Archived:The Modern Janissaries/Cafe

Eliza Barnes It was well after midnight as I took a stroll through the streets near where we were staying, as I popped into a 24 hour café, and order myself a tea as I sit down and stare out at the scenery.

Katherine DeLightly After twenty minutes, she materialized in the chair behind Eliza and was in a position that shadows overlapped her features. "Lost, little girl?" She asked with a small, amused smile.

Eliza Barnes I recognized the voice as Katherine's. "Well, not really actually. But, I could ask you the same thing, Katherine."

Katherine DeLightly "Most people turn around to look at the person they're speaking to, how rude," she said with a sniff and took a sip of her own drink, "and like you, not really. I do enjoy this cafe. Great people here, especially the barrister. His names John, goes to the university nearby. Studying hospitality. He'd be good at it, too." She said casually.

Eliza Barnes I turn towards you. "So, what's brought you here then? The view?"

Katherine DeLightly "Also rude not to listen," she said with a grin, "I like the people here and the food. One might say this is my favorite cafe. On the topic of the view," she said turning her head to look out the window to the brick building on the other side of the road, "not much of one, but if you go out, you see this nice mansion just over the roof tops. I believe you're acquainted with it."

Eliza Barnes "Depends on your definition of acquainted though." I chuckle softly

Katherine DeLightly "You're right," she conceded, "you, especially you and Roger, are quite familiar with it, I am sure."

Eliza Barnes "Perhaps we are. It's not my place to tell you. Anyways, why are you here?"

Katherine DeLightly She winked, "perhaps not," she replied, "and am I not allowed to be here? As I said, I quite like the place. I'm here often. Regardless of our political alignment, I won't avoid my favourite habitat just because you're here."

Eliza Barnes "Fair enough. Besides, I wasn't planning being out too long, or Roger and Liam might freak. Well, Roger would.." I chuckle a bit. "So then, I have to ask, ever try the borscht here?"

Katherine DeLightly "I have, a couple of times, it's alright," she says with a shrug.

Eliza Barnes I nod. "Part of the reason why I decided to come though. But you are correct - despite our differences, you are still allowed to have the freedom to wander. But it's a two-way street, because that freedom applies to me as well.

Katherine DeLightly She shrugged, "I don't really care what freedoms you have here. Much more than you have under the kingdoms, I suppose." She said, looking at her through her eyelids and a toying smile on her lips. She looked at Eliza like the way a person with a mother would when gazing at her child play. Not that, she considered Eliza that. But it was the manipulation, the idea of control over the other person, that was woven into her smile. "Strange time to be out, did you have a fight with the others?"

Eliza Barnes "Well, not a fight." I chuckle. "Just wanted to go for a midnight stroll. Seems like there is a lot to think about these days, isn't there."

Katherine DeLightly "It really sucks to be you," she said, her voice lacking sympathy, "shame you won't be alive in the next few weeks, though, I'm sure that will silence your...loud mind."

Eliza Barnes "That is, if you win. But, be careful what you wish for, because not everything is quite as it seems. But if I do give you any credit, then I would say that for some reason, you seem to be very personable and approachable, so I figure you're trying to discover something. Don't lie, just tell me."

Katherine DeLightly She shrugged and pulled out a lipstick and a hand held mirror and began to reapply it. "I don't need to figure out anything, especially not from you, whatever you know, Will will tell me in time."

Eliza Barnes "Ah..well, the only way you'll get to Will is killing us all first, which isn't going to happen."

Katherine DeLightly "That so?" She asked with a smile, "if that makes you feel better, then I won't dispute it." With that, she stood up, "come, I wish to show you something."

Eliza Barnes I raise a brow, but I stand up and follow you.

Katherine DeLightly She didn't look back to see if she was following but she easily slipped through the crowds of people, like a ghost.

Eliza Barnes I continue to follow Katherine down the streets.

Katherine DeLightly She finally reached a place, a tall building, that seemed official. Instead of entering the front, she ducked into the side alley.

Eliza Barnes I shrug and follow you through the side alley.

Katherine DeLightly She pushed open a side door and nodded to it, "you first."

Eliza Barnes I nod and walk inside, unsure of what to expect.

Katherine DeLightly She smiled and jumped down behind her. It was dark and you could barely see the ground beneath your feet let alone the path in front. "Walk straight forward, we'll run into some light."

Eliza Barnes "I have a better idea." I hold out my palm, and a small fireball appears to light the way.

Katherine DeLightly She hummed, "cé chomh éadomhain bhfuil tú go léir, leis na bronntanais a ghlacadh tú talamh slán," she murmured before shrugging, "if you wish to go by firelight, then so be it."

Eliza Barnes "Well, at least then I can see where I am going, Katherine."

Katherine DeLightly She rolled her eyes slightly, "it ruins the mood but if it makes you feel better," she said and stepped over a body covered in blood. It had been dead for a while and maggots had eaten its eyes.

Eliza Barnes "Well, isn't that just lovely then." I sigh as I keep following Katherine.

Katherine DeLightly She slid her eyes down to look at it and frowned, "who kill him is the people you're defending," she murmured with a sad shrug.

Eliza Barnes "Then who exactly do you think I'm defending?"

Katherine DeLightly "The kingdoms," she replied, "I don't believe any other group, or species, are interested enough in us to send a group over to...ah...spy."

Eliza Barnes "Well, I'm here simply to save the innocent children kidnapped. There's nothing in it for me from the kingdoms..rough family history."

Katherine DeLightly She frowned at the reminder and ran a hand through her long hair, "the children?" She asked, "so that's what you lot are here for. They're all dead. Will could have told you that-I'm surprised he didn't. He's the only one to have ever survived. I tried replicating him after he left me but it never worked. They shrivelled up and died. I stopped after the last one. I have no desire to see another child die again."

Eliza Barnes "But why kill the children? They have nothing to do with the kingdoms."

Katherine DeLightly "they had everything to do with the kingdoms. They were elementals and I never intended them to die but they did, because they weren't strong enough to survive," she said with a small shrug.

Eliza Barnes I shake my head. "Once the kingdoms find out they are dead, they will stop caring. And children are strong enough to survive, but you didn't give them a chance. You captured ordinary kids. The kingdom doesn't want ordinary."

Katherine DeLightly "I'm counting on them losing interest, for that arrogance will be their downfall," she said and shrugged, "I gave them a chance to survive. I gave them the opportunity to be more powerful than they could ever imagine but they could withstand it. And I wouldn't do so well with assuming what we did with them. You don't know how they died." She stopped and turned to stare at her, "you're not listening to me. You don't want the truth, you're keeping yourself in a bubble because it suits you better. I didn't kill the children. Their blood, their body killed them. They weren't ordinary, they had as much elemental blood in them as you do, even myself. Though I suppose, since they were normal elementals, to us they are ordinary. You're perfectly ordinary. You don't know what happened to them, so don't assume I didn't give them a chance. I trained them. I made them stronger and then I gave them exactly what your rulers gave to me and they withered away and died. Everyone except Will. You really don't care about the answers. He could have told you that." She sneered. "When you leave, I advise you to ask him what exactly he went through when he was with me. He knows more than you think." She snapped before disappearing into the shadows. "Now hurry up, you're boring me." Her voice whispered out of the shadows, echoing around the room.

Eliza Barnes "How did you do it then?" I cross my arms, staying still. "The training. I'm not moving until you explain to me exactly the training you made them go under."

Katherine DeLightly There was no reply but a ball of light appeared in the path and bounced back and forth in a small square.

Eliza Barnes "The hell is the square for?"

Katherine DeLightly It bounced again, teasing her, before disappearing down the path, insinuating that she should follow it.

Eliza Barnes I follow the square carefully, being wary in case if there was anything dangerous.

Katherine DeLightly The tunnel went on for another ten minutes before coming out into a warehouse, that was empty except for a torn flag, the Lunar insignia printed onto it. Katherine was leaning against a barrier, staring up at it, facing away from the tunnel.

Eliza Barnes I glance around the warehouse. "So, this is a pretty nice warehouse, I have to say."

Katherine DeLightly "I suppose," se said with a shrug, "it's got nothing in here now, but it was one of the kingdoms. I destroyed it."

Eliza Barnes "Well, how long ago was that? A few years?

Katherine DeLightly "A few weeks," she replied, "I freed the people they'd enslaved. This ruin, this emptiness, is what they deserve."

Eliza Barnes I look at you slightly confused. "Alright, can you maybe explain what happened a little more?"

Katherine DeLightly "The kingdoms aren't accepting. Look at that maze. The kingdoms, during the time they were herding them up, decided to use the bis, tri elementals in their factories. For weapons, clothes, anything that can hold their superficilious life." She said slowly, "so, a few weeks ago, I killed the supervisors and let the workers go."

Eliza Barnes I think through what you said for a moment, wondering about plenty of things before I speak again. "Despite you being an enemy, you do have good intentions. One thing I'm good at doing is seeing both sides of a picture, understanding everyone's side. I know the stance of my friends on this issue surrounding the crisis, and now, I have your stance. The thing I learnt is that despite your beliefs, the best way to live is to keep an open-mind. Know how your friends and enemies feel. Because despite all the fighting, you're still human, to some extent. But having an open-mind doesn't mean that the past can be forgiven so easily, so this might not change much, but I need to do some thinking anyways."

Katherine DeLightly She looked at her in amusement, think about what?" She asked. "I haven't given you my offer."

Eliza Barnes "Offer? You didn't tell me about that..."

Katherine DeLightly "I have a busy life, I don't have time to just talk," she replied with a shrug, gazing at the flag, "I'm going to win this. Don't talk about how I don't know the future. But I'm confident that my siblings and I shall be the better. So I give you this, I will give you, your family, and the others in the quest amnesty, if you give me Liam. He has something of mine that I would like back."

Eliza Barnes "Your lust, I bet." I scoff about Liam. "Lady, the first thing you should know about me is that I have no family. How about this? I'll think it through, and talk to the others, then I'll let you know my answer."

Katherine DeLightly She chuckled at the beginning part, "no, that's not it. He'll know what I'm talking about," she replied, "and don't you? Or do you not count step siblings? Claire, isn't it? Or is it Clary."

Eliza Barnes "Clara. Besides Roger, she's my own family that I have. But I need to think through your offer, Katherine. As tempting it is to accept it right now, I can't risk the life of one of my friends with a clouded conscience."

Katherine DeLightly "You have my word I wouldn't put a hand on William. He is just as part of my family as yours are to you," she said, turning her head to gaze at her.

Eliza Barnes I nod and turn around to walk out of the warehouse, but not before I stick a tiny tracker in the doorframe.