12/22/19

Been a while eh? Yeah I've been writing a ton of XCM and a lil bit more Bloodlust. I took a break from posting to plan a few things out and write a bit ahead. This is honestly my favorite chapter of the story so enough of me, here ya go!

Revenge

"So...you're my partner eh?"

Jaynix observed the man before her, Jack Rutherford. She wasn't too familiar with him, most likely a result of dying in the battle against the Queen sometime before. Everyone else around seems to recognize him as a strong fighter and many more seem intimidated by him.

"When you're done with your evaluation. We can go."

Jaynix nodded, retrieving her weapons and heading to the front of the encampment. Jack watched her go, curious and a little concerned. Most of the Revenants paired up with him fell behind, the last thing he needed, the last thing everyone needed was another fighter who couldn't keep up.

After a rousing speech, the Revenants took off into the battlefield to hunt down the Queen and end her terror. Jack took point while Jaynix followed closely behind, eyes observing everything they passed by.

Jack watched her raise her blade as several Lost climbed over the edge of a chasm. The monsters roared and leapt at Jaynix who swung her massive blade, cleaving a Lost in two and launching the other in Jack's direction. Acting quickly he jumped up after it and cut it to pieces.

He landed as Jaynix brought her blade up and slammed it onto another Lost just as it climbed over the edge, it fell back into the chasm, dispersing all the way down.

Jack simply nodded and kept moving, Jaynix following close behind.

"Here's hoping you keep this up…"

"...I'll try."

That night found Jaynix outside on the balcony staring out over the Gaol of the Mists. A mix of emotions in her eyes as she thought about what the group prepared to do the next day. She heard footsteps approaching, part of her expected Louis but the steps were too light.

"Jaynix."

"Mia...did you need something?"

The shorter woman gave Jaynix a smile.

"No...not really. It's just, with everything going on I don't feel like I gave you proper thanks for what you did for Nicola. Saving his soul, allowing him to keep living even if he isn't exactly a little brother anymore."

Jaynix chuckled at that.

"True...but, you did thank me after we brought him back. No need for more thanks than that. I was...happy. Ecstatic really, to use my power for something so...good."

As Jaynix looked at her hand which she used to take hold of all the Vestiges she'd restored so far, she was eager to use that power again. Her power as a Successor.

"...how do you feel about tomorrow, Jaynix?"

"What do you guys think?"

At Louis' question Yakumo crossed his arms.

"I'm not sure...Eva sounded very honest about the whole thing, I don't see what she'd gain by lying to us. If that Hunter guy, Jack really is in trouble we can't not do anything? Right?"

Louis tapped his chin as Yakumo continued thinking aloud.

"I mean, he did kinda fight us and threaten to take Jaynix away so while part of me isn't super excited to help him out...I can't really justify leaving him on his own."

"I agree. Jack and Eva know a lot more about the Successors, their knowledge can and will help us with the riddles of the Gaol. They already have, we know Silva is the one behind the Red Mists and that Mido…"

Yakumo narrowed his eyes.

"Y'know what. I change my mind. I'm fully on board with helping them out if it means I can get even with Mido!"

Louis finally looked to Jaynix who was leaning against a wall staring at the room that Eva was in with Mia watching over her.

"Jaynix?"

Louis could see that while Jaynix looked relaxed...there was also some tension in her, she was waiting for something.

"Jaynix!"

Finally she turned to face them.

"Are you on board with this?"

"No."

Louis wasn't expecting that as she looked back to the door.

"But I'll help."

Louis tapped his chin as Yakumo let out a long whistle before muttering.

"Awkward."

"Jaynix?"

"It's like I told Louis, Mia. I'll do my part but there is something I need to know and...I'm trusting you'll all let me get my answers."

Mia shook her head.

"You've helped all of us so much Jaynix, we wouldn't want to stop you from getting something you want. To be honest I'm surprised. According to Yakumo, you jumped into this whole venture even though you had nothing to gain."

Jaynix nodded.

"Yeah...I just felt that if I could help. I had to. Now...something came to me and I want to find out what it is. What it means. Once I do, I feel I'll be able to reclaim a part of myself."

"You did lose all of your memories, right?"

"Yeah...and no matter what they contain. I want them back."

The pair's struggle against the Lost continued through the night. Jack made sure to keep an eye on Jaynix as she charged several Lost emerging from behind. She swung her blade wide, the arc catching fire and shooting forward, stunning the Lost and pushing them back.

Swinging the sword back, another rush of flames shot out before she stuck her blade into the ground and launched forward, drawing a shortsword in place of her claymore.

Ripping through the flames she made quick work of the Lost while Jack danced with one of the hulking giants. The beast roared as it attempted to flatten him with a mighty hammer. He managed to redirect every blow, blood building inside before he finally unleashed it, stabbing the Lost with his blade and creating an explosion of blood that ripped a hole in the beast's chest.

Jaynix joined him as the Lost fell to ash on the floor.

"You're good, kid."

"Jaynix."

"Jaynix. Right...we should rest."

The woman tilted her head as Jack turned and began walking the way they came.

"I saw a mistle down an alternate path. We'll hole up for the rest of the night. Pick up the mission come dawn."

He stopped after a few more steps and looked back to her.

"Coming?"

After a brief silence, Jaynix walked over to him.

"I didn't take you for the kind to rest."

Jack shook his head.

"All fighters need their rest to be at their best. Even me. And you."

Jaynix nodded, following Jack as he headed for the mistle.

In the dead of night, Jaynix found her way to Eva's room. Stepping inside she saw the woman lying in bed. She stood there, staring at her trying to figure out what to say only to have the woman herself speak up first.

"I was wondering when you'd come for me."

Eva slowly sat up in bed, still exhausted from her Bloodthirst attack. Her eyes found Jaynix.

"The Queenslayer herself…"

"How would you know that?"

Eva smiled.

"At the Cathedral, Jack knew you were a Successor and it didn't take him long to find out which one...he fought alongside you after all. He-"

"He betrayed me."

Jaynix pulled her shirt aside to show a deep indentation in her chest.

"He shot me. This close to my heart."

Eva watched the anger in Jaynix's eyes grow, the faint glow inside them became brighter and fiercer.

"He almost killed me and for what?"

Eva waited a few moments before whispering.

"It was his duty…"

Jaynix shook her head.

"We'll see what he has to say about it."

Eva took a deep breath before shaking her head, sadly.

"I'm sorry that your memories cause you nothing but pain, Jaynix. You must understand...he didn't...it wasn't out of malice. He only ever spoke of you in a good light, Jaynix. He never had a bad thing to say about the rookie who he fought alongside. Who…"

Trailing off she sighed.

"You won't believe me no matter what I say...but you'll believe Jack. If you give him the chance to speak…"

Jaynix thought about the man. All she knew was how he was back during Operation Queenslayer, there was no guarantee he was still the same or didn't change for the worse.

"That's all I ask Jaynix. Allow him to explain himself. Listen to his words."

Jaynix took a deep breath, with a silent nod she left the room.

"Tell me about yourself Jaynix."

He watched the woman sit down and take off her respirator. She seemed to be deep in thought.

"Unless...you don't remember?"

She shook her head.

"It's not that...I remember...some things. Not a lot but I was able to tell Karen some of it...my full name is Jaynix I. Copeland. I know there is an I in the middle but I can't...remember…"

Jack held a hand out.

"Hey. Don't force it. That won't help."

Jaynix sighed, clearly frustrated.

"Believe me. There are plenty of us who wish we still had our full memories. We know something is missing...and even still there are others unaware of anything...it varies from Revenant to Revenant."

Jaynix looked at Jack.

"Do you think it'll come back to me?"

With a heavy sigh, Jack leaned back.

"That's unlikely...statistically or as far as the researchers are aware, we only forget memories with each life. Or if we're lucky, we lose nothing. There is no way to reclaim what we forgot…"

Jaynix looked down at the ground, clearly upset by that answer.

"What else do you remember, Jaynix?"

At her silence, he pulled out a small round object and flicked it with his fingers.

"I still know I have a fascination with collecting coins. There is a lot of history to every one of these tiny pieces of tin or copper or whatever they may be."

Jaynix watched as Jack manipulated the coin, the object moving between his fingers as if it was alive. She couldn't hide her surprise at the talent. Jack chuckled.

"It's a good party trick, isn't it?"

As he put it away, Jaynix spoke again.

"I remember...a gathering of some sort. People all together...dancing. It's a really bright memory...I think I was a dancer."

Jack was surprised at that.

"A dancer? Looking at how you fight I'd expect you were a soldier in a past life...you certainly carry yourself as professionally as any member of Cerberus does."

Jaynix tilted her head.

"Maybe in another life I was. Maybe I forgot."

Jack nodded.

"Maybe indeed…"

The group's destination was once again the Cathedral of the Sacred Blood, only this time there was a different sealed door they had to reach which would lead to a tunnel beneath the Cathedral. At the end of it they'd arrive into a long series of caverns covered in ash and soot left behind by the countless souls who perished there.

Compared to the last time they came to the Cathedral, finding this door was much easier. Jaynix opened it and the group proceeded, Louis placing a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Jaynix. Is everything alright?"

Looking to Louis she nodded. The man seemed unconvinced, Jaynix had been so open and much brighter after their last visit to the Cathedral and their time on the mountain, this was a reminder of the early days, the ruins, the howling pit.

"Does this have to do with your memory? What the Vestige showed you?"

"...Louis may I ask something of you?"

Louis took his hand from her shoulder.

"You've never asked me for anything before. Go ahead."

"When I act...let me. Please."

Louis wasn't sure, the way she stated it was too vague but also gave him a pretty implicit message. He wasn't sure what way to take it but after everything, especially everything Jaynix did for his cause. It wouldn't be fair to do anything other than agree.

"Very well...I trust you, Jaynix."

Exchanging nods the group proceeded.

Jaynix clenched her teeth in pain as a Lost's blade cut through her, anger replaced the pain quickly, eyes glowing she rammed her claw through the Lost and lifted it up off the ground. Roaring she slammed it back down, the Lost was reduced to ash the instant it touched the rocky surface.

Eyes still glowing she looked up to see Jack watching her, he seemed surprised by what he was seeing. Jaynix watched as Lost surrounded him while he was distracted and attacked, Jack was fast but there were too many of them.

The man grunted as a strike hit the mark, and he fell to the floor, Jaynix leapt over him, clenching her claw into a massive fist she struck the Lost, throwing it across the clearing and into a pit where it screeched all the way to the bottom.

She roared as the other two turned their attention on her, blades cutting through her back. Tightening her hold on her massive blade she swung wide, cutting one down and injuring the other.

Jack sprang back up and finished the last Lost before looking to Jaynix who fell to her knees and held her chest.

"Hey! Are you alright?"

She shook her head as he helped her up, noticing her claw was still active.

"Jaynix, you have to calm down, the fight is over!"

She opened her eyes, the glow still evident. If this was a Bloodthirst attack, it had very poor timing. Reaching into his Veil, Jack produced a small vial of pure blood.

"Emergencies only."

Moving Jaynix over to a ruined building her lowered her onto the floor until she was sitting, her back against the wall. She continued to rasp, struggling to breathe as Jack opened the vial.

"Geez, kid. Whatever your story is. I'm much more interested in it now.

The Ashen Cave was just as dark as they expected, it also looked like they were traversing the insides of gigantic Thorns of Judgement. Lost crawled within every ash covered hall and hid in every dead end.

A pair emerged from the darkness, the same tall Lost they encountered in the Cathedral, raising their lances they charged the group. Yakumo and Jaynix took the lead on these two, weapons clashing as a bigger red Lost approached from behind.

Io and Mia maneuvered around the others as they fought before engaging the Lost, Louis sticking close behind them. Flailing madly, the Lost struck at air as Mia dodged around it, rolling over to blast it in the back with her bayonet.

Io's lance found its mark, tearing through the Lost's flesh before she moved away, allowing Louis to charge in, his sword a blur.

Yakumo shove his Lost to the ground and buried his blade in its head. Jaynix broke away from her Lost as it pursued her. Testing the heft of her newly modified Zweihander she smirked. It felt even more at home in her hands than anything prior.

The Lost swung at her again, with incredible agility she flipped over the strike, landing she felt the force and momentum from her dodge travel to her arms, with all her might she swung. The Lost was torn in half and vanished instantly.

The enemies cleared out, Jaynix smiled at her weapon. Yakumo approached and gave her a high five. The five continued deeper, more Lost watching them, roars echoing from deeper within the caves.

The group fought their way through the cramped passages and wider caverns of the cave, time and again there were branches in the path. Sometimes they could see scuff marks of battle, blood left behind by either combatant or piles of ash. This time however, the break in the path was clean, Yakumo could only sigh.

"It's never easy. Think we took a wrong turn somewhere?"

Just then, something distant came to Jaynix, a sound. Turning to face the left path she narrowed her eyes. Seeing this, Louis spoke up.

"We have to find Jack as soon as possible. Let's split up...Jaynix, with me."

Without a word she joined Louis, as the pair began walking away Io tried to follow but Jaynix held her arm out to stop her in place. Slowly, she shook her head.

"I know you want to help me Io but…"

Jaynix waited as the others walked away, further out of earshot.

"Just this once Io. This one time and never again...there is something I have to do and I don't think I could do it if you were there…"

Io tilted her head, a flash of concern in her wide golden eyes.

"...are you certain? Jaynix?"

With a smile, Jaynix approached Io and took one of her hands into her own.

"Yeah. I am...but I swear, you won't even know I'm gone."

Io looked at their interlocked hands before speaking.

"Murasame and Mia showed me something they do with friends. Mia did this a lot with Nicola…"

Io pulled her hand away and held out her pinky. It took a moment for Jaynix to catch on before she held out her own pinky and shook Io's with it.

There was some relief in Io's face.

"Very well. I'll aid Yakumo and Mia. Take care, Jaynix."

Nodding, the taller woman watched Io turn and quicken her pace to catch up with the other Revenants. Jaynix then turned to see Louis not too far off watching her.

"I'm guessing you heard what I heard, Louis."

"Yes. Combat. If it's none of us then it can only be one thing."

The pair exchanged a look before proceeding down the path, it gradually widened, the additional space would be welcome if it came to a fight. Hearing something above, Jaynix looked up and dove aside as several poisonous blobs dropped from the ceiling. The Lost began spewing their poison over the area.

Conjuring flames, Jaynix unleashed a massive spout of fire, burning through the Lost. Their pained roars sent more venom into the air. With all their attention on Jaynix, Louis moved in from behind and began silencing them one at a time until nothing remained.

As Jaynix walked past him, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"When was the last time it was just you and I?"

Jaynix remembered coming across Louis back during her thralldom. There was a small smile on her face, that had become a very good memory for her. Relaying this to Louis, she saw joy in his eyes.

"It's a very good memory for me too, Jaynix...you didn't go down there alone, did you?"

As they walked, Jaynix told him of the other Revenant who aided her. A man named Oliver Collins, who unfortunately became the massive Lost the pair was forced to take down.

"You still have his hammer?"

"...yes. It's a reminder of the beginning and of...a complete stranger who offered his aid...all I've seen of this world since I woke up with Io...I understand people like that. Genuinely good. Are rare…"

Louis remembered the first Vestige that contained Oliver's memories. He had been through a rough life. He tried to stay positive but things just didn't change. Just like with Kevin.

Thinking again about her memories, Jaynix closed her eyes.

She and Jack had destroyed countless Lost as they traversed the battle scarred wasteland. This attack, this surge of monsters and all the death could not be stopped until the Queen was found.

"Are we certain she's here?"

Jack shook his head.

"Not here. But she's close. If we make enough noise maybe she'll decide to kill us next...that'll be our chance."

Jaynix nodded as they continued.

"...do you suffer from a lot of Bloodthirst attacks like that?"

Jaynix looked to Jack, he saw that there was confusion in her eyes.

"You remember me giving you the blood to recover, right?"

"Yes but...not much else…"

Jack looked away, lost in thought. Jaynix picked up her pace to walk in sync next to him.

"What are you thinking? If it's something about me, I'd like to know."

He let out a heavy sigh.

"I'm not a scientist or a researcher. All I understand about us is what I've been told. It's true Revenants lose a lot of their senses when they suffer from Bloodthirst but they don't generally become violent as quickly as you did...there is a...certain time in which they just suffer before they lose themselves and become…"

"Lost…"

"You seemed to skip that middle phase...in fact it seemed to just...happen in the middle of battle. You have no memories of this incident, but do you recall anything prior?"

Jaynix could only shake her head. She then remarked that Karen found her blood very interesting and wanted to study it once the battle was won. Jack couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Optimistic isn't she...if anyone can solve whatever this is, it's her and Aurora. Regardless…"

Jack trailed off, eyes narrowing. Jaynix followed his line of sight to a wide clearing. A vile red fog was gathered around a tall, dark creature. Two glowing red eyes pierced the fog as it stood there. Waiting.

Jack drew his blade, Jaynix did the same.

"Is that?"

"A Queen's Knight. One of her vanguard. Don't let your guard down for a moment, kid."

Jaynix nodded, the pair leapt down from the cliff, the fog dispersed, revealing the heavily armored knight. Massive shield and sword held in tandem, it entered its battle stance and shot towards them.

Jaynix's recollection was broken by Louis calling her name, quickly she dove aside as a massive Lost fell in front of her, she drew her blade to engage only for the Lost to disperse. Looking up to where it fell from, she saw him. Jack. He stood on a stone path overhead engaged in an intense fight with a large group of Lost.

Before Louis could speak, Jaynix dashed at a wall, leaping and kicking off the surface she was now landing on the path above, her blade swung wide and cut down one of the Lost behind Jack. From below, Louis focused his strength and created several orbs of blood before shooting them up onto the path.

The Lost hit by the attacks were dazed, Jack kicked the one in front of him away before spinning around and cutting through one leaping at him from behind. Jaynix leapt over Jack, her hand pushing against his back to carry her momentum. Her blade cleaved through the dazed Lost, the ash falling off the path to the ground below.

Hearing gunshots, Jaynix buried her blade in the path and used it as cover, the shots bouncing off the flat surface of her weapon. Jack took this chance to leap over her and stab the Lost, tearing the bayonet from its grip.

Jaynix turned as another Lost charged her, quickly she threw daggers at it, the small knives striking it in the face. Dashing at it she took its bayonet and struck it in the face, throwing it off the path.

Spinning the bayonet she swung around and aimed it towards Jack just as he aimed his at her. The pair fired, the bullets shot past both of them and tore through the heads of approaching Lost.

The pair ran at each other as more Lost swarmed them, Jaynix jumped over Jack as he slid under her, both of them buried the bladed ends of the bayonets into Lost and fired, ripping through their bodies.

Tearing her blade from the rocks, Jaynix swung, a wave of fire pushing the enemies before her away. From below Louis watched in awe as the pair continued to fight back to back in flawless sync. Everytime Jaynix swung wide, Jack was already ducking and when Jack evaded, Jaynix moved aside and covered his retreat.

It didn't take long before the Lost were cleared out. Jaynix and Jack turning to face one another.

"You…"

Jaynix's eyes narrowed. She remembered what Eva asked and threw it away. Jack watched her eyes widen, fury in her expression. Quickly he brought his blade up just as she swung. The force behind her massive weapon shook his arm. Grunting he leapt off the path and landed elsewhere in the open cave.

Jaynix jumped down, landing with force right next to Louis. He saw the anger in her eyes.

"Jaynix wait-"

Then he remembered what she asked of him. He fought with himself but he couldn't break that promise. He fell silent as Jaynix roared and charged Jack.

"What are you doing!?"

The man called back as her blade swung and crashed into the rocky floor, Jack avoided the strike and kept moving back, staying out of range as Jaynix continued her aggressive approach.

Clenching her teeth, she felt a new aura cover her body and weapon, the next swing resulted in her blade shooting out a shockwave of sharp air. Caught off guard by this, Jack felt the full force of the strike and was thrown across the cave.

Rolling to his feet he coughed and entered a combat stance.

"If this is how you want to handle this, then we'll do it your way!"

Louis backed away until he was close to the wall, watching Jack close the distance incredibly fast, his blade a blur as it struck Jaynix's. The pair continued to exchange blows, while the attacks seemed fearsome Louis could see that Jack was never aiming for Jaynix, only her weapon.

Jaynix on the other hand, the anger and hate in her eyes made it clear she was aiming for him. Louis felt that he needed to step in but he couldn't bring himself to. Jaynix wouldn't cross a line, no matter how mad she got. Would she?

Slamming her blade into the ground, Jaynix watched as Jack leapt away, quickly she jumped after him, leaving her blade behind her fist found Jack's face, a powerful blow throwing the man away.

Louis watched as Jack rolled across the floor, hand coming to his face. Louis' gaze then moved to Jaynix retrieving her blade and he remembered her asking him.

"Am I a good person?"

He nodded and whispered.

"You are Jaynix. I know you are."

Charging Jack again, Jaynix's swings continued, her strikes missing the man but slamming into the earth below and the pillars around the arena. Another shockwave came from her blade, Jack dove aside before swinging his blade, a wave of blood shooting forward and striking the ground in front of Jaynix, missing her.

Jaynix leapt high into the air, just like back in the Cathedral, Jack brought his blade up to meet the strike. He grunted as the force she carried slammed against him. His knees bent to hold her back.

He found himself staring right at her as her blade struggled to push past his guard. The hate in her eyes, it seemed like they were glowing. Jack refused to look away from that expression. This was a punishment he had to accept. Closing his eyes, he made a decision.

Jaynix felt his defense break and she pushed through, Jack's blade was ripped from his hands by the assault. The weapon skidded around the cave floor as Jaynix's Zweihander slammed into the earth, tearing up the surface. Jack was disarmed, Jaynix immediately in front of him. Louis knew how fast she was with that blade

Jaynix's eyes, burned with rage as she looked up at Jack. He made no move to defend himself or evade as she roared and swung her blade, aimed for his throat, Louis' eyes widened, he took one step forward as Jaynix's blade came to an immediate halt, nearly touching Jack.

The three Revenants stood frozen in place, Louis worried that any noise would cause Jaynix to finish her strike. Jack stared at the woman before him, unafraid, but there was a look of something in his eyes.

Jaynix had never felt pain like this before. Or maybe she did. If so, she could no longer remember. And if she did, she never wanted to. Upon using her Claw to impale and kill the Queen, she felt something foreign rush into her and it felt like it was burning her from the inside out.

Clutching her chest she screamed in pain and fell to her knees. She found herself unable to focus on anything but the burning sensation spreading throughout her body. Looking up slowly she opened her eyes, a trail of blue blood falling from one of her eyes like tears.

She saw them, Jack and Silva, they seemed to be talking to each other. With whatever strength she had left she tried to speak.

"Jack...help me...please…"

Her vision was blurry she couldn't make out his expression, only that he looked away from her. Silva took a step towards her but Jack held him back.

Another surge caused her to cry out in pain. She clenched her fists, almost as if she was trying to keep hold of herself. She found herself standing back up somehow, did she mean to do that? She no longer felt like she could tell.

Looking up again she saw him clearly, Jack. He had taken a few steps and now held up a bayonet, aimed right at her.

Everything seemed to freeze as she spoke again.

"Jack?"

Then he fired and she felt the bullet tear through her body. Her screams and the burning ceased, replaced by a sharp pain in her chest where the round struck. She looked down in shock to the blood staining through her clothes.

Looking up she saw Jack as he lowered the weapon and turned away. The shock. The betrayal. It was too much for her.

She felt the ground below her give way and then she was falling. In the last second that she could feel anything. She felt it.

Raging hot fury. Hate. The need for revenge. And then it was gone.

Jaynix tried to will her blade forward, to finish its strike and to kill the man who took one of her lives and so many of her memories from her. But despite wanting to so badly...she couldn't.

Jack finally allowed himself to move, slowly he reached forward, hand finding the collar of Jaynix's shirt. Carefully, he pulled it aside just enough to see the rough indentation, the scar on her skin, on her chest where he had shot her what felt like ages ago.

He stared at it for a few moments. That memory was always too painfully clear in his head. He never found himself able to unsee it. His eyes then moved to find Jaynix's and he saw the hate and rage slowly fading.

So he said to her, that which he'd wanted to say since that day.

"I'm sorry."

Jaynix searched his eyes, wanting in that moment to find anything other than the genuine regret she saw. She wanted anything else, anything that could justify her anger and her desire to cut him down.

But there was nothing.

Pulling her blade away from his face she let it fall to her side before releasing her grip on the hilt, the massive weapon clattering against the cave floor.