Archived:The Modern Janissaries/Aftermath

 

 

Aftermath

William "Hastings" Norwood He stood in the study with Elle in the chair. Leaning against the windowsill, he stared at her with a frown. "What now?" He asked.

She shrugged and twirled a glass of water, "I don't know."

Roger Norwood "What do you mean with that? We continue the investigation, of course."

William "Hastings" Norwood He raised his eyes to stare at Roger but didn't say anything.

"Yeah," she said rather weakly and her sharp nails tapped against the wood of the desk, "just keep going to the day jobs, I suppose."

Roger Norwood "The real question though..." he paused as he paced arount the room, still in his suit, glasses, and dubious hair gel, "should be: for how long are we going to do this?@

Eliza Barnes "Hopefully for not much longer." I say standing in the doorway, wearing a tank top and sweatpants, holding my laptop. "I think I'm finally able to figure out how to track Katherine."

William "Hastings" Norwood He doubted it was true but he shrugged, "shoot."

Eliza Barnes "At first, tracking her through human means is impossible, she's like a ghost. However, despite her lack of her human trail, she leaves one of the strongest elemental tracks, a theory known as Sharp's Law - the less of a human trail an elemental leaves, the stronger their elemental trail is. So, using technology, I can track her elemental trail. Slightly tougher, but it will be successful. Then, it's only a matter of time until we can confront the Cult again, and finish this mission."

William "Hastings" Norwood "Its not a cult," he mumbled, "a cult is a group of people obsessed with religion. Katherine's not religious."

Eliza Barnes "You get the idea, Liam. Anyways, anyone else have anything?"

William "Hastings" Norwood "What about a rebellion? That's more appropriate," he said with a nod.

Her eyes slid back to Liam and she smirked, "why so interested in what we call it?"

William "Hastings" Norwood "Accuracy is key," he rebuffed, "and we should try to understand them."

Eliza Barnes "A rebellion might make us too exposed to this dangerous group of people..."

William "Hastings" Norwood "I don't see how calling them a rebellion would make us more exposed," he mused, "plus, we already are exposed."

Eliza Barnes "If we are going with a rebellion, then we need to have a plan, something that her group wouldn't predict from us. Rebellion is predictable, so we need a strong unpredictable plan behind it."

She looked at Eliza through the corner of her eye and frowned. Her mind was ticking but she didn't say anything and she took a sip of her coffee.

William "Hastings" Norwood He smiled but there was no humour in it, "alright, then, what do you have in mind?"

Roger Norwood  "Or..." he mused before continuing, "We can be predictable and use reverse psychology. They surely are expecting some smart and subtle "unpredictable" move from us, so why not do it fully predictable so they don't suspect it? "

Eliza Barnes I nod. "But my most important priority is tracking down Katherine."

"We can't do it," she blurted out, "not yet anyway, we can't let her in on this. We'll have to use it when we need to. If we rush into this...she'll know that we have a way to track her. But have you tried to do it?"

Roger Norwood "What I wonder is, we can't use human technology to look for elemental traces, yet our elemental technology won't work here on Earth, so although theoretically speaking it is a good idea, Ms. Eliza, I am afraid it is still very sketchy."

She looked back to Liam, satisfied Roger had been the one to point it out. "Do you know a way to track her?" She asked Liam.

William "Hastings" Norwood He frowned, "why do you think I would?"

She raised an eyebrow, "I think we all know why you might know."

Eliza Barnes "She won't know about it, Elle, you have my word. And if she does find out, then I'll go face her head on about the matter, buy you all some time. But if I can successful work out tracking her stealthy through Sharp's Law, we'll be one step ahead."

William "Hastings" Norwood His eyes snapped over to Eliza and for a moment, he wondered how she could be so dense. "You're underestimating her. If you do that you'd be slaughtered." He said in a quiet voice. "Would have thought you'd have figured it out last time you tried to do that."

Eliza Barnes "Yes, I learned from last time, I'm not dense so that I'll go and attack her if the situation calls for it. Trust me, I have it all planned out. There's different types of situations where you face someone head on."

William "Hastings" Norwood "Lets get one thing straight," he said, "if anyone here will be the one to kill Katherine, it would be me."

Eliza Barnes "Trust me, it wouldn't involve killing her, Liam. She'd want her pretty boy to do that."

Julian, who had been in his room, just walked into the room - choosing to ignore everyone and instead ging to serve himself a cup of coffee.

Diana Hollande Diana had walked in just after Julian. sitting on a chair and listening intently.

William "Hastings" Norwood He glanced at Diana and smiled gently, ignoring Eliza's comment.

She looked at Julian before turning away, determined to ignore him.

Diana Hollande Diana just looked down at the floor with a blank look, not returning the smile Liam had sent her way.

William "Hastings" Norwood His forehead creased at this and bit back a sigh. He pushed off the wall and tapped his thigh, "well, if that's all...I'm going to go." He mumbled and made his way out.

Roger Norwood  "Well, this is very awkward indeed. What now?"

Diana Hollande She looked up and noticed Liam walking out the room. After pushing herself up, Diana follow the boy out the room. "You should have told us you know her..." Diana said from behind Liam, a paper in her hand.

William "Hastings" Norwood He stopped in his tracks and visibly froze. But he didn't turn to look at her. Heart beating at the speed of light, he clenched his fists. He knew it was coming. Ever since Charles, someone was bound to figure it out. Eliza and Roger obviously suspected it but neither broached the subject. He certainly didn't expect it to be Diana. "What?" He finally asked and turned around to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

Diana Hollande "You've known katherine this whole time!" Diana pushed the paper into his chest which showed an old photo of younger Liam and Katherine. "This whole time we've been trying to find leads to Katherine and you've known her this whole time!"

William "Hastings" Norwood "It's complicated," he said and took the photo and stared at it before looking back up to her, "I don't actually know anything about her. Not anything that would help, I don't know where she is," he rambled and ran a hand through his hair.

Eliza Barnes "Liam, that's my job, to find her. Your job is background information, okay?" I sigh as I flop on a couch in the room, and get to work, changing my laptop battery for one that is Elemental- sensitive before I close the battery case and power on my laptop.

She walked out and looked at Eliza, "it's not actually," she said, "it's a day job. A cover. Not the actual job details." She was rather quiet and swayed but she glanced at the two before back to Eliza, "and maybe you should leave them to it. Not your conversation." With that, she walked out and up to her own room.

Eliza Barnes I stay laying down on the couch, starting to go to work on tracking her.

Diana Hollande "it doesn't matter Liam... for all we know... you can be one of her dam spies." Just as the words escaped her mouth she immediately regretted it.

William "Hastings" Norwood Honest hurt splashed over his face but it was gone after only a second. "I could be," he said, rather coldly, "but I'm not." With that, he took a step back, "if you want to think that, then go ahead. I won't stop you, but no wonder I didn't say anything."

Erraline Dange Finally coming out of her room, Erraline entered the hallway. She headed for the kitchen to get some water. This would mean coming across the others, who she wanted to ignore at this moment in time.

Diana Hollande "I'm sorry Liam..." She said while looking down. "I know your not a spy, or at least i believe that your not..." Suddenly, Diana moved forward and hugged Liam - moving away after just a few seconds. "If you don't want me to tell anyone then i won't... but don't let me regret it.

William "Hastings" Norwood He blinked with his jaw dropping slightly. It took another moment before he hugged her back with his arms loose. "Can we...I need to tell someone. God knows it would be used against me otherwise. But not here."

Diana Hollande She looked up at him. "If you want..." she responded.

William "Hastings" Norwood He reached down to take her hand to lead her out. He was thinking of going to the other end of the mansion, where people usually didn't go.

Diana Hollande Diana allowed Liam to lead her out, wondering where he was talking her. "Where are we going?" She asked ass he looked at their hands before looking up at the back of Liam's head.

William "Hastings" Norwood He turned his head to look at her, "have you explored the place?" He asked out of curiosity, not out of malice or accusing her of anything. "I've been doing it when everyone's asleep. I found a music room on the fourth floor, right at the back. It's only got a piano and a violin in it, I think there were more but people might have taken them for their own."

Diana Hollande  Diana softly shook her head as she heard his words. " No i haven't... i've sorta been stuck researching." She chuckled as she allowed him to continue dragging her along.

William "Hastings" Norwood His lips tipped upwards at this, "I've tried to help," he pushed and descended into a darker area of the place but medieval torches began to burn as he passed them. Between each torch were kings and queens of each kingdom hanging on the wall. All painted and all were stern-faced. "Creepy right?"

Diana Hollande Her eyes wandered to the paintings, nodding her head softly as she examined the pictures. "Yea..." She said quietly as she continued to walk, hoping they were nearing the room soon.

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Diana Hollande Her eyes wandered around the room for a few minutes, staying silent for these minutes. Finally, Diana looked at Liam and smiled while nodding. "Yea... it's a shame they don't use this room." She replied before walking over to Liam's side, running her finger on the dust piano as she got there. A line cleared off as her finger ran over the dust, a slight wince showing on her face. "It's like they haven't used this room in decades." The lunar duchess laughed.

William "Hastings" Norwood "Maybe they haven't," he joked, "do you know how to play?"

Diana Hollande She shook her head softly. "No... i've always wanted to learn though." She admitted.

William "Hastings" Norwood He nodded at this and slid the lid open and played a few keys, "I use to play. Back when I was a kid. I barely remember anything now."

Diana Hollande Diana pressed one of the keys and listened as the sound echoed in the room. "Looks like it still works..." She said before pressing a few more keys. "So... Tell me about you and Katherine?" she said suddenly without looking at Liam, instead only slightly glancing at him from the corner of her eyes - hoping she hadn't crossed some line.

William "Hastings" Norwood "I was one of the kidnapped," he said simply, staring at the ceiling, "the children. I lived here in Moscow when I was around ten. Moved here from Ireland when I was seven. That's how I know Katherine. I...she liked me. It might have been because I was related to the royal family, or maybe because I reacted so well to the conditions the place had. I don't know."

Diana Hollande She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, listening to his story intently. "I can see why she liked you...." Diana said aloud but, she meant for the words to be in her thoughts. "Ummm i mean you a nice guy... not many of those around anymore." The lunar duchess fumbled around with her word as she attempted to save herself from embarrasment.

William "Hastings" Norwood He grinned in amusement at the slip, "I was only ten," he joked, "I don't think my good looks had a part," he replied before frowning as he turned serious, "though...I don't think they were too impressed I was nice. I think they wanted me to be more ambitious, power hungry."

Diana Hollande The blush that had begun to fill Diana's checks was now fading away. "Why do you think they want you to be more power hungry?" She asked, her curiosity piqued by the subject.

William "Hastings" Norwood He thought about this, "because...they've developed a drug. Something that enhances its subjects, lengthens their lifespan, harder skin. It's more difficult to cut my skin than it usually does. Stuff like that but...I'm the only one who reacted like they did. I assume they took the drug themselves because they have the same abilities. The others... the children, they all turned crazy. Lost their minds. But...since I'm the fourth, known anyway, person who turned out fine they would have rathered I was more loyal to their cause. Get what I mean? I don't have anything against the kingdoms...not like they do."

Diana Hollande Diana slightly nodded her head, understanding most of the information he was telling her. Her eyes, that were currently focused on the piano keys, began to wander over to Liam. "Good to know..." Diana smiled while placing her hand on Liam's. Being her untrusting self, the lunar duchess couldn't help but still a bit skeptical. However, she had a soft spot for Liam, any person with eyes could see that -She couldn't stop herself from trusting him... even if no one else did once they told people.

William "Hastings" Norwood His eyes slammed down onto Diana's movement and looked at it in surprise. His mind could barely comprehend it, really, he was so paranoid that they'd all kill him if they found out that he couldn't believe...he couldn't understand the idea they'd be accepting of it. No, he couldn't understand how Diana would shrug it off. "I'm not a spy," he whispered, "I swear to you, I'm not. But...I've killed people," he whispered, "to get out of there, I had to fight my way out of it. It's not...I'm not innocent."

Diana Hollande Diana didn't move her hand but, her gaze did fall from Liam - her hair slightly covering part of her face as she looked down. "I'm not innocent either Liam..." She said with a slight pause. Diana considered telling Liam about her past and how she killed people too but, now wasn't the time. "None of us are..." The lunar duchss added on as she finally looked back up to Liam. "The only thing that matters now is tht your on our side."

William "Hastings" Norwood He smiled and brushed her hair back with his fingers, gently skimming her cheeks, "thank you," he whispered as he looked down at her. He looked like he couldn't get enough of her and even as he drank her in with his eyes, it wasn't enough. Well, he thought, when it came to Diana. Nothing was ever enough.

Elle and Julian

An hour later, she cleared out of a bathroom and went in search for Julian. Before she had been pale, but some color had returned.

Julian, who was now in his room, sat on his bed looking up to the ceiling.

She knocked on the door and tapped her foot on the ground absentmindedly.

Upon hearing the knock, Julian sighed and slowly got up off his bed - opening the door and leaning against the door frame. "What's up?" He asked, letting the door fly fully open as he looked at Elle.

"I need your help," she started off, "usually, I'd hack into the cameras but I have other stuff to do. But you have access to them, you know...because you're the cop." She said and winced. She wasn't particularly good at asking for help and she doubted that anyone couldn't pick up on that. "Just some footage of a warehouse. Nothing big."

With a soft shrugging motion Julian began to speak. "Sure, i could access them back at the station... i could do it when i'm over there again" He responded. "Unless you wanted to go now?"

Her face went smooth as she realised the offer being given to her. An hour or so alone with him. The guy she'd kissed. The guy whom knew a weakness of her. Her pride wanted to shut him out and ignore him and her pride nearly always won but not this time. Not when she could get her answers without delay. "I can do that," she said carefully. "Now would be preferable."

"Sure" He said as he pushed himself off the door frame and went back into his room. Only a few minutes later, The lunar prince walked through the door frame with his jaket on - closing the door behind him. "Lets go..." Julian voiced as he looked at Elle.

She turned on her heel and rushed out the door, grabbing a jacket from a hook by the door.

Julian followed behind Elle, his keys in hand. After exiting, the lunar prince walked up to the car and hopped in - starting the vehicle up as he waited for Elle to hop in.

She slid into the car a second later and didn't bother with the belt. She propped her feet on the dashboard and slid further down. Without looking at him she teased, "such a gentleman, Jules, your mother must be so proud."

"My mother stopped being proud of me a long time ago..." he responded in a serious tone as he looked at her, his right hand hanging onto the wheel and his left leaning against the door. With that he started the car and began driving.

"Sarcasm, Jules," she said as she looked out the window.

He stayed quiet for the rest of the ride, upon arriving at the police station he parked and climbed out the car. "ere we are." he said before shutting the door.

She slid out and stared at it, "nice place," she said.

"It's just a police station." He said while glancing at her, pushing himself off the car as he started walking into the building. Once inside, Julian would head to his office - expecting Elle to be right on his tail.

He expected right, and she was hot on his feet with her eyes darting from camera to camera, then to every exit she could see. "I'd say it's a nice office, but you'd just shrug it off and say it's just an office," she remarked as she entered the office.

While sitting down at his desk, Julian glanced up at Elle and slightly smirked. "Glad you've finally figure me out." He joked, logging into his computer and pulling up files that held surveillance footage. "So what did you wanna see?" he asked while scrolling through the files.

She dragged a chair over next to him and glanced down into the computer, "camera footage of..." she trailed off before reciting an address.

Upon hearing the address, Julian quickly typed away at the keyboard - using a search to find the exact files on Elle's address. Once the address was put in,  surveillance footage marked with different dates popped up. "Any specific day you wanted to see?" He asked while slightly glancing over at the female.

"No..." she trailed off as she regarded the small factory, covered in graffiti, "just give me people who go in there."

He did nothing else but press play, watching the screen intently - even though he had no idea what they were looking for. "Anything specific about what your looking for?" He asked without moving his eyes from the screen.

"No," she said after another moment and pulled back, "I've gotten what I need."

He glanced at Elle with a raised eyebrow, curious as to what she was looking for and why she wouldn't tell him. "Ok then... should we head back then?" he asked, shrugging of his curiousity.

She hesitated for one moment as she gazed down at the screens and then adjusted the jacket, "yeah," she breathed out, "I guess we should."