The Reason

Chapter 22

The stormy grey sky made for the perfect setting for what Jexebel planned to do. She sat crouched in a tiny alcove on the mountainside just behind the ShinRa manor. Deepground soldiers patrolled the area below, blocking every entrance to the damned mansion. The only safe point of entrance she could see that wouldn’t draw attention was the side entrance on the west wing. There were two guards and no one else on that side of the manor. Jexebel made her decision as the rain started to pour. That entrance was the best chance she had. She stood up and started out of the alcove, only to slip and fall, nearly knocking her head on a jagged rock. She struggled to her feet huffing angrily. She growled and made the motion of throwing something at the rock, falling on her derriere once again as a large bolt of lightening crashed from the sky and obliterated the rock.

She stared in awe at the mess she’d made. She raised her hand again, this time aiming at a large branch hanging over one of the Deepground transports. She threw her hand towards it, watching as another deadly bolt zapped the tree and the branch crashed down onto the transport and the men surrounding it. She smirked in devilish satisfaction.

‘Quietus? I think you and I might just get along after all.’ She addressed the demon residing in her mind.

The feline beast chuckled. ‘I’m glad you think so, host.’

Jexebel laughed maniacally and sprinted down the hill, not even bothering to hide her body. She flung her hands left and right, lightening flashing down and literally frying her enemies. Within minutes she was the only figure standing outside the Manor. With a slight smirk, enhanced by Quietus’ cat-like fangs, she quickly slinked into the building.


“Wow, look at that!” Elena gasped, pointing to a nasty lightening storm that looked to be right on top of ShinRa Manor. The group was finally together again, Vincent - as Chaos - in the lead as he searched frantically for his lover.

He knew that lightening! “It’s Jexebel!” He snarled, taking flight. “Hurry!” he cried back to the group on the ground. Four motors revved loudly, sounding very much like the storm that raged ahead of them as Jexebel’s worried friends rushed to her aid.


When Vincent landed he was forced to question his earlier assumptions. Jexebel did this? Nanaki was next on the scene. He observed in silence, then: “Vincent…I’m afraid I must leave this to you…I cannot fight death.”

Vincent nodded his head in understanding, watching as Nanaki bounded back into the forest.

He looked around at the massacre. Soldiers littered the ground left and right, some not completely intact. The large double doors of the mansion hung open by only one hinge, as if she had blown through it with a stick of Cid’s enhanced dynamite. Roaring engines signaled the arrival of his coworkers.

“Oh my god…” Elena whispered, taking in the gory scene.

“No time.” Tseng said. “We have to get in there! She’ll be killed!”

Vincent couldn’t have agreed more. He doubled over, phasing back into his human self, and then turned to face the group.

“Tseng, Elena, you two take the ground floor. Reno, Rude, you take the second floor. I’m going into the basement. When everything is clear, follow me. Its time to end this.”

“Agreed.” Tseng said. The others nodded their approval, breaking off and going to their positions. Vincent closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He prayed that Jexebel was still alive.

He would follow her if she wasn’t.


The basement was musty and old. It brought back dark memories of cold hands and dull blades. Jexebel shuddered as she made her way through the winding tunnels. She could hear the voices of her enemies echoing through the corridors as though they walked along side her.

‘Let me out.’ Quietus begged. ‘Please, let me oouuuuut!’

‘Not yet…’ Jexebel answered. She approached the door separating her from her destiny.

‘Yes…yes…yes…let me out…please!’

Jexebel finally let go and allowed the ancient demon to overtake her body. The door burst open with a resounding ‘slam!’ to a sight that bothered Jexebel…no matter how it delighted her beast.

Her old lover - Weiss the Immaculate - standing over the dead body of his commander, Genesis.

“You were a fool…” she heard him say. “The universe will be mine!”

“Monster!” Jexebel hissed, causing Weiss to whirl around. He took in the sight of his lost flame in her demon form.

“Well isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black. I’m glad you survived. Poison wouldn’t have done you justice.”

“Bastard!” Jexebel screamed. She lunged at him, throwing him back against the wall of the filthy lab. He laughed.

“Well well, aren’t we tough. Too bad I’m still stronger!” He threw himself at her, shoving her against the wall and digging clawed fingers into her side. She hissed and struggled against his grip. Weiss leaned down to her face, his lips caressing her cheekbone as he dug his fingers deeper against her ribcage, causing her to cry out.

“Where’s your lover now, Jexebel? Isn’t he coming to save his whore?” he taunted. Jexebel’s eyes filled with indescribable hurt and she stared at something behind Weiss. Then, a small smirk played across her features.

Weiss was about to ask what Jexebel was smiling about…when he felt the cold metal of a three-barreled gun rest against his temple.

“Don’t you ever call her a whore…ever…again.”

Weiss turned his head until the gun was pointed square between his eyes and found himself staring at the livid features of Vincent Valentine.

“Hm. Here he comes to save the day…again. Did you miss me, Vincent?” Weiss taunted.

Vincent snarled and pulled the trigger, intending to put three bullets into his skull.

Weiss was too fast for him. In a flash, the abomination was across the room, his weapons in hand.

Vincent kept the madman in his sights.

“Are you alright?” He asked Jexebel without taking his eyes off of Weiss.

“I don’t need your help!” Jexebel snarled. She drew her sword and rushed Weiss again, slicing at air as he twirled away from her. Jexebel growled and raised her left hand behind her, letting the electricity from Quietus’ stormy aura bleed into her sword. She threw blow after blow at Weiss, angry that she couldn’t even seem to scratch him.

“What is going ON?!” she yelled. She KNEW she had cut him that time…but hadn’t felt any resistance against her blade. Weiss laughed at her and sunk into the floor. Jexebel turned around when she heard Vincent growl. She watched in awe and anger as he transformed back into Chaos and the Death Penalty materialized out of nowhere.

“How did you do that?!” she hissed.

“You can do it too. Call for it. Call for her power! Do it! Now is not the time to doubt!”

Jexebel hissed at him, but did as he said, watching in fascination as two staffs crackled to life in her hands. The weapons seemed to be made of the electricity that surrounded her.

“Vincent!” Tseng called as he and the others burst into the room.

“Jexebel! Oh I’m so glad you’re okay!” Elena cried, attempting to embrace the woman.

“DON’T…touch me.” Jexebel snarled. “Just…stay out of my way.” Elena looked hurt…but backed off.

Suddenly the sound of Weiss’ laughter could be heard bouncing throughout the room. The assassins stood in a circle with their backs to eachother, staring in horror as Weiss rose from the floor in front of the door…and next to the table…and near the test tubes…two more fell from the ceilings…

Jexebel had a flashback of sparring with Weiss.

“These are just decoys…find the real one!” she said. She stepped out of the circle to attack the Weiss standing directly before her. Her weapon fell through him…but turned his skin a sickening shade of blue. YES! That’s how she would know! Gunfire could be heard like a symphony of death as the six fought together. Finally there was only one Weiss left that hadn’t been touched. He threw his head back and laughed again, lifting his arms and sending a shockwave through the room. Jexebel and Vincent held their ground, their demons giving them added strength, but Reno, Rude, Tseng, and Elena flew backwards to collide with the walls. They all fell to the floor with cracks that made Vincent’s bones shudder.

“No!” Jexebel screamed before she could stop herself. She glared at Weiss with eyes that almost scared the madman. Suddenly, the room began to shake. Clouds formed on the ceiling, pouring water that burned the skin. The body of Quietus began to glow bright blue…almost white. Vincent watched, bring a clawed hand to his eyes to shield them from the light.

Then Jexebel screamed and rocketed towards Weiss.

He cried out in rage when their bodies collided, forcing him back over the lab table behind him.

The glowing body stared down at him. Then slowly, her lips parted and Weiss could only scream as needle-like teeth ripped into his throat.


Vincent watched in horror as his Jexebel savagely ripped the life from her enemy. The disturbing sound of ripping flesh went on for what seemed like hours before she finally stopped.

Jexebel backed away from the mangled body of a man whom she had once loved; staring at Vincent with pain filled eyes as he then turned his attention to his coworkers.


Jexebel watched Vincent rush to the aid of the ones that betrayed her with malice in her heart. Never again…

She screamed her rage and allowed Quietus to carry her away.


Vincent heard Jexebel’s scream just as Tseng came to. He whirled around to see Jexebel rocket out of the lab and up the stairs.

“Go, Vincent! Bring her back!” Tseng said, struggling to his feet.


Vincent exited the manor just in time to see Jexebel leap into the air, flying at speeds he had rarely achieved.

“Jexebel! Come back!” He cried, taking to the sky and struggling to catch up to her.

“Leave me alone! You left me before, do it again!” She called back, sweeping and looping to try to lose him.

“Give it up, Jexebel! I’ve been flying a lot longer than you have! You can’t lose me that easily!” He tried to reason.

“Oh yeah?! How about this then!” Jexebel snarled. She turned around, gliding on her back and lifting her hands above her head.

And before Vincent knew what was happening, he was slammed in the chest by one of her paralyzing orbs. Immediately he began to plummet to the ground.

Jexebel hovered in place watching Vincent fall. He would surely die if he didn’t get his body back in just a few seconds.

And it didn’t look like that was happening.

“Dammit!” Jexebel cursed. She dove to the ground and caught Vincent by the foot, hovering a few feet above the earth and dropping him onto his back.

“Jexe…bel…please…” he rasped.

She only shook her head. She turned her back to him and - with one last look behind her - disappeared into the stormy night.