Charlotte falters a second as she stares at the paper, a tight feeling winding in the back of her throat, gone speechless. Clem turns her head to her fallen coin, where it lays a few feet away, having rolled on the street. She doesn't go to pick it up, instead looking back up at Charlotte, whose eyes are wide and stuck on the paper.
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Clem squeezes her hand and Charlotte blinks, trying to prevent a potential panic attack from happening. She glances down to Clementine, who blinks back with a stoic face. She doesn't know what the child is thinking, and she's not sure if she should comfort her or not.
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She walks to the wall of the church instead, bringing Clem along. Reaching a hand up to the flyer, she holds the edge of it tight with two fingers, scanning over it, eyes narrowing and glowing crimson at the description, amount offered if the monsters were caught. Charlotte never cared for riches despite's her upbringing, never craving that sort of power. Even then, she knows the number on the poster there, the gold offered was one hell of a motivation.
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"Has appearance of two small children, a male and female,' it describes, rage growing in Charlotte's heart. 'Unusually pale skin, slightly pointed canines. Green eyes, brown hair. Kill or capture on sight, stealth recommended.'
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The description was basic enough, the warning making Charlotte narrow her eyes farther, lips turned to a scowl. A small boy and girl, not just the appearance. Two small children.
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This flyer makes it seem as if these children were an uncontrollable danger, but Charlotte knows any deaths caused by these children would be out of self-defense. Her mind wanders to Clem's first kills, those two travelers.
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That was some bad luck, but the thought of these children being hunted, on the run as she stood here, was too painful to dwell on. Guilt spread throughout her body, too cold and she swallows down slight panic, instead yanking the flyer and ripping it off the wall. It might not help all that much, but the less people who saw, the better.
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Clem tugs at her hand, curious face looking up at Charlotte, her eyes flicking to the paper in her hand, silently asking if she can see.
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Charlotte wishes to refuse a second. She felt if she could hide it away and not let Clem truly realize how many people could hurt them all, kill them all. To not let her realize how much danger she was in, being so small.
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Clem reaches her hand towards the paper despite's Charlotte's hesitation, the expression on her face determined, with something like slight anger flashing across a moment. Charlotte doesn't resist against her reading the flyer, knowing she would be more upset not being told, rather than knowing.
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Kneeling to Clem's level, Charlotte lets go of her hand and gives the flyer over, Clem grasping it with two hands and reading the words, staring at the drawing of what is supposed to be children just like her.
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Well, not just like her. Similar in the way that they're both meant to be hunted, in some sort of way.
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The paper crinkles in her grip and Clem's eyes are wide a moment, stuck on the flyer in her hands.
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"We're looking for them?" She asks very quietly, just under her breath.
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"I doubt that's what they look like." Charlotte reassures, running a hand through Clem's hair, fixing it a bit. "It's probably inaccurate."
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"They're offering money for their deaths." Clem says, unable to wrap her head around it.
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Charlotte's mind wanders, letting Clem process it slowly while making plans in her head. She had to find the children's location, as fast as possible, then work on building trust with them. The children will be distrustful considering there's flyers on them, warnings and such. Charlotte hopes they might be nearby, so she could get to them in time.
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She's already too late. Better late than never arriving though.
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"How old are they?" Clem asks, looking up at Charlotte, who was thrown off by her question. "I know I'm the oldest, but how old do you think they are?"
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"I..." Charlotte trails off, not sure how to respond and not sure if she wants to think about it. She got to Clem when she was practically still a babe, before any harm could come to her, something she's thankful for. But assuming these children were at least three years younger since no news was spoken of them around the time Clem was spoken about–"I'm not sure."
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Clem's eyes fall onto the paper once more, an expression with a mixture of confusion, annoyance, and fear appearing on her little face. Charlotte doesn't know if it's a good reaction or not.
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The paper gets crushed into a ball in Clem's hands, Charlotte not saying anything as the demigod holds it to her chest.
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Charlotte holds her hand out so she could throw the paper away, maybe burn it just for the satisfaction, but Clem shakes her head stubbornly, grabbing onto Charlotte's hand, eyes expectant.
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The paper stays crumbled in Clem's grip, and Charlotte stands properly again, leading Clem along so they enter the church. Clem sticks to her side as Charlotte pushes open the wooden doors, the doors creaking quietly as they enter.
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It's mostly empty and quiet, save for a few conversations from people scattered around. Townspeople there for either their own prayers or waiting for a blessing from the priest.
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Charlotte sees no point in waiting like the others, instead walking through with a slight rush in her steps, ignoring the looks she gets, eyes on her, her wings, and on Clem. The hold on Clem's hand gets just a bit tighter.
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The priest Charlotte is looking for sits at the front of the church, dressed in black robes robes, hair curly and light brown. They're writing in a small journal, perhaps a diary or something along those lines. Charlotte would probably be curious about that in another situation, but she has bigger things on her mind.
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"Pardon me?" Charlotte asks, pausing besides where they sits. The priest raises their head from the journal, Clem leaning behind Charlotte's wings as they do. "Are you the priest here?"
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They blink for a moment before closing the book in their hands, pushing it to the side. Golden eyes trail along Charlotte's wings a moment, glancing down at Clem who huddled closer to Clem. For a split second, Charlotte considers snapping and using her newly acquired crossbow to get past this whole awkward meeting stage.
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The moment moves quickly, and Charlotte is glad as they stand up from their seat.
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"Correct. What brings you here?" They ask, and Charlotte is grateful they get to the point.
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Charlotte stays quiet a moment, thinking of how to phrase this in a way that will make sense. "I have a few questions that I need answers to.”
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They tilt their head, silently asking for elaboration.
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"I saw a flyer outside on the wall. It asked for the 'second and third monster' of..." Charlotte trails off, words faltering.
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"Oh." They blink, a conflicted look in their eyes before their expression calms to reassurance. "The apocalypse."
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Charlotte gives a charming smile, ignoring the amusement she felt at the idea of complete and utter destruction of the world they know. "Yes. Do you happen to know if they've been found yet?"
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The priest thinks a moment, humming softly. "If they have, no one's kept them captured. They're still on the run."
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Charlotte hates the bitterness in her mouth at those words. The children have been captured before and escaped, only to continue running. The urge to protect rises in her chest, becoming a little bit more aware of Clem's presence by her side.
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"Have ideas where they are?" Charlotte questions, keeping her tone calm, but she can't hide the desperation in her words. By the way the priest shifts, they notice it too.
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They don't respond for a few seconds, looking almost confused. "Are you searching for them?" They ask, and Charlotte nods. "There's plenty of people searching already. No need to get involved, they'll be located before anything terrible happens, if that's the problem–"
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"No matter–" Charlotte cuts them off, eyes narrowing. "I need to find them."
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The priest looks down at Clem again for a second, hands clasping together. They look back a Charlotte with a thoughtful expression, smiling at her. "For what reason?" He asks, quietly.
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"Stop the apocalypse." She responds, smile turning a bit sharper. "What else?"
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"Numerous hunters have come asking the same, I'm sure you know. To stop the apocalypse. Do you plan on hunting the second, third, and fourth monsters as well?"
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"No." She answers without hesitation. "I'm searching for them to prevent... any world-ending events."
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"Planning to take more unfortunate children under your wings for protection? Is that what you're doing?" They say, raising their eyebrows. Charlotte doesn't have time to respond before they continue, tilting their head down at Clem with a friendly smile. "Like this one. Clementine."
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Charlotte freezes, and Clem looks up from the floor in shock. The child takes a step behind Charlotte, attempting to hide in the feathers of her wings. Charlotte's eyes glow crimson and her hand goes to her crossbow at her side.
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"Wait, wait, I don't mean any harm–" The priest immediate say, hands out in a calming manner, bright gold eyes wide at Charlotte. "I just–"
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They quiet at Charlotte's glare, lowering their hands with a nervous look on their face. Glancing quickly to the people in the church, who thankfully haven't overheard their quiet conversation, he gives a nervous smile, nodding to a room by the side of the church.
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"Look, we can talk speak in a more private place, where nobody will overhear."
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"How do I know to trust you?" Charlotte demands coldly. Every time Clem's been recognized, people assume the worst and jump to their conclusions. Charlotte doesn't want a repeat again, nor does she wish to dirty her hands in front of so many witnesses. She will if she needs to though.
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"I won't sell you out." They say, sounding scandalized at the prospect, but Charlotte gives an unimpressed look. "I swear, you have my word." They try instead, Charlotte merely tilting her head, a dangerous tint in her crimson eyes. Clem peeks out from around Charlotte's legs, making a face as well.
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They stammer a second, trying to think of a way to convince Charlotte they don't mean any harm. They lock eyes with Clem, who frowns deeply and squints, as if trying to be intimidating. Clem looks upset, if anything.
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"I've met the two children being hunted, before." They say, voice quiet, and Clem's face falls. Charlotte feels surprised as well, but searches for hints of lies as the priest looks back down to Charlotte. "They are not what everyone make them out to be. They, they don't deserve to be killed."
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Charlotte considers her choices here, tension hanging in the air a moment. She faintly hears the crinkle of the paper still in Clem's hands.
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"Fine." Charlotte relents, finally taking her hand off the grip of her crossbow, only to lean down and pick Clementine up and hold her to her chest. She carries Clem easily with one arm, the other keeping a resting hand on her weapon. "Let's go then."
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The priest nods and walks along, gesturing for Charlotte to follow.
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Their footsteps are quiet as the make their way to the corner of the church, the priest opening a wooden door, which led to a small room, half taken up by stairs that look higher up into the church. Boxes and barrels are scattered around, a light layer of dust on them, and Charlotte doesn't feel secure when the door closes quietly behind her.
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"Apologies for its crampness, but it's better than someone overhearing or recognizing the child."
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"It's fine." Charlotte mutters, ignoring her discomfort with the smallness of the room. The stairs offer some comfort, at least, as a second way out. "You've seen the other two children, then?"
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"Once, in passing." The priest answers, nodding. "They snuck in for a place to sleep, and were gone before I could offer them somewhere to go."
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Two small children slipping through the doors in the middle of the night, clothes dirty and ragged, hair wild and covering their faces with only a small floating green flame in the boy's hand as a light. Their feet had been scraped and brown from dried mud, no shoes to protect them. The girl had curled up protectively with her brother on one of the long benches with the blanket they had offered, but by the time the priest realized the prophecy had described twin flames as two of the four, it was too late. The sun barely risen and the children long gone. They had taken the blanket with them.
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"I didn't realize..." They trail off, Charlotte tilting her head. "When the prophecy, the visions, all the rumors, I thought when it said there would be four monster children, they would be more... monstrous."
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"Easier to kill, you mean?" Charlotte asks coldly, the priest stuttering as they try to disagree.
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"No, please, I just–"
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"They're just children. Not that many care, it seems."
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"People's perceptions are warped easily with the right words." The priest says, Charlotte humming. "Like with her." He glances to Clem in Charlotte's arms.
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"From the rumors, the 'Demigod' is a ruthless danger to anyone who lives. Able to seduce and control innocents with a single word."
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Clem huffs, arms wrapping around Charlotte's neck.
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"She's dangerous, I won't lie about that." Charlotte agrees, the priest looking surprised. "She can kill. But she doesn't want to."
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"What child would?" They ask, and Charlotte's mind jumps to that incident from yesterday again. Clem covered in blood, two dead bodies tangled up in vines–
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"Only those backed into a corner." Charlotte answers. "What else have you heard about Clem?"
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"Many believe her dead." That was a relief and Charlotte lets the smallest bit of stress fall off her shoulders. "There have been few sightings, some fake, maybe some true." Charlotte hums. "Nothings came up for a few years, so people assumed she was killed by someone not willing to spread the news."
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Charlotte grimaces a bit. After yesterday, there's no doubt panic will rise again, word that Clem is perfectly alive, had killed two men rather brutally, and was being accompanied by Charlotte, who would no doubt stick out because of her beauty and wings. There goes their element of blending in.
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"And the next children?" Charlotte asks.
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"Even with the little magic I hold, I cannot give you the exact location, merely where they were last captured and where hunters are looking. I've made it my business of keeping up, since so many come to ask of the prophecy and information about them."
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Charlotte stares, feeling her heart break. "They've been captured before?" Clem tugs on at the collar of her dress, and Charlotte has to remind herself to take deep breathes.
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"Multiple times." The priest answers, looking pained because there's no easy way of saying this. "No one's entirely sure how they keep escaping, but no one has been able to keep them captured long enough. I don't know how many times they've escaped."
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"Ah." Charlotte breaths out, her grip on Clem tightening protectively.
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She really was late. Charlotte promised to try and protect these children, and she's already partially failed two. It won't be easy to find and help these two, there being no doubt their trust will be broken from being on the run, but Charlotte will find a way to get these children to come with her willingly, so they won't do this on their own anymore.
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Charlotte can't stop the feeling of guilt and panic creep up her throat, and she stares into the wooden floor as she tries blinking away tears that threaten to spill out. What if she's too late? What if, as of right now, those children were cornered again, luck not on their side? Charlotte can't do anything, hasn't done anything, and it kills her–
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A small hand pulls her hair, the culprit being Clem, who grabbed a lock of black hair gently (somewhat gently) and gave it a sharp tug. She stares for a moment, Charlotte staring at the demigod in slight confusion, and Clem blinks back before pulling again.
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"Cle– Clementine." Charlotte huffs, grinning as she pulled Clem's hand out her hair, lightly holding the child's wrist. Clem gave a smug smile, and Charlotte responds by chittering at her affectionately and nuzzling her cheek.
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Clem whines and shakes her head stubbornly, although the slight redness of her cheeks make Charlotte giggle.
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Turning her attention to the priest, she clears her throat when she saw them smile at the scene before them. She watches silently as they go search through the storage in the room, rummaging in a chest for a moment before walking back with a map.
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"Here." They say, Charlotte taking it and letting Clem unfold it, holding it up for the two of them to see. "There should be a town called Rowling, just south of here." They say as Clem and Charlotte scan the map. Clem curiously takes the information in, Charlotte spotting the town easily enough. "That was where I last heard of a sighting of them."
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"I'm sorry I wasn't much help, but I hope you find them." The priest smiles, Charlotte looking up from the map as Clem tries to fold it again, somewhat succeeding.
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"Thank you." Charlotte says, meaning it with all her heart. "It's more than enough, I–" She pauses and Clem freezes up, hearing the sound of the front door being slammed open. The priest runs to the window, eyes wide.
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"Out of here, everyone!" Someone yells, Charlotte's stomach churning. "There is a dangerous individual in the building! For your safety, get out!"
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She turns to the priest, who looks just as panicked. "I didn't sell you out!" They say, quickly walking to the door. "Stay here, you'll be safe here."
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"How can I be fine, they're here for Clem?!" Charlotte whispers, taking a few steps back. The priest waves a hand and the door shuts to behind them.
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Charlotte takes a deep breath in, eyes going to the stairs. She takes the map from Clem's hands and tuck it away in her pocket, going up the steps quickly but quietly, hoping it'll lead somewhere to escape.
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It lead to a balcony above, by the sides of the church. Charlotte kneels down by the railing, having a full view of what was happening below. Multiple people are scattered by the front doors, weapons in hand and wearing armor.
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"Who are they?" Clem asks, voice barely a whisper and holding on tightly to Clem, eyes wide as she looked down as well.
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"Knights it looks." Charlotte answers softly after noticing the sigil on their armor, listening in on the conversation below.
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She's thankful to see the priest standing their ground, the knights hesitate to enter the church with how terrifying they look with their stern look and crossed arms.
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"–I understand, and I apologize for barging in, but for your safety–"
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"This is a church! A sacred place of worship, you can't barge in here with weapons! Causing people to panic–"
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"I understand, but–"
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"–you have no idea how disrespectful this is–!" The priest snaps, eyes glaring at the man in front of them, who wears brigandine armor and holds a strong sword in hand.
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"Listen." He insists, holding a hand up. "There have been reports of a woman coming in here, who's connected to an incident that happened not just yesterday in a village nearby."
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Charlotte grumbles, wincing at the loss of being unknown. Word traveled faster than she thought. It made sense, however, with people believing Clementine dead, only for her to pop back up with blood on her hands.
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"That's no reason to cause a scene just to drag her out by force." The priest says, scowling, turning their eyes to the other knights scattered around, who take a few steps away from the front door, as to not intrude more than they already have.
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The man speaking to the priest looks slightly frustrated. "Do you have any idea what she's protecting? She has–"
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"The church is not a place to be tainted with violence–"
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"There has to be an exception this time, especially when she holds something that will kill us all!"
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The priest levels him with a look, patience clearly worn thin. The knight goes silent, and a few people even look down in shame.
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"This church is a sacred place offering sanctuary to those in need. Anyone within these walls are protected by that rule. Nobody is allowed to force them out."
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"So she's here?" The man questioned, getting narrowed eyes in response. "Just hear us out–"
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"If you truly want to catch the person you're looking for, you have all the right to wait outside until she leaves and you can meet her then. But you cannot go searching around and disrupting the peace of my church." The priest says, clasping their hands together and for a brief second, their eyes were a bit too bright. "Now then. Leave."
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Charlotte watches as there's hesitance with the people to leave the church, but with how the priest was holding no room for argument, they leave eventually. Charlotte could hear the chatter of guarding the exits of the church as the front doors close.
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After waiting a few second to make sure they're gone, Charlotte stands up and looks over the railing. The priest looks up at her, giving a sympathetic look.
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"I don't know how long they'll guard the exits, but you can stay however long you need." They say sincerely, the seats of the church now empty. "I'm telling the truth on offering sanctuary. You're safe here."
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"Thank you." Charlotte answers, words nearly echoing across the empty church. "We can't stay." There's still the twins, and every minute passing was another minute where those children could be in danger.
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"How do you plan to leave?" They ask.
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Charlotte grins when she notices another set of stairs along the pathway, one that goes even higher up. No doubt the top of the church. "I've got wings, darling." She says.
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______________________
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Charlotte flies from the roof of the church, feeling amused at the look she gets when people spot her getting away, the yelling people realizing she has an advantage over them, being able to soar through the sky.
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Charlotte and Clem fly away from the small town, not noticing the priest open the doors once more to regretfully inform that, oh dear, Charlotte got away, there she goes. Charlotte wasn't around to watch the blacksmith that she spoke to earlier, the man who had been awkward but friendly, punch the Head Knight for threatening to throw the priest in the castle's dungeons for not keeping Charlotte in the building.
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Instead, she and Clem fly over the trees, Charlotte planning to get a good distance away from the town before daring to land on the ground to check the map once more. The town of Rowling was far, but not too far. It would take two weeks at most for Charlotte to fly them over.
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Clem kicks her boots into the dirt, letting out a happy squeal at the freedom. Charlotte was looking over the map when she makes an unhappy whine, realizing something.
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"What's the matter, darling?" Charlotte asks, glancing over to see Clem slump against her, a pout on her face.
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"I lost my coin." Clem answers, and Charlotte can't help but burst out laughing, ignoring how Clem gave her a frown.
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They fly at night, resting or walking during the day. Charlotte doesn't risk being spotted in the sky while making her way to the town, so traveling under the protection of the night is the best way.
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Clem mostly sleeps in Charlotte's arms during night, and when Charlotte lands at sunrise, she sleeps with Clem, who rests in her arms still, the duo sleeping far into the morning.
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They wake in the middle of a grassy field, tall grass reaching to Clem's waist all around them.
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Charlotte decides to finally teach Clem how to use her new sword, and Clem leapt at the opportunity to learn how to use it, holding it with an eager look on her face.
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Charlotte doesn't get to teach past how to properly hold it though, Clem insisting her head was getting too loud. She spends that time cutting the grass around her, aggressively swinging and chopping away.
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Charlotte watched with a fond look, arms crossed. Clem ends up cutting a whole path in the grass, not caring that it'll be a strange sight from above, more focused on just cutting through something, on satisfying the urge for chaos.
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"Hey Clem." Charlotte says, after a few minutes of Clem focusing on her work. Clem hums, but doesn't look away from the grass, still cutting. "About the voice."
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Clem pauses, placing her sword down and plopping criss cross on the ground. "What about him?"
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"This helps?"
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"Uh-huh." Clem shrugs, fingers trailing along some cut grass and watching it grow at an unnatural rate, feeling bad for destroying so much. "He wants something exciting. But actually– when not mad and screaming, he's kinda annoying."
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"Really?"
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"Cutting grass is boring." Clem says, her voice deepening in a mocking way. "Why grass? 'Cause I'm not cutting anything else, that's why." She says, coughing slightly after she finished speaking.
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Charlotte giggled, shaking her head. "Hey."
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Clem looks at her, head tilted.
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"What's he saying now?" Charlotte asks curiously, and Clem blinks.
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She stares at Charlotte for so long, Charlotte thinks she might not respond at all, when she mumbles out. "Just nonsense." Before going back to regrowing some of the grass she cut.
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What a gorgeous woman. Truly has been blessed by Aphrodite. Taking care of my baby girl. Make sure to protect her well, my little Sapling.
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Clem silently tells the voice to shut up with the weird talk on her mom, watching as the grass grows over her head.
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Time passed by slowly, their routine working well. They either fly, walk, rest, practice sparring and Clem's powers. It's obvious which Clem enjoys the most.
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They're a week into traveling, and while Clem knows how to hold her sword better, she was more interested in her magic, something which relieved Charlotte. Learning to defend herself was important, but Charlotte wanted her to be peaceful any chance she could. It especially helps since Clem doesn't leave a trail of small flowers every step.
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It's day when they walk along a dirt path, Charlotte and Clem side by side as they make their way to their destination. It would be a few more days of traveling before reaching the town, which Charlotte spent trying to think of ways of getting any sort of information from someone, to try and find the twins.
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Charlotte was lost in her thoughts as they walked, almost not hearing the crinkling of paper in Clem's hands. She does stop however when she notices Clem no longer by her side, Charlotte stopping in her tracks and turning around.
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Clem had stopped walking also, holding the flyer from when they were at the church. She stares at the picture of what is supposed to be Alex and Ava, face blank, and Charlotte frowns. She had secretly hoped that Clem dropped that sometime during their traveling, but it seemed the demigoddess had kept it tucked away in her pocket, for safe keeping apparently.
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"Clem?" Charlotte asks, paper crumbling in Clem's grip, hands holding the flyer too tightly. "Clem."
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Her face shifted into something upset, and Charlotte goes over, aiming to gently take the flyer away, other words of comfort, maybe let them relax for a bit. She stops in her steps at Clem's words, frowning lightly.
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"It's not fair." Clem mumbles, Charlotte frowning at this.
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Her heart dropped, hearing the tone of Clem's voice. Quiet and sorrowful.
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"This isn't fair!" Clem repeats, louder and forceful. Her eyes glowing a bright purple. "This– how can they offer so much money for them? For people to kill them, or, put them in a cage–"
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"Clem–" Charlotte takes a breath, her hand out. "Hand me the flyer–"
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"No." Clem refuses, raising her head. "These are the next two kids. They're like me, right?"
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"Clementine–" Charlotte swallows, Clem's eyes staring at her, for once feeling like they're holding too many questions.
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"Could I have been like this?" Clem asks, Charlotte flinching and trying to stave off the way her heart hurts at those words. "I can't stop looking at this, when you're sleeping, and you said they're the next two kids, there's supposed to be another one of us though. All those kids are like me."
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"They are." Charlotte agrees carefully.
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"So if there's a paper for them, people wanting to kill them and pay for it, then there's one for me also, right?"
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Charlotte sighed softly before nodding. "Most likely, yes."
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"Do you have one?" Clem asks, voice cold as if that's a concept worse than her own life being in danger, her small face filling with rage.
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Charlotte found it tempting to avoid the answer, but her silence is answer enough. A soft growl left Clem's lips as her face shifted again, a mix of disgust, anger, and young frustration.
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"That–" Clem cuts herself off, body shaking as she tears the flyer to pieces. "It's not fair! It's stupid, that's not fair!"
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"Clementine–"
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Clem ignores her, hands ripping the paper to shreds. "No! It's– why would they do this?!" Clem yells, pieces of paper falling onto the dirt, dragging her shoe over it and pressing it to the ground. "I don't get it, why do they wanna hurt you?!"
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"Because I'm protecting you." Charlotte answers softly, this riling Clem up, plants and vines starting to spread.
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"Why do they want to kill me?! Or them!" She practically stabs a finger at the ripped up paper on the ground. "Why would they want–"
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Charlotte kneels down in front of Clem, reaching out and stroking the demigod's cheek. "It's not easy to understand, Clem. There's bad people in this world, and good–"
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"Only one good." Clem stresses, pupils swirling in rage.
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Charlotte sighs at that, hating how her heart swelled with emotion. "It's unfair, no denying that. It's not fair at all, but they're frightened–"
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"They're frightened?" Clem repeats, scandalized.
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"Yes, and fear makes people do stupid things, sometimes dangerous–"
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"I'm frightened too!" Clem snaps, stomping her foot on the ground. "I'm frightened of being killed!" She practically screeches. "I'm frightened of you dying!"
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Charlotte takes a breath in, holding Clem's hands gently. "Clem."
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"And they're scared too!" Clem points at the paper again, shaking her head. "Why should those people hunting us be frightened? Of what? Us killing them? They're trying to kill us first!"
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"I know–"
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"It's so dumb!"
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"It is dumb, no question about it." Charlotte smiles gently, noticing how Clem relaxed a bit at that. "But–" Charlotte pauses.
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Clem freezes also, the two silent as they listen to the sounds around them.
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The galloping of horses, the shouting of people.
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"Mama?" Clem asks quietly, eyes wide down the path where the noises came from.
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Charlotte stands, turning around and looking in the direction as well.
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She sees a group on horseback emerging from the forest, weapons in hand as they make their way down the path. One holds a crossbow, another a sword, an axe–
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"Mama–" Clem says again, panicked. Charlotte swept Clem into her arms and runs off the path, into the forest.
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They don't let up, there's more yelling, branches and bushes getting pushed to the side as Charlotte runs, Clem holding on tightly as she looks over Charlotte's shoulder.
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"They're not stopping, they're–" Clem rambles, letting out a shriek when an arrow flies through the air. Charlotte feels pain as it pierces through her left wing, but this only makes her run faster. "Mama!"
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The trees overhead made it impossible to fly, branches blocking her way out. Charlotte runs up a hill, able to see the trees let up into a clearing up ahead, to what looks a river.
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"There's a clearing, we can get away." Charlotte reassures, feeling the child's death grip on her as Charlotte avoids tripping over roots and plants.
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She's not sure if the people behind them are hunters or not, but it doesn't matter. As she sprints, she's able to get to the clearing and she spreads her wings out as soon as there's space to, just about to fly over the river to escape. She could still do it with her injury, she's flown through worse. Until Clem tugs on her hair.
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"Mama." Clem breathes out, the way she said it made Charlotte pause, looking down from the sky to see–
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Twins a few years younger than Clem stood in the river, staring at them with identical wide, green eyes, opened mouths showing pointed canines.
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Charlotte froze up right there as Alex and Ava stare at them.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
