Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero/Zero no Tsukaima.

Chapter XVI – In the Darkness

Fouquet knew she had outstayed her welcome.

The guards from the Viscount's manor were roaming over the tavern again, and checking every inch. They went behind the bar, and into the back room, they even went through the garbage cans. She had seen two of them go upstairs, she imagined her room would be a complete mess by the time she was allowed to return to it.

Two more guards were standing in the corner, whispering to each other, and shooting occasional glances at her. She knew what they were thinking. They were getting anxious, they wanted to have someone in custody before the Viscount returned, and an outsider would do quite nicely. It would not matter whether they had evidence or not.

And to think, most of these men had wanted to be her friend when she was serving them the other day.

"So, you say you were asleep at the time of the robbery?"

Fouquet returned her attention to the guard who was questioning her, and tried to keep her cool. She had answered all of these questions a thousand times already. It was an old trick, trying to trip her up, seeing if she would give inconsistent answers to the same question.

"Yes," she replied.

The guard had a head like a potato, and a face that looked like he had run in to a stone wall. Unfortunately, appearances were deceptive, and he was not nearly as slow as his malformed features would suggest.

"Can anyone vouch for that?" he asked.

There was a sly tone to his voice, and she very nearly rolled her eyes.

"Sophie saw me go to my room," she answered.

"And you never came back out?"

"I'd just come off a long shift, I was tired," she answered. "Besides it was the middle of the night, where was I going to go?"

"Where indeed," he said.

After that he went silent, as though contemplating his next question. Another trick, trying to make her anxious, to bait her into making a mistake. She stayed silent.

"Don't suppose you've seen any suspicious characters hanging round here lately?" he asked. "Anyone acting odd?"

She shrugged.

"Not really," she said. "But I've not long been working here, wouldn't rightly know who was being odd."

"Ah right," he responded. "You're from out of town, ain't you? I don't suppose you'd be thinking of leaving any time soon?"

"Well I wasn't," she said, letting the implication linger.

The guard hummed, and stroked his chin; he probably imagined it made him look thoughtful, she thought it made him look like a simpleton.

"Well, I'd keep it that way if I were you," he said eventually.

She swallowed the retort that sprang to her mind, and bowed, smiling demurely.

"Of course," she said.

The guard grunted and turned away.

"Alright lads," he barked. "That's enough for now."

She watched the soldiers as they left, being very careful not to meet any of their gazes. The last man out slammed the door behind him, sending a loud bang echoing throughout the empty tavern. Then there was quiet.

"Well I never!" Sophie exclaimed. "Those lads drink here every night normally, and now they go and treat us like that?"

The elder woman moved behind the bar as she spoke, and began pouring herself some bourbon. She down the entire glass in a single swig.

"You want some?" she asked.

Fouquet thought about her answer for a moment, before nodding.

"Just a little," she answered. "To calm the nerves."

Sophie nodded, and she poured out another glass.

"You know," Sophie said, drawing Fouquet out of her reverie. "I heard it was Fouquet who robbed the Viscount's manner the other night."

"Really?" Fouquet replied. She poured herself another drink.

Sophie nodded.

"It's why the guards are in such a tizzy," she explained. "If it is they'll never catch him. And after this nonsense I hope he leads them on a merry chase all over the kingdom!"

Sophie chuckled to herself as she raised the glass to her lips once more, and Fouquet followed suit.

The bourbon burned as it went down, but it was a good burn, and it sent a wave of warmth through her once it hit her stomach. She stared at the empty glass contemplatively as she thought about her next move. Those guards would come for her soon, and it would not matter whether the really believed her to be the thief. They needed to make an arrest before the Viscount returned.

"I need to leave," she said.

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" she asked.

"Those guards a desperate to arrest anyone," she explained. "And I'm the stranger in town. Won't be too many people upset if I get hauled-off."

Sophie stared at her for a moment, and Fouquet wondered what was going through her head.

"You might be right," she said eventually. "It'll be a shame to see you go though, you've been a big help around here. And you've been a damn sight more lively than some of the other girls I've taken on over the years."

Fouquet raised her glass, and replied.

"You've been a pleasure to work for. I'll see out this evening, but then I'll go."

The two of them remained at the bar chatting for almost an hour after that, and only one or two customers drifted in. Eventually though Fouquet made her excuses and retired to her room.

The room looked like a storm had torn through it, her clothes were scattered all over, and her bed was in disarray, with the mattress cast to the side. She sighed as she went about tidying-up, and packing her clothes back into her suitcase.

Once she was done she tapped the wall above her headboard with her wand, and smiled as the stone peeled itself back to reveal a small hollow. Inside was a leather pouch, and inside that was the letter she had taken from the Viscount's manner. She tapped the wall again, and the hole closed.

She would finish one last shift for Sophie tonight, then she would disappear under cover of darkness.

Siesta could feel her stomach twisting itself into knots as they approached the Three-Legged Mare. The letter had come barely an hour ago, a hastily scrawled note from Fleur, their "contact" for Fouquet. Her skin crawled at the thought, she was still not at all comfortable with all of this cloak and dagger stuff.

Now the sun was setting in the distance, casting orange rays through the sky. Siesta tried very hard not to look at the way the sunset highlighted Louise's hair, making it seem like it was glowing warmly.

However, that just left her mind to wonder to other, more unsettling topics. Such as the possibility that they were walking into a trap, or that someone might be spying on them as they spied on someone else. Her mind could conjure-up all sorts of unpleasant scenarios if she let it.

As Louise reached forward to push the door open, she felt compelled to speak.

"Miss," she whispered.

Louise turned to face her, an inquisitive look on her face.

There was a moment of silence as she thought about what she had wanted to say.

"Please be careful," she finished, eventually.

Louise lifted an elegant eyebrow and opened her mouth as though to respond, then closed it again. She merely stared at Siesta for a second, before eventually shrugging, and responding with:

"Naturally."

With that said she pushed the door open, and the two of them stepped inside. As they crossed the threshold, Siesta found herself gripping the hilt of her sword.

It was the same as usual inside, with people washing away their thirst at the end of a long day. She could hear raucous laughter, and someone singing badly. Her gaze wandered over the room, over the other patrons, she could not seem to help it. It felt like there could be an assassin hiding in every corner. Nothing seemed amiss, but it did not help the feeling of unease that had settled deep inside of her. Over towards the back of the room they could see Fleur, she was chatting with the barkeep.

"Should we find a table then, Miss?" Siesta asked.

"If we can," Louise replied.

They did find one, eventually, set in the middle of the room. They sat down, and Louise propped her cane up against the edge of the table. Her eyes scanned over the room as she sat down, and that was when she spotted them.

There were three men sitting against the far wall; they seemed just like everyone else, relaxing and joking amongst each other. Yet, she thought that they had been watching the two of them, only to look away the moment she had seen them.

They had only been seated for a couple of seconds before Fleur approached them. Louise opened her mouth to speak, but the serving girl interrupted her.

"So, what can I get you girls?" she asked. She gave Louise a pointed look.

Louise scowled, but withheld whatever comment was running through her head.

"Just give me a glass of your best wine," she said instead.

It occurred to Siesta that the two of them must stick-out like a sore thumb. She with her sword strapped to her waist, and Louise in her school uniform. There was little chance that they blended-in with the rest of the regular folk in the pub.

"Siesta?" Louise said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes, Miss?"

"I was asking what you would like to drink," Louise said.

Siesta stared at her mistress, and then at Fleur, who was standing there waiting patiently. Drink? She had never really drunk alcohol before, only sips, when her father had allowed it.

"A … a pint of ale?" she said.

Fleur smiled knowingly at her, as Louise handed her the money.

"Very well," she replied. "You girls wait here, I'll be back in a moment."

Louise sat back in her chair, and began grumbling about people "wasting her time". Once again Siesta found her gaze being drawn to the three men in the corner; and once again she got the distinct impression that they had been looking at her and Louise, right up to the moment she looked back at them.

"Here we are."

The sound of the voice almost caused Siesta to jump out of her skin, and she stared up at the barmaid looming over them. How had she not heard her approach?

"Enjoy," she said, and she placed the drinks down on the table, before sauntering back towards the bar.

Siesta watched her go for a second, wandering what she was doing. Had she not been the one who had sent the letter calling for a meeting? Was she perhaps waiting for a better moment to speak with them?

She lifted her drink to her face and inspected it, it was very dark. She took a sip, and tried not to wretch at how bitter it was.

Then she felt the light pressure of Louise's hand on her arm; she turned and found her mistress gazing down at her wine. It did not take long to see what was wrong, a piece of paper had been slipped beneath the bottom of the glass.

Carefully Louise removed the slip from under the glass, and unfolded it. Siesta watched her eyes widen as she read what was written there. Then she shoved the message into her pocket, rose to her feet, and grabbed her cane.

"Siesta, we are leaving," she said.

So soon? They had not long gotten here. However, the look on Louise's face seemed troubled, her brow was furrowed, and her eyes narrowed.

Siesta took a quick look at her drink, took a large gulp, and once again tried not to wretch. Then she too rose to her feet, and followed her mistress out of the building.

Night had fallen almost completely now, all the light they had was the stars in the sky, and the lanterns on the side of the road. They needed to get back to the school before they were missed, surely it was almost passed curfew by now? They had left the town and were on the road back to the castle, when Siesta noticed that some of the lanterns seemed to have gone out.

Suddenly Louise cried in pain and collapsed to her knees. Immediately Siesta was kneeling by her side.

"Miss? Miss, what's wrong?"

In her concern for Louise, she almost missed the whistling of something rushing through the air. Then someone grabbed her by the collar, hauling her back, and something hurtled passed her face, almost brushing her nose. She heard it strike the ground, and turned her head to find an arrow sticking-up out of the dirt.

That... That had almost...

She felt a chill run down her spine, as she turned to look up at the person who had pulled her out of the way.

What she saw brought her up short, she would never forget that face.

"Fouquet..." she whispered.

Fouquet made no reply, she was looking back down the road towards the town, and Siesta followed her gaze. There were three large figures standing in the middle of the road, and although she could not see them very well, Siesta thought that they looked like the three men that had been watching them in the pub.

Her mind put the dots together immediately. These three had done something to Louise!

Siesta hauled herself to her feet, and drew her sword. Her legs trembled beneath her, and she felt like she might be sick, but she widened her stance and raised her blade. Whatever they had done, she would make them undo!

Suddenly the sky lit-up as though it was day again, and Siesta could feel a terrible heat building. She threw herself to the floor just in time, and the red-hot ball of fire sailed over her head.

Then a terrible scream filled the air, and when she looked up a gruesome sight met her eyes. A spike made of earth had erupted from the ground, and pierced one of the men straight through the middle. He dangled in mid-air, impaled on the construct.

The other two gaped at the body of their fallen comrade for only a second, but made no move to run. Instead they turned back towards the two women, and tried to continue their attack.

Snapping herself from her daze Siesta rose to her feet again, and swatted an arrow out of the air as it flew towards her face. Wasting no more time she charged forwards. A second arrow came, and she deflected it easily. Then she was on top of the archer, and within seconds he was lying on the ground, dead.

She whirled around, and found the last man lunging at her with a sword. She parried the attack with contemptuous ease, but her opponent quickly stepped back, evading her counter. He made to lunge again, but a flying block of earth struck him clean in the head. Siesta wasted no time in exploiting the opening, lunging forward, and plunging her blade into his chest.

With the fight over her blood began to cool, and the rage began to recede from her mind. She stared down at the body of her last foe, as his blood began to pool around him. She had just enough time to recognise that he had died by her hand; and she felt the bile rising in her throat, but she pushed it down. Then a much more urgent thought crossed her mind.

She rushed back to Louise's side, sheathing her blade as she went.

Louise was lying face down in the dirt, and Siesta heart leapt into her throat as she knelt by her side.

"Miss," she whispered. "Louise?"

She nudged her gently, but there was no response. She could feel her eyes beginning to burn already.

No! this could not be happening! This was not real!

She placed her hand in front of Louise's mouth, and almost wept in relief when she felt a steady breath against her palm.

Something glistened in the moonlight, there was something sticking-out off the back of her neck, it was black and she could barely see it in the little light she had. She reached forward to grasp it between her forefinger and thumb, it felt like it was made of wood. Gently as she could, she prised it from her neck. It looked like a dart.

"She's probably been poisoned."

Siesta jumped at Fouquet's words, she had almost forgotten the thief was there.

"You should take her back to the castle," Fouquet continued. "I don't want her dying before she pays me. I'll take care of this mess." She pointed towards the bodies.

A thousand thoughts flew through Siesta's head. Where had she come from? Why had she not met them at the pub? If she had been with them from the start then Louise might not have gotten hurt.

However, one thought overruled all the others. She had to get Louise to a healer, she had to make sure she was safe before all else. So she lifted Louise into her arms, and began to run towards the castle as fast as she could.

Unfortunately, she did not get very far before her chest began to burn, and her legs turned to jelly beneath her. Yet still she trudged doggedly forward, a memory playing in her mind. It was of the time she had awoken after fighting de Gramont, and she had found Louise resting at her bedside.

Yet she only made it to the crossroads, where the road to the Academy met the Road to the capital, before she felt like she was going to collapse. Still she kept trying to put one foot in front of the other.

She was not going to let it end like this, not after everything Louise had done for her!

"I can help you," a voice said from the darkness.

Siesta froze in her tracks; she was too tired to be shocked, but not too tired to be wary.

Slowly a figure emerged from the darkness of the road ahead of her. It was a young girl, and she could not be any older than Siesta, in fact she was probably younger. She was kind of cute, but her skin was pale like that of a doll, so pale that she looked like she could shatter at any moment.

Siesta felt the tension seep out of her muscles, someone like this could not be that dangerous. Right?

"Who are you?" she asked.

The girl shrugged.

"It does not matter," she replied. "All that matters is that I can help you."

Siesta studied the girl for a moment. Something about this felt off, but still, a girl like this could not be that dangerous.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Your friend has been poisoned, yes?" the girl said. "I can help her."

Siesta's arms felt like lead, but she forced herself to endure, and held Louise closer to her chest.

"How?" she asked.

"I can cure the poison in her veins," she said.

"Are you a mage?" she asked.

"Something like that," she answered.

Siesta narrowed her eyes, it felt almost too good to be true. For her to just run into to someone who could help Louise, and not long after they had been attacked. However, she was wasting time just standing here, and if this girl really could do something for her, then should she not let her help?

"What do you need?" she asked.

The girl smile softly at her.

"Just lay her on the ground, and I'll do the rest," she said.

Siesta stared at the girl a moment longer, before slowly, reluctantly lowering Louise to the ground. Her legs screamed at her, but she kept her movements careful and deliberate. When she rose she stared at the girl, and placed a hand on the hilt of her sword. She hoped that her message was clear; if this girl tried anything funny, then she would not hesitate.

"There is one condition," the girl said.

Siesta's grip tightened, she knew this was too good to be true. She did not know what this girl had in mind, but she would do anything for Louise, anything.

"Name it," she said.

"You can never tell anyone that you saw me."

Siesta released a breath, she had been expecting something worse.

The pale girl knelt next to Louise, and put her hands on her stomach, then she closed her eyes. Siesta waited, wondering what was going to happen next, but nothing did. Seconds passed by, then minutes; and the girl just stayed knelt in the middle of the road, with her hands on Louise's stomach.

Siesta was beginning to wonder whether she was doing anything at all, when she opened her eyes and smiled at her.

"There we go, all done!" she exclaimed.

Siesta could not help being sceptical.

"Done what?" she asked.

"I neutralised the poison in her system," she explained. "She should wake in a couple of hours."

"That didn't look like any magic I've ever seen," she said. Not that she had actually seen much.

The girl shrugged.

"I never said I was a human mage," she responded.

Siesta felt every muscle in her body tense, and she almost drew her sword. This girl was not human! Yet, she did not look like an elf either, and if she was, why had she helped them? She did not understand.

Then there was another hand on top of her own, and it gently pushed her blade back into its scabbard.

"Relax," she whispered directly into Siesta's ear, and she shuddered at the feel of her breath against her cheek. "If I meant you harm you'd know it already."

Once again Siesta felt all of her tension leave her, she had a point.

"There is one thing you should know though," the girl said, as she pulled away. "I barely needed to do anything. The poison in her system was not fatal, it was a powerful sedative. Somebody wanted your friend alive."

With that final message delivered she strolled away, and Siesta watched as she seemed to dissolve into the darkness. For a moment Siesta stood there, unsure if what she had just seen had been real, or if it had been some kind of dream. Them she lifted Louise back into her arms, and began the arduous journey back to the castle.

She carried Louise all the way back to her chambers, and set about preparing her for bed. If she could not tell anyone about the strange girl, then she would not be able to explain why Louise might need to see a healer.

She pulled-up a chair and took a sea beside Louise's bed, she would not leave until she was awake again. She looked so calm and at peace, it almost seemed like it would be a shame to rouse her. The tranquil expression on her face was so at odds with how she was when awake, as though all her troubles just did not exist, so beautiful and serene. Yet strangely, she would do anything to see Louise scowl or roll her eyes again.

Without thinking she leaned it, and pressed her lips to Louise's forehead.

She knew she was in love with Louise, but every time she thought about it she felt something heavy take hold of her heart. If she imagined herself in Louise's arms, she would also remember the night when they had first met. Sometimes, it felt like the conflicting fear and love threatened to tear her apart.

Not that it mattered anyway. Even if they had not been both women, Louise was a noble, and she was nothing but a commoner without even a home of her own.

Yet those thoughts seemed so unimportant right now, all she wanted was for Louise to wake up.

Her heart heavy with melancholy, Siesta slipped out of her chair and knelt beside Louise's bed. Then she did something that she had not done in years, she began to pray.

Author's Note: This chapter has Siesta's first human kill, and she will have a reaction to that. Unfortunately I couldn't fit it in this chapter without it seeming ham-fisted, as though I was having it simply for the sake of having it. Expect that point to be addressed in future chapters.