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"Emayla?" Dante wispered. He brushed the hair from her sweaty forhead and smiled as her eyes fluttered open. "Hey.." she sighed in a tired voice, while sitting up. looking down at her near flat stomach and a happy little sigh issued from her. "Can....can I see my baby?" she asked, smiling up at him. He was already prepared for that question and the baby was already in his arms. laying it gently in her arms he had to resist the urge to continue holding his child, but he wanted to share it with her. without her, he wouldn't have the chance to even have this baby. Her face lit up as she cradled his daughter in her arms smiling joyously she was caught up, breathless. "What is it?" he kissed her cheek and sat down on the edge of her bed. "It's a girl."
"A girl..." she said dreamily. "have we named her yet?"
he shook his head and the newborn gripped the finger he offered it. she put her head on his shoulder and wispered. "Then we'll call her Aneirin."

--

Emily kneeled, her finger itching to pull the trigger, but she hesitated. Vince was next to her, holding his own gun, aimed at her target incase something went wrong. he doubted it would. Illio thought other wise. In the official report for Vince, ordering to her side, he had said that psychologically, Emily was begining to break down. Vince had always argued that bringing up the subject of her original mission within the group, as if to remind her what she was really living for, was not healthy. she did not show any sign of it, and Vince saw nothing to prove his point. a watch beeped, hers of course and her gaze intensified. his attention went back to the target at hand and he saw them make a turn around the corner. without hesitation Emily's gun went off and the man crumpled to the ground much to the suprise of those around him. moving from their vantage point, they were on the stairs, Emily packing her gun up without looking down. Vince's gun didn't take much to take care of, his eye sight was better than hers and he didn't need the scale of equipment that she did to see correctly. their guns were different too, hers smaller, lighter, but a little more akward to simply put in a bag. they were in Vinces car scarcly a minute later driving off, the sirens still far off. Emily still showed no emotion on her face and Vince wondered what exactly was going on in the teenagers mind. this was another thing he'd been angry about when Illio had signed her on, she was going on assignments, doing things that even adults shouldn't be allowed to do. His gut twisted in guilt so he took a stab at relieving it. telling her she did well would at least make him feal like he was helping her through any guilt she might feel"You shot well." a long pause. "how are you feeling kid?" this got a disturbing little smile out of her. "I'm feeling great Vinny, just figured out what I'm gonna do when I finish my assignment." He shivered at the happy tone in her voice. Obviously, she felt no remorse for the stranger who's life she just ended.
"What?" he asked politly. Looking out the window she said "I'm gonna kill the guy who took my kid away.."

--

Emily walked silently onto the bridge and leaned over the railing, waiting for everyone to clear off. The wind began to pick up and the clear sound of a bell tolling midnight reached her ears. every one was gone now, all except a figure leaning back, watching her watch the water. "Hello Dante" she said in a dull tone. the figure pushed off the railing and walked to her side. She didn't seem to notice this act, just lifted the bag at her side and unzipped it. Her gun lay silent, glistening in the moonlight as she lifted it out and checked it one last time. Dante's eyebrows lifted , but he made no motion to leave. sighing, grease on her cheek, Emily threw it into the river below and her and dante stood silently side by side watching it float away and sink. Tears started streaking their way down Emily's face and she began to sob as the shock and reality of what she had just done began to go through her. Dante stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, trying to comfort her. "Emily, It's o.k., you dont need to feel bad, the deserved it." Her guilt began slipping away and her breathing slowed and she wiped away the saline away from her eyes and looked him in the eyes. "Dante, no one really deserves to die. I can never repair the damage I've done."
"Whats in the past is in the past Emily" She laughed corsly
"Easy for you to say, yours is easily forgiven." he wrapped his arms around her waist and and rested his forehead on hers. "Thats not true" she closed her eyes and he pressed a little harder "It's not true because I know you havent forgiven me yet" she smiled and slid her head onto his shoulder "You never killed anyone Dante, To be given what you gave, it would not destroy you" He pulled her around and set her up on the bridge railing. "Dante.." she whispered, putting her arms around his neck and holding tight to him "your the best friend, So tell me, since I've fullfilled the only goal i ever had. What's the point of me being here anymore? " He took the pack over his shoulder and placed it around hers. He looked into her eyes with his violet ones and smiled. "Emayla"
"Dante, how many times do i have to ask you not to call me that" She laughed, but looking at his face she knew he was being serious. "Emayla, You know you mean more to me than you'd like." she nodded and looked away almost shyly, He brought her face to look at his. "I know I wont ever have your heart again, but I can give your life It's purpose, Thats what you wanted isn't it?" SHe noded and gasped as he kissed her quickly and then covered her mouth and nose with a cloth. She fought at first and then her eyes drooped and she relaxed. Right as she fainted He whispered "I love you Emayla" and then he pushed her off the bridge into the water.

--

To the casual passerby Emayla Moniheim did not appear much different from any other 15 year old they might pass on the street. in fact she would just appear to be a shy girl, slim frame and build, with dark hair and pale eyes, neither a deffinant color, just a variant of three or four rather normal coulors. her clothing would not make a statement, or define her as anything in particular. she looks like a sweet girl, and if she didn't look like she was on the verge of something, wether strange, awful, incredible, or just plain awful, she probably would have more friends. She is happy with the ones she has, even though no one would think to put her and them together. Her friends do stand out, they have no problem wearing more black in one day than many people have in their closets, their hair died in colors that often earn them annoyed stares. Hana, short, energetic, and colorful despite the majority of black she wears, is known for the almost permanant presence of oversized headphones blaring a million and a half kinds of music in at once. Then theres Nate, tall, quiet, and sort of disliked by others because of just the way he comes off. most people think he's snobbish because of how little he talks. the three of them together, you wouldn't think it was anyone but the kids you sit with at lunch by listening to them. but not many people listen. they only judge. despite their classmates dislike, they find a crowd of those who adore them elsewhere. their band plays regularly on the weekends at two clubs one- HavoC and the other Othem, and at both places you would feel out of place not knowing their names. when they first met Nate wasn't happy about hanna requesting some shy girl from her chorus to come sing for him to replace his ex-girlfriend who had just recently left the group. he even argued with hana about it until she got him to shut up and listen to Emayla for one song. her voice, something usually concealed by the other girls in chior, automaticly won them over and took to the lyrics as if they had been written for her, and only her to posses the rest of the world and make them empathetic to what was happening. in truth Hana was the one who wrote a lot of the music and lyrics, but as she put it, "couldn't sing worth shit". anyone she said that to would disagree, but she didn't care. she had always hated the way anyone had sang her music until emayla came along, and it seemed no one else had either. the thing was, not many people knew emayla well, not even hana. anyone who thought they knew her well would explain her life like this: well, she lives with her mom and her mom's girlfriend, along with her little sister, Anerin. and that would be it. anything beyond that was never brought up. even on their walks home, hana and emayla stay-overs, and time together at school, they never brought up the past. it was a group agreement to focus on today, the next day, and a few days after that and nothing else, and it worked very well for them. i'm here to tell you things they don't know. thing's that for a while, Emayla did not even know, or remember about herself. and i'm here to tell you that she is not the sweet little girl that she remembers being. some pasts you can try to forget, try to destroy, but you simply...just....can't

Emayla held Anerin in her arms and wondered at the small child she held. they looked so much a like, especially their eyes, Emayla's were bluer than the ocean, and Anerin's were an even more intense Blue. it was electric, an effect Emayla had never mastered with her's, but didn't mind. she couldn't be jelous of a child so innocent. Anerin at 6 was still small as a four year old, and was often teased about it and the fact that her mom was gay. being shy didn't help with it, and she could be a little sinical sometimes because of it. she hardly trusted anyone, and Emayla felt special that she was one of the few. walking down the street umbrella in her other hand, she drew a few stares with her new outfit, and with the stares anerin gave right back several people were a little creeped out. Emayla smiled, holding back a laugh. shy though Anerin was, looking people right back in the eye was no problem for her. the new outfit on the other hand, she had no clue what they were staring for. Hanna had decided Emayla would look cute in it for the show that night and insisted she wear it to school. knee high boots, a straight black skirt that came half way to her knees held onto her body by a big black belt and a few chains hanging to the side. on top was a simple black button up shirt, purple tie, and black and purple arm warmers. it deffinantly was performing attire, not something she wore on a normal day. she just didn't like to stick out, but it felt good at the same time to be a little bit different from the people around her. mabey Anerin's outfit is attracting attention she thought remembering her little sister's strange fashion choice that morning. it had been a simple white shirt that she had had Maria, her mother, modify into a baggy white dress, that plus her sparkly purple boot's looked a little outof place on the busy street in the rain. it was a bit immodest for a child too, hanging off her shoulders like it did, but it looked cute, showing off one of Emayla's too big silver and purple chokers around her tiny neck. "a matching pair" came Hanna's high voice with what sounded like a laugh. Emayla turned around to smile at her friend and Anerin layed her head down, trying to hide from an exhausting world. Emayla was used to it by now and did not tell her that it was ok, that would only make the girl feel bad. "Hey Hanna!" looking around she asked "where's Nate?" Hanna began playing with a orange strand of hair and tilted her head in mock thought. "family difficulty's i believe he said today." she shrugged and smiled. "i think his dad got hurt yesterday, he'll be late" nodding they walked on and anerin wispered things to Emayla while Hanna happily jammed out by herself to whatever she was listening to on her headphones. a block later the group paused as Emayla let Anerin off at her school building. it was a little sad to see the smile slip from the child's face and then the mad dash she always made for the front door, getting ready for a day's teasing and bullys. with one last wave Emayla quickly began walking the final stretch to her own school. "It's really sad." hanna sighed next to her, her giant headphones down for once, showing her tiny well peirced ears through her hair. "what's really sad?" Emayla asked, the look in Hana's eyes told her though. "why do those kids dislike her so much?" Emayla shrugged and looked ahead. "she's different, plus, their parents don't want their children playing with a faggots kid. her mom isn't even all that different, but still they tell their kids nasty things about maria." Hana looked at her strongly. "Her mom? what, do you suddenly not want to lay claim to her now?"
"sorry...it's just...."Emayla sighed "i never told you that i didn't grow up with Maria and Anerin did i?" Hana shook her head no, but let it be. delving into the past wasn't something she'd want done to her, so she didn't attempt it with Emayla.

As promised, Nate was late to school, looking a little paler than usuall, but nonetheless normal- for himself. Hana's smile doubled, like usual, when she saw him. she quickly transformed herself into a flying ball of girl hugging boy, something that she had been doing more and more lately. Emayla had reason to suspect that she was crushing on him. it had always seemed strange to Emayla how excited hana had gotten when Nate was going through his break up with Claire, just a month ago. then two weeks later when he announced that he was glad to be rid of Claire, Hana had suddenly become the happiest Emayla thought she ever had been. He seemed to be the only one who hadn't noticed the change in her, but he took it well, so at least that would keep Hana happy. "so anything new happening?" of course not Emayla almost answered but Hana shook her head and she decided that was a better answer. he smiled at them "well, then why dodn't i spice up you two's lives and introduce you to an old friend of mine, new guy in school, Dante Forsyth" Emayla had to look up again, behind the very tall Nate was a normal sized guy with shining sliver blonde hair, and equally not so plain violet eyes. standing up from the table she reached out and shook his hand, much to the suprise of everyone there. a little shocked herself Emayla quickly sat herself back down and engrossed herself in a book. Hana laughed and introduced herself. "I'm Hana BoDef and this is..."
"Emayla right?" he looked her in the eyes and smiled. she tilted her head and gave Nate a look of "why the hell did you give this kid my name?" but he looked suprised. Dante quickly explained himself. "I've heard of your guys's band. it's awsome, thats how i met up with Nate again a couple weeks ago." all three smiled at him, it was a rare moment when someone knew their real reputation outside of the clubs. Their band, The 17th Anthem, or Sevath (which sounded a bit too much like Sabath to Emayla) for short, had never been something they told many people about. their music spoke for itself. and the number of CD's that were bought at each of the shows was phonominal, it had already payed for new guitars, drums, and all the music hana had ever wanted. Emayla often bought performance clothes, and even more clothes for Anerin with her share. Dante had scored points and was on their good side. "so, Don, you coming to our show tonight?" Hana asked. He shook his head and looked at the ground sadly. "wasn't able to get enough money."
"well that's ok!" Hana laughed "you can come with us, half price, entrance garunteed." he smiled and Hana chucked a notebook his way. "what's this?" he asked leaning back in his chair. "Lyrics for some new songs. your a fan, tell me if there's any in there that you like, Emayla c'mon you too!" she gave a mischeivious smile, and Emayla knew what she was doing. Hana had spotted Emayla Gold as she called it. or Boyfriend material in normal terms. Rolling her eyes at Hana, Emayla scooted closer to Dante and read over his shoulder. his breathing evened out and much to Emayla's suprise he took a pen out and started editing Hana's stuff. "Hey now!" she reached out for it and took the notebook out of his hands and hugged it to her chest. she didn't know why, but the words never were right the way Hana wrote them, but they were wonderfull the way Emayla sang them. he was disturbing flow for Emayla, and that was almost painful. his smile was gentle and he held up the pen, wich Emayla relized with a blush was really a pencil. "I didn't actually change anything, i just wanted to see how you would react to that." gingerly she handed the notebook back to him as the bell rang. excepting it he picked up his books and swept back a loose strand of Emayla's hair without actually thinking about it. "I'm sorry." he said fast, his hand falling to his side. stepping back he turned to go to class. I know his smile... Emayla thought to herself. catching up to him she asked "what are you doing after school?"
"nothing why?"
"do...um. do you want to walk with me and my sister home? i could get you a free ticket if you did." nodding he went to class, Emayla following suit, trying to think of were she'd seen him before.

The four of them met up outside of the school after 8th period and headed off together. Hana shot Emayla several more eye roll worthy looks as they neared the school. Emayla insisted several times that the only reason she'd invited this stranger to come with them was to figure were she'd met him before. Emayla believed it herself, but it was imposible to convince Hana that she wasn't actually attracted to the guy. He was fun to talk to though, plus he was good looking, and he was the first guy Emayla had flirted with willingly in a very long time. she was enjoying herself untill she saw a huddled figure near the stoop of a house next to the school, and her heart sunk. running to Anerin she saw muddy hand prints all over the front of her little white dress. a cut on her neck showed that Emayla's necklace had been ripped off. Her hair was disheveled and tears streaked her dirty face. everything had dried and Emayla geussed this had happened last recess. The office lady's were going to be a pain in the ass to deal with about Anerin skipping, but Emayla didn't care about that now. stroking Anerins dirty hair she asked "what happened?" ducking her eyes Anerin opened her hand and gave Emayla the necklace. "they broke it and i shoved them." was all she said. wrapping her tiny arms around Emaylas neck Anerin began to cry again, apologizing for getting her necklace broke. handing the broken silver necklace to Dante, Emayla rocked the sobbing child, telling her it was alright. "I'll just get a new one, but you want to know what i'm thinking about right now?" wiping her eyes Anerin tilted back and and asked what. "this dress babe. what are you gonna wear to the show now?" that distracted her. "i'm going to the show?" she asked excitedly. "yeah, you know Hana's mom right?"
"mmhmm!" Anerin liked Hana's mom because she looked like a Angel with frizzy hair. funny what little kids liked. so it was settled. to make up for the bad day, Anerin was going, to watch her, Hana's mom would come, and so that Emayla could figure out where she knew him from, so would Dante.

Nate, Hana, and Dante came over to get ready for the show that night, while Hana's mother made herself at home, in Emayla's kitchen/ laundry room making one of her excelent dinners and getting the stains out of Anerin's dress while emayla herself helped her little sister get clean. after a quick bath, Anerin chose baggy boy shorts and shirt. her spirits were high once her hair was done being blown dry and she decided to make friends with the new people in her house while Emayla got cleaned off from Anerins dirt. Hana made her sit still so she could braid her hair while Nate messed with his guitar and, much to Anerin's excitement, Dante fixed the necklace. "she's gonna be so happy if you fix it!" he made a small smile and said. "i think she'd be happier to see you happy, Anerin." Hana finished the braid and let Anerin go to see Dante put the last touches on the necklace. bending the last chain into place he bent over and hooked it around her neck, her violet eyes watching his left arm, right were a birthmark peeped out from under his shirt sleeve. gently with two of her fingers, Anerin pulled his sleeve up so that she could get a better view of it. she smoothed the sleeve back out and showed him the birthmark on her left arm smiling sweetly at him. Their violet eyes locked, and deep inside her mind, Anerin understood exactly who Dante was.

Emayla stepped out of her room to see her necklace hanging proudly around Anerins neck and a smile on the girls face. looking about she relized with a shock that the source of her little sisters happiness was Dante, what a suprise. she was even sitting on his lap playing a game with him. for a stranger he was deffinantly on her good side, something that had taken her, the sister, almost a month to do. she could remember the first time She had come here that Anerin wouldn't even stay in the same room. but that was months ago that they had gotten over that. But this sudden warming up to a stranger was a little, well weird. " Anerin are you bothering that poor guy?" she said with a laugh. "Oh no, Emayla, she's just fine." He smiled, but respected what she was getting at, standing up he let Anerin sit in his spot. "So what time are we heading out?" He asked. Hanna's mom laughed from the kitchen. "well, hell, do you think I'm gonna let you out without some of this food I've been slaving over!" Laughing they all got up and began dishing up some onto dishes she had on their table. woolfing it down, there was some discusion over the coming performance, but mostly just eating.

Emayla walked onto the stage, the lights shining on her, but not an ounce of nervousness. this was what she lived for, Aneirin being her only other perpose in life. Hana started up with Nate, guitar and drums melding into eachother, perfect and unique. She glanced down to see Dante holding Aneirin, her little sister talking animatedly to him. Hana's mom was standing right next to him, and occasionally adding something to his and Aneirins conversation. Emayla personally hadn't seen Aneirin act like this with anyone before. Her cue came, and she almost missed it, her first notes on the guitar a little unsure. But within seconds her voice, her guitar, and the music that Nate and Hana where supplying was going, and everyone in the club was listening and dancing to it. After a few songs, it was another bands turn, the crowd cheering widly for Sevath. Setting her guitar in her case, Emayla chated excitedly with her bandmates "God, May, for a second there I thought you'd missed your spot, but then you came and...."
"That was incredible." It was Dante. Hana smiled and dragged Nate off somwhere, leaving Dante and Emayla alone. "Th..thanks. wheres Aneirin?"

"She's with Mrs. BoDef."

"I see. So..." She took a step closer, and so did he. "You know I've never seen her warm up to a stranger that quickly before."