On my way back to Castle Oblivion my mind raced through what had just transpired with contempt. Ugh…I need to stop confronting Etxel in private like this. If this continues…I might…I might…

“Lady Xakiah!” I heard a familiar voice yell. Unprepared for any interruptions to my thought process—which had turned to a topic I have tried my best to avoid—I snapped to attention and turned around cautiously to see whom it was. Every part of me yearned for this said being to be an enemy; at least if they were, I could both make certain that any word of my brief moment of embarrassment wouldn’t get out and I could vent out my frustration on a legitimate target. Retaining my silence, I took my time in identifying who my expected target was going to be…just in case.

Making a seemingly desperate attempt to identify himself, the bystander continued, “Hahha it’s me, Tamex, hahahah. Remember, I was the one who suggested the blowing up of Zero’s Castle!”

“Tamex…right,” I sighed. Oh, an ally…well, there goes my plans for saving face. Wait…that’s Minx behind him…what’s she doing here? Minx seemed to be caught in her own little world so I didn’t bother to press the matter. Not long after I had made this analogy Tamex requested—with a big and honest grin, I might add—that I guide him and Minx to the castle. I saw no harm in this favor, especially since doing so would keep him from looking into why I was in the Betwixt and Between in the first place, so with a shrug I led the way.

After appearing at the Castle we silently parted ways; Tamex and Minx in one direction and I in the direction of the Alter of Naught, where I last saw the leader. Before I even made it half-way there, the very man I was looking for invaded my thoughts. Ah, Xakiah, you came back on time like we promised. Good girl.

Smirking to myself I responded, Does this mean I get a sticker?

Later. Right now, I have other matters to attend too, he ended with malice present in his tone. Fortunately, he left without another word. Curious, I wanted to investigate what exactly vexed him—if anything, for the sake of using it on him later—but before I had a chance to play spy again a Dusk came materialized before me and started to converse.

“Welcome back, Lady Xakiah. I trust your endeavor was successful?”

“Well, well,” I said amused, “I didn’t know Dusks were so well informed. Tell me…does the leader here brief you on these things?”

Shaking its head, it stated, “No, milady. Our Leader expects us to keep up with current events for the sake of knowing what the members of this Organization are doing at all times.”

“So… you and the others of your lot…act as his eyes and ears?”

Bowing a little, it responded, “Correct, milady.”

“I see…very interesting…” I trailed off as I took this matter into consideration. Judging by the evidence before me, this meant that he could easily deduce everything that has transpired in an area where lesser Nobodies had been present. This also translated as saying that all of the missions that the leader had sent us on to gather information were virtual paradoxes, which in turn could only mean one thing: the leader is planning to use us for something we’re not going to be willing to do. Provided that my analysis was correct, the only question that was left was what exactly this man had in store for the members of this Organization…including me.

“Umm…Lady Xakiah, are you alright?” the Dusk asked, summoning me back from the depths of my thoughts.

“Yes, I’m quite fine.”

“Excellent milady. In any event, I just got orders to inform you that there is to be a meeting held in the lobby that all members of this Organization have to attend. Please make your way over there promptly.”

Hmm…I’ve barely just got back and already things are picking up. I wonder what has transpired here in my absence… “Very well, I shall go.”

“Thank you, milady.”

“Wait—before you go, the answer to the first question you asked me is that everything turned out as planned.”

“Really? Will you tell me more?”

“No.” I told it flatly.

It seemed a little disappointed at my denial. “Understood. Farewell, milady.” With that the Dusk took off.

~*~

After almost everyone in the Organization had gathered—a few key players obviously missing from this equation—Triskix went along with the meeting as planned, starting with a brief introduction to himself for the new faces that had gathered around. “Now onto business; there is a group of Nobodies called Organization Zero. These Nobodies are against us, and so we will capture them and use their power to power this castle.”

This verdict caused quite a commotion around the room. Some people shot strange looks at Triskix while others merely whispered about what was going to happen. I, myself, was dumbfounded at this turn of events and kept any arguments I had against it strictly to my thoughts. “Power this castle?” Last I checked enchanted castles didn’t run on the sacrifice of lives. Heh…it seems as though Etxel’s concern over the inactivity of this Organization for the past three weeks was correct after all.

To silence the chaos that was slowly gripping the room Triskix created a circle of flames around us all and asked calmly, “Or would you defy this order and have me send you to the pits of nothingness?” Truthfully, I wanted to tell him right then and there that I would have rather be banished to the pits of nothingness than to ask me to do this questionable deed, but I kept my tongue at bay. Despite how I personally felt about the situation, as a professional assassin I couldn’t afford to tarnish my reputation, especially since to do otherwise would mean that my purpose for allying myself to the Organization would go to waste.

With order back in the room—no doubt to Triskix’s delight—he went on to continue speaking. “Now then, we need a plan of action to lure them out and take them.”

“That’s simple, we’ll just call them out like before. People like that don’t take challenges with anything but face value.” Tanex jumped right in to say. Minx was sitting right next to him darting her eyes all across the room, particularly at Triskix.

“Indeed,” Triskix nodded, clearly not noticing this girl’s gaze. “Then the problem is how to get into the castle without being noticed.”

At this point I had already made up my mind to go through with it, thinking that there was something else going on behind the scenes that wouldn’t be revealed until we were in over our heads. Taking a gambit at what was going to transpire, I said, “I’ll open up Zero’s castle so everyone can get in.”

Triskix seemed taken aback at this comment; whether it was for the fact that I was willing to comply or that going into the castle was going to be that easy, I’m not sure. Before he had a chance to voice exactly what was on his mind Minx enthusiastically called out to me. Shifting my attention to her, she smiled, waived and said, “Hi!”

Seeing that she was willing to talk, I could finally ask her what I had desired to upon reuniting with her earlier. “Minx…what are you doing here?”

Laughing, she responded, “Long story.” For a moment after she said that silence gripped the room, causing Minx’s nerves to fall apart and resort to their old defense of establishing mirrors.

Tamex was the first to come to her aid. Putting his hand on her shoulder, he told Minx, “Don’t worry; these people aren’t going to harm you. I promised to protect you, remember?”

Lowering her mirrors, she gazed up at the warm smile he wore on his face and acknowledged his claim. Returning her attention to me she said, “If we have time later, I’d be more than happy to tell you about it.”

Nodding, I lightly smiled and said, “I’ll look forward to it.”

“Provided that there is a next time to look forward to.” Stepping through the portal that materialized behind Triskix unannounced, the leader made his way into the room in grand style.

“I’ve told you before that this is my job. Back off from my order.” Triskix told the leader rather flatly.

“It may be your order, but this is my Organization. Besides, you’re taking your sweet time in giving them the specifics of what I want them to do.” Shoving Triskix aside to take his place in front of the podium, he commanded full charge of the meeting with no visible opposition. Clearing his voice, he started, “So, now that I have everyone’s undivided attention, I’m going to make this announcement as quick and straight to the point as possible so listen up:

“As you’ve just heard, your task is to capture the members of Organization Zero for the purpose of harvesting their power for the sake of our castle. You are to do this to the letter and without hesitation; failure to do so will result in immediate and extreme punishment.” He paused for a while to let this knowledge sink in for a while. “We will formally attack Citadel Abyss in two days; no sooner, no later. I demand that all of you be ready and reporting for duty by then. That is all.” In one swift motion he spun himself around and made his way quickly through another portal he had created towards the end of his announcement and left the premises.

~Xakiah

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Yay! A short post for a change (by my standards, anyway). I hope this is what you were looking for, Soji. If anyone feels the need to continue, then boy howdy, jump on it! XD