Chapter Text
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If you want to be saved, first, you must be destroyed ,
If you want to be saved, you must atone,
If you want to be saved, you must sacrifice,
If you want to be saved, you must redeem,
If you fail to do so,
There's no salvation
For your damned soul.
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Second Testament - Atone
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"Tell me the truth."
"About what?"
"What I am dying for."
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Get along.
What a fucking joke. As if the grudge of seven millennias could be just erased like that.
They were finally there, eye to eye, without any Akuma to hold down their forces, yet the Exorcists couldn't fight the ancient enemy. It was purely infuriating.
The tension in the air seemed impenetrable as Noah and Exorcists glared daggers at each other in the dimly lit hallway. Tense silence ruled within the Ark, neither party seemed willing to break the standstill.
It had to be done, however. "So," Tiedoll started, attracting all attention to himself. Klaud flashed him a warning glance, but seeing the look Tiedoll gave her, she sighed nodding. Tiedoll turned back to the matter at hand. "-you lot were taken as well."
"Obviously," Sheril spat, "even a kindergartener would realise that."
"Now, now, no need to be hostile," Tiedoll berated with his eternal patience. "This meeting isn't about taking each other's life."
The Minister - or ex-Minister - scowled at him. "Don't be so sure about that!" The Noah of Desire whipped his hand at the General, wanting to stick his strings on him, only to realise that his power wasn't working. He gasped, feeling the cords hit something invisible and impenetrable - and then it shocked him. Sheril howled in pain as electricity raked all over his body until Tyki grabbed his hand and ripped the cords apart. If not for his little brother catching him, he would have collapsed.
"Hey, Sheril, hang in there!" The Noah of Pleasure shouted at him in alarm; it was so unlike Sheril to feel pain or shout out over it.
"That power..." Tyki's attention snapped to Wisely, eyes widening to see such dread in his golden eyes. "Sheril, is that what I think it is?"
Still heaving from the agony, Sheril spat a mouthful of blood away before answering. "If you mean that it was Raasura's power that attacked me, then you're right."
Kanda inaudibly gasped, the memories of the fight he had with the man and the repercussions he paid for his victory flooded his mind.
"Skinn's?!" Devit exclaimed in shock, "but that's impossible! He died and the next host haven't reincarnated yet!"
"Exactly," Wisely confirmed, much to his confusion, "but he can reproduce his power, because he died right here. The Ark is an intelligent device. It can record, analyze and monitor everyone inside. Position, powers, physical state... The perfect place to keep an eye on us."
"So this is what he wants?" Lulu Bell inquired, "did he bring us here to steal our abilities?"
"That is unlikely, he destroyed most of our Innocences after all." Klaud shot Tiedoll a sideway glance, unsure if it was wise to reveal that they were powerless to protect themselves. However, ensuring them that they weren't in danger might make them more negotiable. "He had plenty of opportunities to kill us yet he didn't. He even spared our personnel. He left Sokalo alive despite breaking the rule and trying to kill him. He doesn't seem intent on killing. So far his only goal seems to be 'confinement'."
Wisely eyed him, trying to discern the truth in vain. He really hated the thought of having to rely on Exorcist, but he didn't want to lose his family to the Fourteenth again. "For what purpose?"
Tiedoll gave him a wry smile, glad that at least one of them was willing to negotiate."That's what we'd like to know too. Come, let's not stand in this dimly lit hallway, let's sit down in the dining hall and talk things over."
Before Chaoji could object, Tiedoll shot him a glance, silencing him. He knew Chaoji would try to object, everyone knew he hated the Noah more than any one of them, but they couldn't afford hostilities among each other when all of their lives were at stake.
The Noah exchanged suspicious glares but knowing that this could be to their advantage as well, they nodded.
Tiedoll lead the way to the dining hall, followed closely by Klaud and the rest of the Exorcist, the Noah lagging behind them, keeping a healthy distance.
A few minutes later seated facing one another, Exorcists sipping the tea Tiedoll brewed, while the Noah just eyed it wearily.
"So far this is the situation: we, just like you, were abducted and confined in here, not long before you were. Most of us had our Innocences destroyed, the only ones left are Kanda, Lenalee, Timothy and Krory, because they are Parasitic and Crystal types. Now the terrain: here's the layout of the mansion." He flipped his sketchbook open and presented the picture for them to see.
"As you can see, from left to right, there's dining hall, kitchen, main hall, drawing and music room. On the second floor are the bedrooms, left wing from us, right for you. For us, the right wing, probably your dorms, was utterly inaccessible."
"So we can't kill one another at night," Lulu Bell murmured.
"I'm not sure if that's the reason," Klaud pondered. "The Ark is programmed to stop brawls. Just like we saw with Deizasu, when he moved to attack he couldn't touch us and was even punished. A feature that was probably added after seeing that Sokalo tried to kill us." If it was to keep them all alive it was a wise decision. But what for?
"It's probably so that no 'accidents' happen," Tyki injected. "Even if we can't directly kill one another, with our abilities, we can still do it indirectly. Which means that you, mere humans are still at disadvantage. Unlike us, you could die by any small mistake."
Exorcists tensed at the predatory look the Noah of Pleasure was giving them, remembering vividly how he single handedly killed 6 of their comrades and an additional 100 of Finders.
Using those carnivorous butterflies of his would certainly not count 'direct' way to kill.
Tiedoll hummed in reply. Everyone tensed seeing him pick up a silver knife and inspect its edge. He raised it above his wrist and to the utter shock of the rest, he brought it down on himself.
Instead of a spray of hot blood, the result was a bent utensil. Tiedoll held it up for the rest to see. "It seems he made sure that not even 'accidents' happen."
"Let me try." Tyki grabbed a hold of a fork and tossed it in Tiedoll's way, only to see it halt midair. The fork was disintegrated into pieces and reemerged by Tyki's plate.
"No punishment?" Krory bristled.
Tyki shrugged. "Probably because it was a very lousy attempt."
"The Ark is watching us," Wisely explained, his eyes stuck on the ceiling, as if trying to see past it, in vain. "Which means that it's probably monitoring our bodies: heart rate, blood pressure, hormones, nerves and muscles… Once it detects some sort of arousal, it freezes space around us so we can't hurt or get hurt."
He scowled. Why would the traitorous Noah who basically smashed his brain out if his skull go out of his way and wrap them in cotton wool? He even made sure no one could even commit suicide, so they could be reborn in another vessel. They were trapped and yet they were given freedom in this place, as long as they didn't try to kill each other that is.
Speaking of which.
"The only rule was that we won't harm each other. Nothing about escaping right?"
Tiedoll scratched his stubble, frowning lightly. "Indeed, he didn't cancel that. However it could be that he deemed it unnecessary. He's the only one who can control the Ark, so he most likely believes that we are unable to escape."
Alarm rang in the Exorcist's mind seeing Wisely's thoughtful look gain confidence. "That isn't so sure. We still have Road. With her doors, we can escape."
It was clear though, that 'we' didn't include them, Exorcists.
"Alright, then. Where is she?"
Wisely's smirk momentarily faltered. "Road is perceptive. Sooner or later she will notice our absence and seek me out. And then it's our victory."
"Probably," Tiedoll agreed, then added. "If not Cross Marian finds us sooner."
Nervous eyes flickered over to the General.
"You think he's still alive after that?" Klaud asked.
"Marian was capable of disappearing for 4 years. I'm sure he's fine. He's not the sort of person who'd die like that."
"Die?"
Klaud's and Tiedoll's eyes flashed to Tyki's surprised and mildly disappointed gaze. Because of the desynchronisation of Judgement instead of its destruction, the investigation already concluded that the Noah weren't involved in the incident; however talking to them might drop a lead.
"Yes. It happened some time prior to Timothy's recruitment. The guards claimed to have seen his bloodied body but it disappeared, leaving only his mask behind."
"Hii! Someone got that bastard Cross before us!" Jasdero piped up, sulking that the prey they sought for so long was taken out by someone else. He even let rather Tyki kill him than some human.
Wisely scowled. It bothered him that he couldn't peek into their minds to see the scene for himself, but more than that… It puzzled him who could have outwitted the elusive Cross Marian and defeat him. He was a powerful Exorcist, skilled magician, brilliant tactician and an irreplacable source of information. After all, he had a connection of questionable nature towards the Fourteenth. No mere human would be match for someone as cautious as him.
No mere human indeed.
But what if it wasn't a human.
And again, this is why he cursed the denied access to his Noah Eye; if one if these people had their memories altered he could still detangle them and view the real one. Curse the Fourteenth and his meticulous planning.
But maybe he could figure it out in an indirect way.
"Have any of you witnessed unexplainable memory loss?" He asked addressing all Exorcists. "Waking up when you don't recall going to sleep? Dreamlike memories?"
He let out an exhale seeing Kanda stab him with his gaze. "You know about that guy." His claim was like an accusation. Not that he was wrong.
Wisely smirked. "Now that surely makes things easier."
"What are you talking about, Yuu?"
Wisely snorted. "I see, Apocryphos couldn't mess with your memories because you're a Second."
"Apocryphos?"
"An Innocence in human form," Kanda finally supplied to the General.
There was a moment of silence as the piece of vital information settled in. Then much to Kanda's annoyance, everyone of his comrades started nagging him for questions hearing that.
"What?"
"A humanoid Innocence?!"
"How?!"
Wisely shook his head, eyes closed. "Innocence in human form?" He repeated. "Oh, you poor, ignorant fools. You fight this war without knowing what this war is even about."
"Explain," came Kanda's order. He really had no patience for beating around the bush, Wisely noted. He attempted repressing a malicious sneer but he failed.
"Do you know why Innocence chooses people? Why does the Innocence seek humans out? Why can Apocryphos move around on its own?" He paused to stifle his snicker, making many shift in their seats in suspense. "What are you even in the eyes of Innocence?"
"Oh, lovely, you guys are already warming up," Allen Walker's familiar voice cut in. Chairs scraped against parquet as the occupants of the room shifted to defensive, while Neah just blinked at the violent reaction.
"What are you doing here? How- when did you get here?!" Kanda demanded.
Neah raised a white eyebrow, as if he forgot that these people were hostile to him because he bloody kidnapped them. "This is my place, I came through the Gate and roughly 5 seconds ago. Obviously."
Obviously, Wisely retored sarcastically, wishing for more eyes to roll. "Why are you here then? Didn't you say you wanted to end this war in a week? Do you really have the time to babysit us then?"
"Ah, I'm still not done removing the hazardous factors and collecting the ones I need, so no. Here's one by the way," he said as he tossed a glowing green cube, an Innocence in the Exorcist's general direction. It was Krory who caught it. "The old girl gave me a hard time, but in the end I won."
Old girl?! "Hevlaska?!" the Romanian squeaked, cradling the cube gently, now knowing who it entailed. So this is why Neah didn't destroy this one.
"I roughened her up pretty bad but she's still alive. Needs to rest though."
Krory gritted his fangs looking at the face of his beloved best friend, body shaking under the knowledge that it wasn't Allen. The hand that did not hold Hevlaska clenched painfully. Neah held his gaze for a while, then turned to watch the others. His eye zeroed on Wisely who tensed uncomfortably under his cold eyes.
"Where is Road?"
Oh shit. "Healing. She won't be back for a while-"
"I know she got hurt protecting Allen," Neah cut him off. Fury curled in the Noah, but they kept it under a lid. "Where is her body?"
"... We don't know. After your betrayal she hid her body so such thing… wouldn't happen again. Not to her. Not even I know where she truly is."
Neah regarded him coolly, silently evaluating what he said, watching without batting an eye as Wisely shifted under his gaze uncomfortably. "I see," he said finally. "So probably still on the Earl's Ark, in a pocket dimension I have no access to. That would be worrying but… since you're here, I'm sure she'd not let herself get killed… until you're safe that is."
What in the? "Let herself get killed"? Why would he even care? Nothing Neah said made sense.
"Then I guess Road will show up when she's ready; then all who's left are Cross and Bookman."
"You said once you're back you'd tell us details," Marie reminded.
"Don't worry. I will. But I don't like repeating myself so you'll be filled in when the rest joins." He turned away, ready to leave when Krory yelled after him.
"Wait! You said you only needed to collect Cross and Bookman! Does that mean that Lavi is aboard?!"
Neah paused. "Yes he is," he said. "But he's in no condition to engage any of you. He will be quarantined until he is well enough. Other questions later. If you want a bit of a preview ask the old girl once she wakes up. Go to bed, it's past midnight." Before any of them could ask anything more he disappeared.
"Go to bed?" Wisely parroted incredulous. "Now he mothers us too?" The Fourteenth made less and less sense.
"We may as well go," Tiedoll said sparing a glance at Timothy. "By that time Hevlaska will recover too, hopefully."
"Can I have her?" Lenalee asked.
Krory paused momentarily, then nodded, handing Hevlaska over. "Yes, it would be more appropriate to have a lady look after a lady."
"Thank you, Krory."
"Good night," Tiedoll said, his gaze shifting to his once enemies, eyes zeroing on the one he knew have killed Daisya.
The Noah Family gave a collective glare and muttered a venomous 'good night' before heading to their suite.
Nodding to each other, the Exorcists did the same. Krory stayed last standing in the hallway, making sure that everyone was safely in their room before he entered his own.
The door clicked shut and closed - there would be no one coming in, no one going out. They were under curfew.
Legs losing strength, Krory slumped to the door and slid down. His stomach churned uncomfortably, sobs struggling in his throat. He buried his face in his arms, trying to stifle his sounds. Tears escaped his eyes and flowed in a torrent. He cried so much after Allen's escape and Lavi's disappearance and yet...
It was so painful. Looking at Allen and knowing it wasn't him. He put his hand over his rapidly beating heart, nails sinking into the flesh.
His blood was hissing. His still intact Innocence demanded blood. They wanted justice: the punishment of the monster, the salvation of the innocent.
He was horrified realising how much he carved biting Allen. How much he longed to suck out his blood until he too was reduced to a pile of ash. This wasn't what he wanted, he wanted Allen back, but the other him didn't care, he demanded his destruction.
Did this mean that the Innocence has given up on Allen?
Did this mean… he was truly… gone?
Bile rose to his throat that he struggled to keep down. The image of Allen fading into nothingness was terrifying. Allen was in the most intense crisis in his life and Krory couldn't even help him.
No, he snarled at himself, stop crying. Allen is strong and tenacious. There's no way he's over just like that. Surely, he must be fighting even now.
As for Lavi, the Fourteenth said he was safe, just needs to rest up a bit.
Fury bubbled in him thinking that the Noah hurt him that much. Every fiber of his being wanted to rip this bloody door out of his hinges and finish the job with the twins and take down the rest - however right now they heavily depended on mutual cooperation to outsmart the Fourteenth, even if it left him bitter, he needed to do his best to survive.
After all, if they were dead who would save Allen?
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In another room, Lenalee tossed in her sheets nervously, trying to will herself to sleep that refused to take her. Her consciousness wouldn't let her sleep, she wanted to talk to Hevlaska immediately.
Her eyes zeroes on the dully glowing cube she placed on her nightstand, on top of a cushion. The inside of her room was lusciously decorated with baroque furnitures, velvet carpet and drapes. There was a grand closet and upon checking she found clothes of her size in a wide variety. There were both Chinese and more European designs and frankly, it was unsettling how the Fourteenth seemed to know her preferences. Could it be that he could see in people's head? If he could implant himself in Allen's-
No, don't go there! She snapped at herself. You'll end up crying again and collapsing now is not an option!
She remembered a warm embrace in the pine scented cool air. She recalled a warm smile that could blind anyone and hide the deepest of sorrows. She recalled a white light collapsing-
STOP!
She had to be strong… So such a thing would never happen again.
She mustn't break down and cry at the most critical time. Not again.
This time she needed to be there for Allen.
"Hmnnugh."
Lenalee shot up from bed hearing a pained moan come from the Cube.
"Hevlaska?" she breathed in the night.
The dull light flickered. "Le… nalee…?"
"Hevlaska! What happened to you?"
"I … fought… the Fourteenth … It… seems… I… lost. I'm… sorry."
The always weary woman sounded even more exhausted than usual, Lenalee noticed. "Don't blame yourself, Hevlaska… This attack really came out of nowhere… And the Order probably didn't expect another attack."
"That… is no excuse… I… should have… been able to… stop him."
"You just didn't want to hurt Allen."
"Still…"
There was a pregnant pause, then Lenalee hesitantly spoke up again.
"How is everyone? Is brother alright?"
"He… ignored humans… came after me… even… when Komui came-" Lenalee suched in a shaky breath, "-he… let him go… No… He purposely… left him… behind… Komui… begged him… to take him... too… so that… he… could see … you… again… But... the Fourteenth… refused."
Lenalee all but collapsed from relief, a substantial amount of tension dissolving in her. The Order was safe. Komui was Fourteenth was only interested in Noah and Exorcists.
But why?
"Hevlaska… do you have any idea what's going on? Do you know something?"
Hevlaska was with the Order ever since it was founded and ever since the Millennium Earl returned from thousand years of background activity, maybe she knew things about the Noah and the 14th that Central for some reason just refused to reveal to Exorcists.
For the lack of eyes, she stared at the dully glowing cube expectantly. As seconds ticked by, Lenalee grew the more anxious. "Hevlaska?"
"I'm sorry… I'm… as much… in the dark… as you... "
"No, it's not your fault," Lenalee said quickly. "I just thought asking you would bring me closer to the truth."
"The truth?"
"Why the 14th kidnapped us, Exorcist and Noah alike. Why now. Why does he not kill us. What he wants..." she listed, trailing off, her gaze growing distant. "Why was Allen chosen..."
Lenalee tried her best to force back her tears; it was impossible, she could feel a few stray tears escape and sob choke her throat - seriously, just how could Allen always pretend everything was alright?
"Worrying… won't help… now..." Hevlaska whispered, sounding even more fatigued than before; it made Lenalee feel a bit guilty that she basically forced her awake to answer her questions. "Go… to sleep… "
Wiping her eyes, Lenalee nodded. "Yeah. Good night, Hevlaska."
"Night..." she whispered when the already dull glow faded to almost nonexistent along with her voice. Lenalee didn't know how much time it took to doze off.
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In a completely different timezone the sun was still setting, the withdrawing sun painting the field of wheat in a warm, golden glow.
Neah stepped out of the Ark, approaching the lone withered tree twisting into what had to be a brilliant crown once - now just dry skeletal branches grasping for the unreachable sky.
Stopping next to it, Neah placed a gloved hand on the trunk and leaned forward to lightly touch the tree with Allen's scarred forehead, eyes closed.
It's been 35 years.
35 years since he awakened as a Noah. 35 years since the Earl's curse haunted him and Mana, forcing them to kill each other. 35 years since he died. 35 years since-
"Hello, Cornelia," he whispered, letting the soft wind carry his voice, to the trees nonexistent ears- "It's been a while… I'm home."
35 years. Such a long time. It felt so unreal.
He let his eyes take in the scenery of his childhood that he longed to reclaim in his previous life, his mansion. It was still well-maintained, not betraying the three and half decade that past, meaning that to this day people lived there. She might still live here.
Trembling hands clenched into a fist. He had made up his mind and yet.
It needed to be done. He didn't want to do it, he was tempted to turn on his heels and run - at the same he wanted to see her badly… But would she even recognise him in this body? Would she believe him?
Could her broken heart take the truth?
Well, only one way to find out. Keep walking.
Inhaling, Neah turned his attention to the entrance - when he realised he had company.
Alarmed, he whipped his head to the side, freezing in place seeing the stalker.
A good 10 metre away him stood an aged woman in her seventies, staring at him with pure shock. Her face changed with age, wrinkles that he did not recall emerged, that old brightness in her eyes faded with grief - but Neah would always be able to recognise her.
Before Neah could finally talk to her, she beat him to it. "Ne...ah…?"
Thrown off guard, Neah's surprise was reflected on Allen's face. Commanding the facial muscles at his disposal, he settled his visage into a smile that was only reserved for his family.
"Hello, Mother."
"Neah," she repeated, the name she hadn't uttered in more than three decades stumbling out of her mouth. Reaching out for him, like some illusion she was terrified would leave her, she stepped forward. Neah mirrored her, approaching her with open arms, a smile and wet eyes burning with unshed tears of happiness.
A tear slipped past his eyelashes as Katerina's withered but still so warm and loving and welcoming hands cupped his cheeks, pulling him close in a tight embrace. Her sobs broke free, shaking her body violently while she rubbed soothing circles to the young man's, his beloved son's back.
Minutes later, Neah pulled back. "How did you know?"
"A mother can always recognise her own child," she sniffed, wiping away her tears. Her desperate expression then turned serious. "... Neah, how… Who is this?" She inquired softly, tracing Allen's curse scar with such gentle maternal love that Allen never got to experience.
"This... is a friend of mine. He offered to be my host, so I can put an end to this long nightmare."
"I'm incredibly happy to see you… But how is this possible? Wasn't your soul devoured by…?" She refused to name that as Mana. "But if you have your soul devoured your existence disappears into nothingness."
Her eyebrows creased seeing Neah gave him a pained and hollow smile. "Yes… it does."
Greying lashes fluttered in confusion, for seconds, she just stared at Neah's pained farce of a smile, waiting for her to realise it, have the pieces fall into their place. And they did. Her eyes widened in shock, which then morphed into desperate horror and-
Allen's head whipped to the side from the force of Katerina's slap. It was incredibly rare for her to be physical with him, every time she did, it was equal to having cold water dumped at him. But not even the harsh sting in his cheek hurt as much as the sound of his mother started crying again. He casted Allen's silver eyes down, knowing that looking up he'd meet disappointment.
"You sacrificed this young boy?" she asked incredulously, her eyes roaming over the face, dread multiplying seeing just how young he was, he used to be.
"I had a copy of my essence implanted in his soul, slowly forming, growing and developing, parasitizing him… until the only one left was me."
Not only did he steal Allen's body, he stole his soul too. The essence he implanted poisoned Allen's ego and mind, corrupting it little by little, advancing until not a trace of him was left.
As if Allen Walker never existed at all. As if he was just some tool for Neah to use.
Katerina screwed her eyes shut, covering her mouth, as if attempting to stifle her sobs. "I… I'm very angry at you for erasing the existence of this child… I have never been so disappointed in you."
Every world was another stab to his heart, the very notion that he caused grief to his mother again ripped him up on the inside - but he took his punishment quietly. He deserved it and he knew it.
"And yet..." she continued, forcing words through her sobs, "I can't help but feel relieved and thankful that I can see you again, even on the cost of this boy's soul… " She covered her face from Neah's surprised expression, as if she was the sinner. "If he was still around, I'm not sure I wouldn't have begged or even force him to let you return to this world even at that cost..."
"Mother..."
Neah moved to reach out to her again, but halted midair. This wasn't his hand. He stole it from Allen. Touching his mother like that would be just another dose of guilt. He let Allen's hands fall down to his side, eyes casted down, head bowed in shame.
They stood there until the sun disappeared under the horizon, taking Katerina's tears with it. The woman wiped her eyes and turned them at his son's new face, suppressing the griefguilt she felt - it wasn't time to be emotional now. If Neah reappeared it meant that everything was in motion again. She was unable to meet those silver eyes though.
"It's cold, let's get inside," she murmured.
Nodding, Neah followed her through the path to the familiar mansion.
The inside was the same. Nothing was out of place. Everything was the same as 35 years ago. Poor Mother of theirs, maybe this is how she commemorated her two dead sons?
"Is there anyone else here?" Of course, there shouldn't be, but then again, just because something that shouldn't be, doesn't mean it is not. He was a perfect example of that.
"Your aunt and some servants. Also-"
"Granny?"
Two pairs of eyes snapped at a small girl cradling a thick book to her small chest, as if hiding behind it. Silver eyes widened seeing her appearance. Auburn hair, sea of freckles, silver eyes and that pair of glasses. The lenses were switched but Neah could recognise each imperfection on the frame.
She looked exactly how he did 45 years ago.
Neah stopped staring at her so openly when he saw her shift nervously under his gaze. He flashed a small smile at her. "Hello, little Miss. I'm Neah D. Campbell, it very nice to meet you."
"I-I'm Lucia Eve Campbell," she stuttered bowing her head in respect. "He-hello Mister."
"Just call me Neah. We are family after all."
"Lucia darling, it's getting late, get ready for bed," Katerina instructed. "Neah and I have a lot to discuss. Naaga will put you to bed."
"Y-yes," she stuttered before tumbling up the stairs and disappear upstairs.
"Granny, huh?" Neah asked following Katerina to the luxurious drawing room, sitting in the extravagant couch in the middle. A servant emerged and Katerina ordered them tea and privacy. "So you adopted other children as well?"
"She is my own grandchild. She is Allen's daughter."
Neah spluttered his tea. "Allen had a kid?!"
"From what I could tell, he didn't know. Lucia is currently 8, nearing 9. It's going to be 10 years now that Allen vanished. He probably didn't even know he impregnated someone, it was probably unintentional and out of wedlock."
"What about her mother?"
"Abandoned her."
She poured tea in her favourite cup and dropped two cubes of sugar.
"The investigation led to some Exorcist. She abandoned Lucia in fear that she would be used for the Order's experiments, which was highly likely given that she was a General level Parasitic type. Her name was Maria I believe. I wanted to talk to her face to face but she vanished. All that she left was a certificate confirming the father as Allen D. Campbell, my one and only biological son. "
She stared at the brown liquid in her cup, wondering.
"I wonder what happened to him. For 25 years he sent small hints that he is alive and well. But around 10 years ago, it stopped." Hands tightened around her cup. "The Earl most likely- no, without doubt have caught up to him and-" She bit her lip glancing up to meet Neah's eyes. "That's when he transferred your memories to this child, right? Which means that like this he was spared from the fate this child was forced to endure… If he was lucky he died before the Earl caught him… I am happy that my son wasn't sentenced to being devoured, it means that he can reborn but… This isn't like Allen at all."
Gloved hands squeezed into fists. Neah forced himself not to show any outwards reaction despite the growing anxiousness he felt. He didn't want to do this. It would break his beloved mother… But she deserved to hear. After 35 years of waiting for her three sons to return home, she deserved to at least know why. Neah braced himself, knowing that the most painful part of uncovering the truth was coming. "You're right. It's not like him at all."
Katerina gazed within the very soul he stole, brows furrowed. "Are you... implying that perhaps… Allen did not transfer the memories to someone else…? But… that would mean…"
Neah's heart dropped in his stomach seeing his mother freeze up; her hand halted mid air, tense, jaw clenched shut, lips and eyes quivering. The answer was laid out right in front of her, but refused to see it, refused to accept it, as it just hurtstoomuch-
The treasured china teacup she got from her sons shattered on the hardwood floor, its sound drowned out by Katerina.
Neah recoiled at the agonized scream erupt from his beloved mother. Neah bit Allen's lips to withhold his tears as he watched his mother become undone. It hurt to hurt her. The woman buried her face in her palms, her frame shaking violently, her hands doing little to stifle her wails and screaming Allen's name over and over as she teared at her grey hair. Neah briefly wondered if after this it will bleach to match her son's white.
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, he wanted to say, but Neah bit his words back. He didn't deserve apologizing. Even if one looked past all the horrible things he did before, this was a whole new level of unacceptable. He mercilessly destroyed his beloved brother so he could kill the other one. There was no forgiveness in this deed.
"Is… is this punishment?" Neah blanched hearing Katerina's word. "Is this punishment for being willing to sacrifice someone to see my son? Is it my punishment to lose one son completely to have another back?"
Despite himself, Neah started to have second thoughts. Was this really the good decision? Is it truly for the better to have her suffer knowing all this? Would it not be for the better to let her live the remainder of her life peacefully along with Lucia? Erase this revelation? Have her wait sick of loneliness, dying to see her children one last time? Erase their existence from her mind and destroy all evidence that he, Mana and Allen lived?
No. She deserved to know. Even if it destroyed her, she had the right to know. She would continue to live on, even in pain and grief because Lucia needed her. That would be enough.
Letting out a weary sigh, Neah straightened himself. "Mother," he called gently, "I was very glad that you are alive and we could meet. I'm glad you didn't get involved more than you already are, even if you nursed Cross and Bookman here in secret. I am grateful that you raised me. Thank you for my wonderful brother you gave birth to. Thank you for letting me experience love like a normal person as long as possible. I… will definitely save you and end this all," he let out a shaky sigh, forcing a bad copy of Allen's reassuring smile in his face. "Farewell, Mother. I love you. Please live."
Without sparing her another glance, Neah turned on his heel and left the piece, mindful to drop the barrier he erected so Katerina's grieving could not be heard.
The hallways were dark, but Neah knew his home by heart.
First he went after Cross, as he was the more troublesome one. As expected he was in the Red Guest Room. There were no alcohol bottles strewn around, so he guessed the man was still in coma. Nothing that Neah couldn't handle. He opened a gate under him and dropped him in his assigned room. The Ark would repair his body and Neah would repair his mind once he went back.
He slid out in the hallway again, heading for Bookman. As he opened the door, he tilted his head to the side, letting the daggers hit the wall behind him.
"You can calm down, it's me, old man."
Bookman's heaving form, still sitting in his bed stiffened laying eyes on him.
"You're…" Kohl rimmed eyes narrowed and Neah recognised the pity and sorrow in them despite Bookman's attempt to hide it. "I see… So Allen Walker is no longer in control of that body."
"Indeed. Thanks to him, finally we are nearing the end."
Bookman closed his weary eyes, the only display of grief he was allowed to express. "I see." It was wishful thinking, but in a deep part of his mind, Bookman wished that poor child could pass on painfully. …But knowing him, it was unlikely. "If you are here, then I assume you already took care of the Noah and Exorcists. Does that mean that Lavi is safe?"
"He is," Neah confirmed. "You are the only one left, so let's go, shall we?"
"Let's go."
Bright light flared up again, ready to swallow them both-
"Neah?"
Neah tensed hearing that meek voice. Turning back, he met the frightened form of Lucia.
"I-I saw light flare up as I went to the bathroom… Is… is this Noah's Ark? A-are you taking away Master Bookman?"
"Master Bookman?" Neah echoed, stealing a glance at Bookman. "Oh my, don't tell me you indulged your ex Apprentice's daughter."
"Da-daughter?" the little girl stuttered.
Bookman's eyes narrowed. "Neah, there is no need to disclose information to her."
"Because that would put her in danger? My, you really are such a softie when it comes to kids."
Lucia flinched seeing Neah approach, she opened her mouth to scream in terror, horrified to find out that neither could she move nor make a single voice. All she could do is tremble in fright as Neah kneeled in front of her.
"But you should know it too: no one is safe when in comes to this war."
Neah gave the girl a wry smile; poor darling, unaware she was facing the body of her father that would adore her, all she had was him who stole her father from her and the world.
"I apologize for awakening you, Lucia. Please go back to bed and forget about this," he said while attempting to copy Allen's reassuring smile as he poked Lucia's forehead lightly. His smiles used to be so powerful, if he wanted to, he could have made people die for him. Too bad Neah was never going to have that level of skill, even in this body.
The effect was immediate. Lucia's body oddly relaxed, her face was wiped clean of any emotions, her eyes in half-lidded trance. "As you wish," she said monotonically. Without further ado, she turned on her heels and returned to her room.
Bookman's brows furrowed at the display. "Don't worry, I know. I could never forget… Especially when you wear that face."
Neah gave a hollow laugh. "Guilty as charged. Would that be the reason why you tried so hard to get your other successor stay impartial so much?"
Bookman closed his eyes, feeling his body sink in the Gate. "I did it so there would be no other idiot sacrificing his very existence to protect me."
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Darkness. Ever since that night all he could see was darkness when he was "awake". That point blank range bullet in the right side of his head truly did the deal. He couldn't open his eyes or control his muscles; he was completely helpless like some infant; it sucked shit. Bloody fucking Apocryphos.
But somehow even that maddening darkness was better. When he was awake he didn't see his face even if his childlike laughter rang in his ears.
A memory of an 11 years old Allen floated to him, playing with Tim. Ah, he was dreaming again. Allen was small, unsure and still visibly affected by his trauma - he learned how to hide it well later. This was the first time Allen really smiled after that night. It was such a sweet and rare moment… To see him have a single moment of childlike happiness.
Illusion Allen then turned his gaze at him and laughed. Laughed because Tim made a mess of his hair. Really he was such a brat. So tiny he didn't even reach his hips.
Next image was of a much older Allen and his heart churned uncomfortably again. There he was reuniting his friends after he saved them, after they believed him to be dead. Warm greetings and small happy moments before they were abducted in the Ark - thus providing him an entrance inside the Ark that he could use undetected. It was such a touching moment. He truly looked so happy.
In the short amount of time he spent in the Order he truly had grown so much. That giant, unstable claw was no more, instead a slim and much deadlier one was left. He was completely synchronized and back to his family - this was probably one of the happiest moments of Allen's life.
Back when he thought he might have a bright future ahead of him. Back when he had yet to know the truth.
For the thousandth time, he cursed Neah, the Earl, the Innocence and God.
Why did it have to be him?
He could almost see Allen's white brows crease in concern, his pale hands reaching out to tug on his sleeve and back to reality.
He didn't want to. He didn't want to know, didn't want to remember. He wanted to gorge down a whole cellar of wine, run into a lover's arms and wipe his head clean of thoughts in a moment of passion, forget the bitterness and terror he felt over Allen's inevitable death.
He wished Allen chose to stay with him in that wheat field. Just accept his hand, lay beside him, fall asleep and never wake up again to this nightmarish world, never know the truth. Just fade away painlessly and peacefully, just like he knew Allen deep down wanted to. He really should have known better.
He wondered if Allen regretted that choice already. If he disappeared already.
His mind wouldn't stop conjuring up these memories and scenarios where Allen was somehow miraculously saved. His old heart that he believed to be dead hadn't stopped demanding that he did something. He might still be alive after all. But he knew. In the end it didn't matter. He could do nothing for Allen. No one could save him.
He could swear a familiar hand settled on his head but banished the idea. He wanted to wake up and push himself in delirium. He didn't want to remember that-
He… used to be… so small…
He didn't want that hand comfort him. He just wanted to forget-
I wish I could have just loved him normally.
Cross opened his eyes.
"Ah, you're awake?"
Cross blinked. And stared. And stared. And stared.
He shot up from his bed, grabbing those gloved hands. "Allen?!"
It was him. Those wide eyes were still silver. They still had time. It was really him-
Those hands were ruthlessly ripped out of his, along with his spark of hope. White brows twisted into an uncharacteristic frown.
And in that moment, as the remnants of dream-illusions left his eyes, Cross could finally see.
His hands dropped, heavy with guilt. That overly enthusiastic and naive hope was squashed within him mercilessly, giving way to the cold void.
This wasn't the Campbell mansion.
This wasn't Allen.
Neah straightened, gazing at Cross with pure contempt. He sucked in a sharp inhale and turned on his heel.
"You're a fool, Cross."
When the door closed between them, Cross allowed himself to crumble and bury his face in his hands.
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End of Second Testament - Atone
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