The stars covered the night sky in a beautiful manner one Brandon had never seen before. A blanket of them hung against the dark in white strips. He had often taken a liking to star-gazing on quiet nights alone, having done so recently when he was still at the inn. It was the night before the group left. He was at a distance away from the tavern, spotting Voltrick and Aidan coming in from the town with a sullen look. He couldn't tell this from their faces, but by the way they walked. Aidan especially.

It made him think about the cat. Brandon had never expected something like that to have happened with him around. He spoke of earlier when Aidan cried out there in Brandon's arms; even remembering it send a chill down his spine. It made him realize that there was something very wrong about Aidan, as though his very existence wasn't meant to be. What a horrible thought. Aidan had been the nicest person he could have ever recalled until then. But now Brandon racked his mind to explain to himself why he felt like this. Questions pulsing through his mind, ones like he had before in defiance to the man who kept him on the horse. Though these questions were never answered, the man keeping stoic as though he hadn't heard anything.

Later Brandon had given up, understanding that there was nothing he could do about his situation. He would have called it reluctant submission. He wondered if it was the right thing to do, having been near people who fought such forces against them to a bitter end. Or at least that was Antonis' outlook. Aidan was the one to submit to things.

Was Aidan doing just that? No, something was different in the way Aidan looked. The way he stopped short to stare at that woman, a glint in his eyes that suggested sudden recollection. Then the anger came, those recollections tearing him up from the inside while sharing a common understanding of what that woman must have went through. And...in all that came that cry, the things he could not control conflicting within himself, forming the perfect question of 'why?'.

The world had shattered around Aidan in that moment, Brandon realized, and he had asked 'why' in the face of Fate. Just like now as Brandon laid near paralyzed on the horse's back, taken by two strangers in the dead of night, he had asked 'why' as he watched the stars. He had time to think.

Brandon recalled one time when Voltrick and Aidan returned where he placed a hand on Aidan's shoulder from behind to make his presence known. Aidan had shuddered terribly and pulled away before realizing it was him. This had disturbed Brandon, who had done the same before Aidan was taken away to the Ministry and he wouldn't have given a care. He realized that something was 'taken' from Aidan, something vital and of great importance. Popular belief would say it was innocence, but Brandon knew it was much deeper than that. It was the same with Voltrick but in an opposite effect. Instead, Voltrick had become 'docile' and Brandon could sense the need to be accepted from him. This was welcomed in Brandon's eyes. In all his time knowing Voltrick, he couldn't dislike him. Was it because his father was friends with him?

Was Voltrick's change because of Aidan? From having been a monster to become good, did Aidan have to suffer? And even before all this, why had Antonis traveled with Aidan from the very beginning? Was Antonis having the same effect Voltrick was with Aidan? Brandon remembered a look of peace on the general's features when Aidan smiled at him. He knew that expression, feeling it himself a time ago...as though everything was right in order.

He never seen that expression on his father's face. Brandon remembered at a young age hiding to peek at his father, finding him alone sitting in a room, staring with a blank face that seemed troubled as thoughts came to mind. As if he were trying to sort out his troubles in a fine manner, asking each one why it existed.

That was it.

Brandon realized now, eyes widening a bit in his discovery. That gaze Aidan had...Brandon saw his father in it. And just like he was with Aidan now, Brandon wanted to understand what was troubling his father as a young boy. But...in everything, there was nothing he could do. Not for Aidan, nor his father. If these thoughts had dawned on him, he would have tried doing something for Aidan. But it was too late.

Brandon's eyes were sullen as he gazed at the ground, barely feeling the horse halt and the man getting off, so deep was he in his thoughts. It was until he felt hands on him that he shook himself to his senses, questioning eyes searching in the dark as the man pulled him off, holding Brandon in his arms.

"----Did you hear me?" the man asked, Brandon looking up to him strangely.

"I said we're here."

Brandon kept quiet, looking away, realizing he didn't want to hear that. Douglas stopped his own horse, getting off roughly. "Follow me, Gale. I'll lead you down." he said to the other, walking towards a small, round stone tower. As Gale carried Brandon, he couldn't help but think it was like a castle sunken into the ground, with only this part of the tower sticking out.

Douglas came up to it, pulling a heavy lever beside the door before pulling it open with great effort, revealing a dark stairwell down into the earth. They stepped through, the door shutting behind them, sealing back the darkness.

Going down further, torches were stationed against the walls to light the way, the two men walking carefully and slowly most likely from the injuries they suffered. Brandon almost felt bad for the man who carried him, knowing Antonis had got his arm. But the thought was quickly dismissed.

Finally off the stairs, there was a small gape between them and a door. Douglas opened it as he had the first door and stepped aside, allowing Gale and Brandon through first. Inside they arrived in a huge circular room, at least a few yards in width on every side. In the middle as they proceeded was a pool of water that had a strange color to it. It seemed as though the moonlight were reflecting off of it from down here, the small ripples having a navy color to it. There were chairs set around the pool, all empty except for one.

"You've arrived." said the man seated with an old voice. Brandon would have described it as wise.

"Yes, elder." Douglas answered as the two of them stopped, bowing their heads respectfully except Brandon, who stared at the elder blankly.

"Prepare him and leave us. I wish to speak with him alone." The old man ordered, which the two men promptly obeyed. Gale brought Brandon closer to the pool before setting the boy down to the bank of it. There he began undressing him as politely as he could manage. Brandon tightened his lips together in embarrassment, but made no sound of defiance. There was nothing that could change the situation. He understood it was beyond his control. After, Gale picked Brandon up once more, setting him into the water in a seated position, the water coming to his stomach. Brandon could move his head at this point, but he lowered it instead, staring down at the water as he heard the two men walk away, a door closing somewhere that suggested their exit.

And then silence.

He could feel the elder staring at him, deep in thought. Brandon shared the same, deep in his own thoughts.

"You seem very controlled for someone in your position, young man." the elder said, the silence disappearing suddenly, causing Brandon to feel gently startled.

"...There's nothing I can control." Brandon replied quietly, raising his head to look back at the old man. He saw an older dog with long gray whiskers forming a beard around the tip of his maw. It seemed very befitting.

"That is a strange answer. But I understand that there may be something you would like to ask me."

Brandon said the first thing that came to mind.

"Am I going to die?"

"Yes." the dog simply replied. Brandon looked down at the water. It was warm against his fur.

And then there it was. The question.

"Why?"

"Because you are the portal that will bring back a life. In doing so, I'm afraid yours will be taken, but for a greater good. But I suppose that doesn't answer your question, am I correct? Simply, I cannot answer in the sense you want me to because there is no true answer to 'why'. Why this had to happen to you or why we chose to do this. The mysteries lie in Fate."

"Fate."

"Yes."

Brandon stared at the water as he let this sink within himself. He wanted to be angry, infuriated, make an effort to escape this lunatic occult, he wanted to run back home wherever that was and hug his mother to him, find Aidan and tell him he understood, he wanted to help Antonis and Gordan, Voltrick too. He wanted to live.

Hot tears streaked down his face, drops falling into the still water from his cheeks. He hadn't cried since his father died. But an overwhelming fear had gripped his heart. He was so afraid. Suddenly Aidan's words ran through his mind.

There's no justice in the world.

"It will be for the greater good." he heard the old man say.

Brandon thought of the dead bodies scattered in his mother's hometown, burnt and murdered. These people knew about it, the elder was speaking of it, assuring things would be better if Brandon died. But...

"I don't want to die." Brandon replied softly, his crying soundless.

"I am sorry."

Feeling something, Brandon rose his head up with dignity, eyes set on the older man who was now standing. "Don't apologize. I don't believe it."

"Very well."

"I've grown up thinking I served no purpose to those around me. Even when I tried, I could never help or comfort them. I thought I was a nuisance. I thought I didn't understand what life was like as they did, but now I understand. Whatever happens to me won't fulfill anything you thought it would. But I know that someone else will, someone who understands what life is and can't bear the truth. I know he'll succeed in overcoming evil because he loves everyone. It's his nature. He brings people together. He's the one that brings back life, not me. Whatever you are using me for, it won't work. I know it."

The man was silent as he stared at the young man before him with such confidence in his voice.

"You are a very strong young man."

"I wasn't until today."

The old man turned, holding his cane to support himself as he walked steadily towards the door behind him, shaking his head slowly. He is his father. he couldn't help but think to himself. He tapped the door with his cane twice before it opened before him, revealing hooded men awaiting. The old dog stepped to the side as the others filed in, seven in total. They came around the pool, forming a circle with their hands held before them, fingertips touching as their palms formed a ball shape.

The elder came back to his seat just before a blue glow lighted the floors in a strange pattern, reflecting off the walls giving better light to the room. Brandon was silent, staring forward with a heavy frown. Everything was out of his control. Nothing he said or could have done would change what they were going to do to him. That reluctant submission again.

Someone came from behind him, taking his shoulders gently with a light squeeze at first (in reassurance, Brandon thought) before guiding his limp body to lie in the water face up. Brandon looked up, finding that from all the way down here, an opening was seen high up within the tower as though he were at the bottom of a well, the moon light gleaming through where Brandon could see the stars. They were beautiful.

He cried as Aidan had, his head pushed into the water where noise would form in bubbles in the deep silence only water could provide as it slipped inside him. He could no longer cry as water filled his lungs painfully, unable to move as he helplessly cringed for air.

There was no justice in the world.

Brandon saw his mother and brother, then his father's face.


Vincent opened his eyes seeing a white gleam from under ripples, his body feeling as though he were floating on air. Suddenly, he felt himself pulled up, his back falling against something hard. There he coughed hoarsely, turning his head with shut eyes as water poured from what felt like his lungs. It was painful, tears coming to his eyes from it as he vomited a small puddle of water next to his head.

He could finally breathe, taking deep pants, discolored eyes opening gently to see blurred figures above him. What was happening? He tried to move but found he was too weak.

From Brandon's body, it formed itself into what Vincent had looked like at that age. He had a sharper look to him.

Somewhere, Vincent heard a muffled sound, his eyes gazed around to find it's source dreamily, not quite coming to his senses yet. It continued until he detected words.

"---he---alive---come and----Vincent?"

He felt that something was terribly wrong.

A hand pressed against Vinnie's forehead as his vision became clearer, seeing an old dog looking over him. "Vincent."

His lips parted to form words, but they came out breathless as he stared up to the man with an empty gaze.

"You have been brought back to eliminate the Eye of Michael, Vincent. That is your purpose."

Purpose. Am I...alive?

Brandon.

They killed him.

Brandon?!

We're together. They forced him away.

WHY AM I HERE?!

A hand was clutching the old man's throat on it's own accord, squeezing the frail neck as the man choked. He felt his face contorted...he didn't know of what expression. But he knew vengeance coursed through every vein in his body, heating his blood, becoming a point of rabid fury. He felt things moving around him, felt things grabbing his body. But nothing could stop him. Deep within him, he knew the sins of these men, and he will give justice.

The elder was dead in his hand as his body rose up despite those who tried to hold him down. In shock from such marvels of strength, some moved away in shock.

Vincent slowly turned, standing before them naked as water dripped from thick strands of black hair, his discolored eyes of blue and red piercing as he gazed at the figures watching him in horror. With the moon's glow against his white fur, he looked like something beyond the world, something terrifying and magnificent. An angel who had lost it's wings, fallen. And gradually, the blue tint of his eyes faded to red, and Vincent closed his eyes to darkness.