Guess what I noticed? People are either dying, or just totally ditching out on Ion and Esther! I know, I was one of them. But worry not friends; I'm updating all of my IonxEsther stories to show you I care!

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—chapter eight—

—explanation—

Esther's eyes were wide.

"My…father…?"

Dorphus nodded. "I'm your blood father."

"But…then…wouldn't I be…?"

Dorphus smiled a bit, understanding what she meant.

"No, you're a full human, don't worry."

She could only look at him, a thousand questions in her eyes.

"I suppose you'd like to know the story."

"Yes."

"Very well." Dorphus leaned back in the chair.

"This story is very long, so I suggest you make yourself comfortable."

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It was a stormy day.

Dorphus was sent on a mission to kill a fierce serial killer who was causing much trouble for the Empire and Vatican alike, so they had to take action.

That, of course, was what he was for after all.

He was young, strong, clever and fearless. What did he have to worry about some Terran serial killer? She may have killed others, but she certainly wasn't killing him anytime soon.

He had a bodyguard hired for him, just in case things went wrong. Dorphus found the youngster irritating, and personally wanted him gone. But if it satisfied the Empress, he would deal with it.

The bodyguard trailed after him now.

"Can you not follow me so closely?" He snapped, glaring daggers at the other Methuselah whom he treated like a slave.

"Forgive me sir, it's my duty from the Empress to follow you."

Dorphus grumbled but let it go.

He was so, so close to her now. He could smell the adrenaline in her blood as she killed the man. He could smell the man's blood leaving his body. It was time to move.

He stepped out from behind the wall, vanishing in an instant. He felt his bodyguard follow suit.

He calmly threw off his hood and approached her. He was astounded to see how young she looked, and how innocent she still appeared even though her face was splattered with blood.

For whatever reason, she didn't seem shocked to see them. She was cleaning the blood off of her weapon: a slender, silver axe.

"Good evening, gentleman. Is there something you need?"

She looked up at them then, and he could see her entire face. She had hair as red as the blood that she was cleaning off of her axe, and her eyes…blue as the ocean near them. Her face held no fear as she looked directly into the eyes of a Methuselah mercenary.

"Actually yes, Goddess of Death, is it?"

She stopped cleaning her axe to smile innocently up at him. "That's right. And what business might two handsome young Methuselah like yourselves have with little old me?"

Dorphus smiled a cold smile. "Let's drop the pleasantries. I'm sure you understand."

The smile never left her face. "That I do. But I've got a few words for you two."

Suddenly she smirked, making her face look evil. "I'd like to see you try."

Dorphus scowled at this. "I'll try, and I'll succeed."

The two glared at each other, while the bodyguard shifted in obvious discomfort.

"I'll meet you at the bridge, tomorrow night, Goddess. Don't be late."

She winked playfully at him. "I'm always on time."

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Esther gazed wide-eyed at Dorphus.

The four were seated on Esther's couches, Ion sitting protectively next to her, and Arceus sitting erect directly to Dorphus' right.

"That's how I met her. The Goddess of Death, Lilia Blanchett."

"But…how did you fall in love? It seems like you two hated one another."

Dorphus grinned. "Oh, we hated each other, and very passionately at that. It's just that at every meeting…we could never quite kill the other. Then one night, we suddenly kissed. A strange, strange way to fall in love, by anyone's standards, but that's how it happened. I have no idea the story became so twisted to say that I hated her completely, even though for a time, I did.

She and I continued our secret meeting, until one day, Lilia found out that her mother wanted to marry her off…and that she was pregnant."

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"Dorphus!"

Lilia practically tackled the Methuselah to the ground.

He wrapped his arms around her. "What is it Lilia?"

"My mother…" She scowled. "My mother wants me to marry a lord. According to her, the man is head over heels in love with me. Ha!" She snorted.

A frown creased his forehead. "A lord?"

"Yeah, that's right. Some nigh and mighty rich guy, no doubt. I'm sure he's some loser who's only after my fame. I mean, really, who would fall in love with a serial killer?"

"I did."

She flushed lightly. "That's not the point. I've never even met that guy."

"Then kill him."

She smiled softly. "That seriously does sound pretty nice, but I've just remembered, something else I've wanted to tell you…" She furrowed her brow, biting her lip and looking away from him.

"Yes? Lilia, what is it"

"I…um…well…" She gave an awkward laugh.

"I'm pregnant, Dorphus."

Astonishment took over his features. "But…then…"

"I know, I know, no one can find out. But don't worry, I've got connections, I can send the baby away."

"…Very well."

"And another thing, Dorphus?"

"Yes?"

"I'm to meet the lord, tonight. So it's best I be leaving now." She smiled softly at him before pecking him on the lips and running quickly away.

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"So…she met him?"

"Yes. She did. She was forced to continue visiting him for almost a year…of course, by then, the lord noticed she was pregnant. You can bet things got very ugly."

"How did she die?"

He sighed. "You would…understand…this is difficult for me to talk about." He sighed, massaging his temples. "But of course, this would probably be difficult for you to hear about, so I suppose that makes us even." He smiled wryly.

"Prepare yourself, it may be hard on you."

Esther nodded, looking determined. Ion wrapped one arm around her shoulder, saying nothing.

She was ready to hear about her own birth, and at the same time…her mother's death.

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The lord sat comfortably in his chambers, waiting for Lilia to arrive.

When she strode through the doors, obviously pregnant, he sighed heavily.

"Lilia dearest, I'm sure you understand why you're here."

"Not quite, actually."

He sighed again. "Who is the father of your unborn child?"

"I'm afraid that's none of your business." She calmly flipped a long red lock of hair over her shoulder.

"You know I love you, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Right, right, and I love a cow."

He frowned, dark eyes intent upon her. "I'm asking so I can save you."

"Save me from what? A marriage I don't want?" She rolled her eyes again. "Coming here is so stupid."

"You should not speak so insolently to me."

"Pfft. I've got every right to."

"You're far to arrogant for your own good, Lilia."

"Hm."

"Well, it seems you've left me with no choice. Guards, imprison her."

Whatever she was expecting, it obviously wasn't this. With wide blue eyes, the nine months pregnant woman was carried off to a prison cell.

Meanwhile, back at their usual meeting place, Dorphus waited. And waited. And kept on waiting. Lilia never appeared.

He recalled her once telling him that if she never showed up to meet him one night, she was in serious trouble. Knowing her, she probably was. And tonight, she was to visit the lord. What could have happened? Something horrible, no doubt.

Dorphus had become closer to his young bodyguard, on Lilia's request, so he forced himself to remember his name.

"Arceus." The young bodyguard seemed shocked that Dorphus was even speaking to him.

"Yes, sir?"

"We must go. To the lord's palace tonight. Bad things could happen to Lilia."

Arceus nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir."

The two Methuselah raced to the palace to find Lilia imprisoned.

There was bloodshed that night.

As well as an inhumanly fast cloaked figure carrying a crying infant into the night…

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"I apologize. I'd rather not go into detail about her death." He bowed his head.

"Needless to say, we found her, yes, but the lord's guards appeared, and we got into a fight. That is, to say, Arceus and I. Lilia got dragged into it, and in her condition, it was a wonder you were born at all.

"The guards accidentally killed Lilia, and the lord was rumored to have gone into madness. He later spread a rumor about what really happened that night, and even spread the news that she had had a daughter…but with him instead. He wants claims on you, but for what reason, I cannot say.

"He hates me, I know that much, so he made the rumor that Lilia and I were enemies, and that I tried to kill her." He chuckled. "Well, it is true, I did try to kill her, but I never succeeded. She was amazingly talented and fast for a Terran."

Esther was silent after all of this. "So that's how it all happened…"

Dorphus sighed and leaned back on the sofa. "Yes, it's your perfect story with a sad ending. drama, violence, and even romance." He gave a weak chuckle, and then sighed.

"Sir." Arceus' voice startled everyone; he had been so silent. "Sir, we should be going, before the sunrise."

Dorphus stood silently. "Very well. Farewell, Esther, it was truly nice to see you again." He smiled wistfully, almost longingly. "You really do look so much like her. It reminds of how much I really did love her."

With that, the two Methuselah swept out of her house.

There was silence, then Ion decided to break it.

"Are you alright?" He gently squeezed her shoulder, worry in his crimson eyes.

She sighed, relaxing into his gentle touch. "I guess. It's nice to finally know thr truth about everything. But…still. The daughter of a Methuselah and a serial killer! I'm sure the townspeople would have a field day with that one!" She laughed weakly; the sound had an edge of hysteria.

He turned her face towards him. "You're not alright, are you." It was a statement.

She smiled weakly, then buried her face in his shoulder, shaking with silent sobs. He wrapped both arms around her, stroking her hair in silent comfort.

The road ahead would be long and hard for the two of them, with much pain and fear lying just steps ahead.

He would have to be there for her.

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Compression update! Go me! I feel so satisfied with that chapter. Now I get down to the good stuff of the plot now that her past is out of the way. Alright, review, and be ready for the next chapter!