Akamai waved at the retreating coach full of her beloved students, wiping away the tears remaining on her cheek. The dim windows barely revealed the students in the small bus but they were there; waving at Akamai. Some were crying, some were smiling and few didn't bat an eye at her. They all have different ways to express themselves. Akamai smiled, feeling her heart at ease now that the Quintessentials were away. The coach finally disappeared down the street.
After bidding farewell to Akamai's beloved group of Quintessentials, Akamai turned to the school entrance. A tall boy with silver blonde hair and piercing grey blue eyes wearing a buttoned up white shirt and black pants sat on the low tilting roof, watching Akamai silently. His expressionless face rested on a hand while his other hand rested on his legs that were slightly apart. "Chris," Akamai acknowledged.
Christopher Lecky leaped down from the five metres high entrance top and landed on his feet with ease. "It's not like you to be lenient," Christopher said amusedly, "I haven't seen you cry in years. When was the last time you cried? When Braun ran away and Valerie was killed?"
Akamai's face darkened as she snarled at the taller boy. "Shut the f*ck up. I'm doing my job." "And getting too attached to your 'students'," Christopher added. "Aren't you attached to a monster who you need to kill Chris?" Akamai sneered. Christopher hesitated. "Yeah," he answered. A moment of silence weaved between the two's short talk. "So, keep each other's secrets away from mama/my mistress?" They both asked in sync. Akamai smirked at Christopher, who cracked a very diminutive smile in return. "Of course." They chorused again. "Akamai, let's go. Mama's waiting for us." Christopher said.
"Yeah sure. Lead the way Chris." With that, Akamai followed Christopher out of the school campus, towards the lively streets of London. It wasn't long before Akamai and Christopher went through backstreets, alleyways and rusty ladders that leads to rooftops. Throughout the whole journey, Akamai couldn't help but feel worried. What if her Mistress orders Akamai to kill the Quintessentials? What would Akamai have to do? Kill her students or break free from her Mistress' commands right in front of her face? As if Christopher knew what Akamai was thinking of, he placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I will help keep your students safe. David is a Quintessential who has been under your care. I will assist you if you need me Akamai." Akamai felt the anxiety on her shoulders creep away. "So Chris when's the wedding?" Akamai asked. Christopher looked away reluctantly. "Not anytime soon. David is interested in—"
"You two are late."
A golden blonde haired lady with little to no presence suddenly stood out like light in the dark behind Akamai. Ved'ma's cold grey eyes gazed at her two loyal subjects as she crossed her arms. Christopher fell silent and dropped to the floor into a bow. Akamai did the same; getting onto one knee and placed a hand across her chest and bowed.
"My Mistress. The principal of St. Peter's had given me their plans. The principal isn't going to follow Dal's orders. Instead, they're doing what they believe is right or something like that. I apologise for being late." Akamai lied discreetly. "Akamai informed me about it. It is remarkable how a number of Quintessentials are still overseas so it may be hard to kill them all." Christopher said. "We don't have to kill them," Ved'ma said dismissively, "we have money and we don't need more. But I have matters I want to talk about with you two." Akamai and Christopher fell silent. They didn't have to kill the Quintessentials? This was better than Akamai had thought. "What is it mama?" Christopher asked.
"From now on, I'll be working with Bing Dal and Justice." Ved'ma said, "Bing Dal knows where Braun is. I shall work for him to find him. He's been missing for years now." Ved'ma closed her eyes. "I want to see him again." Akamai and Christopher remained dead quiet as the Russian woman went on. "Working under Dal means death. He is an absolute monster who wouldn't hesitate to discard his pawns. I can definitely see myself dying. It's inevitable. I just want you two to know, I value you. Thank you for being my pawns I can use on my jobs. Especially you my son; you've been with me ever since you're born."
"Of course mama. I was born to serve you," Christopher said simply. "And you too Akamai. You remain loyal to me from the day I married into the Schuyler family and became your Mistress. Thank you for treading onto this path alongside me." "It's only natural my Mistress," Akamai replied, "I will follow you and the Schuylers till the end and I'll never go astray." "Lift your heads you two."
Akamai and Christopher finally stood up from bowing and brushed the dust off of their trousers and long black silk hosiery. The two young adults faced Ved'ma. "I'll do everything in my power to find Braun. Akamai, the marriage will go on. If I die doing so, let it be. Behave yourselves. You are all good killers and assassins, I'm sure you can support yourselves financially. If you have any questions, ask away. I can't answer them if I die and I don't want to burden you two. Son, you need to kill that monster soon. I don't want him to get away for what he had done... Do you have any burdens? You can ask Akamai and I to assist you."
Akamai gulped, feeling a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead. Ask any question? There were a lot of questions Akamai have no answers to. As Akamai pondered, Christopher asked first. "I have no problems. I will strike soon. Mama, where is my biological father?" Christopher asked. "Dead." Ved'ma answered calmly, "I killed him right after you're born and seem like a healthy baby. I needed his genetics to make you a pawn worthy of raising. Look at yourself; tall, handsome, cunning and strong. I got what I wanted and I have no more use for your father. Hmm, I don't even remember his name because it's irrelevant." Christopher hesitated before nodding. "I see, thank you mama."
"I.... My mistress, why are you trying so hard to find Braun?" Akamai questioned, "why not just give up on him? Why does that boy mean so much to you?" Ved'ma hesitated as she stared at Akamai, taken aback by Akamai's questions. "He's a Schuyler. I want to raise him to become the prominent killing machine he is destined to be. He have great potential to become my tool." "Valerie's a Schuyler too my mistress. Why did you kill her?" Akamai asked quietly. "She's too smart." Ved'ma remarked. Christopher and Akamai shared a look of confusion before the Russian killer continued.
"I look up to the Schuylers, a family of killers, ever since I was a child. When I married into the Schuyler household after the twins' mother died, my only intentions were to raise those killers with potential and increase fear upon the Schuyler name and title. Valerie knew my intentions within a single glance no matter how friendly I present myself. She was young but cunning. She knew I want to make her brother and herself terminators. And so, I gave up acting in front of her because there's no use hiding my intentions if she knew." Ved'ma's harsh gaze darkened as she clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.
"Her mother is the one who broke the man who I strive to be that was my husband. Schuyler fell in love with his target and promised not to kill ever again after hearing his children inside her... Thankfully she died after the birth of the Schuyler twins. Look at my poor husband now: dead because he refuse to harm TRAXX upon an unsparing assassination. Pathetic. Tragic. Disappointing. In this world, it's either kill or be killed. There's no way around it. The strong will rise to the top and the weak and kind are to be used and obliterated. I overheard Valerie telling Braun things I don't like to hear. As the saying goes, like mother like daughter."
"I'm stealing bits of money from father and mother everyday. I'll get enough for us to run away together. Akamai, you wouldn't want to know what us Schuylers do. You wouldn't want to know what the Sǐ family do. I promise I'll bring Braun and yourself away from all this mess. Me and Braun's half brother will help us - I know he would! He's nice. Have some faith in him okay? Have some faith in us. I, Valerie Gemini Schuyler, promise I'll get us away before it's too late. No blood will be shed - no way. I won't allow it!"
The words Akamai knew so well etched itself into Akamai's head over and over once again. "So you killed her?" Akamai breathed. Ved'ma nodded. "Braun ran away because of her. I lost a double edged sword worthier than my son. A blessed tool I can manipulate and use. Valerie deserved death. Braun must be living a good life; away from this dark twisted world we know. I won't allow him to dirty his bloodline. I will find him and make him an assassin known across the globe. You two will marry each other and I want be Schuylers to continue trekking on this dark yet beautiful path. A flower of darkness like Braun will forever bloom in the dark; it will only wither and crumble in the light after a period of time."
Akamai couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter. Brian never ran away from this dark and blood soaked life. He escaped but he was still an assassin. Cillian Häyhä had made a monster out of him. Maybe more of a monster than Braun's father himself. Akamai wouldn't be surprised if Brian was the most savage, feared and talented Schuyler throughout history. Christopher remained silent. Ved'ma turned her head to focus on Akamai, looking a bit confused. "Ahaha I apologise my mistress. To know you would do so much for me, I'm happy," Akamai smiled. "I wonder where is he now?"
"Valeska~! It's time for us to go. Bing said he have a plan!" A male singsong voice ran out. "Let us depart. To the West that is the direction of the setting sun on his way to slumber in the hours of the night. That though his fair maiden thy inconsistent moon shall rule the dusk." A female voice said calmly.
Ved'ma turned her back towards Akamai and faced two teens with masks and formal wear grinning like Cheshire cats. "Lead the way, Justice," Ved'ma said. She gave Akamai and her son one last glance, said a small 'take care' and disappeared into the evening cityscape of London with Justice. Akamai and Christopher remained silent and still, mind occupied from some answers given to them by their mistress.
***
"Aisuki's right. You've gotten better!" Lait greeted with a smile as a dark haired girl entered the mental asylum. Gaela Itenokami took her suitcase from Lait's hands before she harrumphed. "Of course. It's not a big injury. To think I got taken down by such a minor laceration... I am ashamed of myself," Gaela said, her free hand snaking down to the injury in her stomach.
"Let's go and see Maria," Lait said softly, "I'll go through the door first. I don't want her to attack you again." Lait shivered as she recalled Gaela's limp body and an insane Maria with a tantou. If it wasn't for Christopher with a tranquilliser of some sort stopping Maria for doing more harm, Lait was afraid it would probably be the end of Gaela.
The infamous thief and the well known sniper hovered around the asylum quietly, with little to no presence at all. Lait finally stopped after mazes and mazes of hallways and doors. She knocked and opened the door in front of her. A girl with long brown hair sat in a dull green armchair, reading peacefully. She hummed to herself as she flipped a page and continued reading.
Maria Reginheraht's dark brown eyes left the book in her hand landed onto Lait. The girl beamed at Lait, with a smile as bright as the sun. "Lai!!" Maria exclaimed happily. "Hello Marii. I'm here to tell you about some things about Quintessentials." Lait said. "Aren't I dismissed as a Quintessential?" Maria asked reluctantly. Lait hesitated. "Yeah." Lait said.
Quietly, Lait pulled Maria's suitcase with wheels into the corner of the room and left it there. Lait took a stool and sat on it, beside Maria's armchair. "All the Quintessentials were dispatched across the globe. I heard from Akamai those who were overseas already were gone into hiding. As for us in school... Well, we're getting sent home. We can't use WiFi or social media so that's gonna be fun." Lait said. Maria nodded attentively. Now onto the main topic. "Hey Maria?" Lait asked, "what do you know about Gaela?" Maria Reginheraht furrowed her brows and laid down her book. She pondered a bit.
"Gaela...? Ah Gaela. She is an evildoer. She's dead. I killed her in our room. For Justice." Maria answered. "Do you like her?" Lait asked. Maria nodded. "I loved her loads Lait, I really do. But she used me. She used me. I trusted her. Gaela meddled with my files and lied to me. I think she threw some important files on Angel's Executioner away too. How could she..? She's dead now because of me. Oh my god, I killed someone! Someone I know and loved! I'm a murder! Dammit! If only I can tell Gaela how much I love her...! Please Lait... Don't betray me like how Gaela did. Stay by my side. Don't do bad things please. Help me find the Angel's Executioner so I can serve justice."
Lait hesitated. "We'll see Marii," Lait answered truthfully, "no promises though." Gaela took all the blame it seemed. Lait was the one who meddled with Maria's files. Lait was the one who was using Maria's information on bad people for her steals. Gaela simply scanned through them for agency work once or twice. She wouldn't have to use Maria's files; Akamai Shi, Lydie Wang and Fuze Nethercott have everything. Lait would be lying if she said she wasn't envious.
"Gaela's still alive Maria." Lait said quietly. The writer turned to the door. "Come in Gaela." The door opened almost immediately as if Gaela was listening into the conversation attentively the whole time. Maria widened her eyes in horror as she sprang up abruptly. She gawked at Gaela. "Hello," Gaela greeted the German-Irish girl with an impassive expression. Maria stared at Gaela, lips trembling.
"G-Gaela?" Maria echoed, shakily reaching for Gaela. The former investigator took shaky steps towards the assassin, little by little reaching for her. Lait tensed up and stood up from the stool slowly, ready to apprehend Maria if she tries to kill Gaela again. Maria went onto her tippy toes and cupped Gaela's cheeks. The sniper was unflinching and unfazed. "Is this Gaela?" Maria wondered out loud. "Yes," Gaela answered.
With that, Maria collapsed onto the floor and broke down. Tears gushed out of her eyes like waterfalls as Maria gazed upon Gaela. "Gaela... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! You're nearly dead because of me. I got some files from a random stranger that points out you're a part of the infamous group called the Rí an Ghealach and I got carried away.... I should've never harmed you! I could've talk this through with you. I tried to harm you yet you didn't lay a finger on me...... Gaela, I'm so sorry... Haha, I see why Gary is the Quintessential Detective now...! He's so much better than me at handling things like this! I'm nothing but a depressed and prideful b*tch who cares too much about her title and justice!" Maria proceed to spew out some incoherent words as she choked on her cries, unraveling into madness.
"Maria...." Lait hesitantly laid a shoulder on Maria, trying to comfort the girl. Gaela just stood there, staring down at Maria with a plain expression Lait knew quite well. "Apologies accepted; I deserve that near death experience. I need to remain keen at all times, I've let my guard down. If there is a next time, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you. Maria, don't compare yourself to Gary. You are not the Quintessential Detective. You never are and never will be. You were the Quintessential Investigator. There's a difference." Gaela said bluntly, "don't compare yourself with others. Everyone have different fortes and that includes you and Gary."
Gaela yanked Maria's arms harshly, pulling her up her feet. Lait flinched at the pained look of Maria as she stood up. Gaela really didn't know how to be gentle huh. "I am Gaela Itenokami. I am a member of the group of killers known as the Rí an Ghealach; the Kings of the Moon. I am not as great at handling blades as I am with firearm. I really struggle to learn German and my Korean is that of a grade schooler. Despite having many foibles and weaknesses, I have acquaintances who have my back. Firearm and sniping is my forte. It's my strength. I am the sniper of the group. My weaknesses doesn't matter because I have people to assist me. I am not ashamed to admit any of that."
Gaela's cold gaze darkened as she glared at Maria coldly. "You were the Quintessential Investigator. You are dismissed as a result of your rash actions and caused harm to me. Don't just sit here and sob about it while you beat yourself for your weaknesses. Open your eyes; look and learn. Maria is Maria and Gary is Gary; improve yourself from your mistakes and what you like about others and strive to achieve your ideals. Open your eyes and look around. This world isn't here to hold your hand and guide you through life. You need to learn independently and know life always have ups and downs. Sitting around feelings sorry for yourself and the person you've hurten whilst comparing yourself to others is the most pathetic thing someone can ever do. You're pathetic Maria. Absolutely pathetic."
"Gaela! That's too harsh!" Lait interrupted, breaking off Gaela's death grip on Maria's arm. Gaela stared at Lait coldly. "I'm only stating the facts. I am stating the truth people despises so much. Whilst Maria is here sobbing over a bleeding finger, you and I are cooing and smoothing her with bullet wounds, scars and lacerations Lait. I'm right and you know it; we had things worse. This is why Maria is never chosen by Akamai to be the Quintessential Detective personally." Lait hesitated as her gaze softened on Gaela. Gaela was right. Maria wasn't the most resilient person Lait knew so that's why she want to help Maria to become stronger.
"Alfred Tenjin can speak more than twenty languages fluently. He lost his parents and his uncle and aunt adopted him. They are too busy travelling around the world to care about him. You see him crying and whining? No. Alfred uses that opportunity to learn languages so he can travel alongside his parental figures. Alfred wants to bond with everyone across the globe; that's what a polyglot's mindset should be like. Sherry Corcoran had been neglected and she had seen and experienced everything. She didn't sob and ramble about any of that. She studied what was happening around her and became who she is now — the Quintessential Coroner. Sherry had experienced violence, bloodshed and was desensitised. She honed her talent to compliment her background. She would've committed murder. She could've become a criminal. But no, she chose to work alongside the Good because she have strong morals. Gary Akise Cóir isn't the strongest and healthiest person and he knows that. He doesn't have the best family but he didn't complain about it. He focused on what he's good at; puzzle solving. He become who he is due to his ability to empathise with others and thinking outside the box."
Lait never knew any of that. Lait was aware those three were somewhat different from other Quintessentials but... ah. No wonder Akamai was so proud of those three. Gaela must've observed and done background checks on them. Maria stopped crying as she sniffled, her eyes reflecting the thinking and pondering in her mind. Gaela used that opportunity to continue.
"They are the only Quintessentials Akamai Shi had chosen herself for a reason. They are the absolute best of the best. They have no room for improvement yet here they are.... Alfred is learning binary-to-text encoding, morse and more. Sherry is investigating incomprehensible murder scenes from the most ruthless and infamous killers of all accompanied by Gary. They are still growing even though it's not possible for them to grow anymore. Stop being pathetic Maria. Grow up. Don't compare yourself to them; especially Gary. Those three are out of your league. All of them. Trash have no right to think of itself as treasure."
"Gaela," Lait began calmly with an aloof expression, "you're being rude." "It's fine Lai..! T-Thank you Gaela," Maria sniffled, "that's really mean of you... But I needed that reality check. You know... for someone who is a part of an infamous group of killers, you are very kind but unkind at the same time." Gaela folded her arms and stared at Maria. "I don't understand what you said but of course," Gaela said, "I will say it to you as many times as you wish."
"Hey I still think Maria is a very impressive individual!" Lait quickly piped up, "knowing more than five languages is impressive. Almost like Alfred himself! I think Gary and Sherry have similar roles; they both go around to inspect corpses don't they?" "A detective and a coroner is completely different," Maria and Gaela said in sync.
"Maria isn't fluent in all of them. She have nothing but messy grasps of those languages. Do you see me saying I'm fluent in Danish and Icelandic because I can read those signs in Finland? No. I know the languages but not well enough to say I know the languages," Gaela said coldly. Lait shrunk back. "Whoops," she muttered.
Ding!
Lait's phone in her pocket let out a small chime and Lait pulled out her phone. It wasn't her 'work' phone which was good (Quintessentials tend to have more than one phone. One phone is for their jobs and the other's for their private life in general). It was from David Moon.
David Moon (Quintessential Chessman)
ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ᴍᴏᴏɴ (ǫᴜɪɴᴛᴇssᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟ ᴄʜᴇssᴍᴀɴ): ʜᴇʏ ʟᴀɪᴛ ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴘʀᴇᴢ ɢᴀᴇʟᴀ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴅᴏ ᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ sʜᴇ ɪs
ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ 2 ᴛᴀʟᴋ 2 ʜᴇʀ
Lait stared at the message. Why does David want to talk to Gaela? Unsure what to do, Lait sent a quick message to Akamai while Maria and Gaela talked.
Akamai Shi (Quintessential Bachelor... Bachelorette? Maybe???)
ʟᴀɪᴛ: ᴀᴋᴀᴍᴀɪ. ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɢᴀᴇʟᴀ's ʀᴇᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ? ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ sʜᴇ ɪs. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏ?
ᴀᴋᴀᴍᴀɪ sʜɪ (ǫᴜɪɴᴛᴇssᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟ ʙᴀᴄʜᴇʟᴏʀ... ʙᴀᴄʜᴇʟᴏʀᴇᴛᴛᴇ? ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ???): ....ɪ sᴇᴇ. ᴀsᴋ ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.
ʟᴀɪᴛ: ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ
"Gaela. David wants to speak to you some time. I've asked Akamai about it and she said to ask for a meeting place and time. Erm, I expect you to go and meet up with him?" Lait questioned. Gaela looked away from Maria and to Lait. The sniper nodded. "Of course. If Akamai asked for a place and time then it must be important." With that, Lait nodded and quickly replied to David.
David Moon (Quintessential Chessman)
ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ᴍᴏᴏɴ (ǫᴜɪɴᴛᴇssᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟ ᴄʜᴇssᴍᴀɴ): ʜᴇʏ ʟᴀɪᴛ ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴘʀᴇᴢ ɢᴀᴇʟᴀ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴅᴏ ᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ sʜᴇ ɪs? ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ 2 ᴛᴀʟᴋ 2 ʜᴇʀ
ʟᴀɪᴛ: ɢᴀᴇʟᴀ ɪs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ. ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ?
ᴅᴀᴠɪᴅ ᴍᴏᴏɴ (ǫᴜɪɴᴛᴇssᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟ ᴄʜᴇssᴍᴀɴ): ʏᴇ ɪ'ʟʟ ᴛᴇxᴛ ɢᴀᴇʟᴀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ.
Lait gave Gaela a nod. The Asian in return brightened up slightly as if she was looking forward to the event. "Excuse me. I need to make a call." Gaela said to Maria as she quickly walked into the far back of the room with her phone in hand.
"Brian, I need your assistance..."