"We got permission from the Headmaster to leave the school. Will you please tell me what the hell we're doing?" asked Daniel, his mood pissy as usual.
Asha sighed. "We're leaving the school because I need to retrieve something important. As for where, you'll find out quite soon."
The rest of the cadre exchanged glances.
Asha glanced behind her as they walked down the halls. "Ah, Zane. Come here, please."
The rest of the cadre spun, finding that Zane was walking behind them. How had they not sensed him?
"What do you want, Asha?" he asked, the attitude he'd showed the cadre before slightly dulled, as if he actually held Asha in some kind of respect.
"Can you keep an eye on the ground while we're gone? Let none of those reaper trash in this school."
"Of course, Asha. Have a nice time outside." Zane nodded before turning on his heel and moving off, shooting one last glare at the cadre before he vanished around the corner.
"What is his problem?" muttered Ethelyn.
The corners of Asha's lips twitched. "He just doesn't like people too much, especially talking with them. Don't hold it against him; there are lots of people who hate it. I was one of them. Still am, really."
"And yet I feel like you never shut up," muttered Tim.
Asha raised an eyebrow, giving him a look. "I'll ignore that comment. Now, the first place we need to go is Artemesa's south border."
"Why do we have to go across the continent?" asked Blyke.
"Because that's where Nesryn and Phillip live, and I have something I need to retrieve from them."
"Nesryn and Phillip?"
Asha glanced behind her. "Nesryn and Phillip Phantomhive."
.
The cadre used a warp spot to teleport to the front of the Phantomhive Estate.
Asha glanced around. "This place hasn't changed."
"How long have you been gone to have said that?" asked Tim.
Asha gave a vague smile. "You'll just have to guess. Obviously you haven't heard the rumors about this family name." She began to walk toward the towering iron gates.
"Should we tell her a guard is posted?" whispered Daniel.
They didn't have to, because as soon as the guard caught sight of Asha walking ahead, he dropped the spear he was holding and ran at her. They were positively shocked when he threw his arms around her.
"L-Len! W-what are you doing out here?" Asha exclaimed, arms held at her sides as the man hugged her. "What are you doing at the gates?"
"I can't believe you remember me after so many years away, Young Miss!" he cried, laughing. Then his face turned serious. "What are you doing back here, Young Miss."
"I came here to retrieve something of mine. Don't worry, Len. I'll be careful. I'm not exactly as defenseless as I was years ago."
Len stepped back, eyes trying to communicate, but bowed. "Then I wish you good luck, Young Miss. Please come back safely."
Asha nodded, advancing.
As the cadre moved to follow, Blyke's arm was caught by that guard, Len. "What is it?" Blyke asked.
"Please. Keep her safe. Promise me," Len said, eyes serious. "Do not let that family repeat history."
Blyke wanted to ask more, but nodded. "We'll protect her as much as we can, though she's a person who doesn't need people to protect her."
Len nodded, letting them pass.
As the cadre continued through the grounds and toward the towering mansion, they became of a slight motion out of the corners of their eyes. They were shocked when they saw Asha's hands, which were hanging at her sides, shaking.
Asha took a breath as she knocked on the door, waiting only seconds before the door opened and a maid stood there.
The maid's eyes widened and she ran to Asha, wrapping her in a hug. "Young Miss! I can't believe you're back!"
"Calm down, Lucy," Asha said, patting her back.
"What are you doing back here? You shouldn't be here! What if they--"
"Lucy, send in whoever was at the door."
The cadre shivered at the cold voice that drifted from further in the house.
"Yes, Master. Please come this way," said Lucy, giving them all worried looks before leading them through the winding halls and into what appeared to be a parlor. "Master, the Young Miss Phantomhive has returned."
The man sitting on the couch sprang up, narrowing sapphire blue eyes on Asha. "How dare you...!" He stormed across the room, faster than the cadre could react, and pinned Asha against the wall, hand crushing her windpipe.
"Hey! That's enough--" Tim shouted, but was pulled back by Blyke and Daniel, the two and Ethelyn walking forward.
"I believe that's enough, Viscount Phantomhive," said Blyke.
"And why should we listen to you?" asked a woman, standing from the couch.
Blyke tilted his head as a polite smile fell across his face. "I am Blyke Hagani, Marquess of the Hagani line."
Daniel stared the man down. "I am Daniel Odolina, only son of a first-ranked court official of Pyreus."
Ethelyn said, "I am Ethelyn Liniguma, the Scion of Light."
"We kindly ask you to release Marchioness Asha Phantomhive."
The man snarled, but backed off, leaving Asha rubbing her neck, small black particles flying off her skin.
"We outrank him," whispered Ethelyn. "That's why he has no other choice but to obey."
"On the contrary," said the woman. "We could disobey, but we know better than to pick a fight with a first-rank official of Pyreus."
The man sat next the the woman and pointed at the couch opposite. "Sit. All of you."
The cadre walked over, sitting down. Four on the long couch, two in the armchairs on either side, and Asha standing behind them, blue blooming across her throat from the choking.
"Nice to see you, too," said Asha, with her trademark cocky smile. "How are you doing, locked up in your glittering manor?"
"I didn't let you in this house to hear your barking," said the man.
"Yes, Father Dearest. I didn't come here to see you drag your decrepit carcass around the manor, either. I came here for one thing only."
"Yes, and I'm fairly sure I know what you came for. Top floor, just like years ago. I expect you to get what you need, then get the hell out."
"I'll see you for dinner," said Asha, walking toward the door. She breathed out deeply as she exited the room.
"Wow. I can't blame you for leaving," said Rosaria.
Asha gave a slightly sad smile. "Unfortunately, I didn't exactly leave."
"Speaking of, the servants looked at you like they were surprised to see you alive. Why is that?" asked Blyke.
Asha sighed, sounding conflicted. "I'll tell you later, when the timing is a bit better and I don't have to rush this. Come on. Top floor." Asha began the ascent up the stairs, any servants who saw her giving the same reactions as Len and Lucy, shocked, and concerned.
Once they reached the top floor, the atmosphere changed from tense to relaxed and even joyful.
"Over here," said Asha, striding through the hall until she came to the last door on the left. She raised her hand, knocking lightly on the closed door.
"Come in," said a soft, female voice.
Asha opened the door gesturing for Blyke and the others to walk in before her.
Blyke gave her a strange look before striding in.
"Who are you people? What do you want?"
Asha's lips curled into a smile unconsciously. She felt the slightest bit of guilt at making the cadre go in first, to check. She was smiling broadly as she moved into the room, first seeing the raven black hair, then the beautiful dark blue eyes, more sapphire than Asha's.
The girl's eyes widened, her slender, pale fingers covering her mouth. "It can't be."
Asha's broad grin changed to a gentle smile. "It's been a long time, Isabella."
"Allu!"
Asha braced herself as Isabella threw herself at Asha in a hug that could crush ribs. Asha pet her head, slightly awkward at the sudden hug. "It's me, Isabella. Now, now. Don't cry. I'm back."
Asha glanced at the cadre staring at them. "I did tell you I haven't been home in awhile, didn't I?"
"Just how long were you gone?" asked Daniel.
Isabella released Asha, turning to face them before bowing. "Thank you so much for taking care of Allu. Thank you for keeping her safe."
"Whoa! You've got it all wrong! We've only known Asha for nearly three years," said Amelia, frowning.
"Oh... well, thank you anyway. I'm happy she has a few people that can help her now."
"I have a question for you... Isabella, was it? How long has Asha been gone from the house?"
"I think we should call for some tea--" blurted Asha, as if trying to change the subject, but Isabella glanced at her before saying, "She's sixteen now, right?"
"Almost seventeen," replied Asha.
"She's been gone since she was... six years old."
Asha glanced away from the cadre's faces as they swore.
"You've been on your own for ten years?" hissed Tim.
"Correction," said Asha. "I was alone for five, as I spent three of them in that damn Institution, and two of them at Luminine."
"My God. Why did you leave the house?" asked Rosaria.
Asha picked up a bell on the table, ringing it as she led Isabella to the couch, sitting next to her. "I didn't leave," said Asha. "I would have stayed here my whole life, despite everything, but I was sold off for a mere hundred gold coins to the Institution. However, I much preferred their treatments than the one I got here. At least it was their job."
"Asha, just what--"
Asha shot Daniel a glare. "I told you I'd tell you at a later date. Don't push it."
Isabella glanced at Asha. "You really changed."
Asha sighed. "One has to change, or they're be swallowed by the schemes of others. I learned that long before now."
Isabella just rested her head against Asha's shoulder.
"You sound so much more mature than your age," said Daniel.
Asha gave her usual cocky smile. "Well, just because you all act like children, doesn't mean I'm mature for my age. Besides, I've needed to mature quickly, or I would have died years ago, before I even went to that Institution."
The cadre exchanged glances. They didn't know what, but something was making them anxious. No, they knew what. Asha's sudden mood swings were what was making them nervous. One second, she'd be the same arrogant girl as she was at school, then she'd turn cold and icy, before snapping back red hot. It was unnerving.
Asha glanced at the cadre, as if sensing their unease, before taking a deep breath. "We'll be residing in this top floor until we leave."
"How long will it take for you to get what you came for?" asked Ethelyn.
Asha hesitated. "It'll take as long as it takes my parents to warm up. That could be tonight, or a month. I'll try to make this as quick as possible."
"Those are broad dates, but fine," said Amelia. "What are we going to do all day?"
Asha shrugged. "Do whatever you want. In the meantime, I have a few errands to run."
"I don't suppose you're going to tell us what those are, are you?" asked Daniel.
Asha just gave him a nasty smile before standing, petting Isabella's hair before striding out of the door. "See you guys for dinner."
∽
"What is she hiding from us?" asked Tim.
"What makes you think she's hiding from you?" asked the girl who looked like Asha's younger twin.
"We do. Whenever she starts to get pissy or just ups and leaves, it's always because she's hiding something. Honestly, it's actually annoying being left in the dark," said Daniel.
"Are you two really sisters? You seem so much more... tame compared to Asha," remarked Rosaria.
Isabella just smiled slightly. "I hear that. I suppose we're a bit different in temperaments, I'll admit, but deep down, everyone's just an animal waiting to burst out of their human skin."
Everyone was quiet for a bit.
"I can't agree more," said Amelia.
Blyke turned to Isabella. "Can you explain some things for us?"
Isabella looked guarded. "Depends on what you want to know," she replied.
"Fine. Why does Asha have a different title than your parents?"
Isabella shrugged. "I actually don't know. I forget when she even received the title, but she was placed almost directly under the King, as something like an extra set of eyes, to keep watch over parts of the country he can't see."
"I have one. Why do your parents hate her?" asked Daniel.
"Well, that answer is a bit more complicated. You see, my parents don't quite like anyone, even each other and themselves. It's a little pathetic. But a bit ago, ten years ago, they were into gambling at a secret casino called Casinamora."
"Heard of it before," said Blyke.
"Well, at Casinamora, people gamble away Amora instead of money, like a typical casino. And... my parents liked going there. But once they ran out of their own sand, they turned to me. Once they did, Asha snapped. Nearly killed them. Spared their lives in exchange for them not touching my Amorai. But soon after that, they sold her to the Institution."
"Where she was turned into E-1."
"Yes."
"Why do you care so much? You haven't seen her in ten years. Why?" asked Ethelyn.
Isabella looked at them all. "I don't really know." She took a breath before standing and bowing at ninety-degrees. "Please, keep her safe," she said. "Keep her safe, please! Promise me you'll do your best to protect her!"
Blyke's fist clenched. Every person in this house said the same thing. "Protect her, please." "Promise me you'll keep her safe." Why did they say that? Blyke sighed. "Raise your head," he said. Once she did, he dipped his head. "I swear it on my Amorai that I will do the very best I can do to protect Asha."
Daniel sighed. "I'll do the same. Life'll become unbearably boring without her to spice things up."
"We may get along like a house on fire with people burning to death inside, but we are a cadre, and there's something honorable about having a group you can protect and who will protect you," agreed Amelia.
"I never really had a problem, so why not," said Tim.
Ethelyn just nodded. "I have no reason not to. Besides, if she finds out I refused a heartfelt request from her dear sister, I'd end up dead."
Rosaria hesitated. "I don't trust Asha, nor do I trust you, but I suppose I should at least try, right?"
Isabella smiled. "Thank you all so much."
Blyke nodded. He glanced through the window, toward the sun creeping to the apex of its arc. "What the hell are we going to do until she gets back?"