"A Step Closer to the Truth"
Amra set himself to the task of numbing his senses; he didn't feel pain nor could hear the roaring sounds of the war happening around him. His eyes were locked on the winged warrior that kept shouting orders and pointing other warriors in different directions. Pronab's words kept echoing in his mind. 'We need Caly... we need her to figure out what happened here, she is the only one who can get to the truth... something went very wrong here, we need to find out what.' The thought of risking Caliope's safety was killing him inside, but he also knew Pronab would never said something like that unless he thought it was their best option.
He spread his hands wide and a sword of similar material that the one of his wings started to materialize; he didn't hesitate to use it against a few more dark angels that crossed his path.
The general Alexander finally noticed Amra not far from him, and he froze briefly at the significance of his direct approach. There was nothing but rage and determination on Amra's eyes, and Alexander knew well what it meant to awake an ancient wrath. He did the only thing left to do; he held his own sword high and prepared for the strike.
But the strike never came, instead he was surprised by darkness around him and felt his body numb. Panic hit him hard as he could not even feel his own wings and felt himself as if he was falling in a deep hole with nothing to see or something to get a hold to. He started cursing and swearing, then held silent as nothing replied. He began shouting orders in many languages and again held silent as only the lack of sound came back.
Not far, Elaine's flaming wings burned everything they touched; she pointed her hand to a dark angel and her wings reached and burned the target. She spotted Amra reaching Alexander, and the Meng Twins were both with him, taking the General away from the main battle. If everything kept going the way it was supposed to, they would be able to hold until Caliope and Pronab found some answers.
---***---
"Caly! Baby answer me! Are you ok?!" Vanessa's pleading words barely reached her, she was kneeling in a fetal position, her arms around her legs holding them tight and whimpering. She didn't let anyone touch her, she screamed when Pronab tried to.
"Caly please, say something..." Pronab pleaded as he tried to hold Vanessa from getting closer, he knew well that with Caliope's great powers and current instability, the only one who might end up hurt would be her best friend.
Something else draw their attention; the building shook and everything started to tremble. Dust and small things started to fall over them and Remesch frowned. "We might have triggered some defense mechanism, or the place is finally giving up on its decayed state... either way we have to go."
Pronab looked again to Caliope who seemed still lost in her own state of sorrow, he studied the situation and felt Angelus' hand pull his. He stared back at him frowning. "I can keep us all safe in my bubble here, but if the building falls, it will bring attention to the place and we will be exposed to whatever or whoever can see us."
He nodded, turning his attention to Remesch. "Can you create a portal and take us through it? Then we can open it again in another place"
"Yes, I can do that, but better be sure where you want to open the new door next, especially with her state..." Remesch said as his hands were already into motion. He created light and from it shaped the portal to the safety only he could provide; he then moved it closer to Caliope, and carefully manipulated it to swallow her body. He finally rested it on an angle for all to use, Pronab didn't hesitate to push Vanessa in and then he waited for everyone else to enter. As he was coming in last, part of the roof started to collapse. He sighed and shook his head, looking around him to all the possible evidence they were leaving behind to be destroyed. He could only hope now that Caliope had answers that could help them all.
Once inside the white space Remesch created, Pronab approached Caliope slowly, yet keeping some distance. Vanessa rushed to his side and squeezed his hand. "Its like she has gone crazy, but that can't be... She needs to wake up from the nightmare... maybe that's what this is? A nightmare? Maybe she has fallen into a deep state of sleep and thinks she is in a nightmare... and we need to wake her up!"
"No baby..." Pronab replied to her and she looked at him with pain. "I think that... whatever she saw, must have really affected her in ways we could only imagine... I think she saw the researchers play their toys and experiment... I remember vaguely the stories... if anything I was told is true, the horrors she must have witnessed... well, give her time... she really needs it."
Angelus nodded and sighed, he sat on the floor near Caliope and kept his eyes on her as he waited with the others. "The horrors committed by those in search for power are sometimes even too much for our own kind... that is why their methods were never shared publicly. I wish I could have spared her from such sight, she doesn't deserve watching all the cruelties our people have made..."
"What can be so bad that would make it so different from what our own people have made through history?" Vanessa said to Angelus as well as the others. They all looked at her in silence. "I am sure you all know what other humans have done and I am sure we only caught half or less of the monsters we claim to have discovered through time. Hitler is not even on the top list... Influenced or not by dark Angels, our own people are not far from it either..." She moved closer to Caliope and knelt towards her. "Caly baby, I know you saw horrible things, but you also saw what really happened there and we need to know it too... remember Amra is fighting for you right now..."
Caliope sobbed and moved slightly, her eyes half open as she looked towards her friend. Vanessa continued, seen her words were reaching to her friend. "Elaine is giving her life and so are the others, Amra didn't hesitate to let Pronab take us back because he trusted you were going to be able to find answers... we know you are strong baby, we know you can overcome this... we know..."
"Stop... please... just stop..." Caliope's faint words interrupted Vanessa. Pronab rushed to her side and tried to reach to her but, again, she flinched and moved away. He was sad and slightly hurt as well, after all they went through, he was hopping she trusted him. She shook her head and covered her ears as more tears streamed down her eyes. "Give me... time..." She sobbed once more.
Pronab nodded and put his hands on Vanessa's shoulders, gently pushing her away with him. They all remained silent and gave Caliope the space and time she needed.
---***---
Amra thrusted his sword and vanished another dozen of warriors who tried to reach them and their General; to them it was confusing why he was not presenting any fight or objected to be with them. Inside his mind, Alexander was growing angrier and restless; he knew he was being manipulated against his will but there was nothing he could do to break free. His powers were aids in the battle ground, but nothing could help him fight his own mental prison.
'Amra...' Pronab's words echoed in his mind and he held still in mid air. 'We are going to attempt reaching to you but you need to secure the area... Remesch will open a portal for us to come to you.'
'Where is Caly... why isn't she the one contacting me?' Amra sent back at him.
'What ever she saw, it really affected her... she doesn't want to talk, she wants to come to you all and show you... us... what she saw... I've never seen her this bad, you must secure the area Amra, she is in no condition to fight.'
He closed his eyes and allowed his aura to expand. It began as a small glow that only those around him could see; Elaine rushed to his side and felt the urgency of his powers as they began to expand and grow. As his aura expanded, it became bigger and wider, those dark Angels who were reached by it felt suspended in mid air as if something froze them, the Angels on his side, remained still, waiting for orders on what to do. He landed on the middle of the road lines and the twins walked to him with Alexander. It became obvious for everyone now that something was happening and the battle itself seemed to lose its urgency, their mixed confusion and reactions gave room to a moment panic between the dark ones.
"Wake his mind up." Amra ordered and the Mengs nodded. Alexander opened his eyes wide and felt the panic strike him as he couldn't move while he saw he was surrounded. He saw Amra walk towards him straight and almost screamed but his lips could not move. "You better pay attention... all of you." Amra's words echoed the entire ground. Every Angel, dark or light, could hear him. "If we wanted to banish you... you would be already gone by now. Do you recognize this?" He asked and gave the Twins a sign, immediately after, Alexander could move his head and nodded. Then Amra closed his eyes and sent back to Pronab. 'Bring her to me... the area is secured.'
He gave a few steps back and with a gesture stopped Elaine to come closer to him. Seconds later, the white portal began to materialize right next to him and as it size grew, also did the expectations of everyone. When the portal grew wide enough, the first one to come through was Remesch, and quickly he was followed by Angelus. Alexander's eyes grew wide when he saw him, but Angelus didn't waste time and gave room to Pronab and Vanessa. With them, a gloomy Caliope was walked out; she was pale, sad watery eyes with dark shadows encasing them. Amra's eyes grew wide and he rushed to her in a fraction of a second, she whimpered and sobbed when she felt his arms around her. He crushed her to his chest and held her protectively, rage in his eyes as he saw towards Pronab. "What have you done to her?!"
"I will let her show you that herself... she insisted on coming here, right here, and show it to you all..." Pronab replied without remorse; he understood the anger of Amra towards him, after all it was him who asked permission to bring Caliope into action. He was responsible for the state in which she was now. But he also knew that, what Caliope had witnessed and was going to share, was of big importance.
Amra held Caliope tight, he kissed the top of her hair and ran his hand up and down her back slowly. 'I am sorry my love... I have failed you yet again... I seem to keep failing in protecting you...' He sent to her and held his hand in a fist, not caring of the crowd surrounding them, nor the fact they were in the middle of a war. 'I should have take you away as I said I wanted... away from all of this madness...'
"This madness has to stop..." Caliope replied to him out loud. She caught her breath a little and pulled apart. "This war is far from over... due to the sick mind of someone else..." This time she looked at him and then at the Meng twins and the person who was with them. She knew it would be the one they called Alexander. Amra allowed her to adjust in his arms and moved slightly to let her talk to him and everyone else. "What I've seen... no one should see but you..."
"Are you sure you want to do this... in this state...?" Amra asked her and she looked up at him with a nod.
"We don't have much time, Ignitious is going to show up soon..." Caliope replied and there was more than a gasp heard near them.
"Who did you said is coming?" Alexander spoke for the first time, his surprise mixed with his accent pulled Caliope's attention.
She nodded at him and took a deep breath. "The one behind all this..." She gestured all around them. "This chaos... have you ever thought why are you really fighting?" She grabbed enough courage to face him and slowly, with Amra at her side, everyone else did.
"We fight for our freedom, to be out of the shadows and chased down like we are scum that does not deserve to live... we belong to this world as much as you do." Alexander's voice boomed and brought many of his people near him as well.
"Well that is plainly stupid..." Alexander gasped as he heard Elaine talk to him. It took everyone for surprise as well. "When did we chased you and hunt you down? These are different times from those of the dark ages, we have kept some kind of balance and it has worked well until you declared a war." She stood firm in front of Amra and Caliope.
"That is nonsense, what kind of trickery is this? Have you lost your mind? You attacked us first!" Alexander growled and his warriors got on guard, yet didn't move closer as both Meng Generals were standing between him and them.
"That is exactly what I am trying to avoid..." Caliope sighed, a small tear rolling down her cheek as she shook her head. "If you please... stop arguing on who started this and let me show you who really was..." She whispered as she felt herself almost faint. Amra immediately grab a hold on her.
"You are not ready to do that my love..." He said to her as he kneeled on one leg and offered her his other for support, keeping an arm around her as she sat.
"This all started with one rotten soul, and should end with it as well. I have to show you all what happened, it is the only way you will understand and stop fighting." She said to him as much as to all that could hear her. "Gather them so I can share with all please?"
Elaine frowned but looked at Alexander straight in the eyes. "Pick a few of your most trusted men, she saw the real person to blame for this and apparently it is of most importance that we see it as well. She will share her sight with us, but I won't risk her life by sharing it with too many."
Amra closed his eyes as he held Caliope tight to him and sent to Elaine a simple but very meaningful. 'Thank you.'
The urgency of Elaine's voice and what it meant made Alexander consider his options. He wanted to know the truth as well, he nodded at Elaine and in return, she gestured to the Meng Twins to let him move again. As soon as he was able, he lifted a hand and pointed the number 4; seconds later four of his men landed behind him.
Amra helped Caliope stand back and held her close. The sight around them was one from fantastic tales; thousands of warriors waiting for something to happen. As Alexander walked to them with his men, he studied Caliope closely. She was a vision of pain and weakness in her state, yet she kept asking for more. He began to admire her.
"General Alexander..." Caliope began with a raspy voice, she paused to clear her throat and then continued. "I have powers... that I yet need to learn to control better... one of them is to see what others saw, what they are thinking about the moment I touch them... we found... mummies sealed in an old investigation facility of your people, left and forgotten... and I managed to see the last things they saw... the last things they experienced..." She took a deep breath before she spoke again. "We were there following our own investigation... and we found... I saw... how did all of this started... Amra will help me channel my visions to you, your men, and my friends and family around us... I have found experiencing on your own is better than words... and more believable... Will you let me show you what I've found?"
Alexander pondered her words for endless seconds; he studied what she said and how she said it; she saw behind her words also her intentions. In front of him there was a real victim of something that moved and affect her, it was evident and he didn't give room to deny it. Whether she was telling the truth or not, he would determinate it with what she promised to show. "Show us." He finally said.