The Lady Luck was a trashy hotel that had once been the pride of the city in its prime. The years of wear and the outdated attractions had taken their toll however and the tired old hotel seemed desolate. "Hmmm . . . this looks like the perfect place for a trap," Mireille observed icily as she and Kirika entered the abandoned hotel and started climbing the stairs. The two women reached their destination and knocked on the door, guns drawn. "Seventh hour . . . twelfth minute . . . you're late," Chloe pointed out as she stepped out of the room, "I was about to leave." "There was traffic and we couldn't get a taxi," Kirika explained politely, "Sorry." "No worries," Chloe smiled and an astonished Mireille was reminded of a child who's every wish had just come true. The mysterious assassin who Mireille had hated and to some point feared was now a giddy-looking girl who was smiling at . . . Kirika. Why? Why does it make me so angry when she's around Kirika? Mireille thought, it's because she's dangerous. If something happens to Kirika then this pilgrimage to the past will end and I, I'll never know-- But it's not like she needs my protection. Then why am I so protective of her? It's not like I-- "Mireille?" Kirika asked, "Mireille, what's wrong?" "Oh, um, nothing. I was just thinking," Mireille hadn't realized Kirika was trying to get her attention while she attempted to sort out her thoughts. "Follow me," Chloe beckoned from near the stairs, "We have to leave now." "How much further are we going? Are you just planning on walking around until the Soldats get tired of searching?" Mireille complained. "Not much further," Chloe called back. Mireille grunted her displeasure. From the hotel they had jumped into a cargo car of a passing train and had ridden until dawn. They had abandoned the rail car finding themselves in a small town. Though Mireille had wished to rest at a local inn Chloe had insisted they press on. The noon sun now beat down on Mireille's shoulders as she walked alongside Kirika a good thirty feet behind Chloe so that she could keep a good eye on the mysterious assassin. They had been walking the same dirt road for hours and Mireille's energy was almost spent. "You are tired," Chloe pointed out, stopping and waiting for the two to catch up. She turned and faced Mireille, "We can rest here." "You must be very hot in that," Kirika ventured as the three women sat at the edge of the road between a dry ditch and the field of a vineyard. "Hmm . . ." Chloe nodded but showed no intention of taking off her cloak though sweat dripped off her hair and down her face. Kirika surmised that the cloak was even heavier than it looked. "I could carry it for you . . . it you want," she offered politely. "No. Thank you, though," Chloe smiled softly, "This cape is very . . . very special to me." "Special enough to die of heat stroke for?" Mireille scoffed. Chloe did not her or did not choose to respond, "It's almost noon. We should keep going if we expect to make it to lunch on time." "You wouldn't happen to want to tell us where we're going here in the middle of nowhere, would you?" Mireille pressed as she dragged herself to her feet, "I see nothing here but vineyards and dirt." "Just over that hill over there," Chloe cocked her head in the direction of a small knoll ahead, "Not much farther." As the trio arrived at the crest of the hill and looked down on their destination Mireille couldn't help but be perplexed. This? This is the place where we'll be safe from the Soldats? We came all the way for this? There's nothing here but a ruined old plantation house. She turned to Chloe, "Hey, what's the big-- huh?" Chloe was already halfway to the ruins as she ran pell-mell for the old building, her cloak billowing out behind her. Kirika had begun to follow her slowly down the hill and Mireille joined the young girl, "I don't like this. That girl led us to ruins in the middle of nowhere. Why? There's another reason we were brought here, not just the Soldats. I can feel it; I just know what it is yet. Be on your guard." "Yes, but," Kirika began and paused, then finished, "never mind." "What is it? Do you know something?" Mireille pressed. "No, it's just . . ." The younger woman seemed to struggle to choose the right words, "There's something about her. She kills without compassion, but she seems like a child the very next minute. She's innocent in her heart. I don't think she wants to hurt us. That she brought us here for a reason other than protection I have no doubt, but I do not see malice in her eyes." Mireille turned a cold look toward Kirika, "You seem awfully perceptive all of a sudden. Pretty talkative, too. Is there something I should know?" What am I saying? I don't even know what I'm thinking about. I just know that Kirika's changing. Everything's changing and it seems to be changing for the worse. When we started on this pilgrimage, things changed but she was always the same. Always quiet, always there. But now even Kirika is changing and it's all because of her. Why should that stranger have such an impact on that girl's 'shell' when I have never had the slightest effect? Why do I care? Why does it bother me so much, dammit?! "Welcome home, my darling Chloe," a soft caring voice lifted Mireille from her thoughts. The three assassins stood in what was once the estate's courtyard facing a lovely, motherly looking woman who smiled back at them, "I see that you have accomplished your task, seemingly without mishap," she turned toward Mireille and Kirika, "I am glad that you both arrived safely. I am Althena. I am sure that you are very tired of your journey. Please follow me, I will take you to your rooms so that you may bathe and rest before lunch." And with that she turned and headed towards the ruined manor. As she opened the door Mireille was surprised to see that what looked like a derelict shamble on the outside as actually a spacious, well kept, though sparsely furnished house and the chandeliers and grand staircase make it worthy of the name manor. Althena led them silently up the staircase and into a small back hall. "Miss Bouquet, correct?" Althena turned her head toward Mireille and when she nodded continued, opening the first door to her left, "This will be your room, and Kirika, you will stay here," she opened the door across the hall, "For the time being." Taking note of the every oddity, it irked Mireille that this woman believed she was on a first name basis with Kirika. For the time being? What was that supposed to mean? This is really rubbing me the wrong way, Mireille thought, I do not like being in the dark and I can tell that this Althena knows something she's not telling us. And what part does she play in this? How does she know Chloe? "On account of your late arrival lunch will be delayed today. Chloe will show you down in two hours," Althena informed them, "Until them please rest and make yourselves at home. If your bathwater is cold please call for Chloe," she turned and walked back down the stairs leaving the three younger women in the hall. "I will see you in two hours then," Chloe smiled and retreated into the second room on the right before Mireille could grill her with questions. Mireille turned to her partner who shrugged and walked into her designated room. The room was much larger and more luxurious that the room she had shared with Mireille in Paris and Kirika felt so small spread out on the large four-poster bed with velvet hangings and silk sheets. I wish I could live in a place like this, Kirika thought dreamily, I wish I could take long baths like that one and sleep in this huge bed. I wonder if Mireille would consider moving to a big house now that ours has burned down. I hope Mireille is alright. She seems so mad lately. She's mad at Chloe. Why? Did Chloe do something to her? I know that she's far from above suspicion, but she knows about Noir and the Soldats, so she could probably tell us a lot, and she did save us from the Soldats. I won't say I trust her, but there's just something about her . . . "Yes?" Kirika called in response to the light tap on her door. "You can come down for lunch now," Chloe called from the other side of the door. Kirika reluctantly rose from the comfort of the bed and stepped into the hall. A rather disgruntled-looking Mireille stared her down and judging by Mireille's still dirty, sweat-streaked face and clothes Kirika surmised that her partner had thought it safer not to bathe and probably thought it imprudent that Kirika had. Kirika turned her gaze to Chloe who had obviously taken to opportunity to bathe. Her magenta hair clung in wet strands to the side of her face and the assassin had shed her long cloak revealing a skin-tight black outfit most would consider skimpy. Seeing her figure unshielded by the cloak Kirika was surprised to see how frail and small she actually seemed. It also occurred to Kirika that Chloe was actually very young, perhaps even younger than herself. Mireille seemed to have been struck by the same thought as she sarcastically asked, "Just how old are you?" "As old as my bones and a little older that my teeth," Chloe retorted quickly, then turned and started toward the staircase, "Follow me, please. Althena will be waiting for us." Looking rather put out Mireille followed her with Kirika in tow. From the entrance to the Manor they moved through a study on the first floor into a small but elegant dining hall. Four chairs sat around a large oak table, one of which was occupied by Althena who sat patiently awaiting the younger women. I've never seen so much food! Kirika thought as she gazed at the food-laden table. There was everything she could ever want to eat. Yes, I definitely want to live like this. "Please, have a seat," Althena beckoned to the two empty seats as Chloe sat to her left. Kirika claimed the seat to Althena's right and Mireille sat across from the older woman. "Miss Bouquet, was there a problem with your bath water?" Althena inquired politely after a generic prayer was said and the meal began, "I heated it before you arrived, I hope it wasn't too cold." "Mine was lovely," Kirika smiled. "I didn't feel like bathing," Mireille grumbled. "You heated the water? Do you not having running water?" Kirika asked, trying to think back on her bath. Come to think of it, there wasn't a tap. "No, we don't. There is no electricity or running water here, either. I hope it is not too much of an inconvenience for you. I have found that an absence of basic convenience fosters perseverance. I am glad that you enjoyed your bath. It's not often that we use the bath tubs; it is such a hassle to carry in and heat the water." "Why did you bring us all the way out here? How did you know the Soldats were after us?" Mireille pressed Althena. "I sent Chloe to get you because you were in danger. I have friends in the Soldats who warned me that Noir would soon come under fire, so to speak," Althena smiled a bit, "Why they would target you now I do not know," she explained, "You are here because this is the safest place for you to be. Under my watch the Soldats have never struck here." "Why would they strike here if we weren't here?" Mireille retorted, "We're their prime target so they will come now! We're just bait for them, what makes you think you can stop them?" Mireille raved. Was this woman dense? "You can trust Althena," Chloe pointed out as though trusting this mysterious and rather bizarre woman was the most natural thing in the world. "Maybe you don't understand who the Soldats are," Mireille said stonily, "If they wish us dead you won't be able to stop them. I highly doubt they are frightened of a senile woman who seems fresh out of the local convent, or of a little girl with a few throwing knives." Chloe let out a sort of snarl and began to stand, grabbing a butter knife near her plate, ready to take her and Althena's defense before the older woman's hand on her shoulder bade her to sit back down. "Though I hope you will stay, you are welcome to leave at any time you wish. There is no doubt in my mind that you will receive the greatest protection here, but if you wish to leave you know the way back to town," Althena stood up and started toward the door opposite the one they had come in, "Now if you will excuse me I have a letter to write. Chloe, I will be with you when I have finished." "Oh, yes," Chloe smiled.
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