"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 when 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. "Get with the program. Nesryn and Phillip Phantomhive, of course."
-
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.
"Rumors?" asked Blyke.
"Didn't know the Phantomhives had rumors going on about them," agreed Amelia, frowning as she followed Asha.
"I have," admitted Daniel, "But I'm not sure exactly how many of them, if any, are true. I'm not even sure if the rumors I've heard are about the Phantomhive family."
"This seems rather suspicious. Are we shure we should follow her?" asked Tim.
"And 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. "It's good to have you back! Lucy and the others will be thrilled to hear you're back! Are you doing well, Young Miss? Where have you been?" 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." Asha gave a wry smile, trying to placate the slightly anxious guard. "I'll be fine."
Len stepped back, eyes trying to communicate something with her, but bowed, failing. "Then I wish you good luck, Young Miss. Please come back safely."
Asha nodded, advancing through the gate the guard on the inside of the property opened, who seemed to give Asha a pitying look.
As the cadre moved to follow, Blyke's arm was caught by that guard, Len. "What is it?" Blyke asked, the rest of the cadre stopping, some wary, others curious as to why the guard had reached out for him.
"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 gave a doubtful look. "Some scars run deep, Young Mister. So deep one loses the will to even try to protect themselves." Len stepped back to his position, letting the cadre 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 violently.
Asha took a breath as she stood in front of the large front door, rubbing her shaking hands together, trying to get them to steady before 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, smiling slightly
"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 looked up, narrowing sapphire blue eyes on Asha. "You're dismissed," he said coldly. He turned his attention to Asha as the servant left, the room turning much colder as he stood.
The cadre didn't expect tears and hugs and kisses, but they were quite shocked to see what happened next.
He stormed across the room, faster than the cadre could react, and pinned Asha against the wall, hand crushing her windpipe. "How dare you come back to this house. You should have stayed far, far away."
The cadre moved to help, but a look from the Lady Phantomhive, who was still sitting on the couch, had them freezing in their tracks.
Asha's feet were off the floor, suspended by the man holding her windpipe quite tightly, her face twisted into a pained grimace.
"Hey! That's enough--" Tim shouted, but was pulled back by Blyke and Daniel.
"You can't just step in," Blyke said.
Tim argued, "Why not? We have to hurry up and get him to let go!"
Daniel nodded. "I agree with you, but we're in a house of the nobility. We can't act rashly, or we could be the ones choking next, only on the gallows."
"Then what can we do?" asked Amelia.
Ethelyn cleared her throat. "I believe that's enough, Viscount Phantomhive."
"And why should we listen to you?" asked the woman, standing from the couch, her long, elegant dress pooling around her feet as she strode over to her husband's side.
Blyke tilted his head as a polite smile fell across his face. "Nice to meet you. 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." Ethelyn stared the man in the eyes, her eyes frigidly cold. "I ask that you please let the Young Mistress Phantomhive go?" she asked, though both the cadre and the Phantomhives knew she was not asking for their consent.
The man snarled, but released Asha. "It's a pleasure."
"We outrank him," whispered Daniel. "That's why he has no other choice but to obey."
"On the contrary," interrupted the woman. "We could disobey, but we know better than to pick a fight with a Scion and a ranked noble of Pyreus, though it's not like the Pyreusians can do anything if you're injured all the way in Artemesa."
Daniel growled softly. "Is that a threat?"
"Take it how you'd like. Come, Dear. Let's hear what they have to say," she said to her husband.
The man sat next the the woman. She smiled with a fake sweetness 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 and purple bruising 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 woman.
"Yes, Mother 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, then," provoked Asha, walking toward the door with a cocky smile she knew irritated them like nothing else. She breathed out deeply as she exited the room, shutting the door behind her. At least she had survived.