When My Heart Became Ice - Chapter 10

[[ D E J A • vu ]]

As the snow falls . . .

“We found this,” Kyth dropped the vial onto Yukito’s desk.

“What is it?” Yukito looked curious.

“We found humans drowned in it,” Kyth said quietly. “I’m sure if you go back to the coordinates you’ll find them.”

“Huh…” Yukito lifted the bottle curiously, glancing into it. “Thank you, Kyth… We’ll send this to the research department immediately…”

Kyth nodded slowly. “Director,” She said. “I’m going to visit my brother’s wife. I won’t be available for the next week.”

“Oh,” Yukito looked up at her. “Well… I’ll send Syn then if there are any developments…”

“No,” Kyth snapped. “I don’t want Syn near my nephew.”

“Okay,” Yukito blinked at her. “I’ll send someone else, then…”

“Thank you,” Kyth turned and started to leave. “Don’t send someone dangerous.”

“All right,” Yukito gave a nod.

Kyth disappeared out the door.

As she walked, Nyun trotted up beside her, hands in his pockets. “Hey,” He said. “What’s up? You have that look on your face again.”

“There’s no look,” Kyth glanced up at him. “What are you talking about?”

“You have that pouty ‘I don’t wanna deal with this crap’ kind of look,” Nyun tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m going to my sister-in-law’s house…” Kyth sighed. “Rynu’s wife…”

“Ah,” Nyun slung an arm around her shoulder. “Well… You’re good friends with her, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” Kyth looked at her feet as she walked. “Rynu didn’t even tell me he was marrying her until after we’d known each other for nearly two years.”

“You must miss him,” Nyun murmured.

“Yes…” Kyth looked lost for a moment, eyes distressed.

“But you haven’t cried once since his death. You didn’t even cry when they told you. You didn’t cry when they did that awful thing to his body.”

Kyth looked up at him quietly. “I can’t cry,” She told him. “Not anymore.”

“When was the last time you cried?” Nyun stopped her, turning her to face him. “You can’t hold in all that pain, Kyth. You have to let it out some time.”

“I don’t want to let it out,” Kyth snapped.

Seeing she was getting upset, Nyun stopped pestering her about it. He put his arm around her shoulders again as they continued walking. They were silent for a while.

“Good luck,” He told her when they reached her office.

“Thanks…” She was quiet as she put her things into her backpack. “I’ll be back in a week… If there’s an emergency, just call me, okay?”

“Yeah…” Nyun pushed his hands into his pockets and looked at her silently.

She finished packing her things and then glanced at him. “Good luck,” She told him kindly.

“With what?” He asked.

“Anything,” She murmured. “Don’t get hurt on a mission, okay?”

“All right,” He tilted his head as she slipped past him and disappeared around the corner.

Kyth continued walking, out the door and out into the gated property of the Order. Their land was in a huge area, marked as a bombing range so no one would enter. It was fenced in and guarded by other Reachers. Inside the fence was the Order’s main building and also all the houses where Reachers lived.

Kyth walked all the way to her own home; the estate Rynu had left her. The huge manor was much too big for just her. It got lonely too often.

She got all her things packed up into her suitcase, and then put them in her car. She had already called Emily the day before about coming over, which was why she was staying for an entire week. Vacation from work would be nice.

Kyth got in behind the driver’s seat and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

You can’t hold all that pain in. You have to let it out some time.

“No I don’t,” She whispered, and backed out of the driveway.

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“I’m so glad you came,” Emily smiled kindly at her. “I just moved back into our old house so it was going to get really lonely without him here…”

“I know what you mean…” Kyth glanced around, sighing. “The house is as beautiful as ever.”

“It just feels so empty,” Emily finished. The two girls looked at each other a moment, then turned away.

They stood in Kyth’s room for the week. She had already dropped all her stuff and was planning to help Emily with dinner when she was informed that her sister-in-law had already ordered takeout and hoped she didn’t mind.

"How’s Alabaster?” Kyth asked, looking at Emily.

“Oh, he’s fine,” Emily laughed a bit. “He did the cutest thing today… I showed him a picture of Rynu and he got so excited; he was bouncing around in his high chair and grinning…”

Kyth looked over as Emily’s face turned sad.

She was too young to be a widower with a two month old baby. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days.

“Everything will be fine,” Kyth assured her gently.

“Yeah…” Emily glanced out the window silently.

“Is he sleeping?” Kyth prodded gently, intent on distracting her grieving friend.

“Hm? Oh, yes…” Emily glanced towards the door. “He should be waking up soon… I’ll get him…”

“I’ll be in the kitchen,” Kyth told her, and Emily nodded, disappearing into the huge hallways.

Kyth continued down the hallways to the kitchen, where she poured herself a glass of water and hopped up on the counter, slurping quietly at the liquid.

Emily came down a couple minutes later, cradling the sleepy baby to her chest. Alabaster gargled quietly, snuggling against his mother. Kyth smiled gently.

“Oh, he’s so adorable now…” Kyth stroked his hair adoringly. It was white, like Syn’s. His eyes, however, were the lightest, palest blue she’d ever seen. It was a strange coloring even for a Reacher.

“Yes,” Emily laughed sheepishly. “He’s so much like his father it’s almost frightening…”

“All this from two months with him?” Kyth joked.

The two laughed.

“Well,” Emily was smiling. “He doesn’t get upset ever… He doesn’t cry very much, he just whimpers. He sleeps through the day mostly, though, and is awake at night, which makes it hard for me, but…”

Kyth tilted her head. Alabaster was already showing signs of becoming a Reacher.

“Has he started walking yet?” She asked.

“No,” Emily smiled. “Though he does crawl around and he does stand up if he’s trying to reach something. He’s certainly athletic…”

“Yeah,” Kyth looked peaceful, thinking about how easy it would be for him in the human world.

The doorbell suddenly rang, and Emily said, “Oh, that would be the Chinese food. Here, could you hold him?”

Emily carefully passed Alabaster to Kyth, who gently held him as he opened his sky blue eyes and looked up at her.

“Hey, baby,” She crooned. “Morning. I bet you don’t like being up this early, hm?”

Alabaster gargled and wiggled in her arms, reaching for her hair. She lowered her head slightly and let him grip the silvery strands. His little fingers touched them and pulled away, mesmerized by the strange color.

Emily came shuffling back in with an armful of food, which she got into the kitchen and set on the table.

“I’ll get dinner if you hold the baby,” Kyth offered.

“No, I’d like to do it…” Emily glanced at her. “Unless you don’t want to hold him?”

“God no, I love this child,” Kyth laughed.

Alabaster looked up at her with big, curious eyes. He was attracted to the lyrical laugh that had escaped her lips.

Kyth smiled softly and gently stroked his fluffy white hair.

White hair, blue eyes.

She sure hoped he wasn’t going to end up like Syn.

Emily got the table set, arranging the Chinese food so it didn’t look like takeout but an actual dinner. She set Alabaster in his high chair and let him play with some toys as they ate.

Biting into a dumpling, Kyth asked, “Has Al said any words yet?”

“No,” Emily sighed. “I hope he does soon…” A sad look came over her face. “Me and Rynu had a bet whether he would say ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ first…”

Seeing Emily’s sadness, Kyth claimed, “Well I think he’ll say “aunt Kyth” first!”

Emily laughed.

Alabaster let out a squeal of laughter, and then threw his chew ring across the room. Kyth’s hand shot up and caught it.

She stood and gently placed it back in Alabaster’s hands. “There we go,” She crooned.

“Nice catch,” Emily gave a laugh, staring.

“Yeah,” Kyth gave a sheepish giggle. “I’m athletic.”

“Like Rynu,” Emily smiled a bit. “Both of you had such great reflexes, it’s almost inhuman.”

The two laughed together.

Inhuman reflexes. Strange hair and eye colors. The balance of nothing ever seen. The power of all the animals of the world put into one slim, pale body.

This was a Reacher.

Emily didn’t know about the Order, Reachers, or anything. Rynu had never wanted to expose a fragile human to that kind of lifestyle, even if his son was half Reacher.

“Well,” Emily giggled. “I’m gonna put Al to bed.”

“All right,” Kyth suddenly jumped up. “Wait, I brought some movies. If you aren’t too tired, you want to have a movie night?”

“Yeah,” Emily grinned as she gently brought Alabaster into her arms. “That sounds like fun.”

“And we both know,” Kyth’s voice was gentle. “That neither of us have had much fun lately.”

“Yeah,” Emily looked at Alabaster, who watched his mother with big eyes. “It’ll be nice to have fun again.”

Kyth smiled slightly as Emily disappeared out of the room with Alabaster.

She glanced around the house as she lifted up the plates. Her mind, being constantly alert to attacks, wondered what she would do if someone tried to attack. The windows wouldn’t provide much protection against an attack, but… The marble pillars might help. That is, if it was a human attack. A Reacher attack would be different. She would have to use her powers in front of Emily.

The Order—not to mention her brother—would not be happy with her.

Of course, that wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t.

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Kyth woke drowsily the next morning. She glanced at the clock.

Never mind about morning, it was one in the afternoon.

Scrambling out of bed, Kyth quickly pulled a blanket around her bare shoulders and trotted down the stairs, not bothering to change out of her tank top and shorts.

“Emily?” She asked, looking around the house. “Are you awake?”

“Of course I’m awake,” Emily smiled at her, poking her head out from the study. “I’ve been awake since eight. Where have you been?”

“Sorry,” Kyth gave a sheepish laugh. “I… Ah… My job kind of calls for me to be awake at night, so I sleep during the day.”

“New job, huh?” Emily motioned her into the study and Kyth followed. “What is it?”

“Um…” Kyth thought frantically. “Night… Guard. Yeah.”

“What do you guard?”

“Oh, some, you know, old museum.” Kyth waved a hand dismissively.

“Well,” Emily smiled a bit. “That’s nice, I’m glad you found a job. Oh! Here’s Rynu’s sword. I thought you might want to take it with you when you go.”

Kyth looked at the glass casing that held Rynu’s prized Ukotami sword. The silvery black blade shone, perfectly polished, the black handle still looking good as new in the night blue cloth wrapped around it.

“I’ve never seen him use it before,” Emily admitted.

“It’s a beautiful sword…” Kyth sighed happily. “May I…?”

“Oh, of course!” Emily rushed to the desk and pulled out a key, unlocking the glass case.

Carefully, Kyth lifted it out.

“It’s so light…” She sighed. “Like a dream.”

“Is it really that amazing?” Emily tilted her head.

“Yes…” Kyth pointed it towards the window. “It’s been passed down in our family for generations. The infamous Ukotami sword.”

“Infamous?”

“Yes. They used to kill wild beasts with this sword, back in the very old days.”

“Is the sword that old?”

“Yes… It has been taken care of very well, however, and that is the only reason it exists still today…”

“So he gave something that important to you, huh…?”

Kyth looked up at her. “If it makes you more comfortable,” She murmured. “You can keep it. Alabaster is going to carry on the family name, after all.”

“Yeah…” Emily tilted her head. “But I want you to keep it, Kyth. He gave it to you.”

Kyth looked at the dark sword, nodding quietly. “He did,” She said, voice hushed.

Emily looked at her a moment, concerned. Suddenly, the baby monitor on her belt began to belt out Alabaster’s wailing. Emily jumped and looked at the monitor, startled, and then rushed up the stairs.

Kyth picked up the sheath for the sword, and carefully put it around her waist, tying it firmly. She tilted her head and examined it in her reflection in the tall window.

“Yeah,” She sighed. “Fits like a dream.”

Emily’s shriek made her head jerk up.

Within seconds, she was at Alabaster’s door.

Someone in a black cloak held the small baby, a mask on their face. Emily looked about ready to have a heart attack; she was leaned against the wall, hand pressed to her chest, hyperventilating.

Kyth stepped forward. Alabaster’s room was on the second floor, and she saw no rope. Knowing the house inside and out, there was no way the man could have climbed; he had jumped.

He wasn’t human.

“Why do you have that child?” Kyth asked, voice deadly calm.

“Give me the key,” His voice hissed. It sounded warbled by some sort of mechanical machine.

“The key to what?” Kyth asked, taking a step forward.

The man tensed. “You know what,” The man snapped.

“A-Al…” Emily whimpered.

“I suggest,” Kyth said slowly, her voice lowering, eyes menacing. “You hand over the baby.”

“I want the key!” The man snarled.

“Hand him over now or I’ll be forced to get him myself,” Kyth’s voice had turned harsh, snapping at the man.

Seeing he was up against a wolf of a woman, the man began to back away.

Faster than the eye could follow, Kyth was right next to him, the tip of her sword touching his neck.

“Hand him over,” Kyth whispered. “Or I’ll lop your head right off.”

For a moment, the man was still.

In a split second, he darted towards the window, pushing Kyth out of the way and throwing Alabaster.

Kyth had to make a decision; go after the masked man or catch Alabaster.

Her legs flashed and Alabaster fell softly into her arms.

He gurgled at her, giggling.

“Emily,” Kyth looked up at her.

“K-Kyth…” She said shakily. Then, her eyes fluttered, and she fainted, collapsing onto the ground.

Kyth pulled Emily up over her shoulder and trotted down the stairs, into Emily’s room. She laid her and Alabaster on the bed and then pulled a large suitcase out of the closet. She pulled clothes out of drawers and off of hangers, shoving them into the suitcase.

After an hour, Emily began to wake.

Kyth handed her a glass of water, eyes completely serious.

“K-Kyth…?” Emily asked after taking a sip. “What’s going on…? What happened…?” Emily suddenly put the cup down and picked Alabaster up, rocking her baby in her arms. “Oh, Al… Al…”

“You’re in danger,” Kyth told her. “I’m taking you somewhere where you’ll be safe.”

“Why are we in danger?” Emily asked, standing slowly. She held Alabaster close to her. “Who was that man?”

“He was after something,” Kyth looked at Emily. “Called the key. Did Rynu ever bring home anything strange? Anything at all?”

“Not that I can remember…” Emily said slowly. “Oh, but wait… He brought home a book one day… It was a strange book in a different language, not something he would normally read… He went into his study for an hour and didn’t come out…”

“All right, that’s good,” Kyth glanced towards the suitcase. “Please get the essentials packed, Emily. We’ll be leaving as soon as we can.”

“Where are we going?” Emily asked, trembling.

“My brother’s house in Kutopualo.”

“Th-the house that you live in…? I’ve never been there…”

“Yeah, that’s why it’s safe.”

Kyth turned her head towards the clock. 2:30.

“I’m going to go look for the book,” Kyth instructed. “Get your things ready as fast as you can and please keep a weapon on you at all times. If you hear something strange, scream.”

Kyth disappeared from Emily’s eyes.

She burst into the study, tearing through bookshelves and drawers as she searched for the book Emily spoke of. Finally, she found it. Bound in a black cover, it was the only book that was written in a different language. Kyth grabbed it and rushed out, shoving it in her own bag.

Returning to the room, Kyth said, “Emily, let’s go.”

Emily nodded shakily, lifting Alabaster’s baby bag onto her shoulder and cradling Alabaster in her arms.

“Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to get all your things later,” Kyth assured her. “I don’t believe you’ll be coming back here for a while.”

She led the woman and baby out to her car, where she got Alabaster settled in his baby chair in the back and Emily into the passenger’s seat. She put a blanket around the shaking woman. She’d get medical attention the second Kyth got her home.

Kyth dropped into the driver’s seat, slammed the door shut, and drove off at high speed.

[/blockquote]



It drinks up the blood pouring over me.