**Hideout East of the Empire***
"Bird!" Kalandra appeared suddenly and began to pace the length of the small shack.
"What is it?" Bird watched her apprehensively. "Was the trip to the Empire okay?"
"I did something really bad," Kalandra kept pacing wildly, "Why did I do that? Why?!" she kept muttering to herself.
"What did you do?" Bird asked quietly.
He had expected that the visit wouldn't go well...Of course, Michael would have been in a bad mood. He would have advised her against it but he didn't want to face the consequences of telling her no. He gave a weak smile and waited to reply. How much longer would he have to stay here?
"Did something happen when you went to talk to Michael?" he added.
"I think I really hurt Michael's feelings," Kalandra turned to him excitedly.
"His feelings?" Bird's eyebrow raised sceptically.
It was times like this, she seemed more like a child than anything else. A blade-wielding child that had been preventing him from leaving for nearly a week. Maybe he should have run for it before but where could he go?
"I called him names and he got really angry," Kalandra went on forcefully.
"Well, what exactly did you say to him?" Bird enquired.
She gave an account of the conversation in more detail. The story shocked him more than he thought. He tried not to let it show on his face.
"You really said that?" Bird said hesitantly.
"That's not all," Kalandra was staring ahead vacantly, "I did something really bad,"
"What did you do?" Bird asked.
Her silence scared him. She wouldn't have killed him right? Michael seemed to think it was impossible but Bird wasn't so sure. In truth, the little cottage they were hiding in made silence especially poignant. Not that Kalandra spoke much in the first place. She wouldn't say anything for periods at a time then burst into chatter out of the blue. It was something Bird hadn't quite gotten used to.
"Is Michael..." Bird started.
Her gaze made him stop mid-sentence. Her purple eyes shone violently.
"He really pissed me off, Bird," she said darkly. "I was going to...I was going to finish things there but...Clover got in my way..."
"Well, maybe that's a good thing. Let things cool off for a while,"
"Cool off?" Kalandra stared at him wide-eyed, "you as well Bird?"
"No, Kali ...I" Bird stammered.
Kali let out an unsteady breath, "Everyone is against me. I just wanted him to love me. Is that so hard?"
"I'm sure Michael cares about you,"
"No, he doesn't," Kalandra said flatly, "I can't get him to love me no matter what I do,"
"Kali.." Bird faltered.
Kalandra interrupted him with a cold-blooded stare that sent shivers down his spine.
"I'll just have to get him to hate me instead."
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***Back in the royal palace**
Albaric and Rena were leading the way. Michael's hands were chained and he was walking a pace behind them as they proceeded to the throne room. Clover was staring at him cautiously but Michael just stared ahead without meeting their gaze.
"You shouldn't provoke Kali too much," Clover whispered as they walked along the hallway.
"Provoke her?" Michael said bitterly, "She's the one provoking me,"
"There are things that you don't know..."
"It's none of your business," Michael cut in coldly.
"She's a very sensitive girl," Clover said thoughtfully. "And a child with many problems,"
"She's not sensitive, she's deranged," Michael scoffed.
"You chose her," Clover shrugged, "To annoy me?"
"Not everything revolves around you," Michael said cuttingly, "And I didn't choose her. She chose me. Your girl came onto me. If your angry, I suggest you take it up with her,"
"I'm not angry. I was happy for you," Clover smiled, "I was hoping you'd get along but without the part where you try to kill each other or me,"
"She wasn't going to kill me," Michael dismissed, "she was just messing around. She always does stuff like that,"
"That didn't look like playing to me. If I didn't arrive when I had, you'd already be dead,"
"Since when do you care whether I live or die?" Michael glanced waywardly at Clover.
"I don't," Clover laughed, "I'd just hate to see you get your comeuppance too early,"
"Well you won't have to wait long," Michael frowned, "The Emperor will have my head one way or the other,"
"Enough chatter, you two," Albaric glanced back, "we're here,"
The group stood in front of the doors to the throne room. A tall grand-looking door was guarded by a guard at either side. Michael stared up remembering when he was a knight. This door had intimidated him. Even now, some muscle memory must have remained, he felt reluctant to move.
Nevertheless, Albaric ushered him inside.
The Emperor was sitting upon the dark throne. His dark eyes watched them approach. Albaric forced Michael's head down into a bow. Another unpleasant memory. Michael glared at Albaric with irritation then back to the Emperor.
"The boy has taken the device to the demon world?" the Emperor addressed Albaric.
"We believe so," he answered, "we've been searching with the help of Clover's magic but we can't find any trace of him."
"Then we have a problem," the Emperor stated flatly, "How will you fix it?" he stared frigidly at Clover.
"We will recover it," Clover gave a mocking bow.
"And you've brought this traitor before me, why?" the Emperor didn't so much as look in Michael's direction.
Michael glanced up at Albaric irate. Albaric shifted awkwardly, averting his eyes from Michael's glare...
"It's one thing to sneak around behind the courts back in the human world," Clover smirked, "but your majesty, going to the demon world is another thing entirely. I need someone who knows it well and who can help me to find the necklace,"
Michael's eyes widened. He looked up at Clover in disbelief.
"Michael cannot be trusted," the Emperor dismissed. "Neither can you. Why would I sign off on such a mission?"
"We will accompany Clover to the demon world ,your majesty and help them retrieve the necklace," Rena gave a low bow.
"You will have no magic. What use will you be?" the Emperor said disinterested.
"The demon lord will heal us, restoring us of our magic so we can carry out the mission," Albaric followed Rena in bowing.
"It seems you've given this some thought," the Emperor titled his head back indifferently.
"It is the only way we can think of to retrieve the necklace covertly," Albaric answered.
"It's only one boy," the Emperor said unconvinced, "what need do you have to bring so many?"
"We have reason to believe he did not act alone," Sister Rena rejoined, "We don't yet know who his ally is, therefore we are taking precautionary measures,"
"I see," the Emperor replied briskly, "Very well. I will allow it. However, Albaric, Rena, if you fail me again, I will punish you accordingly. Michael must be brought back to stand trial and the necklace must be returned to the Empire within the month,"
"Yes, your majesty,"Rena and Albaric answered.
Michael balled his fist letting out an spiteful exhale. He couldn't even argue. Not while the sister had the covenant against him. The eyes of the Emperor brought out a wrath that was difficult to smother. However, as they stepped back out into the fresh spring air, he began to calm.
No, this was good. He needed a way to get close to the necklace. This was it...
Michael glanced waywardly at Clover who smiled back at him indifferently. What were they up to?
The journey to the tower was as expected. Being dragged out in chains in front of his own students. What a joke. Michael didn't bother to meet their eyes. He supposed they intended to shame him. Well, he wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
The great shadow of the tower cast a silhouette against the strong blue sky. Michael glanced up, fixing his eyes upon it. He had given so much of his life for that grey dreary column. He could almost hear the Cirillian wizard calling his name:
'How did I raise this failure?!'
'Useless child. Do it again!'
'Your parents won't come back so don't bother to cry!'
"You've been pretty quiet," Albaric said as they reached the tower. "You're not happy to be back?"
Rena and Clover were in their own discussion about some spell which Albaric understood little about. Michael, however, must be able to understand Albaric thought to himself. Yet, he didn't seem the least bit interested. He was looking out the window with a deadpan stare.
"Are you trying to provoke me as well?" Michael replied shortly.
"No," Albaric frowned, "I just meant..."
"I know what you meant," Michael cut in drily. He held up his shackled wrists, "Well ,since I am unable to leave the sister's side, can't you remove these?"
"I'm afraid not," Albaric glanced at the sisters who beside Rena's side, "We can't allow you out of Rena's sight. We also can't remove the shackles while we're in the human world,"
"Whatever," Michael shrugged.
"Ah, Michael," Clover interrupted, "Come a translate this for us,"
Michael gave a derisive snort and turned back to the window.
"Sister, if you would," Clover smiled.
"Michael," Rena said, "please would you come here,"
Michael's eyes twitched. He let out a grunt as the symbol seared his palm and his body began to move on it's own. He reached the desk. He glared at the pair viciously. Just wait! They'd certainly regret this.
"I know that this is difficult for you," Rena looked up with her clear blue eyes, "but we may as well work together. There's no need to make things any more difficult than they have to be,"
Michael gave a crooked smile, "then if we're going to work together sister, you should know I hate incompetence the most. You can't translate this yourself?"
"Michael," Albaric warned, "Don't take it out on Rena. I'm the one who recommended this,"
"Why?" Michael hissed, "You didn't learn your lesson last time? What possible reason could you have for doing this?! Did you force me back here to humiliate me? Is this for what I said?! Ah, but I meant it Albaric! You are a damn push over and I don't regret anything I've done! You deserved it!"
Michael turned to the others.
"You all fucking deserved it! Empire's dogs!"
Albaric stared at him severely, "Michael, I get that you're angry but you brought this on yourself. This is your chance to prove yourself. The Emperor may be more lenient on your sentence if you cooperate,"
Michael shook his head with a smirk, "I'm done proving myself to that man. I don't need your pity, Albaric. The moment the sister so much as looks away, I'll snatch that damn necklace and anything else worth taking. You'll regret this,"
"Probably," Albaric said flatly, "but it's done. So deal with it,"
Michael's eyes widened irate. He gritted his teeth and snatched the scroll from the table scrawling the translation angrily before throwing it back angrily on the desk.
"Thank you," Rena glanced down.
"Don't thank me, sister," Michael snarled, "You may have the upper hand right now, but this is the Empire. You'll be down on your knees before you know it,"
"That's it," Albaric grabbed Michael by the shackles dragging him away.
"Wait," Clover smiled placidly, "I want to come too. Let me talk to Michael."
Rena stood up, "about what, Clover?"
"Don't worry sister," Clover smiled, "Nothing nefarious. I just know Michael a bit better than you two. I think he'll be more open to listening to his old master,"
"I have nothing to say to this demon trash," Michael declared.
Albaric let out a sigh, "come if you want, Clover but I'll be staying for this conversation,"
"It's better if you do," Clover gestured with a smile.
They proceeded down to the dungeons. All the while, no one said a word. They reached the cell and Michael was shoved inside. Albaric stood back with his arms crossed.
"Take some time to calm down," he reproached, "Your temper isn't helping anyone, Michael."
"If you want me to calm down, take this demon filth out of my sight!" Michael paced up and down the length of the cell angrily. "I don't know whether you're doing this out of pity or revenge, Albaric but it won't go the way that you want!"
"I can't talk to you when you're like this," Albaric sighed.
He glanced at Clover and added in a low voice, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Mmm," Clover titled their head to the side with a smirk, "This conversation is long overdue."