"Good. Now, if everyone could get in their assigned vehicles," Mrs. Lagrange lowered the bullhorn and spoke calmly as she ushered Aaradhya to the hummer.
"It can't be, can it? Is it actually her? She said the phrase so it must be her, or at least someone related. But she looks the same, older, but the same," the Holy Father entered one of the cars without a single delay as he muttered to himself. Confused by why the woman said something that he knew as a forbidden saying in the language that she used. Smart enough to understand the tense situation because of what was said, the rest of the leaders followed along and got in the vehicles. Despite being large limos, the interior quickly felt cramped with the addition of one translator and two gun toting guards per leader.
"Well done. I think you scared them," Aaradhya wrote as he entered the white extended hummer that had more space than he knew what to do with. He needed a little bit of help thanks to the height of the steps and heavy door. The tall woman that was always with Mrs. Lagrange helped him up and got in the backseat to his left. The young man that was likewise, always with Mrs. Lagrange, sat to his right after he hyperventilated with a ditzy smile plastered across his face. The rest of the staff that came with him from the underground tunnels followed along and took the far seats, quickly making the inside of the spacious hummer look small.
"They are scared of my past, not me," Mrs. Lagrange said with a smile.
"You are still you, even if it is in the past. Why were they so frightened of you," Aaradhya asked.
"Well...", Mrs.Lagrange paused for a long moment before she explained a little bit of her past.
"In another life I was an assassin. I was raised from birth to accomplish my goal no matter how hard. I loved my work...", Mrs.Lagrange paused when she saw that Aaradhya was writing.
"I know, you used to be someone called a Ghost. A rather high ranked one if I'm not mistaken, Wraith class if I'm not mistaken, the highest there is as far as internal division goes within your old profession," Aaradhya wrote. He had different thoughts in mind.
'I am aware of your past, somewhat. It was touched upon in Death's notes about my life and the people that I would meet that are beneficial to my growth. Mr Voltaire was amongst the people but I'm not sure if he is viable now that he has become a pariah to the faith,' Aaradhya nodded softly before he continued writing. Mrs.Lagrange added some detail about her past that she was unsure if her Lord knew.
"You are correct my lord. Amongst mine and previous generations that were still active, I was ranked fifth. I don't know what the standards are now since they increased with each iteration of soldier but I should still be ranked within the top 50 despite my old age," Mrs.Lagrange stopped speaking when Aaradhya turned his notepad over.
"Did you like your job before you became the head of the crystal peak," He asked with a slight smile. He was interested in this woman that managed to career switch into something as unlikely as a maid.
"I know how it sounds but even though I liked my job, I have always disliked the feeling of killing. I hated the espionage missions even more," Mrs.Lagrange looked weary as she thought about the past.
"Do you like your current position," Aaradhya wrote.
"I do my lord. I wouldn't trade it for anything," she smiled as sweetly as her old face would allow. Aaradhya nodded and continued to ask her mundane questions about her time on the island and some of her duties. He even went as far as to ask about her personal life, to which Mrs.Lagrange was an open book.
In another vehicle, the Holy Father held his tongue and whispered to Basil.
"I have met her before. I know where now, 'Mouths make the men when steps break them', I have heard her say that once before," the Holy Father smiled cheerfully.
"She must be the Qajar Cat," he said. Basil was caught off guard, not because he knew who that was but because the Holy Father had a look of longing in his eyes.
"She is still as beautiful and frightening as the first time that I saw her," the Holy Father smiled bitterly.
"Father, what are you talking about," Basil asked.
"That woman. She is an old Ghost," the Holy Father revealed.
"Ghost... do you mean a relic of your past or one of those assassins that we employ from time to time to get rid of enemies of the church," Basil whispered even though he was not afraid of anyone overhearing the conversation since he knew that none of the others in the vehicle knew the language that he and the Father were using. Well, the guards in blue, yellow, and red knew the language but they were on the far side of the limo along with the other guards and they would not speak about what they heard even if they did overhear.
"She is both a relic of my past and one of those killers," the Holy Father sucked his teeth as he thought of the distant past. He was but some twenty year old youth that had just entered the Church under the guidance of his own parents.
"I last saw her when she held one of my teachers and some of his closest confidants hostage under threat of death. She toyed with their minds and bodies every step of the way that night. Ah. Remembering all of that history has left me in a state," the Holy Father shifted in his seat.
'I have never heard of this. It must be something that was purposely scrubbed from the information that I was given to protect and accompany the Holy Father,' Basil wiped the sweat off his brow and cleared his suddenly parched throat as he realized that he was not, in fact, fully debriefed about the Fathers past.
"Did you know, she threatened to castrate me with her bare hands if I ever revealed what I saw that day. Why she didn't kill me that day when the rest were murdered is still a mystery to me," the Holy Father looked excited. Basil, however, looked at his boss and swallowed down a lump that was in his throat. The Holy Father realized his mistake and sighed heavily.
"I should not have said anything if you are going to act like this Basil. It was far in the past and I doubt the woman remembers me. I looked quite different in my youth," he looked at the priestess that sat across from him and the monk that also sat adjacent and smiled.
"Ask how or if they know of the Qajar Cat. They should both either be too young or beyond the range of that woman's active scene to know but they still might have heard rumors or tales of her exploits from their predecessor or subordinates," the Holy Father pursed his lips and revealed something to Basil that the man didn't know how to parse.
"As far as I have discovered, she was limited to just the European continent," the Holy Father requested Basil to ask.
"Ahem," Basil was about to rephrase the question when the monk with beads spoke to his translator with a perturbed expression.
"Taji, that woman. She has a relationship with or is herself, the Qajar Cat," he said.
"What is that, a title? Your Holiness Chodha, I am a bit lost," the monk called Taji asked, unsure of what to actually say.
"It is both a name and a title. She either is or is associated with a deadly monster. One that we should not anger or annoy under any means necessary," his Holiness Chodha scanned the faces of the Holy Father and Basil. It looked like they wanted to speak.
"Hmm. Taji, go ask that man, the father, if he knows of her. He seems to have a pallid expression. One that I would associate with recognition," Chodha bowed his head in the direction of the Holy Father and smiled gently. Around the same time that the Holy Father and the Holiness Chodha spoke to their seconds and before either translator, Basil or Taji, could speak, the priestess spoke to her translator.
"Aiko, my parents have told me tales of living apparitions. Of wraiths that take human life as if they were merely whispers on the tongue. Swiftly and silently," the priestess spoke softly as she covered her lips with a sleeve.
"Lady Hana," Aiko shifted uncomfortablly.in her seat and leaned closer so that she could hear her lady.
"It was only after I entered my position that I was informed of phrases to look out for and actions that I was never to take if I wanted to preserve my life," Priestess Hana shook her head.
"I know what I heard but I must be sure. Can you ask these two elders if they have heard the words 'Qajar cat'. I must ask them more questions about that woman's past if they have," Hana sharpened her gaze as she examined the Father and Monk that both looked as though they were hiding something. Instead of waiting to observe the others, Aiko immediately went to work and asked her Lady's question.
"My Lady Hana has heard tales of the Qajar Cat but does not know the full brunt of the woman's history. If you gentlemen could elucidate us," the Aiko bowed her head slightly as she deferred to the two older gentlemen. Basil and Taji reported what each of them heard and waited for a response. As if coming to a tacit understanding both the Holy Father and his Holiness Chodha silently agreed to let the priestess Hana know exactly who they were dealing with. They felt that it was necessary to share this info lest a mistake occur that implicated them. They could only hope that the leaders in the other limo have heard of the saying that was synonymous with a death sentence.
Inside of the driver cabs of both limos a radio buzzed with static as they fell in line with the gold rimmed hummer. Mrs.Lagrange issued a little mic check to make sure each driver was ready. They were off soon after. Car by car, each limo left the airfield.
The entire island buzzed with activity as the first wave of guests arrived. Snipers and soldiers of different backgrounds held down key locations to ensure the safety of the passing limos. K-9 units scoured the forests and streets to ensure that the nearby surroundings were clear of assassins that had been reported. It took a while for each limo to pass the various checkpoints that were almost haphazardly set up by the military or mercenaries of the leaders that were in attendance.
Despite the tinted windows, the Holy Father managed to see smoke in the air some distance away.
"Something must have happened," he guessed.
"Like what Father," Basil leaned closer.
"If I had to guess, there may have been a fire," the Holy Father was spot on but he didn't realize how accurate he had been since he had not seen direct evidence of a flame.
"I have not seen a single resident of this Island yet Taji. Do you think that they have been told to wait in their homes or do you think something else is at play," Chodha narrowed his eyes as the convoy that they were a part of passed a small village that grew alongside the main road.
"I don't know your Holiness Chodha, it may be something that the elders of the Shepherd arranged," Taji frowned slightly as he felt uncomfortable with what Chodha pointed out.
"I am surprised that there is a force actually called Ghosts that exist for the sake of murder. I wonder if that woman is in the Shepherds to repent," Hana asked Aiko.
"She has most likely seen the error of her way and searches for acceptance with this faith. She should fit right in with these maniacs," Aiko scoffed.
"Aiko, you cannot debase others. Which faith she chooses to believe in or the people she chooses to associate with is her own. We cannot stoop so low as to name call," Priestess Hana shook her head. The small talk changed to stunned silence when they reached the mountaintop. Maids and butlers, like an endless resource, poured out of Glass Peak and set up a legitimate red carpet leading out of the front door.
"This is the treatment that I was expecting from the beginning, I'm glad to see it happening now," the Holy Father looked out the window and nodded in pleasant surprise.
He was not prepared for it when the white haired child he had conversed with earlier was helped out of the hummer by a young man and lady that exited before him. His jaw even dropped when he noticed that when the boy walked over the carpet, the servants would roll it back up.
"Is that child really so important to the Shepherds that they would pull out such stops," the Holy Father shook his head as a pair of servants opened the door to the limo that he was in with the Priestess and Monk. Mrs.Lagrange stayed behind with her bullhorn and waved to all six of the religious leaders and their retinues.
"If you could all follow me to the meeting room," she turned on her heel and walked with a slight limp. None of the leaders called out her apparent disability out of fear and respect and followed. Along the way, the group passed by a magnificent foyer and a richly decorated hall and went up a set of grand steps.
They traveled through a mountain pass and found themselves almost transported to another world. As they got to the first platform. To their right was a view of the entire island and a glassy ocean. They were stunned by an endless horizon that was only broken by the silhouette of a small cruise ship that was docking at the port on the eastern side of the island. They could see the airport that they had come from in the same direction. To the left, they saw an enormous and filled ballroom. The room was filled with elders that were on the council, their families, and of course, servants that flitted about the place ceaselessly.
"After the meeting, we will be retreating into this hall for festivities," Mrs. Lagrange didn't use the bullhorn as her voice was loud enough to get across even with the live music that was being played in the ballroom.
'Is that Micheal Gates,' Basil felt his heart stop upon seeing one of the richest men in the world stand in the middle of a group of similar big names.
'Larry Walton, Alice Dell, Steve Huang...', Basil grew paler with each face he recognized. It was his job to know people so that he could inform the Holy Father but to see so many people of such wealth already on the island left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.
'If the Shepherds can organize this many big names in such a short amount of time, why do they want to see us,' Basil exchanged a look with Taji and Aiko that said everything.
"The Shepherds called in every favor they had just for today," they all realized.
The next room was just as filled as the leaders passed by. There was a central island with five giant flat screen televisions above it. The screens flashed with different things but anyone could see that the most central tv showed time slots and directions to different activities that could be enjoyed within the large room. The second TV showed highscores and MVP positions for those activities. On the side of the little island that the leaders couldn't see from the entrance, the TV actively updated tournament rankings for different sports and games that were available in the arcade. The fourth and fifth screens, both of which couldn't be seen, depicted movies and shows that could currently be enjoyed in any of the dozens of small five to six person theaters on the outskirts of the main entrance.
Also from the entrance, every leader could see rows upon rows of arcade cabinets and children running back and forth. Every so often, a maid or butler would hover across the room with a plate of food and drink.
A world famous DJ spun the tracks to the music being played throughout the room. Basil didn't know the name of the DJ but they must have been important since he had seen him before. He also noticed that a dance floor near the DJ's booth was turned into a rhythm game stage. The steps were projected on a wall behind the DJ booth with laser lights.The whole floor screamed of fun. After that, nothing seemed to matter, not even the Heavenly aromas that wafted out of the two kitchens that they passed by.
"Here you all go," Mrs. Lagrange waved toward a door that led to a relatively smaller conference room. She specifically pointed toward the table and chairs that had been set beside the seats of the elders that were waiting with concerned expressions in their corner of the room. Some of the grand elders looked pleased that Mrs. Lagrange was there while others looked completely unperturbed despite what had been reported. Not all of the Grand elders were waiting there as there were some that were missing. The religious and spiritual leaders found their seats without any trouble as they were guided by a maid or butler that filed in beside Mrs. Lagrange. The staff quickly vanished through a hidden service passage soon after their goal was completed. Mrs. Lagrange left the guests to their own devices as she left to get her wound serviced, she bled through the bandages.
This upper reception area resembled an amphitheater setup but much smaller and contained within itself. The pillars around the room showed signs of scraping like the ballroom below. The floor was lowered to give it that circular and tiered look though the guests didn't know anything about the room's ability to shift in appearances. The only thing that really stood out was the throne in that was where a stage would usually be.
"Why are so many seats at the grand elders table empty," the Holy Father whispered to Basil who had no idea how to answer that question. There was no apparent reasoning behind it.
"I don't know Father," Basil looked confused. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why the Holy Father would ask him a question that he couldn't have possibly known the answer to.
"Sorry Basil, I only asked because old Ninth isn't here," the Holy Father examined the lineup of elders and frowned. Many of these religious leaders only showed up to this conclave because their old friends or acquaintances asked them to be here after calling in a favor or two. The Holy Father, for example, was only present because the Ninth Grand Elder had dirt on him from their youths and called the resulting favor. The Priestess Hana, even though she didn't say anything, was also only there because of a promise that her predecessor made but could not keep because of her untimely passing. Chodha was there out of duty. There was an ancient pact that was struck between the ancestors of his faith and the Shepherds so he had to uphold his faith's honor and dignity.