up." Muffled sobbing followed.

I thought Éclair might be crying into her palms.

I did believe Alistair had a point. Éclair was short but she was what Caelum would call a Pocket Rocket. She had an explosive body packed into a small, five foot frame. I knew guys had a thing for short girls with all the right curves, so she was quite popular during swimming class. And she was cute too.

Popular with the boys, but not the girls, as evidenced by some of my male classmates coming to her defense. "Hey, Alistair made Éclair cry."

"Cold hearted bitch."

"I'd choose Éclair over Alistair any day."

"We love watching Éclair swim backstroke."

"She's jealous because she has to pad her swimsuit."

Alistair clenched her hands and trembled in anger. "Aggh—shut the Hell up!"

Her scream was so loud it echoed inside the gym.

It silenced the Principal in mid-sentence.

It silenced the students muttering amongst themselves.

Stunned quiet descended upon the assembled students like a heavy shroud.

I was too scared to make any noise, let alone breathe.

After a long agonizing moment, the Principal straightened and asked in a cold voice, "Who said that?"

Alistair groaned under her breath.

I prayed in vain no one would rat her out.

Éclair announced loudly, "She did—Alistair Kell. She's the one you want."

The girl bounced on her heels and forcefully pointed at Alistair.

Alistair hissed, "You little cow. I swear I'll pop your tits when I get my hands on you."

"You can't pop them. These are real not like the ones you put in your bra."

Alistair made a go for the girl, but I reached out and held her back. "Alistair—don't. You'll get into more trouble. Please, you have to ignore her."

She growled through clenched teeth. "I'm going to squash that midget first chance I get."

The Principal leaned forward over the lectern. "Alistair Kell Avenir, step out of the assembly and join the suspended students at the back of the gym. Now, young lady!"

Alistair stopped struggling, so I released her arm. She wouldn't look at me as she stepped out of the ranks of our classmates. I lost sight of her as she walked to the back of the gym.

But a few moments later I heard her declare loudly, "I'm small and I'm proud of it!"

This triggered of a fresh round of mutterings.

Then someone started clapping which quickly grew into an avalanche of support for her.

Our esteemed Principal called for order and quiet.

But Alistair didn't quit. "And I'm declaring my candidacy for Student Council President at the next elections."

Siobhan gasped, "What? What did she say?"

Alistair yelled from the back of the gym. "You hear me Simone Alucard. I'm going to beat you fair and square. You're Eff cups tits won't save you from defeat."

The Principal snapped angrily, "That will be enough young lady. One week's detention. You'll serve your time along with Desanto and Cardwell."

Alistair managed one last show of defiance.

"When I'm President, I'll declare today 'Small Bust Day'!"

The Principal couldn't contain herself anymore. "That does it. Get that young woman out of here. She's suspended for a week."

And so, Alistair Kell Avenir made a stunning declaration, earned the support of half the female student body, and garnered the enmity of the other half.

What a day this turned out to be.

I turned my head and looked at Siobhan. "What—what are we going to do?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, are you going to vote for her?"

Siobhan looked conflicted then peeked down at her Dee cup chest.

"I—I don't know. I really don't know."

#

(Caprice)

Once the general assembly concluded and the students were dismissed, I sent Caelum a quick text message to his palm-slate.

YOU IMBECILE.

Then I messaged the Countess.

I'LL BE THERE FOR TRAINING. JUST SEND ME THE DETAILS.

I was so angry I almost threw my palm-slate into the distance.

However, as per the promise I'd made myself two years ago, I showed no outward indication that my feelings were bubbling like molten lava.

I walked with a perfectly expressionless face back to class.

However, if I'd caught one glimpse of Caelum I might have lost control and throttled him.

#

(Caelum)

I was suspended and restricted to the dormitory grounds during school hours.

After class I was expected to perform the school a service by serving out my detention as a member of the janitorial staff.

So that Wednesday afternoon, while the students were busy making their way out of the school, I was busy walking to the administration building's courtyard where I was instructed to join up with my fellow _inmates_.

I saw Alistair Kell. She had an amused look on her face as she brushed away a lock of wispy auburn hair from her eyes.

I was shocked to see her smile at sight of me and give me a thumbs up.

I couldn't help grinning at her weakly as I took a spot on the line beside her.

"That was cool," I muttered, "declaring your candidacy."

"I'm planning to represent the girls that have been under-represented by that huge breasted Alucard."

"Ah. So you're going head-to-head with Simone."

Alistair nodded and chuckled evilly. "Don't you mean bust to bust?"

I bit my lower lip so as not to join her.

Alistair said, "I'm surprised, though. For you to support the less endowed female community."

I took a quick breath. "I...I got lost in the moment."

"What do you mean?"

"I get annoyed when I see a pretty girl cry. I just couldn't help myself."

"Oh...so you fell for Melanie."

I gave her a shocked look. "Huh—no, no I haven't."

"But I thought you told Haruka you loved her."

I blanched and lost my train of thought for several heartbeats. "She...she told you?"

"Yeah, and she told us that she loves you too." Alistair looked a tad sad. "But I think the two of you just got carried away."

I frowned. "No, my feelings for her are real."

Alistair gave me a thoughtful look. "But she's not the only one you have feelings for, right?"

"Ah—" I couldn't reply to her, so I turned away slowly.

Alistair was right. I loved Haruka, but I had feelings for Caprice as well. Strong feelings.

Alistair sighed. "Well, it seems you're the kind that can't ignore a damsel in distress. Here comes the damsel now."

I looked in the direction Alistair was staring.

Melanie Cardwell walked toward the loosely assembled bunch of _detainees_. She was dressed in her uniform like the rest of us, but she carried herself along with a fluid grace that captured my attention.

Wow. How could Duncan turn his back on a girl like that?

She was really pretty, and graceful, and exuded elegance with every step and breath she took.

She rivaled the Countess in every respect except her chest.

I frowned. There was a hint of despondency in her eyes. I saw it when her eyes met mine, just before she nervously lowered her gaze.

My heart jumped.

No. No. This can't be happening. This cannot be happening. Why is my heart beginning to pound like mad?

Alistair's words cut through my raging feelings like a cold blade. "Duncan turned his back on her when she awoke as a Familiar."

I spun my head around and stared at Alistair in complete shock.

Then a cold dislike for Duncan Armand settled into my chest.

Melanie had slowed to a stop. She was nervously running her gaze over the assembled students. I thought for a moment she might turn and flee, but then she swallowed, threw back her shoulders – puffed out her mediocre chest – and walked toward me.

Her voice was low and a little husky, which I hadn't noticed when she confronted Twin Peaks Katrim in the cafeteria.

"May I?" she asked, indicating a spot beside me.

I shrugged lightly. "Ah...yeah sure."

Melanie stood a couple of feet away from me.

I tried not to look at her directly. In the corner of my eye I saw she was looking off into the distance with the despondent look I'd noticed earlier.

I took a deep breath and held back a sigh as I offered her my hand. "We haven't met."

"I know who you are," she replied politely. "Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear."

Alistair quipped, "The one and only. Thank the gods for that. Can you imagine the state of this academy if there was more than one of him?"

I gave Alistair a surly look, while withdrawing my hand. "You're such good company to be with."

Alistair shrugged. "Haruka doesn't complain."

I sensed Melanie tense up beside me.

She spoke in an icy tone. "So you're Haruka Amiella's friend. I've heard a little about you."

Alistair and I turned to look at Melanie, but it was Alistair who said, "Haruka's my friend, but Caelum has known her since they were children."

Melanie gave me puzzled look. "Haruka Amiella is your childhood friend?"

I nodded a little reluctantly. "Yeah. We go way back." I shot Alistair a quick look.

Don't you dare blab! Don't you dare tell her a thing.

Melanie was staring at me with a penetrating look. "Childhood friends...."

I gave the girl a wary look.

She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. "So you're just childhood friends?"

I hesitated and didn't know how to reply.

Melanie didn't miss anything as her eyes searched my face. "Do you like her?"

I felt my chest tighten involuntarily. "She's my friend. What more do you want me to say?"

Melanie turned away but I saw sadness in her eyes. "Yeah...what more is there to say...."

I frowned inwardly, wondering if Melanie was much like I was – a Familiar in love with an Aventis.

Abruptly she straightened and looked up at the sky. "Thank you...."

"Uh, sure." I leaned toward her an inch. "But what are you thanking me for?"

I watched her inhale raggedly. "For—for what you said in the cafeteria. For making those girls shut up."

I couldn't stop myself. I suddenly broke out into nervous laughter, and ran my left hand through my hair. "Ha ha. Well, you don't have to thank me. I do stupid stuff all the time, and I just—it just pissed me off seeing a beautiful girl cry."

Melanie's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Ah, I mean. I don't like to see girls cry. It really twists my heart when I see tears in a girl's eyes."

Gods, I was making this worse with every word I said.

Alistair muttered, "Haruka told me you were honest, but I didn't think you were _this_ honest."

I grimaced and then lowered my gaze. "I guess you're right." I quickly faced Melanie. "I'm sorry. I meant no disrespect."

The blonde beauty gently shook her head, though she had a conflicted look on her face as though she wasn't able to get my measure.

Damn this girl was pretty.

Duncan was a real ass for turning his back on her.

Ah, damn it. I think I'm falling in love just looking at her.

Oddly, now that she was standing beside me, I wasn't bothered by her small chest at all.

She turned away quickly, her short blond hair swishing a little as she did.

"Thank you...."

I blinked. That was twice I was thanked in the span of a minute.

This was unprecedented.

Today was turning out to be first in a few ways.

The teacher assigned to supervise us came by. She walked in the company of the head of the academy grounds staff.

I gave the students in line a quick look.

There were seven of us serving out detention by performing a service to the school.

A couple of other girls, and two students from either first or second year high-school.

I sighed inwardly, then focused on what the teacher said.

After a few words of warning, telling us to behave and follow instructions to the letter, we were directed to a nearby change room where the lot of us had to dress in less than flattering work coveralls. Then we lined up in the courtyard, and received our instructions to head out with a supervising grounds keeper.

Wearing the orange and white coverall, I really felt like a criminal.

I stuck out like a sore thumb as I walked with the other detainees to the storage room where the cleaning equipment was kept. The few students that remained on academy grounds gave us a wide berth while smiling at us pitifully.

If there was any consolation or small blessing, it was that Alistair and Melanie where in my group of four students being punished.

The fourth member of our _chain gang_ was a short first year male student.

During a moment of dull monotony as we cleaned up and swept one of the four gardens, the kid walked up to Alistair and boldly declared he would support her candidacy.

"I'm Klaus Kasper, and I'd like to be a part of your election campaign."

Alistair stopped working and stared at him blankly. "Huh?"

"You are intending to run for president, aren't you, Lady Alistair?"

I stopped what I was doing.

Lady Alistair? Did I hear him right? Was this guy serious?

Then I noticed the way his eyes shone as he looked up at Alistair who happened to be a couple of inches taller than him.

I didn't miss the blush spreading across Alistair's cheeks. "Ah, well, I did say that...didn't I." She glanced away shyly.

Ah, that girl can make that sort of face!

I think I felt my heart jump just a little.

Klaus nodded happily like a pet puppy wagging its tail. "You certainly did, Lady Alistair. I was honored to witness your bold declaration. Oh, and if I may be frank, my preference are Aye cups." He grinned happily. "I like them small too."

Whack!

Alistair smacked the top of his head. "For your information I'm a Bee cup, and I don't pad my bra to get there."

Klaus looked wounded as he rubbed his head. "Lady Alistair, I like Bee cups too."

Alistair raised her hand and Klaus cringed, holding his head protectively.

I thought she was going to deliver another blow, but then a gentle look settled on her face. Instead of thumping him she patted the top of his head.

"Ah, forget it. It's easy to think I'm an Aye cup. But I'm definitely a Bee cup. Don't you forget it."

She patted his head some more.

If Klaus had possessed a tail, it would have been swishing at lightning speed by now.

His face brightened and I saw adoration in his eyes.

"Lady Alistair...."

Suddenly he bowed formally to her, surprising Alistair into taking a step back.

"Lady Alistair, please accept me as your humble retainer."

Huh? I dropped the rake I was using.

What was this guy, some history nut of the Sengoku era?

Alistair had a curious gleam in her eyes.

Was I witnessing the awakening of her dominating side?

Was Haruka aware of this side to her friend?

I felt as though I was being watched, and turned to look around.

My eyes met Melanie's for half a heartbeat before she smoothly glanced away. She resumed raking the loose leaves away from the stone paved path that ran through the garden.

It wasn't the first time I'd noticed her watching me.

Was Alistair telling me the truth?

Did Duncan reject Melanie because she failed to join a Pride? Did he have something against Familiars? Maybe he was pressured by his family to abandon her.

I remembered him saying that Haruka was liked by his friends.

Had his friends disapproved of Melanie?

Had Duncan chosen to turn his back on her because he sought to protect his social standing?

Either way, I was reminded of what I did seven months when I turned my back on Haruka because of my hatred for the Aventis.

I stopped raking the leaves.

Seven months later, did I hate the Aventis the way I once did?

I blamed them for Crimson Crescent's actions, but maybe I was wrong to hold onto that hatred. After all, the Raynar Pride had taken care of Celica and I after we were orphaned.

I sighed and resumed raking.

In the corner of my eye I saw Melanie glance at me a couple of times, then walk away to attend to another part of the garden.

### Reflections – 11.

I need to describe something of a technical marvel.

I'll describe it in simple layman's terms because I don't know all of its workings.

It's called, the Skinsuit.

As the name implies, it's a suit you wear over your birthday suit. It acts like a second skin and is a mere four to five millimeters thick. Thousands upon thousands of nerve contact points on the inside of the suit make contact with the surface of your skin. For that reason, you have to wear it while buck naked underneath.

The skinsuit is fitted with fibers that behave like artificial muscles. These complement the wearer's muscles, enhancing their strength by as much as forty percent. It might not sound like much, but that forty percent can translate to a big difference in the case of an Aventis or a Familiar.

In order to make use of the skinsuit, it has to be tuned to the wearer, making it their personal skinsuit. This takes anywhere from six to ten hours. The tuning process allows the skinsuit to react in harmony with the wearer's body. An un-tuned skinsuit can injure the wearer if it works against the body's movements rather than with it. The whole point is to complement the individual inside the skinsuit, not impair them.

Caprice had one and so did I, though I'd only used it on the occasions when the researchers wanted to test me while wearing it.

To be honest, I didn't like it.

It just made me feel like I was moving wrong.

On the other hand, Caprice had considerable more experience with hers, so she was able to perform some pretty awesome moves while decked out in the skinsuit and her Valkyrie Armor.

I'd witnessed those moves when she fought against Constance.

It was a while before I witnessed her in action again.

### Chapter 15 – Team Galatea.

(Caprice)

After class, the four of us – Maya, Rina, Constance and I – were instructed to meet outside the gymnasium allocated to the high-school students.

We rocked up as instructed, and were joined by the Countess a few minutes later.

She walked over with that practiced, smooth countenance of hers, striding like royalty in her designer label high-heels. It was rare to see her wearing anything but high-heels.

Simone Alucard led the four of us to a basement level storage room under the gym.

Once inside, she handed each of us a pass key. This key we transferred to our palm-slates and allowed us access to the gym's basement, the storage room, and the door at the back of the room which opened to an underground service tunnel leading out of the academy grounds.

In short, it was secret passage for the four of us to use.

It was all very clandestine, yet I was accustomed to training in a gym under a dance club, so this development didn't bother me at all.

The Countess sent us off down the tunnel, wished us luck, then closed the door behind us.

Somehow, Maya had ended up leading the way.

That was fine by me.

All together we looked down the service shaft, surrounded by the sights and sounds of power conduits, plumbing, and electric fans whirring inside life-support vents. The overhead lighting wasn't particularly good, and the far end of the tunnel was shrouded in darkness.

Constance muttered, "Feels like a test of courage."

A low growl sounded between us.

I shared looks with the other girls.

Maya and Constance shook their heads, and blurted out, "That wasn't me."

Rina gasped before slapping her hands over her belly. "Sorry. I skipped lunch...."

Maya sighed and her shoulders drooped a little. "Come on, let's see where this leads." She held up her palm-slate. "Besides, she gave us a map."

Constance sniped, "She could have just walked with us all the way."

I shook my head. "Not in those designer heels." I cocked my head a fraction. "What is up with her footwear? High heels are non-regulation shoes."

Maya shrugged, and started leading the way. "She and Prissila have always been that way. They compete in everything they do. Can you imagine how bad things would be if their breasts weren't the same size?" Maya glanced at Constance. "You know what she's like, don't you."

I looked at the girl who'd stabbed me.

To say I didn't trust her was an understatement.

I walked behind her so I could keep an eye on her.

And that's why I noticed her anxiety quite clearly. She wouldn't glance at me over her shoulder, but I could see that my being there was really unnerving her. When Maya spoke to her, she didn't respond right away. I sensed she was keeping an eye on me by using the expanded Awareness her Fragment offered her.

"Constance?" Maya asked, then came to an abrupt stop.

Rina almost bumped into her and looked surprised at the taller girl.

I came to a stop behind Constance, aware of Maya watching the two of us.

Maya spoke quietly but I heard her well enough above the background noise in the tunnel. "Prissila and Simone spoke to me, and filled me in on the details."

Rina's eyes widened slightly and she cast an anxious look at Constance and I.

Maya studied us both. "They're both sorry for what happened. They're sorry for pushing the two of you against each other."

Constance shook her head. "No. It wasn't the Princess's fault."

Maya raised her chin. "That's not the way Prissila sees it." She took a couple of steps closer to Constance and I. "I've known them for many, many years. Our families have ties to each other. They were there for me when I messed up, and I owe them"—she glanced down—"even if Prissila was a _bitch_ to me at the start of school this year."

I remembered the incident in the cafeteria, when Caelum first asked me about Maya.

But I also remembered what Arisa had told me – Maya had tried to commit suicide. I could only guess at the pressure she was under that drove her to make that decision.

Maya inhaled deeply, then gave us both a firm look. "They regret what they did. Competing against each other is in their nature, and they felt they had a lot at stake, but they admit they had no right to force such an encounter between the two of you. I promised them I would watch over you—both of you." She glanced at Rina. "All of you. But especially you and Caprice. I don't want the two of you fighting again—at least not against each other."

I gave Maya a flat response, one that mirrored my expression. "I'm not intending to pick up where we left off at the amusement park."

Constance look down at her feet. "Ditto."

"Good. In that case, would the two of you please relax? You're making the hair on the nape of my neck stand on end." Maya dropped her weight onto one hip, and rubbed her forehead. "Look, I know the two of you got off to a bad start, and once again that's because the situations forced you against each other. But that's done and dusted now. This isn't how things should be between the two of you." Maya shook her head. "Damn it—the two of you should be friends."

Constance and I both gasped. "What? Friends—with her?"

We stared at each other, then broke our locked gazes apart.

Rina muttered, "They're in tune with each other."

Constance and I snapped, "Rina!"

The girl shyly cast her eyes downward. "Sorry."

"You see," Maya said.

This time we both held our tongue.

Maya looked satisfied. Then she considered me for a long while. "I thought you never dropped that mask of yours."

I froze and felt my stomach tighten. But my mask slipped back on with practiced ease. "My bad," I replied flatly.

Maya raised her eyebrows, then shrugged. "Whatever. Let's go."

She turned and resumed leading the way down the tunnel.

Constance and I held back. The girl didn't look at me. "For the sake of not causing the Princess anymore trouble, I'm willing to let things rest between us."

I asked emotionlessly, "You mean you want a truce?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Very well, I can agree to that. But if you aim your Fragment at me, I'll aim my gauntlets at you."

"And this time we finish things."

"Agreed."

Constance glanced down for a moment. "Alright. That's fine by me."

She hefted her school bag and chased after Maya and Rina at a fast walk.

I followed the girl, keeping a few feet behind her.

#

(Caprice)

Without the map in Maya's possession I was certain we'd have gotten lost.

The tunnel branched out a number times. We took the forks in the road indicated by the map, and came to a locked storage room.

By then, Rina was looking a little winded.

I traded a look with Maya, while Constance stared at the girl with a discrete, yet critical eye.

Maya waved her palm-slate over the door's security panel and unlocked it.

Inside we found ourselves in a stairwell rather than a room. Sharing bemused looks between us, we started climbing the stairs in single file. After a few dozen steps, we arrived at a landing and another door. Maya unlocked this one too, opened it, and cautiously stepped out. We followed on her heels into a crowded, open air parking lot. The doorway was protected by a large awning. I had no idea why since it didn't rain inside the habitat.

Actually, there were a lot of things that didn't make sense inside the habitat.

Behind us, a large building stretched up into the sky. I guessed we'd come out behind the building, away from the side facing the street.

Constance muttered, "Where the Hell are we?"

Maya studied the map. "About...three district blocks from Galatea?"

I looked around. "Don't you think we look kind of conspicuous in our uniforms?"

Maya agreed. "Next time, let's bring a change of clothes."

"Hah," Rina uttered. "That would totally make us look like friends."

"No it wouldn't," Constance and I retorted in symphony.

We stared at each other, then looked away.

Maya nodded. "Good, a change of clothes it is."

Damn, what a drag.

Maya pointed in the direction of a parked delivery van. "That one. Simone said a van with pizza delivery markings would be waiting for us."

We walked quickly over to the van, but found it empty and locked.

Constance frowned at Maya. "Are you sure it's this one? Did she tell you the company name?"

"Ah—" Maya looked stumped, then a grimace broke out on her face. "I—I didn't ask."

Constance smirked. "Some leader you're turning out to be."

"Shut up," Maya muttered.

I looked around the lot. "Doesn't matter. It's the only one here."

Rina was looking the vehicle over. "It looks really authentic. Smells like pizza too." She squeezed her midriff. "It's making me hungry."

Her stomach growled for the tenth or twelfth time.

I had to admit it smelt like really good pizza.

"Ah, you girls finally made it."

We turned in the direction of a man's voice, and indeed a young man was walking toward us. He had a full head of dark hair, and was dressed in a delivery outfit. To add to his authenticity he carried a stack of lunch sized pizzas in his arms.

He smiled warmly at us and looked apologetic. "Looks like I made it back in time." He raised the pizza stack a little higher. "In case you're hungry, I brought you girls something to eat."

He handed the pizza's over to Rina. That freed him up to open up the van while Rina salivated over the boxes in her hands.

We circled round to the open passenger door, and looked at the interior of the vehicle. It was decked out like a passenger van with three rows of seats; enough seating for six.

Maya sagged in unconscious relief. She looked at the young man. "Who are you?"

"I'm Laurence, your designated driver." He pointed at each of us in turn. "Maya Khayman, Rina Sayen, Constance Peligree, and Caprice Steiner."

So he knew who we were. Did that mean we could trust him?

"Right," Laurence announced. "Everyone aboard and we'll be on our way."

We climbed in and buckled up. Maya sat with me in the front passenger row. Rina and Constance sat behind us.

Rina handed the small pizzas around.

I ended up with a peperoni and cheese pizza on a thin crust. I wasn't really hungry and wondered if I could eat it later. On second thoughts I could eat a slice or two now and the rest after training.

Maya asked, "Where are we going?"

"To the training center."

"Where's that?"

He laughed. "You'll see."

He started up the van, and drove out of the parking lot and into traffic. About ten minutes later we were travelling on a highway that ran the length of the habitat.

I noticed we were headed east toward the exit.

Another ten minutes later and we were inside the tunnels connecting Habitat One with the rest of the asteroid Island.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I glanced back and saw Rina looking at me. "Cappy, are you going to eat that?"

"What?"

"The pizza. Are you going to eat the rest of it?"

I stared at her. "Yes...later."

She looked disappointed. "Damn, I'm still hungry."

"Here," Constance muttered. "You can have mine. I'm not hungry."

"Really? Great. You're so kind, Connie."

"My name is Constance, not Connie."

Rina shrugged as she eagerly opened up the pizza box. To be fair, the pizzas were only around eight inches in diameter, and they were thin crusted too.

Wait—she called me Cappy!

Now she was definitely not going to eat my pizza.

I wolfed it down now rather than later.

A short while into the tunnel highway, Laurence pulled off at an exit ramp which led into a small cavern with rectangular walls. There was a separate exit back to the highway tunnel, but also a driveway leading to a gated entrance with the sign Artemis Industries beside it.

I narrowed my eyes in thin disbelief.

Artemis Industries?

The gate opened automatically as the van approached it, and Laurence drove through into another tunnel that was wide enough for two lanes of oncoming traffic.

We could only see through the van's windscreen and front windows, but it looked like a really long tunnel. In fact, we drove for almost ten more minutes before arriving at its exit.

Another large cavern with flat walls and a curved ceiling awaited us. You could fit the entire cafeteria building inside it. Cut into one wall was the façade of a building, complete with transparent glass doors. Laurence parked the van in an empty car spot in front of the building.

"We're here," he announced happily, unlocking the van's passenger door with a hidden switch.

I heard the locking mechanism whir for a heartbeat and the latch release. Since I was closest to the door I opened it, and climbed out of the van and into the parking lot in front of the building. Behind me, Maya and the others climbed out.

I looked around.

There were other parked vehicles on the lot so at least the place was occupied. Plus, my Valkyrie Armor could feel the presence of someone inside the building's entrance.

The sign hanging over the glass doors into the building read Artemis Industries.

If I had to describe it, the place did look like a company headquarters...if you ignored the fact it was inside a cavern somewhere deep in Island Three and the building was cut into a rock wall.

Laurence remained in the driver's seat. Leaning out of the open window, he indicated the entrance. "You girls are expected so go on ahead. I'll take you back when you're done."

Again we shared looks amongst ourselves, then hefted the straps of our school carry-bags onto our shoulders and walked up to the glass doors of the entrance.

I had no doubt we were scanned and identified even before the doors opened.

As a group, we stepped into the cool lobby of the building. Maya led the way over to the concierge's counter.

The girl seated behind it smiled at us. "Team Galatea?"

Maya frowned. "Huh?"

The girl swept a hand before us. "Are you ladies not from Galatea Academy?"

"Yes, we are. Is that what we're designated as?"

"It's how I have you here," the girl replied, indicating the holo-screen floating above her desk which was situated behind the counter.

I thought Maya would sigh, but instead her shoulders rose and fell a little. "Then I guess that's us."

"Very well, you've been cleared to go through, but your instructor isn't here yet. Please make yourselves comfortable. She's on her way and won't be long."

Maya nodded and bowed respectfully. "Thank you."

We followed suit, then by silent decree stepped a few meters away from the concierge's desk.

Rina whispered. "Team Galatea? We're a team now?"

Maya shrugged faintly.

Constance was looking about the place's corporate style interior. "Not how I pictured things."

I kept my expression neutral but nodded once in agreement.

A couple of minutes later, a woman in her early to mid-twenties entered the lobby from a set of glass security doors at the far end of the room. She strode over to us with the impression of great power held barely in check. Her long raven hair was tied back into a ponytail, and a couple of hair clips kept her bangs out of the way.

Rina described her best with a whisper. "She's so pretty...."

Yes she was, and the more I looked at her, the more familiar she appeared to me.

The young woman was dressed in a black and grey skinsuit that reminded me of bike riding leathers. The material stretched around her chest. In fact, it was partially unzipped in order to give her impressive bust air to breathe.

"...and big too," Rina muttered, sounding morbidly depressed.

Maya softly clicked her tongue in agreement and displeasure.

Constance whispered, "Not fair. So not fair...."

It was clear all four of us were hosting similar feelings as the young woman walked up to us.

"A little late, aren't we?" she asked without formality.

Now that she was up close to us, I gave her a long, studious look. She noticed and returned my stare but I didn't look away.

She really was familiar, or should I say she reminded me of someone.

Maya stiffened but bowed politely, distracting me a little. We had no choice but to follow her example.

"My apologies," Maya said.

I thought she might explain why we were _late_ but she made no effort to do so.

I realized there was no point explaining. The busty instructress wasn't interested in explanations. In her opinion it would probably be a waste of more time. What she clearly wanted was punctuality, not tardiness.

"Fine. You're here now," the woman said. "Let's get started. Follow me and don't fall behind."

I glanced at the others, keeping my emotionless _mask_ firmly in place, while thinking the same thing they were.

Rude. This woman didn't even have the decency to introduce herself.

Maya shook her head tightly, warning us all not to say anything, then hurried after the skinsuit clad woman.

I had the impression Maya knew _something_ but was not letting on.

Through the glass security doors at the end of the lobby, and down a short corridor, she led us to a section that resembled a training room or gym. Then she instructed us into an adjoining change room with lockers and benches running between them. We were told to pick out free lockers, and learnt these would be assigned to us from now on. As it happened we chose lockers that were all adjacent to each other.

The woman left us for a while, then came back with four white bathrobes.

She spoke without room for argument. "Strip out of your uniforms and into these. Then follow me."

Maya asked, "May I ask why?"

The woman dropped the bathrobes onto the bench. "You're getting new skinsuits. Artemis skinsuits, not the low quality crap you've probably been using until now."

Constance tensed but I reached out and touched her arm.

The girl shot me a glare but held her tongue.

I knew that my skinsuit was high-grade, and there was no doubt so was Constance's. We hadn't been told to bring them, but that didn't give this woman the right to refer to our equipment as _crap_.

The woman folded her arms under her sizeable bust. "What are you waiting for? Strip—now."

I was growing more and more uncomfortable with the way we were being treated.

Constance looked unhappy and Rina looked distinctly depressed.

But Maya nodded just once and began undressing.

Again, we had no choice but to follow her example.

I sensed the woman watching us even with my back turned to her.

Then she called out sharply, "Peligree, come here."

I half turned and saw Constance had stopped while undressing. She was in her underwear, a cotton ensemble of light pink panties and bra. "Ma'am?"

"Come here."

The girl clenched her jaw, but she stepped up to the woman.

The instructress walked around her. "That's a nasty scar. A piercer field, was it?"

"Yes...ma'am...."

Constance had her back to Maya, Rina and I, yet I noticed her shiver when the woman studied her chest.

Then the instructress said, "Losing your head in the heat of battle. This is what this scar symbolizes."

I couldn't see the look Constance gave the young woman, but it must have been venomous, because the busty woman narrowed her eyes sharply.

The instructress nodded in satisfaction. "Good. That's the look I want to see. You've got fire in you." She leaned down into Constance's face. "But let me making something abundantly clear. You lose your head on your time. Not on my time. While you're here you follow instructions to the letter, and if you don't you'd better have a damn good reason for not doing so. Is that clear?"

I noticed Constance swallow then straighten her shoulders. "With all due respect, but we haven't even started training, so I don't deserve the way you're treating me."

"Consider it special consideration for a special case."

"That's enough." Maya's voice cut between them. She stepped up to the busty instructress. "If you have an issue with a member of my team, you talk to me first. Is that clear?"

The young woman nodded. "Good. Spoken like a team leader. The Commander has high hopes for you, Maya Khayman afil Sora."

"I appreciate that, Silia Alucard Raynar," Maya replied smoothly. "However, I'm not here for the Commander's sake."

"On the contrary," the young woman stated, "but you'll understand in due time."

While watching the scene between the women, I realized my body had subconsciously finished undressing. Padding barefoot over to the bathrobes, I took one and slipped into it.

Rina was dressed in a robe too. She sidled up to me and whispered, "Did she say Alucard?"

I nodded very faintly.

Silia Alucard Raynar. That meant this woman was the Countess's older sister. Arisa had told me Silia Alucard was an Artemis that served with Caelum's sister.

No wonder she looked familiar.

And no wonder she was so _large_.

A trait that runs in the family.

Damn, so unfair.

And yet, why is her hair raven dark? Did she dye it? Or maybe it was the Countess who dyed her hair that odd ash grey color.

Silia Alucard stared at the two girls standing before her. "You're wasting time. Get moving."

A few moments went by before Maya and Constance deigned to walk back to the lockers and resume undressing. It was clear they were unhappy with the way Alucard was treating them.

I couldn't help watching Constance slip out of her underwear.

I saw the scar she bore clearly now.

It was a deep pink diagonal line that began from her lower right midriff, ran across her chest and between her breasts, before ending at her left collar bone.

In time it might fade away until it was barely noticeable. But for now, she wouldn't be wearing anything revealing, not unless she wanted to display the scar for the world to see.

I guess a bikini is off the books for her now.

Constance noticed me staring. The girl glared at me for a heartbeat before she turned away and finished undressing. She picked up the last bathrobe and put it on.

Now all four of us were dressed in nothing but the bathrobes.

No, that wasn't right. All four of us wore our Fragments _under_ the bathrobes. In my case, I had the two bracelets and anklets on me.

"Let's go," Silia said impatiently. "Time to get you fitted and tuned."

#

(Caprice)

The new skinsuits were indeed different from what I'd been given by the Lanfears.

It felt lighter, and easier to move in.

However the tuning process took almost two hours.

The first phase was a basic calibration with us lying on a table with cables attached to the skinsuit.

The second phase required us to perform simple movements, then more complex ones as time progressed.

Then there was a final tuning phase that felt like my skin was bonding to the suit's interior layer. When it was over I felt naked though I was still dressed in the black and gun-metal grey material.

Each of us wore neural contacts. The devices resembled large hair clips, and attached to the skin over our temples. It took a while for me to grow accustomed to them. In fact, after a half hour wearing them I still wasn't used to their presence. But they were quite unlike the headset and visor I'd used before with my old skinsuit.

I looked myself in the mirror, and I had to admit the skinsuit looked snug on me.

The boots were flat heeled, but that didn't matter since I'd be wearing the Valkyrie Armor over the skinsuit's feet, legs and forearms. I was instructed to summon the armor a few times to allow the technicians to adjust the skinsuit to the Fragment. I wore the skinsuit over my Fragments, yet the armor locked onto my body regardless of the material that lay between it and the bracelets and anklets.

That wasn't the case for Maya. Her skinsuit had slightly shorter sleeves than mine, and lacked the connecting gloves that I wore. Her hands and wrists were bare, and her Fragment bracelets were clearly visible.

I had no idea why our Fragments were so different, but I refrained from asking.

After what felt like an eternity having my skinsuit adjusted to work in conjunction with the Valkyrie Armor, I was finally freed from the technicians. While waiting in an empty corner of the large laboratory-like fitting room, Rina walked over to me.

I glanced at her wrists. "Where's your Fragment?"

She held up her right arm and tapped her wrist over the skinsuit. "Under here." She grinned. "Maya had to have her sleeves cut. When her Fragment manifested, her gauntlets sliced up the lower sleeves of her skinsuit."

"Yeah, I noticed that. It surprised the techs." I glanced at around discretely, and saw Constance was finishing up too.

Rina inhaled deeply, then made the decision to wave the girl over.

We both saw Constance hesitate for a noticeable moment. Then she bowed her head a little and stiffly walked over to us. She stood beside Rina, which meant the latter was sandwiched between Constance and I.

Rina noted, "So you get to wear the full skinsuit too." She giggled. "Poor Maya. I bet she's annoyed."

I shrugged lightly. "So long as it doesn't affect her performance, I'm sure she won't mind."

I gave Constance a sidelong glance, but the girl said nothing.

Then Rina muttered, "I really don't like her."

"Who?" I asked.

"That Silia Alucard." Rina crossed her arms over her small chest and pouted. "Her breasts are super-sized and annoying. She came up to me and poked me all over. She told me to lay off the sweets and lose some pounds. I don't even have a sweet tooth."

"But you ate my pizza," Constance pointed out. "It's no wonder you're getting fat."

"I'm not fat," Rina protested with a sour look. "I just haven't lost my baby fat."

I was about to disagree, but Constance spoke first.

"No, Alucard is right. You're going to have trouble keeping up with us."

Rina shot the girl an angry look, but then turned away with a troubled one instead. "I can't help it. I only Awakened a little over a month and a half ago. The Soras didn't begin training me until they found a Fragment I was compatible with."

To my surprise I planted a hand on her shoulder and said, "Just stick close to us. We'll cover you."

"But lay off the extra pizza," Constance warned, "and we're not going to carry you if you fall behind."

Rina started to weep. "Pepperoni. Mozzarella cheese. Sweet onions. Anchovies."

"Shut up," Constance warned. "Now you're making me hungry. I should never have given you my pizza."

Rina wailed and threw her arms around Constance who was so shocked I saw the whites in her eyes.

"Connie—what am I going to do?"

"Stop calling me that," the taller girl complained. "My name's Constance. You hear me?"

I stared at Rina. Wasn't this girl supposed to be shy? She rarely spoke during the three briefings we had in the Student Council President's office. In fact, she gave me the impression of a meek little cat that was doing its best to remain in the background.

But this Rina was rubbing her face in Constance's average chest and whining about all the delicious pizza she was going to miss out on.

Constance raised a fist over Rina's head. "I'm going to hit you if you don't let go."

Rina sobbed. "Connie—don't be mean to me."

I saw Rina look up at Constance with such a forlorn look that the latter actually stuttered.

"Y—you—you—what are you doing? Stop looking at me like that?"

"Connie...."

Constance looked conflicted. She seemed to be battling against a torrent of mixed emotions that locked her body and expression rigid.

Then, just when I saw her begin to relax, Rina muttered loudly, "You smell nice...like pizza."

"Aggh," Constance yelled and thumped the girl over the head.

#

(Caprice)

Three hours after we arrived at Artemis Industries we finally found ourselves on the cusp of commencing training.

We also found ourselves standing on a balcony, looking out over a habitat that was every bit as complete as the habitats inside Island Three.

What threw me off was the fact this habitat was a training habitat.

Rina spoke in a hushed, awed voice. "Wow. It's so big."

Constance wondered, "Is this real? It looks real. I mean, I've never seen a holo-image this detailed before. You'd need a hundred thousand projectors for something this big."

I understood what she meant. The habitat appeared to be a complete environment, yet it was hard believe something like this existed inside Pharos. I counted roughly eighteen blocks stretching into the distance, and twelve blocks from left to right. That made it roughly a third the length and breadth of a full sized habitat. There was even a mag-lev network running between the buildings.

I stepped closer to the balcony railing and looked down at the buildings and streets below.

There were people down there walking the sidewalks, and vehicles on the streets. The sounds of a habitat reached my ears, complete with the throng of commuters on foot and driving in automated cars. The place really did look like a populated environment. But there was something odd about the populace.

My Fragment told me they weren't real.

They were holovids surrounding the ubiquitous bowling pin shaped robots that performed automated tasks within a habitat, including sentry and maintenance duties. In other words, there was a bowling pin robot inside every holovid person I saw down on the streets below.

That made for a lot of robots.

Maya stepped up beside me. "The buildings and cars are real, but the people are not. That's so weird."

I nodded. "I think it's going to feel even weirder when we start training in there."

My Awareness tingled. I sensed a number of people enter the balcony from the entrance behind us. Maya and I both turned to see Silia Alucard and three other young women dressed in matching skinsuits form a line abreast of her. I didn't have to ask to know this was her Artemis squad.

The four women, including Alucard, gave us rather dismissive looks. Their superior attitude was beginning to get under my skin, and thereby my skinsuit.

Maya stepped forward, and by an unwritten consensus Rina, Constance and I fanned out behind her.

Maya asked politely, "Are we to begin training now?"

Silia Alucard shook her head. "Not exactly. First, we want to see what you can do right now. We'll use that to determine how much training you're going to need, and where to start from."

I noticed Maya dip her head slightly. "You're not going to induct us into basic training?"

"No, because most of you have been training individually for many, many months. Unfortunately, that doesn't include pudgy over there."

"Geh!" Rina gasped.

Silia smiled cruelly. "But don't fret, we'll have you burn off those extra pounds in short order. We'll turn you into a lean, mean, little machine in no time at all." The young woman narrowed her eyes. "Until then...no pizza!"

"Gah!" Rina swayed on her feet.

Silia's Artemis team members laughed amongst themselves. These girls were older than us by a few years, taller and carried themselves with confidence born of experience.

And they were Aventis.

My Fragment gave my thoughts a subtle nudge and inserted that tidbit into my head. It could sense the Symbiote inside them.

Maya shifted her stance. It wasn't openly combative but it held a hint of rebellion.

"Very well," she said. "Formation or individual combat?"

"Four on four," Silia replied. "We'll give you a ten minute head start, then hunt you down. The longer you last, the better your final grade. One thing to be mindful of is collateral damage. Injure a passer-by or civilian and you'll be demoted points. Damage property and buildings and you'll lose even more points. Other than that, almost anything goes. But remember, this is a mock battle. We're not out to kill you or permanently injure you. We expect the same from you."

Maya asked, "So you're telling us to hold back on what our Fragments can do?"

"Like I said, short of permanent injury or killing someone, you're free to come at us however you see fit."

Maya raised her chin. "When do we start?"

"Now," Silia replied.

Before I could summon my Valkyrie Armor, a cold chill filled the air and the black mist surrounded Rina. When it cleared heartbeats later, she held a large sniper rifle in her arms. The weapon looked fit to snipe an armored vehicle from ten kilometers away.

What happened next took everyone by surprise.

Yet in hindsight I should have expected something like this to happen.

Events had been building up to this moment.

Rina yelled like a wounded feline and heft the rifle underarm. "You're not taking away my pizza!"

Particles of violet let danced in front of the barrel and a second later the weapon shrieked and fired at Silia.

The young woman and her team scattered a millisecond before the blast of violet light missed them. It struck the balcony entrance behind them. The wall and security glass held, but the air hissed and wavered.

"Apologize to pizza!" Rina shouted, and fired again and again at the Artemis girls.

The rest of us had jumped back to the balcony railing, summoning our Fragments in a heartbeat.

Rina was shooting with surprising accuracy, but the Artemis team narrowly avoided getting hit. Within seconds they dove off the balcony and into the habitat below. The girl ran to the edge of the balcony and began firing quickly into the habitat.

Maya ran forward and kicked up the rifle's barrel.

Then she smacked Rina lightly on the head. "Idiot—you're damaging the buildings."

Rina started to laugh unsteadily with a huge twisted smile on her face. "The power output is down to one percent. It'll just burn the paint off the walls."

Constance yelled, "We'd better chase after them or they'll start chasing us. Either way, I don't think they're going to give us a head start anymore."

Maya groaned loudly like a tree about to fall. "Aggh, damn it." The girl trembled violently for a short while. Then she relaxed and nodded angrily. "Fine. We go on the offensive. Stick together. We don't know the habitat's layout, but we'll move rooftop to rooftop."

Constance and I nodded, but Rina suddenly looked aghast.

"You—you mean we're going to jump from building to building?" The girl's expression worsened. "You mean we're going to have to _run_?"

Maya grabbed Rina by the scruff of her skinsuit. "That's right. And after the stunt you just pulled you're coming with me. I'm not letting you out of my sight. I swear I will kick you if you fall behind."

With those words, Maya jumped off the rooftop while holding onto the scruff of Rina's skinsuit. They disappeared from view and I heard Rina scream all the way down.

I glanced at Constance.

The girl looked undecided, then quickly shot me a sideways look.

I knew what she was thinking. I raised my gauntlets up. "Truce."

She was quiet for a heartbeat. "Truce."

I waved at the edge of the balcony. "In that case, we'd better not fall behind."

Constance inhaled deeply, then gave me a tight nod.

I returned it, and temporarily shelving the bad blood between us, Constance and I jumped over the balcony railing and into the habitat skyline below.

### Reflections – 12.

There are two kinds of Aventis.

The first kind of Aventis is a Regular that developed a degree of compatibility with one of the eight strains of Symbiote. This normally happens during or after puberty, thereby confined to the teenage years. If their compatibility exceeds seventy percent, they are granted admission into the specific Pride they are most compatible with. The Symbiote then takes residence within the Regular's body, and they join the Aventis ranks.

The second kind of Aventis is one that is born with the Symbiote inside them. Elements of the Symbiote flow into the fetus during the second trimester when the baby is more fully developed. It then continues to grow along with the fetus. Such an Aventis is commonly referred to as a Pureblood.

The difference between the two kinds of Aventis is somewhat telling.

A non-Pureblood's compatibility with their Symbiote rarely exceeds ninety percent. That means that the Symbiote is only able to perform its 'tasks' of strengthening the host, healing injuries and keeping them healthy to ninety percent of its ability. Most non-Purebloods rate a compatibility with their Symbiote of between seventy and eighty percent. Haruka Amiella was rated at eighty five percent which put her in good standing against other non-Purebloods.

In contrast, a Pureblood is a hundred percent compatible with their Symbiote. They benefit the most from what the Symbiote can do for them.

Simone Alucard and Prissila Ventiss were fortunate enough to be born Purebloods. Their mothers were also Purebloods, and it was likely that Simone and Prissila would give birth to Pureblood offspring.

But it wasn't assured to be the case.

A case in point is Maya Khayman.

Maya's mother, Cassandra Khayman Sora, is a Pureblood.

The Khaymans have multiple business interests in the entertainment and residential industries, so it's safe to say that Maya was born into a very, very wealthy family. However, she was born without the Symbiote, relegating her to the ranks of a Regular. While this was disappointing to the rather proud Khayman family, and the Sora Pride, all hope was not lost because it was _almost_ assured that Maya would develop a compatibility with the Sora strain of the Symbiote when she entered her teenage years.

She did not, and instead awakened to an existence as a Familiar on the month she turned sweet sixteen.

Needless to say, this was something of a shock to the Khaymans.

Needless to say, this sent the girl into suicidal despair.

The Khaymans had never birthed a Familiar in all the generations since becoming Aventis, and her family didn't know how to deal with this outcome. It can be said that the general ambience was one of disappointment. Some expressed shame toward Cassandra, as though she had dishonored the Pride by giving birth to a Familiar.

And that shame swallowed and consumed Maya.

Perhaps if she'd been an only child, she might have struggled through her despair. But Maya's younger sister, Katalina was a Pureblood.

It didn't help having a sister that looked upon her with disdain.

It didn't help having a sister that belittled her at every opportunity.

So, in the time honored tradition, she attempted to commit suicide by slitting her wrists. An Aventis might heal quickly enough, but not a Familiar. As misfortune would have it, it was Katalina who found her older sister bleeding to death in the bathroom. And it was Katalina who saved her life by giving Maya her blood. The Symbiote healed Maya's body, but not her heart.

This was all kept a closely guarded family secret, but there were those that learnt of it nonetheless. In fact, it was the Countess that told me about Maya. She also told me that Katalina Khayman Sora was a senior in middle school at Galatea Academy.

Needless to say, that girl didn't take it well to learn her elder sister was now attending her school, even though they were in separate years.

I thought the girl was being stupid. She still had a sister, one whose life she'd saved, whereas I didn't – or thought I didn't.

Even if Maya was a Familiar, she was still family to Katalina.

I was fairly certain that one day Katalina would come to regret treating Maya the way she did.

### Chapter 16 – Revelation.

(Haruka)

School Week Two. Friday.

I'd been feeling down and depressed since the events of Wednesday.

The Bust War had simmered down into a Cold Bust War.

More than a few social cliques had re-organized around the newly formed battle lines. I couldn't help noticing how the small breasted girls had grouped together as though for protection from the large breasted ones. But it wasn't smooth sailing for those sporting a Cee cup or above. After one girl was accosted in one of the toilets on the second floor, we bigger busted individuals had taken to moving around in groups of two or three. It seemed the teachers and administrators were handing out detention notices every day, and while the situation had calmed down a little, there appeared to be no sign of the tensions abating.

This stupid rivalry had affected our friendship with Alistair.

She was suspended like Caelum and didn't attend class, but she ignored my messages and my attempts to call her.

Siobhan had also tried calling Alistair and met with the same wall of silence. She was angry and hurt by Alistair's behavior, but stopped short of paying Alistair a visit to give the girl a piece of her mind. She said she'd known Alistair for a long while and knew the latter was self-conscious of her figure. But even she was surprised by the sudden sullen animosity Alistair was expressing toward us.

Before morning homeroom I sent Caelum a message to his palm-slate asking him how he was doing.

He replied back with an 'all good' and asked for the class work he'd missed so far.

I took that to mean he was at least busy studying while stuck in his dorm.

He didn't ask about Duncan and I.

That made my heart fret.

I sent him a message telling him to study hard. I wrote 'love Haruka' at the end, thought about it, then deleted it.

I wrote 'missing you' instead and sent it to him.

I received a reply before classes began.

MISSING YOU TOO.

It came in right after Duncan's message, where he pleaded to meet me after class today.

I'd been avoiding him since the beginning of the week. I couldn't put him off any longer. So I told him I'd meet him after class at the cake shop, La Muse, a district block away far from Galatea Academy.

His reply was almost immediate. He said he'd wait for me all night if need be.

That pained my heart, and left my emotions swirling in confusion.

I gave up trying to pay attention to Ms. Fauntine during homeroom. It all went in one ear and out the other. But as I sat there I came to accept the obvious truth.

I was caught between two loves.

My love for Caelum.

My growing love for Duncan.

And now I was going to have to choose.

I was going to have to _choose_!

And I couldn't do that.

I just couldn't....

#

(Caprice)

With Caelum suspended, I thought I'd spend my lunches alone.

Instead, I found myself in the company of Maya, Rina, and Constance.

In fact, I found myself spending a lot of time in their company.

On Thursday morning, an hour and a half before homeroom, the four of us met at the gym under the nightclub that belonged to Arisa Imreh Lanfear – the same gym Caelum and I used to train at for seven odd months. First, I had to get permission from Arisa to do so. That I achieved on Wednesday night when I called Arisa after our disastrous debut against Team Silia.

To put it simply, Silia and her group wiped the floor with us.

We underestimated them because they didn't possess Fragments or Artifacts. To make up for that, the young women of Team Silia were gifted with various weapons that mimicked a Fragment. It was obvious from the first few minutes of combat those four Aventis girls had trained long and hard with their respective faux-Fragments.

We were handicapped on three fronts.

One, we'd never fought as a team. We didn't know what the other could do to complement our strengths or compensate for our weaknesses.

Two, we weren't allowed to use our Fragments to maximum effect. I had to hold back with every strike and kick or I was certain the Valkyrie Armor would shatter my opponents faux-Fragment in a heartbeat.

And last but not least was problem three – Rina Sayen.

Rina displayed excellent marksmanship...but nothing else.

She was weak, slow, and lacked stamina to the nth degree.

It was clear the Sora Pride had devoted little resource to her training. Maya promised to speak to her mother about that, but for now, we decided to go with my proposal – to use the gym every morning in order to whip Rina into shape.

So on the journey back from the training habitat – courtesy of Laurence who picked us up outside the entrance to Artemis Industries – I made the call to Arisa and explained the problem. Surprisingly, she needed little convincing, and we were granted permission to train at the gym that was once used solely by Caelum and I.

The agreement was that every morning we would meet at the gym, oversee Rina's training, and then shower, change into our uniforms, and make our way to Galatea Academy.

Constance had proposed getting Rina to join the Track-and-Field club but Maya and I vetoed the idea after Rina began to cry from embarrassment. The girl really believed she'd make a fool of herself before the members of the Track-and-Field club. So she readily agreed to the alternative which was private training. Since she was a Familiar, we were confident she could attain a decent level of fitness in a few weeks, much faster than a Regular person could. But we were going to have to push her hard, yet avoid breaking her.

Thursday morning went well, though Rina collapsed after fifteen minutes on the treadmill.

Thursday evening's training was another disaster. We spent too much time covering for Rina, and couldn't do enough for ourselves.

Friday morning it was back to the gym. This time Rina lasted twenty minutes before dropping to her knees and sliding off the back of the treadmill. However, we decided not to cut the girl any slack. Maya put her through basic hand-to-hand combat training. She spent another twenty minutes sparring with Maya until she was too tired to lift her arms.

Watching Maya spar with Rina made me wonder how long Maya had been training. Having seen her skills with the twin okatanas, I realized it wasn't a skill you learnt overnight. It certainly wasn't a skill you learnt in the span of a few months. It was a level of skill you attained after years of dedicated training. I was certain her hand-to-hand skills were also considerably better than mine, and this wasn't lost on Constance either.

So the big question was: who is Maya Khayman afil Sora?

I was curious but unfortunately that answer was going to have to wait.

A quick shower, a hasty change into our uniforms, and then it was off to Galatea Academy. That was a trip via mag-lev from Habitat Two to Habitat One where the academy was located. We bought our lunches from a convenience store outside the station, then walked as a group to the school.

I hadn't noticed it on Thursday, but I was certainly aware of it on Friday morning as we walked into the school – the reaction from the other students walking around us.

It was clear they knew we four were Familiars, but our being together elicited a range of emotions from the girls and the boys, and they were disparate between the genders.

The girls gave us dark, disdainful looks, with a touch of wariness thrown into the mix. It was clear they saw us as a threat of some sort.

But the guys...they watched us with hunger in their eyes.

I wouldn't call it lust, but it came close.

Perhaps it was more accurate to describe it as forbidden desire, and that made me feel conflicted.

On the one hand I felt uncomfortable as their eyes watched our every move. Some girls describe it as feeling like bait on a hook for a hungry predator.

But on the other hand, a heated warmth bloomed in my chest. I was proud of the way I was drawing their undivided attention.

I realized I wasn't the only one who noticed this.

Each of us was subconsciously and consciously reacting to the attention in our own way.

Maya walked with her head high, her eyes straight ahead, and with a definite, girlish swing of her hips. If I had to describe her, I'd say she walked with the poise of a fashion model.

Constance wasn't far behind, with a powerful gait that was fluid and light. She reminded me of a feline on the prowl.

I wasn't sure how I walked, maybe a little taller, a little more confidently, but I certainly hoped I kept up with Maya and Constance.

If anyone fell behind it was Rina.

She looked like she wanted to sprint on ahead and hide in class.

She definitely did not enjoy the attention we four attracted.

During lunch break we trekked to the small grassy area behind the gym building built for the high-school student body. The gym for the middle schoolers was on the opposite side of the school grounds and near to their class rooms.

Learning our lesson from the day before, we each carried small blankets with us that we lay on the ground to keep grass stains off our uniforms.

We unboxed our convenience store lunches and proceeded to dig in.

Rina stared miserably at her plastic lunch container which held an assortment of salads and seafood, while Maya placed a large data slate on the ground between the four of us who sat in a circle facing inwards.

Maya said, "We need to work on our formations. I don't think we made decent use of Rina last night."

I nodded. "I couldn't keep that Artemis girl off her back."

As she spoke, Rina continued to stare unhappily at her lunch box. "I can run and shoot but don't expect me to hit anything yet. I still haven't synched up with the Gun Blade." She started picking at the salads with a plastic fork.

Constance shook her head. "You mean you can shoot but can't run."

Rina stabbed her salad. "I'll get better at it."

Maya raised her head and studied the girl. "We know you will. No one is saying otherwise."

I watched Rina's lower lip tremble before she forcefully shoved a mouthful of salad into her mouth.

I didn't miss the look Maya gave her, one of clear concern.

A few moments went by before Maya turned her attention to the data slate, and munched on a slice of sandwich cut into a triangle no larger than her palm. "Maybe we should focus on re-tuning with our Fragments. My okatanas feel like they're fighting against me rather than with me."

She looked up at Constance.

"When are you going to start fighting with us?"

Constance gave her a puzzled look. "What?"

"You're fighting as if you're not part of the team. Why?"

"So sorry, but I've never fought in a group before. Takes a little to get used to it."

"That's the whole point of this," Maya pointed out. "We're supposed to help each other improve. You think you can handle Crescent on your own if and when they show up?"

Constance was about to retort, but I cut her off.

"If Crescent are anywhere as good as Caelum was that Saturday, we are all dead."

Constance shut her mouth with a loud clack.

Maya sighed. "We could have used his strength last night, especially if he can manifest both shield-blades now."

Rina swallowed a second unpleasant mouthful of salad. She looked at the three of us and asked, "How strong is he? I mean, is he really good with his Fragment?" She looked across at me. "Hey Cappy, when's he coming?"

Rina had a habit of calling me by that annoying nickname.

I started to correct her, but gave up a heartbeat later. "I don't know. My handler—I mean Guardian—won't tell me a thing. She just keeps telling me to work hard and not drag the team down."

I was holding a soda can in my left hand. I had to put it down or else I might inadvertently crush it.

Maya asked, "Hey, Caprice...are you okay?"

Rina nodded quickly. "Yeah Cappy, are you okay?"

"Why are you asking?" I retorted, somehow managing to hold onto my usual flat expression.

"Cause last night you were pissed," Maya stated.

I lost my train of thought for a moment. I muttered a feeble, "Sorry...."

Rina swallowed down a third mouthful of salad with a grimace on her face. "Cappy, you don't have to feel lonely. Caelum will be back."

I gave Rina a flat look. "Please don't call me that."

Constance muttered in a low voice. "I don't think he'll be back."

I faced her in a heartbeat, as did Maya and Rina, the latter with food halfway to her open mouth.

Maya beat me to the punch. "Care to explain why?"

Constance stared down at the data-slate on the grass in the middle of our circle. She made no effort to reply which quickly angered me.

Again before I could say anything, Maya spoke up. "We're waiting for an answer, Constance."

The girl closed her eyes and took a shuddering, nervous breath. "The Princess told me that one of the reasons for having us train as a unit is so that we don't need Caelum Desanto and his Fragment."

Maya half frowned. "Huh?"

Constance looked the girl in the eyes. "The Prides don't trust him. They're afraid of what he can do."

Rina grimaced. "Well, I'd be afraid of facing him too if he was that angry."

I spoke bluntly. "You're lying, Constance."

The girl clenched her jaw. "If you don't believe me, ask Simone Alucard. Ask Severin Kell. They know."

I stood up slowly and looked down at her. "The only reason they're afraid of him is because of what he did to you."

Constance stood up and faced me, our eyes level. "It's more than that. They're afraid of Crimson Crescent getting to him and convincing him to join their side."

"He would never do that."

"He would if they gave him reason to."

I stated flatly, "He has no reason to. And I find anything you say that comes from Prissila Ventiss hard to swallow."

Constance leaned toward me an inch or so. "Like I said, ask Severin Kell. Ask Simone Alucard. Her mother is the commander of Special Interventions, so I'm certain the Countess knows why they haven't returned Desanto's Fragment back to him."

I breathed in and out slowly. "Oh, I know the reason why. It's because of what _you_ started and _he_ ended at the amusement park. But if the Prides aren't going to trust him, then they shouldn't trust _any_ of us."

Constance narrowed her eyes. "Look, I'm sorry for what happened at the amusement park. I am sorry for how far I took things. But I'm telling you the truth about Desanto."

I held back a frown, and raised my chin a little. "You're sorry for stabbing me through the chest?"

"Yes. I am sorry. I have this"—she pulled aside the collar of her blouse—"to thank for my actions."

I saw the pink skin of a scar running diagonally across her chest all the way to her left shoulder.

Her voice was low. "This is what Caelum gave me, the brand I have to bear for turning my Fragment on another Familiar. For trying to take your life. For trying to kill someone close to him."

I swallowed.

Someone close to him.

I guessed she was right. Caelum's blinding anger had allowed him to manifest both Gauntlets and to slice through Constance's barrier-field as though it were nothing but air.

It was anger I'd never seen him display.

Anger expressed at my being injured.

Constance straightened her blouse. "I'll carry this with me for the rest of my life. I may have survived, and my insides and bones may have healed. But this scar will be with me for years."

I had scars too – one that marred the skin between my breasts, and another that marred the flesh beside my left shoulder blade.

I was lucky she hadn't stabbed through my spine. The Symbiote they'd administered to me might have healed that kind of damage, but it would have taken me weeks if not months to learn to walk again.

However, like Constance, I would carry my two scars for years to come.

Constance pressed on. "And I have shamed my Princess, and the Raynar Pride. That is something I will also bear for a long time." She waved a hand loosely at all three of us. "This is why training with you, and becoming a part of something bigger than I am, something that makes it worthwhile to possess a Fragment and gives meaning to my existence as a Familiar, is really important to me."

Maya sighed heavily and shook her head slowly. "Those sound like really lofty words and ideals. But after what you did, it's a little hard to believe you." She leaned forward where she sat cross-legged on the ground. "I'm trying. Believe me, I really want to believe you. But you haven't convinced me yet."

Constance swallowed hard. "I know. I know that...."

For a while she fingered the lapel of her blouse.

Rina spoke through half a mouthful of food. "If we keep doubting her, we might as well doubt each other." She gave Maya a meaningful look. "You say you're giving her a chance, but you sure don't sound that way to me."

Maya's mouth opened slightly. She stared faintly aghast at Rina.

I realized this was the first time I'd ever heard Rina sound critical of any of us.

Then I saw that Maya had gripped her left wrist tightly.

A little self-consciously, she released it a heartbeat later.

But there was a noticeable pause before Maya looked up again at Constance. "Sorry. I said all that stuff back in the tunnel, and now it sounds like I'm swallowing my words. That's not how a _leader_ should act."

Constance said, "Maya, I—"

"No," Maya said as she raised a hand sharply.

Constance and I stared down at her in confusion.

Maya's shoulders rose and fell, and a moment later she stood up and took a half step closer to Constance. "I'm sorry. I had no right to say that. Rina's right. I'm the one that said I wanted us to work together. I'm the one that wanted us all to be friends."

The two girls regarded each other quietly for a short while.

Constance broke the silence first. "I don't want to lose my place. I don't want to lose my Fragment. I don't want to shame my Pride, my family, or myself anymore. For that, I'm willing to set everything aside."

I glanced at her, then spared Maya a long look.

The girl closed her eyes, but when she opened them a few heartbeats later, she sounded like she'd come to a decision. "If this is going to work—if our team is going to survive and grow stronger—we have to be open and honest with each other."

Constance hesitantly nodded. "I understand."

Maya shook her head. "No, we have to more than honest with each other. We have to be loyal to each other."

I swallowed, understanding what Maya was implying.

Loyalty to each other, before expressing loyalty to our Prides and our Guardians.

In short, the team came first.

No, the four of us came first.

Rina muttered, "You mean, loyal like a family?"

Maya glanced down at her. "Our ties to each other have to be stronger. We can't doubt each other anymore, not for a heartbeat. We may argue, we may disagree, but in the end we have to be able to work through our differences. We need to be like sisters."

Rina took a deep breath as she looked up and regarded the three of us.

It was easy to see the girl was giving it some serious consideration. Rina was at times like an open book with very large print.

A few heartbeats went by, and Rina turned her gaze on Constance. "Connie, do you hate Caprice?"

"I don't hate her," Constance answered quickly. "True, I did resent her for kicking my ass and shaming me. True—I let that resentment get the better of me. But I—I regret what I did. I regret it so much."

"Because of the scar?" Rina asked softly.

"Because I almost lost everything," Constance cried out. "If the Princess hadn't begged them, I would have lost my Fragment too. If she hadn't thrown herself at their mercy, and succeeded where Arisa Imreh failed, I wouldn't be here now. I'd be nothing. Just a worthless Familiar without a Fragment." Constance looked ready to burst into tears. "I always thought I was a burden to her. I believed I'd never live up to her expectations. And I was right. I caused her to lose face and she had to sacrifice herself for me, all so that I wouldn't lose my Fragment."

"What did she do?" Maya asked, looking and sounding concerned. "What did Prissila do?"

Constance shook her head. "I don't know. She won't tell me, no matter how many times I ask. But I _know_ she agreed to something they demanded of her—I just don't know what."

Maya lowered her head, a dark thoughtful expression on her face. "Could it be...?"

Abruptly, she shook her head as though trying to dispel an unpleasant possibility.

I inhaled slowly, and deeply. I felt we were getting sidetracked.

I felt the need to bring things to an end, at least for now.

Constance had placed her cards on the table, so to speak.

And now it was my turn to respond.

I cleared my throat discretely, then took a deep breath. "Constance, I accept your apology. I'm sorry for what happened as well. We were both doing what our Prides and our Guardians expected of us. We were both puppets of circumstance."

All three girls looked at me.

I shook my head slowly. "I don't want to fight anymore. I don't want to worry about who's watching my back. I want to trust the people around me. I want to trust my teammates." I paused, then added, "I want to move on."

I heard the weak thanks Constance whispered.

Weak as it was, I felt the need to respond to it as well.

"I don't have a sister. I'm an only child, and I don't think I'm ready to start calling you _sister_ just yet. But, I'm ready to do this."

I offered Constance my right hand.

I glimpsed the surprise in the girl's eyes, yet after a long moment she reached out and shook it.

I didn't feel the need to say anything more. I thought my words and gesture were more than enough to express what I was feeling inside.

At the grateful look she gave me, I noticed my shoulders felt a little lighter.

The burden of holding a grudge.

The burden of bearing animosity.

I didn't feel it anymore. At the least, it wasn't as noticeable as it was a moment ago.

The truce between us had grown stronger, perhaps to the point where I could entrust Constance to watch my back.

I knew that when we weren't aiming our Fragments at each other, Constance and I actually made a strong pair. As Familiars we made a formidable team. If we worked together, we could grow stronger and go a long way as a team.

It wasn't just my opinion. I'd overheard Silia Alucard mention it to the other instructors.

We broke the handshake by mutual consent.

I glimpsed Maya and Rina watching Constance and I with something akin to relieved smiles, and I definitely heard Maya sigh under her breath.

I sat back down on my blanket atop the grass, and crossed my legs under me. "Lunch break will be over soon." I pointed at the data-slate on the grass. "Let's go over this before this afternoon's training."

After a short while, both Constance and Maya sat down on their blankets.

The wall between Constance and I had grown considerably smaller, and I felt more at ease around her. In fact, my heart felt markedly more at peace.

However, when I thought of what Constance had said about Caelum an emptiness welled up inside me.

I silently prayed Constance was wrong.

I silently prayed he would return to the place where he belonged.

I felt horribly incomplete without him beside me.

#

(Caelum)

I spent the Friday school hours serving my suspension in my dorm room.

I went through the material already covered in class. Thanks to Haruka and Caprice I didn't think I would fall too far behind. Perhaps a day, and not more. There was some material I had a little trouble following. I would have to review it with a teacher once my suspension was lifted.

Friday afternoon came round soon enough.

After classes came to an end, I walked from my dorm room to the courtyard, lined up with Alistair, Klaus and Melanie, and then suited up for more janitorial work.

On Wednesday it was seven of us serving detention.

On Thursday it was eleven.

On Friday it was fifteen.

I asked the others if they knew why our ranks were going up instead of down.

I asked them if they knew why all the newcomers were girls.

Alistair shrugged, pleading ignorance, but Klaus said he'd heard the _war_ wasn't over yet. He described it as guerilla warfare between various groups of girls representing the large and small breasted communities. To make matters worse, unrest was now brewing in the middle-school section of the academy.

I listened in veiled disbelief as I walked with my comrades-in-detention to our assigned area.

Today it was toilet cleaning.

I slipped the mask over my mouth and nose, and went to work spraying and scrubbing the toilets down.

I worked with Klaus on the boys toilets.

Alistair and Melanie worked on the adjoining girls toilets.

From ground floor to the fourth floor, we managed to get through eight pairs of toilet blocks before our time in detention ran out.

It was well after six pm by the time we had cleaned up and changed back into our student uniforms.

As had been the case during the last two evenings, all four of us walked in relative silence through the courtyard. But then Alistair stopped and asked us, "Want to grab some dinner?"

Klaus looked ecstatic, but I mirrored Melanie's slightly nauseous expression as I said, "Alistair, we just finished washing down eight toilet blocks. How can you think of food?"

"Because I'm hungry. And I'd like to smell food rather than cleaning fluid. I want food. Are you coming?"

"Ah...." There was no point glancing at Klaus – he was happily nodding – so I gave Melanie a quick look. "Well...it is Melanie's last day on detention. Why don't we send her off in style?"

A bemused look crossed Melanie's face as she stared first at me, then Klaus and Alistair.

I tipped my head slightly. "You got plans?"

She shook her head feebly. "No. Not really."

Alistair planted her hands on her hips. "Then it's settled. Let's go. I know just the place."

I asked cautiously. "It's not someplace you, Haruka and Siobhan visit? Right?"

Alistair stopped in mid-step. "Ah, that could be a problem." She glanced at Melanie. "As a matter of fact, I've seen Duncan Armand there a few times."

I saw Melanie stiffen, then straighten and heft her school bag higher onto her shoulder. "That isn't a problem for me," she said with smooth confidence.

Alistair gave me a look.

I knew she was thinking of Haruka and I.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm okay with it. If I bump into her, I haven't said hello to her in a while."

Alistair looked troubled, but then shrugged and smiled naughtily. "Yeah. I guess it's time to put the foolishness behind."

And so as a group we departed the school grounds.

My stomach didn't rumble alone on the way to the family restaurant that Alistair led us to.

#

(Haruka)

The cake shop was full by the time I arrived. I was delayed because I found out I was on classroom cleanup duty.

I messaged Duncan to tell him I'd be late, then rushed through the cleanup.

Kendo Club practice had resumed so Siobhan had been attending it all week after class.

I was left to my own devices so I ran alone to meet up with Duncan.

But all the tables were taken, and Duncan had arrived late as well so he'd failed to mind a table for us.

I made a decision, and suggested we go to the restaurant Alistair, Siobhan and I frequented. The food was good, the service was prompt, and it was only two blocks away from Galatea, and only a block away from the mag-lev station. We were fortunate, and the waitress seated us at a table for two by a window overlooking the sidewalk and street.

Duncan ordered drinks for us, then we both scanned the menu in nervous silence.

My hands trembled so I had to brace the menu against the table.

I wondered how Duncan felt, and noticed him folding his hands tightly on the table as he read the menu he'd laid out before him.

He kept glancing my way.

I felt my stomach tighten every time he did.

I realized I didn't know what to tell him.

The waitress temporarily spared us. She took my order of a salad, and Duncan's order of a jumbo sized meat hamburger.

Even before becoming an Aventis I was a light eater, but I wondered what it would be like to eat something so large.

Duncan must have been surprised by the burger's size because he stared at it in dismay for a short while.

I started to laugh and after a heartbeat he did too, and it felt like some of the tension between us had faded away.

He gave me a warm look that made my skin tingle, and my heart beat guiltily.

Now that we were together, I realized how much I really, really liked him.

He was so different from Caelum. Tall, good looking – not to say that Caelum wasn't easy on the eyes because he definitely was. But Duncan had a different aura around him. Duncan was confident and at ease with himself. I didn't sense the undercurrent of resentment that seemed to darken Caelum's aura. With Duncan, I realized I could relax.

I realized I was comfortable around him.

And I accepted that I most probably loved him.

Which made my time sitting across from him all the more precious and painful.

The trembling in my hands grew worse so I quickly slipped them under the table.

I lowered my head, unable to read the menu any longer.

"Haruka?"

I swallowed and nodded. "Yes...?"

Duncan's voice was low and serious. "There's something I want to tell you."

I felt my stomach tighten. I was suddenly afraid of what he would say, but I forced myself to look up at him.

He swallowed anxiously, probably to clear his throat. "Haruka, I like you."

I swallowed reflexively. "I...I know."

After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "How do you feel about me?"

And there it was, the question I feared most.

I thought of Caelum, and the truth slipped through my lips.

"I like you, I really do." My eyes were tearing up. "And I'm sorry...I'm sorry for not telling you...."

Duncan's face paled. "What haven't you told me?"

"That I have feelings for Caelum Desanto."

Through my blurry vision I saw him blanch.

I shook my head slowly. "I'm sorry, Duncan...I'm so sorry...."

"I don't understand." Duncan's face contorted in confusion. "I don't understand, Haruka. What are you telling me?"

I swallowed down past the lump in my throat. "That I...that I can't give you an answer."

His voice fell to a whisper. "Why? Aren't you giving me one now?"

I shook my head. "No. This isn't an answer."

"Then what is it? If it's not an answer then what is it?"

"I don't know. But it's not an answer—it's not. I'm sorry."

I couldn't do this. I had to leave. I had to run.

And that's what I did.

I slid off the bench and left the restaurant in a hurry.

"Haruka!"

I tried avoiding the people coming in as I made my way out. The door was open, and I hurried through it into the sidewalk beyond.

Then I felt strong arms wrap around me, and hold me still.

Duncan's body felt large as he hugged me tightly to his chest. His arms were like bands of steel.

"Don't go...please...please, don't go."

"...Duncan...."

"If you leave me—if you leave before we've even started—I won't be able to move on."

For a long while I couldn't breathe, then my body started to relax but it was simply my strength deserting me. I was only standing because of his support.

Around me I noticed people were watching our display of confused affection.

Then Duncan spun me around within his arms and I found myself pressed against his chest, my face buried against it.

Above the pounding of my heart and the blood rushing through my head, I heard his whispered words in my left ear.

"Haruka, I love you." I heard him swallow loudly. "Stay with me. Choose me." He swallowed again, and I felt his chest heave as he inhaled deeply. "If you choose me, I swear I'll never give you a reason to doubt your feelings or the choice you made. So choose me, and let's move forward together."

His arms tightened then relaxed.

"Let's be together...."

He didn't say anything else, and I lost track of time as he held me firmly.

Little by little I felt my heart begin to ease down.

Little by little, I began to hear his heart beating loudly in his chest, and I noticed it was beating in time with mine.

I realized I was shivering, but it was actually both he and I that trembled together.

And then I slowly slipped my arms around his waist, and held him tightly too.

#

(Caelum)

It was almost seven pm by the time we arrived at the restaurant.

Alistair announced, "This is the place. Aggh, it looks crowded."

Klaus was eagerly peeking through the windows. "I see some free tables. Let's go inside."

I glanced at Melanie who had a complicated expression on her face.

I sighed inwardly. "I'll walk you home after we eat."

Ah, what the heck did I just say?

No, I was being courteous and chivalrous. That's all it was.

By some misfortune Klaus heard me. He stepped up to Alistair. "Lady Alistair, please allow your humble retainer to escort you home—ow!"

Alistair thumped his head. "Escort me home? Since when do I need a runt like you protecting me."

I could tell she wasn't being serious. She had that dominating gleam in her eyes again. But Klaus looked wounded.

"Lady Alistair...."

She sighed loudly. "Alright, alright. You can walk me home. But who's going to walk you home?"

He straightened and puffed out his chest. "Leave everything to me."

In a tremendous display of bravado, he took a hold of Alistair's hand and pulled her along to the restaurant's entrance. She was so surprised she didn't resist as she hurried behind him.

I stared open mouthed, glanced at a similarly stunned Melanie, then hurried after them.

Alistair's voice suddenly grabbed my attention.

"Jeezes, can't you two get a room? You're making a scene."

Melanie and I came to a sudden halt in order to avoid crashing into Alistair and Klaus.

The two were staring at a young couple, a tall student and shorter girl, embracing loudly on the path leading to the restaurant's entrance. The guy and girl were facing away from us, so I didn't get to see their faces until they slowly faced Alistair.

The girl was pretty, with long auburn hair, large dark eyes – and an impressive rack!

The guy was tall, dressed in the uniform of a Galatea Academy senior and quite handsome.

Yes, they complemented each other perfectly.

Yes, they both looked like a loving couple.

And yes, I recognized both of them in a heartbeat.

Duncan Armand recognized Alistair and froze on the spot. But his eyes continued to move, and after sweeping over her and Klaus his gaze fell on me. When he finally noticed Melanie behind me, his face paled.

As for Haruka, I could describe her reaction in a word – terrified.

The moment her gaze settled on me, her eyes widened like saucers and her face drained of blood. Even in the evening light and the light from the restaurant I could see she had turned as white as paper.

For a long moment none of us moved. Only Klaus appeared oblivious, though he was keeping quiet.

Haruka looked ready to faint, but Armand's arms held her against his body.

His attention hardened on me, and color and confidence returned to his face.

With his arms around Haruka, he gave me a single acknowledging nod.

I remembered our exchange in the cafeteria.

I recalled telling him Haruka would slip out of his grasp.

And this was his reply.

As they say, actions speak louder than words.

I clenched my jaw until it ached.

Then I clenched a fist that by some miracle I kept rigid at my side, rather than burying it into his face.

Alistair broke the silence between us. "Well then...I guess you made your choice, Haruka...."

It didn't sound as though she was being critical. In fact, it sounded as though Alistair was relieved, but when I looked at her, she was clearly uncomfortable. It was fair to describe her as deeply troubled.

I didn't even glance at Melanie.

I knew where she stood, having coming to a stop beside me.

I reached out and took her right hand in my left, then pulled her past Haruka, Duncan, and the visibly uncomfortable Alistair. Klaus looked at me in surprise when I entered the restaurant with Melanie in tow, leaving him at the doorway.

The waitress inside greeted us, and thankfully my voice held steady as I asked for a table for four. We were seated quickly without incident, and a few moments later Alistair and Klaus joined us.

Melanie looked anguished, and she was breathing hard, but after a while and a few sips of water she calmed down a little. Then she released a long, shuddering breath and gave me a smile.

"Thank you."

I blinked at her, my feelings in turmoil, and found it hard to be gracious. But I gathered my self-control, and gave her a polite nod.

"You're welcome."

Alistair sat in silence and Klaus looked on in evident confusion. Then Alistair straightened and said in a clear voice, "I'm hungry, and I want food." She gave me a wicked smile. "So let's eat."

Melanie and I stared at her, somewhat disbelieving our ears. To be honest, food was the last thing on my mind. But I understood what she was doing, making an effort for our sakes. I gave her a grateful smile. "Yeah, let's eat."

Melanie dropped her gaze to the table, but after a long moment she looked up and smiled weakly. "I am a little hungry...just a little."

"My Lady Alistair, allow me." Klaus jumped up from the table and _flagged_ down a waitress with his wildly flailing arms.

Alistair growled, reached up, and yanked him back down into his seat.

"Will you behave," she muttered, clearly annoyed.

I looked at them both, involuntarily comparing the picture they painted against that of Haruka and Duncan.

I wondered how long before these two would be locked in a tight embrace.

I think I envied them...just a little.

I felt a little ashamed, begrudging them a possible happiness.

I wondered if Melanie felt the same.

But she was laughing demurely, as Alistair pulled on Klaus's cheeks, stretching his face like a super-sized vanilla cream cookie.

I realized that if I laughed now, everyone would notice how unnatural it sounded.

So I just smiled at their antics, while wishing away the ache in my heart.

### Reflections – 13.

Fragments possess the ability to communicate with other Fragments.

It requires a synchronization to take place between two or more Fragments, resulting in something akin to quantum entanglement.

The Prides' researchers call it Fragment Link, and it allows Familiars wielding _linked_ Fragments to communicate telepathically. This doesn't imply all thoughts are transmitted over the link, just those that a Familiar is consciously willing to send.

The longer the synchronization or Fragment Link is maintained between Fragments, the greater the spectrum of communication between the respective Familiars. It's not just conscious thoughts that are sent through the link, but Awareness as well.

This has a number of benefits for Familiars out in the field.

Team members able to communicate with each other free of the effects of electromagnetic jamming, and also able to sense the location of their team mates and know what kind of surroundings each individual is in. As a result, a team captain can implicitly know the placement of his or her team mates without having to consult a palm-slate or data-slate or holovid map.

For this level of communication to take place, a Fragment Link needs to be maintained for several weeks.

In the short time that I was bonded to the Gauntlet, the Lanfears chose not to link my Fragment to Caprice's Valkyrie Armor. At the time, I didn't even know that such a link was even possible.

But Caprice told me later that such a bonding or _entanglement_ had taken place between the members of Team Galatea.

If I didn't feel like an outsider before, I most certainly felt like one after that.

It was one more painful reminder that I had lost my place beside Caprice.

### Chapter 17 – The Fifth.

(Caelum)

After dinner, true to my word, I escorted Melanie home.

We rode the mag-lev together, and spoke very little.

I walked her to the apartment complex where she and her family lived in Habitat One.

She told me I didn't need to accompany her home, but I admitted I'd be worried just leaving her alone without dropping her off at her door.

Before she entered the apartment complex lobby, I asked, "Are you going to be alright?"

She stopped, turned and faced me. "Yes. I think so. I believe so." She smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for asking."

I nodded. "No problem. All's good." I gave her a cheerful salute. "Have a good night and don't let the bed bugs bite."

I started turning away.

"Will you be alright?"

Her words caught me mid-step. I stopped then half turned to face her. "Who? Me?"

"Yes...you...."

I gave her question some serious thought, even if for only a few seconds. "Probably...not...."

I heard myself laugh sheepishly, and fairly bitterly.

Melanie looked hesitant. I realized she was debating whether or not to approach me.

I lightly raised a hand, forestalling her before she could take a step.

"But...I've been through this before"—not completely a lie—"so I know what to expect." I thumped my chest proudly. "Hey, this young heart can take it—"

"Liar."

That one word cut my false confidence in two.

Melanie walked up to me. "Caelum Desanto, you are a liar."

I looked at her and folded my arms. "And what if I am a liar? What can I do about it? The girl who told me she loves me on Tuesday is now wrapped in another guy's arms three days later." I leaned forward an inch or so. "You tell me how to get through this."

Melanie suddenly glared at me. "I can't tell you that. If I had the answer I wouldn't be hurting so much."

I snorted in her face. "So you're as much a liar as I am. You're the kettle calling the pot black."

She inhaled sharply. "Yes, I'm a liar, and I'm not going to be alright." She pressed down upon her chest. "No matter what I do, I can't get him out. The gods know I have tried! I have really, really tried! But seeing him together with your _busty_ friend is like a knife through my heart."

I saw her pain and I felt it, after all we were in the same situation but on facing pages.

I couldn't look at her, and so I turned away.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. "I feel the same way."

When I managed to face her again, Melanie was looking at me with pained eyes.

I swallowed and said, "But at least Duncan has never lied to you. On the other hand Haruka is a liar. She told me one thing, and meant something else. She fooled me completely, and I hate myself for falling for the lie." I shook my head. "I should have known better, but I'm so stupid." I shoved my hands into my trouser pockets. "Girls can be so cruel."

Melanie sucked in air. "Guys can be heartless."

I gave her a hard look. "I never lied to Haruka. She knew how I felt. I told her not to leave me again and she promised she wouldn't. It was all one big fat lie on her part."

Melanie slapped her chest. "I've loved Duncan all my life, and he knows that. Yet he picks _her_ over me."

A thought dawned on me painfully. "It's because we're both Familiars."

Melanie blinked wildly for a moment. "Wh—what?"

"We're both Familiars, and they're Aventis." I clenched my jaw and felt like punching the nearby street sign. "Fine—if that's how it is, then so be it. I'm done with them. I am so done with dealing with Aventis. I will _never_ lose sleep over an Aventis ever again. And I certainly won't lose sleep over Haruka ever again. To Hell with her and her cheating kind."

"Aventis males think they're so good," Melanie grumbled bitterly. "They think they're the gods' gift to girls. Screw them."

I nodded. "The Aventis aren't good enough for us. Familiars know best. Familiars belong with Familiars."

She nodded heartily. "I'll tear up the next love letter I get from them, and throw the pieces off the rooftop."

"Good for you," I supported her. Then I blinked and leaned forward sharply. "You get love letters?"

"Yes, at least one a week."

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "Really? That's awesome."

"No it's not," Melanie complained. "They're all full of empty words. They say they like me but they don't know anything about me." She growled and pulled at her hair. "I'm so sick of it. Duncan's the only one who knows me and understands me, and yet this is how he treats my love for him."

"What a bastard."

"Absolutely."

"So teach him a lesson."

"Huh?" She lowered her hands slowly. "How?"

"Accept one of those love letter invitations and go out with a guy. Make Duncan see that he can't hurt you anymore."

Melanie frowned. "He would just congratulate me for _moving on_."

"Yeah, that's a problem."

"But," Melanie said as she pounded a fist into a palm, "what if it was someone he doesn't want me to be with."

My eyes widened a little. "Yeah. I see your point. Someone he has a grudge against. Like a rival on the basketball team."

Melanie shook her head quickly. "No, those guys were never interested in me. Trent and Micah are the only real rivals he has, and both have steady girlfriends."

"Then it has to be a rival in love."

She froze and then frowned at me. "What are you talking about?" Suddenly her eyes widened. "Yes—yes, I understand. That could work. Ha ha, that could really work."

I blinked a few times, then realized what I'd just said. "Oh no, oh no." I felt my insides turn over slowly. "Melanie...you shouldn't take me seriously."

She grinned like a feral cat. "Why not? It's perfect."

Now I felt my insides drop. "No, it's far from perfect."

"But this could work. This is guaranteed to light a fire in Duncan's briefs."

"Eh?" Again I shook my head madly. "No, no, no. Haven't you seen those holovid dramas where the jilted lovers try to get back at their ex's by pretending to date and make them jealous."

I reached out and grabbed her shoulders.

"It never works. At best they end up falling for each other and live happily ever after."

I shook her by her shoulders.

"But this is reality. No script. No holocams. No audience."

Melanie said, "Well, there is an audience, but go on."

"What I mean is...no happy ending."

Melanie arched her delicate eyebrows at me. "Why not?"

"Because I could fall for you, but there's no way you'd fall for me."

Her eyes widened slightly and she made an 'oh I see' expression. "So that's what you're worried about." She nodded firmly. "Yes, there's absolutely no chance I could ever fall for someone like you."

"Ugh, do you have to be so blunt."

Her eyes narrowed. "But why would you fall for _me_?"

"Huh? Why wouldn't I?"

"My breasts are small. You like them large."

"Breasts aren't everything."

What the Hell did I just say? I was going horribly against my grain.

Melanie's eyebrows steepled. "Really? So when you look at a girl, where do you look at first?"

"Her breasts."

"Gah—you see? You lied."

"And then her butt followed by her legs."

"Really...?"

"And you've got an awesome butt and fantastic legs. I noticed them when I saw you walk up to the balcony in the cafeteria."

Even in the evening light her blush was noticeable. "You...you think so?"

"I'm being completely honest here."

Melanie scowled. "So you have no interest in my face."

"No, I saw your face alright. I mean, I told Duncan that apart from your small chest you looked perfect."

Melanie's face grew blank. "You...you told...you said that to Duncan?"

"Hell yeah. The moment you stepped up to the railing I thought I'd seen a vision. Haruka's a brunette and gorgeous and all, but I prefer blondes over brunettes any day of the week. Blondes are special. Especially natural blondes." I paused. "Melanie?"

Wow. Her face had turned really red. I thought her ears would start to glow like hot coals in the dark.

I noticed she was breathing a little heavier.

"Melanie...are you alright?"

"You—you say that to me and expect me to be _alright_?"

I reviewed the last few sentences in the conversation. "But it's all true."

Melanie groaned and pushed me away with surprising strength. "You are unbelievable."

"Me? Why?"

"Because you have no shame. You can't just say that to a girl."

"Why the Hell not?"

"You have no idea how to properly flatter a girl. No tact. No style. No anything!" She pressed down on her meager chest. "Girls have feelings. When a guy says that to us, we take it to heart. Calling me a vision is something I can accept from Duncan, but not from you."

I clenched my jaw and forced myself to relax.

"Oh, I get it. Because Duncan's just that much more of a man than I am. Oh, that's right—he's an Aventis. Gosh how special." I inhaled sharply. "Well I don't give a crap what he is. I'm not taking anything back. I meant every word I said about you." I bowed to her formally. "And now, I will bid you good night."

I turned on my heels – less than smoothly – and marched away in the direction of the mag-lev station.

Heartbeats later I had a feeling something was headed my way so I glanced over my shoulder, half expecting Melanie to have run into the apartment complex.

But she was standing on the sidewalk, leaning forward, and wearing only one shoe.

That's when her other shoe connected with my face.

I didn't even get the chance to over-clock and avoid it.

My sense of danger was totally nil.

"Guh!"

My head rocked back and I felt my nose complain loudly as I fell on my backside.

Somehow I managed to use my hands and arms to cushion my fall, but it hurt nonetheless.

"Caelum!"

I rubbed my face painfully as I heard the sound of running footsteps.

Melanie dropped to her knees beside me. "Are you okay? You weren't supposed to turn around? Why'd you turn around? How stupid can you be? Once you walk away you don't turn around!"

I stared at her in disbelief. "Why'd you throw your shoe at me?"

"Cause I was angry. You made me angry."

I rubbed my nose and winced. It was bleeding a little.

Melanie saw the dark spots on my fingertips and pulled out a handkerchief from her skirt. "Here, let me." She licked the handkerchief before dabbing at my bleeding nose. "Damn. I don't think it's broken but it's bleeding a lot."

I winced again and gently took hold her hand, stopping her. "I'm fine. I'm a Familiar. I can take this punishment."

Her hand felt a little cool in mine, but that wasn't really important.

What was important was that her concerned face was a mere foot away from mine.

I forgot about my surroundings and lost myself in her visage.

The sound of people walking by on the sidewalk, muttering something about young kids this days, barely succeeded in distracting me.

"Ah, Melanie. It's okay."

"No it's not."

"Huh? Why?"

"Cause...cause I think I lied."

She stood up stiffly. For a moment I thought she was going to say something, but then she pressed her lips together in a thin line. She bent down and picked up her shoe, then turned and ran back to the apartment complex.

I watched her runaway, then looked down at her handkerchief in my hand.

"Ah damn," I muttered.

I stood up, and used the handkerchief to stop what little blood trickled out.

Should I tell her she had cute feet?

#

(Caprice)

Training continued through the weekend.

Little by little we were coming together as a team.

Maya had a good eye for detail, identifying the shortcomings in our attacks.

She was also fairly critical of her own performance.

Rina kept up her training, sticking to cardio work and salads with a helping of vitamins. Constance kept an eye on her, refusing to give the girl any slack.

As for me, I underwent specialized combat training with one of the male instructors.

I can't lie. The whole experience was eye opening and utterly exhausting.

Thankfully we stayed at the company dorms which meant we avoided the hourly journey to and from the training habitat.

While at the habitat I couldn't use my palm-slate because communications were banned. So I had no way of contacting or talking to Caelum.

Even if I could, what would I say to him.

Outside of our Artemis training, what could I talk to him about?

But I wanted to see him, and resolved that I would call him on Monday. I realized that I'd been avoiding him, relying on text messages to communicate with him. I felt like such a fool. Why hadn't I called him? I wasn't angry at him anymore. So why was I holding back?

Saturday was a full day's training.

I expected Sunday to be much the same.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

#

(Caelum)

It was early Sunday afternoon when the dorm manager called me up while I was in my room studying.

I had a visitor, and when I came down to the entrance lobby I found the Countess waiting for me. She was dressed in black slacks, an apricot blouse, and wore heeled sandals on her feet. My eyes didn't miss the sight of her painted red toenails.

I noticed she had pretty feet like Melanie.

Needless to say, she attracted attention wherever she went. A number of my fellow dorm residents were making excuses to cross through the lobby in the hopes of peeking at her.

I received a few glares which I ignored.

"Countess?"

She smiled at my approach and stood up gracefully. "Caelum, I'm sorry to call you out."

"It's no problem. What can I do for you?"

Her smile wavered. "Well, I was hoping you could join me for an early dinner."

"Ah—huh?" I glanced around hoping no one else had heard her.

No such luck. A number of male students gave me withering glares.

I grimaced inwardly. "Ah, I need to change."

"No need. There's a burger shop nearby."

"A burger shop?"

"Yes. I like their roast beef burgers."

"I never imagined that."

She planted her hands on her hips and leaned forward. I couldn't help noticing how her breasts swayed forward under her blouse. "Hey, I can indulge every once in a purple moon."

"You mean blue moon."

"Purple moon. Here in Island Three we have a purple moon. Island Two makes use of a blue moon."

"Fine. Purple it is." I looked down at my worn denim pants and sneakers. My t-shirt was clean but not high on the fashion sense. A girl with monumental breasts in a string bikini was printed on it.

The Countess frowned at it. "Ara ara. On second thoughts, change that shirt."

"Yes, Countess."

I came back down five minutes later after brushing my teeth, spraying on some anti-perspirant, and of course changing my t-shirt into a short sleeve summer shirt.

"You kept me waiting," she grumbled, but I couldn't tell if she was annoyed or not.

"Sorry. Should dinner be on me then?"

"Yes, good idea."

I refrained from growling in my throat.

I should have known she'd take me up on the offer.

We left the dorm together which further riled the envy and jealousy of my dorm co-habitants. I feared I was going to face trouble when I returned.

I thought Simone and I would walk straight to the burger joint, but instead the Countess led me to a nearby park complete with swings, slides and spinning wheel. It was empty, but still monitored by the commonly seen sentry bots that resembled large bowling pins.

Simone sat down on a swing, and I sat down on the swing beside hers.

"What happened to dinner?" I asked.

She inhaled deeply, which pushed out her chest, then sighed so heavily I thought her bust would deflate. "Before we eat, there's something I need to tell you."

I gave her an anxious look. "...okay...."

"First of all, your suspension has been lifted, but not your detention. You're expected back in class tomorrow."

I nodded, feeling a bit relieved. I was getting tired of studying on my own. "Is there something else?"

She took a deep breath which she exhaled loudly. "Yes, there is."

She pulled out a thin palm-slate from a back pocket, thumbed through the screens and then offered it to me.

I took it and read the message it displayed.

I read it twice to be sure I was reading it right.

I felt sick by the time I read it a third time.

My stomach felt like it had fallen to my knees.

I stood up and wandered away a few steps before I rounded on her. "Why? Why did they do this?"

Simone looked pained and it cut through the anger welling up in me. "Because after my Pride learnt your Fragment was actually a very rare Artifact, they pushed for action to have you disciplined, and to have your Fragment unbound from you. When they garnered support from other Prides, this put the Lanfears in a tight situation. Arisa had no choice but to acquiesce to their demands."

So my gut feeling was right. The Gauntlet was an Artifact. I'd suspected that since that Saturday at the amusement park. "Just how rare is it?"

The Countess continued after a breath. "We've determined that your Gauntlet is actually an Artifact. Apparently when you drew out its power, you unlocked part of it and the Lanfear and Raynar researchers were able to access its core systemry. From that they were able to identify it as the Kaiser Armor, or as it was otherwise known, the Kaiser's Blessing."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that it was a lost Artifact. There are references to it during the War of Supremacy between humanity and the Aventis. It was considered an Artifact fit for a field marshal. In fact, it's considerably more powerful than a Valkyrie Armor, or the Chevalier Armor used by battalion commanders. From what I've been told, only a handful existed during the war, and they were believed to have been lost. Somehow this one ended up in the hands of the Lanfears. It's an extremely rare find. A very precious find."

I gave her words time to sink in, then broke into a bitter laugh. "So my actions gave the Raynars the opportunity they needed. They pushed for disciplinary action against me. In order to quash it, the Lanfears handed the rare Artifact over to the Raynars."

She nodded sadly. "Yes, that's right. In fact they handed it over to my family."

"Your family? Why your family?"

"Because one of our Familiars exhibited extraordinarily high compatibility with it."

"How high?"

"Almost ninety eight percent. Almost perfect compatibility straight out of the box."

That was in excess of what I had achieved with the Gauntlet. It felt wrong calling it a Gauntlet when it was in fact an Armor that I'd failed to fully summon.

Simone rose from the swing. "Caelum, I'm sorry. I only found out this afternoon when Arisa called me and asked me to speak with you."

I clenched my free hand. "She didn't have the courage to tell me herself?"

"No. She didn't...."

I shook my head. After the Countess's explanation, I felt betrayed by Arisa and the Lanfears, and manipulated by the Raynars. I felt gutted. "All I wanted to do was protect Caprice. Yet everything turned out so wrong."

"I know...."

I started walking around the park. The Countess sat back down on the swing seat to watch me.

I climbed up a slide and sat at the top.

I re-read the message on the palm-slate. It was an official declaration from the Primatriarch of the Raynar Pride, and approved by the Lanfear Primatriarch, and signed by the Avenir Primatriarch as a witness.

I thought about that day at the amusement park.

I'd thought about it many times since then – during the time spent in the cell, during my lunch breaks at school, and late at night when I lost my grip on sleep.

"Caelum?" The Countess stood near the foot of the slide. I hadn't sensed her or noticed her approach. Once again, I realized how much smaller my Awareness was without the Fragment.

I looked down at her. "Maybe it's the right thing to do."

She blinked and opened her eyes sharply. "Why? Why would you say that?"

"Because they're right. I lost control and in a moment of fury I almost took a life." I folded my arms over my knees. "I almost killed a girl, and it's been eating me up little by little every day since then."

She stepped closer to the foot of the slide. "Caelum...."

"I never received the training I needed to use that Fragment—I mean Artifact. Something so powerful is just a tool for carnage in the wrong hands. Mine were the wrong hands. I just don't understand why the Lanfears gave it to me. They should have known better. They should have done better by me."

I shook my head in disappointment, then added, "I feel like they really didn't know how to deal with me or the Artifact."

"Maybe, maybe that's true."

I saw that Simone was struggling with her words. Part of her agreed with me, and the other part wanted to justify their decision to bond me to the Artifact. I shook my head, and felt irritated with myself. I had caused nothing but trouble for Arisa – though she had a part to play in that – and now I was causing difficulties for Simone.

This had to end.

My litany of bad judgments and mistakes had to end before someone was hurt.

I pushed off and slid down the slide, coming to my feet at the bottom. Then I stepped up to the Countess. I handed the palm-slate back to her.

She took it with trembling hands.

On impulse I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Simone, thank you for telling me. I'm just sorry that I can't help you anymore."

She looked at me in slight confusion.

I sighed. "I can't protect your academy for you." I laughed a short laugh. "The truth is I just wanted to stick it to Crimson Crescent. I guess that's not going to happen now."

Simone gave me a helpless look, then without preamble embraced me tightly.

Damn she was fast.

Damn she was strong.

Damn her breasts felt amazing.

I struggled for breath as they crushed into my chest. "Countess?"

"You should have been mine. You should have been mine. All this time you should have been my Familiar."

She had said this before but I was pained to hear her words again.

Her voice was muffled against my shoulder. "My blood should have awakened you. You should have been my Familiar."

I didn't know what to do with my arms. Keep them at my sides or wrap them around her. I chose the latter, hesitantly returning the embrace by gently touching her.

Damn she felt good against my chest. I know I told Melanie breasts weren't everything, but I was wrong. Breasts were awesome, especially Simone's.

I heard her clearly since her lips were close to my right ear.

"I watched you for so long, ever since your sister Awakened and become affiliated with the Raynar Pride. I even met you once but I doubt you remember."

I tried not to frown and failed. "You did?"

"It was my eleventh birthday party. Your sister was an Artemis in training. She had become good friends with my elder sister Silia, and both of you were invited. At the time I didn't care for differences between Familiars and Aventis, so I didn't understand why you were angry. You didn't show it, but it was there. I felt it inside you—a hatred you had for the Aventis."

I couldn't remember. Try as I might, I couldn't remember meeting Simone as a younger child. "Sorry Countess, I just don't remember."

"My breasts were smaller, so that's why you probably don't remember."

I winced. "Well, I will admit I was interested in them at a young age."

"Pervert."

I winced again. "Sorry...."

"You were rude to me. You actually pushed me to the ground when I tried to be friends with you. I didn't have any boy friends so you were kind of strange to me. But you called me a flatty and pushed me. I fell and dirtied my party dress."

"I did what?" I grabbed her arms and pulled out of the embrace so that I could look into her eyes. "Countess—I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. And I'm so sorry for not remembering."

She started laughing softly. "Your sister smacked you silly for embarrassing her. I made it worse by bawling my eyes out. Then she smacked you for making me cry."

I felt terrible. I was almost glad I couldn't remember. Making a girl cry was at the top of my list of things not to do. "Damn, I'm so sorry."

Simone laughed a little more, then said something that shocked me. "Haruka came to my rescue. She punched you—she really punched you—and knocked you into a table. Then she helped me up."

I stared at Simone in disbelief. "Haruka—Haruka was there?"

The Countess nodded. "Yes. Your sister brought her along. At first I thought she was your younger sister, but there was little resemblance."

I shook my head weakly. "Why don't I remember this? I should remember something like that but why don't I?"

Simone frowned. "You really don't remember?"

I shook my head a little more vigorously. "No. I really don't."

Simone's frown grew deeper. Then she abruptly shrugged and her expression cleared. She gave me a faint smile. "It was around six years ago. I guess we forget things as we grow older."

With the park lights shining in her eyes, the look she gave me stole my thoughts.

She spoke tenderly. "But I never forgot you. I've been thinking about you, and watching you, and when my breasts grew larger I thought this is my chance to pay you back. Now I'd make you regret for calling me flat."

I felt miserable, really miserable. "Countess, I'm really, really sorry."

"Not flat anymore, am I?"

"Ah...no. Definitely not flat."

She started to laugh wickedly. "Well, you won't be forgetting me any time soon."

"I don't think I'll ever forget you."

Simone's eyes widened. "You mean that?"

"I don't see how I ever could. I'd have to suffer a head injury for me to forget you."

"You really, really mean that?"

"Of course I do."

Were those tears glittering in her eyes?

She drew back out of my hold on her. My hands and arms felt empty without her.

I watched her run a fingertip across her eyes.

"Is that so," she muttered softly.

I watched her take a moment to gather herself. She tidied up her blouse, then surprised me by reaching out and straightening my summer shirt.

Damn, she could make my heart race hard.

I had to swallow a few times in order to clear the tightness in my throat. But then I realized I had to say something to break the weird tension between us.

I thought of something quickly.

"Countess, would you tell me more about that day at your party? Would you tell me more about my sister's friendship with your sister?"

Her eyes searched my face for a handful of heartbeats. "I will but over that burger meal you promised me."

I nodded. "Deal." I paused before asking one more question. "Would you tell me about the Familiar that has my Artifact?"

Her face clouded and she looked reluctant. But after a troubled moment, she gave me a firm nod. "Yes. I will tell you what I know. I'll tell you _everything_ I know."

#

(Caprice)

Four Artemis.

Four Familiars.

That's how Sunday evening's mock training battle commenced, the second for the day.

But ten minutes into the battle, I realized something was wrong.

The two Artemis girls that Constance and I were stalking pulled back and avoided confronting us.

Then we heard Rina's call over the link between our Fragments.

* _Help_.

We lost contact a heartbeat later.

Maya cried for help within a half minute.

* _What the Hell? Who is this guy?_

Using the effect-fields our Fragments generated to boost our speed and leaping distance, Constance and I raced over rooftop after rooftop. The training habitat might have been small in comparison to an Island habitat, but it still took us precious seconds to arrive at Maya's location.

Constance and I landed on a corner of the rooftop from where Maya had called for help.

Across the open rooftop I saw Rina lying in an unconscious heap.

But Maya was still awake and kicking.

In fact, she was neck deep in a struggle against an opponent that was clearly a male Paladin, and not an Artemis.

Constance snapped, * _What the Hell? I thought we were only facing Artemis. Why is there a guy here?_

Maya yelled, * _I need a hand._

Both her okatanas flashed as her barrier fields clashed against the shield-blades of her opponent.

I hesitated. Over-clocked as I was, it felt like an eternity went by as I found myself unable to move.

We'd never fought an opponent two-on-one, let alone three-on-one. We were still learning how to operate as a team. I had no idea how to go about it. If we charged in recklessly we could end up taking each other out.

But we had to make a choice.

Maya cursed. * _Damn it!_

She was barely keeping pace with the Paladin clad in a black skinsuit, and a Fragment that covered his arms, torso and legs. It was like a male version of my Valkyrie Armor.

Constance gripped her jousting lance tightly. * _What do we do? How do we fight this guy?_

* _Just do it_ , Maya screamed in our heads.

Constance growled, and then charged, but I couldn't make myself move.

That Fragment was too familiar. Those bladed shields were instantly recognizable. Why hadn't Constance said anything? Hadn't she seen them too? Didn't she recognize them?

I couldn't move.

I couldn't make my legs move.

I screamed out his name.

"Caelum!"

For one instant, one heartbeat, the Paladin glanced my way. He wore a visor over his face, making it difficult to recognize him.

But in that moment I realized it wasn't him – it wasn't Caelum.

That realization set me free, and strength returned to my limbs even as a single thought raced through my head.

Why?

In a heartbeat I had leapt across the rooftop, charging with my forearm blades fully extended.

Why? Why is he using Caelum's Fragment?

Constance cut in between Maya and the Paladin, stabbing through the Paladin's barrier-field, forcing him to back off and give Maya some breathing room.

* _Check on Rina_ , Constance cried out. * _I'll hold him off._

Maya ran across the rooftop toward Rina.

I jumped to a spot a few feet from the Paladin, then pushed off again. My armored toes flew mere millimeters off the ground as I slashed toward him.

Constance darted back at that moment, giving me center stage.

My piercer-field was narrow yet extended a foot ahead of my right blade. It struck his barrier-field, warping it then splitting it. But he was already countering, thrusting his right shield-blade into me. I managed to block his scything cut with my left forearm blade.

Barrier-field met piercer-field.

Mine gave way, and I twisted my body in order avoid his Gauntlet. I felt it strike my left blade, and I was knocked aside.

What strength!

It was abnormal.

Was this the power of a Fragment when drawn to its fullest?

No—something told me he had held back.

I touched ground, both my feet gouging shallow furrows along the rooftop.

Then Constance joined the fray again, driving him back with her jousting lance reconfigured into a bladed tuning fork. The weapon blurred in her hands as she met each attack with a stronger one, and drove the Paladin back.

Constance crossed my field of vision, blocking him from me – and me from him.

I leapt low, and when Constance stepped aside I slashed at him with everything I had.

My piercer-field cut through his hastily erected barrier and my right blade sliced into him.

Or so I thought.

At the last moment, I watched him hook his right shield-blade between my blade and his chest. He flicked my right arm up, and I had an instant to block with my left.

This time he didn't go easy on me.

But this time I had expected his counter and gathered my barrier-field into layers.

His right shield-blade cut through layer after layer, slowing down as it did.

Now both my feet were on the ground and I anchored myself to rooftop, bracing hard against his incoming blade.

Blade struck blade, no barriers between us and a loud screech filled the air.

I heard a cry inside my head, and realized a heartbeat later it was my Fragment warning me of the damage incurred.

Wincing against the ear splitting screech, I swung my deflected right blade in an arc, using the momentum to come up and under his left arm. The blade was on course to bite into the left flank of his skinsuit when I felt his left arm come down hard on my forearm.

I screamed, feeling as though my arm had been broken.

I lost my balance and my legs buckled, dropping me to my knees.

Expecting him to follow through and stab with his left shield-blade that was now aimed perfectly at my chest, I tried rolling to my right, and barely managed to avoid his thrust.

Again, I realized he'd held back.

Why?

Was this still a mock battle?

If so why was he coming at us so hard?

In my over-clocked state I had time to think my moves through, and the hesitation in his thrust was there for me to perceive.

Was he just prolonging the battle?

Constance leapt over my rolling body, slashing downwards with the bladed tines of her six foot long tuning fork, turning a chunk of the permacrete rooftop into powder when she cut into the ground.

My right arm had grown numb, but my Valkyrie Armor told me it wasn't broken. The forearm blade was attached to a gauntlet that covered my hand, wrist and forearm. The gauntlet had weathered much of the kinetic energy, dispersing it with a hastily thrown up barrier-field. However, my muscles and tendons had taken an impact that would have shattered bone had my arm not been protected.

I grit my teeth and bided my time to come at him again.

Constance whirled her tuning fork, sweeping it under his feet.

This forced him to leap back, but Maya was there waiting for him.

I watched the raven haired girl unleash a flurry of strikes that would have easily backed me into a corner.

Yet the Paladin fended them off, and even succeeded in landing a kick to her midriff that knocked her back twenty feet or more.

Again, Constance charged in, and I saw her Fragment had reconfigured into a twin-bladed lance. Even over-clocked I had trouble following it as it struck the Paladin's shield-blades over and over, working him step by step back across the rooftop and to Maya who had regained her feet.

I was out of position so I gained my feet and ran forward to rejoin the battle.

Constance succeeded in locking one of his shield-blades with her lance.

Maya aimed her okatanas at his other shield-blade.

And I ran a bee line for his chest, with the intent to leap upwards at the last moment and land a blow against him with an armored knee.

Then it all went wrong.

Both his shield-blades vanished into the black mist that chilled the air.

Constance and Maya lost their balance.

The Paladin kicked Constance in the stomach with the flat of his armor shod foot, sending her flying through the air and into me. I had no choice but to catch the girl with my body though I managed to extended a barrier-field over my chest and torso an instant before she crashed into me. Though the impact was cushioned, I had been brought to a stop.

I heard a scream, and saw Maya neatly flipped through the air. She landed bodily on her back onto the rooftop. The air blew out of her lungs with a whoosh.

Then a bolt of crimson light flashed across my vision, blinding me for a moment.

I knew it was Rina that had fired her gun-blade.

In my over-clocked state I watched the Paladin take the shot to his back. The barrier-field protecting him flared brightly and he pitched forward over Maya's body supine on the ground. But he rolled and came up crouched with both his shield-blades manifesting in heartbeats.

Now he deflected every shot that came is way.

I had to do something. At close range Rina was hopelessly outmatched. The girl had little close quarters combat training and lagged behind Maya, Constance and I by a long, long margin. Hell, even Caelum would have overwhelmed her in mere seconds.

Against this Paladin she was as good as defeated.

* _Go!_ Constance yelled.

I hesitated for half a heartbeat.

* _He'll tear her apart_ , she screamed.

I pushed Constance off me and onto the hard rooftop, then I gathered the barrier-fields around my legs, using them to boost the power of my leap tenfold. My bones would have fractured if not for the Valkyrie Armor encasing my legs. I leapt the instant the Paladin did, and for once something went right.

I crashed bodily into him, barrier-field against barrier-field, and we both sailed at a forty degree angle away from Rina who squeezed off one more shot. Luckily it went wide otherwise it would have struck me.

By some happenstance my arms locked around him, and we tumbled madly across the rooftop, coming to rest against the parapet wall.

By good fortune I ended up on top and quickly raised my right arm, aiming the blade at his chest.

A sudden chill surrounded me. The black mist clouded my vision. I expected him to try some trick but instead I watched his Fragment fade away into pocket space, leaving him clad in his black skinsuit.

The visor he wore vanished as well, revealing the rather handsome face of a young man with mesmerizing violet eyes.

His lips curved into a playful smile.

"Hey, if you wanted to hold me that much all you had to do was ask."

His smile turned into a roguish grin.

"I never say no to a beautiful girl."

I lowered my right forearm blade until the tip pressed against his throat.

His grin wavered and he swallowed lightly.

I sensed Maya and Constance step up to either side of us. I didn't doubt for a moment they were glaring down at him as I was.

The Paladin only moved his eyes as he gazed up at all three of us. Then he swallowed again and said, "Well, I could never say no to _three_ pretty ladies."

Maya laughed and I heard clear anger in her voice. "Go ahead, Caprice. Stab him."

Constance growled like a wounded beast. "No—I'll be the one to stab him."

I swallowed hard while still breathing hard. "Before I cut out your throat, answer me one question."

He frowned but didn't dare to nod. I took his frown for a 'yes'.

"Why—why do you have _his_ Fragment?"

The Paladin's frown deepened, then reversed as he understood what I'd asked. "Promise you won't stab me?"

"No promises."

Before he could reply the rooftop was bathed in light that overwhelmed the evening light provided by the simulated sky overhead. In surprise, I pulled my arm back.

Then I heard a woman's voice boom loudly over the building.

"That's enough. All trainees stand down. This mock battle is declared over."

Maya complained angrily. "What the Hell does she mean stand down?" In my peripheral vision I saw her turn about a full circle.

Lying on his back, the Paladin said, "I suggest you do as she says before she gets angry."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because that's Commander Selena Alucard, and she's one lady you _do not_ want to piss off." He smiled guiltily. "And she's the one that instructed me to drop in unannounced."

Constance muttered in a tone that simmered with rage. "What the Hell is going on? Who the Hell are you?"

I stood up as smoothly as my legs could manage, which left me standing astride the Paladin's supine body. He wasn't bothering to hide the way he admired my body. I could tell he was undressing me with his eyes. If he dared to whistle I was going to ignore orders and stab out both his eyes.

"Can I get up?" he asked.

I stepped away from him. He rose to his feet a few seconds later. His Fragment armor had completely returned to its Pocket Space. I noticed he was taller than Caelum by at least a few inches. His body was more slender, more tightly packed, with longer limbs. I didn't want to admit it but the manifested Fragment armor fit him better than it did Caelum.

I swallowed tightly and repeated my question. "Why do you have his Fragment?"

The woman's voice I'd heard from overhead now reached my ears from behind me.

I half turned to see a rather attractive woman in her mid-forties stride across the rooftop. She wore a dark grey uniform with strokes of red to highlight it. From her manner and appearance I assumed this was Selena Alucard, Commander of Special Interventions.

I studied her face as she approached us.

So this was Simone Alucard's mother.

I could see the resemblance to the Countess, and to Silia Alucard.

Despite her age she was quite attractive, with a taut, trim body, and breasts that made me envious. She must have been a beauty on par with both her daughters when their age.

Rina limped in her wake, overtaking Alucard when the woman came to a stop a few feet away from us.

Alucard smiled a satisfied smile. "All of you pocket your Fragments." She saved the last look for me, a hard shine in her eyes that promised repercussions should I refuse her order.

I concentrated my will, and triggered the sequence that would return my Valkyrie Armor to Pocket Space. The wispy black mist surrounded me, and the chill it accompanied made my breathing stutter. A few heartbeats later I was standing clad only my customized skinsuit, and a good ten inches shorter.

Alucard spoke in a commanding voice. "Well done. Rather interesting, but hardly disappointing considering you've been training as a team for less than a week. Young man, come over here."

She waved the Paladin over, and he took a position a respectful distance to her left.

I noticed him standing at ease rather than at attention.

Selena Alucard Raynar.

Head of Special Interventions and the Artemis supreme commander.

She swept her gaze over us then briefly locked eyes with me. "I will answer your question later, Trainee Steiner." Then she addressed us as a group. "Allow me to introduce Jaxon Deneve afil Raynar."

The cold glance she gave me made my innards tighten in fearful anticipation.

"I would like you to welcome...the fifth member of your team."

I clenched my jaw in denial.

No, this couldn't be. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it was meant to be.

My fellow Familiars inhaled sharply, and I was certain Constance swore under her breath.

I thought I heard the tendons in my fingers pop as I clenched them into fists.

Jaxon gave us an embarrassed smile. "A pleasure to meet you all." He grinned sheepishly. "No hard feelings...right?"

I felt like slicing that grin clean off his face.

### Reflections – 14.

I asked Caprice about her Valkyrie Armor.

I did this a few weeks after I began training at the gym under the nightclub owned by Arisa Imreh.

At first Caprice was reluctant to talk about it.

I didn't get a reply to my question until a few weeks later. I'd chosen not to ask her again. My policy is to ask someone once, do it clearly, and if they don't reply then drop the matter.

If they want to tell you, they'll tell you. No need to press the question.

So a few weeks after asking, Caprice told me a short story.

Her mother was a Familiar affiliated with the Lanfear Pride, and she had been a member of an Artemis squad – an elite squad with a lot of blood on their hands.

Her mother had explained this to her when Caprice was old enough to understand what her mother really did for a living. But when her mother died on a mission, a letter was delivered to Caprice and a package as well.

It seemed her mother had arranged to have her Valkyrie Armor delivered to Arisa for safe keeping until her daughter Awakened as a Familiar. Included with the Fragment, was a letter to Arisa with further instructions, and a letter to Caprice.

Caprice told me the letter was actually an instruction manual on how to make use of the Valkyrie Armor, a Fragment handed down the generations of her bloodline. Her mother wanted to ensure that Caprice inherited the Fragment, and no one else.

When I asked Caprice if she knew the circumstances of her mother's death, she told me it was all confidential and couldn't be disclosed even to her daughter.

The letter gave her no answers either, being just a manual.

But Caprice accepted her inheritance, and began training with it.

I realized that by using the armor, Caprice maintained a strong connection to her mother.

But I also realized that like her mother, Caprice might one day choose to join Artemis, and follow in her mother's footsteps.

I wondered morbidly if Caprice would one day pass the armor along to a daughter of her own.

In order for that to happen, Caprice would have to find a guy and do the deed.

I didn't think she was the kind of girl who'd go for the alternative.

But that started me thinking – what kind of guy would Caprice fall for?

I found it hard to see myself beside her.

Don't get me wrong, I really wanted to.

But I doubted she would ever consider me as a worthy partner.

Months later, I still didn't know what she really thought of me.

### Chapter 18 – Clear Intentions.

(Haruka)

School Week Three. Monday.

Before morning homeroom.

I arrived early but already a third of my classmates were inside. They were in the usual groups, talking the usual talk, and laughing about the usual stuff.

I sat down, set up my smart desk for the next class, then looked up to see Alistair saunter casually into the classroom.

That's right, she sauntered in.

Her school blazer was off and draped over her carry-bag. Her blouse necktie was a little loose. Her hair fell in silky, auburn waves over her shoulders and back, shining as though it had been brushed a thousand times.

And she was wearing makeup. Alistair never wore makeup.

I had to admit she looked good.

Better than good.

I'd recognized a long time ago she was attractive, but until now I'd never witnessed her making an effort to capitalize on the good looks that ran in her family.

As she walked up to her desk she caught the eye of every guy in the room, and the girls were surprised enough to start whispering amongst themselves.

I was surprised too since I didn't expect her back in class. She was supposed to be suspended for a week.

I waited for Alistair to sit down, then waited a few seconds more before I stood up and walked over to her.

"Ally, can we talk?"

She looked up at me and smiled...dreamily? "Oh, hi Haruka."

"Uh...hello." I shook my head inwardly. "Alistair, can we talk?"

"Sure," she replied.

"Outside?"

Alistair shrugged indifferently, and in moments we found ourselves a quiet spot in the hallway outside our classroom.

I studied her appearance, but chose not to mention it in my opening exchange. "I thought you were suspended?"

She shrugged. "I was but my brother spoke to the principal. Whatever he said convinced the principal to lift my suspension. However, I'm still on detention for the next three days."

I accepted her explanation, then studied her appearance once more. "You changed your look."

Alistair blushed faintly and ran her fingers through her hair. "You think so."

"And you're wearing makeup. You never wear makeup."

"Are you saying I'm not allowed?"

I shook my head quickly. "Not at all. You look really good. I mean, you were always pretty but this is you on a whole new level."

Alistair was quiet for a moment. She glanced away and I saw her cheeks were rosy. "I wonder what he'll say this time...."

"Ally?"

"It's nothing. I mean, it's something. Actually I have no idea. Maybe I'm just fooling myself."

I frowned at her. "Ally...are you doing this to impress someone?"

Her eyes widened in shock, and then her somewhat blissful expression fell. "Maybe...."

I blinked at her a few times, and then said honest words. "Wow, that's great."

"Huh? You do?"

"Absolutely. So who is he?"

"No, I'm not telling." She shook her head fervently. "Not yet. I want to be sure. I don't want to jinx it by saying too much."

She took a couple of deep breaths, and smoothly folded her arms under her small chest.

"So, you want to tell me what happened on Friday?"

I winced inwardly. "Yes. I guess I owe you an explanation."

"You made your choice, huh."

I rocked my head from side to side, wondering how to answer her. I chose to be honest, and couldn't hide my misgivings. "It's more like I didn't have a choice."

"What does that mean?"

I took a long, slow breath. "Duncan...made the choice for me. He practically pleaded that I choose him over Caelum. And when he chased me outside and held me tight, I just didn't have the heart to say no. But, I didn't say yes either." I rubbed my face with my palms. "I didn't plan it this way. I'm so weak...."

I lowered my hands in time to see Alistair narrow her eyes.

Her voice was low and confidential. "Haruka, if it's not what you wanted—"

"I know," I said quickly. "I know, Ally. But the truth is, I don't know which is the right choice to make. Having Duncan take the choice out of my hands is both a relief and a regret."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"For now, I'll stick with him. It's not like I hate him. I like him. I really, really do." I lowered my gaze and shook my head slowly. "Truthfully, I think I may love him...."

"This could hurt you in the long run. This could hurt _him_ in the long run."

I raised my hands in agreement, then lowered them slowly in defeat. But I realized that I didn't know if Alistair was referring to Caelum or Duncan.

Alistair pressed her lips together for a moment. "Haruka, you said you may love him. Do you see Duncan as your boyfriend?"

I found myself returning her stare and after a moment I nodded faintly. "Yes, I do. I'm sure of that much, at least."

Alistair closed her eyes for a short while as she exhaled long and quietly.

She didn't speak until she opened her eyes again.

"I have to admit, I was at a loss for words. If Caelum hadn't acted and broken through the moment it might have grown really uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry, Alistair."

"For what? I'm the one that told you to give Duncan a chance. Good for you."

"You're not angry?"

"Nope, not at all. I do feel sorry for Caelum, but in this situation there could be only one winner." She hesitated before adding, "But I don't think the matter is resolved."

At her words, I felt my chest tighten. "Yeah, you may be right...."

Again, Alistair pressed her lips together into a thin line, and I could sense her misgivings.

I chose to shift off the subject. "You seem friendly with Caelum."

The girl tipped her head to a side. "Yeah, serving detention together has brought us a little closer."

"Are you wearing makeup for Caelum?"

"No, I'm wearing it for Klaus. Oomph!" She covered her mouth in a hurry.

"Klaus? Who's Klaus?"

"I've said too much." She waved a hand warning me not to press the issue. "Besides, aren't you supposed to ask me something more important?"

"Important?"

Alistair nodded. "Yeah, about Caelum."

I inhaled deeply. "How did Caelum react? What did he say?"

"He put up a brave face, and didn't talk about it. He and Melanie were rather stoic about the whole situation but I could tell they were gutted."

I felt _gutted_ upon hearing her words, and pressed down upon my stomach. "Oh gods...what have I done?"

"You're worrying about that now?" She sighed heavily. "I think it's a little too late. But you should try and talk to him. Tell him why you dumped him and chose Duncan."

"I didn't dump him," I protested, but Alistair's eyes hardened and I couldn't meet her gaze. "I tried calling him, but it looks like he's blocked my calls. And my messages bounce back."

"Hmm, well, I might have done the same in his situation. Anyway, his detention ends on Wednesday. You've got a little time to prepare yourself." She shrugged. "But maybe you're too little too late."

I gave her a confused yet pained look. "Why?"

Alistair looked a little troubled, but then she firmed up her expression and said, "Well, I don't think Caelum will go wanting on attention."

"What do you mean?"

"I think there are more than enough girls around to keep him busy."

"You mean the Countess and Caprice?"

"You can add Melanie to that list too. He's made an impression on her, and she's having trouble admitting it. During detention, she definitely paid attention to him when he wasn't looking."

I arched an eyebrow at Alistair. "Melanie Cardwell is interested in Caelum? You're kidding."

She shook her head just once as she gave me a sly smile. "No, I'm not. I think with his antics in the cafeteria he carved himself a niche in her heart. She's definitely interested. And that girl is hot."

I sensed someone step up to us, then heard Siobhan ask, "What's going on?"

Thinking quickly, I shrugged slightly and said, "Alistair's in love."

Alistair gasped. "Why you—"

She grabbed me in a headlock.

Siobhan looked stunned. "Really? Wow. That's cool. So who's the unlucky guy?"

Alistair kicked at Siobhan but the latter danced back with a laugh.

I gasped and smacked Alistair's arm around my neck. "Ally, I can't breathe."

She let me go in a hurry.

All three of us stared at each, then broke in relieved smiles, until Alistair crossed her arms and said, "By the way, the battle lines are still drawn."

Siobhan and I both froze then grimaced a little.

Alistair said, "But...I'd still like your support of my campaign for Student Council President."

I blinked a few times and leaned forward. "Are you sure? You mean that?"

She nodded firmly. "Yeah. I need my friends, regardless what cup size they are."

Siobhan and I shared a look, then I gave Alistair a nod. "Okay. This isn't going to win us any friends in either camp, but I'll do what I can."

"It's a pity, though," Siobhan muttered. "The Election is quite a few months away."

Alistair shrugged, but I could tell she was a little anxious.

The bell for homeroom sounded throughout the school, and the three of us filed back into the classroom.

As I walked in, I noticed Caprice walking down the hallway.

I'd heard the rumor that she and a number of other female Familiars had formed a lunch group. More than that, I heard they made quite a stir when all four of them walked into the school in the mornings. A number of the guys in my class were beginning to pay special attention to her.

Caprice's eyes met mine but her expression didn't change, remaining dull and emotionless as usual.

For a moment I worried she knew about Friday's encounter with Caelum, but I couldn't tell from just looking at her.

I tried not to turn away in a hurry as I walked into the classroom.

#

(Caprice)

Caelum's return to class surprised a lot of people, but apparently our homeroom teacher wasn't one of them.

But I wasn't just surprised. I was shocked.

He wasn't bothered by the looks he garnered when he took his seat at his smart desk.

I gave him a flat stare but he just smiled and shrugged nonchalantly.

That was the first surprise of the day.

The second was a surprise for the rest of the class, but unfortunately not for me.

On the contrary, it was the beginning of the waking nightmare my school life was about to become.

Our homeroom teacher, Ms. Fauntine informed the class that we had a transfer student from Phelan Academy joining us today. While a flurry of whispers erupted, she called out to the new student who was standing out of sight outside the classroom.

A few seconds later, the transfer student stepped in and I felt my stomach sink even though I knew who it was all along.

I closed my eyes and shook my head inwardly.

I heard his voice and felt a wave of resentment flow through me.

Somehow I kept my face clean of any expression.

"Hello there. I'm Jaxon Deneve afil Raynar. I'm transferring into Galatea and hope to get along with all of you."

I opened my eyes in time to see him smiling brightly at my classmates.

Silence followed, and his smile faded after a few seconds. Then he sighed loudly and shoved a hand into a trouser hip pocket while he ran his other hand through his hair. "I guess it's going to be a tough year."

I debated hiding under my desk, or throwing it at him.

Before I could do either he caught sight of me and brightened. "Hey, Cappy you're here too. Great." He ignored Ms. Fauntine who was about to suggest a seat in the back. Picking up his school carry-bag he strode over to me. "Cappy, this is great. I thought I was going to be all alone in a new class with no friendly faces."

He looked genuinely relieved.

I bit my lower lip, wanting to shut him up.

Then I sensed Caelum's gaze on me. I looked at him sideways.

He was watching me and Jaxon, and his eyes were the coldest I'd ever seen them.

I felt a chill run down my back, and felt my expressionless façade begin to slip away.

Jaxon spoke in a low voice. "So...you're in this class as well."

I realized in a heartbeat he was talking to Caelum.

Caelum fixed his gaze on Jaxon. "Is that a problem?"

The latter smiled and shook his head. "Nope. You're not a problem for me at all."

The air between them picked up a chill.

Neither of them broke eye contact.

Neither of them showed any sign of backing down.

I stood as smoothly as I could, and cleared my throat. "Stop this. Stop it right now."

Caelum ignored me, and a cruel smile spread across his lips.

"Welcome to Galatea Academy," he voiced coldly. "I hope you enjoy your stay, however short it may be."

Jaxon's brow furrowed for a heartbeat. Then he gave me a look that Caelum was sure to catch.

"Oh, I think I'm going to really enjoy it here." He smiled at me with undisguised desire, and it made me uncomfortable.

By now it was clear to everyone in my class that something was afoot. Or rather, something was amiss between the three of us.

At least one girl found it interesting.

"Looks like a love triangle."

Her words were like sharp needles stabbing my heart.

#

(Caelum)

Homeroom ended with the announcement that medical exams would begin on Wednesday.

This was the case for the academies that throughout Pharos that had an Aventis – and Familiar – student body.

In a Regular school, part of the examination was geared at testing students for their compatibility to the Symbiote. They were held twice a year: a few weeks before the middle of the year – before the end of first semester – and a few weeks before the end of the year. This allowed any students that joined a Pride enough time to bond with the Symbiote, then make the arrangements to transfer to one of the five academies that catered _almost_ exclusively to the Aventis. As a result, it wasn't uncommon for an Aventis academy to have students transfer at the beginning of second semester, or at the beginning of the new school year.

At Galatea and its four sister academies, the examinations emphasized testing the harmony between the Symbiote and the host. Was there a degree of rejection? Was the Symbiote's condition less than optimal? How well was it healing the host, and boosting said host's physical abilities? How well was it attuned to the host body?

In order to perform the exams, mobile medical centers rolled into the Academy grounds. They were large buses, double-deckers in fact. Galatea had a dedicated medical room, one apart from the nurses office, but the sheer volume of students attending the Academy would have overwhelmed the facility. As a result, these mobile medical centers were used to bolster the facilities and churn through the three thousand students here at Galatea.

I concentrated on my class lectures, but chose not to dial up the learning aid on my visor-headset to the limit. I needed to do some of the work and not rely on the gear provided to get me through the day. Surprisingly, I was able to manage just fine despite Jaxon Deneve finding himself a seat to Caprice's right. That left her sandwiched between his table and mine.

When lunch break came around, I excused myself from Caprice, even though this would leave her in Jaxon's clutches. She barely held onto her emotionless façade as acknowledged me with a nod.

I felt like I was running away from him – running away from a confrontation over Caprice.

It twisted my innards, but I'd made a promise to the Countess.

And so I backed away from a fight I sorely wanted to win.

#

(Caprice)

Lunch break.

Caelum left the room before me.

I had no idea where he'd chosen to go, and I regretted not asking.

But with Jaxon sitting beside me, I found it hard to keep up my usual persona.

I found it hard to look at Caelum.

I left the classroom a couple of minutes after he did, and hurried to meet up with Maya, Constance and Rina who'd been summoned to the Student Council President's office.

Unfortunately that bastard Jaxon followed me as he too had been summoned.

I had the feeling he would have ignored the summons if I wasn't attending the meeting.

Jaxon asked, "Hey, are you going to show me around later?" He walked a few steps behind me. His longer strides made it easy for him to keep up with me.

"Find your own way around," I growled, struggling to keep my emotionless mask in place.

"Come on, Cappy. Don't be like that."

I snapped. My anger and frustration ripped through my façade. "Don't tell me how to be. And don't call me Cappy."

"Doesn't Desanto call you Cappy?"

"No, he most certainly does not."

"I get the feeling you act differently around him."

"Of course I do."

"Because you like him?"

I stopped sharply in the hallway, and half turned to face him. "Yes. Because I like him, and I don't like you."

"I can't see what you like in him. There's nothing special about that guy."

"You're not me. You wouldn't understand."

He cocked his head to a side. "If you're going to blame someone about this"—he showed me the Artifact bracelet on his right wrist—"then blame the commander."

I took a deep breath. "You could have turned it down."

He shook his head. "No. This Artifact belonged to my ancestor. Now that it's back with the right bloodline, I don't plan on parting with it." He shrugged casually. "Besides, I'm the perfect fit for it. With my background and training, and my compatibility with the Kaiser's Blessing, it belongs with me."

I had no argument against that. Jaxon was clearly the best choice for the Fragment that was actually an Artifact. But it wasn't a fact that was easy for me to accept.

He shrugged again and half smiled at me. "You shouldn't worry about him. They'll match him up to a Fragment sooner or later."

"Or maybe they won't."

He pursed his lips for a moment. "Or maybe they won't. Either way, it's no lose. There was no way he was ever going to be fit as your teammate."

I gave him a tight smile. "I look forward to the day Caelum puts you in your place."

Jaxon's eyebrows rose a fraction. "But he already did. By running away he vacated the spot beside you. He left you open for the taking."

I watched him casually walk up to me. The honest, open desire on his face made my chest ache a little with the promise of heartache ahead. But I couldn't turn away from him, not with that look on his face.

"I'm not going to lie to you," he said. "I may not have had a hand in taking the Kaiser Armor from him. But with you it's different. I'm going to make you mine, and I'll do it through my own efforts."

My eyes widened at his brazen declaration. "Wh—what? You'll make me yours?"

He nodded. "Unlike him, I won't run from your side at the first sign of trouble or when a rival shows up."

I swallowed and pressed my lips together.

Damn it, Caelum, why did you run away?

Jaxon looked down at me. "I want you, Caprice, and I'll do whatever it takes to win your heart."

"Wh—why? Why do you want me?"

"Cause you're the perfect match for me. Your Valkyrie Armor and my Kaiser's Blessing. We'll be the Familiars wielding the strongest Armors in the colonized systems." He tipped his head slightly. "You realize it don't you? You're Valkyrie Armor is just like my Kaiser. It's an Artifact, not a Fragment. It's the real deal, the full enchilada. No missing pieces."

I stared at him, trying to hide the shock from spreading across my face. I swallowed, shook my head ever so faintly...and lied. "That's not true."

"Trust me. You're mother left you an Artifact."

I couldn't help my eyes opening wider. "You know about my mother?"

For a heartbeat I thought his eyes widened and his body stiffened ever so slightly.

If I'd blinked I'd have missed his reaction.

But a heartbeat later he was smiling again. "Yep. The good Commander told me about her. One of the best Familiars the Artemis ever fielded. Maybe not as talented as Desanto's sister, but she was clearly up there with best."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You sure talk like you know a lot."

Again, I thought he might have hesitated for a fraction of second.

He nodded faintly. "I do, because I've been told a great deal."

"And you assume that it's all true."

He pressed his lips together for a moment. "In this case it's definitely all true."

I refrained from crossing my arms, instead keeping them at my sides. "If the Valkyrie Armor is an Artifact, why can't I manifest it like your Kaiser's Blessing?"

"All you have to do is open up to it, accept it fully, and you'll be able to manifest it completely. Right now, it's only half way there." A short laugh slipped his lips. "Just like me. Even with my high compatibility, I'm still not able to fully summon the Kaiser. But that won't stop me from trying."

I frowned at him. He couldn't manifest it fully? There was still more to his armor?

Jaxon stepped a little closer. "I want to learn to draw out the Kaiser's full potential. And I want to do the same for you. I want to work with you and help you be the best you can be."

I swallowed uncomfortably. "Why?"

He laughed unabashedly. "Because I think you're the most gorgeous girl I've ever met. If I had you at my side I'd be the happiest man in the galaxy."

Seeing the strength of his reaction, and the undisguised honesty in his eyes, I didn't feel I had a reason to doubt his feelings.

However, what troubled me the most was the little jump my heart gave.

It wasn't supposed to jump for anyone other than Caelum.

Distracted as I was, Jaxon chose the next moment to take me by surprise.

Before I knew it his hands had cupped my face and brought my lips onto his.

He kissed me gently, and my eyes grew lidded.

When he parted my lips with his tongue, I was too confused to stop him.

Damn, he really knew how to kiss a girl.

My legs grew a little weak under his attention, and I felt my breathing grow ragged.

Then he broke away, leaving my lips feeling lonely.

He looked down at me, and we locked gazes. "I'll do whatever it takes."

His words made me feel conflicted. Helpless, and weak. Guilty and yet reassured.

He was asserting himself in a confident manner that Caelum never demonstrated toward me. It was one of the reasons why I was unsure of how Caelum felt about me.

It was why I believed my feelings were unrequited.

But Jaxon wasn't like that.

He was being honest and upfront about his feelings and his desire, and it was making my feelings war with each other.

I pushed him away with enough strength to put several feet between us.

Then I glared at him, feeling a wellspring of guilt gush through me. "Don't ever—don't ever do that _again_."

I harshly wiped my lips with the back of my hand, then turned on the balls of my feet, and fled almost at a run down the corridor.

#

(Caelum)

The Countess gently asked, "So you met him."

I nodded while looking out the window of the Student Council meeting room. "Yeah, I met him."

"First impression?"

"Arrogant and confident."

I didn't want to mention the fact that he was clearly laying claim on Caprice.

I heard her sigh as she placed her tea cup down on the saucer.

The Countess said, "Well, he's demonstrated his affinity with the Kaiser's Blessing, and silenced any who doubted his talent and combat ability."

I folded my arms unhappily. "Good for him." I clenched my hands into fists. It took some effort to relax them.

The Countess's words were whispered. "But not for you...or for us."

I almost missed the last part. I shot her a look and saw Simone staring down into her cup.

"My tea is cold," she muttered, then stood up and walked over to fill herself a fresh cup.

My gaze followed her progress. I forced a change of subject upon the conversation. I really didn't want to talk about Jaxon Deneve. Instead I asked, "What does the President have to say about all this?"

"He said it wasn't his place to comment."

"So he's just towing the party line."

"Severin doesn't have a choice. Then again, he can be quite sneaky, so he could be planning something behind the scenes." She finished preparing her cup of tea but chose not to walk back to the table. Instead, she sipped it while standing beside the kitchenette.

"Where is our esteemed President?"

"Busy with the troops."

"Ah, I see." Another briefing in the President's office.

I turned back to look out the window. The courtyard some distance below was replete with students enjoying their lunch. They were oblivious to any threat that Crimson Crescent posed to the academy.

"Countess, do you think Crescent will make their move soon?"

"They broke the encryption on the sixth seal last Wednesday during the ruckus at lunch time."

I spun my head and stared at her in blatant shock. "They broke the sixth seal?" I straightened away from the wall beside the window. "That means one more and they have access to that part of the network. Why aren't the seals being re-established? I mean, surely the Powers-that-be can create new encryption keys for them."

The Countess shook her head. "I have no idea. Perhaps they're laying a trap for Crescent. Or maybe they just want to learn what Crescent is after. The Powers-that-be may have chosen to involve the Student Council, but they're still less than completely candid."

I regarded her for a while as she calmly sipped her tea. "Countess, why are you here and not in the President's office with the others?"

"Because I just don't care anymore."

I frowned at her. "What?"

"I don't care what Crescent does. If Severin wants to continue being a puppet of the Powers-that-be, or rather a puppet of my mother's then I simply want no part of it."

My frown grew twisted upon her words. "Is that true? What about wanting to protect this academy? What about everything you told me in the storeroom?"

"That was then, this is now."

"I don't believe that. Not from you."

The Countess sipped her tea her face betraying no outward reaction to my words.

Her voice was another matter. "What I said doesn't matter anymore. Also, my mother told me in clear terms that I was to have no more involvement in the operation. She expressly forbid me from becoming involved with any new developments."

"So you just walked away from it all."

"I did. I don't have a choice. She is my mother and I live under her roof and by her rules."

"That doesn't sound like you, giving up so easily."

She bit her lower lip and gave me long, thoughtful look. "You don't know me, Caelum. You can't say that so offhandedly."

"I didn't. I really believed you wanted to play an important part in protecting your academy."

She put her cup and saucer down on the kitchenette bench. "I did want to play a part, but not as a puppet of my mother's. The way things are now, I have no meaningful role to play at all."

I remembered her stating she made her own shadow.

I laughed curtly under my breath. "That's a pity. I really wanted to mess up Crescent's plans, but helping you out was an added bonus."

"Truthfully?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

I turned away and walked back to the window. Looking down at the peaceful scene below, in contrast to what I'd witnessed in the cafeteria last week, I couldn't help voicing my doubts. "But after thinking about everything that's happened, maybe we shouldn't get in Crescent's way. Maybe we should let them take what they want."

I heard the Countess inhale sharply. When I looked at her over my shoulder, I saw her staring pensively at the floor.

Seeing her this way, I couldn't stay silent. "Back in the storeroom, maybe you were right when you said the Student Council shouldn't have gotten involved."

She pressed her lips into thin line. "It's too late now. The wheels are turning and plans are in motion. Even if we don't know what Special Interventions has in mind, I doubt there's anything we can do that will change the course of events...."

That was indeed a distinct possibility.

I couldn't hide my mixed feelings from flowing onto my face.

At that moment, I felt the faintest of shivers run across the floor of the room.

It was something I wouldn't have noticed before becoming a Familiar.

I glanced at the Countess, but she was lost in thought with her eyes downcast.

Then I felt it again, and this time I straightened and looked about the room carefully.

The Countess blinked and looked up at me. "What is it?"

"I don't know. I felt the room tremble—there! Did you feel that?"

She frowned and then her eyes narrowed. "It could be the artificial gravity, maybe a fluctuation in the effect-fields that simulate it."

For some reason, I had the urge to look outside.

Far below in the courtyard, the students were beginning to notice it as well. I saw them stand and look about with faint worry.

Then I turned my attention upwards to the habitat ceiling. The mimetic field mimicked an afternoon sky complete with white puffy clouds, but it was only a simulation.

Yet now I saw the sky darken considerably as though a real black cloud was spreading overhead. Tremors rattled the contents of the room. I heard the Countess gasp in fright when the items on the kitchenette fell over.

But I was engrossed on what was happening outside. "Simone—something's happening above the academy."

I pushed the window doors open and stuck a good third of my body out the opening. While holding onto the window frame I was able to look directly upwards.

"Caelum, be careful."

The room and walls were trembling harshly now. I had to hold onto the framing tightly so that I wouldn't fall out.

Then I felt Simone's arms wrap around my waist.

"Caelum—stop it. Get back inside."

"Simone—look. Look above us. What do you see?"

"No, I don't want to."

I heard real fear in her voice. It fueled my limbs and drove my body to retreat back into the room.

The Countess was holding onto me tightly, but her eyes were wide open in fear.

I winced and gasped. "Simone—Simone you're holding me too tight."

"Please, please don't go. Don't go Caelum."

I reached down and put real effort into forcing her arms open. "Simone, relax. I won't leave you but we can't stay here. We need to leave the building and find shelter."

Her eyes shifted upwards and her gaze met mine. "What? No, we're safe here in the academy."

I grabbed her arms and squeezed them hard, causing her to wince sharply. "Simone, listen to me. We need to find shelter, maybe even escape Habitat One."

"What? Why?"

I released one of her arms and pointed at the ceiling. "Because there's a trans-light breach opening up right over the academy grounds."

Her eyes widened and she mumbled, "That's not possible."

"Yeah, well tell it to whoever is opening up that breach."

The shelving was shaking so badly it was separating from the walls. I felt the room sway nauseously before a piece of the ceiling crashed down on the large meeting table.

From outside I could hear the sounds of students screaming and yelling.

Then, almost in afterthought, an alarm began to ring out across the academy.

Then a violent quake hit the room, and I heard the building groan like a titanic wounded beast. Simone and I were knocked to the floor. Instantly my body over-clocked and I wrapped my arms around Simone while forcing my body to twist so that I would cushion her fall. The habitat lighting failed as my back hit the carpeted floor, and the room's lights flickered and died a heartbeat later.

The sudden darkness was filled with even louder screams and cries for help. I could hear people panicking wildly in the hallway outside. I could hear them stumble and fall over each other.

Why hadn't the emergency lights kicked in?

Every room had emergency lighting.

Just how badly compromised were the academy's systems.

"Simone? Simone are you alright?"

"I'm an Aventis," she replied in a shaky voice. "I can—I can handle this much."

"We have to get out of the building, and find one of the emergency shelters."

I fumbled for my palm-slate, pulling it out of my back trouser pocket. Quickly I found the flashlight feature. It would kill the battery in six hours, but that hardly mattered. Then I started running through the map menu, looking for a map that would lead us to the nearest emergency shelter.

The room wasn't shaking as badly anymore, but it was still moving in all three axis with enough force to hamper walking. I thought I could manage running if I remained over-clocked, but Simone didn't possess that talent.

The Countess knelt beside me and pulled her palm-slate out of a skirt pocket. I watched her thumb furiously over the display but I had no idea what she was doing.

"Oh my gods," she whispered.

I barely heard her because of the din surrounding us.

The Countess showed me the slate's screen. "This is from the security cameras on the rooftop."

I looked at the image on the screen and felt simultaneously amazed and terrified.

A sleek trident shaped starship had entered the confines of the habitat through the trans-light breach. A thunder storm surrounded the vessel, with lightning flashing furiously around it. The trans-light breach was quickly growing smaller. In less than a minute it would seal shut. But the atmospheric effects surrounding the large starship showed no signs of dissipating.

I spoke loud enough to be heard.

"They opened a breach and tunneled into the Island's mass shadow by moving through trans-space. Then they opened a breach inside the habitat back into real-space. It must have been possible because the Islands don't have much of a mass shadow."

Simone shook her head. "But it shouldn't be possible."

"Well tell it to _them_. They're inside the habitat." I pointed at the screen. "Don't you get it, that's Crimson Crescent."

Simone's mouth fell open and wouldn't close.

I took the palm-slate from her hands. "Simone, if Crimson Crescent is here then they broke the last seal. That part of the network is now open."

"But we still don't know what's inside."

"That's not our concern. Our concern is getting out of here. The school has to be evacuated but we should leave that to whoever's still in charge."

I struggled to rise to my knees.

Simone remained on her hands and knees beside me.

The tremors afflicting the building and academy grounds were not abating.

I pocketed my slate, but held up Simone's. "Call Severin. Ask him what he's going to do."

Before she could answer, the door to the room was flung open. I aimed my palm-slate light at it and saw a girl with familiar blonde hair standing in the doorway. Her baby blue eyes looked relieved but she quickly grew annoyed.

Melanie yelled, "Damn it—I've been looking all over the school for you."

Simone and I stared at the girl bracing herself against the doorway.

I croaked out, "Melanie? What are you doing here?"

"I told you—looking for you and the Countess," she responded loudly. "Caelum Desanto, it's time."

With room the continuing to shift about all around us, I held onto Simone, supporting her as best I could. "Time for what?"

Melanie gave me a feral smile I'd never have pictured on her beautiful face.

She laughed evilly like the villain on a children's show.

"Time to meet your sister."

### Chapter 19 – Incapacitated.

(Caprice)

When the tremors began Severin received a call on his palm-slate.

His eyes widened, and he began tapping commands into the remote data-slate he was using at the time.

The force of the tremors increased violently, sending us all to the floor, and killing the lights in the room.

"Backup," Severin called out, and the battery operated lamps around the room lit up.

Prissila cried out, "What the Hell is going on?"

She had chosen to attend the briefing while the Countess had not. I hated to admit it, but there was a chance she was with Caelum. It was a dark possibility I couldn't shake.

The room swayed and I felt the simulated gravity surge and fall repeatedly.

Maya said, "Something's affecting the effect-field generators in the building."

Constance blurted, "It's like an earthquake."

"No, Maya's right," Severin declared, "it's the gravity generators. There's something disrupting them." He furiously typed on his data-slate. In the center of the room and between all seven of us, holovid windows shaped like giant elliptical bubbles winked to life.

I stared at the vistas they displayed, struggling to accept what I was seeing.

In many of the bubbles we could see a black vortex complete with thunder and lightning break out high over the academy grounds. A sleek, fighter-like starship was slowly emerging from the vortex storm, taking a large piece of the thunder and lightning with it. Then the vortex began to shrink and fade away.

For a few seconds the gravity fluctuations eased just a little, then returned with a vengeance that knocked us all to the ground.

Jaxon was the first to break the silence, though the room was hardly quiet since the building continued to shake all around us. He started to laugh while sitting on the floor which felt like it was undulating under us. "Holy cow—if that's Crescent then they sure know how to make an entrance."

Constance shot him a heated glare. "Is that all you have to say?"

He grinned at her. "Well what more do you want me to say?"

Maya struggled to stay on her hands and knees. Then she shrugged off her school blazer, and rolled up her blouse's sleeves.

I heard her orders through the Fragment Link.

* _Summon your Fragments and Artifacts._

I slipped out of my blazer and rolled up my sleeves as well, exposing the wire frame bracelets on my wrists. * _What's the plan?_

*We use our effect fields to counteract the fluctuating fields inside the room.

I heard Jaxon laugh. He was out of his blazer as well and had rolled up his sleeves too. * _Good call. You're not just a beautiful face._

* _Shut up, Jaxon,_ I snapped at him, realizing I'd felt a flash jealousy run through me.

Why the Hell was I jealous just now?

*Relax, baby. I only have eyes for you.

I wanted to throw something at him, but it was my fault for not keeping my _mental_ mouth shut.

Constance was growing angry. * _Would the lot of you focus on what's important?_

I summoned my Valkyrie Armor, and the others followed suit. The jousting lance appeared in Constance's right hand. Maya's forearm gauntlets with its two attached Okatanas manifested. Rina's gun-blade emerged out of the wispy, evil looking mist that surrounded her, and a sleek visor formed over her face.

And last but not least, Jaxon's Kaiser took form around his body. The torso armor flexed like snake skin, while his legs and arms were encased in sleek, medieval style armor that looked light weight. I noticed his shield-blades were missing, but he didn't appear bothered by the fact they had no manifested.

The worst of the cold in the room faded, but a good deal of the chill remained.

Then I felt an effect-field expand around Maya. I called up my own field, and the others did the same. Rather than clashing, our fields combined and soon covered the entire room and part of the outside hallway. The violent tremors subsided.

With my Valkyrie Armor summoned, my Awareness had expanded sharply. I could hear the sounds of screams and cries through the hallways and rooms nearest us. I could even hear the sounds of panic outside the building.

Prissila crawled over to Severin. "We have to do something."

Severin was on his knees, studying the holovid bubbles. "The evacuation alarm has been sounded, but people are unable to move about without risking injury."

He stood up and staggered over to his desk. From a drawer he retrieved an earpiece that served as a communication device. Hastily fitting it to his right ear, he then carried a second one over to Maya.

"You're team leader, put this on."

Maya took it from his hands but stared at it for a long moment. I wondered what thoughts were going through her mind at breakneck speed. However, her reluctance lasted only heartbeats and she quickly attached the device to her left ear.

Severin didn't waste time waiting for Maya. He spoke quickly into the device he now wore.

"Dalton, do you hear me? Good. What's the situation in the computer room? I see. Yes—I received your message about the seventh seal being down. Can you do something about the effect-field gravity generators? The academy maintenance staff is working on it? So they've shut you out of the process. What about the evacuation? The tunnels are locked down? What do you mean they're sealed shut?"

Prissila looked up sharply. "That shouldn't be. The tunnels are supposed to automatically open in the event of an emergency—"

Severin politely waved at her to be quiet, while he listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. "You mean Crescent has gained control of the life support systems?"

I pointed at a handful of the holovid bubbles displaying various parts of the building interior. "The students—they can barely move. It's like the gravity has been doubled."

"More like quintupled," Maya noted. "An Aventis is strong enough to handle two gees without difficulty but this is too much even for them." She shook her head. "This way the students are immobilized. They can be used as shields against an incursion by Special Interventions."

Jaxon laughed. "Why bother? No one's going to try entering the school grounds with that warship overhead."

Maya scowled, "Don't you get it? With so many students around, Special Interventions can't risk a firefight on academy grounds or the buildings. And the underground access tunnels leading in and out of Galatea are locked. So no one gets in or out that way."

Constance sounded impatient. "So now what? Does that mean there's nothing we can do?"

Jaxon shot her a look of disbelief. "You want to go up against a starship? Look at the guns on that thing. Even our Fragments wouldn't last a more than a few seconds against it."

I noticed he wasn't referring to his armor and mine as Artifacts, but as Fragments. Did that mean Maya and the others didn't know the truth about our armor? Was he keeping it a secret on purpose?

Rina noted, "My gun-blade might be able to dent its reaction fields."

Maya shook her head sharply. "If we damage that ship and it comes down on the school, we're going to have thousands of casualties. That's no small ship. It looks larger than a Pathfinder—probably more than two hundred meters long."

"Damn it," Severin cursed. "The comm-link just failed. I lost contact with the Computer Club. Must be getting jammed, or maybe Crescent has taken over the comm. relays within the academy."

Prissila edged closer to him. "Severin, we need to do something."

He shook his head sharply. "We can't. We've lost control of the school's network, and that includes all the life-support and emergency systems. Crescent hacked into every part in the blink of an eye."

Maya nodded to herself. "They were planning this for months. Every time they breached the network, they probably put in back doors into different systems. No wonder they took it over so fast."

I blinked as a thought came to mind. "You think they're controlling the network from that starship?"

Severin and Prissila looked at me. The President shrugged faintly. "Probably."

I leaned forward. "But initially someone had to break the seventh seal from within the academy grounds."

He nodded without hesitation. "Yes, that's true."

I smiled thinly. "Then why don't we find Crescent's hacker and take his Fragment."

Maya shot me a look. "Even if we take it, we can't use it. But"—she smiled cruelly—"maybe we can _convince_ them to return control of the network to the administration staff."

I nodded. "We can have them unlock the tunnels, fix the gravity and get the students evacuated."

Constance asked, "You're going to _convince_ them?"

Maya smiled even more cruelly. "Absolutely."

Severin clenched his jaw, then declared, "I need to get to the Computer Club. Over the past few weeks, Dalton's people converted it into a command center."

Constance bit her lower lip before stating, "You'll never get there in time without my help."

Maya agreed. "She's right. With the gravity system working the way it is, you'll have trouble getting down the corridors, let alone the stairs. If not for our effect-fields you wouldn't be standing right now."

Constance added, "Your people in the Computer Club may be suffering from the extreme gravity as well. I can help alleviate that with my Fragment, and if communications are jammed, you won't be able to tell Maya and the others where to find the hacker." She tapped her jousting lance. "But I can do that through the Fragment Link."

Prissila looked worried. "Are you suggesting we split up?"

Constance nodded. "Yes. This building is shaped like a giant letter 'H', with the cafeteria something of donut in the middle. I say we split up into two teams to both wings of the building. This way one of us is guaranteed to be closer to the hacker once Severin's computer nerds find them."

I looked at Severin. "Your Computer Club member didn't tell you where the Crimson Crescent hacker is located?"

Severin shook his head. He was trying to send a message or do something with his palm-slate but was having no luck.

Jaxon punched a fist against a palm. "Then let's go."

Maya nodded resolutely. "We're going to take the fight to them."

Then Rina pointed out an obvious fact. "We don't have our skinsuits, and none of us have drunk Aventis blood in many days. We're not at our strongest."

All five of us Familiars turned to look at Severin and Prissila, the only two Aventis in the room.

"Damn it," Severin muttered and took off his white blazer in a hurry. Prissila hesitated for a heartbeat before following suit.

Despite the situation, once again I couldn't help but envy the girl's voluptuous chest.

Severin stepped up to Maya and offered her his left wrist. "You first, then Rina."

Maya frowned as she took his wrist in her left hand.

I saw Prissila offer her left wrist to Constance, but the latter shook her head. "No, I'll be with the two of you. Maya and Jaxon need your blood more than I do."

Again, Prissila hesitated but she moved quickly over to me. "Don't bite too deeply."

I gave the golden haired girl a sour look. "I _have_ done this before, Princess." Then I concentrated on extending my canines to their full length.

I bit down on the girl's tender flesh, piercing it easily and tasting her blood a heartbeat later.

I drank a mouthful then a second before pulling back.

I wouldn't need more than that.

Wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I stepped back and gave Jaxon room.

He took Prissila's hand gently, then with a polite and respectful bow, he bit into the soft skin of her wrist, puncturing the flesh an inch away from my bite marks.

Prissila winced and I watched her squeeze her eyes shut.

After ten or so seconds Jaxon drew back, licking the blood that remained on Prissila's arm before it could dry and harden.

Prissila started to draw her arm away and cradle it, but Jaxon pressed a handkerchief over the wound.

He told her, "You don't want blood on your uniform, Princess."

I couldn't help but arch an eyebrow at his performance.

While she accepted the cloth and gesture, Prissila nonetheless gave him a suspicious look. "Appreciated," she mumbled.

I thought Jaxon might break into an elaborate bow, but instead he just smiled innocently and took a step back.

Maya cut into our thoughts. * _Let's go._

She turned and faced Severin and Prissila. "Stay close to Constance."

The girl nodded, and then her jousting lance reconfigured. The conical mid-section slid forward to the peak of the lance and changed shape into something resembling a small umbrella.

Just how many different modes did that thing possess?

Maya's voice grabbed my attention. "The rest of us will make our way to the opposite wings of the building. First we'll head to the entrance to the cafeteria, but you two"—pointing at Jaxon and I—"will head to the east wing. Rina and I will stay here in the west wing. We'll take position at the opposite entrances to the cafeteria."

Severin rolled down his sleeve and slipped on his white blazer. Making sure the earpiece was properly on his ear, he said, "With that starship over the academy, it's doubtful we'll get outside support. It's more than likely they'll blow away anyone attempting to get near Galatea. Special Interventions has personnel within the grounds of the school. However, we don't know what their instructions are for such a situation. So for now we rely on ourselves."

Maya asked, "Just to be certain, what instructions did Special Interventions have for us?"

Severin laughed bitterly. "Their instructions were for us to wait for their instructions."

Prissila laughed derisively. "That's convenient."

"In other words," Severin added, "they're instructions were for us to stand down, and not move without orders."

Maya pursed her lips for a heartbeat. "So by moving out we're disobeying orders."

He gave her a shallow nod.

Maya stared at him flatly for a moment, then shrugged casually. "Sounds good to me."

She turned to the door.

"Let's go."

#

(Haruka)

When the shaking began, I was eating in the cafeteria with Duncan, Siobhan, and Alistair. Duncan had invited us up to the third level where the high school seniors ate. So we had a clear view of what was happening in the sky above the academy.

The cafeteria is shaped like a donut, with the open middle playing the part of an atrium. The atrium's ceiling is a trans-steel dome that is so clear it gives the impression it's not even there. That's why we were able to witness the dark storm forming quickly over the academy.

Everyone in the cafeteria quickly grew aware that something unexpected was taking place in the sky above Galatea. Amazement and confusion quickly turned to worry, then terror and fear as the tremors shook the building with enough force to knock plates, trays, and people to the ground. Then the gravity began to surge and wane, so as to give the sensation of riding a boat on a stormy sea. A few students couldn't handle it and wretched noisily.

Siobhan and Alistair grabbed onto the table that was mounted to the floor. I followed suit, and Duncan held onto me with an arm, while gripping the table with his other hand.

I followed his gaze, and looked up at the sky overhead.

The thunderstorm filled the view through the atrium's ceiling, but the lightning flashes illuminated the silhouette of a dark shape drifting over the building.

A ship? Was that a starship? But how could a starship be inside the habitat? That just wasn't possible.

It had a long wedge shaped beak or prow, almost like a sword, and while the rest of the body was out of sight the dark silhouette reminded me of those giant winged lizards that flew the skies of mother Earth millions of years ago.

I didn't have long to admire it.

A violent tremor knocked us to the floor whether we were braced or not.

Duncan held onto me, wrapping his arms around me and cushioning my fall. But there was no one to help Siobhan and Alistair. They hit the floor hard, as did many of the students inside the cafeteria. I imagined the same scene playing out through the halls and rooms of the building – no, the entire academy.

I thought of Caelum, and guiltily prayed for his safety.

The tremors eased, but suddenly the effect-fields that provided artificial gravity powered up to unprecedented levels and everyone around me was crushed to the floor. My body felt as though it weighed five or six times as much. It was an effort just to breathe. Duncan's arms felt like steel beams around me and I begged him to let me go. Somehow he managed to comply, rolling me off his body, but afterwards all we could do was lie close to each other, unable to do more than struggle through each breath we took.

I was on my back, listening to the students around me who were spread across the levels of the cafeteria. Some sobbed. Others cried for help. Some struggled to crawl across the floor.

Again I thought of Caelum and wondered how he was holding up.

I pictured him somewhere in a dark corridor or room within the Academy, struggling to breathe, let along move. He was a Familiar, lacking in the strength the Symbiote provided an Aventis. But he had a Fragment. Maybe he could use that to protect himself. And Caprice should be with him. They were always together. Perhaps they could link their Fragments somehow and support each other.

As I thought this, I looked up at the storm raging in the sky beyond the atrium.

The dark starship, surrounded by the swirling black storm frequently lit by lightning, continued to drift gently overhead.

Then I saw something fall away from it, and land on the trans-steel ceiling heartbeats later.

Moments later, three other dark objects landed on the atrium's transparent ceiling.

The four objects stood up and I realized they were people.

Duncan whispered hoarsely, "What the Hell? Who are they?"

I remembered what the Student Council President had told us that afternoon in the cake shop.

"It's Crimson Crescent," I whispered.

"Crimson Crescent...those people that blew up that starship in Island One?"

I couldn't nod, but I did manage a reply. "They killed Caelum's parents. They killed a lot of people."

The four individuals stood on the ceiling, dressed in black clothing, and completely unaffected by the storm or the artificial gravity. For a short while, they looked down into the cafeteria interior, then walked off the transparent ceiling onto the hard permacrete roofing. I heard four successive explosions and four holes appeared in the ceiling. They were several meters apart, and powdered debris rained down into the cafeteria. I heard students cry out in fear until the sound of the storm outside drowned them out. I shivered as I heard it howl and rage like a monstrous beast.

But I also heard something else, a sound even deeper than thunder.

A sound that rumbled incessantly.

The starship's engines.

Through each of the four large holes in the ceiling, a single individual jumped down onto the top level of the cafeteria.

One of them landed on a table a few meters away from me, crushing it flat. I turned my head, and watched the newcomer calmly step off the table's remains while the students nearby cried out in fear and pleaded for mercy.

The black clad person wore a long coat that flowed around their body as they strode calmly through the students littering the third level floor. To my surprise, they were careful not to step on any of the students.

I watched the intruder come closer, and saw that she was a woman.

A very pretty woman, in her late middle years.

She had a heart shaped face, emerald eyes, and features that chilled my strained heart for several beats.

I whispered the name before I could stop myself.

"Caprice...."

The intruder stopped and slowly turned in my direction.

The woman's eyes met mine and then she walked over to me.

She came to a stop beside me, and regarded me from above. I didn't understand how she was able to withstand the effect of the gravity generators. Yet she stood easily enough, and looked down at me.

"Haruka," the woman said, then laughed softly under her breath. "My how you've grown."

I swallowed heavily, shocked to hear my name spoken by someone I didn't know – spoken by someone from Crimson Crescent.

The woman sighed. She might have intended to say something when a young man's voice interrupted her from the near distance.

"Damn, these Aventis girls are hot. Check out the rack on this one."

A girl's voice chastised him lightly. "Rylan, what are you doing? Hey, you're not going to peek under her skirt? You pervert."

"Hot damn," I heard the young man say. "Racy and red."

I heard a girl cry out painfully and instinctively knew it was the female student being harassed. "No—don't touch me! Help—help me!"

The woman looked away from me. "Rylan, you can't play with them. And remember the field around you."

"I know, but what about one bite? Just a mouthful. You know we haven't had a drink in ages, and this one looks nice."

I couldn't see the Crimson Crescent girl, but I could hear her sound annoyed. "You heard the Mistress. We didn't come here to play."

Then another male voice gasped out. "Stay away from her you bastard. You're a freaking Familiar. Don't touch her you trash."

The woman standing above me looked sharply in the voice's direction.

She was quiet and I saw the cold in her eyes. Then she glanced down at me. "Is Caprice well?"

I still didn't know who she was, yet I managed a nod and a whisper. "Yes...."

The woman smiled and her expression softened. "That's...that's good to hear."

"Why?" I asked, realizing that question could mean so many things. "Why...this...?"

The woman's smile turned regretful. "Because we're correcting a mistake."

The male student cried out again in anguish. "I said stay away from her."

His cry attracted the woman's attention. Her regretful look faded in a heartbeat. "You like that one, Rylan?"

"Yeah, I do. She's amazing. She's really beautiful, and her breasts are huge. I gotta have me this one."

"Fine. We'll take her. _Induran_ , we got fresh juice to pick up. Can you spare someone? You can? Excellent."

I assumed she had just spoken to the ship drifting in the sky between the academy and the habitat's rock ceiling.

"No!" the girl cried out. "No, no, no."

I heard Rylan's voice again. "Hey, don't sweat it. Pretty soon it'll be yes, yes, yes." I heard the sound of a heavy thump. "Hey, boyfriend. Say goodbye. From now on, this girl is mine."

The girl who'd earlier chastised Rylan sounded despondent. "Just don't break this one like the last one. And don't forget, you have to take care of her now. Keep her fed and dressed."

"Hey, stop telling me what to do."

The male student struggled to yell out. "Help. Someone help us. Stop them please—aggh."

Again another loud thump.

I heard Rylan say, "That's better now. Stay unconscious. But don't worry, I'll take good care of her. A few days with me and she won't even care about you anymore."

"Mistress," the Crescent girl said, "if he gets to take one, why can't I? Can I pick out a boy?"

"Next trip," the woman said. "Alright, we've wasted enough time. Rylan, quickly mark the girl. Let's go." She looked down at me. "Take care, Haruka."

Then she walked out of my field of vision.

I heard the Crescent members walk away, talking as they went.

"I can't wait to sink my teeth into her."

"Yeah, right. That's not the only thing you want to sink into her."

"Let the good times roll," the one named Rylan sang out.

I turned my head and saw a fifth body land on the transparent atrium.

A half minute later, I saw the Crimson Crescent operative descend through one of the holes into the cafeteria.

I turned my head even more and was able to see him step up to one female student.

The Crescent member was dressed like his comrades, in black from head to toe. In fact, even his face was hidden behind an odd looking mask that made him appear alien. But from his poise and body build, I could tell he was a man.

He reached down and picked up the girl, tossing her easily onto his shoulder.

Some of the girls near them cried out and pleaded with him.

"Please, don't take her."

"Leave her alone. Leave Reina alone."

"You can't do this. Please, you can't do this."

I heard a few girls cry, and I saw the Crescent man shake his head as though regretful. But he walked away nonetheless, and I heard a soft boom despite the noise from the raging storm. He jumped straight up through one of the holes in the roof, and disappeared for a few seconds until he walked across the transparent atrium ceiling.

He flew up into the underbody of the ship's prow, as though hoisted airborne by an invisible force. Moments later he vanished into the ship along with the girl called Reina.

I heard her friends crying in despair.

I felt the fire of hatred flicker to life in my heart.

I promised to find a way to make Crescent pay for this.

I heard Duncan's voice beside me. "I'll hurt them. I'll hurt them. Somehow, someway, I'll make them suffer for this."

I felt his hand squeeze mine almost painfully.

"I'll make those Familiars burn in Hell," he vowed with hatred coating every word.

#

(Alessandro)

Holovid bubble windows floated along an entire wall of my office.

As watched the scene above Galatea Academy unfold, I felt despair eating me away from the inside.

Finally, on the fifteenth attempt, my call went through to the commander.

"Alessandro?"

"Commander, what do we do?"

I heard her laugh but there was no humor in it. She sounded as though she had a front row seat to the end of the universe, and had realized there was nothing to do now but watch it come to an end.

In short, she sounded helpless.

"There's nothing we can do. We can't move in, and we can't get the students out."

"What about our people?"

"The special units are within the grounds and the buildings but I doubt they can do much in this situation. They can't risk a firefight or damaging that ship. Besides, we instructed them to secure the underground tunnels so I'm certain that's where they'll be stationed."

I swallowed and asked, "What about the Familiars?"

For a long while she was quiet on the line. "Let's hope they don't get any bright ideas and make a bad situation worse."

I had to wonder if Selena Alucard was worrying over her daughter, Simone.

"What the Hell," Alucard muttered loudly.

"What is it?" I asked.

"They just took someone with them. Looks like a student. Gods damn them. They're taking students with them." I heard something crash in the background. "No—there is no way I will allow this!"

I had a thought. The districts around Galatea Academy were being evacuated. In ten, maybe fifteen minutes a perimeter with a radius of two district blocks would be empty of civilians.

If the ship went down then the damage would only be collateral.

But that meant getting the ship away from the academy.

Alucard must have had the same thought. "Alessandro, I'm going to call in a favor."

I grinned nervously. "You mean you're going to speak to Xanthia Augustine Avenir?"

"Yes, and I hope I can walk away with my soul intact."

My nervousness shot up noticeably.

"Commander Alucard...it was a pleasure to serve under you."

"Idiot," she muttered audibly. "Wish me luck."

She ended the call before I could offer her words of comfort.

### Chapter 20 – Underground.

(Caelum)

I held Simone's right hand firmly in my left as we walked a couple of feet behind Melanie.

At first the corridors and hallways were pitch black, illuminated only by the palm-slates that Melanie, the Countess and I carried. But a couple of minutes after leaving the room, the emergency lighting came back on, casting a weak amber light into the building's interior.

All three of us pocketed our palm-slates. There was no point wasting precious battery life.

Every ten or so meters we came across students and teachers struggling to crawl along the ground, or simply struggling to breathe.

At sight of us they reached out and pleaded for help.

The Countess reached for them but I pulled her back. If we fell too far behind Melanie, we would end up just like them.

Melanie had said the effect-field generators within the academy had been cranked up to maximum, delivering a crushing five or six gees. Even an Aventis would have trouble under those conditions, but for me the constant weight might be fatal.

The only reason Simone and I were upright and walking was due to the effect-field bubble Melanie's Fragment was generating.

I no longer had any doubts she was a member of Crimson Crescent. Knowing that felt like a knife through my chest. I'd liked Melanie, but now I felt betrayed by her. I had to wonder how it was possible for her to be a member of Crescent. I also had to wonder why.

But there was another question I had to ask.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked her.

"Orders," she replied, leading us down a hallway while stepping carefully around a couple students, never giving them enough time to benefit from her effect-field bubble.

"No, I meant why is Crimson Crescent doing this?"

"In their words, to right a wrong."

"What?"

"To correct a mistake from two centuries ago."

The Countess asked, "What mistake?"

Melanie glanced over her shoulder. "Handing power over to the Aventis."

I stared at her, then thought back to what the Countess had told me of how Familiars had fought for the Aventis during the War of Supremacy. "Care to explain?"

Melanie shook her head, then abruptly nodded. "Fine. I'll tell you what I know but this stays between you and me." She gave Simone a curt look. "And Busty beside you."

The Countess snapped, "Hey, I have a name."

"Yeah, Countess Boobies."

"Ah—how childish," Simone yelled. "Can't you come up with better material?"

I saw Simone's anger spread across her face, and quickly jerked her arm. "Countess, don't. She's just taunting you because she's jealous."

Melanie stopped and half turned. "Jealous? Of those heavy udders? No way."

I rolled my eyes and exhaled loudly. "Can we not do this now?"

After glaring at each other for a few seconds, the Countess and Melanie harrumphed and turned away from each other.

Then Melanie turned back with a sneer. "You know, all I have to do is weaken the field. Let's see how well those hold up under heavy gravity. They'll be down to your knees before you know it."

Simone scowled at her. "Don't you dare!"

Melanie planted her hands on her hips. "Hah. You see, they do have their disadvantages."

"Of course they do," Simone growled. "But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."

Melanie snorted. "Outweigh, huh? What choice words."

She raised a hand and I realized she intended to make good on her threat. "Melanie, don't—"

"Too late," she laughed.

I moved instinctively to protect what was important.

"Gah!" Simone gasped as though winded.

Behind me, Melanie hissed as though she'd been stabbed.

I turned to look at her. "Melanie—please don't. You can't do this."

"You...you...you pervert," she whispered loudly.

The Countess asked in a low, hoarse voice, "Caelum... _what_ are you doing?"

I looked down and saw what I was protecting from Melanie. "Ah—well—these are important."

Simone trembled with her arms stiffly at her sides. "Important? I see." She started to laugh a little unstably. "Important. Ha ha ha. Maybe I should be grateful you dove to protect _them_ and _not me_."

I gulped in a lungful of air and steeled my resolve. In my heart, I knew I had done the right thing.

My hands supported Simone's large breasts, and I couldn't let them go until I was certain Melanie wouldn't harm them.

I looked at Melanie over my shoulder. "Melanie, I'm sorry. I lied. Your butt and legs are amazing, but—"

"Yes, I know," she hissed. "In the end...breasts are still number one!"

I nodded with a face full of regret. "I'm sorry. I can't deny it." I closed my eyes. "Please, Melanie. Please spare them."

The Countess sounded like she was about to burst an artery. "Spare them? Spare _them_? What about the rest of me?"

I opened my eyes to see Melanie's anger dissipate into defeat. I watched surrender settle on her attractive features. Her shoulders sagged. "I give up. I give up. I just give up. I can't compete against those overfilled milk sacks."

Simone sounded incensed beyond words. "Milk...sacks...?"

Melanie looked down at the ground between us.

For a moment I feared the effect-field protecting us would collapse, but it held and Simone's glorious bosom appeared to have been spared from the detrimental effects of heavy gravity.

I almost breathed out in relief, but I worried that would trigger Melanie the wrong way.

The situation felt like it was balanced on a knife edge.

"Just tell me one thing," Melanie asked softly. Her face was slack though her eyes were lidded as she looked up at me. "Tell me the truth. Did you truly mean it when you called me a vision?"

I nodded without a second thought. "Yes. A vision from the heavens. I swear it upon my heart and soul."

Her face twisted slightly as an anguished look marred her features, then she relaxed slowly.

Seconds went by before she spun on her heels.

"Come on. Don't fall behind."

I quickly released Simone's breasts, not missing the way they bounced at least once before settling down.

I grabbed the Countess's right hand and pulled her along before she could utter a syllable in complaint. "You heard her. Let's hurry."

Arriving at an emergency stairwell, Melanie pushed the door open, then descended quickly down the stairs as though making up for lost time.

I glanced at Simone who was flushed red with simmering anger. She returned my glance then averted her gaze in a huff.

I really couldn't help sighing heavily after witnessing that.

However, I didn't regret my decision. Her chest was of monumental importance to me.

Looking down at Melanie ahead of us, I asked, "What did you mean about a mistake in handing over power?"

Melanie didn't reply right away. "All I know is that Crimson Crescent believes the Familiars that fought for the Aventis made a mistake by handing over power to them once the war was over. Now they're making amends for that."

"They're taking power back? How?"

"I don't know," Melanie admitted. "I'm just a cog in the wheel that was given a job to do."

"You don't expect me to believe that. You know a lot for just being a cog in the wheel." I narrowed my eyes as I studied her quickly. "What kind of Fragment do you have?"

"That's a secret," she replied. "A girl can have some secrets, right?"

I shook my head as I climbed down the stairs. "Then can you tell me why Crescent is here?" I hesitated then asked, "Do you know about the black box in the computer network?"

She replied, "You mean the sealed off part of the network? Yes, I know about it."

"What's inside?"

She stopped walking and looked up at me. "The commands to open up the sublevels and to access the Vault chamber. Without those commands we can't deactivate the security systems. It would take a mobile fortress to survive the security cannons that surround the entrance to the chamber. Even with an Artifact, a Familiar could never get close to it. It's absolutely impossible."

I frowned down at her. "What is the Vault?"

Melanie turned away and resumed descending the stairs. "It's built under the school. Deep under the school."

Behind me, Simone said, "That doesn't explain what it is."

For a moment Melanie appeared annoyed, but she kept walking. "As far as I know, it's an Artifact and it's very big. But that's all I know. You'll find out more when you get there."

I swallowed. "And my sister? Will she be waiting there?"

Melanie slowed down for a moment. "Well I hope so, otherwise this is all for naught."

Despite holding Simone's hand, I hurried a little and caught up to Melanie. I grabbed her left shoulder and dragged her to an acute stop.

She turned in a hurry and glared at me. "What—?"

"Tell me why you're with Crimson Crescent?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it quickly before opening it once more. "I have my reasons."

"What reasons?" For a heartbeat, I watched her jaw clench. "What reasons could you have for joining Crimson Crescent? Don't you know what they're guilty of?"

Her glare grew as sharp as a knife. "Crescent has what I want."

"And what's that?"

"The means to avenge my parents."

I stared at her, then slowly withdrew the hand I had on her shoulder. "Avenge them? The Cardwells?"

"No," she snapped, "my _real_ parents."

Simone spoke softly. "So...it's true you were adopted."

Melanie shot the Countess a piercing look. "Yes. I was adopted by the Cardwells. They believed I might join the Avenir Pride, but it didn't turn out that way. How disappointing for them."

I had trouble finding my voice. "What—what happened to your biological parents?"

Melanie visibly trembled as her voice fell to a growl. "They're dead—that's what happened to them. They died because of the Prides and their damn in-fighting."

Simone's voice cut between us. "Do you mind explaining rather than accusing?"

Her eyes on Simone, Melanie took a step back up the stairs.

I stood nervously, watching the two girls stare heatedly at each other, briefly wondering when the sparks would start to fly.

In contrast to the heat in her eyes, Melanie's voice was like ice.

"My parents were Familiars. They served the Avenirs, and they were loyal to a fault. They weren't fighters, they were explorers, and they were looking for the truth—for the truth behind the Cataclysm and the Artifacts. And they were killed for it."

Simone bristled icicles. "And you blame my Pride?"

"I blame _all_ the Prides."

"What evidence do you have?"

Melanie's eyes narrowed into thin slits. "They were on the super-freighter when it exploded."

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and my mouth fell open as shock ran through my body like an electric current.

Beside me, Simone grew ashen.

I managed to find my voice. "Wh—what did you say?"

"They were explorers and that freighter wasn't a freighter." Melanie took another step closer. "That freighter was a Pathfinder mothership, and it was carrying a mother lode of Fragments and Artifacts."

Suddenly the Countess found her strength. "That explosion was caused by Crescent!"

Melanie countered, "No, it was the Prides trying to outdo each other—trying to steal the Artifacts from each other."

Simone yelled, "That isn't true. That's a lie fostered by Crescent."

Melanie reached out and grabbed Simone's necktie. "I read my parents' journals. They wrote everything in there. They wrote about how the Prides began working against each other during the journey. And then it all came to a head when the super-freighter docked in the Harbor Sphere."

Simone's eyes widened sharply. "What are you saying? How do you have their journals?"

Melanie took a long, deep breath and released Simone's necktie. "Crescent had them. They had people aboard that freighter. When it exploded they were aboard the pathfinder in its belly. That's how they survived. They tried rescuing the freighter crew, my parents among them, but they couldn't. My parents died, but for some reason they had entrusted their journals to Crescent."

Still holding onto Simone's hand, I slowly sank down and sat on a step.

I heard Simone's voice, barely above a whisper. "Your parents worked for Crescent?"

I heard Melanie's reply. "No, but they were approached by Crescent. However, my parents remained loyal to the Prides. Even so, they chose not to let the various ambitions and ideologies affect their research. So they kept their research open to all aboard that ship."

I looked up at Melanie. "My parents...my parents died in that explosion."

Melanie looked down at me. "I know. I'm sorry, Caelum." She shook her head and swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before."

I shook my head as well. "It's...it's such a small world...isn't it...."

Melanie smiled bitterly down at me. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Simone's question garnered our attention. "Do you still have your parent's journals?"

Melanie shook her head. "No, I returned them to Crescent. It was too dangerous for me to keep them."

I frowned slightly. "Melanie, does my sister know?"

"I believe she does."

I felt the air leave my lungs in a rush.

Simone asked, "You received your Fragment from Crimson Crescent, didn't you?"

Melanie nodded just once. "And I was trained by them. I've had my Artifact for more than a year."

I noticed the thoughtful, troubled look on Simone's face.

Then I heard something unexpected from her.

Simone bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Melanie. My mother has told me very little about the freighter explosion six years ago. I don't know if I can believe you, but I can't quite doubt you either." She raised her head, and looked at Melanie standing a step below her. "But there's one thing I can say. I promise not tell anyone what you've told me."

I stood up and stared at Simone in shock. "Why would you do that?"

Simone faced me with a resolute look in her eyes. "I told you before, Caelum. I make my own shadow. I will not be a pawn or puppet of my mother's."

I noticed the guarded look on Melanie's face, but kept my eyes on Simone. "Are you saying you'll keep Melanie's secret?"

"I'm saying I won't tell them what Melanie has told us."

Melanie sounded unconvinced. "Why?"

"As I said, I make my own shadow, and I don't appreciate being kept in the dark by my mother."

Melanie shook her head, not quite convinced. "Even so—"

Simone stated flatly, "I can keep secrets, just like my mother. And I won't forgive her for taking Caelum's Artifact from him. He didn't deserve that."

Melanie glanced at me, then regarded Simone again. "Not that it matters to me anymore, but that's entirely your choice."

The two girls regarded each other silently for a long, heavy moment. It felt like they were conversing only with their eyes.

Suddenly Melanie glanced away, as though listening to something only she could hear.

"Damn it," she muttered loudly. "It looks like the Enforcers have managed to breach the tunnels."

I frowned. "Breached?"

Melanie nodded weakly. "Crimson Crescent has access to the security doors inside the major tunnels. They closed most of them to prevent Special Interventions and the Enforcers from getting to the Vault chamber. But it looks like they just blew their way in. We have to hurry."

Melanie turned quickly and resumed walking down the stairs.

I stared at her back, then gave Simone a quick look.

The Countess breathed in deeply, as though gathering her resolve, and squeezed my fingers gently. "Like she said, let's hurry."

### Chapter 21 – Valkyrie Maiden.

(Caelum)

I was certain we were below the academy grounds.

We had descended at least eight flights of stairs.

While a step behind me, Simone asked. "Melanie, tell me one thing. What kind of Artifact do you have?"

Melanie didn't reply. She continued descending down the steps, and Simone and I hurried after her as best we could.

I didn't expect she would give the Countess an answer, after all she'd denied giving me one. Then all of a sudden I heard her reply.

"It's a Valkyrie Armor. Type Waltraute."

Simone hesitated on a step, and I had to slow quickly lest I pull her down.

The Countess had a faintly distressed look on her face. "Waltraute? Then your Valkyrie is different from Caprice's...."

That surprised me so I asked, "How do you know that?"

"Arisa told me," Simone replied. "Caprice's Valkyrie Armor is the type Gunnr."

Ahead of us, Melanie slowed to a stop and glanced up. "Gunnr? Not Brynhildr?"

We came to a stop on the step above her. The Countess shook her head weakly, her long ash grey hair barely swishing over her shoulders. "No, it's definitely Gunnr."

Melanie's eyes blinked slowly yet her face was quietly calm. "Is her Valkyrie unlocked?"

The Countess lowered her chin. "Unlocked?"

"Yes, is the Maiden form unlocked?"

I glanced between the two girls, trying not to appear at a loss and failing.

What did she mean by Maiden form?

However the Countess appeared to understand and shook her head again. "No, it's locked. It's the reason why Caprice has been unable to fully manifest the armor. I was told by Arisa that the Valkyrie Armor's synchronicity with Caprice was still too low. So the lock her mother placed on the Artifact has yet to be broken."

Melanie nodded to herself. "I hope she doesn't do anything foolish...."

Before I could ask her what she meant, Melanie turned away and began descending the stairs once more.

The Countess nudged me and we hurried after the girl.

A few steps down and the Countess broke the brief silence. "Melanie, what are you going to do after this? Your existence as a member of Crimson Crescent has been revealed. Even if Caelum and I hide stuff from them, we won't be able to lie to the investigators about that."

To my surprise, we suddenly arrived at a landing and stopped. It appeared we'd finally reached the bottom of the stairwell. How many flights had we descended? Was it twelve or thirteen?

Looking about, I saw a metal door embedded into a permacrete wall.

Melanie studied the door for a moment, then turned and faced the Countess. "Are you concerned for me?"

Simone's mouth opened and closed quickly. Then she sighed and said, "Yes."

Melanie's expression grew conflicted. Of a sudden she looked down and slowly shook her head. "I don't know what to think of you. I mean, I don't like you and I hate your large breasts, but on the other hand I would have liked getting to know you better."

When she looked up, the two girls shared another long, meaningful look that left me feeling like a complete outsider. Then Melanie sighed softly, and turned around. She stared at the metal door that was buried an inch or so into the wall.

Abruptly it unlocked and opened a couple of inches.

Melanie muttered, "Well it's about time...."

She reached out and pushed it open enough for the three of us to slip through in single file.

I had a feeling someone was either watching us, or in communication with Melanie, most probably the Crimson Crescent hacker who'd gained control of the academy's systems.

I believed they were responsible for opening the door in front of us.

I pulled Simone through behind me, and heard her curse under her breath. I guessed her voluptuous chest was giving her a problem getting through the narrow doorway. I reached out and pushed the door open some more, feeling stupid for not having taken the Countess's lateral profile into consideration.

We found ourselves in a narrow tunnel with poor illumination, but my eyes quickly adjusted to the weak light.

Melanie pointed in the direction where the tunnel came to an end in the distance. "I'm told there is a ladder leading down to the tunnel running below us. The blast doors intersecting that main tunnel are all open now so you won't have any trouble getting to the Vault...."

Her voice trailed away and her eyes narrowed as though she were peering into a distance only she could see. Then she grimaced in annoyance. "Damn it. We definitely need to hurry."

"Why? What's wrong?"

Melanie began walking down the tunnel at a fast pace. "Special Interventions' troops are on their way. Come on, let's go!"

Simone and I had no choice but to chase after her.

I'd been holding hands with the Countess for many long minutes now. Her hand had grown comfortable in mine, and I didn't feel like letting it go.

At the end of the tunnel, Melanie had pulled open a trapdoor that resembled a large metal manhole. She was crouched beside the opening, staring down into the circular darkness.

When Simone and I stopped beside her, Melanie spoke without looking up, yet we heard her clearly.

"After this I'll leave Pharos. Crimson Crescent has arranged for me to get off the colony."

Her words made my heart uneasy. "Will I ever see you again?"

She looked up and broke into a gentle smile, and my chest tightened noticeably. "Time will tell. But I'm sure we'll see each other again." She shook her head. "No—I know we will."

Melanie rose smoothly to her feet. Despite Simone standing beside me, she suddenly leaned toward me and planted a kiss on my right cheek.

I was too surprised to react, and chided myself for not over-clocking. In slow motion I would have been able to enjoy it for much, much longer.

But Melanie gave me a hopeful look. "It's a pity I didn't get to know you better. A pity we didn't get to make Duncan jealous."

I blinked, remembering that night outside her apartment complex.

I wanted to reach out and hold her, but instead I gave her a nod. "No matter what, you make it out safely. You hear me?"

"I hear you." She faced the Countess and gave Simone a hard look. "I don't envy you, Simone Alucard Raynar. Yours is a path I would never wish to tread upon but that's the problem with fate...you just can't avoid it. One Seeress tried to change fate, while another tried to help it along."

I looked at Simone in the corner of my eye.

Even in the weak light, I saw her grow pale.

Melanie continued. "But maybe this time there will be a happy ending. However, you have to be certain of one thing. Your feelings must be pure or you will fail at the beginning of the journey, and not the end."

Simone bit her lower lip. I thought I caught the hint of a nod.

What did Melanie mean by _pure feelings_?

I didn't get the chance to ask.

Melanie crouched, then entered the circular opening in the tunnel floor. She called out to us before she disappeared from sight.

"Hurry or we'll really be late."

#

(Caprice)

The burning sensation hit me a few meters down the hallway after exiting the Student Council President's room.

It hit the others a short while later.

Maya urged Constance to continue and escort Severin and Prissila to the computer club's base of operations. The trio set off at a run, with Constance leading the way though Severin did have to call out directions.

I staggered along with one hand on the wall, afraid I'd lose my grip on my Artifact, the Valkyrie Armor. Then I felt Jaxon's arm around my waist. I instinctively wanted to pull away but he just tightened his grip and helped me along. In fact, he practically carried me.

"I can walk on my own," I groused.

His voice was laced with the strain he was under. "At your pace it'll take us a year to get to the other wing of the building. And besides, you know the way better than I do."

Then I heard him whisper.

I'm not leaving your side.

Maya and Rina were helping each other along, but they collapsed when we reached the tee junction at the end of the hallway.

"Damn it," Jaxon muttered. "Come on, Lady Maya, can't hold your water?"

"Shut up," she muttered, but she had collapsed against the wall, and was breathing heavily as sweat poured down her face. Rina was hugging her gun-blade and shivering like an addict suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. The girl's eyes were glazed over and soft pained moans escaped her lips.

I shook my head, feeling the sweat run through my body and soak my underwear. "Jaxon...put...me down...."

I was burning up both inside and outside.

"Ah, what the Hell," he grated out but set me down gently against the wall near Maya and Rina. Then he sat cross-legged a few feet away to watch all three of us.

My vision was hazy with pain and heat, but I watched him sit still as though in meditation, allowing the waves of agony to roll through him and ebb away.

We remained like this for what felt like many minutes, swaying and moaning in a feverish, anguished state.

I was barely aware of the students and teachers lying on the floor under the weight of extreme gravity. Thankfully they weren't near us.

A while later I felt my body begin to cool down, and realized the worst was over.

The Symbiote in Severin's blood was now taking root inside me. It would probably grow and survive for another day or so, but it would boost my body physical abilities by more than double. It would make me stronger than any Aventis, regardless of their gender.

Maya whispered, "Feeling better?"

I nodded weakly, and even that required a fair bit of effort. But my Valkyrie Armor hadn't retreated back into Pocket Space, and the effect-fields surrounding the four of us had held steady against the gravity.

Maya squinted slightly. "We lost six minutes."

Rina winced loudly. "Six minutes. Oh no. Oh no...."

"Calm down," Maya said weakly, her voice still strained by the pain washing through her. "There's nothing to be done about it."

Jaxon struggled to his feet. Once he was up, he helped me rise to mine. I used the wall behind me as support while he assisted Maya and Rina in their weak efforts to stand.

"Thanks," Maya muttered.

"No problem, leader," he replied, sounding somewhat whimsical.

I narrowed my eyes at him and humphed under my breath.

He noticed and gave me a guilty smile. "Sorry, baby."

I glared at him. "Call me that again, and I'll feed you to Crimson Crescent."

He waved his hands placatingly. "Chill baby, chill."

I grit my teeth. "Jaxon...."

I heard a voice that didn't belong to the group.

"Caprice...help...me...."

Almost in unison the four of us turned to see a teacher crawling toward us. I recognized Ms. Fauntine.

I started walking unsteadily toward her, but Maya caught my arm.

"Don't. We've lost enough time."

"Maya, she's my homeroom teacher."

"We can't delay any longer."

Jaxon placed a hand on Maya's shoulder. "A half minute won't hurt."

Maya glared up at him, but I took the chance to pull free and walked on rubbery legs that still burned hotly. I dropped to my knees beside Clarisse Fauntine.

The young woman was under a lot strain, but her eyes widened as soon as my effect-field barrier surrounded her. "A barrier-field?"

I nodded a little woozily.

She straightened and ran her gaze over me. "I see. Caprice, you serve the Lanfears as a Special?"

I nodded. "Yes. This is the Fragment I received from my mother more than a year and a half ago. She was a Special too."

Fauntine pushed herself up into a seated position. "Caprice, what's happening to the school?"

"Crimson Crescent has attacked the academy. They flew a starship into the habitat by using a trans-space breach to tunnel between realms and emerge inside the island. We have a plan to help evacuate the school, but we need to keep moving."

I watched her scoot over to the wall at her back, then rest against it.

Fauntine said, "When you walk away, the gravity will come back."

I nodded. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "I place my trust in you. Help our school, Caprice." She smiled regretfully. "Show them how special you and your friends are. Do what only Familiars can do. Release the power of your Fragment."

I blinked.

My friends? Do what only I can do? Use my Fragment?

I regarded Clarisse Fauntine for a long moment. Then I probed inside her using my Artifact's senses. I stared at her in disbelief. "You're a Familiar...."

She smiled weakly. "All this time, and you never noticed?"

I shook my head slowly. "I...I never used my Fragment to probe inside you. I'm sorry for doing that now."

Fauntine's gaze wandered over my face. "It's alright. You were bound to find out sooner or later."

"Why do you hide it? Is it because you're a teacher?"

Fauntine shook her head gently. "There are lots of reasons. Too many for here and now."

I saw a flicker of concern in her eyes.

I swallowed and said, "I won't tell anyone. I promise. Your secret is safe with me." I glanced over my shoulder at my fellow teammates. "Your secret is safe with all of us."

Fauntine's weak smile grew a little stronger. "Thank you." She reached out and touched my arm. "If I had my Fragment, I'd join you. But I gave it up some eighteen months ago. So now it's up to you and your friends to protect our school."

Giving her a nod, I stood up. "I promise. We'll protect this school and everyone inside it."

Taking a deep breath I walked back to those waiting for me. I heard Fauntine cry out in pain as the gravity pressed upon her with a vengeance, and I heard her body slide down as though lying supine on the floor.

I gave Maya a resolute look. "Let's go."

Maya didn't move. "She's not an Aventis."

"I know."

"The gravity may kill her."

I clenched my hands. "I know that."

Rina spoke up. "Maybe we should take her with us?"

I gave Maya a hard look. "We're short on time, aren't we?"

Maya looked as conflicted as I'd ever seen her.

I suddenly understood why.

Maya cared for us Familiars. It was the one thing that would make her hesitate and question herself.

She swallowed and trembled for a moment.

" _Damn it_."

She turned on her heels and resumed leading the way.

Jaxon fell in behind me. "Are you—?"

"I'm fine," I whispered back. Then I lowered my head a little. "Thank you."

"Sure...."

I gave into the urge to clench my fists. "I'll make Crescent pay for this. I promise!"

#

(Caelum)

The circular vertical shaft had rungs fitted to the rock wall, forming a ladder.

It was dark all the way down, so I gripped my palm-slate in my teeth, using it for a flashlight.

Below me, Melanie continued climbing down the rungs. She didn't need a light because her Artifact was acting like night-vision, giving her complete spatial awareness of her immediate surroundings. She could have navigated down the rungs with her eyes closed because the Artifact was doing all the _seeing_ for her.

However, Simone and I didn't have a Fragment or Artifact, so we had to make do with our palm-slates acting like flashlights.

I could hear Simone climbing down slowly above me. She was barefoot, having removed her high heels in order to climb down the ladder. I didn't know what she'd done with her shoes, because she didn't appear to have them with her.

When I looked up, I didn't get to see her underwear clearly.

I felt I was being denied a precious vision.

However, I wasn't able to stop and continued to descend one rung at a time.

Small lights had flickered to life at the bottom of the shaft. A great many were dead, but the few that worked offered enough illumination to see the trapdoor in the middle of the circular floor. It seemed no one had come down here in years, and both floor and trapdoor were covered in a thick layer of dust.

I turned off the flashlight function on my palm-slate and pocketed the device.

Melanie opened the trapdoor with ease. She peeked down through the opening, then dropped through it heartbeats later.

Simone paused on the ladder rungs above me. "Caelum?"

"Hold on." I carefully ducked my head down through the opening.

There was a tunnel below us. A very large and wide tunnel, with strip lighting breaking the darkness both ways. I guessed it was a good twenty foot drop to the ground.

Damn, that was going to hurt.

Thankfully, gravity around us was normal. I guessed it was because we were under the effect-field generators that provided artificial gravity for the academy above us. I had counted fifty five rungs on the way down, and since they were roughly a foot apart meant we'd descended roughly fifty five feet. This was in addition to the twelve or thirteen flights of stairs we'd walked down not long ago.

We were definitely well below the academy and its effect-field generators.

I looked down at the tunnel floor.

Melanie was looking up. "Caelum, hurry up. They're coming."

Despite the urgency in her voice, I hesitated. I could make the drop, but I'd have to catch Simone. Even if she was an Aventis, she was still a girl, and I felt it was only right that I help her down.

Simone climbed down the rest of the way. The base of the shaft was around five or six feet in diameter so there was room for the two of us, but it still felt a little cramped.

I looked at Simone. "I'll go down first, then you jump down after me. I'll catch you."

Without waiting for her reply I lowered my body through the square opening, hung onto the edge of the trap door for a few heartbeats, then dropped to the tunnel floor below.

It really was a good twenty foot drop and I winced when I landed.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I took a couple of breaths before looking around.

The tunnel had an oval shaped cross-section though the floor was flat. It was wide enough for three large trucks to drive down side-by-side. There was good lighting as well, with score upon score of strip lights casting pale white light down its length.

I realized the tunnel was slightly slanted. In one direction it led down, while in the other it led up. Melanie had walked off some fifty meters into the distance in the uphill direction. She was looking away from us.

"Caelum?"

I looked at the hole in the ceiling. I could see Simone's bare foot wading in the air, looking for something to step onto.

It was clear we could get down, but not back up.

Melanie had said my sister was waiting for us. I didn't think Celica had entered the tunnel the way we did. That meant there was clearly more than a couple of ways in.

Nonetheless, it was starting to feel like a one way trip, and that made me uneasy.

Turning my attention back on Simone, I watched her shapely body descend through the opening. Then she lost her grip on the edge of the trapdoor and I had to rush to catch her.

I thought my knees were going to break as my legs bent sharply under the weight of her landing. But I'd broken her awkward fall by catching her in my arms.

In fact, I now held her Princess style.

The terror on her face faded slowly. She swallowed and said, "Thank you."

I tried to sound cool, but my voice came out strained. "Don't—don't mention it."

"You...you really did catch me."

I gave her a shallow nod. "I told you I would." I put her down gently and spared her bare feet a look. "Your shoes?"

She shook her head. "I couldn't carry them with me. Besides, I don't think they'd do me much good here." She looked around at the tunnel we were standing in. "Which way?"

I pointed in the direction where the tunnel slanted downward. "That way feels like it goes down. My guess is this Vault thing is buried deep, so I'd say we should try going deeper."

The Countess gave me an odd look. "And how do we get out?"

I pointed the other way, in the direction Melanie was standing. "Uphill sounds as good as any."

"You think we'll get the chance to go that way?"

I inhaled slowly. I sounded more confident than I felt. "Yeah. I am."

At sight of Melanie jogging back toward us, I took hold of Simone's right hand in my left and gently pulled her along. "Let's keep going."

She pulled me to a stop with that Aventis strength of hers. "Caelum, wait."

I faced her. "What is it—?"

Whap!

Her left hand delivered a slap that could only be described as brain jarring.

I almost landed on my backside, but the Countess grabbed my arm and kept me upright.

Clutching at my wounded face – I was certain I could taste blood – I gave her an incredulous look.

Then I noticed she was beet red.

She inhaled loudly and declared, "That's—that's for grabbing _them_ without permission."

She sounded angry and embarrassed.

My thoughts began to process with some degree of clarity. Then I squared my shoulders and growled, "What the Hell was I expected to do?"

"Huh?"

"I had to protect them. There was no other way for me to do that."

"But you grabbed them!"

"Of course I grabbed them. And I was fully prepared to put my strength into keeping them on your chest and not your knees."

She looked caught between gratitude, shame, and feeling violated.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Why are you so angry? Weren't you the one playing around with me in the storage room?"

"That was innocent fun."

"Innocent? Do you have any idea the strain you put me under? I thought my heart was going to give out on me. Doing up the buttons of your blouse was like running through a mine field."

I saw the hint of a grin on her lips. When I narrowed my eyes further, she quickly wiped it off her face.

She averted her eyes, and complained, "You—you looked like you enjoyed holding them."

"Actually, I didn't have the luxury to enjoy them."

She inhaled a lungful of air. "Still, I can't forgive you for grabbing them."

"Nonetheless I'd do it again if it meant saving them."

She gave me a distraught look. "You would go that far...for my breasts?"

I nodded resolutely. "Yes."

Now she began to despair. "So that's...that's all I am to you? A pair of large breasts?"

"Don't be stupid, Simone."

My harsh tone made her blink and her eyes widen.

I pressed on firmly, but eased up on my tone. "Saving them is one thing. Saving you is another. Don't ever confuse the two."

Her eyes widened a little more. "Wh—what do you mean?"

I stared at her for a long moment. Then used the strength gained from months of training.

I pulled her close and before she could react, I softly kissed her lips.

After a moment she responded, and I kissed her for a few seconds more before drawing back.

I looked into her eyes and said, "That's what I mean."

Ah—what the Hell did I just do?

I must be losing my mind. This is so going to mess up my relationship with Caprice and Haruka.

Thinking of Haruka brought an ache to my chest.

To Hell with Haruka. She made her choice. Now I was making mine.

But now I was stuck between my feelings for Caprice and the realization that I liked Simone, and not just her enormous, perfectly shaped bosom.

I liked Simone Alucard Raynar, the beautiful, willful girl standing before me.

My heart was pounding so hard I was certain she could hear it as clearly as I could.

Nonetheless, I didn't have the time to indulge in the moment.

Melanie arrived at a run and pushed the both of us down the tunnel. "Quit the lover's spat and start moving. We've got company and you need to get to your sister ASAP!"

I looked behind Melanie in the direction where the tunnel inclined a few degrees. A heartbeat later I felt a vague vibration under my feet, then heard a deep rumble that grew louder by the moment. Blue-white pinpricks of light shone brightly in the distance. They were tiny but growing swiftly.

Melanie was right – vehicles were on their way, probably heavily armored personnel carriers.

I cursed softly under my breath and Melanie began hurrying us along in earnest.

"Come on, come on," she repeated as she pushed at us.

With Simone's hand in mine, we quickly broke into a run, but it was unlikely we'd stay ahead of the approaching carriers for long. The tunnel walls offered no place to hide and no way out.

After running for a minute or so, Melanie suddenly skidded to a halt.

"Caelum, Alucard, keep going. I'll deal with the personnel carriers."

Simone and I both slowed down, but Melanie waved insistently down the tunnel. "Hurry up. You have to get to Celica. Hurry, Caelum."

Behind us the vehicles were clearly visible, and it wasn't long before we heard the sounds of a blaring megaphone.

"You there, stop immediately. I repeat, stop immediately."

At that moment, Melanie's eyes met mine, and I felt a jolt run through me as I understood she was serious about stopping the convoy.

"Melanie—"

"Go, Caelum." She smiled tightly at me. "I promise, I'll be fine."

I wanted to believe her, but I didn't feel I could.

Even if she possessed a Valkyrie Armor, how was she expecting to stop the oncoming platoon?

Melanie turned away and walked up the tunnel a few meters, taking a spot in the middle.

I was gripped by indecision, though I knew it was foolish to contemplate helping her.

I didn't have a Fragment or Artifact.

There really was nothing I could do. If I tried to help, I'd just get in the way.

I tightened my grip on Simone's hand, and resumed running down the tunnel with the Countess at my side. As I did, a familiar cold nipped at me and I realized a Fragment or Artifact had been summoned. Glancing over my shoulder as I ran, I witnessed an amazing sight.

The black mist surrounding Melanie faded, dissipating into the air like smoke. The girl was left standing clad in a fantastical, sleek armor that gave her an extra three feet of height courtesy of long, narrow, tapered legs that merged with her legs above the knees. To either side of her floated three downward pointing wings that reminded me of a cloak cut lengthwise in half. But most surprising was the color of the wings and Melanie's skinsuit-like armor. It was a combination of varying pinks, purples, blacks and gold that looked oddly fitting.

I realized I was seeing Melanie clad in a fully manifested Valkyrie Armor.

This was its Valkyrie Maiden form.

I couldn't help slowing to a stop. I pulled Simone to a halt beside me, as I looked back up the tunnel.

Beside me, the Countess gasped in shock.

The four rumbling personnel carriers skidded to rest as they fanned out before Melanie who now stood – or floated – in the middle of the tunnel. Almost immediately a squad of soldiers wearing armor-skins emerged from two of the vehicles and spread out to cover Melanie.

The soldier standing through the roof hatch of the lead vehicle raised his megaphone.

"Stand down and withdraw your armor. I repeat, stand down and withdraw your armor. If you do not we'll be forced to—"

Melanie moved.

In the blink of an eye she was airborne, flying a foot off the ground directly at the parked carriers.

I overclocked, and watched in quarter time as Melanie Cardwell, the ace of Galatea Academy's swim team, met the vehicles and soldiers of Special Interventions head on.

Even though Simone and I stood at a distance, we both felt the air harden as Melanie's Valkyrie Armor – or Valkyrie Maiden – generated an immensely strong barrier-field that knocked the lead carrier over onto its roof. The megaphone wielding soldier was flung clear of the vehicle, landing many meters away while the carrier tumbled over and crashed into the tunnel wall. It rocked like a turtle on its back as Melanie landed beside it. In a heartbeat she launched herself at the second personnel carrier. With the leg of a Valkyrie Maiden, she struck the eight-wheeled machine, and tossed the heavy carrier against its companion a dozen meters behind it.

The sounds of crunching, scraping metal reached our ears.

The two carriers rocked wildly, with one of them coming to rest on its side.

By now the soldiers had sprung into action.

They scattered while opening fire on Melanie. Armor piercing rounds peppered the air and tunnel walls, powdering the permacrete into billowing clouds.

I grabbed Simone and began retreating quickly down the tunnel. I pushed her ahead of me, as I had nothing but my body to protect her from a stray round.

We ran with the sounds of shouting and gunfire behind us.

It seemed to last forever, and when I looked back over my shoulder, I saw Melanie darting between the soldiers and vehicles, her Valkyrie Maiden bathed in gunfire as she sliced at man and machine with a sword that was almost as long as she was tall.

Only two of the carriers remained functional. Their gun turrets swiveled and blazed at Melanie, but they merely succeeded in cutting down their own soldiers.

I focused on running but the urge to look back overcame me.

I turned in time to see Melanie charge at a third carrier.

She leapt a handful of feet into the air, swung her sword smoothly, and sliced through the nose of the armored vehicle. Sparks and smoke belched into the air. She delivered a second scything cut when a violet flash of light cast Melanie and the vehicle into stark relief.

A heartbeat later the carrier exploded.

Melanie vanished in a ball of flame and reddish black smoke that completely filled the breadth and height of the tunnel.

I didn't understand what had happened.

Had she hit a fuel cell or something?

Then I realized the fourth carrier, which was the vehicle most rearward, had fired a roof mounted warhead at the carrier Melanie was busy slicing apart.

The massive explosive shockwave caught up with us, and knocked Simone and I to the ground as a searing wave of heat rolled over us. The air grew hot, making it painful to breathe.

For a long while I just lay on the permacrete ground beside Simone, finding it hard to comprehend what I'd just witnessed.

The Special Interventions platoon had sacrificed its soldiers in an effort to subdue and defeat Melanie.

Was that dedication, or desperation?

Regardless, I couldn't afford to remain lying on the ground. As the air cooled a little, I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees, and crawled over to Simone. The Countess was unharmed but looked dazed. I helped her to her knees, then turned to look back up the tunnel.

The smoke and fire wasn't clearing, obscuring the tunnel and personnel carriers from view.

I didn't know if Melanie had survived the massive detonation but other than the flames and smoke there was no sign of movement.

I certainly didn't think the soldiers had lived through that, despite their protective armor-skins.

The carrier had been loaded with munitions which made the explosion immensely powerful.

I started to gather my legs under me, tempted to run toward the flaming conflagration when Simone suddenly pulled on my arm.

"Caelum, don't leave me."

I stopped and stared at her, remembering my promise to her, then glanced at the scene of destruction behind us.

As much as I regretted leaving Melanie behind, I realized I had no choice. Without a Fragment of my own I was helpless to protect Simone, let alone search for Melanie in that flaming Hell.

Taking a deep breathe, and tasting the acrid smoke in the air, I gave Simone a single nod, and then helped her to her feet.

I took hold of Simone's hand and resumed running once more, mindful that the Countess was barefoot.

I threw a glance over my shoulder, but didn't stop or slow down.

The fire continued unabated, and the smoke spread unchallenged down the length of the tunnel. It didn't appear as though fire suppression systems had been installed. That wasn't good. The fire would consume precious oxygen. As large as the habitat was, it was miniscule in comparison to a planet.

Simone abruptly grabbed my arm with her free hand and pulled me to a harsh stop that almost sent us tumbling. She was breathing hard and struggling for air. "Caelum...let's...go back...."

I looked at her in surprise, and studied her face for a short while as she slowly recovered her breath.

Simone looked scared, really scared, and it pained my chest.

But I shook my head slowly. "Simone, we can't go back. The fire and smoke have blocked off our exit. I wouldn't be surprised if the tunnel's been compromised."

Fear was making her insistent. "Maybe there's another way out? We haven't really looked. We've just been running all this time."

I felt my face harden.

Melanie had fought the soldiers in order to give me a chance to reunite with Celica. I wasn't going to let her efforts to go waste, not when I thought she may have sacrificed her life in that explosion.

I just couldn't go back, and so I shook my head again. "I'm not going to look for another way out."

"Caelum—"

"If my sister is down there, I need to see her. I _have_ to see her. I won't lose the chance Melanie gave me."

Simone's lips moved but she made no sound. Through her grip on my arm, I felt her tremble slightly.

I leaned toward her. "She's important to me, Simone. She's my _sister_."

I realized I was trembling too, but not from fear. If asked I wouldn't have been able to explain what I was feeling. It was a mixture of so many feelings – anger, anxiety, depression, regret, hope. It was all a big mix that now simmered in the cauldron of my chest.

Simone swallowed and I saw the fear and indecision cycle across her face.

Then she squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment, and I felt her tremble strongly for a heartbeat before her body relaxed.

When she opened her eyes, her gaze was steady, though I read the uncertainty behind them.

"Okay," she whispered. "We go forward...together."

I nodded faintly, but it didn't feel that was enough so I pulled her close and embraced her tightly.

"It'll be fine," I whispered into her ear. "I won't let anyone harm you. I'll keep you safe. I promise...."

Her arms wrapped around my back and I felt her nod against my shoulder.

Even as I held Simone, feeling her warmth spread through my chest and body, I silently offered a prayer for Melanie's safety.

I felt woefully helpless.

Now more than ever, I sorely wished I had my Gauntlet with me.

I offered a second prayer to the gods above, praying I wouldn't encounter a need to use the Artifact.

I didn't know if they heard me or not, but I couldn't afford to wait for an answer.

Releasing Simone from the embrace, I took hold of her right hand once again.

This time I resolved not to look behind us as we resumed running down the tunnel, away from the fire and wreckage of the personnel carriers, and away from Melanie.

### Chapter 22 – Brahmastra.

(Caprice)

Constance spoke to us through our linked Fragments.

I heard her voice in my head.

* _Internal security is down. The holocams and security sensors have been disabled. We have no idea where those Familiars from Crimson Crescent went._

We had arrived at the cafeteria. At sight of us the students began to cry out. Some asked for help, others pleaded not to be hurt. But amongst their voices I heard a girl clearly call out to me.

Haruka Amiella.

She was lying supine on the ground. That tall senior I knew as Duncan Armand was lying beside her. I recognized Siobhan and Alistair nearby on the floor beside the table they must have all been sharing.

I hurried over to Haruka, and she told me what had happened only a few minutes ago.

Through the transparent atrium ceiling, I could see the dark prow of the massive starship that floated above Galatea Academy. I relayed Haruka's story to Constance via the Fragment Link.

Now we waited inside the cafeteria, uncertain of our next move, and unable to help anyone.

I had helped Haruka up while she was within the confines of my effect-field, but it was only a temporary respite for her and Duncan Armand.

I asked, * _Constance, has Severin found from where the hacker breached the network? And what about that girl they took? We can't let them leave with her._

Maya cut in smoothly. * _Calm down, Caprice. We're not going to let them get away with anything, let alone taking students like spoils of war._

* _They're acting like pirates_ , Jaxon muttered.

I noticed the look Haruka was giving me. She was frowning at me.

"Caprice," she asked hesitantly, "are you talking to someone...with telepathy?"

I thought I'd been keeping my expression flat.

Looks like I was wrong.

I shook my head tightly. "No, I'm not talking to anyone via telepathy."

* _Alright, listen up,_ Constance interrupted. * _Severin's nerds have got a possible location—the school library._

Maya asked, * _Is that the middle school or high school library?_

* _High school library._

* _Good, then let's move._

* _Wait, wait, wait!_ Constance yelled out. * _Those guys have a ten minute head start. Are you just going to waltz in there?_

Maya sounded thoughtful. * _Why not have the Enforcers from Special Interventions go in first. Can Severin tell them where to go?_

* _Seems they already know where to go_ , Constance replied. * _Ah, Hell. There's a fight in the library. No! The books are burning! Ah, damn it, the fire suppression system kicked in. Now we can't see a bloody thing!_

I caught sight of Maya moving quickly toward the east side of the cafeteria.

* _Let's hurry_ , she called out.

I looked down at Haruka. "Sorry, I have to go. This is going to hurt a little."

Rina suddenly called out to all of us. * _Wait! We can't leave them like this. They're barely staying conscious under so much weight. It's six point seven gees inside this building alone._

* _We don't have time for them_ , Maya retorted.

Rina refused to give up. * _At least let me take down the gravity generators._

Maya stopped walking, then spun round to face the girl. * _How?_

I watched Rina raise her gun-blade. The black mist that usually preceded a Fragment's appearance and disappearance surrounded it. When the mist faded, the gun-blade was more like cannon-blade. However, Rina had no trouble holding it up for Maya and the rest of us to see.

* _Won't you let me try?_ she asked.

Maya debated yay or nay for a few seconds. * _Constance, can Severin tell Rina where the effect-field generators are for the school cafeteria?_

* _Yeah, I think so._

* _Rina wants to shoot them with her Fragment cannon._

I looked at Maya. * _Do you want us to go ahead?_

Maya shook her head. * _No, we stay together._

We had to wait for Severin to give Rina the location of the nearest generator. Constance said it was straight down the middle of the atrium, buried around ten feet under the ground floor.

Rina walked to the balcony and lifted the cannon over the railing. She took aim at the floor three levels below.

* _Rina, what about the students on the ground floor?_

* _The closest one is twenty seven feet away. That's good enough. Don't worry. I won't hit them._

Motes of light began to dance around the tip of the tapered barrel. The weapon looked like something that belonged on a tank, not in the arms of slender girl dressed in a school uniform.

But Rina's arms were steady, and when she fired, the beam of light would have burned my eyes had I not looked away.

A loud screech filled the air and a heartbeat later a boom resounded throughout the interior of the cafeteria. The floor shook with the strength of a small quake. Students screamed and cried out, but Rina ignored them. The particles of light dance again around the barrel, and she fired a second shot at the floor. This time the boom was quieter and the ground shook a little less. Then I heard a second explosion, and felt a shockwave ran through the cafeteria. The air shimmered as it raced by. It brushed my barrier-field with enough force to make me stagger.

I noticed quickly the pressure on my barrier-field had eased. The simulated gravity generated by the effect-field emitters buried under the cafeteria must have dropped in output.

Some of the students were looking around slowly, and some were even struggling to sit up.

* _That's one,_ Rina reported. _*But I need to go outside to snipe the second and third generators that are buried in the north and south courtyards._

Maya asked, * _What's the gravity down to?_

*Around four point four gees.

Rina started walking along the circular length of the cafeteria level, heading for the south side of the building.

* _Rina, where are you going?_ Maya asked.

* _Maybe I can snipe the south generator in the courtyard from the window. I won't need to head outside._

Maya complained. * _We don't have time for this. That shot is going to alert Crescent's team. And that starship is watching is from overhead._

* _Just one more shot, Maya_ , Rina stated.

* _Rina, I'm ordering you to stand down. Follow my orders._

The girl was walking toward me so I had no choice but to block her way.

* _Rina wait a moment,_ I said, then looked at Maya. * _You and Jaxon go ahead. I'll stay with her. We'll catch up after this last shot._

Rina blinked, maybe surprised I'd taken her side.

On the other hand, Maya was clearly annoyed. She looked up at the starship floating menacingly overhead.

Jaxon waded into the situation. * _Maya, let her do it. If it'll help these Aventis a little more, then let her do it._

Rina added, * _Let me make the shot. Crescent already knows we're here. They can see right through the ceiling into the cafeteria._

A few moments went by before Maya retorted low in our minds. * _What good is my being team leader if you won't follow my orders? Or do you plan to follow them only when they suit you?_

She glared at all of us. * _You want to help them? The best way is to get to that hacker and have them reset the gravity field emitters back to normal. And we're wasting time._

She turned and walked in a hurry toward the east exit of the cafeteria.

Jaxon yelled out to her. * _Maya—wait!_

* _Jaxon, go,_ I said to him.

He didn't wait to be told twice. He ran across the cafeteria's circular floor. * _You guys catch up as soon as you can._

Rina walked around me and hurried over to the glass wall facing south. However, she waited until I used my bladed gauntlets to cut the trans-steel glass and make an opening for her. The heavy winds from the storm raging around the starship blew in through the ragged hole I'd cut. Rina forced her cannon-blade through the opening, took aim and then fired.

Light danced around the barrel tip for a few seconds before a narrow purple beam of light burned through the air and the courtyard below. I squinted and watched as a cone shaped crater was burned into the courtyard.

Rina fired a second time, and I saw secondary flash followed by concentric ripples flowing outwards through the air. The shockwave rocked the floor of the cafeteria.

When the ground settled I asked, * _What's the gravity down to now?_

* _Around two point seven gees_ , she replied. * _It varies across the cafeteria._

I pursed my lips for a moment. * _That will have to do. We can delay any longer._

Rina argued. * _The effect-fields from both courtyards overlap, so this only helps about half the cafeteria._

* _It will do for now. The sooner we get to that Hacker the sooner we can address the situation. So let's go._

Rina stared at me through narrowed eyes. * _No, there's one more thing we can do._

She walked away from me and toward the balcony overlooking the atrium in the middle of the cafeteria.

* _Rina?_

She hefted the cannon-blade, aiming upwards at the atrium's ceiling – aiming at the visible starship.

Light particles began to swirl in a raging maelstrom a foot from the barrel. This was different from what I'd seen before. In heartbeats the vortex grew to a span of several feet. The loud screech became an earsplitting one. I tried covering my ears as I yelled out to her through the Fragment Link.

* _Rina—don't. If you fire on them they'll fire back._

* _Not if I make this shot count._

* _Stop it!_

The swirling vortex suddenly contracted and was sucked into the cannon's barrel.

A millisecond later the weapon fired, and a tight beam of violet light connected the cannon to the atrium ceiling. The beam burned through the trans-steel as though it was paper and struck the reaction shields protecting the Crimson Crescent starship.

For a second the vessel's shields held it back, flaring brightly as they did.

But it was only for a second.

The beam pierced through and then struck the starship's narrow, wedge shaped prow.

Through my squinting eyes I saw the skin of the ship glow deep violet then crimson before bursting apart.

I didn't realize it until later that many of the students in the cafeteria were crying out in fear and panic.

I was too entranced by the sight of the starship's prow billowing smoke. The ship's auto-repair functions must have kicked in because the smoke died out quickly. But the damage was visible.

* _Rina...what the Hell have you done?_

* _Now it's their move,_ she declared softly in my head.

The black mist surrounded the cannon-blade, and a short while later it returned to the smaller gun-blade form.

I began fearing the worst, and concentrated on strengthening my barrier-field. If they fired down on us, how long would my barrier hold?

All around me, students were struggling to their knees.

Struggling to get away.

But if they left the confines of the cafeteria, they would once again run into the crushing gravity fields afflicting the rest of the building.

Rina had made a difficult situation worse for them.

* _Maya,_ I called out. _*We have a small problem._

* _What did she do? What the Hell did Rina do?_

So Maya had heard my cry through the link. * _She fired on Crimson Crescent's starship and blew a hole in its hull._

* _Gods damn her._

I swallowed and hesitantly asked, * _How's your end?_

* _Actually, we're a little busy so get your ass over here now!_

* _Busy?_

* _We need backup, Caprice. These guys are tough as Hell, and they're just playing with us._

So the fight had been joined.

I looked up and saw the starship swing away. It was still hovering over the academy, but from its new position it would be difficult for Rina to make the shot. She would need to find another vantage point.

Something black fell away from the ship.

I wondered if I'd just seen someone jump down from it.

I didn't have to wonder for long.

To the east side of the cafeteria a loud boom resounded and a massive hole appeared in its ceiling. With gravity around two to three gees the debris rained down with added momentum. Aventis students crawled away as best they could, many fleeing into the exit corridor. Behind them, and through the billowing cloud of pulverized permacrete, a dark shadow dropped down to the floor with an impressive thud.

Then the shadow stood up and I saw it was an impossibly large man, covered in a skin-suit from head-to-toe, wearing a helm much like a warrior from holovid role-playing game.

Rina and I reacted immediately, taking a combat stance. The blades on my gauntlets extended to their full length, and I concentrated my will on the Valkyrie Armor, urging it to strengthen the barrier-field.

* _Maya, we have company here in the cafeteria. I don't think we'll be there any time soon._

There was a delay before I heard a reply.

* _I understand...do your...do your best._

I swallowed. Without taking my eyes off the huge man facing us from across the open atrium, I said, "Rina, if this guy doesn't kick our asses first, I swear I'm going to kick yours when we're done."

In my peripheral vision I saw Rina shoot me a nervous glance.

I shook my head slowly.

"You are so dead, Rina. _So dead_."

#

(Alessandro)

I stared in awe and disbelief at what I was seeing.

From inside a school building, probably the white donut known as the cafeteria, someone had fired a bright lancing beam of light into the Crescent vessel.

The ship took the hit amid a flash of light, smoke and fire, then shied away. It put an extra hundred feet or so of distance between itself and the cafeteria below.

The beam that struck it was too strong to a hand held weapon used by the Special Intervention Enforcers. Even a shoulder cannon couldn't achieve a tenth as much. That meant one of the Familiars had used a Fragment or Artifact against Crescent.

I could only think of one person.

Rina Sayen.

The girl bonded with the Artifact Brahmastra – a gun-blade with the ability to augment into an incredibly powerful quantum reaction cannon. It was a weapon that could strike a target tens of thousands of meters away with millimeter precision.

Her profile described her as a follower, not a leader, so I believed someone had instructed her to take the shot.

Maya Khayman? Perhaps. I doubted anyone else could have convinced Rina Sayen to fire upon a starship.

But what if I was wrong? Well, the only way to know would be in a post battle debrief – provided anyone survived to attend it.

I replayed the scene from various angles as recorded by the holocams.

Yes, in response to that shot someone had definitely dropped out of the ship and into the cafeteria.

I felt utterly helpless sitting in my office. All I could do was watch, with no power to affect the proceedings. With that ship floating overhead, the area around Galatea Academy had been evacuated, but the school was still full of students. And with the underground passages locked down, there was no way to evacuate without being seen. Making matters worse the effect-field generators were outputting a simulated gravity in excess of six gees within the academy grounds.

So for now a small army of Enforcers was camped around the perimeter of the school, keeping to within a district block of Galatea Academy.

That was as much as the Enforcer Division could do.

And Special Interventions wasn't faring any better.

A report had come in a minute ago.

A fragment of a transmission from the convoy of vehicles headed for the Vault.

They'd entered via the underground service tunnel that connected the Vault to a subterranean military staging area. It was a means of access that didn't require the command codes stored in the black box network. But the doors within the large tunnel had been sealed shut, so the convoy had been forced to blow holes in them in order to get through.

Their last transmission had lasted only seconds but it was clear they had met an untimely end.

I read a follow up communication – a directive from Alucard ordering the next group of vehicles to hold position at the head of the tunnel, yet still within the staging area.

I had a bad feeling she was considering throwing in the towel, and would allow Crescent to get whatever they were after.

Then a message arrived on a holovid bubble floating near my head.

AVIENDA ON STATION.

I blinked and felt a chill run through my body.

She did it! Alucard convinced the Avenir Pride to weigh in on the situation.

But by the gods how had she convinced them to deploy _her_?

The Avenir Prides' most prized possession...in the hands of a child.

The only child to have shown the required level of compatibility with the Artifact.

The Seer-Khan Warlord, Avienda.

I instructed the holocam drones to search for it within the confines of Habitat Three.

It took long seconds, many long seconds, but in the end one drone spotted _something_ standing on the rooftop of an Aztec style building, a design prevalent within Pharos.

A bipedal machine, skeletal in places, while wearing thick armor in others. It had chevron link chains connecting its limbs to a spine-like structure. Wing-like vanes formed a skirt around its hips and back, connected to the spine of the main body by more of the same chevron link chains. At its back, six wing-vanes hung away from its body like the giant leaves of a palm tree. They were the six wing-vanes unique to a Seer-Khan, the second most powerful Warlord type in existence.

Only a Rho-Khan was stronger, uniquely identified by seven wing-vanes rather than six.

But to have Avienda standing here in a populated habitat sent cold wave after wave running through my body.

I didn't know if it was from excitement or extreme terror.

I pictured the worst case scenario – a habitat in flames.

No, I was definitely getting chills of terror.

If Avienda were to engage that starship in combat, the habitat was as good as history.

I prayed the Warlord was there as a deterrent.

The holocam zoomed in on the pilot, clad in a black and white outfit that clearly highlighted she was a teenage girl. A short teenage girl at that, though I did notice her breasts were well developed. Her legs were encased in armor that connected to the thighs of the skeletal, armored Warlord.

A helmet-like visor covered half her face, but not her maniacal grin as she turned to face the holocam spying on her.

She made the shape of a gun with her left hand, aiming her index finger at the holocam.

She mouthed the word 'bang', and the picture crashed into snow as the device stopped functioning.

On a second holocam I saw it blow up into a shower of super-heated fragments that lazily rained down upon a district block.

My vision of the habitat in flames resurfaced with a vengeance.

I tapped my palm-slate in a hurry and called the habitat command center.

"Evacuate Habitat One. Command authorization, Alesso one nine seven two. Pass phrase, summer rain."

I listened to the man on the other end of the line, and nodded subconsciously.

"That is correct. This is a red five alert. Highest probable danger. Evacuate all civilians and non-essential personnel from the habitat."

I swallowed as I gave the next order.

"Then lock it down."

I had the rank to call for such a directive. I was Special Interventions' second-in-command.

Once everyone was out, the quatre-steel shutters would come down at the exit and entrance to the tunnels that connected Habitat Three with the rest of the Island asteroid.

I ended the call, and it didn't take long for calls from other division commanders to come in, each one undoubtedly demanding an explanation for my actions.

But one message flashed up on my holovid message bubble.

DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. I HAVE MY HANDS FULL ON MY END.

I swallowed again as I read Alucard's words.

Do what I need to do?

I needed a way to shut up the incoming calls.

Fine. They wanted an explanation, then I would give it to them.

A picture as they say is worth a thousand words.

How many words was a holocam data stream worth?

I instructed a single holocam drone to keep a covert eye on the 'loose cannon' that was Avienda in the hands of its battle lusting pilot.

I instructed a number of other drones to turn their holocams on the Warlord, and not to be shy about it.

Then I answered all the calls at once, and presented the faces questioning me with one holovid window displaying the scene of young girl happily destroying one holocam drone after the other.

It didn't take them long to understand why I'd ordered the complete evacuation of Habitat One.

But I also knew that by now Crimson Crescent was well aware of the Warlord stationed on the outskirts of the habitat.

### Chapter 23 – The Vault.

(Caelum)

Eventually Simone's strength gave out, and we slowed to a walk.

Simone's voice was weak as she walked beside me.

"Do you think...do you think Melanie survived?"

"I don't know. I really don't know. That explosion was pretty big. It might have collapsed part of the tunnel."

I thought I heard the Countess swallow. "Damn it, Melanie...."

I swallowed too, but had no words to add.

We walked in silence for a little while, until the Countess softly asked, "Do you still want to see your sister?"

I hesitated, understanding what she was implying. Was the price of so much destruction worth it?

Thought of that way, didn't it make the carnage thus far my responsibility?

I wasn't ready to accept that, at least not yet.

But I wasn't going to change my mind.

I cleared my throat. "I've come this far. I can't turn back now. It's like I said before, I won't let Melanie's sacrifice be in vain."

I was talking as though Melanie was dead, and that was clearly wrong.

I whispered an apology to her and to the gods above.

Simone said, "Celica may not be the sister you remember."

"I know that." I swallowed then added, "But Melanie said that Celica wanted to see us. And I know she included you in her words."

Simone was quiet for a little while. "I can't believe Melanie was a member of Crimson Crescent."

I laughed softly. "I didn't know her that well. I can't say I suspected her." I thought of what Melanie had told us. "Simone, do you believe what she said about the super-freighter explosion?"

Again the Countess was quiet for a little while. "I heard she was adopted by the Cardwells. I knew that her own parents died when she was young. However, I didn't know they were Familiars, and I certainly was unaware they were aboard the super-freighter."

I thought of the death of my parents.

I thought of Caprice telling me her father had died when she was a child, and her mother had passed away while on a mission. She didn't know much about the circumstances of either incident.

Was there something to all the deaths that surrounded us Familiars? Was there an insidious, malevolent hand at play?

I was tied to Arisa by the red string of fate.

Now I'd learnt I was tied to Melanie as well.

Simone softly added, "The Cardwells are extremely wealthy. I doubt they ever denied her much. I guess her need for revenge was too much to overcome."

"So you believe her...?"

Simone sighed under her breath.

I glanced at her, and noticed her thoughtful, pensive expression.

The Countess shook her head ever so slightly. "I wonder if it's true, or if she was somehow conditioned to believe all that. After all, when I asked her about her parents' journals she said she'd returned them to Crimson Crescent. I find that odd. If my parents were precious to me, and if those journals were precious to my parents—I would never have returned them." She shook her head forcefully. "No, I would never have relinquished my parents' legacy to anyone."

I was about to add to that, when I noticed something that stole my voice.

In the distance ahead, the tunnel changed shape. We continued onward in silence, but came to a stop where the tunnel grew into an enormous half-domed chamber. Simone and I looked about the interior which was illuminated by dozens of light strips embedded into the curved rock walls. I noticed numerous perforations dotting the walls and realized they were gun ports. A half dozen cannons hung from the ceiling high overhead, all pointing at the chamber's entrance to the tunnel.

Melanie hadn't been lying.

The half dome chamber was a killing field.

In order to cross the chamber floor, Crimson Crescent needed to shut down the security protecting it. For this reason they broke into the black box section of the network. With whatever lay inside, Crescent had gained control of the school and deactivated the cannons inside the chamber. They probably deactivated the security measures built into the tunnel as well, allowing us to arrive here unchallenged.

Stepping cautiously into the half-domed chamber, I turned my attention on the far wall.

A doorway stood there. It was open, and shaped like an isosceles trapezoid. Whatever lay beyond it was bathed in darkness, despite the tunnel and chamber lighting. But my attention was drawn to the silhouette of a person standing at the edge of the open doorway. They were dwarfed by its scale. A heartbeat later that person turned around to face us.

Although she stood at a distance, my improved eyesight allowed me to see her face clearly.

Beside me, Simone stiffened and then drew away a little, but I held her right hand firmly in my left.

I wasn't going to let her go because I needed her probably as much as she needed me.

Her presence provided the stable foundation for my state of mind.

The sensation of her warm hand in mine reassured me this was not a dream or nightmare, but horrid reality.

We walked closer and closer to the young woman standing by the enormous doorway.

We came to a stop when she raised a hand to us. By then, perhaps a dozen feet separated us from her.

She looked as I remembered her, on the day I saw her lying on the cold metal table in a freezing mortuary.

Except she wasn't dead.

She was alive, and standing before me.

I had often thought of what I'd say to her, if we ever met again in the afterlife.

But now I was at a loss.

I had no opening words for the woman that looked every bit like my sister.

To my relief, she was first to break the silence between us.

"You've grown, and filled out too," she said, looking me up and down with a satisfied smile on her face.

I swallowed and gave her a pained smile.

These were her first words to me?

I shook my head inwardly.

I studied her from head to toe, just as she had studied me.

She was dressed in black – no surprises there – but her skinsuit was extremely _skintight_. I mean, it looked painted onto her body. I remembered the times I'd thought my sister was hot, but seeing her dressed like some modern day ninja scattered my thoughts a little. She wore nothing else, clad in the skinsuit that came complete with the heeled boots on her feet.

I had to swallow to clear my throat and my thoughts. "Are you...are you Celica?"

"Of course I am." She smiled warmly. "Don't you recognize your own sister?"

"I thought you were dead."

Celica winced and glanced down for a heartbeat. "I was. I was as good as dead. If not for Crescent I would be dead."

I frowned at her. "What do you mean by that? I was told your death was faked. I was told you were working for Special Interventions—"

"Told by whom?" she asked bluntly, though her face betrayed amusement.

Simone spoke up, her voice surprisingly steady. "He was told by me."

"You?" Celica definitely looked amused. "Simone Alucard Raynar. I see you're every bit as impressive as Silia. You finally managed to catch Caelum's attention."

Simone's hand trembled in mine. "Well, not entirely...."

"Oh? Facing some stiff competition, are we?"

Simone gasped loudly. "No, no! I'll definitely win. I'll beat those girls. They're no match for me!"

Celica was quiet for a moment before bursting into short laughter. "That's a good answer."

I stared at the both of them in turn.

How could Celica be so relaxed?

Had Simone forgotten the destruction we'd left behind?

I took a half step forward. "Celica, tell me the truth. Are you working for Special Interventions? Did you infiltrate Crimson Crescent on their orders?"

I watched my sister grow from amused to angry in a heartbeat.

The dark look she gave me was one I'd never seen on her before.

Celica's eyes were like sharp razors cutting into me. "Is that what you truly think? Is that what you were told?"

She turned her gaze on Simone, and I felt the Countess's hand tremble in mine.

Celica's voice was like frost in the air – cold and biting. "Is that what you told him?"

Simone swallowed audibly. "Yes...."

Celica's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Simone hesitated for a long moment. "Because my mother said your betrayal was faked to trick Crimson Crescent. She said it was part of a plan to get you into their ranks."

Abruptly, Celica began to laugh, the anger dispelling in a moment. But it was still a dark, bitter laugh that escaped her lips. When she recovered, Celica stood with hands on shapely hips and stared down pensively at the ground for a long while.

I watched her shake her head slowly.

Her voice was low yet it carried easily enough.

"Your mother wanted me dead, Simone. That's the truth. After Crescent saved me, I took the Artifact, the Khan-skin, and your mother ordered the Artemis teams to hunt me down with extreme prejudice. But she couldn't stop Crescent from spiriting me away."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You stole an Artifact? You mean it wasn't a cover story? You really did betray the Raynar Pride?"

Celica nodded. "Of course."

Simone shivered. "You betrayed the Pride? You betrayed my mother? You did it for real?"

"Yes, I did."

I blurted out, "Why? Why Celica?"

She looked at me with a hard look in her eyes. "I did it for my baby."

I blinked. "What?"

Celica looked wistful. "I met him on a mission that went south. A mission to recover an Artifact from Crimson Crescent, one that was stolen during the super-freighter explosion six years ago. My team and I were captured, but they chose not to kill us. He chose me—no, he asked me to join Crescent. I could tell he liked me, and I found it hard to accept at first. But I decided to use his feelings for me to my advantage. I would use them to gain our freedom. I just didn't think I'd have to go to the lengths I did." She swallowed and said, "I didn't expect to _fall_ for him."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

My sister who never dated anyone during school, or afterwards, had fallen for the _enemy_?

Simone whispered loudly, "You fell in love?"

Celica nodded faintly. "Yes. I told him I would stay with him if he let my team go. He agreed, but my team had other ideas. A battle broke out, and I ended up using the Artifact we were sent to recover. I used it to fight our way out of the ship, and to escape back to Pharos."

I watched her run her fingers over her midriff.

"When I returned, I learnt I was pregnant. I had to admit everything to Special Interventions after they confronted me with the evidence of my pregnancy." She looked at Simone. "Your mother was infuriated. She said I'd been tainted by the enemy. She described me as soiled and corrupted. A fallen Artemis. She wouldn't listen to me, and there was truth in what she said. After all, I did fall in love with him. I fell in love with the enemy.

"She wanted to abort my baby, but then decided that I should give birth to it. She wanted me to watch them take my baby from me. She wanted me to live with the knowledge that I would never see my child again."

In the dim light, I saw Celica tremble in anguish at the memory she recounted.

"My pleas fell on deaf ears. I was placed in a detainment facility where I would be cared for until my pregnancy came to term."

I took a step closer to her. "But you escaped, right? I mean, you're here now."

"Crimson Crescent came for me. _He_ came for me. Somehow he learnt I was pregnant with our child, and he came for me. He mobilized his people and effected a rescue mission."

I saw tears in her eyes.

Celica pressed a hand over her chest. "I betrayed him, Caelum. I betrayed his love for me. I stole the Artifact and fled back to Pharos with my team. Yet he didn't give up on me. He came for me because he truly loved me."

I watched her tears fall.

"How could I ever leave his side again? How could I ever betray him again?"

I swallowed, and glanced away for a heartbeat. "So you chose him over your family. You left me behind."

"I couldn't get to you!"

Her loud cry echoed in the chamber. It shocked me, and Simone shied back.

Celica trembled again. "I couldn't reach you. You were under constant security. They knew I would try to come for you, so they made it impossible for me to reach you without a huge firefight erupting inside the habitat." She pressed down on her chest. "Do you know how hard it was for me to make the choice—my new family, or my little brother? Do you know how agonizing it was to not even have the chance to say goodbye, let alone explain any of it to you?"

I found it hard to talk under the weight of her emotions.

She had tried to take me with her.

I knew none of this.

I'd been living oblivious to the truth.

My existence, my life, had been carefully sheltered by the Raynars – by Simone's mother, Selena Alucard Raynar.

I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. "Your baby...what happened to it?"

"My daughter...your niece...was born almost a year ago. In fact, her birthday is in two weeks' time."

I had a niece? I was an uncle? I was too young to be an uncle.

The Countess cleared her throat. "What is your daughter's name?"

Celica blinked a couple of times before replying. "We named her after my mother. Chantal Desanto Crescent."

I felt my stomach tighten. "Crescent?"

"Yes. My husband is Falken Crescent. His family—his father—founded Crimson Crescent some seventeen years ago."

Now I understood where the name came from.

But to learn she had married the man whose organization was responsible for the death of our parents felt like a knife wound to my stomach.

Simone winced loudly as I clenched my hands. "Caelum—"

"Celica—Crimson Crescent killed our parents. They killed hundreds on that dock. They even made a public declaration afterwards."

"The declaration was not made by Crescent. It was made by the Prides. It was a fraud."

"Wh—what? What did you say?"

"Crescent did not kill our family, Caelum." She shook her head slowly. "It was ignorance. It was recklessness. It was greed that led to the explosion that destroyed the super-freighter. But the explosion served Crescent's purpose and they were able to acquire the vast majority of the shipment."

"Our parents are dead, Celica!"

"I know that!" she yelled back.

"And now you're the wife of the man who leads those murderers."

"I told you, Crescent didn't kill our parents."

"They were responsible," I snapped back. "They can't wash away the blood of the hundreds that died because they played a part in their deaths." I took another step toward her. "You know that! You know that but you can't admit it because you fell in _love_ with the enemy."

She shook her head once more. "They are not my enemy. Crimson Crescent is my home. They are my family now."

I stared at her with widening eyes. "Your family now...so that's how it is."

I heard Simone's voice cut clearly between us.

"What is your name?" she asked.

Celica glanced at her, slightly befuddled.

"What is your name?" Simone repeated.

I watched understanding spread across my sister's face.

Simone was drawing a line between us.

I watched my sister swallow with effort. "My name is...Celica Marisol Desanto Crescent."

Simone asked, "Caelum, what is your name?"

I swallowed, pushing hard against the tightness in my throat, against the painful void in my chest.

I took a deep breath, straightened and looked my sister in the eyes. "My name...my name is Caelum Rafael Desanto afil Lanfear."

Celica studied me quietly, and I studied her too.

"Afil Lanfear," she whispered. "Not afil Raynar."

The Countess said, "It should have been Raynar. But my Primatriarch decided he should serve the Lanfears." I felt her fingers squeeze my hand. "My blood should have been the one to Awaken him as a Familiar. It should have been me standing by his side."

Celica eyed the Countess. "Yes, it should have been you. In fact, your mother had plans for the two of you."

Simone tensed, and I inhaled sharply. "Plans for us?" I asked.

Celica nodded. "Selena Alucard was considering having you brought into the Alucard Family."

"Why?"

"Because of our bloodline, one that stretches back to the original twelve bloodlines that commanded the Warlords, the most destructive Artifacts a single Familiar can operate."

I frowned at her. Warlord? What was that?

Celica continued talking. "Our ancestors changed the outcome of the War of Supremacy. But they made one crucial mistake. They trusted the Aventis. They trusted the eight Prides. And they lost their place as the rightful rulers of our civilization." She shrugged slightly. "At least, that is what Crescent believes, and after seeing things with my own eyes, I'm inclined to believe them too."

She gave the two of us a long, forlorn look and it made me distinctly uneasy.

Sighing softly, my sister said, "I guess the Seeress was right. The river of fate can be hard to swim against."

I gave her a confused look. The Seeress?

However, Celica merely smiled wistfully again. "Caelum and Simone, the hands of fate have come round again full circle. I pray the outcome is favorable this time."

It sounded similar to what Melanie had said to Simone.

I narrowed my eyes at Celica, but my sister ignored the look.

She pointed into the dark chamber. "Caelum," she said. "I came here to retrieve what I was forced to leave behind. The Warlord, the Black Camellia."

I felt Simone shiver and glanced at her. By the light of the chamber, I could see the Countess had grown pale. Her lips moved and I heard her whisper, "Black Camellia...."

Celica nodded as though she'd heard the Countess. "When I returned from Crimson Crescent some twenty months ago, after my last mission as an Artemis, I was ordered to place the Warlord inside the Vault. However once you put something inside, you have to leave a part of it outside in order to retrieve it. Think of it like leaving a rope attached to it. One tug, and you can pull it out of the Vault."

She tapped her chest.

"This skinsuit is a Khan-skin. It's interfaced or linked to the Camellia. Special Interventions were unable to clear the bonding it had established with me. As a result, no one else could use this Artifact to retrieve the Black Camellia. I'm the only one that can." She shook her head quickly. "Before you ask why, I don't know why the bonding became permanent, but this Artifact has decided it won't work with any other Familiar. The specialists of the Raynar Pride were unable to wipe the bonding for fear they would irrevocably damage it after it strongly resisted their attempts to do so."

She waved us closer.

I hesitated for a few moments and stepped to within a few feet of my sister.

Celica said, "My team inside Galatea Academy were able to secure the command codes that deactivated the security, and opened up the doors to the Vault's chamber. I have what I wanted, my Warlord. But now it's time to complete my mission."

"What mission? You came here for something else?"

"Yes. I came for you."

I felt a shiver run through me.

Suddenly Simone stepped forward, placing herself in front of me. "No—you can't take him."

Celica was quiet for a heartbeat.

Simone clenched her free hand. "You can't take him from me."

I watched my sister smile ever so faintly.

"I'm not here to take him from you. I'm here to ensure that both of you are back on the proper path."

The Countess leaned back. "The proper path?"

"Yes, after all, you were meant to be with him. You were meant to be his fated one, and this wasn't something the Prides decided. It's simply the way things were meant to be. Unfortunately, someone had other ideas."

Simone shook her head. "I...I don't understand."

"You will. I didn't understand either, but now I have faith in the words of the Seeress because what she told me wasn't wrong."

"The Seeress?" I asked.

"Yes. Before I escaped from Crimson Crescent with the Camellia, their Seeress told me that I would have a difficult choice to make, but that ultimately I would make the right one. She said that while I would betray my heart once, I would never betray it again. And she told me that I was going to give birth to a very special girl. I was frightened by her words, and I fled from her. But she was right. My daughter is very special, and I have sworn never to betray Falken or my heart again." She gave me a meaningful look that made my breath catch. "The difficult choice was leaving you behind."

Simone remained where she was, as though shielding me from Celica. "So what do you want from him?"

"Come with me, and I'll show you." Celica walked through the trapezoidal doorway, and into the chamber.

If we wanted an answer, Simone and I had no choice but to follow her.

Beyond the doorway lay a spherical chamber with a narrow stone balcony that ran the circumference of the massive room. A hundred light strips were mounted at regular intervals on the interior wall.

A giant sphere floated in the center.

At sight of it Simone and I both gasped.

The sphere consumed almost all the free space the chamber and balcony had to offer it. It's surface moved like water covered in thick black oil, reflecting and absorbing the light shining from the chamber's inner wall.

I stared at it in awe and fascination.

Simone trembled slightly at my side.

Celica said, "This is The Vault. It's an Artifact, and it's _not_ the only one of its kind."

I glanced at her. "There are more? Where?"

She half shrugged. "There is a handful here in Pharos, buried deep under the habitats of the other Islands." She chuckled. "There's one buried under Arcala Academy, just like this one here under Galatea. I know of two others somewhere out in the Hurakan Nebula." She waved a hand at the sphere. "But this one—this one had the Black Camellia inside it, and that's why I had to come here."

I had trouble believing her, but she didn't appear to be lying.

I cleared my throat and asked, "What—what kind of Artifact is it?"

"As its name implies, it's a storage vault. The space inside is many times larger than the exterior we perceive."

I gave the black sphere another look. "So what's inside it?"

Celica beckoned me closer. I was reluctant because was Simone standing beside me.

I gave her a quick look. "Simone, stay here."

"What?" She gave me a fearful look.

"Wait for me here."

It was clear she didn't want me to go. I felt my heart surge at the sight of her concern for me.

"I'll be fine," I assured her.

Celica spoke quickly. "Hurry Caelum. We're running out of time."

I pulled my hand free of Simone's, and then stepped to the balcony's guardrail. I stood a couple of feet away from Celica.

"What now?" I asked.

Celica studied me for a heartbeat. "Caelum. No matter what you may think. No matter what people tell you, believe in my words. Never doubt them, no matter what happens from this point onwards."

I wasn't sure I could do that, but I gave her a subtle nod nonetheless, and she looked faintly relieved.

She stepped back a half dozen steps away from me. The black mist that heralded the manifestation of a Fragment surrounded her. But it was no Fragment that enveloped her body within the mist. I watched Celica float up into the air some seven or eight feet, before what I could only describe as an armor plated skeleton solidified around her body. It didn't fully enclose her, but rather, Celica appeared to be growing out of it. This was because her legs were encased in angular armor all the way up to her thighs, and that armor connected to the armor shod legs of the skeletal biped. However, the rest of her body was free.

The armored skeleton had black vanes extending from its back like flat wedge-shaped wings.

At its flanks hung two half skirts comprising a number of sharp, angular vanes that glowed with a red light.

I noticed other armored areas also glowed red, while her legs and the wing-vanes on her back glowed a bright blue.

So this was the Black Camellia.

This was a Warlord.

I could almost feel the power it exuded as though the air around it trembled in fear and awe.

Even I shivered in fascination.

Melanie's Valkyrie Maiden might have been strong, yet it didn't compare to the Warlord that stood before me.

However, Celica gave me little time to admire the powerful Artifact. She stepped up to me, or rather the Warlord stepped up to me on feet that resembled flat, angular panels. I felt the balcony tremble with each step.

The Warlord picked me up in giant, clawed hands, and I was raised to eye level with Celica.

"Caelum, I believe in you."

I struggled against its grip but it was futile. "What—what are you doing?"

"Never forget that."

"Celica—!"

"I love you little brother."

With those words she tossed me into the oily black sphere known as the Vault.

#

(Celica)

Simone Alucard screamed and ran to the edge of the balcony.

In fact, she climbed onto the railing and prepared to jump into the Vault after Caelum.

The extent of the girl's reaction took me a little by surprise.

Was I wrong in my thinking? No, I had to believe the Seeress's words, because so much depended on this girl's feelings.

Her purity was his salvation and her undoing.

My heart tightened in memory of the young woman's words.

Simone Alucard Raynar.

She was the splitting image of her ancestress.

And my brother?

He was so much like _him_ that I felt unbearable despair upon seeing the records Crimson Crescent had stolen from the Raynar Pride.

It was ancient footage from the War of Supremacy.

It was all that remained after the eight Prides decided to destroy the recordings at the conclusion of the war.

Then the Prides chose to rewrite history.

I reached out with the Black Camellia and held Simone back with its left arm.

"Simone, you cannot follow him. Remember what I said? Something outside must have a connection to what's inside or else it cannot be retrieved."

Simone's face was beyond distraught.

I stared at her, and accepted that my thinking was indeed wrong.

And I felt sorrow well up inside me – sorrow for Simone Alucard.

Please, dear gods, let things be different for them this time – let them have the ending they deserve.

Simone fought back her tears. "Why? Why do all this?"

"To right a wrong," I said to her. "And to give Caelum what he needs most...the means to do so."

"I don't understand."

"You will. You're going to have to be strong, for his sake and for yours. You're going to have to stand up to your family, your Pride and all other Aventis." I looked deep into her eyes. "Can you do that, Simone Alucard? Can you do that for him?"

Her stare was anguished, but I watched her resolve push it aside.

"Yes. For him, I can do that."

My throat grew a little tighter, though it was already hard to swallow.

Simone straightened. "What do I need to do?"

"Stand back," I told her, and then I reached out with the Camellia's left hand and tore away a three foot section of the guardrail. "Stand there, and put your arm into the Vault."

Simone gave the gap and the Vault an anxious look, but her hesitation was only for a heartbeat.

She stepped into the gap, her left hand holding onto the remains of the guardrail for support.

Slowly, nervously she reached out for the Vault with her right hand.

"Simone, your feelings must be pure. There can be no fear or doubt in your heart."

She stopped and stared at me for a long moment.

I saw the change in her emotions play out across her face.

Facing the Vault, she took a deep calming breath.

In one swift motion she plunged her arm up to her elbow into the black sphere.

I whispered hoarsely, "Call out to him, Simone. Let your feelings guide him back to you."

Abruptly, I heard a message through the Artifact Link between the Khan-skin and my companions. It was a thought-stream from a comrade aboard the _Induran_ hovering above the academy.

I looked up at the chamber ceiling.

* _What is it Anton?_

* _Mistress—we have a problem. A big problem._

I felt a pang of worry. * _Explain_.

* _It's the Avenir Pride's Warlord, the Avienda. It's here._

I felt my stomach sink and my chest grow cold.

They found a pilot for it. They found a Familiar compatible with that Seer-Khan Warlord.

So the rumors of another surviving descendant from the original twelve bloodlines were in fact true.

How many other descendants were there?

How many of the twelve had survived through the past two hundred years?

No, I had to question bigger than that.

How many of the dozens of bloodlines that fought during the war had survived?

I glanced in the direction of the exit.

* _I'm on my way out. I'll be there in a few minutes. Get our people out of the academy. Do it now!_

I looked down at Simone.

The girl's eyes were closed. Her face was the picture of serenity as she poured her feelings into the Vault.

I turned away, and walked the Black Camellia out of the Vault's chamber. I crossed the half-domed antechamber and arrived at the tunnel's entrance. Because the Warlord stood some eighteen feet tall, I had to crouch down to keep the Camellia's highest mounted wing-vanes from scraping the tunnel ceiling. After walking awkwardly fifty feet down the tunnel I came to a stop.

There was no need for me to turn and look back at the girl I had left behind. I could see her perfectly well using the Black Camellia's senses.

Alucard hardly swayed as she stood with her eyes closed and her arm immersed into the Vault.

I leave him to you, Simone Alucard. Take care of my little brother.

Concentrating my will over the Black Camellia, I felt its five wing-vanes fan out behind me. I crouched even further, and a moment later the Warlord floated off the ground. Pressure built up behind it, and a heartbeat later the Camellia rocketed forward down the tunnel.

In seconds I arrived at a scene of carnage – the site of the explosion I'd sensed many, many minutes ago.

Armored personnel carriers lay in ruins. Armor-skin clad soldiers lay dead amongst them.

The flames that once burned strongly had died down.

I looked around at the burnt tunnel walls and ceiling, noting the structural damage. A great deal of permacrete had broken away and lay in ruin atop the vehicles and dead soldiers.

Using the Black Camellia's senses, I searched for Melanie Cardwell, but I found no sign of the girl.

Her Artifact had been linked to Sunaj, who was the hacker responsible for breaking down the seals on Galatea Academy's network. But he was also her guide, as Melanie led Caelum and Simone to the Vault. Though she was linked to him, Melanie was not linked to the rest of us. As a result, I had no idea where she was and had relied on Sunaj to recount her progress through the underground tunnels.

But since the explosion, all contact with her had been lost.

I'd feared the worst, expecting to find nothing but pieces of her and her Valkyrie Maiden, but as the Camellia swept its senses over the surroundings, the Warlord found no trace of her.

Melanie had vanished.

* _Sunaj, it's Celica. I can't find Melanie. What happened to her?_

There was a moment of quiet on the Link between his Fragment and my Khan-skin.

* _Lady Celica...I'm sorry. The Link's been disrupted. I don't know where she is anymore._

I swallowed down my frustration.

I sent a thought-stream his way.

*The explosion wouldn't have broken the Link, unless the Valkyrie Armor was severely damaged.

I searched about a little more, using the Camellia's senses to penetrate the smaller tunnels the Warlord sensed above me. But I found no trace of the girl.

Had she escaped on her own?

Or had she been captured and ferried away?

With the Black Camellia floating a foot above the tunnel floor, I looked at the dead soldiers lying around me.

If she was taken, then whoever took her chose to leave everyone else behind.

I looked up the tunnel in the direction away from the Vault chamber.

I had come in via another tunnel, but I knew from past experience that this main tunnel began at an underground staging area. It was an underground base of sorts, large enough for a full company of soldiers and vehicles.

Was Melanie there?

If she had been captured, was she taken to the staging area?

Damn it. That girl had been a hard find – a precious find. To lose her now was a severe blow.

I bit my lower lip, frustration gnawing at my thoughts.

Anton's thought-stream invaded the Link.

* _Mistress, hurry. With the Avienda nearby we can't pick up our people._

I grit my teeth together and considered my options.

I could fly up the tunnel and through the staging area, and then to the habitat above. Or I escape via the same side tunnel I'd used on my way in. However, that would take considerably longer.

Much longer.

I made my choice.

* _Anton, I'm going to exit via the base at the entrance to the tunnel. It's going to get messy. See you soon._

* _Mistress!_

* _Relax, I'll be fine._

Gathering up the Camellia's power, I accelerated to near supersonic speed in a matter of seconds.

The force of my passage pushed a wall of air ahead of me.

I continued to accelerate up the tunnel.

Urgency lent me its wings and the Camellia broke the sound barrier a moment later.

The exit loomed fast up ahead.

I sailed through it, and had to pull up sharply or crash into the small army of Enforcement Division vehicles camped around the tunnel's entrance.

The staging area resembled an underground base with many levels accessible through an open, central atrium. Enormous freight platforms ascended and descended along the walls of the atrium, transporting men, machinery and munitions between levels. A number of those elevators travelled in wide, open shafts that led up to the habitat and the non-subterranean part of the base. Dozens upon dozens of soldiers, technicians and mechanics covered the open space between parked personnel carriers and assorted military vehicles.

I didn't know if the soldiers had been expecting me, but I gave them no opportunity to recover and react to my sudden entrance. The wall of air I'd pushed ahead of me had left the soldiers and vehicles near the tunnel entrance tumbling like leaves in a strong breeze.

I fired a few shots into their midst, not really taking aim, yet scoring a hit each time.

A few more well placed shots around the underground base ignited a munitions dump, and the explosion scattered men and machines even further, generating more confusion and disarray.

Despite not having piloted the Camellia for nineteen odd months, she still responded the way I remembered her.

Fast, agile, and incredibly powerful.

My Awareness felt immense, expanding hundreds of feet in radius around the Black Camellia.

I left the Enforcer base in a confused shambles, and quickly pivoted while treading air.

Then I aimed the Warlord up and flew into an elevator shaft that afforded me access to the habitat above.

As I soared upwards, there was no need to blow a hole in the ceiling because the shaft had no ceiling. Instead, the elevator platform doubled as a section of the floor for the portion of the base that was built above ground. With the platform some distance below me the floor was open, so I was able to fly up into the base unimpeded. A quick scan of the surroundings revealed the non-subterranean element was still disguised as a warehouse in an outlying district of Habitat One. I flew low through its wide open interior, ignoring the fleeing men and women. The massive doors stood ahead, and a quick shot from the Camellia's quantum reaction cannons burned away an opening large enough for the Warlord to fly through.

Once in clear air, I flew upwards and away from the warehouse district below me.

In the distance, some five kilometers away, I could see _Induran_ hovering above Galatea Academy.

I flew toward the starship, while willing the Camellia to locate the other Warlord.

There—off to my right and at the edge of the enormous habitat.

Pacing impatiently on the rooftop of an Aztec style building.

An armored skeleton with a body of young girl growing out from it, and six wing-vanes extending from its back.

A Seer-Khan Warlord.

A type that was stronger than the Black Camellia.

I watched it leap into the air, and fly at near super-sonic speed toward the starship.

I clenched my jaw against the uncertainty of success.

Could I beat her? How experienced was she with that Warlord? How much talent did she possess?

I tried to work up a plan as I flew toward _Induran_ , and certain conflict with the Seer-Khan.

### Chapter 24 – Family.

(Caprice)

For a long minute, nothing happened.

The giant of a man stood facing us across the open space of the atrium.

Rina and I stood in stance, watching and waiting for him to make a move.

Even after a minute, the gun-blade in Rina's arms held steady without any additional means of support. I had to hand it to the girl – she was displaying nerves of steel.

But it was getting neither party anywhere.

Then I realized the most obvious of truths.

The Crimson Crescent giant wasn't here to fight us.

He was here to delay us. To hold us back and stall us. To deter us from making another move.

* _Rina, keep your weapon up._

* _Yes, I know. He won't move unless we do._

* _How are your arms holding up?_

* _No problem at all._

I sighed inwardly in relief.

But I could hear the students around us muttering and whispering in fear and confusion.

"What are they doing?"

"They're just standing there."

"What is this, a Mohican stand-off?"

"Mexican—a Mexican stand-off."

"I wish they would do something. I wish they would leave."

I risked a glance over my right shoulder.

The southern courtyard lay beyond the cafeteria wall. What if I made the first move and baited the giant outside?

But I had to ask myself, did I really want to face him?

I had no idea what kind of Fragment or Artifact he used. I had no idea his strengths and weaknesses. And I had little combat experience.

This was Crimson Crescent we were facing. These people were accustomed to fighting the Prides as a matter of survival. But Rina and I were new entrants into the struggle. As they say, we'd barely gotten our feet wet.

I took a deep breath, and slowly edged toward a decision.

I promised Ms. Fauntine I would protect this school. I could do that just by holding still, but deep down that didn't sit well with me.

I closed my eyes for a moment, and that's when I heard a girl's voice clear across the cafeteria.

"It's him—he's the one who took Reina. He's the bastard who took her!"

I opened my eyes and stared at the large man. "Is that true?" I was surprised to hear my own voice, but the question couldn't be retracted.

He cocked his head to a side. "You say something, little girl?"

"Is that true? Were you the one responsible for taking a student of this academy?"

"Yes. Nothing personal, just following orders."

I ground my teeth. "Nothing...personal...."

He snorted. "What are you, my echo?"

I shook my head slowly. "No, I'm no echo. But I'm going to ask you one thing. Have you ever heard the tale of David and Goliath?"

"Nope."

"It's a really good tale. It's all about a giant of a man who gets taken down by a smaller one. It's the classic big versus small encounter."

"So, you're drawing a parallel here?"

I clenched my hands, and felt my blades grow a few inches longer. They already extended two feet past my fists. "What am I saying, is that if you take one of ours, we'll take one of yours."

He gave me pitying look. "Is that supposed to be threat?"

"I'm just letting you know, that you won't be returning to your ship." I held up arm with their gauntlet blades for him to see. "At least, not in one piece."

"Big words from a little girl—"

I leapt toward him, clearing the guardrail and the thirty foot span of the atrium in a single bound.

This was my God Speed, the power of the Valkyrie Legs. It was something I couldn't handle unless I over-clocked.

My Artifact sensed his barrier field, and I raised my right arm in order to slash downwards. My intention was to cleave through the barrier, and my piercer-field did just that.

I saw surprise on his face, but it lasted only a heartbeat. He already had his right arm back, ready to deliver a pile-driving blow. As he punched toward me, I sensed a tremendously thick barrier-field form around his fist.

Rather than meet his barrier with one of mine, I willed a piercer-field to envelope my left blade, then thrust it into his oncoming fist. It felt like stabbing through a wall of thick jelly, but the blade carried through. Though deflected, it managed to graze the length of his gauntleted forearm.

I frowned inwardly.

Up close, I could see his Fragment clearly.

There was armor around his fists, feet, forearms and shins. The joints of his limbs are protected too. The torso armor reminded me a little of Jaxon's Kaiser, rippling like snake skin.

As my blade cut a groove over his gauntlet, I pushed down, using his arm for support. That allowed me to push off him and thus avoid his right fist altogether.

It was perfect, and left him wide open – open for a kick from my Valkyrie Legs.

I swung my left leg up, and even if it left me unbalanced, I put everything I had into that kick.

It connected.

Its barrier-field slammed into the field protecting his sternum.

Damn it. I didn't expect his field to be so hard.

But it wasn't over yet – I still had some momentum left.

I brought up my right leg and kicked straight at his chest. It lacked force, and would have barely cratered a permacrete wall. But it sent him back a few steps, and gave me the time to touch ground safely, though I landed hard and awkwardly.

Move. Keep moving. Don't falter.

I was prone to delaying after finishing a combination move. My fight with the Artemis girls had highlighted that. I needed to keep moving. Not so much reacting, as acting.

My encounter with Jaxon had gone a little better because I'd kept up my pace.

I needed to do the same here, or I would be pummeled by this giant man.

"Ho ho, not bad," he praised. "Certainly faster than—"

Bastard talks too much.

I launched myself at him.

A second and third kick, one to his chest and the next to his flank, robbed him of his words.

But he took the blows, and I barely avoided his counter, a scything palm strike that would have doubled me over had it hit my chest. I bent backwards, losing my footing but saving my body. I heard the air whistle behind his palm as it cleaved the space where my body had been a millisecond ago.

I landed on my backside, but used the effect-field my Valkyrie Armor projected to push myself off the ground. I scrambled clear of his next strike – a fist that punched down into the ground a heartbeat after I rolled my body out of the way. I glimpsed his hand disappear into the floor, shattering the permacrete and thin linoleum into small fragments.

Gods, that power was more than I'd ever faced before.

But I realized it a quarter second later.

His hand was temporarily stuck.

I was out of balance. My posture on the ground was awkward, but I took the chance regardless.

It was an opening I wasn't going to a miss.

Using my left arm to push up and off the ground, I slashed diagonally with my right blade, aiming not for his gauntleted arm but for his tricep bulging under his skinsuit.

The piercer field sliced through the barrier around his arm.

It sliced the skinsuit and the flesh underneath.

For a moment there was no reaction.

Then his blood splattered against the barrier-field protecting my face.

He roared in pain.

Amazingly, he tore his right fist out of the hole in the floor, and then came at me swinging.

So he's a Power Type after all, just like in those role-playing games I'd heard my male classmates talk about before homeroom and during lunch break.

So what did that make me?

A Speed Type? An Agility Type? A Blade Type?

Maybe all three.

Yes, definitely all three.

I realized I was grinning. No, I was smiling.

I'd drawn first blood, and I had no desire to stop there.

* _Rina, he's mine. You take care of the effect-field gravity generator in the northern courtyard. Make things lighter for me._

It felt like an eternity before she replied.

* _I'm on it. Don't get hit._

I grinned, but it was more inward than outward.

My body was too busy dodging his fists and the stomping kicks he was sending my way.

* _I won't get hit. I can finally feel it._

Yes, I could feel a calm flow through me.

I had the edge, and I knew I could win this.

But by the same token, recognizing the possibility of winning meant accepting the possibility of defeat.

He shifted his attack pattern, favoring his wounded right arm for defense. If he'd ingested Aventis blood like I had, that wound would heal in minutes because I was certain that's how quickly my body would heal.

Come on you bastard, keep coming.

I leapt back, rolling backwards onto the table behind me. I came up on my feet and leapt again, avoiding his sweeping left arm.

My left foot touched down on the table, and I spun clockwise, lashing out with my right.

The barrier field around my right heel struck his face, knocking his head back as though he'd run into a permacrete wall.

I saw blood fountain from his broken nose.

Was my field really that strong?

Or was he simply just weak?

Something felt wrong here.

A moment later I felt his right hand clamp onto my sweeping right leg.

I had no chance of breaking free.

A heartbeat later he swung me through the air and then down into the cold floor.

The extra gravity aided my descent.

I had enough to time brace my arms before me and mitigate the impact by using my barrier-fields. But while it slowed my body down tremendously, I struck the floor with enough force to knock the wind out of my lungs.

I didn't get the chance to scramble away.

A kick to my flank, barrier-field against barrier-field, sent my body flying a foot off the ground and some distance across the cafeteria floor.

My back struck the pedestal leg of a table. The impact knocked the table several feet away, and brought me to a quick stop.

I couldn't move.

The barrier-field around my body had been too thin. It had taken the brunt of the impact, but my body hadn't been spared the blow.

I gasped, wondering if my ribs were broken, wondering if my organs had ruptured.

Wondering if my vertebrae had fractured.

Given time, I was confident I would heal quickly. I had Prissila Ventiss Raynar's blood in me, and Raynar blood was close to Lanfear blood, so I was pretty well powered up.

But I needed to time heal – time to deal with the punishment I was being handed.

Move. Move. _Move_!

The effect-field around my upper body and arms hardened. I used it to launch myself to my armored knees, then kicked off with my feet. I avoided being stomped on, by the merest of margins.

"Damn it," he cursed behind me.

I rolled forward, and came up in a crouch, twisting my body so that I turned a full one eighty degrees.

I paused for a heartbeat, watching him move quickly toward me though I was fully over-clocked.

He lowered his body while keeping upright and level.

His right fist cannoned toward me.

His attention was riveted on me and me alone.

He never saw Rina send a bolt of violet light at a steep angle into his back.

His barrier-field spared him from being immolated by the intense energy.

I had no time to squint as light flashed and colors reversed.

I barely had enough time to raise my blades toward him. I didn't even think of sharpening the piercer-fields that surrounded the blades.

Catapulted forward by the bolt of energy crashing into his barrier-field, his fist connected early, striking the barrier around my left shoulder.

But his torso rammed into my outstretched arms, despite the barrier-field protecting it.

I felt the piercer-fields penetrate his barrier.

I felt the blades slide into his body.

His momentum carried him bodily into me, and I was knocked back a half dozen feet, landing against empty chairs, scattering them like bowling pins before coming to a stop with his body on top of me.

I couldn't hold onto my barrier field; my concentration was failing me.

My over-clocked state reverted back to normal, and I felt his full weight on my arms.

I managed to concentrate enough of my will onto my gauntlets. The blades retracted, sliding back over my forearms and elbows – sliding out of his body.

I felt a warm wetness splash onto my chest, making it hard for me to hold him up and off my body. But the Symbiote inside me strengthened my limbs and muscles, and I was able to push the large man off me.

He fell away to my left, rolling onto his back as he did.

I struggled to my knees, and crawled up and over him. As I did, I extended my blades once more, and aimed for his chest and throat.

"Give her back," I croaked, my voice breaking and failing me.

He was wheezing loudly, and I guessed I'd punctured a lung or two. But he looked at me with mirth in his eyes even as bloodied spittle stained his lips.

I raised my right arm high, and yelled, "Give her back!"

He laughed and more blood escaped his mouth.

"Then die!" I screamed.

"Enough!"

The shout rocked the air, probably amplified by a skinsuit mike. It was a woman's voice, and for a moment my body trembled.

I didn't turn to face her, but kept my right arm at the ready for a downward strike that would stab through his heart.

* _Cappy—wait! Wait!_

My whole body trembled.

Below me the large, barrel chested man jerked faintly, and coughed up more blood. But that smile never left his lips. He kept looking at me with amusement in his eyes.

I wanted to plunge my blade into his face.

The woman addressed me in a calm voice that contrasted with my feelings.

I heard her clearly as though she were standing beside me.

"That's enough, Caprice. We'll do as you ask."

I swallowed.

It can't be. It can't be. That voice. That _voice._

What? Why—why am I crying?

"Caprice...you've done enough. Don't let this end in bloodshed. You're too young to be taking a life."

I swallowed hard, then worked up the strength to rise to my feet.

I could barely see the man anymore, let alone much of my surroundings.

My tears were like a thick veil covering my eyes.

Nonetheless, I turned and faced in the direction of the woman who called out to me. The Valkyrie Armor fed my Awareness spatial information, and I knew exactly where to look.

I blinked away the moisture in my eyes, and looked at the woman dressed in a black skinsuit and long, flowing coat.

"...Mother...?"

She smiled at me, and favored me with a faint nod. "Hello, Caprice."

My thoughts fell apart.

I could do nothing more than sway and stare at her.

She took a few steps closer. " _Induran,_ this is Gabrielle. The girl I instructed Dumas to take aboard...release her. Set her down with an effect-field. Be gentle with her. I don't want her harmed."

Slowly, coherent thought began to form inside my mind.

Slowly I began to sift through the multitude of questions.

I settled on one.

"You...you're alive?"

She nodded sadly. "Yes, Caprice. I am alive. I had to leave you. I had to leave Pharos, and Artemis, and my precious daughter. My death was faked, and it allowed me to hand my Valkyrie Armor to you. It was a parting gift."

I stared at her, barely comprehending her words.

She indicated the man on the ground. "Caprice, step away from him. You don't want to continue this. He is a comrade, and I will fight you if it means protecting his life."

I swallowed heavily. "You would fight me?"

"Yes. You are my daughter, and nothing will ever change that nor the love I hold for you, but I made the choice to cut my ties to the past. Whether I love you or not, I will fight to protect my comrades and my new family."

I stared at her with confusion plainly written on my face. "New...family?"

"Crimson Crescent is my family now."

Now I felt anger well up inside me. "Why? Why did you leave me? Why did you make me believe you were dead?"

"For the righting of a wrong. For the promise of tomorrow."

"I don't understand."

"I don't expect you to. I expect you to listen to me, and to do as I say."

The anger inside me wavered, like a candle flame caught in a breeze.

Then it strengthened.

I clenched my jaw, working the muscles for a heartbeat. "You've cast me aside for them, yet you expect me to obey you?" I snorted derisively. "Don't make me laugh."

She nodded gently. "The girl will be returned to you. You said it yourself, if she was taken then you would take one of us."

I swallowed again. I had indeed said something to that effect.

I stepped away from the man lying supine on the floor.

I gave him a wide berth as I watched the woman that looked and sounded like my mother walk between scattered tables and chairs.

She arrived at the man's side and picked him up easily, her strength as a Familiar enhanced by the black skinsuit she wore.

"Damn fool," she muttered as she put her shoulder under him. "I told you to inject a vial of Aventis blood into your body. Now look at yourself."

He laughed in shame. "Yeah, you were right." Then he looked at me. "She's a lot tougher than I expected. She definitely takes after you—" He coughed again and my mother shook her head in pity.

"Damn fool," she repeated. " _Induran_ , we're done. Pick us up on the roof of the cafeteria."

I forced my hands to relax as I watched my mother half carry the man across the cafeteria's top floor.

Rina asked, * _Cappy, what do we do?_

I sucked in air helplessly. * _Nothing. We do nothing._

I continued watching my mother and the man she supported.

Rina gasped loudly in my head. * _I see the girl. They're using an effect-field to lower her to the courtyard._

Rina walked over cautiously to the curved glass wall of the cafeteria overlooking the northern courtyard. I noticed one of the window panes had a large hole in it.

Rina must have shot out the generator in the northern courtyard while I was busy fighting with the large man.

My mother stopped walking. " _Induran_ , can you give us a hand"—she jerked in surprise—"what was _that_?"

A loud boom rocked the cafeteria. I looked up and through the trans-steel ceiling I saw the massive black starship drift sideways.

A flash of golden light against its portside, followed by a second boom a millisecond later.

Through the transparent ceiling I saw something dart around the ship. It looked small, and I wondered if it was some kind of fighter craft. But when it slowed down for a moment, I saw that it had a vague humanoid shape, with sharp angular wings extending from its back like leaves off a branch.

What the Hell is that?

Another flash of light, and another boom.

The darting humanoid figure repeatedly struck the quantum reaction shields and barrier-fields protecting the starship, rocking it with each attack.

I looked around me at the interior of the cafeteria and noticed that almost all the students had crawled away from east side of the building. They had crawled away to escape the fight between myself and the large man.

"Damn it," my mother cursed. "Another Warlord? They had another Warlord at their disposal?"

I stared at her and saw her eyes widen.

Was she listening to a voice carried along by a Fragment Link?

My mother and the man she supported shared a long look.

Then she faced me and spoke solemnly. "It didn't have to be this way."

Her words elicited a snort from me.

I was about to retort further when I heard Maya's thoughts on the Fragment Link.

* _Caprice, Rina—can you hear us?_

* _Maya,_ I cried out. * _What happened?_

* _They took us down, and then they left. They went right by us. But they left in a real hurry like their butts were on fire. What's going on out there?_

* _Something's attacking the Crimson Crescent ship. It looks like the Crescent team can't escape now._

I almost felt like laughing.

After their dramatic entrance was there to be no dramatic exit?

With troubled looks, my _mother_ and the man she supported gazed up through the transparent ceiling.

I looked up too, just in time to see a narrow beam of golden light rake the reaction field protecting the ship's portside. The field rippled and I saw the air shimmer hotly.

Then from somewhere to the west, a beam of azure light lanced across the sky and connected with the darting humanoid fighter. The Warlord immediately began dancing a zig-zag pattern, avoiding many of the subsequent beams of light that chased it across the sky. I watched it juke and jink about, then suddenly disappear from view when it rocketed somewhere to the south.

Sparing my mother a glance, I risked walking quickly over to the cafeteria's southern windows and looked up into the sky.

Some distance away and high above the habitat's buildings, two humanoid shapes – two of these Warlords – drifted several hundred feet apart.

They were like two opponents sizing each other up after the initial flurry of flying fists.

I watched them with a mixture of exhaustion and confusion.

Without warning one Warlord charged the other, and a fierce aerial dogfight broke out in the sky within the habitat.

### Chapter 25 – Ravana.

(Caelum)

I floated in a sea of white nothing.

There was no horizon, and there was no sense of up or down.

I remembered a similar sensation during a school trip where the class visited a pilot training center. There was a chamber utterly devoid of artificial gravity fields, so once inside you felt completely weightless. The lack of gravity affects the liquids inside your body. I remembered feeling initially nauseous, but I didn't barf up like some of my Regular classmates did.

It was the same inside the Vault. I felt weightless and lost because there was no point of reference to gauge my orientation.

But what really bothered me was the whiteness of the place, though I guess black would have scared me to death.

And yet, somehow I sensed that this emptiness wasn't really empty.

I could _feel_ my Awareness being brushed by objects floating in the nothing along with me.

What the Hell could they be?

Celica had explained the Vault was used for storage, and she'd said there was something inside she needed to retrieve. I had already surmised it was the skeletal armor she'd summoned moments before tossing me into the Vault. But going by its name alone, I had to figure this Artifact was used as a _vault_ , and important items were placed inside.

Huh...important items.

I could only think of two things – Fragments and Artifacts.

So then why the Hell had Celica tossed me in here?

Why did she want me floating around with the other pieces the Prides had recovered from inside the Hurakan Nebula?

Didn't she say you needed a connection with something outside in order to get _out_?

But I wasn't a Fragment or an Artifact, so how could I have a connection to something outside?

Then I thought of Caprice, and Simone, and...Haruka.

Could they be my connection to the outside world?

Those three are so much trouble. I'm all over the place when I think of them.

I grabbed my head then ran my fingers wildly through my hair.

It was getting long. I'd need to get it cut...if I ever got out of here.

I looked myself over.

Strange, I can see my body and I have tactile sensation.

And I'm breathing too.

I hadn't even noticed that I was breathing until now.

How could there be air inside the Vault?

I looked around, turning my body but everything was just white so I had no idea how large the interior could be.

And then I sensed the objects again, lurking around the peripheral fray of my Awareness.

I concentrated on them, and pictured myself moving toward them.

They moved away, scattering like a school of fish before a shark.

Damn.

Wasn't there anything inside here that could help me? Anything at all that I had a connection with? Maybe there was a Fragment or Artifact I could call out to. Maybe I could bond with one and use it to force my way out.

I closed my eyes, welcoming the darkness, and concentrated on what I could _feel_ around me.

One object hadn't moved away.

It hadn't darted about like a frightened fish.

In fact, it was almost as though it was...watching me.

Or was it waiting for me?

I focused my Awareness on it for a moment, then opened my eyes.

I was certain I was looking in its direction.

I pictured myself surging toward it, flying like a hero character would in a children's holovid drama.

Again, it was strange to think of myself as moving but I _knew_ that I was moving.

It moved toward me.

I stopped, and it stopped.

I opened my mouth and shouted, but no sound came out.

Instead, it felt like I was shouting inside my mind.

Hello? Can you hear me? Can you help me?

The object didn't move.

Then I sensed other objects around it, and I felt as though I was being caressed by invisible fingertips. It was such an incongruous sensation, especially in a place like this.

Then those fingers penetrated by skull, and a sharp headache struck my brain.

I groaned and grabbed my head but it wouldn't go away.

It felt as though my eyeballs would burst.

I screamed in agony and the pain moved down my body.

Now I _really_ screamed in agony.

It felt like every cell in my body was being squeezed and stabbed at the same time.

Was I going to rupture? Would I suffer an aneurism and die here, forever floating inside this sea of nothing?

When the pain disappeared it took me a long while to realize that it was gone. Every inch of my body ached, and my ears rang in the silence that followed.

I was too late to notice the object interested in me was now racing toward me, while the others stayed behind.

I was too late to do anything about the wiry mass heading in my direction like a writhing silver cloud.

I opened my mouth to shout at it.

It plunged down my mouth and into my esophagus.

I choked – fear and desperation making me jerk about violently.

I tried grabbing the silver, wiry mass of thread but it was frictionless and slipped easily through my fingers.

And then it was all inside me, burrowing into my body not unlike how the Symbiote would spread through to every corner of my innards.

It burrowed into my brain, and I quickly lost complete control of my body.

I could feel my limbs moving as though they were being tested out.

Then I felt my body run through various contortions that were painful at best.

My spine felt like it would snap, and my insides rupture, but my body held.

It felt as though a hundred fingers were massaging the inside of my head, feeling about inside my mind.

Then the sensations faded away, and I noticed I could move again.

I was back in control.

But I was still stuck inside the Vault, and now I had this unidentifiable silver thread inside my body.

Did my situation just go from bad to worse?

Without warning, the white space around me turned dark. I was reminded of when I attended a public screening at holovid center. The theater would go dark, and then holovid would start.

But in this case...the holovid was all around me.

And it wasn't a holovid.

It looked real. It _sounded_ real. It _felt_ real.

I was floating high above the ground with a massive cityscape stretching out below me to all four points of the compass. Clouds floated above me, and the sky was full of objects zipping about like mosquitoes. Thousands of mosquitoes.

But they weren't mosquitoes.

They were fighter craft of some sort.

Agile, nimble instruments of destruction, chasing each other down, hunting for new prey as soon as they made a kill.

Thousands upon thousands of them. Some of them would dive low to the city, and dogfight in the canyons formed by the immense buildings. The populace ran, looking no larger than grains of shifting sand.

I looked up and saw a number of massive, cylindrical objects hanging in the sky, well below low orbit. They resembled dumb bells though the weights at each end were long and tubular. Surrounding the center bar, and connected to it by numerous arms, were six to eight pods reminiscent of corn ears.

Are they starships or carriers of some sort?

I'd never seen a design like those but I wasn't all that knowledgeable about starships in general.

But from the way the dark mosquitoes emerged from the corn ears, I had to assume those ships were indeed carriers and loaded with thousands of fighter craft.

But who are they fighting? Are they an invading force?

I looked down at the city, and noticed several dozen large airships floating above it. They reminded me of the images of zeppelins I had seen in the history archives of ancient Earth. But these things were enormous, and they were launching fighter craft as well.

My Awareness screamed at me.

A squadron of mosquito fighters was headed my way, lighting up the sky around me as they approached. But I was unharmed by the incoming fire, and when the fighters swung by I raised an arm that clearly wasn't my own and blew them apart with beams of crimson light.

Drones. Those mosquito fighters were drones. And they hardly resembled mosquitoes at all.

I understood that now, but I also realized I was attached to some kind of black and white skeletal biped with limbs shrouded in angular armor. My legs and thighs were encased in thick leg armor that attached to the biped's thighs, but the rest of me was free to move about unhindered, including my arms. I had the unshakeable sensation that I was growing out of this machine. Suddenly a mental image of what I was _wearing_ flashed into my mind and I could see it clearly. Its limbs were connected to a rigid spine by a number of chains that resembled interlocking chevrons. Hanging off the back of the machine were seven wedge shaped wing-vanes that reminded me of giant leaves. They attached to the rigid spine by more of the chevron linked chains.

The arm I had moved and aimed at the drones belonged to this machine, and I saw a pair of angular, narrow vanes attached to both forearms. It was from these vanes that the crimson light beams had emitted.

What the Hell is this?

_*Ravana_.

Huh? I blinked and realized something had spoken to me from inside my head.

*Warlord, type Rho-Khan...Ravana.

A flurry of information flashed through my head.

Hah. So that's what this is. How could I have forgotten what it was...?

I frowned to myself.

Wait—how could I have forgotten any of this?

This city. This world. This battle.

How could I have forgotten what all this meant to me?

In the distance, near the center of the city lay an enormous palace – a gleaming white fortified citadel that was kilometers in diameter and thousands of feet high. Smoke billowed upwards in various places along the base of the citadel. It exchanged fire with the carriers hanging below low orbit – bright bolts of crimson light dotting the sky like perforations on a sheet of paper. One of the carriers flashed brightly and smoke broke out along the length of its hull.

I watched the vessel slowly lose altitude. In minutes it would crash to the ground, and tens of thousands of people would die.

I focused on the distant citadel.

How could I forget where I needed to go?

She was there in that palace – the seat of power for the Human Empire. The last bastion of their resistance.

Before I knew it, I was flying toward the palace.

I had to get there in time.

I had to reach her in time.

I had to move _faster_.

Clenching my jaw, I willed Ravana to fly at greater speed, and soon I was cutting a fiery path across the sky, blazing away at any drones that crossed my path, heating up the atmosphere as drag built up around the effect-fields protecting the Warlord.

Onward to the citadel I flew, and soon I was oblivious to battle raging around me.

I had only one goal in mind – to save her.

#

(Celica)

She was fast.

So very fast.

I was over-clocked and pushing the envelope of what I could achieve.

Yet I could barely hold my own against her.

A Shar-Khan against a Seer-Khan.

Warlord against Warlord.

Familiar against Familiar.

Around me the habitat spun crazily as I rolled and twisted the Black Camellia out of the line of fire. My wing-vanes oriented and re-oriented by the millisecond, altering the shape of the levitator fields; narrowing and angling the inertial fields.

The Black Camellia felt like it was gripping the very fabric of space, pulling it and twisting it for purchase as it darted about the inside of the habitat.

She entered my field of vision, and I fired upon her again.

And again, my quantum reaction fire warped around her.

Damn her inertial field was strong.

She was warping space to protect herself beyond what effect-fields and reaction barriers could achieve. It was one skill I hadn't mastered.

I knew there was a lot I had yet to master.

During the month I'd spent with Crescent, the month during which my team was held captive while I played the part of Falken's mistress, I had practiced piloting the Black Camellia. Crimson Crescent wanted to observe what the Warlord could achieve, so I operated it for them. Thinking back now, it was unbelievable that Falken and Crimson Crescent would place so much trust in me. At any time I could have used the Camellia and escaped at my leisure. Even if it meant leaving my team behind, the mission priority had been the Camellia. Everything else was a secondary concern.

Yet I hadn't left.

I couldn't leave.

I was falling in love with him.

I was willing to betray my precious comrades and my superiors for him.

If my team members hadn't decided to fight their way out, Falken would have released them eventually. He had already agreed to do so. All I had to say was 'yes' to his proposal.

And I did say 'yes'.

But then it all went to Hell, and I had to use the Camellia to secure their escape. I had no choice but to leave with them.

No, I did have a choice, but I couldn't leave Caelum behind. I wanted to take him with me. Even if he hated Crimson Crescent and the Aventis, I was certain I could make him understand. I was certain I could ease his hatred.

So that's why I returned home to Pharos.

That's why I betrayed Falken, for the sake of my family.

But learning I was pregnant changed everything.

Now it wasn't just Caelum that was my family.

Now I had a baby inside me to consider.

I blinked.

Over-clocked or not I could hardly afford the distraction of reminiscing through painful memories.

Four beams of golden light razed the space I'd occupied a moment ago. They struck ground and burned away a large apartment complex. I didn't have time to wonder if it was occupied, but I glimpsed people running on the street and emergency lev-vehicles shepherding them.

I shot upwards, aiming for the habitat ceiling. I needed to draw her fire away from the habitat buildings.

The habitat interior had a peak height of two thousand feet. But there was a gap in the middle between a thousand and sixteen hundred feet where the artificial gravity was almost non-existent. _Induran_ had made use of this gap in the gravity fields, keeping airborne with ease, while diverting power to its effect-fields and whipping up a storm about itself.

As I raced for the ceiling, I glimpsed the starship descending toward the academy buildings. It needed to descend low enough to pick up my teammates. With the Avienda distracted, this was _Induran_ 's chance to recover them.

Flipping end over end, I aimed the Camellia's feet for the artificial sky above me. In several areas, the mimetic field projectors were damaged, so there were swathes showing the rock ceiling rather than a blue sky broken with puffy white clouds.

I was upside down now, flying feet first toward that sky. The Warlord's feet touched down on the rock ceiling, landing between an ensemble of gantries and walkways hidden by the mimetic sky field. These walkways were used by maintenance staff to gain access to the light rigs and the mimetic sky projectors. With the Black Camellia standing upside down on the ceiling, its legs thigh deep in the sky field, I felt I was standing in a pool of shimmering blue water.

I looked up, or rather down at the habitat cityscape above me.

The Avienda cut a path across the sky, angling toward me.

I aimed all eight of the Camellia's quantum reaction cannons at my opponent, but I held my fire when she veered away and chose to land on the habitat ceiling a couple of hundred feet away.

The Black Camellia recognized the Seer-Khan as the Avienda. It was stronger than my Warlord. Faster too, and its pilot knew how to draw out its potential.

But she lacked the combat skills I'd honed during many years as an Artemis. Even if I only had a month's practice with the Black Camellia, I was able to draw on my Artemis' experience to balance out the difference in power between our respective machines.

Compared to me, that girl was a child cutting and swinging wildly, throwing punches that came close but failed to connect. The Avienda took my cannon fire and weathered it, but she had yet to land a single hit on me, and I could see it was beginning to frustrate that child.

The smile splitting her pretty face was ever so steadily turning into a snarl.

Her four cannon vanes aimed my way in a heartbeat, and we stood like two gunslingers with weapons drawn.

Time—I needed to give _Induran_ time to pick up Gabrielle, Rylan, Capella and the others.

I used the Black Camellia's _eyes_ to watch _Induran_ slow to a hover over the academy cafeteria.

A thought pulse distracted me.

The Avienda's pilot was signaling me.

She wanted to talk?

I answered the call.

"So you're the great Celica Desanto. I expected more from you."

"Any more from me and you'd be a smoking wreck, you silly child."

"You really think you're challenging me? You really think your Warlord is up to the task? It's not even an original."

I blinked then frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

"The fact you're asking proves how little you know, and it proves your Warlord is not one of the twelve that came across into the realm." She shook her head. "But still, it's impressive what they could achieve back then. A lost art. A lost talent. The means to create inferior copies of the original twelve."

Unease crept into me.

Four Rho-Khans, eight Seer-Khans. I knew they comprised the Warlords operated by the Original Twelve, those Familiars that had chosen to fight for the Aventis.

So what did that say about the dozens upon dozens of other Warlords that took part in the War of Supremacy?

I narrowed my eyes at the girl. "What's your name?"

"Fallon. It's Fallon Acacia afil Avenir."

"Are you one of the Twelve?"

"I'm a descendant of the Original Twelve, just like your brother."

I frowned at her. "My brother? Aren't you forgetting about me?"

The girl, Fallon, smiled slowly; a truly malicious smile that had no place on a face so young.

Then I heard her soft laughter. "You didn't know? Now that is truly a surprise. I thought Crimson Crescent might have revealed the truth to you."

"The truth about what?"

"The truth about you."

I felt a frown flicker across my brow. "What about me?"

Fallon's smile contorted. "You're not blood related."

For a moment, for a heartbeat, my mind blanked out.

Fallon's next words felt like a knife through my mind. "You're not family."

I stared at her in disbelief, then my demeanor hardened.

My voice sounded like steel even to me. "My brother and I were born to House Desanto. Samuel and Chantal Desanto are my parents."

Even at a distance, I clearly saw Fallon mockingly scratch her right cheek. "Well, by all appearances they are your parents. But at the same time they're not."

Confusion ran through my blood.

I yelled at her, "What the Hell does that mean?"

Fallon added with a voice that dripped cruelty. "Well, it's not surprising you didn't know. After all, I doubt more than a handful of people know the truth behind the two of you. Even your parents were probably oblivious to your origins."

What did she mean by that?

Caelum and I were most certainly not adopted.

In his case, I was there at the hospital when my mother gave birth to him, and my father was in the room with her at the time.

And there was no evidence to suggest I was adopted either.

When Falken revealed my parents lineage to me, it was clear he believed Caelum and I were descendants of an Original Twelve family.

"You're lying." I glared at her. "You're _lying_!"

Fallon shook her head sadly. "I'm not lying at all. The two of you are not blood related. That much I know for sure." Surprisingly, she raised her arms to indicate confusion. "However, while I do know his origins, I have no idea where you came from. But one thing is certain, you were rejected by the Ravana, yet chosen by the Black Camellia. That alone proves you're not a descendant of the Original Twelve."

I narrowed my eyes at the girl.

How did she know about that?

How did she know about _that_ particular incident almost six years ago?

With my heart trembling under an onslaught of doubt and suspicion, I willed the eight quantum cannons fanning around the Black Camellia to swing down.

The black mist surrounded the Warlord's hands, and heartbeats later they each held a ten foot long curved sword, with shark-like fins acting like guards around the hand grips. The Camellia's hands tightened around the sword hilts as though they were my own hands.

I cleared my throat forcefully. "How do you know what happened to me in the Vault six years? Who told you?"

Fallon smiled. "That's a secret."

The swords quivered in my Warlord's hands. Anger was beginning to blossom in and around my heart, fueling it with an unpleasant heat.

"Tell me!"

I screamed and instantly willed the Black Camellia to channel its energy to its surroundings. The Warlord crouched despite standing upside down on the ceiling. In the blink of an eye the Camellia launched itself at the Avienda. I crossed the two hundred foot distance in a millisecond.

But this time I didn't use the reaction cannons.

I used the two curved swords I'd summoned from the Camellia's Pocket Space.

If cannons weren't going to work, it was time for a different approach.

She actually looked surprised as I swung my right blade down at her.

I had expected the warping to take effect, and for my sword to slide around the Avienda. Instead, the blade breached her barrier-field part way and slowed down to a crawl. I willed the Black Camellia forward, its thruster fields pushing hard against my back, while I applied more pressure against the Avienda's barrier-field. Feeling it give some more, I concentrated on sharpening the piercer-field around the sword, and a heartbeat later it broke through the last of the barrier-field. The blade almost buried itself in the Warlord's skeletal collar where the armor was thin. At the last moment, the Avienda darted back and to a side. The edge of my blade struck the domed shoulder armor instead, gouging a deep line into it.

What the Hell had just happened?

Why hadn't space distorted around the Avienda?

Had the pilot become exhausted? Had the fight just now depleted her concentration to the point she couldn't direct the inertial fields?

It wasn't just a case of _willing_ the Warlord to move. You had to keep a mental image of the fields surrounding it, including the inertial fields that gave a Warlord the ability to pull sharp turns in empty space. Using them, a Warlord reshaped a confined space around itself, allowing it to change direction at angles and gee forces that would normally tear it apart by cancelling out its resistance to change direction.

Using inertial fields was something I hadn't mastered.

Avienda's pilot could use them well enough to warp away my cannon fire. But it seemed she couldn't use them effectively against a direct physical attack.

I had no idea why.

Using an effect-field to kick off against the ceiling, I chased after the Avienda.

"Come back here," I screamed at her.

Part of me kept its focus. That part of me considered the possibility the swords themselves had cancelled out her inertial field. After all, the weapon had breached far into her barrier-field with surprising ease.

I hadn't considered it could be so effective.

I had practiced with the weapons before, but I'd never used them against a Warlord, so their combat value was unknown to me.

Quantum reaction fire wouldn't work against her, but physical weapons like these might do the trick.

I had a troubling thought.

What if a Warlord's physical weapons were for the purpose of being used against another Warlord?

The analytical part of me shivered at the thought. I shelved it for now, then focused on chasing down the Avienda.

The other part of me burned with fury.

How dare she try to distract me with such a lie.

How dare she claim Caelum and I weren't family.

I would cut my anger into her.

I would forever brand her with my blades.

The girl fell away from the ceiling, falling on her back gently to the ground. I decided not to fire upon her, but continued to chase her down, one sword aiming for her, the other angled for defense. A dozen feet from the surface of the habitat, I watched the air ripple around the Avienda, and the Warlord changed its vector, soaring mere meters above a street packed with cars and hundreds of people on the sidewalks.

Someone had ordered an evacuation of the habitat, but it was proving difficult to execute.

Avienda's flight over the populace terrified them into a stampede.

Flying on her back, the girl aimed her four reaction cannons at me and fired. Golden beams of light narrowly missed me, cutting the air and striking the habitat ceiling above and behind me.

At a sharp angle I darted away down a side street, then turned to parallel her at the next intersection.

The Black Camellia couldn't sense her. I was aware of people, cars, buses and buildings, but the Avienda was invisible to me when out of sight. I expected her to charge at me down the next side street, or from over the district buildings.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

She charged through the buildings, tearing them apart with her barrier-fields, and came at me swinging a double ended spear with Saracen style swords at each end.

I guess she got tired of trying to shoot me down.

On instinct I brought both swords up and blocked her downward slash.

That malicious smile was back on her face, but now it was tainted with glee as though she was finally enjoying herself.

I glared at her, then snarled like a rabid wolf.

Caelum was family.

Now and forever.

Nothing this bitch said would ever change that.

Nothing at all.

#

(Haruka)

Most of the students on the top level of the cafeteria, including Duncan, Siobhan, Alistair and I, had retreated to the west side of the building, as far away as possible from the Familiars of Crimson Crescent and the Familiars who attended our school.

A large number had taken shelter inside the corridors connecting the west wing to the cafeteria building. But if they tried escaping further, they ran into the intense artificial gravity that had crippled the student and administrative body. Inside the corridors and the cafeteria the gravity almost felt normal, so for now there was no choice but to remain put.

I sat against a cafeteria wall, just outside the corridor entrance.

Duncan sat beside me, an arm over my shoulders, holding me against him.

I felt him tremble, and looked up at him.

I saw anger being repressed by sheer will power.

"Duncan?"

He swallowed tightly. "So weak. So damn weak."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing we can do against them—against Familiars. Once they bring out their Fragments, there's nothing any of us can do against them."

"Duncan...."

"I feel so powerless, so helpless. If they'd chosen to take you, I'd have been helpless to stop them. Just like that guy whose girl they took."

I felt his arm tighten around me, and I saw the rage and frustration war across his face.

Then he lowered his head and I heard his words quite clearly.

"We're supposed to be better than them. That's what we're told. So why can't we do anything against them...."

The rage and frustration ebbed away, seeming to settle into a cold, burning look in his eyes.

He whispered harshly, "It's the Fragments. They shouldn't be carrying Fragments."

The floor under me trembled violently. The wall shook as well. Duncan pushed us both away from it, probably fearing we'd injure our spines.

I looked up at the storm wracked sky visible through the atrium's transparent ceiling.

The black starship had returned, and was hovering low over the cafeteria's roof, blocking our view of the sky.

A flash of violet light lit the atrium ceiling.

As I turned away I heard a rumble and crash.

Opening my eyes I saw a large part of the ceiling had vanished into a cloud of powdered rubble. It was blown away quickly by the strong winds blowing over the rooftop. When it cleared, I saw three people standing on the edge of the large ragged hole, looking down into the cafeteria while unaffected by the gale force winds around them.

The two members of Crimson Crescent – the man Steiner had injured, and the woman who supported him – walked to a point under the hole. Two of their companions on the roof stretched a hand down to them, and moments later the man and woman floated up into the air as though hoisted by invisible wires that were most probably effect-fields.

As they flew up, I saw Caprice Steiner run to a spot under the hole.

Her voice was clear as she plaintively cried out, "Mother!"

Everyone who heard that cry stiffened in shock.

Beside me, Duncan's body tensed sharply. He stared at Steiner in disbelief.

I tore my gaze away from him and back to the girl.

Steiner was standing with arms outstretched, head thrown back as she looked up at the gaping hole in the ceiling.

"Why?" she screamed. "Why mother? Why betray the Prides? Why did you leave me? Answer me!"

I didn't hear an answer, and the five members of Crimson Crescent on the cafeteria rooftop quickly moved out of sight.

Not long afterwards, the starship began to ascend and it swung away from above the academy buildings. Caprice and the other girl – the Familiar with the large rifle – ran over to the south-side windows to watch it.

Beside me, Duncan rose to his feet and walked stiffly over to the windows, obviously feeling the weight of the heavy gravity that afflicted the cafeteria.

I picked myself up off the floor, and staggered after him.

Caprice and the other girl were staring at the starship as it slowly moved south over the academy. They didn't turn when Duncan approached them, and Steiner looked surprised when he grabbed her in his powerful arms, spun her round and slammed her back against the window.

His whole body trembled as he yelled furiously at her.

"You're with Crescent? Your _mother_ is with Crimson Crescent? This is all your fault. All of this is your fault—you Familiars are the problem!"

I yelled, "Duncan—stop it. Let her go."

The girl with the rifle pressed the barrel against his head. "Let her go, or lose your head."

Duncan didn't look at her. "Now you're threatening us? You're just like Crescent. Go ahead. Do it. You know what will happen to you."

I swallowed and yelled, "Please stop this, Duncan. Please, let her go."

Without warning Duncan flew back through the air, and landed some twenty odd feet away from Caprice Steiner.

I didn't understand what had just happened, but Caprice calmly stepped away from the window. The girl glared at Duncan who was slowly rising to his feet. "You know nothing about us. Don't ever associate me with Crimson Crescent."

Duncan swayed unsteadily but pointed an accusing finger at Steiner. "You Familiars with your Fragments are the problem. You're a danger to everyone. You're kind can't be trusted. Why the Hell do our Prides give you so much power?"

"To protect you," Steiner retorted acidly. "To serve as your dogs and keep your kind safe—safe from people like Crimson Crescent. Safe from people that despise the Prides, and the Aventis."

The emotionless mask that Caprice Steiner usually wore had vanished.

The girl trembled and I saw it for what it was. Hatred, anger, bitterness.

Her reaction was fueled by the encounter with her mother.

I didn't know the circumstances but it appeared that her mother had betrayed the Prides and abandoned her daughter for a life with Crimson Crescent.

I could barely imagine the reasons why.

However, I realized it wasn't the only reason why Steiner trembled.

The fact she was chained to a Pride burned her emotionally.

Yes, she was granted the power of a Fragment, but I knew that deep down Caprice would trade it for freedom – the freedom to choose her own destiny.

I thought of Crimson Crescent.

I remembered reading about their possible mandate.

It was something that analysts and experts could only speculate at.

Freedom for Familiars.

In many ways, Familiars lived lives far more restricted than Regulars. In fact, Regulars lived like 'normal' people. Many Familiars also lived normal lives but there were those Familiars forced into a life of servitude to one of the eight Prides. Those Familiars were like Caprice, and they were known as Specials. This much I knew because Severin Kell had explained this to Alistair, Siobhan and I only two weeks ago, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.

Caelum was like Caprice.

He was tied to the Lanfear Pride.

People believed Crimson Crescent wanted to change this, but the Prides would never agree to letting Familiars act on their own.

It was ironic how they used Familiars to fight Familiars.

No, it was unjust.

But Duncan was right about one thing: Familiars equipped with Fragments were a danger.

Yet, Familiars like Caprice were a necessary evil.

Who else was going to oppose Crimson Crescent?

During the entire time since the incident began, I hadn't seen or heard from any of the habitat's Enforcers. As for the academy's private security, they were probably as incapacitated as the rest of us.

Though I agreed with Duncan on one hand, I had no intention of making an enemy of Familiars like Caprice and the girl who'd fought alongside her. They had done what they could to protect us. I was grateful for that.

Though my body felt twice as heavy as normal, I still managed to walk over to Duncan. Standing before him, I kept my back and my legs as straight as I could.

"Haruka—?"

I slapped him.

I put my strength into it.

I let him feel my disappointment in him.

Duncan swayed wildly before straightening. He pressed a hand to his left cheek and stared at me in astonishment.

I took a deep breath after clearing my throat. "I'm ashamed of you."

With that I turned my back on him, and walked as calmly as I could over to Caprice. "Thank you, for what you did for us."

Steiner's eyes had burned with anger, but now I saw that anger fade a little. But she gave me a hard stare as though unsure of my intentions.

I bowed to her politely, then turned and walked across the cafeteria level to where Siobhan and Alistair sat with their backs to a wall.

I heard Duncan call out to me, but I ignored him as I sat down beside my friends. I kept my eyes averted from his lonely figure, watching him through my peripheral vision as he sat down heavily where he stood, like a marionette with its strings cut.

The storm that surrounded the Crimson Crescent vessel continued to howl outside the building, even though I could see the starship had moved away to the southern end of the academy grounds. I heard the storm clearly through the holes in the ceiling.

I sat against the wall, and wondered when all this would end.

It had to end right?

Surely Crimson Crescent had what they wanted. Why else would that starship pick up its members and then move away.

Flashes of light visible through the south-side windows attracted my attention.

I'd glimpsed them before, and a number of the braver students had edged to the windows for a better look.

Now I turned my head and gazed through those panoramic windows at the habitat's interior, watching bright beams of light – some golden, some azure – lance across the vista, striking buildings and the sky and ground with reckless abandon.

This went on for a few minutes at least.

What the Hell was going on out there?

I saw plumes of smoke billow high into the air. Fires had broken out across various district blocks, and emergency vehicles flew in the sky, trying to deal with them, despite the dangerous light show playing out nearby.

As I watched, an octagonal pyramid building in the distance crumbled amid a storm of grey dirt and debris, scattering a few of the lev-craft floating nearby.

As some of the students voiced their horror and disbelief, I thought of Caelum, and offered a prayer for his safety wherever he may be.

### Chapter 26 – Lisanna.

(Caelum)

Flying into the palace citadel proved surprisingly easy.

Staying low to the ground, moving too fast for the sentry cannons to deal with.

Burning down the few ground artillery batteries that foolishly aimed their barrels my way.

I was unstoppable.

In mere minutes I was at the inner citadel wall.

I blew a hole in it using the quantum reaction cannons equipped to Ravana's forearms, and flew through the opening, rather than over the wall.

Skimming the ground, I raced toward the main fortified superstructure of the palace which stood tall and imperiously above the foundations of the citadel and the surrounding city.

The palace wall offered no more resistance than the other fortifications did, even though this one employed localized barrier-fields.

Inside was a resplendent scene.

The architecture embodied opulence and avarice with enormous hallways with arched ceilings. I saw paintings and murals, and wondered if I'd blown my way into a public functions area.

No matter.

This wasn't where I needed to be.

I chose not to linger, and ignored the armored troopers that rushed to greet me. Waving one of Ravana's arms, I extended an effect-field around it, and knocked the soldiers away. Then I flew onwards and deeper into the palace.

Through the link between her and Ravana, I could feel her ever so faintly, and so I changed direction, flying upwards through the palace floors and ceilings. A diamond shaped piercer-field surrounded Ravana, cutting through floor and ceiling alike as I soared vertically through the palace.

A hundred levels later, and I neared the top.

I realized I should have just flown in from the outside but I admitted this felt more dramatic. After all it was in my nature to be dramatic. She called it my greatest failing, but I knew she didn't mean those words.

Ravana burst through the floor of an immense, ivory white chamber, and quickly slowed to a hover, it's vane-like feet a mere three feet off the ground.

Using Ravana's senses, I quickly took in the surroundings.

The chamber was a good two hundred feet across and circular, with twenty foot high windows offering a three hundred and sixty degree view of the citadel and city beyond it.

Yes, I should have flown in from the outside.

After all, this was the palace's observation deck.

No, this was _her_ throne room.

From here the Empress of the Human Empire could observe her domain.

And from here, she could witness the end of an era.

The end of her dominion.

The throne sat on a raised dais with its back to me.

I willed Ravana to quickly circle round it, directing it as I would my body with no discernible lag.

Ravana floated around the throne and its dais.

I stopped and touched ground before it.

Yes. I had arrived. I had found her.

Ravana's connection to her had not failed me.

It wasn't the Empress I looked upon – no, that woman had fled long ago.

However, I had not come to this world for the Empress.

I had come for the girl I had once taken for granted.

A daughter given to me by her family as a token of their loyalty – an offering to gain favor with me.

A shy, quiet girl. A fragile, resplendent beauty.

I hadn't appreciated her until many months later.

I had dragged her along with me from one battle front to the next, disregarding her well-being, her comfort, her thoughts...her feelings.

I hadn't realized how special she was until many months had gone by.

By then, she was a presence I could hardly live without.

I wondered how I'd ever lived my life without her.

By the time I admitted my feelings to her, our time came to an abrupt end.

She was taken from my side because the enemy believed she was my greatest weakness.

And they were right.

My despair, my anguish, it crippled me...until I focused it into rage and blinding determination.

It drove me through system after system, hunting down the Empire – hunting down any sign of her – until eventually it brought me here to their final seat of power.

But I didn't come alone. I came with every resource I had at my disposal, and I intended to crush the Empire completely in order to reach her.

I stood before the dais...unable to move.

She sat on the throne, bound to it, dressed in flowing, regal white.

She looked as beautiful as I remembered her on the morning I departed for the front once more, promising to return to her side in a few days' time.

I'd been so afraid for her safety, yet I should have kept her with me.

I should have kept her close by.

My first failing.

I had trusted the people around me – people who'd vowed to protect her.

My second failing.

I looked at her seated on the throne.

I could have taken her for sleeping, but Ravana detected only the weakest of life signs in her.

That was to be expected. Her throat was slit, as were her wrists and ankles.

And red painted her dress, the throne and the dais.

Too late.

I was too late.

This had been done not long ago, yet there was no saving her now.

Even if she was an Aventis, she had lost too much blood and couldn't heal in time.

They had left her here for me to find, the final nail in the coffin that was my misery.

Even if they lost the war, they would succeed in breaking me.

All the power I had at my disposal, all the men, women and machinery I commanded – all the terrifying might of the Rho-Khan Ravana – and I couldn't do anything but watch the last of her life fade away.

Through Ravana...I felt her die.

My mind broke.

I lost all reason.

I screamed and Ravana responded to my abject despair.

It blew the chamber apart.

#

(Simone)

Pain.

I felt it run through me.

Not physical.

Emotional.

A heartrending despair that made tears burst from my eyes and run freely down my cheeks.

His pain.

Something horrible had happened and his pain was flowing through the Vault and into me as I stood outside the black sphere with my right arm deep into it.

I had to do something.

I had to do more than what I was doing now.

Releasing my hold on the twisted railing, I slipped my left arm into the Vault.

And then I concentrated my feelings, pushing through his anguish, and reached out to him.

My pure and honest feelings.

And the will to do whatever it took to remain by his side.

I called out his name, over and over, not knowing if he could hear me, yet believing that he would.

#

(Caelum)

The top of the palace was gone.

Nothing but a cloud of pulverized debris that slowly drifted to the ground.

And she was gone too.

Nothing remained of her.

Nothing to bury. Nothing to mourn over.

I fell away from the remains of the palace tower, falling at terminal speed to the ground thousands of feet below.

Unable and unwilling to direct Ravana to fly.

With its effect-fields and wing-vanes powered down, a fall from this height would surely kill me. Even if Ravana survived, I would not, and that was fine by me.

My reason for coming here was gone.

Even if the war was over, I no longer had any part to play in it.

My war had come to an end.

I stared up at the grey sky, lit up by flashes of orange and lightning blue.

A carrier wrapped in flames burned a path thousands of feet above me. It would hit the city in minutes, and many people would die.

I didn't care.

The one life that meant everything to me was gone.

Everyone could die for all I cared.

I closed my eyes and accepted my end.

Caelum.

Ah, I'd forgotten this sense of peace that slowly surrounded my heart.

How long had it been since I'd last felt this peace with her at my side?

Not since the many months since she'd been spirited away.

Caelum. Caelum.

I opened my eyes and saw the sky around me fade quickly to white.

Had I died already?

I hadn't felt anything, no impact, no shattering of bones and body.

I turned my head and noticed I was no longer linked to Ravana.

What was this?

Everything around me was white – a pure white so blinding it almost hurt to look upon it.

I stretched out a hand and felt nothing but emptiness around my fingers. No breeze, no air, no cold or heat.

Nothing.

Caelum.

I turned my body. I realized I could do that much though there was nothing for purchase. Yet I was certain I had turned.

Please...come back to me....

A girl's voice – a girl's feelings – calling out to me.

Who? Who are you?

I felt a sudden, nearly unbearable sense of loss. It grew to a crushing weight within my chest.

Lisanna...Lisanna?

It couldn't be.

But if I had died then perhaps she was here waiting for me.

Perhaps this was where we were to meet, before we both could move on.

I searched about for her. I needed her. I couldn't move on _without_ her.

I needed Lisanna.

Caelum. Please. I'm right here.

Yes, I sensed her clearly and I turned in her direction.

I concentrated and willed myself to move toward her.

Part of me realized I wasn't alone here. There were other objects, other entities, here with me. Were they spirits? Were the lost souls like I was? Were they too searching for a way out?

Please, hear my heart.

Stronger. I felt it stronger this time, and the sensation drove me onwards.

I know what I need to do.

I felt myself moving away from the entities. I felt myself racing toward the source of that voice – the source of those strong, warm feelings.

I'm not afraid anymore.

Lisanna.

I'm coming.

I'm almost there.

I will accept my fate.

I felt hands on my hands.

I won't run away.

I felt my body fall into something warm and soft and alive.

I won't leave your side.

So very much alive.

Instinctively I knew I was out of the void.

Instinctively I knew I was in her arms.

And I understood that like the warm body embracing me, I too was very much alive.

#

(Simone)

We fell away from the Vault.

I rolled back with him, my arms embracing him tightly.

And his arms were firmly locked around me.

I closed my eyes.

I had him back.

Do you hear me, Celica? I have him back.

He lay on me, his chest weighing down on my breasts, his warmth mingling with mine.

We lay like that for a long while.

I didn't care how much time went by.

I had what I wanted, right in my arms.

I wasn't going to let him go...at least not for a little while longer.

Then I heard soft laughter and a quiet whisper.

"So warm. You're so warm. I missed you. Gods, how I missed you. I missed you so much."

My heart jumped.

Missed me? He missed me? Caelum missed me!

His arms tightened about me and he pressed himself into me.

Oh gods! My body is growing warm – very comfortably warm.

"But..."

My heart skipped a beat.

But? Did he say but?

"Bigger...much bigger...than I remember...."

He chuckled as he lay on top of me. Then he shifted his body and his arms, easing some of the pressure off my chest.

His voice was a whisper, slowly growing stronger. "Were they ever this big?"

Eh? Big?

My heart jumped and a shiver ran through me as my eyes grew wide.

He muttered softly, "They feel so soft and full...."

What did he say? What is he talking about?

I swallowed and cleared my throat to speak, but all that escaped was a surprised squeak.

He—he—he's groping me!

Caelum muttered, "Damn, these are really something. When did you get these?"

Raising himself up on one arm, while the other _massaged_ my left breast, Caelum looked down at me with confusion.

"Lisanna—"

He froze – but not his hand – and I saw his confusion grow several orders of magnitude.

"Lisanna? What happened to your hair? And"—he looked down at my chest—"when did you grow so _large_?"

He might be confused, but his hand was moving with a mind of its own.

He swallowed visibly. "By the gods...these are...heavenly...."

My breathing grew ragged.

Oh damn, his fingers felt good. They felt better than good. Even over my blouse and bra, they were really working their magic on me. A slow, burning heat spread out from my chest and into the rest of me. I reflexively squeezed my thighs together.

His palm rubbed over the peak of my breast.

I stifled a moan, then a second by clamping down on my lower lip until I tasted blood.

I had to stop him. I had to stop him before I lost control!

This—this wasn't how I wanted to give in to him.

Not on the cold floor of a dimly lit rock chamber.

This was not how I dreamt my first time would be!

I cleared my throat through sheer force of will. "Caelum...."

A faint frown etched his brow. "Huh?"

I swallowed hard and forced the words out. "I told you before...didn't I."

His frown etched a little deeper. "Li—Lisanna?"

I gave him the strongest glare I could muster, and growled through the arousal choking my voice. "Don't grab them... _without permission_!"

With the last of my self-control, I drove my knee bluntly into his groin.

"Geh!" He pitched forward onto me, his whole body instantly rigid. His voice broke as he whispered a strangled, "Lisanna...."

As he fell on me, cold shock blew away the heat of my arousal. Clarity returned to my mind.

Lisanna! He called me Lisanna! No, he'd been calling me Lisanna all this time!

I found strength in my arms. I pushed him off me, and Caelum rolled onto his back.

He was trembling from intense pain, a feverish sweat beading his face.

Gods, I must have really hit him hard with my knee.

Oh no, I hope I didn't permanently injure _them_!

I straddled his waist and gently shook him by his shirt.

"Caelum—Caelum, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you so hard. Please—please say something!"

"Geh...damn...woman...what's wrong...with you...."

He grew still for a heartbeat and I feared he'd passed out.

But a heartbeat later, he ever so slightly opened the eyes he'd squeezed shut.

I pulled him up by his shirt, and lowered my face into his. "Caelum—who am I? Who am I?"

"Eh—huh?"

"What's my name?"

His eyes slowly widened. "Gah! My balls! What the Hell? What the Hell did you hit me for?"

He tried pulling back but couldn't find the strength to push against me.

I lowered him gently back to the cold rock floor of the chamber, feeling my anxiety rise and fall with every breath I took.

Lisanna. Who was she? Who the Hell was she?

Under me and between my thighs, Caelum's body began to relax.

I reached out and wiped his face with my fingertips and palms. He watched me anxiously for a few moments.

I gave him a warm smile, trying to reassure the both of us. "Caelum...do you know me?"

He breathed in and out a few times before squeezing out a reply. "Of course...I know you."

"So who am I?"

He breathed in and out a few _more_ times before replying, "Simone Alucard...Raynar."

I swallowed, feeling relief flow through me. "And?"

He blinked a few times as he studied my face.

"And...you're the girl who saved me."

#

(Melanie)

When I regained consciousness, I had no grasp on my surroundings.

The sound of a voice nearby helped me focus my thoughts into order as I struggled to understand what was being spoken.

It was the sound of a woman in conversation.

"Yes, she's regaining consciousness now. Very well...yes...yes...I'll update you on the situation in a little while...would you like to speak with her?"

I swallowed and opened my eyes slowly, barely a crack.

White light greeted me, yet I was surprised to find it was less than glaring.

The woman's voice came from beside me. "Very well, I'll call you later. Goodbye, Mistress."

Concentrating a little more, I stretched my Awareness out to my Valkyrie Armor.

There was no response.

It wasn't there.

It was gone.

Now my eyes widened quickly, and I looked about the interior of what resembled an ambulance. Somehow, even without my Artifact, I could tell we were flying. As I turned my head slowly in order to discretely peer around me, my eyes met the gaze of a beautiful young woman with long, blonde hair almost as white as snow. Her eyes were a sparkling violet color.

Seated beside where I lay, she smiled warmly at me. "Hello, Melanie Cardwell afil Avenir."

I swallowed, and spoke without the chance to test my voice. "Who...who are you?"

"Do you remember your time in the tunnel?"

I searched through my memory. "Yes...."

"Well, I'm the one who rescued you before you burned alive."

"Burned...?"

She nodded quite faintly. I almost thought she was responding to the subtle rocking of the interior of the vehicle.

"Yes, it was quite an explosion. However, your Valkyrie Maiden protected you though the impact knocked you unconscious. And I was on hand to retrieve you."

I blinked abruptly, and raised my head a little, ignoring the pang that ran through my brain.

"Are you my contact? Are you with Crescent? Are you going to take me off the colony—?"

The woman's sudden laughter cut me short. When she recovered, she shook her head weakly and briefly covered her lips with her left hand.

I felt a cold sliver of fear run down my back.

It was then I realized I was lying on a gurney and my body was strapped down to it.

Without a Fragment or Artifact, I had no chance of getting free of my bonds.

I looked at the woman and couldn't help sounding afraid. "Who...who are you?"

When she replied, she sounded greatly amused but I heard no malice in her voice. I realized she really had no intention of hurting me, but it did little to soothe my fear.

Seated beside the gurney I was strapped into, she leaned down a little. "My dear girl, I'm not with Crescent, and I'm not taking you to them. The members of Crimson Crescent that were supposed to ferry you off Pharos have been apprehended. No one is coming to save you."

"Then—then who are you?"

For a moment I glimpsed a great regret run across her face. Then her expression cleared away and she gave me a reassuring smile that unfortunately did little to quell my fear.

"My name is Helena Morrigan afil Avenir."

I swallowed hard. "Avenir? You're a Familiar?"

"Yes, and I've been entrusted with your well-being."

I felt my face contort in confusion. "You—you're not going to hurt me?"

"Of course not," she replied, looking a little hurt. "I'm going to be taking care of you."

How could she feel wounded? Didn't she know how hard my heart was beating right now? Didn't she know that cold sweat was trickling down under my clothes?

The woman, Helena, turned slightly in her seat.

"Listen to me, Melanie. You're extremely valuable to us. To find someone so gifted with the Valkyrie Armor is a rarity amongst rarities. We affiliated with the Avenir Pride couldn't be more proud of the talent you've displayed."

I realized what she was saying. "You've been watching me?"

"Yes. We've known about you for some time now. However, we didn't know what part you were to play in the events that unfolded."

Her words were a stake driving my fear deeper into my chest.

Helena crossed slender, shapely legs that emerged from a business skirt. "But first we have to undo some of the changes Crescent did to you." She tapped her temple. "We have to sort out the mess inside your head."

I listened to her, and her words drove the stake of fear all the way to my heart. "What do you mean by that?"

Her smile turned sad for a heartbeat, but then she reached out and touched my cheek. "We need to sort out the lies they put in there."

I think my heart stopped beating for several seconds.

I clearly lost focus for at least that length of time.

When I regained my awareness, Helena was nodding slowly.

Her voice was tender, yet determined. "I promise you, we'll get you sorted out."

My lack of trust must have been clear for her to see.

But oddly she made no further attempt to reassure me.

Instead, she said something that temporarily derailed my thought processes.

Helena gazed over my body critically, one eyebrow raised high.

"I must say, while you have a splendid figure, it's clearly lacking for one gifted with a Valkyrie Armor. Especially for someone as pretty as you, who can summon the Valkyrie Maiden." She shook her head in clear disappointment. "No, this certainly won't do."

"Huh?" I realized my fear was making me breathe quickly, and I wondered if this was the reason Helena wasn't making sense to me.

Helena pursed her lips for a short while. "Tell me Melanie, how large would you like them?"

I blinked slowly. "How large would I like what?"

Helena sighed softly and clicked her tongue. "You're breasts, silly. How large would you like us to make them grow."

I stared at the beautiful young woman, wondering how we ended up discussing my breasts.

But now that she'd made such an offer, I found it hard to think away from it. It was a struggle to keep myself from seriously considering her offer as a genuine one.

It was tempting beyond belief.

The thought of finally filling out a swimsuit, a bra, and a nice dress....

I lay my head back down on the gurney's pillow. "Do I have to give you an answer now?"

Helena shook her head as she brushed back loose strands of hair away from my face. "We'll have plenty of time to discuss it later, once we've cleared out your head of any disloyal thoughts you might entertain."

I shivered, and fear overwhelmed me. "Disloyal...?"

She leaned closer and whispered huskily. "Don't worry. The new Melanie Cardwell will be a picture of loyalty and devotion to her Pride. She won't ever, ever think of betraying them again."

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried hard not to whimper.

I prayed for salvation into the darkness behind my eyelids, but received no answer.

### Chapter 27 – Avienda.

(Celica)

Anton called me over the Fragment Link.

* _If you can hold her still, we can take her down. We can fire the main reaction cannon at her!_

*Anton, if you do that you'll burn away half the air in the habitat. Don't fire the main guns!

* _Mistress, at this rate she'll kill you._

* _Anton, we didn't come here to slaughter innocent people._

I clenched my teeth as I fought off the Avienda's tremendously powerful swing. Surrounded by a piercer-field her lance cut into my barrier-field as though it offered no more resistance than cheese. But the two swords held, and I was able to divert the energy of her swing, and force her off balance.

That in itself was an odd thing to say, since the both of us were flying madly around each other. But the net effect was that she overshot and couldn't swing at me again until she came round for another pass.

I breathed easy for a heartbeat, then charged at her before she could recover.

The Black Camellia warned me I was pushing the field emitters to the limit.

My barrier-fields had weakened steadily over the last few minutes.

My only defense was a strong offence, but the Avienda was getting better and better at cancelling out the piercer-fields around my swords. It was growing harder for me to breach her barriers and land solid strikes.

I swung at the Avienda with practiced strikes that knocked her spear aside, and gave me the opening I needed.

A direct slash at the pilot.

For one horrified moment, Fallon stared at me, completely defenseless.

Then she grinned as the Avienda fired a golden blast of light into the Black Camellia.

I thought she was only equipped with four quantum reaction cannons.

I was wrong.

I'd mistaken the two narrow wing-vanes that hung off the Avienda's back for maneuvering effectors. They flexed around the Avienda's body, reminding me of scorpion tails, and fired at the Camellia from point blank range.

In a hurry, the Black Camellia raised its quantum reaction barrier-field.

The air between me and the Avienda flared golden, nearly as bright as a solar flare.

Then my reaction fields shattered, and I felt the Black Camellia's effectors shut down to avoid further damage.

I fell away from the Avienda, falling a thousand feet, dropping back down to the relatively empty ground of a grassy parkland.

Anton's voice filled my head as I touched ground then bounced up on a levitator field.

* _Celica, what are you doing? We can't fire on her if you're on the ground._

I watched the Avienda fly toward me.

Fallon's Warlord didn't fire it's cannons, but she came at me swinging.

She was getting better at it, but again my superior sword play deflected her away.

* _Anton, open the trans-space breach. Get out of here._

*No way, Celica. There is no way we're leaving you behind.

Floating mere feet of the ground, I charged the Avienda again and again. With two handed swordsmanship, I had the edge on her despite the twin bladed spear she wielded. My sword skill was also well above hers.

But I was growing weary.

My concentration was failing me little by little, and there were times I felt myself on the edge of losing my over-clocked state.

* _I can't defeat her, Anton. I can't get away from her. You need to leave without me._

*Celica—they will kill you! And Falken will kill me if I return without you.

I knocked Fallon's spear aside, and while wary of her scorpion cannons, I succeeded in breaching her barrier field and stabbed my right sword at her. It was a desperate gamble, and a lucky break. The blade penetrated into the skeletal framework of the Avienda, narrowly missing Fallon's flank by centimeters. But with the pierce-field around the blade at maximum, it grazed her, and Fallon screamed in sudden agony.

I ignored her cry and pushed the blade deeper, then I slashed diagonally downwards, cutting through the black alloy like a welding torch through snow.

The Avienda staggered, but generated an effect-field that was strong enough to boot me away from her as though I'd been kicked by a mythical titan.

The Black Camellia tumbled backwards into a row of trees, taking them down with its uncontrolled passage.

When it came to rest, I struggled to concentrate and mentally control its levitator fields. Somehow I managed to get the Warlord back on its feet. I looked about frantically for the Avienda and saw it standing some hundred feet away.

The black mist surrounded its flanks. The mist swirled and moved with a ghostly quality, as though countless spirits inhabited it. As I watched, the damage I'd inflicted upon the chevron chains connecting the left leg to the Avienda's spine began to repair.

Feeling resentment at having my hard fought work undone by the mist, I gathered up the Black Camellia, and launched myself at the Avienda with all the speed and power I could muster.

This time I would damage that Warlord beyond repair.

I noticed that while the Avienda was quickly healing, the wound to Fallon which now dyed her flank red, was not.

The girl's face was a mask of rigid pain.

And burning fury.

The black mist blossomed all around her, shrouding her completely from my view.

I slashed through it with my right blade, my arrival dispersing it, but the Avienda was gone.

What the Hell? Where did she—?

A cold chill surrounded me, and a blow from behind sent the Camellia and I tumbling forward along the ground.

Barrier-fields cushioned our jarring roll.

Structural-fields strengthened the Camellia so that it wouldn't break.

But my vision swam and my head rang like a gong. My concentration faltered. A heartbeat later I fell out of my over-clocked state.

I must have bitten the inside of my mouth because I tasted blood.

I couldn't get the Camellia to rise to its feet.

With the Warlord on its hands and knees, I looked up and saw the Avienda standing a few feet before me.

Fallon's fury was undisguised now.

"They told me not to kill you," she grated out through clenched teeth. "But I have trouble following orders."

I saw the Avienda's foot swing up. The kick connected with the barrier-field protecting my body. The field took the blow and shattered a heartbeat later.

The impact knocked me and the Camellia into the air, and over onto its back.

I couldn't scream, and wondered if my chest had been crushed.

Air wheezed in and out of my lungs, and the lack of oxygen was making my vision grey out.

A clawed hand reached down and grabbed my torso, its fingers easily wrapping around me, and I felt myself lifted into the air.

My legs were still attached to the Black Camellia, so the rest of the Warlord was also hoisted upright.

I thought my legs would tear apart under the immense strain, but then I felt the cold chill of the black mist surround me, and in heartbeats the Black Camellia receded into the mist.

I was left dangling in the air, held aloft by the Avienda's clawed hand around my torso.

"Let's hear you scream," Fallon growled.

The claws around me tightened, digging into the Khan-skin I wore.

The material held, but my body was another matter.

I felt my ribs bend under the growing pressure.

"Scream," Fallon yelled.

The first of my ribs broke.

I had no choice but to scream.

#

(Simone)

Caelum stared at the rock wall that was once a doorway.

I said, "It must have closed while you were inside and I was trying to reach you."

He nodded absently, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, if the door closed it's a good bet the security systems are back online. That means those cannons will fire on us the moment we walk out of here." He shrugged easily. "No problem."

"Eh?" I stared at him wondering if I'd heard him right. "Caelum, we're trapped in here."

He gave me a sideways look and smiled confidently. "Trust me. It's not a problem." Looking about the spherical interior of the chamber, his smile faded. He pointed over to a point on the balcony surrounding the Vault. "Simone, I want you to walk over there. Give me some room."

I frowned at him.

Seeing my reaction he smiled at me once more. "Simone, do you trust me?"

"Yes, I do. But Caelum that's a rock wall."

"Do you trust me?"

I hesitated, then cleared my mind and my heart. "Yes, I trust you."

"Then be a good girl and stand over there."

A good girl? A good girl?

He kept looking at me with an amused, unconcerned expression.

"Ah, damn it," I blurted out in a fluster, and walked over to where he indicated.

Damn him. When the Hell he did he become so cocky and self-assured?

When I turned round, I felt a chill spread across the chamber.

The wispy black mist that heralded a Fragment or Artifact manifestation surrounded Caelum's body.

When it faded many seconds later, he stood within the armored, skeletal frame of a Warlord that was akin to the Black Camellia, yet unlike it in many respects. It was black with white wing-vanes and armor panels. It appeared larger than the Camellia. It was certainly broader across the shoulders, and its legs were structured differently.

It took a few moments for me to accept the incredible revelation.

Caelum had a Warlord.

Somehow, during his time inside the Vault, he had bonded with a full Artifact, and it was one of the most powerful Artifacts in existence. This I knew from what my mother had imparted upon me.

I saw seven wing-vanes hanging off its back, fluttering gently up and down like leaves caught in a breeze.

I remembered Celica's Warlord only had five wing-vanes, and something my mother told me came to mind.

With seven wing-vanes could this be one of the legendary Rho-Khans my mother had spoken of?

Caelum and the Warlord walked over to the rock wall. The Warlord placed a black, clawed hand on the surface of the wall.

I felt the air vibrate and my ears began to ring. Clamping my hands over them, I watched the surface of the rock wall ripple like water for many, many seconds. Without warning a large section of the wall, roughly a dozen feet high and wide, crumbled around the point where the Warlord made contact with it. The shattered rock was blown out into the half-domed antechamber.

Cautiously I lowered my hands from my ears, and noticed that silence had returned to the interior of the Vault's chamber.

Caelum turned to me, and beckoned me over with the Warlord's right hand. I saw that it was only his legs that were attached to the machine. The rest of his body was free and upright.

"Come on," he called out.

I won't say I wasn't afraid, but he insisted I hurry over, so I gathered my courage and quickly ran over to him.

The Warlord's two hands picked me up, and I was lifted into Caelum's waiting arms. A heartbeat later he was carrying me princess style, with my arms thrown around his neck.

I warned him, "Don't you dare drop me."

His smile faltered for a heartbeat as he frowned down at me in his arms. "Did you always complain this much? I remember you being such a quiet shy thing."

His gaze wandered over my face and down to my chest.

"Impressive. Most impressive."

I blushed hotly and unwound an arm from around his neck, fully intending to smack him. But he tested my weight in his arms and I thought I was going to fall so I hastily grabbed onto his shoulders.

"Hey—"

"Here we go," he announced.

I felt the Warlord crouch, then the air hardened around me. "Caelum—?"

"We're going to fly," he declared confidently.

"Wait—what about the security cannons?"

"Don't worry. We're perfectly safe. I know what I'm doing."

He certainly did. First that trick where he used resonance to shatter the rock wall, and now I felt power surging through the Warlord, emanating into the air around us in the form of levitator-fields.

How had he learnt to control a Warlord?

Just what had happened to him inside the Vault?

The Warlord gathered itself into a forward leaning crouch, then leapt through the shattered doorway. It sped through the antechamber, moving too quickly for the security systems to react to. Even when the cannons did fire, they missed by a wide margin.

The Warlord flew into the tunnel a heartbeat later.

The air thrummed as the unbelievably powerful machine soared down the middle of the tunnel.

In the blink of an eye we flew by the remains of the Special Interventions squad and their vehicles. The tunnel walls and ceiling were ruined for hundreds of square meters. The explosion had torn a huge chunk out of the ground and wall nearest to its epicenter.

I thought Caelum would stop and search for Melanie.

My thoughts must have been clearly written on my face, because he replied with a hasty shake of his head.

"She's not here. I can't sense any Fragment or Artifact nearby. Not even pieces of it."

My eyes narrowed in disbelief. "You can sense Artifacts?"

He grimaced guiltily. "It's a long story. No time to explain."

Caelum shifted my weight in his arms. "We're almost at the exit. There's a small army camped just beyond the tunnel's opening. Ravana can feel them out there. I'll drop you off with the soldiers—you'll be safe with them."

I stared at him, my confusion spreading across my face. "What? Why? Caelum, what are you going to do?"

He glanced down at me. "I'm going after my sister."

I couldn't hide my unease. I didn't agree with what he was planning and he saw it written on my face.

"Why?" I asked him.

He smiled regretfully at me. "Because she's my sister...and I think she's in trouble."

"What? How do you know?"

"Ravana can feel another Warlord out there, and it's not the Black Camellia."

I felt my body shiver at his words.

Another Warlord? Did that mean there were now three Warlords inside Habitat One?

He swallowed noticeably as he looked ahead down the length of the tunnel quickly coming to an end.

"Caelum?"

"Ravana knows that Warlord," he said, his jaw muscles flexing angrily. "And I remember it quite well."

I had the impression we'd accelerated tremendously, but something was dampening the sudden surge in speed.

Then we were out of the tunnel, and I felt slightly nauseous as though my body was suddenly weightless.

The Warlord that Caelum called Ravana had come to an unbelievably quick stop. I looked about and saw us hovering a few feet of the ground, faced by a company of armored vehicles and armor-skin clad soldiers that formed a crescent around the opening of the tunnel. We were inside a military base, with a wide open square atrium and a half dozen levels bordering it. I looked up and saw rectangular openings in the distant ceiling, then realized that these openings were intended for the elevator platforms that ran up and down the perimeter of the atrium, ferrying men and machines between levels. A section of the base was apparently constructed above ground.

I could see the facility had suffered recent damage, and I wondered if Celica was responsible for that.

Within moments of our entry, dozens of floodlights bathed us in white light.

I squinted sharply.

Caelum's voice boomed out. "Hold your fire. I repeat, hold your fire."

Then someone from the soldier's ranks yelled out through a loudspeaker. "Drop to the ground and disengage from your—from your—from whatever that thing is!"

Caelum boomed back, "I have a civilian with me. Do not fire on us. We're not here to fight you."

"Drop to the ground now, or we will engage you."

"You stupid idiots—I'm not here to fight you. But the first man that fires on us dies."

I stiffened in Caelum's arms.

He sounded deadly serious, but so too did the soldiers.

The soldier with the loudspeaker shouted, "This is your final warning."

"Yours too," Caelum shouted back, his voice amplified tenfold by some means provided by the Warlord.

"All Enforcers prepare to fire on my mark."

Without preamble, I heard a roaring wind break out around us. It gathered strength in heartbeats and formed a tornado around Caelum and I. Within moments the heavy personnel carriers and armored soldiers were tossed about like plastic toys. Those men still on their feet fell into a panic and retreated. A few of the vehicles managed to back away before the wind could knock them over, but the ground floor of the base was once again thrown into disarray.

The soldier booming out orders was drowned out by the wind.

I heard him cry out a few moments later.

He and his vehicle must have been thrown aside by the raging tornado that roared around Ravana.

The storm lasted almost a minute before quickly dissipating.

When it was over, I saw the formation of men and machinery had been ruined. They lay scattered about the open ground floor of the base. Very few soldiers were picking themselves up off the ground. Whatever Celica had started, Caelum had almost finished.

Ravana moved toward a cluster of men on their hands and knees. It touched ground, and the Warlord's hands took me from Caelum's arms. Gently, it set me down on my feet on the hard, permacrete ground.

Then it reached out and grabbed one of the soldiers struggling to rise.

Caelum's voice was loud and clear in the quiet that followed, though the sounds of soldiers moving about and calling to each other could be heard all around me. Somewhere deep in the levels above an alarm was blaring but it was silenced shortly.

Caelum's words carried far. "This woman is Simone Alucard Raynar, daughter of Special Interventions Commander Selena Alucard Raynar."

Ravana's hand shook the soldier in its grip.

Caelum's voice sounded as hard as metal. "If any harm comes to her, you will have to answer to Commander Alucard...and to me."

He released the soldier and the man stumbled back a few steps.

But the other men on their feet held their ground and made no effort to raise their weapons.

Caelum faced me. "Simone, I have to go." He hesitated before adding, "I'll see you soon."

I cleared my throat quickly. "Caelum, wait—ah."

Ravana jumped back and I was caught up in the wind it roused.

Hastily throwing an arm before my face, I felt the air harden again, and the nauseous weightless sensation returned. My sense of up and down vanished. I peeked under my arm in time to see Ravana leap skyward. As it did, my sense of orientation returned and I felt a tremor race along the ground, making me stagger.

I looked up to see Ravana arc smoothly toward one of the rectangular openings in the ceiling. It sailed through the opening, and then disappeared from view.

I had no idea where in Habitat One we had emerged.

Regarding my surroundings with a nervously beating heart, I approached a soldier that I suspected was an officer.

Bowing to him politely, I made my voice respectful as I requested his help.

"Sir, my name is Simone Alucard Raynar. Please, allow me to contact my mother."

The man studied me quickly from head to bare feet.

I didn't miss the look he gave my chest, nor the way he hurriedly averted his eyes while blushing all the way to his ears.

"Miss Alucard. Please, do something about your—your—your clothes."

I looked down, and saw that most of the buttons on my blouse were gone, and I was giving the soldiers a competition winning view of my prized bosom snug in its sheer and lacy white bra.

Blast that Caelum for not telling me!

This probably happened when he manhandled my breasts after emerging from the Vault.

Hastily I buttoned up my white blazer across my chest.

Then I fixed an unforgiving stare on the officer standing before me.

"As I was saying, would you _please_ allow me to contact my _mother_!"

#

(Celica)

I was vaguely aware I was tossed through the air like a rag doll.

I think I may have struck something hard – perhaps yet another tree – and then fallen limply to the ground.

My broken ribs complained when I landed on my chest.

The uneven nature of the ground made me think I'd landed on thick tree roots.

I didn't have the strength to move.

I could barely breathe and that was only out of necessity.

Fire burned in my chest every time my lungs expanded and contracted.

I could feel my ribs moving about.

The Symbiote inside me was hurrying to patch me up and set my broken bones together.

Fallon undoubtedly knew this, which was why she kept breaking them anew by crushing my torso with Avienda's clawed hands.

Then she would fling me about against the trees.

I passed out a number of times, only to be woken up as my body healed and Fallon exacted more torture upon me.

I wanted to scream.

I'd read somewhere that screaming out in pain helped alleviate it.

But that would have consumed what little strength I had left.

The torture Fallon put me through didn't allow me even that small measure of compassion.

I felt my body rolled over onto its back, probably by an effect-field used as a manipulator.

My vision was bordered in shades of grey. Objects appeared indistinct yet I could discern Avienda standing before me.

I saw a blurry visage looking down at me.

Then I was picked up by the manipulator-field, and held before a grinning face that was malice personified.

"You did well," Fallon hissed through crescent lips, "for a cheap imitation."

I lost the strength to keep my eyes open but when the field tightened around my body, my natural response took over and my eyes widened in response to the pain. Yet despite being open, I could barely see my surroundings, including the Avienda and its pilot.

Her voice sounded far away on the other side of what was possibly the last scream I would ever unleash.

"I want to hear you burst!"

My body compressed, and I felt my bones break.

For a long while, nothing but intense pain accompanied me.

However...I didn't burst apart.

My organs didn't rupture, my joints didn't pop, and my bones stopped breaking.

I was still alive, and the pressure surrounding me was gone.

I was feeling the after effects of having been squeezed tightly, and the Symbiote was trying its damnedest to keep me alive.

But I had been released from the manipulator-field, and couldn't understand why Fallon hadn't killed me.

As pain raced in unending waves through my body, and my bones and torn musculature slowly repaired itself through the Symbiote's efforts, I managed to look up from where I lay on the ground. Grass shoots grazed my face as I moved my head a couple of inches off the soil.

In front of me, some distance away, the Avienda lay 'face down' on the ground.

Standing over it was a Warlord clad in black and white.

The air between them shimmered as the newcomer forced the Avienda down, barrier-field against barrier-field.

I shifted my gaze, and counted seven wing-vanes fanning out from its back.

I raised my head a little higher, and sought a better look.

Ever so gradually my vision was clearing up, and I was able to see the newcomer with greater clarity.

While holding the Avienda down – crushing it into the ground – Caelum turned his head and looked at me.

"Can you get up?" he asked.

His voice sounded muted, but I heard it well enough.

He'd found it – the Warlord that belonged to our bloodline's ancestors. Because I was bonded to the Black Camellia, I was unable to claim the Ravana.

But Caelum could, especially since he no longer had a Fragment or Artifact of his own.

I felt a surge of pride for my brother flow through me, and gratitude toward Simone Alucard for doing her part.

Finally, events were on the right path, just as the Seeress had envisioned.

"Caelum...."

"Can you get up? Can you walk? Aggh—"

The Avienda was renewing its struggle to rise.

He applied more pressure to it, cancelling out its attempts to break free.

The air didn't just shimmer anymore. It vibrated and thrummed audibly.

The ground shook intermittently but regularly as the two Warlords struggled against each other.

Enormous energies were being expended.

But it was clear that Caelum had the advantage. After all, he was the Meister of a Rho-Khan, one of four of the most powerful Warlords in existence.

Through pain addled eyes and mind, I regarded him as I gradually raised my body inch by inch off the ground.

He's operating it so easily, neutralizing the Avienda's barrier-fields and levitators-fields. It can't even aim its quantum reaction cannons at him.

How was this possible?

It must be the Regalia inside his body. It's allowing him to use the Ravana's power as though it's second nature to him.

But I saw the strain on his face as he concentrated on immobilizing the Avienda.

"Stay down," he yelled down at the Avienda's Meister.

I heard Fallon groan out a reply.

"Let...me...go...bastard...."

"Not going to happen," he retorted, then glanced at me. "I can keep her down, but I can't help you."

I gained my knees, and reached out a trembling hand to him. "Caelum, come with us."

He shook his head. "No."

"Caelum, please come with us. Bring Simone too. The two of you belong together."

"I'll decide who I belong with—damn it, I told you to stay down. Keep this up and I'll tear of your wing-vanes."

"Bastard...you're...helping her."

"Yes. But only this once." He faced me again. "Celica, the next time we meet we'll be enemies."

I shook my head. "Caelum, it doesn't have to be this way."

"Yes, it does. I can't forgive Crimson Crescent. They took away our parents, and now they took away my sister." He gave me a dark, chilling look. "One day, I will make them pay."

I swayed on my knees.

I had expected this, yet I'd hoped against it.

I closed my eyes, and hung my head.

Every movement I made was agony, but little by little my body was healing and the pain was gradually ebbing away.

Then I became aware of deeper thrum in the air, one that wasn't caused by the barrier-fields reacting against each other.

Opening my eyes, I painfully raised my head and looked up.

_Induran_ hovered a few hundred feet above me, its midnight black trident body a welcome sight for my beaten eyes.

Lowering my head, I looked at Caelum.

He hadn't eased up on the Avienda one iota.

I cleared my throat, and yelled across to him. "You will always be my brother. You will always be my family."

His eyes narrowed noticeably, but he said nothing.

Instead, he gave me a firm nod.

I was barely able to rise to my feet. I was barely able to remain standing. Yet, I raised a hand toward the starship.

_Induran_ began to descend, putting pressure on the ground with its enormous levitator-fields. That extra pressure served to keep Avienda down, but once again I found myself on my hands and knees.

Fallon cursed wildly. "Damn you. Damn you. You're my prey. You'll die by my hand."

"Shut up!" Caelum yelled, refusing to give her an inch of respite. "I warned you—I'll tear off your wing-vanes."

I felt as though grabbed by an invisible hand.

Swiftly I was hoisted off my feet, and the parkland receded below me as _Induran_ whisked me into the sky.

My eyes met Caelum's and stayed with him until I was swallowed up by the starship.

I prayed it wouldn't be the last time I ever laid eyes on him.

When the hatch closed below me, my body shuddered and I collapsed on the airlock's floor.

I surrendered to pain and exhaustion.

I surrendered to the tears that rushed out of my heart.

Once again, I'd left him behind.

#

(Caelum)

I watched my sister disappear into the Crimson Crescent starship.

The vessel rose a thousand feet higher, before opening up a trans-space breach.

The habitat shook as though in the throes of a violent earthquake.

With as much commotion as its entrance, the black starship slipped into the breach between the realms of real-space and trans-space. Moments after it vanished into the swirling pool of midnight-blue light, the breach sealed in its wake. There was one final tremor, one last shockwave that bloomed through the air, and then it was gone.

Strained, overly-taxed power systems failed within the habitat, throwing it into acute darkness. They had barely held the first time the breach occurred. The second breach had overwhelmed them.

It was many seconds later before the faintest of amber emergency lights began dotting the habitat's rock ceiling.

I looked up at the slowly spreading rows and columns of amber lights, wondering when I'd ever seen such a scene.

I shrugged and turned my attention to the Warlord struggling under me.

Releasing the barrier-field I'd used to force it down, I willed Ravana to jump back.

The Avienda wearily gained its sharp, angular feet.

Warlords weren't designed to run or walk. They could do so, but they were rather ungainly when they moved about on the ground.

In contrast, they could hover, float, drift and execute numerous complicated maneuvers a mere foot off the ground. They could do so with the fluid grace of a champion ice-skater on an ice rink.

But their true domains were the sky and the vacuum of space.

That was where they ruled supreme, because Warlords were made to fly.

That being said, they made excellent swimmers, able to dive thousands of feet below an ocean's surface.

All this I understood and knew from _him_.

My predecessor.

My ancestor.

The Rho-Khan Ravana's first Meister.

Kallum Kampfer.

I stared at the Avienda, watching it sway unsteadily like a boxer who'd been forced to endure twelve rounds in the ring against a punishing opponent.

Its Meister glared at me – a girl probably around my age. Pretty, with black hair that fell over her shoulders and back. Very pretty, and very _big_ where it counted.

And also quite angry.

I could almost picture it radiating from her in shimmering heat waves.

Her voice was hard and unyielding. "You—you're her brother. You're that traitor's brother." She pointed a finger at me using her own hand, and not the Avienda's. "They'll burn you for what you did. They'll burn you for helping her escape."

I shrugged, and the Ravana imitated my move. "Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. Either way it's not your concern."

Gathering up the Rho-Khan's power, I darted forward, crossing the distance to her in less than a heartbeat. Extending the Ravana's left arm, I pierced the Avienda's nearly depleted barrier field, and wrapped my clawed hand around the Meister's torso. It happened so fast that even though she was probably over-clocked, the girl failed to respond to my charge.

I squeezed her body, and saw fresh pain bloom across her face.

I smiled at her. "Don't worry, I won't kill you. Not yet."

"Bastard—let me go—aggh!"

She cried out as Ravana's claws dug into her flank.

I eased my grip on her, and she relaxed slightly after a few moments. She was fighting against the pain while scowling poisoned daggers at me.

I asked her, "Is that better?"

Her scowl grew worse, but there was fear in her eyes.

I dropped my smile. "Now, before the Enforcers arrive to take me away, I want to ask you one question."

Still scowling at me, she laughed derisively through her nose since her teeth were clenched together.

I gave her body a squeeze and she stopped laughing.

I was surprised by how cold I sounded. "Where is the other one?"

A frown intruded upon her hateful scowl. "Wh—what other one?"

"The one who betrayed me."

For a long moment, the girl gave me no response other than to deepen her frown.

I sighed and shook my head. "Let me refresh your memory. Four Rho-Khans, eight Seer-Khans. Two Seer-Khans were assigned to each Rho-Khan to act as their personal guard or field commanders."

I leaned forward and gave her body another squeeze.

"Do you remember now? I'm sure you do since you possess the Regalia inside your body...just like I do."

Her eyes widened slowly. "You...you have his memories?"

I nodded. "And if I have his memories, you have hers."

The girl shook her head faintly, her scowl losing a little of its strength. "I don't know. I don't know where it is."

"Do you know anything at all about it?"

"No."

A third squeeze, more forceful than the last. "Try answering that again."

She gasped out loudly through clenched teeth. "I don't know where it is. I don't know if it's been found."

"You'd better not be lying to me."

"I'm not lying. I've been looking for it too."

I blinked in surprise. "Why? Why would you be looking for it?"

"Because I'm just like you! I want to know why she betrayed the both of us!"

I regarded her for a long quiet moment, then eased my grip on her. "I was right. You do have Fatina's memories inside your head."

The girl sucked in air painfully. "I have the memories stored in her Regalia. I remember whatever it allows me to remember."

Everything it allows her to remember?

The Regalia was regulating her interaction with Fatina's memories?

Why would this girl say that, and how would she know if that was indeed what the Regalia was doing?

I frowned in thought and decided to release her.

Once I did, I stepped Ravana back a few meters.

She watched me warily while rubbing her body tenderly, especially her injured left flank that was caked in dried blood. Her voice was laced with distrust and suspicion, yet her question was honest enough.

"You have Kallum's memories? You weren't lying about that?"

I nodded. "Yes, I have his memories, and a lot more."

She stopped massaging her injured flank. "Even if the Warlord has been found, someone has to bond with its Regalia in order to access the memories."

"I know."

"We have to wait for a descendent of that bloodline to be found. We have to wait for that Seer-Khan to be found. Then the two have to be brought together."

"I said, I know that."

"What are you going to do when that happens?"

I planted my hands on my hips. "The same thing you're going to do." I took a deep breath. "I'm going to ask her why she betrayed me."

Ravana sensed movement – an inter-Island troop carrier was flying our way.

I concentrated and willed Ravana back into its Pocket Space where its sarcophagus awaited it. My feet touched ground, and the mist surrounding me quickly dispersed though the bone chilling cold remained for a long while afterwards.

The Avienda's pilot regarded me silently. A few moments later she followed suit, and the Avienda withdrew into its own Pocket Space, adding to the cold already in the air.

I took that to mean she understood there was no more reason to fight.

We stared at each other in silence, and I felt the minute drag by.

Eventually, the troop carrier flew overhead and deposited a squad of armor-skin wearing soldiers onto the parkland clearing. But the men landed quite some distance away. I guessed the carrier pilot was concerned about landing too close to us Warlord Meisters. A dozen men were joined by another dozen. Cautiously the two squads approached us.

I put my hands behind my head, then dropped to my knees as a sign of surrender.

Before the soldiers could form a perimeter around us, the Avienda's Meister broke the silence between us.

"Fallon. My name is Fallon Acacia afil Avenir."

I nodded weakly. "Caelum Desanto afil Lanfear."

Yes, that was the right name to give her.

That was still who I was.

Caelum Rafael Desanto, second born of Samuel and Chantal Desanto.

Younger brother to Celica Marisol Desanto.

The girl planted her hands on her hips. Her wounded flank made her reconsider, so she dropped her arms to her sides. But she favored me with a smile that reminded me of a hungry wolf. It was a smile that Kallum remembered too. "You hurt me. I won't forgive you for that—ever."

I replied honestly, without hesitation. "You hurt my sister. I won't forgive you either."

Her next words surprised me, spoken heavy with nostalgia. "We had some good times together...the three of us...didn't we?"

I swallowed and chose not comment.

So she remembered those times.

She remembered serving as my left hand, with Merkala's Meister as my right hand.

Fallon gave me a despairing look. "If only—if only she'd never come into your life. Then it would have been the three of us forever."

When the soldiers forced me to the ground with a hard shove, I made no effort to fight back.

Her words stole my strength.

I allowed the men to secure my arms and legs with plasti-steel bindings.

I allowed them to take me away.

I searched for the words to make Fallon understand that those days I spent with Lisanna were the happiest of my life.

### Reflections – 15.

Perhaps you've guessed it by now, but our society is matriarchal.

The far majority of positions of power are held by women.

The Primatriarchs that lead the Prides are all women.

The heads of all the prominent families are all women.

The question you ask is why?

It's because the Symbiote is passed along from mother to child during pregnancy.

That is not to say that a male parent doesn't contribute to the child. After all, they supply a measure of genetic material to the offspring.

But they can also affect whether or not that child is born a pureblood.

In some cases, when parents of different Prides come together, the offspring may be born without the Symbiote inside them, hence a non-pureblood. This is also true when the male parent is a Regular and not an Aventis. However, when either of the parents is a Familiar, it is more likely than not the child will Awaken as a Familiar.

In saying all this, the importance a woman bears in propagating her Pride by passing the Symbiote along to her children, has elevated her status in society and shifted the balance of power.

That shift hasn't been without some resentment.

I'd like to say take it like a man and suck it up.

But every man his pride, and that's not always easy to do.

### Chapter 28 – Truths and Lies.

(Caprice)

School Week Four.

A week went by since Crimson Crescent invaded our academy, and Caelum didn't return to class.

The school was closed for a week while repairs were made.

By the time the fourth week came round, the buildings and facilities were back in order. It's true what they say, money can move mountains, but there are some things money cannot move.

Putting together Galatea Academy in a week was one thing.

Dealing with the aftermath of Crimson Crescent's invasion of the habitat was something else.

The people were reeling from the event. The situation was made all the worse by the fact it came about a week before the six year anniversary of the explosion that destroyed the super-freighter and killed hundreds. They were angry and scared, and they were demanding answers. They wanted their sense of peace, tranquility and security restored.

They had lost their faith in the Powers-that-be, and this time the upper echelons of the Prides ruling hierarchy were having trouble appeasing them, let alone silencing them.

I read the news articles, and I watched the holovid reports.

I watched the coverage of the thousands of mourners who turned out to remember the day six years ago when Crimson Crescent made itself publicly known.

It was hard to silence people when more than a hundred people had died in the recent battle between Crescent and the Prides, with a thousand more injured. Dozens of buildings had been demolished and part of the mag-lev network was ruined. Streets had been burned away, forcing people to resort of levitator capable vehicles in order to travel through a number of areas within the habitat.

Our training continued.

There was no rest for Team Galatea. Even after the events of that Monday when Crimson Crescent trespassed onto the academy, the five of us were back in training the day after. With the school closed, the Artemis instructors made us suffer through a four days of Hell in a habitat. However, they took pity on us and gave us the Sunday off. Hard as it was I welcomed the training. It kept my mind of Caelum. It kept my mind off a lot of things.

That Sunday I was instructed to Arisa Imreh Lanfear's apartment in Island One, Habitat One. It had been a while since I'd met her in person. It was also the first time being invited to her home. As expected of the Imreh Family, it was a palatial affair.

Over tea, biscuits and muffins, I listened to her and fought down my disbelief and dismay. My emotionless façade broke apart.

As impossible as it sounded, Caelum's affiliation with the Lanfears was being terminated.

The Raynar Pride would take him in and assume his Guardianship.

I felt as though a part of me had been irrevocably taken away.

An irreplaceable part.

And I didn't know how it was possible for this to happen.

I almost yelled at Arisa. "Caelum is bonded to you. He's bonded to the Lanfear Symbiote. He can't be a Raynar."

Arisa maintained her calm. "The bonding is immaterial. In this case his body was always more receptive to the Raynar Symbiote than to the Lanfear strain."

The Lanfear Pride had caved in to pressure from the Raynar Pride, and there was nothing Arisa could do about that.

They had lost the vaunted Artifact, the Kaiser's Blessing, to the Raynars.

And now they had lost Caelum Desanto, someone who I learnt was a descendant of the original twelve Familiars that fought for the Aventis during the War of Supremacy. I learnt from Arisa the history of the Original Twelve as she knew it, and I learnt of the Warlords and the part they played in securing victory for the Aventis.

I learnt the history that wasn't part of the school curriculum.

"Why...why didn't you tell me before?"

"I couldn't tell you," she replied. "There was still a great deal even I didn't know. The Primatriarchs toyed with us. They kept us in the dark, as they have kept almost all the Aventis since the end of the war."

"Why?"

The beautiful redhead that was my Guardian – my Handler – shook her head. "I don't know. I've petitioned an audience with our Primatriarch, but so far I've had no reply."

"But she's your aunt. How can she refuse to see you? What reason would she have?"

"I don't know, Caprice."

She put down the tea cup from which she'd been drinking onto a porcelain saucer.

I did the same.

Arisa sounded distinctly bitter. "In hindsight, I believe we were used by the Raynars and Avenirs. The Lanfear Pride was taken for a ride the moment it agreed to take guardianship of Caelum Desanto."

"Why?"

"Again, I don't know. However, I learnt that a Seeress contacted the Raynar Primatriarch, advising Serenity Alucard not to take guardianship of Caelum. Instead, he was to be offered to another Pride. And thus, the Lanfears took his guardianship." She tapped the edge of her cup with a manicured fingernail. "This happened a day before Constance attacked you on the way to Caelum's school."

"So Prissila Ventiss spoke the truth—the Raynars were originally going to awaken his abilities as a Familiar."

"Yes, and then the Seeress convinced them otherwise."

"And Prissila Ventiss chose to take matters into her own hands."

Arisa nodded. "She complicated the situation, and then upset everything again with that incident at the amusement park."

I frowned slightly. "But now they're back to square one. Caelum is under their guardianship." My eyes widened sharply. "Prissila—is she going to be Caelum's Guardian?"

Arisa shook her head. "No, I have no idea who will be assuming the role of his Guardian."

I felt a pang of unease in my chest. "Is it Simone?"

Arisa eyed me carefully. "If not her, would you rather it be Prissila?"

"No, I would rather it be neither. I don't want the Raynars to have him." I stood up both angry and frustrated. "You should have fought harder for him."

"I did fight for him, but this directive came from my Primatriarch. I can't say no to her."

I struggled to control myself. "Prissila had more courage than you."

"Prissila Ventiss is a fool. Don't compare the two of us. And mind your tone with me."

I stared at her, then bowed to her. "If you'll excuse me. I have places to be."

"Caprice, sit down. I have more to tell you. Stop being childish."

"Childish?" I clenched my hands, feeling my tendons pop. "They're taking away the person I care about and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Does Caelum feel the same way about you?"

My heart felt like it was abruptly squeezed. "Does it matter?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

I felt myself glare at her. "I have no need to answer that question. And besides, how can I find out his feelings if he's no longer a Lanfear. He's not even part of the team. He's become an _outsider_."

Arisa glanced away. "He's become much more than that."

"What?"

"Caprice...sit down."

I refused to move.

Arisa sighed in defeat in the face of my stubbornness. "Caprice...there's something you don't know. When Crimson Crescent attacked the academy, Caelum was taken to a confined area deep under the school grounds. This was done by an operative working for Crimson Crescent. There, Caelum encountered an ancient Artifact called the Vault. Crimson Crescent breached Galatea Academy's computer network in order to access this Artifact."

"You mean the black box in the school's network."

"Yes. The sealed off section contained command codes that allowed access to the underground network of tunnels leading to the Vault. Without those codes, Crimson Crescent would not be able to open the stone chamber that housed the Vault. I learnt all of this recently, and to be honest it came from an unlikely source."

"Which source?"

"Commander Selena Alucard Raynar. Simone's mother."

"Why would she tell you this? Why tell you now?"

"Professional courtesy. That was her answer when I asked her the same question." Arisa looked uncomfortable, as though struggling to hide a secret. "And she told me about your mother."

I swallowed hard. "My mother...."

Arisa nodded. "She told me of your mother's defection to Crimson Crescent. She told me it happened when Crescent came to save Celica Desanto over a year and a half ago. Nineteen months, to be more exact."

Arisa picked up her tea cup, but on second thought she put it back down.

"Your mother left with Celica, and joined Crimson Crescent. But she left you her Artifact, the Valkyrie Armor. Your mother was a Lanfear, and so it was sent to my Pride. She did this without Selena Alucard's knowledge. She also addressed me in a letter, asking me to keep the Valkyrie Armor safe for you. Your mother was certain you would Awaken as a Familiar. For that reason, my family chose to keep a close eye on you. When it was clear you would Awaken just like your mother did twenty years ago, we decided to assume guardianship over you, and we gave you her Artifact."

Arisa leaned forward.

"Caprice, we didn't know your mother had defected. We assumed she had died upon returning from a mission, and when Selena Alucard confirmed her death nineteen months ago, we had no reason to doubt it. After all, Selena was her commanding officer."

I struggled with my distrust. "So you weren't keeping it a secret from me?"

"No. Selena Alucard revealed the truth to me now, because there was no point keeping it a secret from us anymore."

I stared at her, finding everything I was told hard to accept. Even when I'd seen the proof in front of my eyes – the fact that my mother was alive – I was still surrounded by so many lies and half-truths that I no longer knew what to think.

My trust in people and their words was at an all-time low.

I wanted to believe Arisa, but it was a struggle to do so.

I watched her lean back in her chair.

Arisa spoke softly. "Selena also told me about Celica's betrayal. This is something you need to know as well. You need to understand the circumstances behind it, because you will need to keep a close eye on Caelum."

"Why?"

"Because even if Caelum is an outsider and not part of your team, he's become a person of great interest to the Prides, and I mean _all_ the Prides."

I leaned forward. "Why?"

"Because Caelum Desanto entered the Vault." Arisa tapped her teacup. "He went into the Artifact, and Simone Alucard pulled him out."

I had trouble picturing what Arisa was telling me.

Arisa pressed on, despite seeing my confusion. "Caprice, the Caelum Desanto that came out of the Vault, is not the same young man you know. He's not the Caelum that you care about."

I felt my stomach clench painfully. "What—what do you mean by that? What happened to him?"

Arisa grew quiet and very still for a long, long moment.

"Caprice, sit down and let me explain...."

#

(Maya)

School Week Five.

Sunday morning.

The training instructors had given us the day off.

I decided to make use of it.

I arrived at the apartment complex in Island One, Habitat One an hour before midday.

I rode the lift up to the fortieth floor.

From there it was a short walk down plush interior corridors to the apartment.

I read the sign beside the door, then depressed the button for the electronic bell.

Closing my eyes, I used my Fragment to sense the interior layout of the apartment. I felt someone approach the door from inside, and it opened a short while later.

They didn't bother asking who I was since they could see me through the security holovid.

Jaxon Deneve stared at me with a bemused expression. He was barefoot, dressed in tracksuit pants and a loose t-shirt. His long hair was a mess and he looked as though he'd woken up recently.

He gave me a guarded smile. "What brings you around?"

"Can we talk?"

"Hmm...that depends."

"On what?"

"On why you're here."

I arched my eyebrows at him. "Deneve, I didn't come here to confess to you, so don't get your hopes up."

He regarded me silently for a long while. "Damn." Then he shrugged and opened the door a fair bit wider. "Fine, come in."

I stepped through the doorway. "Sorry for the intrusion."

I took off my shoes and placed them beside the shoe rack near the door.

Jaxon closed the door and locked it behind me.

I followed him down the wide corridor, and then into the living area.

To the left lay a spacious kitchen.

A corridor to the right led toward other rooms, possibly the bedrooms and bathrooms, maybe even a laundry.

Beside Jaxon and I, my Fragment sensed no one else in the apartment.

Jaxon asked, "Want something to drink?"

"Water, please."

"Okay dokay."

I sat down in one of the living room's sofas, a crescent shaped three-seater, and looked about. One living room wall was glass from floor to ceiling. A sliding door led out to an expansive balcony looking out into the habitat.

The whole apartment felt too big for just one person.

"Jaxon, do you live here alone?"

"Yep."

What? With space at a premium in some habitats, he had an apartment this size all to himself.

He added, "I have a sister, but she went to live in the academy dorms this year."

I frowned inwardly.

I knew he wasn't an only child, which was the reason I'd come to see him today. But I didn't know he had a sister.

He brought me a tall glass of chilled water. He even dropped a straw in it, and a thin slice of lemon. Then he sat down on the sofa opposite me.

I regarded him. "You have a sister?"

"She's a Familiar. She awoke last year. However, she has no interest in Fragments and they have no interest in her. Nonetheless she was transferred to Phelan Academy in Island Two. She moved into their dorms because she had no intention of making the hard slog from here to there."

"Why Phelan? Why not Arcala Academy here in Island One?"

"Her friends awoke as Aventis and went to attend Phelan."

"Oh...how convenient...or inconvenient?"

Jaxon shrugged lightly. "They're not bad girls. My sister's in good hands. Besides, there are quite a number of Familiars at Phelan Academy. She'll make other friends."

I sipped the water. Damn, it really was chilled. The glass was frosted.

After taking another sip, I asked, "Didn't you transfer from Phelan?"

"I did."

"What's it like...?"

"More Familiars attend Phelan than Galatea. You could say it's less lonely, less cold. Galatea's less forgiving."

I almost frowned at him. Well, he was right in that regard. Galatea was a rather cold place for us Familiars.

I sipped some more water. "What about your parents? Where are they?"

"Didn't you check my file before coming here?"

"Your file is classified."

"Ah...I see...." He sagged back into the sofa. "My parents are Familiars. They work out _there_ in the Nebula. They do work for the Aventis. Special work. That's all I'll say."

"Are they members of Artemis and Paladin?"

He nodded shallowly. "I was trained by them in hand-to-hand combat for many, many years. Then half a year ago they were sent into the Nebula. I have no idea why or for what purpose, though it probably has something to do with Crescent." He cocked his head to a side. "Is that what you came to discuss?"

"No."

"You're wondering about my brother, aren't you?"

I sipped the water again, then set the glass down on the coffee table that stood at my feet. "Yes, I came to ask you about Rylan Deneve."

Jaxon sighed faintly. "I was wondering when you would ask about him...."

That day when Crimson Crescent invaded Galatea Academy and caused so much strife, Jaxon and I encountered four of their members in the high-school library. The fight didn't go my way, but Jaxon held his own against two of Crescent's Familiars, while I struggled against just one of them. In the end, we could do nothing to stop Crimson Crescent's network hacker. In the end, the difference between them and us – or rather, between myself and them – was simply too great to overcome.

When the fight ended, I was shocked to learn one of the two Familiars he fought against was his brother.

He sagged even further into the sofa. "Rylan is my elder brother by three years. He's better than I am in every way, yet I never felt envious of him. If anything, he helped motivate me. I really looked up to him."

"How did he end up with Crescent?"

"I don't know. He left the Family two years ago. Said he was going to find the Artifact, the Kaiser's Blessing on his own. That Artifact has been in our family for generations, at least, that's what I was told. It was lost around thirty years ago. I don't know how, but somehow it ended up in the Lanfear's possession." He rubbed his eyes. "What's really strange is that it was locked down. It wasn't bonded to anyone. It was just completely locked down so the researchers mistook it for a Fragment rather than an Artifact."

He looked away for a while.

When he looked back at me, Jaxon had an odd expression on his face.

It was somewhere between envy and gratitude.

"I should thank Desanto."

This time I gave into a frown. "Why?"

"Something he did while bonded to the Kaiser's Blessing unlocked part of its systemry. I think it was during that incident at the amusement park that was all over the cynet. If he hadn't unlocked it, no one would have known it was the Kaiser's Blessing."

I looked down at the glass on the table. "Perhaps...."

Jaxon leaned forward. "Who is Caelum Desanto?"

I blinked. "So you're curious as well."

Jaxon nodded slowly.

I narrowed my eyes. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Caprice Steiner."

"It might...have a lot to do with her."

"Oh, how so?"

"Well, as Sun Tzu once said, 'Know thy enemy and know thy self; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated'."

"I see. So you perceive Caelum Desanto as your enemy."

"At the very least my rival."

Did that make me a little jealous? Yes, it did, but I quashed it quickly. It wasn't an ember I would allow to spark to a flame.

I swallowed discretely. "Why Caprice Steiner?"

He was quiet for a little while. "I just like her. I've always liked her, ever since I first met her nine years ago."

That surprised me and it showed on my face.

Jaxon smiled. "You don't know this but Caprice's mother knew my parents quite well. And that's how I met her. But after a while her mother stopped bringing Caprice around to my family's home in Island One, Habitat Two. I don't know what happened between my family and her, and unfortunately my parents have never given me an explanation. Maybe there was a difference of opinion. After all, my parents are loyal to the Raynar Pride, and we now know that Caprice's mother defected to Crimson Crescent."

I glimpsed the shadow of shrug across his shoulders.

His reasoning was sound, though it was still speculation.

I felt that too much of what we knew was very well nothing more than speculation. That made me uneasy and unsure of where any of us stood in the grand scheme of things.

I looked around me at the living room interior. "Then this apartment isn't your home...?"

"No, it isn't. I moved here a year ago. It was all arranged by my parents and the Raynars."

He leaned forward a little more.

"But Caprice aside, I really want to know who...or what...is Caelum Desanto."

"What do you mean by _what_?"

"I told you didn't I. He unlocked my Artifact, something nobody else had been able to do since it came into the Lanfear's possession. I understand his predecessor took six months to manifest both shield-blades. But the Kaiser remained locked. It wasn't until Desanto came along that its extra functions and its _identity_ were revealed." He smiled enigmatically. "Doesn't that make you a little bit curious?"

I sat back and regarded him as he studied me in mysterious silence.

Then I gave him a single nod.

"Yes, it does make me curious."

#

(Haruka)

School Week Five. Monday morning.

Classes resumed in the fourth week of the school year, after Galatea was closed down during the third week of the school first semester.

The week went by and there was no sign of Caelum.

I overhead some of the senior high-school girls talking about Melanie Cardwell.

She had vanished during the time Crimson Crescent had invaded the academy.

There was a rumor going around that she was kidnapped by Crimson Crescent. But there was also a rumor being spread that Melanie had joined Crimson Crescent because she was a Familiar like them.

I didn't know what to say when asked what I thought.

Alistair advised me not to say anything.

Siobhan told me to play dumb.

I decided to play innocent.

But I overheard rumors surrounding Caelum as well. I heard talk that he was in league with Crimson Crescent. Other rumors said he'd been arrested as a spy for Crescent and was being held in a secret detention facility. When I was asked for my opinion, I stuck to the story Severin Kell had given me: because he was only a Familiar, Caelum was injured by the high gravity and had to be transferred to a medical facility that could treat his injuries.

However, regardless of what Severin Kell told me to say, I made my decision to ask someone who might know the truth.

Simone Alucard Raynar came to mind. I knew of her interest in Caelum, and I knew he was involved in helping the Student Council protect the academy, so I reasoned there was a strong association between the two. However, I didn't feel comfortable approaching the Countess, nor did I feel I'd get a straight answer out of her. To me, and some of the other students, Simone Alucard was a perfect example of smoke and mirrors. What you saw was nothing more than a carefully presented illusion.

So I fell upon my second option.

First Semester Week Five. Monday morning.

Before morning homeroom commenced, I gathered my resolve and approached Caprice Steiner, and asked to speak to her in confidence.

We met after class in one of the gardens that bordered the northern courtyard.

I asked her about Caelum.

Caprice told me she didn't know his whereabouts. Her Pride hadn't told her anything about him. For all she knew, he could have been transferred to a sister academy.

I didn't believe her.

I fixed a hard stare on her. "Severin Kell told me the two of you were working with other Familiars to protect this academy."

"We were working together. That's not the case anymore."

"Why not?"

"It's not your concern."

"Caelum is my friend. I can be concerned, can't I?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss him with you."

I grabbed her forcefully by her blazer. "You knew I wanted to talk about him. Why did you agree if you weren't going to tell me anything?"

Caprice's face remained emotionless.

Just like a machine, an automaton.

No reaction. No feelings.

I frowned. No, her eyes were different. I could see conflicted emotions behind them.

I swallowed and asked, "What's going on, Steiner? You know something about Caelum, don't you?"

"Even if I did, why would you expect me to tell you?"

Without warning, Caprice pushed me away with a strength that overcame my own.

I was surprised by her power, until I realized I'd been pushed away by an effect-field.

Her right forearm was encased in a silver gauntlet, and her palm was facing outwards in my direction.

I remembered the sleek armor she wore during the fight in the cafeteria.

This time, she had summoned only a part of her Fragment.

Caprice lowered her hand, and the wispy black mist surrounded her arm and vanished moments later, taking the gauntlet with it.

Her voice fell to an icy whisper. "My advice to you...stay away from Caelum Desanto."

I stared her, and after a few heartbeats I shook my head. "I can't do that."

She snorted angrily though her face was a blank picture. "You have someone who loves you. Don't you think you've ignored him for long enough? Isn't it about time you returned his feelings properly?"

Now her eyes matched her cold tone.

She turned and began walking away from me, but stopped a few feet down the garden path.

"Duncan Armand...if you care about him then you should worry over him, and not Caelum."

I thought she would resume walking away, yet she stood there and half turned to face me.

Her voice was low yet it carried, as did the warning it ferried. "You should keep a close eye on Armand. He may choose to do something foolish."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"His hatred toward Familiars...it's not unlike the hatred Caelum once harbored toward Aventis...."

Her voice trailed away, and she turned and began walking out of the garden.

I didn't follow her, but my eyes did. I watched her until she left the garden and walked out of sight.

Her words rang inside my head.

Caelum's hatred.

Duncan's hatred.

What did she imply when she said Duncan might do something foolish?

Worry began to etch itself into my stomach, causing it to clench uncomfortably.

And yet, I couldn't deny Caprice was right. I had someone who loved me, and yet I was worrying over someone else.

However, Caelum was special to me.

And it wasn't like I'd explicitly rejected Caelum in favor of Duncan. Rather, Duncan had forced a choice – _his_ choice – on me.

I stood in the quiet of the garden, though I heard the hundreds of students in the distance.

I heard them making the journey out of the academy, eager to be free of the place for a couple of days.

Reaching into a skirt pocket, I retrieved my palm-slate.

I thumbed through the screens, and called up the number that was listed second under Favorites.

I made the call, and waited for him to pick up.

"Duncan...can we talk?"

### Chapter 29 – Kallum.

(Simone)

School Week Five.

Monday evening.

I stood before my mother's desk in her private study.

I stood at attention like one of her new recruits.

I hated the way she made me feel.

I hated having to _report_ to her as though I was one of her subordinates.

She made me wait while she finished up the work on the multitude of holo-screens facing her.

After ten minutes standing rigidly in her study, I felt my resentment grow to a peak.

At that moment, my mother cleared away the screens and swiveled in her leather chair to face me.

"At ease, Simone."

I clenched my jaw, and fell into a more relaxed posture.

Gods, I hated her for treating me this way, but I kept my eyes focused on a point above and behind her. And I kept my face a picture of composure.

"Simone, look at me."

I lowered my gaze onto her face.

She was studying me with unnerving interest.

Half a minute may have gone by before she broke the silence between us.

"Troublesome. Such a troublesome child."

I bit down on a retort.

She pressed back into her chair, folded her arms, and continued to study me.

"I warned you. I warned you not to become involved with him."

I swallowed and bundled up my resolve. "Mother, why did you lie to me?"

My mother blinked yet remained silent.

I leaned forward slightly and repeated my question. "Why did you lie to me?"

"Regarding what?"

"You told me Celica Desanto had infiltrated Crimson Crescent under your orders. That was a lie."

"I did not expect you to learn the truth."

I touched my sternum. "I lied to Caelum because you lied to me. Do you think he'll trust anything I say now?"

"It hardly matters now."

I leaned forward sharply. "It matters to me—"

"Watch your tone with me, young lady."

I swallowed and clenched my jaw for a moment. "You used me."

My mother humphed and rolled her eyes. "Used you? Hardly. I wanted you to stay clear of him and you betrayed my trust in you."

I inhaled slowly but chose to hold my silence.

My mother tapped her desk with a manicured nail. "You went along with Severin Kell's foolish idea of protecting Galatea Academy from Crimson Crescent. You came into contact with Desanto, and you initiated a chain of events that spiraled into the present situation. Even after I told you the truth behind his lineage, you still persisted in seeing him. I told you all that to keep you away from him, not the other way around."

"You told me he was descended from an Original Twelve bloodline. You didn't tell me much of anything else. And now I know that you lied to me as well."

"Nonetheless, I told you to stop associating with him."

"I was doing so on Arisa Imreh's behalf."

"So you disobeyed your mother to fulfill some other woman's request?"

I hesitated, then swallowed tightly. "I'm sorry...Mother."

"I don't believe you."

"But Caelum and I attend the same academy. How could we not run into each other?"

"That's no excuse. Why did you disobey me? And give me an honest answer, Simone Alucard Raynar."

"Because...because I couldn't forget him. And because you promised him to me. Because I believed he was mine, and I still want him to be mine." I gave her a firm look. "Wasn't it your intention to bond him to me, to have my blood Awaken him as a Familiar? Isn't that what you told me a year ago?"

"The situation changed. I told you that. Our Primatriarch gave us a clear directive. The Seeress warned Serenity of a dire outcome should we bond him to our Pride."

"I didn't break the directive. He was not Awakened by my blood."

"No, he wasn't. But his fate and yours became entwined, even after the Seeress sent you _personal_ instructions not to persist."

"I choose my own fate."

My mother's expression hardened. I thought she would shout at me, but then I saw anguish in her eyes. "Simone, you may be troublesome but you are my precious daughter. You and Silia are the most important people in my life."

"I—I know that."

"That being said, there are times you really test me."

"How? What is so wrong with what I did? Why is everyone so against my contact with Caelum? What is this dire outcome you speak of?"

Selena Alucard stood up slowly from her chair. She leaned forward, her palms on the edge of her desk. "Simone, if what the Seeress saw—if what all the Seeresses are seeing—there are troubling times ahead."

"You mean a war? A second War of Supremacy?"

"Perhaps. Rumblings of discontent are everywhere in the colonized systems. And there are outside forces at play, disturbing the peace."

"You mean Crimson Crescent?"

"No. Crescent may be the least of our worries."

Her words left me confounded.

Was there another threat to the Prides? Another threat besides Crimson Crescent?

I inhaled deeply before asking, "What does that have to do with me? What does it have to do with Caelum and I? Will you please tell me what's going on?"

"I can't give you an answer...because I don't have one. I was warned to keep you away from Caelum. They were adamant about it. I should have listened to them and transferred you out of Galatea Academy. I should have sent you to the farthest of Pharos's Islands. That would have solved _all_ our problems."

"Again, you're not telling me anything that answers my questions." I straightened my back. "If you can't give me an answer, then I'll find it elsewhere."

I turned on my heels and began striding out of her study.

"Simone—stop right there."

My feet betrayed my resolve. I stood before the closed door, and listened to my mother.

"You want an answer. Very well. Then there's only one person that can give you that answer."

I half turned and looked at her over my left shoulder.

For the first time, I noticed my mother looked older and wearier than I remembered her since our last encounter two weeks ago. With her rank and position she was hardly home, so it wasn't uncommon for days or weeks to go by without any direct contact between us.

For that matter, I was hard pressed to remember when I last saw my elder sister, Silia.

My mother looked exhausted as she sat back in her chair. The trouble with Crimson Crescent and the aftermath of their incursion had taken its toll on her.

She sounded beyond weary to me. "Simone, perhaps it's time you had an audience with our Seeress." She looked me in the eyes and added, "In fact, I called you here because I received a request from her."

I turned round fully and faced her. "The Seeress?"

"Yes. She wants to see you."

I swallowed anxiously, then asked, "When?"

My mother took a deep breath. "Tonight. I will have a car waiting for you in two hours. You'll need to pack quickly. You'll need enough clothes for a few days. On second thought, pack for a few weeks."

"A—a few weeks?"

"Yes, you'll be going off-colony."

I raised my eyebrows at her, wondering if I'd heard her right. "I'm leaving Pharos...for a few weeks?"

My mother sighed heavily. "Seeress Arcana lives on a starship. Her vessel docked an hour ago. I received her message not long after. It seems the Seeress has come here specifically for you."

My stomach tightened uncomfortably. "Then if she's here, why am I going off-colony?"

"It seems, she wants to learn more about you. She wants to spend time with you." My mother stared up at the ceiling. "Arcana is...a strange creature...like all the Seeress's tend to be."

"What about school?"

"I'll deal with the school." She gave me a stern look. "You want answers, well this is your chance. Or was everything you said just for show?"

I took a couple of deep breaths, then gave her a single nod. "No. I want to know what's going on."

"Then hurry up and get packing. I'll have a couple of the maids help you out."

"Yes, thank you."

"Get going, Simone."

I bowed to her quickly. "Yes, Mother."

I left her study quickly, and after closing the door behind me I hurried to my room on the third floor.

I would need to hurry, but even before I arrived at my rooms I had decided on what to pack.

A few days away from school hardly mattered.

But a few weeks away was another matter altogether.

Nonetheless, I truly wished to learn the reasons why my Pride had wanted to keep me away from Caelum.

I wanted to learn why almost as much as I wanted to see him.

I walked into my bedroom and approached the tallboy chest standing against a wall. Opening the bottom drawer, I fumbled around the back and pulled out the little jewelry box I hid under the clothes. From inside, I carefully lifted out the locket with the silver chain.

I thumbed the latch, and it opened with a soft click, revealing a printed photo inside.

A young boy and a young girl faced the camera, their shoulders lightly touching.

One smiling and one looking unabashedly embarrassed.

A memento from my eleventh birthday party.

For a little while I studied Caelum's blushing face, and then gently closed the locket.

I chose to bring it along with me.

#

(Selena)

The holovid representations of seven Primatriarchs stood before the desk in my study.

Seven unhappy faces.

Serenity Alucard Raynar was not present. She had sent word she was attending to an important matter.

I knew very well what that matter entailed.

Standing directly before me was Xanthia Augustine Avenir. She was the first to speak.

She brushed back an errant lock of blonde hair. The woman was young, perhaps younger than Serenity, and she fit the bill of an ice queen to the tee.

Very beautiful.

Very cold.

With clear aquamarine eyes.

Xanthia smiled thinly. "We've come to an agreement. Serenity Alucard has been granted provisional guardianship over Caelum Desanto afil Raynar."

I kept my expression neutral.

So Caelum Desanto's affiliation was only temporarily changed. Whether it was permanently instated would depend on the outcome of Serenity's foray into danger. But for now, the Lanfears no longer held the leash on him. I refrained from glancing at Yolanda Imreh, but in my peripheral vision I glimpsed the woman stiffen ever so slightly. The holovid representations captured even the slightest shift in body stance and the minutest of facial nuances.

I swallowed discretely. "Things did not go to plan."

"No," Xanthia agreed while holding onto that thin smile. "They did not. Habitat One suffered extensive damage. The casualty count was quite high. The cost of rebuilding will be too. And the populace is demonstrating severe unrest and lack of confidence in the Pharos leadership. However, the objective we failed to meet five years ago has been met. The Warlord Ravana has been retrieved from the Vault."

"But the Black Camellia is gone, and so is Celica Desanto."

Xanthia stiffened, as did many of the women standing before me. "Yes, that is most unfortunate. The plan to recapture that demon failed. Celica Desanto is still loose. And now we can consider her _armed_ and _extremely_ dangerous."

I swallowed tightly. "We did not anticipate Caelum Desanto's interference. The Avienda's Meister had all but secured Celica Desanto when Caelum interceded. Although his manner of involvement was outside of the realm we anticipated, nonetheless the fault lies with me. The plan was mine after all."

I started to rise, fully intending to apologize in the time honored tradition.

Perhaps it would make no difference.

Perhaps it would.

Nonetheless, I was prepared to lower myself to my hands and knees and express my apology to the seven Primatriarchs.

Then my eyes caught sight of something unexpected.

Xanthia had raised a single hand, forestalling me.

She shook her head. "No. If you apologize, then so should I.

"Lady Augustine...?"

"None of us expected Desanto to be led to the Vault where he would acquire the Ravana. However, we cannot discount the fact he did come to his sister's aid."

"Yes, that is true. However—"

Xanthia shook her head again, a little more gently. "The blame lies with me. As head of the Primatriarch Council, I approved this plan. I made the students of that Academy unwitting pawns. I even ordered the suppression of the Student Council's attempt to protect their school. I assume responsibility for this failure."

I blinked slowly at the woman who held the center seat of the Primatriarch Council. Because there were an even number of Prides, the center seat was worth two votes. Xanthia had held that seat of authority for five years now. She was the youngest Primatriarch in Pharos's history.

Her smile faded away. "To put it simply, this debacle is my fault."

Her admission derailed my thoughts for a heartbeat.

Why was she letting me off the hook?

I swallowed quickly and protested. "Lady Augustine, my people were entrusted with preparing the trap for Celica Desanto, but our shortsightedness left the door wide open for them to come and go as the pleased. Crimson Crescent blindsided us. Not only did we fail to incorporate Caelum Desanto adequately in the situational analysis, but we ignored the possibility Crimson Crescent would use trans-space to emerge within the habitat. After all, the navigational calculations are beyond what our starships can perform."

One of the Primatriarchs stepped closer to my desk – Marianne Sandoval Sanreal.

She had short, blonde hair and unnerving crimson eyes that resembled rubies with a dark center.

She fixed those eyes on me now.

"We've analyzed the data you provided. We believe only a Core equipped starship could have performed the necessary course corrections that allowed it to enter the habitat via trans-space."

I felt my stomach fall.

For Crescent to possess a Core equipped starship meant they were now on equal footing with us.

If Marianne and her people stated as much, then I had little reason to doubt them. The Sandoval Family owned enterprises dedicated to starship construction and design. In short, they were master shipbuilders.

Xanthia turned her aquamarine eyes on Marianne. "Core equipped? Then it's built like—"

"Yes," Marianne cut in smoothly and smiled like a huntress, "it's just like _Paloma_."

The two women eyed each other for a long moment.

Marianne arched a questioning eyebrow at Xanthia as if to ask 'what will you do now?'.

For a heartbeat, I watched Xanthia pressed her lips into a thin line.

"Very well," the woman said. "You have permission to head out."

Marianne's smile grew wider and eager. "This will prove most interesting."

"And fruitful I hope," Xanthia added, not sharing in Marianne's elation.

Marianne shrugged lightly. "At the very least, it'll allow us to test our Pathfinder against theirs."

Xanthia's eyes narrowed. "You're confident you can hunt them down?"

Again Marianne shrugged lightly. "Confident? Yes, since we're fairly certain of where to look for them."

I could sense Xanthia's unease with Marianne's response.

I was certain the other women could as well.

Xanthia asked, "When will you leave?"

"Tonight. _Paloma_ is fueled, loaded and ready. My daughter is eager to head out."

I frowned inwardly.

Her daughter, Shizuka Sandoval Sanreal – a Familiar who Awakened five years ago and demonstrated an innate talent for piloting.

I had files on her, but she was a difficult girl to pin down. Not as troublesome as Fallon Acacia, but troublesome nonetheless.

I felt the stage had suddenly grown wider. It stretched beyond the confines of Pharos. New actors and actresses were stepping into their roles, yet I had no idea how the next arc would play out.

That brought a troubling thought to mind.

I swallowed and asked cautiously, "Now that the Ravana has been recovered, have the Seeress's said anything new?"

Xanthia faced me. "Nothing. Not a word."

I looked at the women standing before me. "No word from any of them? No change in their predictions at all?"

Some of the Primatriarchs traded uncomfortable looks.

I hid my uneasiness. "Then what do we do now?"

Xanthia folded her arms under her breasts. "We wait and see. Let's see how well Serenity can tame that young man."

I frowned inwardly, yet remained outwardly calm. "She's not that kind of woman."

"No, but all men are ruled by their passions. Serenity is not without her charms."

I bit back a retort.

How could this woman even suggest such a thing?

To speak of my younger cousin in that manner was _most_ displeasing.

However, Xanthia wasn't looking at me anymore. She was looking through me and into the distance. "Interesting times lie ahead." She frowned down at me. "However, I'm a little concerned by your daughter's meddlesome behavior."

"Which of my daughters?" I asked guardedly.

"Simone Alucard Raynar. It appears she's quite enamored with him. Something of a childhood crush that's blossomed into _love_."

I felt my innards tighten.

Damn this woman for peering into everything.

I swallowed discretely. "Is that a problem, Primatriarch?"

Xanthia looked uncertain.

No, she looked distinctly troubled.

She inhaled deeply and then said, "I'm curious. I wonder if we could influence a different pairing."

"What?"

She smiled, showing me her perfect teeth. "Well, what if we introduced someone new into the mix?" She narrowed her eyes. "After all, we're not certain who inherited Lisanna Ekaterine Alleyne's bloodline. We're still trying to determine if the Alucards or Ventiss families share in her descendants. There could be others out there that we don't know of."

I stood up slowly. "Lady Primatriarch, I'm not following you."

"Oh, in what way?"

"I was of the understanding we wanted to avoid the outcome the Seeress's have been envisioning."

"Unfortunately they've been less than clear on how to go about that." Xanthia planted her hands on her gentle hour glass hips. "So, why don't we try provoking a little reaction from them."

I couldn't believe what this woman was saying or thinking. "You wish to influence their visions."

"Of course. I wish to see if it's possible to alter the course of the river of fate."

I swallowed noticeably this time. "How?"

Xanthia took a deep breath. "By introducing a new character onto the stage."

I was almost afraid to ask but did so nonetheless. "Who?"

"Someone guaranteed to bring a little conflict into the play."

#

(Serenity)

Clad in black armor-skin, the guardsmen escorted me down the steps and corridors leading to the containment cell. The squad of six men dwarfed me. Ordinarily I would have felt safe in their presence, but on this occasion, I had trouble hiding my fear.

After a long walk, and after passing through a half dozen security checkpoints, and a half dozen quatre-steel reinforced doors, I finally arrived at my destination.

A sparsely furnished cell block.

It wasn't all that small, around five by four meters in dimension with a ten foot high ceiling.

But there was no confusing it for anything other than what it was.

A cell with transparent walls and ceiling, offering no privacy from the multitude of surveillance holocams aimed at its interior.

The guardsmen, my personal bodyguards, fanned out around me with heavy rifles carried in their arms.

I nodded at Paulson, their commander. "A little space if you please."

He didn't question me.

In mere moments they had repositioned themselves in a crescent a few feet behind me.

I approached the transparent cell wall before me.

The light was constantly on.

I saw that he had fashioned a blindfold out of a torn bed sheet.

He lay on the bunk bed, arms neatly folded over his chest.

His voice came through clearly through the hidden speakers.

"What do you want?"

He knew I was there without even looking at me. He didn't even raise his head.

"More tests?" he asked. I heard him laugh softly. "No, that can't be it. You're not from this place, are you?"

I cleared my throat and calmed my nerves as best I could. "No, I am not."

He was quiet for a short while. "Then who are you?"

"Caelum Desanto, my name is Serenity Alucard Raynar."

Again he was quiet for short while. "The Raynar Primatriarch."

He lifted his head from the uncomfortable pillow, and raised the blindfold away from his eyes. "Serenity...a pretty name."

He climbed off the bunk and slowly approached the transparent wall.

In response, I heard my guardsmen shift their bodies behind me.

The cell block floor was elevated so he stood looking down at me. Then he crouched, and regarded me from head to toe with keen eyes.

"Serenity Alucard. A pretty name for a pretty woman. I never imagined you'd be so young."

He ran his gaze over me twice more, stopping at my chest.

"Ah, what a pity."

He stood up and then walked back to the bunk bed. Then lay back down, slipping the blindfold back over his eyes.

I blinked a few times.

I had read his dossier but even so I wasn't prepared for this sort of response.

I thought I heard a few mutterings between the men behind me. When I glanced at them they quickly averted their eyes and stood in rigid attention.

Caelum's voice came through the speakers. "I don't get it. You're an Alucard. Why is it you're nothing like Simone?"

My breath choked.

What—what the Hell did he just insinuate?

I sucked in a lungful of air. "I don't know what you mean."

Lying on his back, he raised his hands above him and made fondling gestures. "Anything less than a Dee cup is a waste of time."

"Ah—what did you say?"

"Forget it. Go back. I have no interest in what you're offering."

"Wh—what?"

I restrained the urge to kick the wall in front of me.

Again, I heard the men mutter behind me.

Again, they averted their eyes and stood in a protective stance when I glanced at them.

Turning back to the cell block, I closed my eyes, and struggled to regain my self-control. Coughing into a fist, I cleared my throat.

"Caelum Desanto, since you know who I am, don't you think it's worth your while to listen to me."

He sighed loudly. "Very well, I'm listening."

"We all know that you're quite capable of leaving this containment facility. We know there's nothing we can do to stop you."

"Then why try to hold me here?"

"Because...because it reassures us. It makes us feel that we're in control of the situation—in control of you."

He raised his head, and the mask. His eyes met mine. "Go on."

"That being said, we have no desire to be your enemy."

"That's good to hear. Go on."

"We have a proposal to offer you."

He sat up on his elbows. "I'm listening."

"We'd like you"—I swallowed quickly—"we'd like you to join us in protecting Pharos."

"Pharos? Not the Raynar Pride?"

I had to laugh at his question. Would he even consider affiliating with the Raynar Pride? I had issued a declaration that guardianship over him was to be transferred to the Raynar Pride. The Lanfears had grudgingly agreed, but Caelum Desanto had yet to be asked what he thought.

As a Familiar, he didn't have a say in the matter.

But he wasn't an ordinary Familiar anymore.

Telling him what to do and expecting him to follow through didn't go hand-in-hand any longer.

I needed to tread lightly, and very smartly.

Perhaps this would have been easier if my _breasts_ were bigger?

I stepped up to the transparent wall, then reached out and touched it. "Would you settle for just protecting one Pride?"

"Is that what you should be asking?" He sat up and swung his legs off the bunk. "Lady Primatriarch, let me ask you something."

I nodded guardedly.

He stood up and walked over to the wall, then he crouched down as he had before. Even then he still looked down at me.

"You want an assurance that I won't go on a rampage. You want an assurance that will convince you that you can trust me. That I'm not a threat. You want something that will gain you leverage over the other Primatriarchs. Something that will elevate your Pride over the others."

I smiled weakly at him.

I hadn't given him enough credit. He understood both our situations well.

He smiled at me, a knowing, somewhat arrogant smile. "You know what's inside me, don't you."

I nodded faintly. "Yes. The Artifact known as the Regalia. It's what bonds you to your Warlord. It allows you to command it as though it's part of your body."

He nodded in response. "The Regalia inside me cannot be removed. You cannot unbind it from me the way you did the other Artifact I used."

"Yes, I understand that."

"Which means, that if you want it out, you have to kill me."

I swallowed. "We have no intention of harming you."

"And I have no intention of letting you harm me." He touched the wall. "You want to know why I haven't broken free?"

"Yes...."

"It's because the Prides have something that I want. Rather, there's something they can do for me."

I raised my chin a little higher. "What would that be?"

He held up two fingers. "Two things."

I nodded hesitantly. "I'm listening."

He folded on finger down. "Simone Alucard. I don't want her harmed or inconvenienced. I owe her a debt of gratitude, and she means a great deal to me."

I frowned slightly. "Simone would never be harmed."

"Perhaps. Let's just say, I don't want history to repeat itself."

I blinked and couldn't help my eyes widening.

Upon my reaction, he nodded with a solemn expression. "I lost Lisanna because I trusted those close to me. I don't intend to lose Simone the same way."

I swallowed heavily.

The young man before me had the appearance of Caelum Desanto.

But the young man speaking to me was someone else.

"Who—who are you? Who are you really?"

"I am Caelum Desanto. That hasn't changed and won't ever change. But I'm also Kallum Kampfer. I can't help that. I have his memories, his experiences, his love and his pain." He touched his chest. "I have everything. It's been a struggle to sort through his life and keep it separate from mine. To that end, you have my thanks for keeping me in isolation. It made things easier for me."

His eyes flickered as he looked at the men standing several feet behind me.

I hardened my voice. "You can trust them. I trust them with my life. You can trust them with your words to me."

He regarded me for a few moments. "History has forgotten Kallum Kampfer, but I see you haven't."

I nodded. "I'm a Primatriarch. I'm privy to a great many things—a great many truths." I hesitated with my next words. "Thank you for everything you did for us." I hesitated again. "I'm sorry...for your loss."

His eyes searched my face. I watched his expression darken as he did, but I also saw the pain of loss run across it. "Like I said, I won't make the same mistake again."

I pressed on. "You spoke of two things. What is the second?"

He held up two fingers once more. "If my bloodline and Fatina's survived, then I want to know if others endured."

"You mean the other Original Twelve?"

"Correct. Pretty and smart. I'll give you a score of eight point five out of ten."

"Uh—eh?"

He leaned forward and pressed three fingers against the transparent steel.

"Ravana, Avienda, and Merkala. Together we formed a team." He closed his fingers into a fist. "I want to know about the third pilot's bloodline. I want to know if they've survived to this day."

I tipped my head slightly. "Why?"

The smile he gave me made him appear inhuman. "Because I want to kill them. Each and every last surviving descendant."

Horror spread through my body.

His smile grew even more twisted. "I want to bring her lineage to an end."

I almost stepped away. "Why?"

His face relaxed, yet he looked regretful. "Because it's the only thing I can do for him. To fulfill his revenge on the woman who betrayed him, and appease his soul."

He stood up.

"If you help me, then you'll have my co-operation. Do we have an agreement?"

"Your co-operation. What does that entail?"

"I'll do what you ask of me, provided it's within reason and doesn't go against my nature or my way of thinking."

"That's narrow minded. Then you're saying you're not open to suggestion."

He smiled at me. "No, if you can convince me to do something, then I'll do it."

"Very well. What if I ask you to swear allegiance to the Raynar Pride?"

"No. Not going to happen."

"What if it's allegiance to another Pride?"

"No way, not going to happen either."

I snorted. "I had to at least try."

"You didn't try convincing me."

I glanced down for a moment, and considered the terms of his conditions. "You're asking me to help you commit murder—to kill innocent people."

"Are you telling me you don't have blood on your hands?"

"And if I refuse? What if I say the price is too high?" I looked at him with a steady gaze. "Is killing off an entire bloodline what you truly want?"

"If it'll ease the pain, then yes."

"But that's not what you told Fallon Acacia."

He hesitated for a heartbeat. "She told you?"

I nodded.

Desanto snorted. "That was before I had time to deal with his memories."

I shook my head slowly. "I cannot agree to this. I cannot help you kill those people if they're still alive."

Desanto was quiet for a long while. Then he walked back to the bed and sat on its edge.

I watched him lower his head into his hands.

Silence filled the air, except for the gentle thrum of the life support systems.

When he broke the silence, I heard the strain in his voice.

"You don't know what it's like...to feel the pain of his loss. It just doesn't go away."

I understood what he meant.

The death of Lisanna Ekaterine Alleyne – the girl that Kallum Kampfer, Meister of the Rho-Khan Ravana, and supreme commander of the Second Fleet, came to adore.

Her death broke him.

He committed suicide on the final day of the invasion, on the day the War of Supremacy came to an end.

And now that man's memories were inside the body of a young, almost seventeen year old boy.

I swallowed and came to a decision, then walked around to the cell's entrance. Then I placed my palm on the clear scanning plate, and spoke my pass-phrase. When the door opened, I hesitated only a moment before climbing the steps into the cell block.

And then I approached the young man seated on the edge of the narrow bunk.

I knelt before him on bended knee.

He looked at me, and I saw tears on his face.

Desanto shook his head slowly. "I don't want this. I don't want this pain. It's...it's so hard...so hard to keep down. I feel...I feel like slitting my wrists...and just ending it."

Yes, I knew that too.

The reports stated he cried often, almost always in his sleep.

Cried until he ran out of tears was how the psycho analyst phrased it, when she briefed me on his state of mind.

I'd viewed the recordings in private; they were painful to watch.

Looking at him carefully, I could see he'd rested little in the two weeks since he'd been brought here. He looked worn out, and he'd lost a little weight too.

I bit my lower lip and decided to trust my instincts.

I reached out my arms, and embraced him.

For now, it was all I could do for him.

But I made him a vow.

"If you help me...I promise to do everything I can to help you."

I felt his arms slip around me.

I heard him sob into my chest.

And I heard his whispered words.

"Thank you."

### Epilogue.

(Simone)

The car took me to a dock somewhere in Island Three.

The place was a rundown affair, with much of the machinery inhabiting it in disrepair.

But the starship that floated in the dock's alcove was anything but junk.

The vessel was beautiful and looked brand new.

Trident shaped, with sleek lines, and massive outboard engines. It sported a black hull with a gun-metal grey underbody, and stabilizer fins like those on an aircraft. It reminded me of a holovid image I'd once seen of an ancient Terran aircraft called the Black Bird. There was a definite resemblance to it, but only a resemblance. It also appeared to be heavily armed, with a multitude of cannons bristling along its hull. That alone made my heart beat anxiously as I wondered what trouble that ship was accustomed to facing.

I swallowed and pulled my travel suitcase along behind me.

A boarding ramp extended down from the smooth, rounded tail of the ship.

I walked to where it touched the dock.

Two crew members awaited me there, a man and woman in their late middle years, dressed in black shipboard uniforms. The man was a clear foot taller than the woman. They had a military air about them, which made me worry over what kind of ship I was about to board.

Their eyes took in my appearance. There was no animosity or challenge in their eyes. I felt like I was being scanned by Sentinel bots with a human appearance.

The man offered to take my travel case for me and I thanked him for it.

The woman asked in a perfunctory manner, "Simone Alucard Raynar?"

I blinked quickly. "Yes, ma'am."

The woman nodded in acknowledgement. "You have everything you require?"

I hesitated. "I was told me to pack for a month."

Again, another acknowledging nod. "Very good. The Seeress rarely comes into port at Pharos, so we keep a full inventory aboard. That's not to say we don't enter port elsewhere within the Hurakan Nebula. Nonetheless, I doubt there's anything you won't find aboard ship."

In my peripheral vision I saw cargo containers being loaded onto the vessel. Despite appearances at least some of the surrounding dock machinery was functional.

Looking at the starship, I asked, "What's her name?"

I sensed a hint of pride in the woman's reply. "Her name is _Ishtar_. She's a deep space Pathfinder, but classified as a Prowler."

I rolled the name on my tongue. " _Ishtar_ ...."

The woman half turned toward the ship. "Let's get you settled aboard. The Seeress will want to see you before we depart."

A sudden bout of nerves held me back. I swallowed and asked, "How long—how long before we return to Pharos?"

The woman's matter-of-fact tone did not help my state of mind. "A month, maybe longer. It all depends on the Seeress. We go where she wants us to go."

"Longer than a month?"

The woman neither shrugged nor smiled. "Like I said, we go wherever the Seeress fancies."

She turned toward the ship and began walking up the boarding ramp.

The man stayed beside me as I struggled to get going.

My mother's words haunted me.

Go find your answers, then hurry back. If Serenity gets her claws into him too deep, you may never free him from her. And I can't be certain of what the Avenirs are planning.

I started walking up the boarding ramp.

You're the only one that can truly free him from his past.

I straightened my back and my posture.

You're the only one that can give him peace.

As I walked into the starship, I gave the dock behind me one more look.

Perhaps, you're the only one that can change the outcome.

Then I turned and stepped into the vessel.

If only they'd let me see him one more time before I had to leave.

No matter how determined I wanted to be, I was unable to quell the turmoil in my heart.

# End Volume 1 #

# To be continued in Pride x Meister #

### About the author:

Albert Ruckholdt is a software engineer specializing in accounting and customer relations management systems, with an Honors Degree in Computer Science from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

He lives in Sydney, Australia with his family and two dogs, Lila and Saya.

Pride x Familiar is his first eBook release.
