Chapter 17: I'm not broken

**The human world**

"Rena," Albaric knocked on the door to the study.

Rena was behind her desk as always. She was working through one document after the other with impressive speed. She looked upon seeing Albaric and smiled.

"Can I talk to you?" Albaric asked quietly.

"Of course," she bade him to enter.

The remaining sisters in the room filtered out. The fire was crackling weakly as shades of red and orange filtered in from the setting sun outside. Though it was far from summer, the room was filled with soft warm light.

"What do you want to talk about?" Rena asked, coming around her desk.

"It's Michael,"he answered.

"What about him?" Rena said stiffly.

"I.." Albaric hesitated, "I think I made a lot of mistakes Rena and I want to fix them,"

"Michael is not your mistake to bear. His choices are his own," Rena answered with more severity than she intended. She let out a sigh. She still hadn't quite managed the art of control over one's emotions.

"What I mean to say is," she tended, "You shouldn't feel guilty about that or what happened with Ace. At some point, people have to take responsibility for their own action,"

"I know that," Albaric replied, "but I still feel responsible and this time I want to make sure i've put in my full effort,"

"What is it that you have in mind?" Rena asked.

"Michael was my friend for a long time. I know you've only seen the bad parts of him, but there were many good things about him too. I think he keeps doing these things because no one puts their faith in him. Not the Emperor. Not the court. Not even me at times. I think that when a person feels that no one values them they're bound to go off the rails and stop caring about others completely," Albaric sighed, "I want to give him one last chance,"

Rena stared up at Albaric momentarily taken aback.

"I know it sounds crazy after everything that he's done but I..." Albaric began.

"Albaric," Rena interceeded, "I trust your judgement. If this is what you think is best, I will stand by your decision,"

"Just like that?" Albaric faltered.

"Just like that," Rena smiled, "Since I returned, you've been my support without hesitation. I said from the start that I wanted us to be each other's strength. If this is a time I can help you, then let me do it,"

"Rena...I" Albaric turned red, "there's something I wanted to tell you...."

"Sorry to interrupt," came a little knock at the door.

It was one of the sisters.

"You're needed in the lab head sister," she said.

"I'll be down in a moment," Rena acknowledged," I'm sorry Albaric. We'll have to cut this a bit short. Can we pick this up tomorrow?"

"Of course," Albaric scratched his head.

Rena promptly departed with her customary quick and determined step. Albaric watched her go and sighed. What was he about to say? Stupid. Very stupid...Thank goodness the sister came before he said anything that couldn't be taken back. Some things just couldn't be...

-------------------------------

**Two days later**

In the deepest region of the palace, a figure stood very still surveying the ill-lit dungeon cell.

"I told you not to come here," Michael sighed. "They're already looking for you. Are you trying to make it easy for them?"

Kalandra knelt down beside him. The ground was wet and cold but she sat anyway and laid her head on his shoulder.

"You're the only reason I managed to get away in the first place, how can I just leave you here?" she said quietly.

"You were happy to leave me here before," Michael laughed, "Look, Kali. I admire your loyalty but I only helped you and Bird get away because it was obvious we were screwed. No necklace meant no future. Do you understand? I didn't save you for any special reason,"

"As usual, you have nothing good to say," Kalandra scoffed, but did not move from his side. "But you always have a plan. So what is it this time? Why don't you let me help you? I can take you out of here,"

"Did you do what I asked?" Michael glanced down.

"Bird is safe," Kalandra pouted, "but I couldn't find Ace. I think he went back to the demon world."

"I thought so," Michael said in a low voice, "well then for the time being, all we can do is wait. There's no use in provoking the Empire any further. They probably won't execute me for a while. So until then, i'll just stay here,"

"What do you mean stay here?" Kalandra flew up.

"Right now, the Empire is busy looking for the necklace. They have me so they aren't pursuing you and Bird. But if I leave, they'll resume their search even more aggressively than before,"

"Are you sure it's not because you just don't want to be with me?"

"Look around, Kali!" Michael threw his hand out, "Do you really think I'd go to this extent to avoid being with you? I thought we were done with this insecure bullshit. Stop being a child and go back if you're just going to argue with me again,"

"Arguing is the only way I can get any answers out of you!" Kalandra returned, "Because of that nasty temper of yours, you say things you'd never tell me otherwise,"

"Wow," Michael laughed, "You're smarter than I give you credit for Kali,"

"Don't be impressed!" Kali returned shortly, "It's your own fault for treating me like an idiot and for keeping so many useless secrets,"

"What secrets am I keeping from you, Kali?" Michael grinned, "Haven't you annoyed them all out of me?"

"I want to understand you!" Kali implored, "the things you do. I want to understand it so I can...I can.."

"You can what?" Michael cut her off, "I know you haven't had any serious relationships so I'm trying to be patient, Kali but trying to force things out of me is not the answer. Why don't you just ask me directly? If it's something I can answer, I will, "

"Well," Kali said more timidly, "I just don't understand why you would stay here when your life is in danger,"

"I've explained this so many times," Michael muttered, "I know what I'm doing. Worse case scenario I have a back-up plan if things go south. But I need to know what the Empire is going to do to find Ace. Besides, if I leave, they have Clover on their side. They'll just track me down again. This time you and Bird will be caught as well. So we have to be patient,"

"But they can force the truth out of you at any point! Why risk it?"

"Everything worthwhile requires some risk," Michael answered.

"Risk? We're not talking about a roll of the dice. They're scheduling your execution as we speak," Kalandra snapped.

"If you want something in this world, you have to make sacrifices,"

"And how far will you go to get what you want?"

"As far as this body will bring me," Michael gave a weak smile."In the end, I know I'll win and that's enough."

"Why do you need to win so badly?"Kalandra questioned frustrated, " Didn't you say you were through with revenge?"

"Do you know what the best kind of revenge is Kali?" Michael smirked, "the kind where you take everything without anyone realising,"

"You lied to me," Kalandra said viciously, "You never intended to drop this, did you? What are you really going to do once you get the necklace?!"

Michael averted his eyes and stared vacantly past her into the shadow covered cell. Kalandra knelt back down, staring him in the eyes intensely. Her purple eyes searched his face intently.

"What?" Michael said somewhat agitated.

"You said before that people took a lot from you," Kalandra inhaled sharply, "what did you mean?

"Don't you know already?" Michael answered subdued.

"I know Clover killed your old man. Is that it?" Kalandra interrogated. "What else?"

"What else?" Michael said with growing annoyance, "Do you hear yourself sometimes? Ah, you're annoying me right now. Just go back, Kali. Give me some damn peace!"

"You said to ask you!" Kalandra cried. "I know that you hate Clover, but it just seems like more than that! The way you are with people and the relationship stuff,"

"What relationship stuff?" Michael stared at her bemused.

"Well the kissing and then...well the way you throw people away. Aren't you going to throw me away one day?" Kalandra said with a trembling voice, "I'm afraid, Michael,"

"Do you know what relationships are, Kalandra? What they really are?" Michael said coldly.

Kalandra looked up apprehensively, "Like love?"

"No," Michael scoffed, "they're an exchange. I kiss you, call you 'my love, let you marry me because you gave me something I wanted. Love? What is love? It's just sex in return for favours. Just because I'm a man, women don't like to look at it that way. But that's what it comes down to,"

"Is that what you think I want from you?" Kalandra stared at him wide-eyed.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of. I really don't care either way. Better you than some of the others to be quite frank, at least I get something out of it,"

"What happened to make you like this?" Kalandra faltered.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Michael dismissed, "Aren't you a bit judgemental for someone who takes lives for a living?"

"That's a job! That's something I had to do to become someone in this world!" Kalandra shook her head.

"How is what I do any different?"Michael returned.

"You have magic. You were the grand fucking wizard of the Empire! You don't need to whore yourself out!"

"What did you just say to me?" Michael's eyes narrowed severely, "You know what? I think I've given up enough of my time for this nonsense. Our deal was for the necklace. I don't see it...So, Kali, I don't want to see you."

Kalandra lurched forward and wrestled him to the ground. Michael stared up at her in disbelief.

"The fuck are you doing?" he exclaimed.

She sat astride him, pinning his arms to the ground.

"Get off me right now," he hissed viciously, "I'm not joking,"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Kalandra stared down mercilessly. "I'm sick of your lies. Be honest. You never intended to marry me, did you?"

"Oh, I would have married you," Michael grinned darkly, "and then I would have thrown you away as soon as someone better came around,"

Kalandra took a blade in her hand and held it to his neck. Michael stared back unmoved.

"You take that back!" Kalandra replied murderously. "Take it back right now because I'd rather kill you than let anyone else have you."

"Isn't that a bit selfish?" Michael smiled. "You don't even really love me, Kali."

"Yes I DO!" she screamed.

"You just want someone to love you. It doesn't have to be me. It could be anyone," Michael went on.

"No!" Kalanadra slammed a hand down beside him, "I want you! I want you! I want you!"

Michael watched with a blank expression. "I said I would try to love you, but you're making it really difficult for me. Didn't I treat you well once we left? I did what you asked me to. What more do you want from me?"

"I want you. Entirely. No lies. Just as you are," Kalandra stared down tearfully, "If you had told me the truth I would have still helped you!"

"In the end, it isn't me that you'll choose. It's Clover. So I still have to protect myself. Can't you understand that much?" Michael tried to break from her grip.

She wrapped her hands around his throat, "Don't you trust me?!"

"Kali," Michael replied quietly, "I don't trust anyone. Especially not women."

"Why not?" she interrogated.

Michel just smiled and didn't answer. As tears fell down Kalandra's face, her expression drained of emotion.

"I can't fix you, can I?" she said flatly.

"I'm not broken," Michael said coolly.

She began to tighten her grip. She had done it so many times before. Just a little tighter and...

"KALANDRA!" came a stern voice.

She blinked up startled. She never usually became so unaware of her surroundings that she didn't hear others approach. She glanced through the cells to the figure hovering there.

"Get out of here right now," Clover instructed coldly, "The others will be here in a moment. Go,"

Kalandra let out a frustrated scream and disappeared into the shadows.

A moment elapsed as Albaric and Rena joined Clover standing outside the cell. Michael turned away from them, letting out a cough.

"What was that sound?" Albaric questioned.

"I think Michael was having a bad dream," Clover said flatly.

"Well time to get up, Michael," Albaric banged against the bars, "we need to talk to you,"

Michael was sitting up but didn't turn to face them.

"What?" he said in a low rasping voice, "I told you everything I know,"

"The Emperor has summoned you," Rena said.

"The Emperor wants to talk to me?" Michael repeated, "What for?"

"There's only one way to find out," Clover smiled.