Chapter Eight

It had become apparent that an illness of sorts had spread into the Underworld, one which Pandora had no means to control. It had claimed two lowly guards and had climbed the ranks to infect Harpy Valentine. In a sheltered room, with the dead screaming in the halls, he laid on the stone slab, chest exposed, where the illness had become evident to all those present. With time ticking away—after all, Lord Hades' soul was missing—she looked toward Rhadamanthys, who was lost in his own dilemma.

"What would you do?" she asked. The sight of Valentine started to become an annoyance to her.

The Wyvern did not respond. With his back facing her, it was difficult to imagine his thoughts, let alone read his expression. His other subordinates, she observed, stood quietly to a side, watching.

"Are you afraid to kill him?"

His stance grew rigid. Silence filled the room. Then he moved closer to the Harpy. He would've delivered the blow had he not been interrupted by the powerful cosmos entering the room. Pandora frowned. It was not like Hypnos to visit the chambers of the departed.

"Would you propose to kill all those infected?"

She kneeled before him. The others in the room followed her example.

"It would be easier to get rid of him," she responded. "Besides, Lord Hades' should be our priority."

Hypnos smiled. "Yes, Lord Hades is our priority. However, this is more than just an illness."

"What do you mean?"

As if answering her question, a group of Skeletons entered, carrying the Charon and Edward by their shoulders. A simple glance at them revealed nothing at first, but, upon further inspection, the discolored veins pulsed at their necks. Pandora harshened her face with a scowl.

"It seems, my dear Pandora, that this is also our utmost priority."

…

The frigid air touched Degel's pale skin in consolation. To Shion, however, it was mildly uncomfortable. He said not word to his slight discomfort. He knew better than to complain. He watched Degel sigh in relief, happy to see the snow-filled landscape once again. Then they trekked forward and stumbled upon the village. The peaceful expression on Degel's face had shattered when he saw the ruined structures; saw the bodies crushed underneath the stones; and saw half the village clear a rubble home.

Astonished at the sight, he moved not an inch.

"Be alert." Shion stepped forward, surveying the area. "The enemy could still be nearby."

Out the haze of his disarray, Degel stood still, carefully observing the area around him. In a house nearby, a shelter was made. The women aided to the injured; the children helped with what they could. Five guards came rushing past. Two out of the five had bandages around their shoulders and chest. It did not stop them from searching for more survivors.

Then amid his observation someone took notice of Degel. He alerted the others and began to murmur the Aquarius' name. Soon, everyone knew the arrival of Degel. It even drew the attention of his old friend, Unity, who emerged from the crowd, desperate.

"Degel!" Unity rushed toward the two Saints. To Shion's observation, he appeared to be a slender, young man, clothed in the finest garbs, different from the rest of the citizens nearby. He fell on his knees; his asymmetrical bangs covered his eyes. With his head raised, he looked at Degel with bright, teary eyes.

"Please! You must save my sister!"

The desperation in his voice echoed throughout the area. The villagers began to talk. Soon their murmurs increased in escalation. The noble son begging for help? Was there really no hope in Bluegard? Their increasing doubts began to create fear among them. The last thing Shion needed was panic amongst the villagers. Luckily, Degel pulled his friend on his feet and led him away from the crowd.

Shion stayed behind for a second and glanced at the people.

There was something about his cold eyes that made them shiver. They stopped in their chatter and departed from each other. Again, their tasks resumed.

Shion looked away from their work and joined Degel at his location.

In an elegant room, with beautiful tapestries adorning the walls, a wooden chest resting near the foot of the bed, and an oval mirror reflecting the inhabitants inside, the maid led Shion to a maiden's room, where the woman lay on a large bed. She was concealed behind the drapes surrounding her bed, but through the drapes, he could see her frail form lush against the pillows. For a second, Unity pulled the drape back and sat on her bed. And through that brief moment, both Saints noticed the dark marks against her pale cheeks.

Shion took a stand next to Degel. "The same as the others," he commented.

Degel nodded and watched as Unity sat at the edge of the bed, looking upon his sister.

"You must have known," he spoke, rather hesitantly, "that she was ill before all of this."

"I was not informed," Degel said.

"Then she did not want you to know." He gave a short chuckle. "She is so stubborn." He began to quiver.

"How did this happen?"

"I cannot say," Unity spoke with a steady tone. "It was strange. A dark omen appeared and consumed the village like a storm in the night. It hailed and thundered, destroying homes and killing people in its plight."

"When was this?" Shion inquired.

"About three weeks ago."

Shion stayed silent, pensive in thought, thinking if it could possibly tie in with the sudden appearance of the boy from Tenma's village. It made the possibility rather grim, considering the boy's arrival had been more than month. Still, it was a thought to consider.

To his side, Degel took a light step toward his friend. "Unity…"

"The devastation left behind ceased any thoughts of mine to think of it as unreal. But when I saw Seraphina standing near the window of her bedroom, I thought it best that it happened. For her life, it didn't matter who died."

"Do not talk like that!" shouted Degel. "Your sister would not please with such horrid thoughts."

"It was only a temporary feeling, Degel," Unity responded. "As you can see, the gods can be quite cruel." The silence reigned and shattered upon Unity's voice. "That dark mass had entered my sister and left her body as easily as it claimed her. I thought for sure she had been cured. I thought for sure that the gods had listened to my plea, instead, they mock me with their cruelty." Shaking in rage, he crumbled a piece of the comforter in his hand.

Degel took in a deep breath. "I came here to help. I need to use your father's library, Unity. I believe that there is something there to explain all of this."

"You don't think I looked?"

Shion spoke, "No doubt you did but I doubt you looked carefully with your mind elsewhere."

Unity turned, angered at such thought that he could possibly missed something. He glared at Shion, wishing daggers would claim the man standing in his sister's room; instead, Degel stood in between like a barrier preventing any conflict from happening. With the fool out of his sight, Unity calmed himself, not wanting to lose his composure with his sister resting in the room.

"Unity, please allow us to investigate," Degel requested.

Unity stood from the bed. "For you, Degel, I will, but…" He frowned at Shion. "…if I was correct in my statement, and there is no clue to this, then Athena and her warriors are no longer welcome."

"You will kick out a friend?"

"I will kick out those who are affiliated with the gods." For a moment, they stood still. Unity moved from the bed, pushing the curtain back and positioned himself in front of the two. "Well, shall we get going?"

He moved past them. His shoulder brushed against Degel's.

Degel turned, determined. "We will find a clue."

His friend kept walking as he spoke, "I hope you're right."

Following Unity, Degel and Shion proceeded with their mission; however, something bothered Shion. He slowed down in his pace. If the dark mass had possessed Unity's sister then did it possess the boy, Shun? Could it be someone higher, a god perhaps, be involved in all of this? He had no answer to his questions but he was determined to find the information he needed to this dilemma.