The Goddess of the Sea and the Goddess of the Earth have battled since the beginning of time. Corii the Earth Goddess was often jealous of her sister Goddess of the Sea, Llie. Llie possessed most of the world while Corii only ruled over a small amount of the Genta. The Sky Goddess, Ree was the most hated envied sister however; she owned all of the skies that floated above the Earth and the Sea. There was once a war waged between the three Goddesses. The war ended with so many casualties however, that the Goddesses were forced to end the fight themselves and agree on another solution other than war…

*

"High Priestess?"

Meljar turned from her studies and sat up from her seat. "Yes Jerumi?" She smiled.

"High Priestess, Lady Jamia wishes to see you." The girl answered as she bowed.

"Oh. Thank you Jerumi, I will go and see her then." Meljar nodded and the girl left the doorway making her way down the hall.

Meljar swept at her robe with her hand to dust any messes off and then made her way out the door making her way down to the Queen’s chambers.

She knocked and heard a faint call from inside allowing her entrance. She opened the door letting her eyes gaze upon the Queen’s luxurious room.

"Come." The Queen called from her bed in the corner of her room.

Meljar walked slowly to the Queen’s bedside and looked down at her intently.

"My dear Meljar, my years are coming to an end. As I grow weaker so does my kingdom. But before I go… I ask you a favor." The Queen’s fragile hand gently glided over Meljar’s fist, moving her fingers apart and holding her hand tightly.

Meljar lightly squeezed the Queen’s hand back smiling a sympathetic and saddened smile. "Anything my Lady."

"Ah, Meljar you were like a daughter to me. Such a kind girl you are." The Queen’s lips began to curve downward revealing a deep frown. "You can feel it can’t you?"

Meljar’s face became confused. "Feel what my Lady?"

"Oh Meljar, I know you can feel it. That force, its pulling us to shreds. The sour taste of blood fills our mouths, the bursting energy that pushes at our insides yearning to find a way out, its all that force. You can feel it."

Meljar bit her bottom lip in worry. "Are you feeling alright my Lady?"

"Meljar, please, don’t think me insane. I am well far from that. Please believe me and let yourself feel. Can’t you feel the earth calling out to you? A time of darkness is coming. Llie and Corii have decided on the day of their final battle." Jamia’s fingertips pressed into Meljar’s hand deeper after every word was spoken.

"My Lady, please be calm. There is no danger; it’s a time of peace. There is no sign of War or destruction. Please rest." Meljar swept away some hair off her Queen’s face.

"Oh Meljar." Jamia sighed with disappointment. "I can’t give you anymore time. Maybe, when I take my eternal rest you will see. Yes, you will see it perfectly and understand what you must do. Your blood is what makes you. It will understand in the future." Jamia gave Meljar a hopeful smile. "I believe in you Meljar…" With that Jamia closed her eyes and began to fall into a deep sleep.

Meljar gently removed the Queen’s hand from her own and then withdrew from Jamia’s room.

* * * *

Meljar’s body shook violently as her sobs became harder and harder. She lay next to her Queen’s bed curled into a ball holding her self.

The Queen, Jamia, lay in her bed her sweet smile across her lifeless face. Her eyes lightly shut as if they were ready to open back up with a blink. Her hands crossed over her chest, her flowing nightgown at her sides resting on the bed.

"Oh My Lady." Meljar clasped onto Jamia’s hand. "Please tell me what your favor of me was… Come back to me, if only for a moment so that I can grant you your last wish." Meljar sobbed and kissed the cold hand.

Jamia still lay, untouched by Meljar’s pleading words.

Meljar let her Queen’s hand go and sat up from her position on the floor wiping away her tears. "I will grant you your last wish, even if you’re not the one to tell me it."

* * * *

Meljar kissed her daughter lightly on the lips and spotted her head with the painting oil. "I, the High Priestess, step down from my position and pass my duties to you, my daughter, Parisia."

Parisia taped her foot nervously as her mother spoke the ceremonial chants. The onlookers, all fellow Priestesses smiled and giggled at Parisia’s nervous tendencies.

"Parisia, do you accept duties as High Priestess?" Meljar clapped her hands together and made a slight bow towards her daughter.

"Yes, I take my…" Parisia gulped. "I take responsibility of… I mean I will take the responsibility of High Priestess." The giggles from her peers continued.

Meljar smiled and hugged her daughter. "Congratulations dear."

Parisia weakly smiled. "Thanks."

"After the Celebration party I wish to speak to you personally" Meljar whispered as she released her daughter from her hug.

Parisia nodded in reply.

Festivities of the celebration of new High Priestess went by smoothly and swiftly. Before Parisia could even begin to let her guard down and enjoy herself the party was ending. Parisia couldn’t help but feel a little relief when all the guests had left finally.

"Parisia, let us talk" Her mother grabbed her hand and pulled her into the dining room.

She began to feel a little nervous of what her mother was so urgent to tell her about. "What is it mother?"

"Well you see Parisia…" Her mother pressed her lips together in stress. "Your not High Priestess."

"What? But I just went through the… I don’t get it." Parisia tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. Was her mother jealous of her new rank?

"Well you are… But you won’t be… Oh darling, I’m sorry that I never told you this but… You can’t stay here. They will be here soon." Meljar held Parisia’s shoulders tightly as she spoke.

"But why? WHAT IS GOING ON? WHO?" Parisia’s mouth was hanging open with shock, her eyebrows frowning in a confused fashion.

"I’ll explain everything in a few moments, go and pack." Meljar retrieved her hands from her daughters stiffened shoulders.

"But…" Parisia stuttered.

"Do as I say!" Meljar cut off.

Parisia nodded and made her way hastily to her room, her worried and confused expression pasted to her face.

When she returned her mother was pacing up and down the dining room.

"Mother…"

"Oh good!" Meljar turned towards her daughter with a relieved look on her face. "Our horses are waiting for us out in the back garden."

"Horses? MOTHER, WHAT IS GOING ON?" Parisia stomped her feet in frustration.

"I will explain on the way…" Her mother muttered as she pulled Parisia behind her out of the dining room and towards the back door of the castle.

"ON THE WAY TO WHERE?" Parisia angrily pulled her arm away from her mother and stood her ground.

"Please Parisia, just go along with me for now." Meljar pleaded as she once again took Parisia’s arm.

Parisia sighed and allowed her self to be dragged out into the darkness of the night.

The horses whined with protest as Meljar and Parisia neared them.

Meljar slowly extended her hand and smoothed it over the horse’s nose, the horse responding in silence.

"Now quickly, climb onto the horse and let us descend from here." Meljar boosted her daughter onto the horse, then hopped onto her own horse.

"Mother, please tell me where we are going…"

"A safe place for you."

"Safe from what?" Parisia shouted throwing her hands down at her sides.

"BE SILENT!" Her mother screamed. She sighed closing her eyes, releasing her anger at her daughter would not help anything. "I will explain when we are far from here, please daughter, be silent if you wish to keep your life."

Parisia’s eyes widened with shock and for once, she stayed silent.

* * * *

Misuchi blocked another punch to the face while stepping back avoiding another kick from to her side. "DAMN IT! I told you Saria, didn’t I?!" She shouted angrily to her partner.

Saria smiled as she lifted her staff above her head, and began to soar into the air. "Ah, but I wasn’t the one who picked the fight."

"Awe, HELL WITH YOU!" Misuchi called back as she slammed her leg into a woman’s side taking her down then bowed down to avoid an incoming fist.

Saria laughed and spun her staff, her eyes closed and she began to chant. Her voice sang out every word with a soothing and gentle nature. Her body stiffened as her voice began to higher, her once sweet song becoming a violent twist of high and agonizing notes. The attackers who had once surrounded Misuchi and Saria now fell to their knees and held their ears, shrieking in pain.

Misuchi smiled, obviously not affected by her partner’s spell at all. "Good work Saria! Now let’s get the hell out of here!" Misuchi chuckled running out of from the alley.

Saria opened her eyes and snapped her mouth shut. Her voice now silent, she glanced over the still cringing and bloody-eared alley trash that they had just been attacking them. Landing back down to the ground, she followed Misuchi leaving the barbarians behind.

"That was fun! And we made some good money doing it!" Misuchi shouted excitedly while running her fingers through the bag of gold she held.

"Good to hear, we need to pay back the Spell Keeper for all the favors he has done us." She looked towards Misuchi waiting for Misuchi to protest and sure enough she did, Saria grinned.

"WHAT? Pay him back, BUT WHY? They are favors! No need to pay him back! Hell with him!"

Saria shook her head still grinning. "Misuchi, you are so very predictable. We WILL pay back the Spell Keeper and you know it’s the right thing to do."

"Right thing to do, my ass!" Misuchi waved her hand carelessly. "Was it the right thing to do to steal from that group of morons back there?"

"Ah, but they stole in the first place." Saria chuckled.

"Two wrongs doesn’t make a right." Misuchi waved her finger at Saria.

Saria snickered. "You have me there. Well…" Saria snatched the bag from Misuchi’s hand. "If you’re not going to do the right thing, I will." With that Saria disappeared.

"DAMN IT!" Misuchi pouted and crossed her arms in anger. "It’s not fair! She has powers and I don’t!" Misuchi sighed and continued to walk down the street.

* * * *

Meljar quietly sat down next to Parisia and squeezed her hand.

"What’s going on mother?" Parisia asked teary eyed.

"Oh darling, it’s okay. I will tell you." Meljar hugged her, stroking her thin fingers through her daughter’s hair. "It was thirty years ago that I became the High Priestess. Queen Jamia was in rule, as you know. A kind and wise woman. When she was on her deathbed, only a year after I had become High Priestess she told me something… She asked me if I felt something. I didn’t know what she meant, I thought that maybe her mind was even leaving her and she didn’t know what she was talking about. Though, she did. I still don’t understand to this day. But this lead me to be overly curious which brought me to searching everything she owned for the answers. Shortly after Queen Jamia’s death and your birth I found her Journal, it contained her spells and thoughts over the years. In it I found the most horrible words I could ever imagine! It prophesized the death of you, my daughter."

Parisia gasped, her eyes bulging with fright and shock.

"It told me of the invaders that will attack tomorrow at the castle. You would be murdered in the chaos along with many others…"

"Did you tell the others?" Parisia asked before her mother could go on.

"No. Though my actions seem selfish, they are not. Let me explain. If I had told them of this event, they would have forced you to stay at the castle and guard it with a protection spell, which I know would not work against these invaders. The castle is damned! If you had stayed there, you would have died! You though, you are more important than the kingdom, your life is not more valuable however you are the key…"

"What are you talking about?" Parisia’s cheeks began to become wet with tears. "They are all going to die… I have to go back and protect them!"

"No!" Meljar held her daughter’s hand tightly. "Listen! You CAN’T protect them! Even if you could save their lives, YOU would die! You are the key to so many other lives! It is not worth it! You must understand this, if you die the world is cursed. We will all die!"

Parisia sniffled and her bottom lip quivered in despair, confusion and anger. "What nonsense are you talking about? I am the High Priestess of Gie, the guardian of Gie! You always taught me that life is the most important thing and now you tell me to ignore the deaths of MY own people!"

Meljar’s face flashed with pain. "It’s not… Parisia, please. It’s the whole world, or a kingdom that will be damned any ways! You can’t protect the kingdom even if you did go back!"

"I am High Priestess! I KNOW I can!" Parisia sobbed.

"I told you before, you are not High Priestess. I didn’t pass my powers onto you. When I die, then they will be given to you."

"But… We did the ceremony!" Parisia wiped at her tears.

"That was not the correct ceremony… Do not worry Parisia, I will return to the kingdom and attempt to save what I can of our people."

"But mother, you’re far too old to be up against invaders! You haven’t once even seen a battle field!"

"AND NEITHER HAVE YOU! Parisia, LISTEN TO ME. Stay here!" Meljar shouted.

"No! I won’t let you do this alone!" Parisia wrapped around her mother in a tight embrace.

"Well then I have no choice…" Meljar placed her hands over Parisia’s forehead and began to chant.

"No… Don’t… Mother please no…" Parisia’s eyes grew heavy as she attempted to break her mothers sleep spell over her. Within a moment Parisia had fallen into a deep sleep.

Meljar smiled and kissed her daughter’s forehead and left for Gie, leaving her daughter laying in the dark cave by the fire.

* * * *

He yawned while looking up at the moon. After about five minutes of just cracking his knuckles and endless stretching he made himself get up from his bed.

"Ah, another night…" he sighed stepping out from his cabin. He grinned revealing two very large canine teeth.

He crept through the woods with ease making his way to the roadside, waiting for an unexpected civilian to become his next meal. He licked his lips in anticipation. He sniffed the night air and smiled blissfully but then his mouth twisted into a cruel smile as his nose caught scent of something…someone.

He jumped up into a nearby tree and made his way through the tree limbs towards the taunting scent. His eyes locked onto a fire. He chuckled happily at the sight of the fire. Fire means people, people means food. His mouth watered with anticipation.

Slowly he climbed down from the tree and made his way carefully towards the flames. As he came closer to the flickering flames he noticed his pray was female, wait…not just any female…a priestess! His smile grew so wide it practically took up his whole face. He rubbed his hands together. He smoothly made his way behind his unsuspecting pray.

He stopped suddenly and just stared at her, enchanted by the sight of the sleeping priestess. She was asleep; her copper colored hair delicately lay over her milky skin on her face. Her lips slightly opened formed to a perfect pout. Her small body was clothed with a white flowing gown that only a Priestess of Gie would wear. He kneeled down next to her and just stared at her, it was like a spell drew him to her. He couldn’t take his eyes away.

He abruptly pulled himself away from her and shook his head clear. He had no idea what was wrong with him. He brought himself back to the tempting thoughts of food when out of no where the girl who had been sleeping jerked upright into a sitting position.

She screamed and jumped back. "A VAMPIRE! STAY BACK!" She held her hands in some strange pose and began to chant.

"WAIT!" He screeched before she could finish her spell. "I’m not going to eat you! I don’t eat humans!"

"That’s a lie! WHERE’S MY MOTHER? MOTHER!" She called looking back and forth frantically.

"…Mother…" He looked confused. "There was only you when I got here…"

"BE SILENT MONSTER or I will hex you!" She shouted back fearfully.

"Oh please… You’re a Gie Priestess, you can hardly do anything to me." He snorted.

"I’m the HIGH Priestess! So be c-c-careful hell beast!" The priestess nervously corrected.

"Oh excuse me, a HIGH Priestess. I am so afraid…" He laughed. "Oh! So what are you going to do, put a sleeping spell on me? They don’t work on the demon races!"

The priestess began her chant again, stuttering most of the words.

"Do you really think that will have any effect on me?" He bluffed as he smiled slyly.

The girl sighed with defeat, not sure if it WOULD have effect or not. "Well…Now…go away…please?" The girl chewed at her bottom lip.

"Give me something to eat first." He longingly looked at her as if she was a feast.

"Ah! No! You don’t want my blood!" The girl pleaded holding her arms around herself in defense.

He never stopped smiling, but his eyes brightened with amusement. "I don’t want your blood… I want your cattle, that is if you have any… Do you? Oh but first tell me your name, beauty"

The girl blushed slightly, but her eyes remained fearful. "My name is Parisia"

He nodded his head for her to go on.

"And Well…no, I have no cattle."

His smile disappeared. "Than what do you have to offer me?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well" Parisia swallowed. "Sir, I don’t have anything that would interest you…"

"Let me be the judge of that." His grin returned to his face. "Now show me what you have brought with you on your journey away from Gie."

"…Well…" Parisia hesitantly pulled out her bag and spilled its contents out onto the ground.

The man searched through the items hastily. "How disappointed, you have no items that I wish to claim." He frowned slightly and then looked up at Parisia. He narrowed his eyes and a wicked smirk crossed his face, Parisia looked down at the ground startled. "But you do have something I want…" He crawled towards her, like a tiger approaching its victim, ready to strike.

Parisia realizing what he meant giggled nervously and slide backwards, trying to keep the distance between the two remaining.

He snickered under his breath. "Now don’t be shy." He grabbed her leg and pulled it back, bringing her sliding under him, Parisia responding with a startled gasp.

"Sir! I’m a PRIESTESS! I’ll…I’ll… I’ll use my magic if I have to!" She panted as she cringed back.

The young man began to lower himself onto her; his eyes remained looking into hers, his sinister grin still across his face. "Go ahead…Use it. I dare you to." His hands slide behind her head and raised it up forcing her face to his. His lips pressed down onto hers. Parisia grumbled and screeched with protests, but the sound of her voice began to drown out as the kiss lingered on.

"Hey! Get the hell off her Dekca!"

He rapidly pulled away from Parisia and looked up into the trees. There in the tree limb stood a girl with long black hair tied into a loose braid. Her eyes shined a brilliant shade of blue and her skin a deep tanned flesh. Her thick red lips curved into a cocky smile. She wore an outfit that proved she must be some sort of warrior or thief, loose fitting black pants clung around her small yet muscular waist. A shred of cloth covered her practically flat chest and a baggy long opened button down shirt hung down over her. She carried a dagger by her side, though she obviously didn’t intend to use it for her hands were far away from the sharp item and crossed over her stomach.

Beside the female was yet another female, levitating in the air next to the tree. Her strangely long black hair dragged down to below her ankles, in the moonlight it shimmered a green tint. The woman’s intelligent deep brown eyes could easily be mistaken as black and her tight face complimented her thin yet pouting lips. At her side she carried a long wooden staff carved with magical symbols unknown to Parisia, at the top a black orb sat. Her green silky gown tossed in the wind along with her hair and a gentle smile cast over her lips.

"Get lost Misuchi!" Dekca called back looking back down at Parisia who was now squirming away from him.

"Saria, you know what to do…" Misuchi, the raven-haired girl nodded.

Dekca grunted with anger and disappeared.

Misuchi snorted. "Looks like Dekca fled us again Saria."

Saria nodded and smiled kindly down on the badly shaken up priestess, Parisia. "Are you alright?"

Parisia nodded. "Yes, th-thank you."

Misuchi jumped down from the tree, while Saria gently let herself descend from the sky.

"He didn’t…uh hurt you right? Or steal anything?" Misuchi asked.

"No ma’am. I am fine. He didn’t take anything or injure me."

Misuchi roared out with laughter while slapping her knee. "Did you hear that? She called me ma’am!"

Saria gave Misuchi a weak smile and returned her attention to Parisia. "You’ll have to excuse Misuchi. My name is Saria, and as you know this is Misuchi, my partner."

Parisia stood up shaking her gown out. "Oh… Nice to meet you, my name is Parisia of the Gie Priestesses." Parisia extended her hand to shake with Saria.

Saria firmly shook her hand and bowed slightly. "A Gie Priestess. We hardly see your people out here."

"Where are we?" Parisia asked shyly.

Misuchi finally managed to control herself from laughing further and breathed deeply. "Hey, if you’re a Priestess of Gie you have to be loaded! We’re in Issland. That information will cost you!" Misuchi held her hand out for payment.

Parisia’s eyes widened. "I do not have money… I wasn’t aware that I would have to pay…"

Misuchi sighed disappointed. "Awe hell! Well what DO you have?" She raised a brow and kept her hand extended as she tapped her foot still waiting for some sort of payment.

"Well, you may have whatever you want from my bag. All the contents are spilled out here." Parisia looked down at her feet where her items lay.

"Ou!" Misuchi gleefully shouted as she hopped down on her knees and began to search through the pile of items.

Saria shook her head and held back a giggle at the site of Misuchi’s scurrying around on the ground. "So what are you doing so far away from home, Miss Parisia?"

"Oh, well… See that’s the thing, I have to make it back home by morning. I’m lost though; I’m not even sure where I am. I have never heard of your county, Issland." A depressed look crossed her face remembering what just a few hours ago her mother and her discussed. She knew she could catch up with her mother, everything would work out. She reassure herself with the thought that it was just a prophecy and they don’t always come true, even if they are prophesized by the Queen.

"We can help you return home if you’d like Miss Parisia." Saria offered.

Misuchi grunted in protest at Saria’s offer and stood up hastily. "What do you mean help her return home? For free? No way…" She glared at Parisia. "She’s not worth our time unless it means some money." She once again collapsed to the ground and rummaged through Parisia’s belongings checking to make sure she missed nothing valuable.

Parisia blinked not sure what was going to happen next.

"Just ignore Misuchi, we’ll help you for free. It is said it’s good luck to help a Gie Priestess." Saria nodded lightly laughing at the thought.

"We’re not going to help her!" Misuchi argued not taking her eyes of her "new" items.

"I could pay you" Parisia answered looking down at Misuchi then returned to looking at Saria. "Pay you both. My kingdom is wealthy and would be pleased to pay such heroines for their deeds."

"Well than, did you hear that Misuchi? Money may be involved with this one…"

Misuchi hopped up. "Yes I heard! Well then, what are we waiting for! Let’s get going!" Misuchi then shoved her belongings she had gained from Parisia into her pocket and ran up the road. Turning and looking back at Saria and Parisia, who were still in the cave, near the fire, she yelled: "Come on! Let’s get going! Money, and FOOD are waiting for us!"

Saria sighed happily and began to follow Misuchi, while Parisia lagged behind Saria. "Miss Saria, how did you…fly?"

Saria chuckled. "I’m a banshee…"

"A banshee?" Parisia tilted her head. "I am afraid I don’t know what that is… Is that some sort of demon?"

Saria smiled. "Ah, no."

"Than what?" Parisia asked slightly above a whisper.

"Well, we use our voice to control magic."

"Oh, what an interesting technique." Parisia giggled as she desperately tried to make conversation.

"Yes I suppose it is. A dying technique though."

"That’s sad." Parisia answered. She waited for Saria to go on speaking but the woman said nothing. "So… How is it living our here in Issland?"

"It’s good I suppose. Misuchi and I make ends meet. We’re thieves, her and I. We are probably ruining all your years of service to the gods by just being around you." Saria laughed again.

Parisia smiled. "I’m sure the gods can forgive good souls such as yours, though I’m not all that sure about your friend Misuchi…"

Saria threw her head back laughing. "Oh, Misuchi means well, she’s just a little rough around the edges. You’ll get used to her."

Parisia weakly smiled. "Oh?"

Saria patted Parisia’s head. "How old are you and what are you doing out here?"

"Well… I’m fifteen years of age and my mother brought me here. My mother returned without me though. She is very influenced by old superstitions."

"Sometimes those old superstitions are the ones to believe." Saria winked.

"Oh yes, I suppose." Parisia replied not really agreeing.

Misuchi skipped along in front of them taunting the two with the occasional teasing, such as "slow pokes", and declaring she saw a snail slug by them.

* * * *

Meljar had made her way back to the castle; the sun would rise in just a couple of hours. Meljar sighed with relief knowing her daughter would be safe. She thanked the gods that her daughter was the one chosen and not another. Though it was selfish, she loved her daughter, and she wanted her daughter to live a happy life…a full life.

"Miss Meljar, where is the High Priestess?" a servant asked as Meljar exited her room and entered a crowded hallway. "We’ve all been searching for her. She has appeared to run away…"

"Don’t be ridiculous, my daughter would never do such a disrespectful and disgraceful thing! We just haven’t found her yet. Continue to search the castle."

The servant bowed in answer and went back to her work along with the other servants.

Meljar looked down in shame for having to lie to this poor servant, to the entire kingdom. So many lives would be destroyed and taken today… But she would try her best to save them, even if it meant the death of her self.

Just then she heard a horrendous scream. Her eyes filled with fear and shock. "My gods… it has begun so soon! No!"

Darkness filled the halls of the castle and the sky turned blood red and for a long while the only sound heard was the waling of the damned people of Gie until there was nothing but silence.

* * * *

Parisia screamed in pain and fell to the earth under her.

Saria turned in shock to regard the shrieking priestess. "What is it? Parisia? Are you okay?" She bent down and put a hand on Parisia’s back only to rapidly pull it back. "Ow!" She waved her hand as if it she had been burned.

Parisia continued to scream in pain.

"What’s wrong with her?!" Misuchi asked, after running up to the pair, more startled than worried.

"I don’t know… But her energy…" Saria stared at the girl in awe. "She’s… She’s almost as powerful as the gods…"

Misuchi snorted. "That’s impossible. This has to be Dekca’s doing…"

Saria shook her head. "No…he doesn’t have this much power… She’s going to die at this rate… She can’t handle all that power!"

Misuchi raised an eyebrow. "Oh well, we can just steal her things then after she’s dead!"

Saria shot Misuchi a glare.

"Alright… We’ll help her…" Misuchi sighed. "We’ll do a…"

Parisia finally stopped screaming and began to pant. She looked up at Saria with fear. "They’re dead! My people are dead!" Her eyes began to tear.

"What do you mean?" Saria asked sympathetically, she hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I felt them die… Oh god! MOTHER! She died, and her power… It’s mine… She’s dead!" Parisia began to sob and fell into Saria’s arms.

Misuchi at first forced back the urge to push Parisia off Saria but then began to feel also a little sympathetic for Parisia. She patted her back, her eyes filled with pity for the girl.

* * * *

Dekca sat on his bed toying with a brush that he had managed to nab from Parisia.

"Damn Misuchi and Saria…" He repeated to himself again and again. "Oh wait…" He smiled with hope looking at the brush. He placed the brush on his Alter next to a pot of water and began to chant. Soon afterwards he found a clear picture in the water and grinned devilishly, the only way he could. His smile faded as the picture revealed Parisia crying. He narrowed his eyes. What could have caused her tears? His usual cold eyes began to water slightly. His hand reached towards Parisia only to hit the water surface. The image was flooded with waves and then he could see no more. He sighed.

"Hmm…" He once again picked up the brush and then began to brush it through his own hair. "She’s going to be mine…" He sighed sure of himself and nodded with that final thought.

* * * *

[The Next Day]

"Hey Parisia… Wake up girl!" Misuchi whined tapping Parisia on the side of the face.

Parisia fluttered her eyes open and looked up at Misuchi. "Where am I?"

Misuchi sighed with annoyance. "You don’t remember? You fell asleep crying on the goddamned road and I had to carry you to the next damn town! You owe me big, girl!"

Parisia rubbed at her eyes. She began to take in her surroundings. She laid in a bed in a small room, most likely a motel room, next to her bed was a double bed. The covers lay in a mess at the floor. Parisia raised an eyebrow and looked at Misuchi questionably.

"WHAT? You wanted to have to sleep with Saria?" Misuchi snapped.

Parisia shook her head. "Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it."

Misuchi scoffed. "Yeah, yeah whatever."

Just then the door opened and Saria walked into the room giving Misuchi and Parisia warm smiles.

"I need to leave!" Parisia yelped remembering why she was here. "I need to get home!"

"There’s nothing left there…" Saria answered softly.

"What do you mean?" Parisia demanded as she quickly slipped out of bed.

"I left early this morning to go see what had happened to the Gie kingdom…" Saria announced, her voice melancholy.

"And?" Parisia asked with anticipation.

"…There was no one left…" Saria muttered.

Parisia shook her head in disbelief. "What do you mean, no one left?"

"It was like they all disappeared. There was nothing but silence, not even the familiar sound of birds singing in the morning. Nothing that lives dare step on that land."

Parisia shuddered. What could have happened?

"No corpses?" Misuchi tilted her head baffled by what Saria had said.

"No, not even a shred of blood… Nothing, just nothing…" Saria wasn’t wearing her usual carefree smile that brought comfort to anyone she was around, her face was twisted into an expression of something of amazement and terror.

"Well I must see for myself!" Parisia declared pulling her shoes on and headed out the door.

"No!" Saria replied stepping in front of the door.

"Please step away Miss Saria, I have to see for myself…" Parisia replied her teeth clenched.

Saria, never seeing Parisia so determined or demanding exhaled, deciding that Parisia was set on doing this, and stepped to the side letting Parisia through.

"I’ll be back tonight with your payment" Parisia coldly added before leaving the two.

"Well at least we’re getting some money out of this deal!" Misuchi cried happily.

Saria was silent.

* * * *

Parisia walked amongst the "ruins" of her once near perfect life. Her nose scrunched up in protest against the scent of rotting flesh, the smell of death. She could smell the corpses, but they’re were none to be seen or felt. She had been the one to kill these people… That thought crossed her mind again and again.

"Ah Parisia…" A familiar voice called from in back of her.

Parisia gasped and turned to see Dekca standing before her in the shadows, his usual devilish look on his handsome face. "Dekca?!"

"That is I" he bowed slightly and chuckled. "What has brought my lady here? I was coaxed by the scent of death, the scent of nourishment and… the scent of my beauty." He snapped his mouth at her.

Parisia felt as if she would gag at the thought of him feasting on her people. "Be gone beast…"

Dekca cocked his head back in amusement at her strong words. "Why such courage now when before you were so afraid and so willing?"

"I deserve death for what I have done, please go and drink my blood, it would be the least I could have done to me for the crime I have committed."

"And you have done what, my beauty?"

"I let my people die… My once beautiful and peaceful kingdom has been destroyed by me…their High Priestess, their protector. My own mother is dead because of me!" Parisia choked back a sob.

"Ah, people come and go. It is the way of humans, the way of life. Feeling sorry for lives that have been taken does nothing."

"What would you know demon? You have never felt such things as sorrow."

Dekca snarled barring his canine teeth. "Humans are such selfish beings, they think they are the only creatures that can feel, that only they are the special and unfortunate ones to feel pain. Go and wallow in your sadness, but you will see it does nothing helpful, your people are gone. Be done with your depression."

"Go away beast…" Parisia replied hiding her face in her hands.

Dekca crossed his arms and disappeared only to reappear beside Parisia and wrap his arms around her pulling her to him. Parisia’s head rested on his chest as his hand combed through her soft hair.

Parisia let herself rest up against him for moments before pulling away.

Dekca grinned. "When you feel better…" He disappeared.

Parisia sighed with relief only to feel Dekca’s hot breath whisper into her ear: "I’ll be back", as he wiped away a tear from her face and then was gone.

* * * *

Parisia entered the motel room slowly and quietly trying to not draw much attention to her self.

"Good to see your back." Saria greeted as she sat up from the chair in the corner of the room. Her carefree smile had once again returned to her face to Parisia’s delight.

"Yeah! Did you get us the money?!" Misuchi jumped up and down happily at Parisia’s side.

Parisia nodded and took out a pouch handing it to Misuchi.

Misuchi squealed with delight and hastily dumped it out on the bed and immediately began to count it.

Saria watched Misuchi contently.

"Miss Saria, I will be leaving you two now. I thank you for all your help."

Saria nodded her head.

"Wait!" Misuchi shouted jumping up from the bed. "You’re leaving, so soon?!" Misuchi latched onto Parisia’s arm. "Why not have us come with you?"

Saria rolled her eyes; she had seen this look before. Misuchi was smiling a toothy grin and her eyes would be filled with dollar signs if it were possible.

"But… I thought you didn’t like me…" Parisia raised the question, puzzled by Misuchi’s actions.

"Oh, no! You have it all wrong, why Saria and me just love you! We would be ever so pleased if you let us join you!"

"Well…I suppose you could…if you really wished to, though I’m not sure where I am going or what I am doing…" Parisia answered still confused on why Misuchi was suddenly acting so kind towards her and also now bringing herself to the problem at hand. Where was she to go now that here kingdom was gone?

Misuchi purred with happiness and jumped back on the bed returning her attention to her money.

Parisia gave Saria a questionable look and Saria shrugged.

"With all this money I can go to the market! Oh yes! Hell yeah, it’s spending time!" Misuchi cried gleefully as she rubbed her hands together in greed.

"Oh let me, I’ll get any supplies we need." Parisia suggested opening the door to leave once again, she felt the need to be alone and this was a perfect opportunity.

"Oh okay, that means more money for me!" Misuchi answered hugging her newfound fortunes.

"Alright, see you in a few hours."

As soon as the door closed Misuchi bounced up off the bed. "Saria, this is too perfect!"

Saria raised an eyebrow. "So what are you up to?"

"Well think about it Saria! She’s loaded, if we help her get around we may get a big reward at the end! She’s a gold mind! Hey, even if she doesn’t decide to give us a reward we can just take it!"

Saria nodded. "You make a good point Misuchi."

"I know!" Misuchi chirped happy with her plans.

* * * *

Parisia walked through the streets cautiously, trying to avoid the thieves and criminals this town was known for, and also just trying to avoid any contact, she felt to ashamed to have to look another being in the eye.

"Hey! You! Hey, lady!" A merchant called out to Parisia.

"Me?" Parisia asked pointing at herself.

"Yes, you. Come here!" The merchant beckoned her with her hand.

Parisia stepped over to the woman. "Yes?"

"I have a GREAT deal for you! You look like a woman who could use a little loving." The woman winked.

"Ack!" Parisia stepped back. "I don’t swing that way lady!"

The woman laughed. "No girl, not me! This young fellow." She pointed behind her. There stood a young man, his hands shackled together, an emotionless expression across his face. He was huge, almost as big as a giant or at least to Parisia he was.

"Oh no thanks… I really don’t need…umm loving." Parisia refused.

"Oh well then why not protection? A beauty like you could use protection like this! He’s stronger than an ox, this boy is!"

"Uh…I really don’t think I need protection." Parisia looked at the poor man. She swallowed. Maybe I should take him…I can buy him out of slavery; at least I can do one loyal deed to my kind she snorted at her thoughts. "How much is he?"

"Ah, he’s a bargain he is! He is priced for twenty jamis but I will give him to you for ten!"

"Well…" Parisia looked at her almost bare pouch and then at the slave again. She couldn’t deny another human being the chance to live like she had for her whole country. This may not make up for the deaths she knew, but it was a start. "Alright, I’ll take him."

"Sold!" The woman hastily took the coins and threw the boy at Parisia.

Parisia was practically thrown off balance as she collided with the slave but regained her stand before she could fall to the ground. "Ma’am?" Parisia asked the woman merchant.

"Yes deary?" The woman answered.

"Do you have the keys for his chains?"

"Oh yes, yes." The woman threw them at Parisia; Parisia caught them and instantly took the shackles off the slave.

"I’m freeing you." Parisia said smiling as the shackles slid of his wrists.

"Yes! YAHOO!" The former slave screamed.

Parisia fell backwards at the sound of the man’s unexpected shouts.

The woman merchant looked at the girl confused. "Don’t you know those shackles were the spell to keep him under your control?"

The man stuck his tongue out at the merchant. "They also made me a freaking zombie! Thank the freaking gods that this girl saved me!"

Parisia nodded her head. "My pleasure, sir." Parisia began to leave the boy; he could now go on with his life with his freedom from slavery.

"Wait a second… What do I do now?" He asked confused, scratching his head, looking to Parisia for the answer.

"Well… What did you do before you were a slave?" Parisia turned to regard the slave once again.

"Uh, I was uh… I don’t remember." His lips curved down into frown.

"Do you remember your name?"

"Yes!" He shouted happily. "Trios!" His smile returned.

"That’s a nice name." Parisia replied smiling back. "Well, just go off now and find yourself a job…or whatever."

"But… I want to stay with you!" Trios cried out hugging Parisia. "I must repay you for freeing me!" Parisia froze as the huge man squeezed her in a bear hug. Parisia choked for breath and Trios slowly let her down chuckling nervously. "Sorry about that…"

"Oh great…what have I done?" Parisia sighed under clenched teeth.

* * * *

Parisia tiredly entered the motel, Trios following her, hyper as ever.

"Who is that?" Saria asked turning away from her book she was reading.

"Oh this… This is Trios." Parisia replied, her eyes tired from her days work with Trios.

Misuchi dodged under the bed with sudden fright. "You bought a MAN here?!"

Parisia shrugged not caring for Misuchi’s concern at the moment.

Trios blinked and jumped down to the floor to look under the bed at Misuchi. Misuchi screeched jumping up only to hit her head on the top of the bunk. "Ow…" Slowly she crawled out and gave Trios an unhappy glance.

"Hey!" Trios smiled

"Leave me alone" Misuchi sighed.

Saria and Parisia watched from the sidelines, giving each other amused looks.

"So Parisia, how did you find him?" Saria asked.

"I bought him off the slave trade, I released him from slavery." Parisia smiled proud of herself.

"Hmm, interesting. Well he’ll be useful to us."

"Feel like getting out of here? Just me and you?" Trios grinned wrapping an arm around Misuchi.

"Not a chance" Misuchi answered elbowing him in the gut.

"I think Trios likes Misuchi" Parisia snickered.

Saria nodded, laughing with Parisia.

"Oh shut up!" Misuchi yelled pouting.

Parisia sighed. "Well I’m glad I rescued him…"

Trios smiled. "I thank you very much Miss Parisia! I apologize for my behavior, I just… I HAVEN’T REALLY BEEN ALIVE IN SO LONG!" He shouted throwing his hands in the air.

"Well I can fix that for you! LET’S KILL HIM!" Misuchi yelled as she threw herself at him attacking him.

* * * *

"What amusing games they play…" Velvet grinned playing with hair.

"It’s not them that I’m interested in… It’s the Priestess."

"Ah, Dekca… She is a beauty. What class you have!" Velvet licked her lips looking down into the bowel of water.

"Remember, I said you CAN NOT eat her! She’s mine." Dekca snapped.

"I remember, I remember. That’s not the one I’m interested in though… It’s that one, the one filled with fire. I like that one, my little raven haired beauty."

Dekca sighed. "Can’t you for once stick to your mission?"

Velvet giggled. "Oh but this one is so fiery! So fun! I would like to feast on her, in more than one way."

Dekca growled. "You can have your fun after you’ve completed your task."

Velvet purred with delight. "Your so amusing when you’re angry!" She spun around and began to chant, the heavy weight of dark magic filled the room. Where once Velvet stood now was a black leopard perched in a sitting style twitching its tail playfully.

Dekca nodded his head. "Good, good now go." He smirked.

Velvet growled and was off and out of the cabin.

* * * *

A light wind blew through the motel and a drowsy Parisia pulled herself out of bed. Her lazy eyes gazed across the room looking down at her comrades, all of them sleeping. She shivered; someone must have left the door open.

She quietly made her way down the stairs to the main lobby, closing the door, which WAS open like she had expected.

She slowly turned.

"MY GODS!" Parisia screamed tripping over her own feet backwards causing her to fall down on her rear.

The leopard snarled and circled her licking its lips.

"Damn it! SARIA! MISUCHI! TRIOS! ANYBODY! HELP!" Parisia screeched pushing herself back up against a wall. "Nice kitty…"

The leopard chuckled…

Parisia tilted her head and fainted.

"What the hell is going on?" Misuchi cried following Saria and Trios down the stairs. Misuchi’s eyes widened as she noticed the huge black leopard and Parisia right in its path. "Hell!"

Saria clapped her hands together and began to sing, Trios blinked trying to understand why Saria was singing at a time like this.

"Saria!" The leopard purred. "Your song cannot harm me while in form!"

Saria narrowed her eyes challenging the cat and continued to bring her voice to a screaming climax.

Trios held his hands over his ears as he screamed in pain while Misuchi comfortably listened to Saria’s song.

The cat didn’t seem bothered by the haunting music though and remained content on Parisia, watching her closely to see if she’d awaken.

Saria finally gave up and looked at Misuchi. "Misuchi, it’s your turn!"

Misuchi nodded her head, grinning. "I LOVE THIS PART!" Misuchi jumped down off the stairs.

Misuchi collected herself to throw a punch and released her fury onto Velvet; Velvet knocked back crashing into the nearby wall. Misuchi grinned and cracked her knuckles, taunting the leopard.

The leopard purred and with a puff of smoke, where the leopard once stood bloodied, now stood a woman. Her eyes a terrifying gleam of insanity in them, her hair blood red. A velvet strip wove its way around her, not covering much but enough to be called clothing. At her side a spiked wipe hung. "Please to meet you, I am Velvet. Shall we continue?" She cackled as she wiped the blood from her mouth.

"Holy! She’s a shape-shifter!" Misuchi cried.

Without another word Velvet dove back into battle. Her arm pulling back for a punch to the side of Misuchi’s face, Misuchi defensively pulled her arms into an x to shield her face, but Velvet grinned and dropped to the ground spinning her left foot and sending Misuchi’s feet out from under her.

Misuchi closed her eyes for just a moment as she shrieked in pain, just enough for Velvet to slam her elbow into Misuchi’s stomach as she flopped down onto her. Misuchi coughed with hurt then gathered herself. Grabbing Velvet hair she pulled her off and forced herself and Velvet to their feet.

"I hate to fight like a girl but…" Misuchi looked into Velvet’s eyes smiling smugly, tugging Velvet’s hair back again she kneed Velvet in the stomach, again and again.

Velvet snarled with rage as she ignored the throbbing of her skull and grabbed Misuchi’s leg twisting it and a caught-off-guard Misuchi into a tumble on the floor. Misuchi absent-mindedly had released her hair as she twisted to the ground attempting to catch her self.

Velvet cackled and slammed down her heel onto Misuchi’s back. Misuchi panted and grunted as the heel dug into her flesh.

Trios’s eyes filled with rage, he could no longer keep himself from doing something. With anger consuming his mind he flung himself from the staircase and onto Velvet, pushing her off Misuchi.

Misuchi wearily stood up and watched at Velvet flipped Trios to the front of her and used him as a cushion to shield herself from the wall. Trios grunted pathetically as he crashed slightly through the wall and rolled to the floor. Velvet stood up dusting her hands off then turned to Misuchi. "Let’s end this!" With that she kicked herself into the air, tucking her hands and arms under her she allowed her spiked whip to wrap around her. Velvet screamed with glee as she hurled herself at Misuchi, the spikes thrashing through Misuchi’s skin. Misuchi cried out and finally allowed herself to fall to the back, her strength and will to fight broken. As Misuchi fell Velvet allowed her tight-formed-ball position to undo and then kicked off of Misuchi, landing back on her feet in front of the know fallen Misuchi.

"Too easy" Velvet announced looking down at fallen Misuchi.

"Bitch!" Trios cried as he bear-hugged Velvet from behind, crushing her spin. Velvet shrieked with pain and disparately tore her claws at Trios’s arms.

Trios suddenly allowed Velvet to escape as he noticed her claws had found the main vein in his arm. Velvet cackled and flipped away towards the door. She halted and looked back at her opponents. "How very amusing… It seems the game has become more of a challenge." She spat some blood to the ground. "I am not finished with any of you! I will return!" With that she blew a kiss and was gone.

Trios gently picked Misuchi up throwing her mangled body over his shoulder and stood guard in front of Parisia.

Saria ran to Trios’s side. "Is Misuchi okay?" She cried taking Misuchi from Trios’s hands.

"Yeah, I’m okay Saria. That bitch, she’s a dirty fighter. No one said we could use weapons."

Saria snorted. "You’re a little to confident in yourself Misuchi."

"Hell, who wouldn’t be if they were me?" Misuchi answered smiling slyly.

Trios poked Parisia. "Is she dead?"

Saria chuckled. "No, just fainted."

"How do you know?" Trios asked while lifting Parisia up.

"While I was singing I could feel her magic still flowing from her. She’s alive and well"

"Yeah, that’s another question…why were you singing?" Trios asked raising an eyebrow curiously.

* * * *

"I know Velvet, I saw you lose to them…" Dekca sighed disappointed.

"Well thought I’d inform you any ways, but don’t worry not all was lost" Velvet giggled as she filed her nail to a sharp point.

"It’s not that hard to beat a Banshee, two humans, and a priestess!" Dekca growled clutching his fists.

"Then why did you run from them Dekca?" Velvet raised an eyebrow and paused from her work on her nail.

Dekca snorted. "Good point Velvet." Dekca bit down on his finger in thought. "Well next time I wont just leave you to do it…"

Velvet fell back on the bed. "I really like Misuchi! She’s a fun one!"

"Hmm, yes. Well remember keep your mind fixed on our objective." Dekca reminded her as he began to stroke Parisia’s brush through his hair once again.

Velvet sat up and looked at Dekca, who sat in his chair in the corner. "And you call me obsessive." The side of her mouth curved into a mischievous smirk.

Dekca shrugged.

* * * *

Misuchi groaned as she rolled over in bed. Her pains from her last battle caused her whole body to ache. The rest of the group had fallen asleep. She couldn’t sleep and she sighed with boredom. Her mouth watered for a drink, she hadn’t noticed how thirsty she once since she was injured.

"Guys" She whispered out.

No one awoke. "Guys!" She yelled sitting up in her bed. They still didn’t awake. She shook Saria with her foot, but Saria didn’t stir. "Guys?" Misuchi shuddered.

"Ah, so you finally figured it out, hmm?" Velvet called from the corner of the room. "Your friends will be asleep for at least a week…"

"Awe hell! Awe damn!" Misuchi swallowed forcing herself onto her feet. "Don’t make me beat you down again."

Velvet laughed. "Beat me again? You didn’t beat me the first time amusing one…" Velvet sniffed the air. "I smell fear…"

Misuchi rolled her eyes. "Oh please… I’m not afraid of you."

Velvet snapped at Misuchi playfully. "You’re just my toy… I can destroy you anytime I wish, my little play thing."

"I’m no ones toy!" Misuchi snarled.

Velvet snapped her fingers and Misuchi went limp.

"You’re powerless against me." Velvet giggled as she traced her fingernail down Misuchi’s cheek leaving a trail of blood. Velvet rapidly lapped it up off her cheek and then licked over Misuchi’s mouth before forcing her whole tongue into Misuchi’s numb mouth.

Misuchi’s muffled screams didn’t seem to bother Velvet as she just continued her kiss.

Dekca sighed. "What did I tell you Velvet?"

"Dekca!" Velvet hastily turned towards Dekca wiping her mouth.

"You have a one track mind Velvet, you can have your play time later." Dekca demanded as he scooped Parisia’s sleeping body up into his arms. He closed his eyes inhaling the scent of Parisia’s hair.

"I want to bring this one with us as well…" Velvet whimpered dragging her nail lightly down Misuchi’s throat to her collarbone. She started at her neck with her fangs but Dekca stopped her.

"No, leave this one here… I told you. You can’t feed on any of them. It might anger her…" Dekca looked down at Parisia who was safely in his arms and brushed some hair from her face.

"Can I eat her later?" Velvet pouted as she twisted her hair around her finger looking longingly at Misuchi.

"Maybe…" Dekca answered still staring down on Parisia.

"It’s not fare Dekca! I was the one who put the sleeping spell on them and I took a good beating for it but you get to still order me around!" Velvet bit her thumb and began to suck on the blood that she had drawn from it.

"Who was the one who made you what you are?" Dekca grinned slyly.

"Well you did!" Velvet fell into thought for a moment. "As long as I get to have my fun sooner or later I guess… I want this one Misuchi." Velvet returned her attention back to the still stiff Misuchi. "I’ll be back for you!" Velvet giggled and pecked Misuchi on the cheek before disappearing, Dekca soon following.

* * * *

Parisia fluttered her eyes open and yawned. Her eyes set upon Dekca immediately.

"OH MY GODS! DEKCA!" She shrieked jumping back a bit. "What are you doing here?"

Dekca grinned. "Ah, you should be asking ‘what am I doing here?’" Dekca corrected.

Parisia swallowed. "What do you want?"

Dekca chuckled. "You know what I want." He leaned his chin on his hand in amusement.

"Well don’t you dare think it! I’m a Priestess!"

Dekca rolled his eyes and snickered. "Gie is gone, you’re no longer a Priestess. You have no place to protect."

Parisia looked down in shame.

"Oh not that again… Stop thinking of those horrible thoughts. Focus on something more productive, or I’ll have to put you out again and take you by force."

Parisia snorted and narrowed her eyes. "Don’t think I’m willing to give you anything while I am awake and able!"

Dekca smiled. "I like that… You’re such an interesting human, from the moment I saw you something drew me in…"

Parisia bit her bottom lip in distress. "Well I had nothing to do with it, I didn’t ask for your feelings…"

"Yes I know… You drew me in so easily it is hardly fare. I think it’s this kindness you possess. You’re such a vulnerable person, I find that entertaining. It’s ironic that you, someone who is so in need of protection was a High Priestess, someone who is in charge of the safety of a whole kingdom."

"Maybe that’s why I failed" Parisia sniffled.

Dekca tilted his head at the odd sounds she produced. "You’re crying aren’t you?"

Parisia sniffled again. "No…"

Dekca sighed annoyed. "I don’t like it when you cry, stop it!"

Parisia began to softly sob. "I can’t help it!"

Slowly Dekca made his way over to Parisia’s bed and sat down on it. "What makes a human stop crying?"

Parisia shrugged, her sobs becoming more obvious.

"Gifts! I can give you things! A human likes possessions!" Dekca made his way across the room to his dresser and began to rummage through it. "Ah." He picked up an item and brought it back to Parisia handing it to her, a mirror.

Parisia giggled faintly. "Not all problems can be solved… Especially with a thing."

Dekca snorted. "Humans are too picky." Dekca once again sat down at the bed and secretively began to slide his hands under the blankets. He leaned forward kissing Parisia softly on the lips once again as his hands made there way up between her legs. Parisia jumped up startled as she felt one of his hands brush up against her thigh.

"What are you doing?!" She screeched as she pulled his hands away from her.

Dekca snarled. "I am taking my offering from the first time we met! Don’t you remember?" He grinned. "You had not one thing that I wished to take, so I decided my prize would be you."

"I am not a thing you can just claim! I am a person!"

"Humans…things… What’s the difference?" He scoffed.

Parisia growled and held herself back from slapping him in the face.

"Don’t be so angry, it doesn’t fit you." Dekca gently moved his hand over her face dragging his thumb over the outline of her lips.

Parisia looked down blushing.

"See… That’s what I like to see." Dekca once again kissed her as he pushed down on her climbing on her once again.

"No! Off me!" Parisia shouted before Dekca could climb onto her any further.

Dekca sighed. "You are testing my patience…"

"And you mine!" Parisia answered back.

Dekca snorted. "If I must I will TAKE what is mine!"

Parisia narrowed her eyes. "Try it if you dare! My friends are going to be here any minute and your victory is going to be theirs! Oh and I want my brush back!"

Dekca outright laughed. "Your friends will be asleep for quite some time!"

"What do you mean" Parisia gasped. "Did you kill them?!"

Dekca looked disappointed. "Sadly no. They’re under a sleeping spell."

Parisia sighed with relief.

"Let’s stop that talking now" Dekca licked his lips looking Parisia up and down.

"Is that all you think about? Keep your hands off me!"

Dekca growled throwing his head back with annoyance. "Very well! I will give you some time alone. But when I get back…" Dekca chewed on the end of his finger while looking at Parisia lustfully. "They’re wont be any more excuses. I’m taking what I deserve…"

* * * *

"Your growing soft" Velvet teased as she drank from her cup, leaving a blood mustache across her top lip. She snarled and cackled licking the blood from her lip.

"Oh really?" Dekca calmly answered as he stroked his hand through Parisia’s brush’s bristles. His gaze turned up to look at Velvet. "Come here." He grinned.

Velvet nodded placing her cup down and skipped to his side.

Twisting his arms around Velvet he pulled her down onto his lap, biting down on her neck. Velvet screamed and giggled playfully while tearing her nails up his leg.

"Am I still growing soft?" He whispered into Velvet ear.

Velvet squealed with delight. "No sir!"

"Good." Dekca replied smiling pleased with him self and threw her off his lap.

Velvet rubbed her neck where his fangs had sunk into. "Can I play yet?"

Dekca nodded his head. "Do what you wish."

Velvet hopped with excitement. "Yay!"

* * * *

Misuchi sighed with boredom, as she was still standing next to her bed.

"What happened?"

Misuchi gasped as she watched Saria struggle to her feet.

Saria rubbed her head yawning. "Why are you just standing there?"

Misuchi mumbled angrily, her mouth staying perfectly still.

Saria raised her eyebrows. She picked up her staff; placing the end to Misuchi’s forehead, she began to sing softly.

Misuchi wiggled her fingers and toes. "I can move!" Misuchi shouted bouncing up and down.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Saria asked placing her staff down on the bed.

"Velvet was here! She must have cast a sleeping spell on us when she blew us that kiss before. But why are you awake? She said you wouldn’t be awake for about a week! Well no time for explanations! Dekca has Parisia! Come on wake Trios and let’s get the hell out of here before Velvet comes back!" Misuchi rapidly shouted not giving Saria a chance to speak.

* * * *

Velvet slowly entered the motel room licking her lips from her previous meal, the other motel residents.

"Oh Misuchi…I’m home…" Velvet called. Velvet’s face filled with shock, as she noticed no one was in the room. "Huh?!"

Misuchi screamed angrily throwing herself on top of Velvet clawing at her face.

Saria’s high-pitched song roared through the room forcing Velvet’s ears to burst with blood. Velvet wailed with agony and at that moment Misuchi took her chance sending her fist crashing into Velvet's stomach.

Velvet cried out and frantically tried to crawl away.

Misuchi’s attack continued though, leaving Velvet helpless under her. Misuchi’s fists pounded at every possible part of Velvet’s badly mangled body, while Saria’s deafening notes played on.

Velvet slowly began to lose her vision, her desperate attempts to free herself from Misuchi’s assault becoming weaker. Finally Velvet all out gave up, sinking her head to the floor. Her body went limp.

Saria’s song stopped and Misuchi’s blows also came to a halt.

Saria looked down at Misuchi who was still straddling Velvet. "Is she dead?"

Misuchi nodded her head. "Yup!"

Saria shook her head. "You shouldn’t have so hastily killed her. We could have used her to find Parisia…"

Misuchi blinked considering the thought. "Oh…" She shrugged. "Oh well!"

Trios came up behind Misuchi from the hallway; he had come from the downstairs where he had safely stayed away from Saria’s music. "You did a great job! Just like I thought you would!"

Misuchi pouted. "No thanks to you."

"…I’m not helpful unless it’s a full moon…" Trios shyly replied.

Misuchi slowly turned her head to look up at Trios. "What do you mean?"

"Do you mean to tell us you are of Werewolf heritage?" Saria asked looking intrigued.

Trios bobbed his head. "I just remembered this night… After watching Misuchi pound the hell out of Velvet …and so elegantly I may add!" He grinned nodding at Misuchi.

"Well thanks for telling us! What if it was a full moon tonight? We would have made a LOVELY meal for you!" Misuchi scoffed.

Trios rolled his eyes in defeat and then turned to regard Saria again.

"Hmm, well that can come in handy tonight." Saria pleasantly declared.

"How so?" Trios asked.

"I thought Werewolves could only change when the moon was full…" Misuchi eyed Saria, confused.

"Well, he may not be able to change, but he still has qualities that we can use. For example notice his size… Another example would be his sense of smell…"

"Oh I understand!" Misuchi replied.

"I don’t…" Trios tilted his head.

Saria gave him a reassuring smile and patted his back. "You can find Parisia by following her scent."

"Oh!" Trios beamed. "I get it!"

"Alright well let’s get going! What if Dekca kills her?!" Misuchi screeched horrified by the idea.

"You do have a heart!" Trios rejoiced.

"She’s our ticket to fortune, if she dies we’re broke!"

* * * *

Parisia rocked back in forth in her new bed. She hadn’t moved from it since she had awoken in this place.

What am I going to do?! I need to get out of here… But how? Oh dear, what would my mother do… All my years of Priestess hood will be robbed of me if he…

Parisia blushed and giggled giddily returning from her thoughts.

"What is my Priestess giggling at?" Dekca called from the corner of the room.

Parisia gasped startled and turned to view Dekca, he leaned comfortable against the wall, his arms crossed and a sly smirk across his face. "Nothing sir…" She swallowed looking nervously at the ground glowing red.

"Ah and blushing too." Dekca chuckled. "Could it be that the heavenly Priestess is having sinful thoughts?"

"No!" Parisia snapped biting down on her lip.

Dekca snickered. "Sure…"

"I’m telling the truth!"

Dekca lowered his head and looked up at her with lustful eyes. "It’s also a sin to tell a lie."

Parisia growled in frustration.

"I’ve won my case." Dekca took his time making his way over to the bed towards Parisia.

"You’ve won nothing!" Parisia shouted jumping from the bed and retreating to the corner of the room. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "Fairies of the light, I call to thee!"

Dekca widened his eyes. "What are you doing…?"

Her chanting persisted as it became louder.

Dekca growled rushing at Parisia and grabbing her arms pushing them to her sides, pinning her to the wall. "Stop!"

Parisia jerked her head back in surprise hitting it against the wall behind her.

Dekca closed his eyes and regained his calm. "Light kills vampires."

Parisia narrowed her eyes. "I’m aware!" She replied, even though she looked unsure of the fact.

Dekca sighed releasing her. "Don’t try any magic again or I’ll be forced to strip you of your voice and movement." Dekca grinned. "Speaking of strip…"

Parisia crossed her legs uncomfortably and leaned up against the wall. "Please no! I beg you!"

Dekca raised an eyebrow, his grin still not leaving his lips. "Do you mean to tell me that you are TOTALLY against this?"

Parisia nodded her head. "Exactly."

"Somehow…" Dekca ripped the cloth of her dress from her shoulder to her arm causing the gown to slide over her shoulder. "I doubt that."

Parisia huffed snatching the material before it could completely fall down her shoulder. "You shouldn’t! Have I not made it clear that I don’t want to…do such a HORRID thing with such a…such a…"

Dekca nuzzled his nose up against her shoulder. His breath tickled over her skin. "Such a what?"

Parisia quivered feeling his lips brush up against her neck. "A…" Her eyes began to flutter shut.

Dekca delicately slide his arms around her waist as his lips caressed her neck.

"Take your hands off her!" Shouted Misuchi.

Dekca turned to gaze upon Saria, Misuchi and Trios. "Damn it!"

Parisia sighed with relief and rushed over to her companions. "Thank the gods you guys got here!"

"I’m sorry to inform you Dekca, but Velvet will no longer be moving to your every wish." Misuchi teased.

Dekca narrowed his eyes. "Velvet would never betray me!"

Misuchi laughed proudly. "No one said she betrayed you! I killed her!"

Dekca swallowed. "This has been an unlikely turn of events." He snarled. "We will meet again." He winked at Parisia and was once again gone.

"We should have killed him when we had the chance" Trios exhaled.

"No!" Parisia shouted.

Misuchi and Trios tilted their heads. "What do you mean, no?!"

Parisia shyly kicked her feet. "Well its not like he’s hurting anybody…"

"Hurting anybody?" Misuchi stood with her mouth gaped open in awe at Parisia’s response. "He’s a bloody vampire! He drinks blood for gods’ sake! How goddamn stupid are you?"

Saria placed a hand on Parisia’s shoulder, a kind gesture to keep Parisia from getting upset. "Now Misuchi, she’s unaware of how things work here. She has lived in Gie for her life."

"But he told me that he lives off cattle and stolen goods!" Parisia recalled in her defense.

"And you believed him?" Misuchi snorted. "You are dumb!"

"I hate to say it, but I have to go along with Misuchi on this one Miss Parisia." Trios agreed.

Parisia scoffed. "What do you mean ‘I hate to say it’. You’ll do anything to please her so you can get into her pants."

"That’s not what I meant! I mean we can’t trust him!" Trios explained his voice beginning to rise.

"Alright, that’s enough." Saria stomped her foot. "I am not going to keep playing peacekeeper! EITHER SHUT UP OR I’LL TEAR ALL OF YOUR TONGUES OUT SO YOU CAN’T ARGUE!"

Everyone closed their mouths and stayed silent.

* * * *

"An odd bunch indeed, don’t you agree sisters?"

"Yes, yes indeed" The two sisters chorused.

"Do you believe Trios will remember his past soon, as I do?"

"Of course, sister." The two sisters chimed.

"Hmm. Excellent." A wide smirk crossed her face.

* * * *

"Hmm, a storm is brewing" Saria stated as she peered up at the sky.

"A storm?!" Misuchi cried with surprise.

"Yes." Saria glanced over at Parisia and then to Misuchi. "We better be leaving."

"Where are we going to?" Parisia asked as she stumbled down the dirt path along with her friends.

"We are not going anywhere." Misuchi snapped. "Saria and I are."

Saria nodded. "Yes, we will meet up with you in the next town."

"But why?" Parisia shouted.

"It’s none of your concern!" Misuchi exclaimed raising her nose in the air.

Saria exhaled. "As I said, we will meet you in the next town. Trios will protect you."

Trios smiled. "That’s right!… What’s going on?"

Parisia rolled her eyes, Trios was once again day dreaming. "Misuchi and Saria are leaving us and will be meeting us in the next town."

"But why?" Trios replied raising his eyebrows in concern.

"Oh my gods! BE SILENT MORON!" Misuchi growled.

They reached a fork in the road. "The next town is Torix, the holy-land. Trios you better hope that they’re wont be an unexpected full moon tonight because Beasts and Demons are not allowed there. Only Angelics and humans are tolerated there. As for you Parisia, let them know you are a Priestess of Gie, they would be honored to have you there. If we don’t meet you two within the next three days leave without us." Saria explained as she pointed down the left passage at the fork. "That road will lead you straight to Torix."

"Thank you Saria and Misuchi, be careful, wherever you are going." Parisia answered. "Let the Gods bless you."

"Yeah whatever! Don’t you worry us about not catching up with you!" Misuchi cheerfully answered then adding under her breath, "Because you owe me money…"

"Okay, Bye Saria. Bye Misuchi!" Trios waved.

Trios and Parisia made there way down the left passage, while Misuchi and Saria headed forward.

* * * *

"Yes my name is Parisia, High Priestess of Gie." Parisia answered the inspector.

"High Priestess, you are permitted to enter." The inspector said in a monotone voice.

"I’m Trios, just a common human who is traveling with Parisia." Trios grinned nervously.

For a moment Parisia was sure that they weren’t going to let him through when the inspector nodded his head relieving Parisia. "You may pass."

Trios and Parisia cautiously walked into the market place.

"So I guess we should get a room somewhere huh?" Parisia suggested scanning the town for a decent looking Motel.

"Yeah. That one looks good." Trios answered as his gaze followed Parisia’s to a motel.

"Attention all citizens of Torix, the trial will begin in five minutes and will be held in the Court House." A man called out as he walked through the town.

"Oh, a trial! Awesome! Can we go to it?" Trios begged.

"I suppose we could… I wonder if humans can attend or if only Angelics can…" Parisia tapped her chin with thought.

"What ARE Angelics?" Trios questioned.

"Angelics? You don’t know what an Angelic is? Well… Angelics are said to be superior to the Human race. They tend to be extremely intelligent and are also very talented in magic. I guess you could call them the opposite of a Demon. They worship the Gods every day and night, in fact, they live for the soul purpose of worshipping. They are a very serious race and really aren’t all that fun if you ask me… We had one visit Gie once and he was so very dull." Parisia explained.

"Oh." was Trios’s simple reply.

* * * *

"When are we going to reach Yochee?" Misuchi whined as she staggered behind Saria.

"We should reach there by night fall" Saria answered handing Misuchi a canteen of water.

"Thanks" Misuchi took a sip from the bottle and handed it back to Saria. "Hey Saria, do you think that they suspect anything?"

"No. They don’t know a thing. Don’t worry about it Misuchi." Saria smiled. "But I don’t understand why you keep it a secret."

"I just have my reasons" Misuchi snorted. "You don’t tell everyone that you’re a banshee!"

Saria grinned. "But I don’t hide the fact either."

Misuchi sighed.

* * * *

Trios and Parisia sat down comfortably in the Court House and waited to watch the trial. Parisia never was too much for trials, but she decided she could press down her disliking of it for Trios. The two had just checked into their room and immediately after headed out for the Court House.

"So Parisia, have you ever been to a Trial before? Did you like it? Are they fun?" Trios asked excitedly.

"Um yes I have been to one, no I didn’t like it and I don’t find them fun."

"Oh" Trios took a minute to process the information then went on questioning her. "Why?"

"I wasn’t happy with the outcome of the trial and I haven’t been to one since."

"Oh… Okay!" Trios bounced up and down like a child.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom or something?" Parisia asked raising her eyebrow.

"No! I’m just excited! This is going to be fun! I’ve never been to a trial before…"

"Yes, yes I know. Well maybe being out like this will let you remember something."

Trios sighed. "I hope so…"

Parisia patted his back. "I’m sure you’ll remember more about yourself as time goes on. You have remembered some things, so not all is lost" Parisia reassured him.

"Thanks. You’re right" Trios smiled once again.

"The Trial will begin, please everyone be seated."

Trios and Parisia turned their attention the front to view a young man. Two other men, older men, dragged the unresisting teen across the stage and placed him in a chair. The teen was cuffed and his face stayed emotionless.

I wonder if those cuffs are like the ones Trios was wearing, Parisia thought.

"Huru Thomas, accused of assisting escape of Beast and Demon prisoners. Third crime committed in Torix. Sentence, death. The execution will be held tomorrow after dawn" A woman called out from behind a large table at which other woman that wore the same blue robe as her sat.

"What kind of Trial was that?" Parisia exclaimed under her breath.

The teen answered bowing his head in shame.

"I object!" a woman shouted from the crowd in back of Parisia. Parisia turned to regard a large woman who looked as though she was sobbing. "I won’t let you kill my boy!"

"Restrain her" the woman in the blue robe carelessly ordered.

"No!" the woman screamed sobbing.

Parisia almost couldn’t hold back her tears at the scene of the mother’s sorrow. Trios just watched horrified, probably suddenly realizing how "fun" a trial is.

* * * *

Misuchi yawned as they approached the gate. "So when is the storm going to be starting?"

"Hmm…" Saria closed her eyes and softly cooed her voice into the air then pondered for a moment. "Uh, In about three hours. It will last about a day."

"Oh? Great…" Misuchi replied with sarcasm.

"Halt!" called out a guard. A man stepped from the side of the gate, the upper part of his body a human but the bottom half was of a horses.

"Misuchi Eobi requesting permission to cross into Yochee, a storm is brewing." Misuchi stated, as she looked the guard in the eye.

"Oh, understood. And who is she?" the guard asked pointing at Saria.

"This is my companion, Saria, a banshee."

"Alright, you can both pass" the guard opened the gate and the two entered.

* * * *

Parisia rolled on her back. She was restless and couldn’t sleep knowing that that boy was going to be killed.

"You can’t sleep either?" Trios asked sitting up from his bed on the floor.

"Yeah… I keep thinking about Mr. Huru Thomas. How sad it must be for his mother."

"Can’t we rescue him?" Trios tilted his head.

"Maybe if Misuchi and Saria were here, but they aren’t."

"I’m sorry that I can’t be more…helpful to you…"

Parisia smiled. "Trios, I’m not keeping you around for help. I’m keeping you around so I can help you, I hope that we can learn something of your past. I know I may act a little unappreciative of you sometimes, but you’ll be more helpful to us AFTER you get your memory back, until then we’ll take care of you."

Trios half-heartedly smiled. "Thanks."

"Now let’s try to get some sleep. Maybe Misuchi and Saria will be back tomorrow."

* * * *

The winds began to pick up as the storm drew closer. Misuchi thrashed around in her chains.

Saria sang sweetly to Misuchi as she stood outside the prison cell.

Misuchi growled and snarled fiercely as she struggled to get lose.

"Miss Saria, would you like to leave now? The storm is almost here," a human guard asked as he walked by down the dark stone hallway.

"No thank you. I always wait out the storm with Misuchi."

"Suit your self" the man replied as he went on his way.

* * * *

Parisia sighed staring out the window. She looked up at the moon and sighed.

Trios snored heavily in the background.

"Nice night out isn’t it?"

"Yes it is…" Parisia’s eyes widened as she turned to lay her gaze upon a tall and broad figure in back of her. "DEKCA?"

"Shh…" Dekca whispered holding his fingers to her lips. "I’m not here to hurt you. This is just a friendly visit. I’ve come to warn you…"

"About what?" Parisia mumbled under the pressure of Dekca’s finger on her lips.

"Trios…" Dekca replied looking down at the gigantic teen.

"What about Trios? He’s harmless…"

"Not entirely. Be sure to stay clear of his rage. Werewolves are a dying and rare race and not much is known of them besides myth and legend. Most of these legends are rarely true. For instance the one that states that a werewolf may only change when the moon is full."

"You mean to tell me he can change other than that?" Parisia gulped nervously.

"Oh yes indeed." Dekca smirked. "And his beast side is not one to be as so gentle as Trios."

"Thank you Dekca" Parisia smiled shaking Dekca’s hand.

Dekca pulled his hand back and raised an eyebrow. "Why don’t you thank me in a more gratifying way?" He smirked, pulling her hand up to his lips and kissing its soft skin on her palm.

Parisia blinked watching him do this. "More gratifying way?"

Dekca’s tongue passed his lips to lightly glide over her sensitive skin tickling and teasing her nerves.

Parisia giggled pulling her hand away. "I know what you’re thinking!" She wiped her hand as if to wipe away the feelings she had just experienced.

Dekca chuckled. "I thought you would, we’ll meet again soon."

"Wait!" Parisia grabbed his arm.

"Yes?" Dekca raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you said you would take me if I didn’t give myself up…"

"Do you want me to take you?" Dekca slyly grinned.

"Well no! It’s just…I was wondering why you didn’t, that’s all."

"Hmm." Dekca stroked his chin. "I’ve decided I don’t want to force you, I want to earn this… Yes, I want you to…" Dekca slowly made his way to the back of Parisia, circling her, he leaned his head over her shoulder whispering in her ear, his lips gently brushing up against her earlobe. "I want for you to want me just as I want you…" His finger lightly slid down the top of her neck dragging down her spin slowly.

Parisia’s eyes widened as shivers shot down her spin and her back arched. "Well…" She panted quietly. "That’s n-not going to h-happen."

Dekca shrugged. "We’ll see…" and he was gone.

"TRIOS!" Parisia knocked Trios on the head. "DIDN’T YOU SEE DEKCA WAS HERE? Fine guardian you are!"

Trios groggily made his way to his feet. "Huh? Dekca? Where?"

Parisia sighed. "You… Nevermind…"

* * * *

The storm had finally arrived. Thunder crashed shaking the whole dungeon and lightning occasionally lighted the dark hallways. Saria still sung her beautiful and haunting song while Misuchi was no where to be insight.

A snarling beast now was now occupying her cell, it clung at the bars and shot electric sparks from it’s mouth like saliva. Its long tail curved to a sharp point and it was covered with fur. Its eyes narrow and savage seemed to stare thunderbolts at anyone who dare face it.

Saria kindly looked at the beast not seeming to be effected by the uncivilized behavior of the beast.

* * * *

"The storm has pasted" Saria called out to one of the guards.

"Okay, let em out then" a voice responded.

Saria smiled and opened the cage door, Misuchi stepping out. "Oh the gods! I’m tired!" Misuchi whined as she stretched.

"Hmm, you should be" Saria answered.

"How long did the storm last?" Misuchi asked as she started for the door to exit the dungeon.

"Oh only a few hours. It wasn’t as long as the last one" Saria thought for a moment. "That last one was almost for a full day."

"But that wasn’t the longest!" Misuchi exclaimed waving her finger in front of Saria. "There was that time that it lasted a week!"

"How much do we owe Master Yile?" Saria scratched her head as she speculated the thought.

"Eh, we’ll just skip the payment" Misuchi replied as she began to open the door to the outside world.

"Misuchi…"

"Oh fine! We’ll pay the damn man!" Misuchi cried throwing her hands to her sides.

"Good."

* * * *

"It’s almost morning!" Trios shouted as he pounced on Parisia’s bed like a playful pup.

Parisia groaned. "What? But its…" Parisia yawned as she pulled herself up to a sitting position.

"Good your up!" Trios greeted.

"Yeah, that’s because someone woke me up!" Parisia snapped.

Trios frowned with confusion. "Me?"

"Yes, you." Parisia rolled her eyes. "Oh well… Good morning."

"Good morning!" Trios jumped down from her bed and seated himself on the ground next to her bed. "So what are we doing today Miss Parisia?"

"Wait for Misuchi and Saria" Parisia mumbled as she crawled out of her bed.

"But that’s boring!" Trios complained rocking back and forth.

"Well… I’m not sure what else we could do…"

"Do you think Misuchi will be back soon?!" Trios cried sticking his face up next to Parisia’s abruptly.

"Ack!" Parisia fell back a little. "Well… I don’t know."

Trios laughed. "I can’t wait till she gets back!"

"Why do you like HER so much?" Parisia arched her eyebrow.

"Uh, I don’t know…" Trios pondered for a moment. "She just REALLY attracts me…"

Parisia whimpered falling back into her bed. "I’m sick of people saying that!"

"Huh?"

"That’s the way Dekca is too! Males are perverts! No wonder Gie never let guys into Religion, they couldn’t stick to the rules!"

Trios grinned. "Nope!"

"Arg! Well, let’s go out for breakfast? What do you say?" Parisia asked finally forcing herself out of bed totally.

"Yeah!" Trios jumped up excitedly.

* * * *

Misuchi and Parisia walked along the dirt path taking their time. Misuchi panted, obviously tired.

"Are you sure you’re alright? We could have stayed in Yochee for a little while longer till you achieved your total amount of needed rest" Saria said concerned.

"Nah, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me. Besides, I want to get back to Parisia and Trios before dark. I don’t like leaving her with just Trios, he’s not too bright."

Saria snorted. "Your so cruel to him, why is that?"

"He’s a pervert!" Misuchi cried.

"He can’t help it…"

"I know… I KNOW!" Misuchi sighed.

Saria smiled. "How many more days?"

"I would guess another month at the least" Misuchi answered disappointed.

"Well, who knows how long he’ll be with us. Though, he can come in handy occasionally."

"Yeah, yeah. I don’t care, I still don’t like him."

"Your more stubborn than anyone or thing on this planet" Saria stated amused by the thought.

"Awe, shut up!"

* * * *

The restaurant was packed. Trios and Parisia struggled through the crowds to finally find a seat.

Parisia sat back relaxed and exhaled with relief.

"So what are we gonna eat?" Trios asked blinking enthusiastically.

"Uh, well you have a choice of meals… They give you a menu of the foods that they serve and you pick from that menu. Understand?" Parisia explained.

"Oh! Wow! Neat!" Trios replied delighted.

"I’m surprised you remembered how to talk" Parisia mused.

Trios laughed.

"Hey you! You’re the Priestess right?!"

"Huh?" Trios and Parisia looked up to see the woman they had noticed yesterday, the one who had cried out at the trial.

"Well yes, I am ma’am. How did you know I was a Priestess?" Parisia stood up to look the woman in the eyes.

"I overheard some guards speak of you. Please, you have to help my boy…" the woman pleaded.

"But how?"

"You’re the High Priestess of Gie right? You could plead to the courts; they’d listen to you. Please, I beg you!" The woman clutched at Parisia’s collar.

"But…" Parisia sighed. "I suppose I could try, but I can’t guarantee a thing ma’am."

"Oh thank you child! Let the Gods bless you!" the woman hugged Parisia tightly.

Parisia smiled weakly in return.

"We’re gonna help?!" shouted Trios. "Great!"

"Yeah… Great" Parisia said dryly.

* * * *

"Huru Thomas has already been convicted of the crime, it is too late" the lady answered flatly.

"Miss…" Parisia thought for a moment. "I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name…"

"Ally Yude."

"Miss Yude, I plead with you for this mans life. As a High Priestess of Gie I’m asking you to re-sentence Mr. Thomas."

"You have no authority here, High Priestess."

"Untrue. Gie and Torix are tightly bound together! If you do not reconsider than I warn you this may cause a stir in the courts of Gie!" Parisia lied.

"Hmm…" Ally Yude brought the thought into consideration. "We will further his life for another day and make contact with Gie. If we don’t hear anything back from Gie before tomorrow at sunset than we will be forced to execute Mr. Thomas and put YOU under trial."

Parisia nodded her head keeping herself cool. "Understood."

"Good, then we will talk with you tomorrow."

Parisia left the courthouse and walked over to Trios who was busy watching some woman chattering by the restaurant.

"So how did it go?" Trios asked noticing Parisia.

"Eh, not to well…" Parisia’s mouth felt dry. "If we don’t get out of here by tomorrow we’re going to be as good as gone…"

"What?!"

"I’ll stay and take punishment for my actions, but you should leave."

"What are you talking about?!"

"The court decided they would contact Gie to see if it was true that it was Gie’s wishes that the man be freed. When they find out that Gie is well gone, they are certainly going to put me under trial AND kill Mr. Thomas. We both know how fair their trials are."

Trios’s mouth dropped open. "What do we do!?"

"Just what I said we do… You will leave tonight."

"It is my duty to protect you Miss Parisia! I will not leave you!" Trios answered stubbornly.

"Well we will BOTH die if you stay!" Parisia snapped.

"We can both escape!"

"I am not going to run from my fate, I am not a criminal. As High Priestess it is my duty to set an example to the people."

"What people?! YOU AREN’T HIGH PREISTESS ANYMORE! There is no more Gie!" Trios yelled.

Parisia narrowed her eyes and slapped Trios.

Trios looked at her wide-eyed. "Fine, go ahead and die! My debt is paid to you Miss Parisia!"

"Good!"

* * * *

Parisia rocked back and forth on the motel room bed her eyes tightly shut.

"So your willing to die are you?"

Parisia turned expecting Dekca, but to her surprise it was a woman, in fact the same woman who had talked her into seeing the court about her son. She looked particularly different, she was cleaner and her eyes weren’t as sad as they had seemed earlier. She gazed upon the floor as if she was in deep thought.

"What are you doing here?" Parisia asked.

"I’m not who you think I am" the woman answered not lifting her gaze from the ground.

"Then who are you?" Parisia slowly moved of the bed.

"It makes no difference who I am, but know this. Don’t take your life needlessly, your life is the key to all of us."

"What do you mean? DID YOU KNOW MY MOTHER?" Parisia rushed to the woman’s side. She suddenly didn’t look so old as she had before, in fact, she only looked a few years older than Parisia.

"I will repeat this…you’re the key to all of us…don’t throw your life away needlessly" the woman replied ignoring Parisia’s question.

Parisia narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Who are you…"

"Just think of me as your guardian angel."

Parisia jumped up waking from her dream. "Whoa… What was that about?" Parisia scratched her head arching her back in a stretch. It was a little before dawn, maybe a few hours. Parisia searched the room for Trios; she sighed noticing he wasn’t there. "I guess he did leave after all…"

"So he left did he?" Saria asked as she entered the motel room.

"Saria!" Parisia exclaimed rushing to her side. "Misuchi!"

Misuchi gave a weak wave.

"I heard you out in the hall… Trios left?" Saria repeated.

"Well…yes."

Misuchi huffed. "What a moron! What if you had been hurt! Oh I’m going to kill him!"

"Now calm down Misuchi. Where did he go?" Saria regarded Parisia with concern.

"Well we…" Parisia sighed. "I need to start from the beginning. You see we went and saw a trial the day before yesterday, and at this trial we saw this boy. He was sentenced to death for helping prisoners escape. Well, this boy’s mother asked me to help convince the court to reconsider his sentence and so I did. I just felt so bad for the woman. I convinced the court to reconsider, but only if they could get a hold of Gie. If they couldn’t then I would be sentenced to death with the boy…"

Saria listened intently to Parisia’s story as Misuchi fiddled with a lock of her own hair with boredom.

"And you lied about Gie… So now your going to be executed…" Saria stated calmly.

"Yes… That’s right, so at any rate, Trios left because I made him. I didn’t want him to be punished for my lies…"

"Hmm, I see…" Saria tapped her chin in thought. "Uh, hmm, let’s see… I believe we should…"

"RUN FOR IT!" Misuchi cried. "What are you stupid? Let’s get our asses out of here! Why are we sticking around to die for?"

Saria laughed. "Well I was going to say that a little more nicely put…but you got the just of it…"

"NO! I will NOT run! As High Priestess I cannot commit such a crime!" Parisia argued.

"Oh god, how stupid!" Misuchi complained.

"Well then, I suppose we will just have to fight for our lives" Saria suggested.

"I can’t do that either!"

"Listen Parisia!" Misuchi latched onto Parisia’s arm. "You want to save that boy, don’t you? Well Saria and me will help you if you just let us… We’ll bust this kid out and then high tail it out of here. For me and Saria this will be simple!"

"But I don’t want to kill anyone over this!"

"We won’t have to!" Misuchi argued. "Saria and I are SO talented that we don’t even have to kill the guards…trust me, Saria and I KNOW what we are doing." She went on with a wink. "Besides, this way NO ONE dies, not you, the boy or any guards…"

Parisia chewed on her lip in concentration. "You do have a good point…"

"Yes!" Misuchi cheered.

"Alright, I agree…let’s do this…"

"Oh yay!" Misuchi gleefully squealed giving a wink to Saria.

"We still have one problem…" Parisia shyly recalled.

"Oh? Which is?" Misuchi asked raising an eyebrow.

"We need to find Trios…" Parisia answered.

"Shit…" Misuchi whined.

* * * *

Trios yawned as his eyes became lazy. Trios had been walking for hours, he wasn’t sure how long it had been exactly since he left or how far he had gotten.

"Huh?" Trios looked around his frantically. He could have sworn he heard his name whispered. "Someone there? Parisia?" He shrugged after a moment of standing and waiting for a response and went on walking.

"IS SOMEONE THERE?" Trios screamed, fear creeping over his voice. "Hello?" Trios swallowed, his mouth becoming dry. "I don’t have any money or anything valuable…" His eyes darted side to side watching and waiting for some unknown terror to leap out and rip him apart. Still, nothing came.

"Trios…"

"WHAT THE HELL?" Trios growled, his horror now turning to rage. As he turned to gaze upon the caller his eyes widened with shock.

"Trios, do you remember me?" The man stood tall, a long thin braid tied tightly behind his head. Strands of red hair hung down on his face. His eyes were a violet shade and his lips were twisted into a cruel smirk across his sinister heart shaped face. He stood perfectly in the air with not a trace of chanting or spell singing in sight.

Trios shook his head gently.

The man sneered. "Of course you wouldn’t, you were always so simple minded Trios."

Trios snarled with anger. "Who ever the hell you are I don’t care but I don’t take insults lightly!"

The man cackled with amusement. "Take the insults as you like, but your coming with me."

Trios clutched his fists. "I don’t think so…"

"Oh yes, you may not remember oh so well but I do… I’ve been looking for you for so long."

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"Hmm, I’ll explain later… Must I take you by force?"

"You’re not taking me anywhere until I get some answers!" Trios snapped.

"Very well, I’ll put you back into your place werewolf" the man answered bringing himself to the ground.

"Go ahead and try!" Trios raised his fists and took a deep breath.

"You’re not going to stay in your human form are you?!" the man raised an eyebrow. Trios began to notice the horns were borrowed under the bush of red hair at top his head. On closer inspection Trios also noticed the man had fangs and claws tipped his long narrow fingers.

"I’m not as low as you…I don’t need to change. I can take you on with out changing!"

The man snorted. "As you wish…" With that the man sprang at him landing a swipe of his jagged claws across his face. Trios was forced to the ground and attempted to bring himself back to his feet as the man readied himself for another blow to Trios.

Trios ducked another scratch of the claws delivering a sweep kick to the man’s ankles. The man fell forward but before landing he extended his hands out catching himself right in time. Pushing himself back up with his hand he sent himself flipping backwards and over Trios, kicking him in the back of the head.

Trios was sent forward falling to the ground, his face borrowed in the dirt. Before he had a chance to get himself up the man was on his back, Trios screamed out in agony as the man stabbed his claws through his back.

A savage snarl was heard before the man was knocked off Trios’s back. Trios grew weaker and his body wouldn’t allow him to see the face clearly of his savior.

* * * *

"Ahh, finally awake."

Trios cringed back at the light that shined in his eyes.

"I can see you don’t like the light too much either, hmm?"

Trios tiredly shifted to his side to look at his rescuer. "YOU?"

He grinned. "Surprised? So am I…"

* * * *

"Still can’t find him," Saria said simply as she sat down on the motel bed.

"Neither can I… I’ve tried to do some spells, but none of them seemed to work" Parisia sighed disappointed.

"You didn’t learn searching spells?" Misuchi asked as she scratched her head.

"Well yes I did, but not for a beast… I can only look for humans and Angelics."

"Even if you could do a searching spell it would do no good. I’ve already tried it and I couldn’t even come close to finding him."

"This is one of those times Trios would have come in handy… Damn it, too bad he’s the one we’re looking for" Misuchi complained leaning up against the wall next to Saria.

Parisia yawned. "It’s almost sunrise."

"Great… We’re running out of time!" Misuchi cried throwing her hands to the back of her head.

"Don’t worry" Saria said carelessly. "Things always find a way to work their ways out." She smiled.

"Oh you’re so sure are you?" Misuchi raised an eyebrow.

"Well that and Dekca and Trios are standing behind you" Saria pointed to the back of Misuchi.

"Oh!" Misuchi stared at Dekca and Trios wide-eyed.

"DEKCA?" Parisia shouted standing up straight.

Dekca bowed his head. "Priestess."

Trios nodded his head happily. "He saved me!"

Dekca narrowed his eyes. "I wouldn’t call it saved…"

"YOU saved HIM?" Parisia stared at him in shock.

"Hey! I said I didn’t save him… I just happen to think that it might earn some points with you…" Dekca winked at Parisia.

"DAMN IT, YOU BASTARD!" Misuchi yelled pouncing on Trios.

"BE CAREFUL! I’m injured!" Trios yelped as Misuchi straddled him holding her hands around his neck barely choking him.

Saria stood up making her way to Dekca’s side. "Are you hear to help us, Dekca?"

"We don’t need HIS help!" Misuchi interrupted before Dekca could speak.

"I only interfere if it’s my interest and this fight is not in my interests…"

"Suit yourself" Saria answered.

"Wait! Dekca please, we could use your help!" Parisia pleaded before Dekca could leave.

"Hmm? Begging me to stay? Well isn’t that new…" Dekca stepped up to Parisia and putting his hands on her shoulders. "What do I get if I help you?" His hands slid down her shoulders so that his fingers wrapped around her arms tightly.

"Well uh…"

"That’s what I thought" Dekca snickered pulling her closer and giving her a quick kiss before disappearing.

Parisia panted for a moment before noticing that everyone in the room was watching her. "WHY THAT JERK!"

Misuchi snorted. "You like it, just admit it."

"NEVER! I would never have such PERVERTED thoughts!" Parisia’s cheeks glowed red.

Saria laughed softly. "You two be silent. We need to concentrate on the battle that is ahead of us."

"Battle?" Parisia shot Saria a suspicious look. "I thought there wasn’t going to be any violence!"

"AND THERE’S NOT!" Misuchi giggled nervously.

"Okay… If you’re sure…" Parisia said hesitantly.

"Yep! Sure as can be!" Misuchi smiled sweetly.

"Hey Misuchi, could you get off me now?" Trios asked looking up at Misuchi.

* * * *

"So all I have to do is distract the guards from Mr. Thomas?" Parisia asked for the fifth time.

"Yes!" Misuchi replied beginning to come agitated.

"This isn’t going to work…" Parisia bit at her bottom lip nervously.

"Yes it is! It’s not that hard! Just distract the damn guards and we’ll pull the kid out of the damn prison! You have the easy part of the job!" Misuchi stomped her feet.

"But… I’ll be all alone…"

"Don’t worry" Saria reassured Parisia. "Misuchi and I know what we are doing. Nothing is going to go wrong."

"And if it does?" Trios raised an eyebrow.

"Well then we get the hell out of here!" Misuchi snappily answered.

"Okay we’re here, now remember Parisia, don’t let the guards out of your sight. Keep them far away from us. I don’t want them getting suspicious either!" Misuchi announced looking up at the stone building that stood above them.

Parisia swallowed.

"Don’t worry you’ll do fine" Saria patted Parisia’s shoulder before leaving with Trios and Misuchi to the side of the building.

Parisia nodded to herself. "I can do this! …I think."

Trios sniffed the air. "Most of the guards are down at that end, where Parisia is heading. There is about ten guards down at our end though."

"Great…" Misuchi sighed.

"Looks like our policy against violence will need to be broken" Saria declared as she began to hum.

"What policy?" Misuchi snorted.

Saria rose off the ground bringing her self up to the nearest window. She began to pull out a rope but before she could toss it down Trios had leaped up next to her. Saria snorted and threw the rope down, Misuchi catching it and beginning to climb up it.

Trios grinned letting him self fall back and tumble to the ground. Reaching up he also grabbed the rope following Misuchi up and keeping his eyes focused on what was above him.

Misuchi groaned with annoyance. "Trios what are you doing?"

"Nothing…" Trios looked up at her fluttering his eyelashes.

"Get back up there!" Misuchi hissed as she kicked Trios in the face.

"Ow!" Trios screeched as he fumbled from the ropes. "Fine, fine…"

* * * *

Parisia’s mouth went dry as she entered the prison. Her eyes fell over quite a few guards that she knew she would have to keep amused while her friends rescued the prisoner.

"Hello…sirs…" Parisia waved weakly.

"What are you doing here?" one of the guards asked alarmed.

"Um, I just wanted to meet some genuine guards from Torix. I heard that they are very brave…and uh… I’ve heard many stories about them… Could you uh, just sit and talk to me for a while?" Parisia nervously said.

"We are on duty" the guard replied flatly.

"Oh come now sir, just take a little time out from work… No one is up at this hour." Parisia tried her best to flutter her eyelashes, but her results just made her look like she had a nervous twitch.

"That is false, you are up ma’am."

"Well, yes but that’s because I wanted to meet all you handsome men…" Parisia smiled a toothy grin.

The guards only raised their eyebrows uninterested in her compliments.

"Oh you are all so… handsome and…" Parisia almost gagged. If only her mother could have seen her now was her only thought. When she noticed the guards still didn’t find any interest in her flirting she went to her last resort. "Oh I feel faint…" Parisia faked a fall.

"Are you alright miss?" a guard asked.

"I think… Oh I should have never come here. I am ill; my last wish was to have a man before I died…" Parisia gargled a sickly cough.

"Are you contagious?" one of the guards asked narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"Well it is air born…but I doubt any of you would…" Parisia closed her eyes moaning in pain.

"Get her out of here!" one of the guards ordered to another.

"Why can’t you?" the other guard whined not wanting to come any closer to the ill young woman.

"Because you’re closer to her!"

Parisia smiled slightly happy with her work with the guards. They were all so busy fighting over whom should take her out of the prison that they would never notice the rescuing of the prisoner.

* * * *

"Is that one Huru Thomas?" Misuchi asked pointing to another prisoner.

"Nope, not that one either." Trios replied shaking his head.

"God! This is taking forever! Can’t you just sniff him out?" Misuchi whined slouching over getting bored with this whole mission.

"I don’t know what his scent smells like…" Trios answered.

"Does he possess any sort of magic?" Saria questioned.

"I don’t know" Trios shrugged.

"Well then I guess we’re going to have to do this the old fashioned way" Saria stated. Misuchi groaned.

"There he is!" Trios shouted pointing at the youth.

"Not so loud!" Misuchi hissed as she threw her hand over his mouth.

"Sorry" Trios mumbled.

Saria strode up to the cell and looked in. "Are you alright?"

The teen nodded his head.

"Alright let’s bust him out" Misuchi smiled.

"It’s not going to be that easy… The cell is sealed with Angelic magic. It’s going to take a lot of work for me to lift" Saria declared inspecting the boys chamber.

"Awe damn… Why can’t anything be easy?" Misuchi pouted.

"Can’t I just break the cage open? You know bend the bars, Misuchi and I could do it" Trios suggested.

"No… The magic wouldn’t allow you to; I’m going to have to sing again. Boy, hold your ears and try not to listen to me."

Misuchi huffed. "They’ll hear you!"

"I’m aware. It will only take me about five minutes to lift the spell, while I’m doing this you both can handle the guards. Try not to bother me, you’ll break my concentration" Saria answered not taking her eyes from the boy.

"Okay" Trios replied while nodding his head.

"This better work…" Misuchi hesitantly said.

Saria’s voice began to flow through the air, its soft rhythm soothing anyone’s ears. Her voice echoed through the dungeon, the haunting sounds reaching most of the guards and drawing them closer to the rescuers. Saria’s soft song began to turn wicked as her voice rose higher.

Trios groaned in agony. "I hate this…" He whimpered.

"Moron, don’t listen to her!" Misuchi growled as she knocked on his head.

"What do you mean, DON’T listen to her, you have to!" Trios rolled his eyes.

"You’re listening to the magic of her voice, not her song… Listen to the song…" Misuchi said shaking her head at his "stupidity".

"Riiight…" Trios replied. "Oh great here come the guards…" Trios watched as about five guards came marching up the steps towards them.

"Hell…" Misuchi whined as she readied herself for a fight.

* * * *

Dekca watched Parisia with great amusement from above. He sat comfortably on the rooftop looking down through the glass at the scene laughing and grinning.

"Smart Priestess you are…" He commented, biting on his thumb.

Parisia began to flutter her eyes open hoping none of the guards would notice. It had to have been at least fifteen minutes since she had been lying there "dead" or "dying". Looking up at the sky through the glass she noticed a familiar face starring down at her, Dekca’s sinister smirk. She almost gasped but muffled it remembering she couldn’t give herself away. She narrowed her eyes at Dekca.

Dekca waved enthusiastically, teasing Parisia.

Parisia held back herself from yelling at Dekca and bite down on her lip.

Dekca winked and then jumped on top the glass breaking through it and let him self fall down onto the unsuspecting guards.

"A demon!" yelled one of the guards.

"Kill him!" ordered another one.

Dekca laughed jumping back, avoiding a jab from a guard’s sword. "Come and get me Angelics…" he laughed backing up.

Parisia began to sit up noticing that all the guards’ attention had been drawn to Dekca. She held herself back from laughing.

Dekca flashed a look at Parisia then went back to taunting the Angelic Guards.

Parisia scuffled off for her friends. "Thanks Dekca…" she whispered under her breath giving him one last look, watching him thrash an attacking guard into a wall.

* * * *

Misuchi took another kick to the stomach and landed on her rear. "Ouch! DAMN IT! That’s it! I’m not spearing any damn lives!" Misuchi screamed angrily throwing herself on top of a guard.

Trios easily dodged a thrust of a sword, twirling himself around and snatching the sword from the guard, sliced into the guard’s leg. "No killing!" Trios reminded Misuchi.

Misuchi growled. "WHY THE HELL NOT?" She swept kicked another guard’s feet out from under him causing the man to fall back hitting his head against the hard floor.

"If you don’t want money…" Trios began now using the stolen sword to fend off the last oncoming guard.

Misuchi flipped over Trios landing a punch across the soldier’s face, knocking him out cold. "Yeah, yeah… I remember."

"Is she done yet?" Trios asked looking back at Saria.

"Well obviously not, seeing she’s still singing… Wait a minute you weren’t affected this time… WHY?" Misuchi gasped.

"I guess I understood what you said after all" Trios grinned slyly.

Misuchi rolled her eyes shaking her head and crossing her arms. "Now we just wait for her to finish…" before Misuchi could even finish Saria stopped singing, the prisoner’s door opened slowly.

"Come now boy, lets go" Saria said extended her hand out for the youth.

The teen nodded taking her hand and walked out the door. He inspected Misuchi and Trios faintly and then took a long look at Saria.

"Guys!" Parisia shouted stumbling up the stairs. "I thought we agreed on no violence!"

"Hey, we couldn’t help it… It’s not like we KILLED anybody…" Misuchi scoffed.

"We don’t have time to argue, we need to leave" Saria interrupted starting towards the window they had originally come through.

"Okay!" Parisia agreed following.

"How did you distract the guards?" Trios asked as he helped Parisia step up on the windowsill.

"I’ll tell you later" Parisia answered smiling, pleased with her work.

As the group left Torix they could hear the distant sound of confusion in the city. Most likely they had found the wounded guards and figured out that their prisoner was missing. Angelics hardly ever left their land though because it was thought unholy, so the group stayed a medium pace.

"So buddy… You got any relatives? Uh…ones that may have a bit a money on them?" Misuchi asked grinning and laying her arm around the teen’s shoulder.

He shook his head.

"Boy he doesn’t talk much does he?" Misuchi stated poking the boy in the shoulder.

He let his gaze drop to the ground in shame.

"CAN you talk?" Saria narrowed her eyes at the idea in curiosity.

He shook his head.

"YOU CAN’T TALK?" Misuchi’s mouth dropped open.

"Why?" Parisia gasped.

"Maybe he doesn’t know how?" Trios suggested.

"Oh so that’s it." Parisia smiled. "Well we can teach him."

Huru shook his head once again.

"Hmm? You don’t want to be taught?" Parisia tilted her head.

Huru made a grunted in frustration. Then he began to look up at the night sky. His eyes narrowed and he began to concentrate on the moon.

"What’s he doing?" Misuchi screeched jumping behind Trios.

"Ah, a Light Giver…" Saria muttered under her breath.

After a moment a beam of light shot down from the heavens and entered into Parisia’s mouth. Parsia squealed with fear before giving up resistance as her friends watched in terror, excluding Saria. Parisia fluttered her eyes as if she was ready to pass out and then opened her eyes wide open.

She turned and looked at Huru. "What…? His tongue has been cut off…" Parisia announced looking at Huru in shock at what had just occurred.

"Hmm? How did you know that?" Misuchi raised an eyebrow, still behind Trios.

"Well… That light that entered me… It was like words… It’s so weird to explain."

Saria nodded. "Yes, he is a Light Giver, an Angelic which controls light for magic. A very hard technique to develop even for a chosen Angelic to learn."

"Like you with your singing?" Parisia asked blinking.

"That’s correct" Saria answered pleased that Parisia understood.

"Great ANOTHER freak…" Misuchi whined.

Saria hit Misuchi with the staff lightly. "He is no freak, as am I."

Misuchi blushed from embarrassment. "I didn’t mean you Saria!"

"I know" Saria smiled. "Come we must keep moving…"

* * * *

Dekca fiddled with Parisia’s brush. He had made it back to his cabin unharmed, as he had expected. He exhaled deeply as he stared at the brush.

"Whatchya doing?"

"Thinking…" Dekca answered giving the hand that now lay on his shoulder a quick glance.

"About what?" the bouncy voice asked.

"I am thinking about the girl…as always. I think she’s beginning to trust me." He grinned pleased with himself.

"As she should…" the voice giggled.

"I’ve given her every reason to and once I gain her trust…" Dekca’s grin spread wider.

The voice began to loudly cackle amused with his plot.

* * * *

"So where are we heading next?" Parisia asked as she struggled behind the group becoming tired.

"There is a small village up ahead" Saria answered. "They’ll have a motel we can stay at."

"Another motel? But we haven’t paid the last motels even!" Parisia complained.

"Awe shut up!" Misuchi rolled her eyes. "We have no choice, because SOMEONE didn’t bring any money on their little trip!" Misuchi glared at Parisia.

"I told you! I had no idea I would be…" Parisia stopped in mid-sentence. "He says he has money."

"Huh?" Misuchi replied confused.

"Huru, he says he has money with him" Parisia repeated.

"But… There was no light this time…" Misuchi scratched her head.

"The light is already in her body, as it will be there till the day she dies" Saria explained not taking her eyes off the road ahead of her.

"So there is LIGHT inside of me?" Parisia looked down at her stomach.

"Yes" Saria answered.

"Wow…" Parisia giggled. "That is so…neat!"

"So he’s going to be talking through her?" Misuchi poked Parisia.

"Stop it!" Parisia shouted shooing Misuchi’s finger away.

"That’s right."

"Well that IS neat!" Trios agreed. "Why did he pick her though?"

"She’s a High Priestess. Angelics’ work with other god worshipping peoples. It was probably easiest for him to communicate through her body, her being a Priestess. All of us are of unholy races."

"But Misuchi is human…" Parisia tilted her head.

"Yes but she is not holy" Saria quickly corrected.

"Yeah!" Misuchi said sticking her tongue out.

Parisia raised an eyebrow. "Okay…"

"Well, how are we ALL going to fit into a motel room?" Trios asked.

"We’ll there’s five of us so we’ll get two rooms" Saria thought out loud.

"That sound’s fine" Parisia agreed.

"Misuchi and I will share a room!" Trios enthusiastically volunteered.

"I am NOT spending the night in a room ALONE with you" Misuchi replied coldly.

"She loves me!" Trios grinned while hugging Misuchi.

"GET THE HELL OFF ME!" Misuchi growled clubbing Trios on the head.

"Hits of love!" Trios just went on smiling lovingly.

Misuchi gave up and just stayed in his arms limply with her eyes narrowed and her lips pouting.

Parisia giggled at the pair as Huru looked on with no sort of reaction.

"Mr. Huru Thomas…" Parisia started as she looked up at the teen.

/You may call me Huru/

"Alright Mist… I mean Huru. Why did your tongue get cut off?"

/It was cut off when I was a child. I had stole bread from a bakery and lied about it. They cut it off so that I may not tell anymore lies/

"Oh, that’s awful! And the Angelics did this?"

/Yes/

"Who are you talking to?" Misuchi looked at Parisia like she was crazy as she hung limply in Trios’s arms still.

"Well I’m talking to Huru!" Parisia snapped in her defense.

"Oh yeah… What are you talking about?" Trios questioned letting Misuchi go.

"We were discussing how is tongue was cut off."

"The town is strait ahead, it’s only a few minutes before we reach it" Saria interrupted.

* * * *

"The Red Master was defeated by the Demon."

The sisters sighed sadly.

"What shall I do sisters?"

"Whatever you decide to do will be the best of choices" the sisters complemented.

"So true. I believe the Black Master would be best for this job, do you agree? The day of the battle is rising…"

"Yes, sister" the sisters replied.

"Good… Good."

* * * *

"Huru and Trios, you two will be taking that room and we’ll be right across the hall from you two" Saria ordered as she pointed to the room Huru and Trios were to receive.

"But I wanted to sleep with…" Trios started.

"Don’t even finish that" Misuchi grumbled.

Trios grinned and walked into his new room for the night while Huru followed.

Parisia waved meekly to Huru and Trios and then entered her room, following Misuchi and Saria.

* * * *

"My ears hurt…"

"Don’t expect me to kiss them and make them better" Dekca replied as he stirred his finger in his cup.

"I would never let you do such a thing" she giggled. "You’d bite them off!"

"So true… Velvet, go retrieve another glass, I’ll need one for the ‘trip’" Dekca took his finger from the cup and licked the blood from his finger slowly.

"You are seriously going to do it?" Velvet gasped, her smile still on her lips.

"Of course, I am a man of my word" Dekca grinned.

"Oh sir! This is going to be so fun!" Velvet massaged his right arm as she cackled at the wicked thoughts roaming through her head.

"Remember…don’t get to caught up with your little play toy" Dekca ordered looking over his shoulder. "And do not kill ANYONE."

Velvet rolled her eyes. "But they hurt me!" She whimpered kissing his cheek. "Don’t you want to revenge my pain?"

"Not in the slightest" Dekca replied plainly.

Velvet jumped back and giggled. "You’re so cruel… I love it!"

* * * *

"So…" Trios kicked his feet as he sat on the bed. He sighed with boredom. "There is NO way you can talk to me?"

Huru shook his head.

"Oh this is going to be fun…" Trios replied sarcastically then snorted.

Huru shrugged and looked out the window, seeming content on watching any passing people below.

A knock was heard at the door.

"COME IN PLEASE!" Trios called out desperately.

"Hey, I was just wondering how things were going over here" Parisia smiled as she entered the room.

"Fine, just great…" Trios exhaled.

"That’s good to hear" Parisia replied cheerfully.

"Yeah."

"So Huru, how do you like your motel room? Ever stay at a motel before?" Parisia asked.

/The motel is fine thank you, and yes I have stayed at a motel before/

Parisia nodded her head pleased. "Well I’ll be letting you two get to know each other better and leave you be."

Trios raised an eyebrow at Parisia’s stupidity. How could they get to know each other if Huru couldn’t talk?

Parisia closed the door leaving the two strangers to get "acquainted".

* * * *

"What do YOU want?" Misuchi narrowed her eyes at the intruder.

"Nothing more than talk to my High Priestess…" Dekca replied grinning. He sat on the ledge of the window looking in at Misuchi and Saria.

"And your reason?" Saria asked calmly.

"I must discuss something very important with her, it will effect even you two" Dekca answered.

"Then you can tell us and we’ll tell her!" Misuchi demanded.

"I don’t think so…Cloud Sphinx" Dekca snickered.

"How did you know that?!" Misuchi shouted angrily.

"Oh I listen in from time to time" Dekca shrugged. "For my own safety, I need to know what I am up against."

"Hmm, understandable" Saria agreed nodding her head.

"Why are you siding with him for?!" Misuchi snapped.

"I’m not siding with anybody, Misuchi. I am simply stating that if we know what we are up against then he should have a chance to know what he is up against."

"Whatever" Misuchi snorted. "Anyway, you’re not going to speak with Parisia! She’s too easily influenced by you!"

"Oh really?" Dekca smirked at the fact. "How interesting… Well either you let me or not I’m speaking with her."

"Don’t think so" Misuchi replied beginning to pose herself for an attack.

"What’s going on?" Parisia asked as she stepped into the room. "DEKCA?" She yelped as her eyes gazed over him.

"Ah, Parisia, just the High Priestess I wanted to see…" Dekca jumped down from the window ledge. Dekca scoffed at Misuchi as he pushed her aside.

"Misuchi…" Saria said as if she was scolding a child.

"Yeah fine!" Misuchi crossed her arms, her eyes never leaving Dekca.

"W-what do you want?" Parisia asked nervously as she backed up.

"I’m not here for you" He chuckled at Parisia’s fear. "I only wish to talk to you."

Parisia slightly calmed down. "About what?"

"I need to talk to you alone…" Dekca whispered in Parisia’s ear.

"But…"

Misuchi huffed. "She’s not going ANYWHERE with you ALONE! Do you honestly think we are THAT stupid?"

Dekca shrugged.

"GRR!" Misuchi jumped at Dekca only to be pushed back by Saria.

"I don’t want a fight! Dekca, whatever you have to say to Parisia you will say while we are in her presence!" Saria declared.

"Very well…" Dekca said defeated.

"Now what is it that you need to tell her? Tell her and get the hell out of here!" Misuchi ordered.

Dekca snarled.

"Oh JUST get on with it!" Misuchi rolled her eyes.

"Very well…" Dekca turned his attention to Parisia. "I have but one thing to say to you and that is… I’m not Dekca" With that Dekca changed into a large man with long black hair and fierce gold eyes.

Parisia screamed falling back against the wall behind her.

"DAMN!" Misuchi shouted as she looked to Saria.

Saria’s eyes filled with fear. "A Black Master!"

"Oh god…" Misuchi’s voice fell below a whisper as she looked at the "man" in awe.

"Where is Trios?" the Black Master demanded, his voice boomed. His attention falling off Parisia, who he had wished to destroy first. Rapidly the giant of a man grabbed Misuchi around the neck and picked her up from ground.

Misuchi scratched at the Black Master’s hand as she desperately tried to pull her self from his choking grasp.

"Let her go!" Saria began to sing.

Parisia hastily ran from the room and not letting her mind think rationally entered Trios and Huru’s room. "Help! Misuchi is…"

"Ah, so here he is!" the Black Master laughed as he entered the room, Misuchi still in his hand, her efforts to free herself becoming weaker as her breath was continuously robbed from her.

Trios gave one look at Misuchi and didn’t hesitate to jump at the Black Master’s throat. The Black Master easily snatched Trios with his other hand before Trios could even land a single hit.

Trios woke up and held his head in pain. His hair was clumped together with dried blood. Tiredly he looked to his side to find Misuchi laying next to him, as also Parisia, Saria, and Huru.

"What happened?" He thought aloud and he brought himself weakly to his feet.

"Ah, you have awaken Trios" a voice called out.

"Who are you?" Trios asked sounding more afraid than he wanted.

"Oh Trios, you do not remember me?" Out of the shadows a woman stepped forth. Her lips curved into a purely evil smile and her face was covered with make-up. Her eyes were an outstanding shade of blue and her hair hung to the floor and dragged behind her. She stroked a strand of her light brown lengthy hair in one hand while she held her gown up in the other to prevent herself from tripping over the over extended dress.

Trios gasped as a small memory flashed through his mind. He could remember her face. "I… Fang…" Trios muttered trying to form a name to her face.

"Yes, yes go on…" the woman beckoned smiling excitedly, her eyes widening.

"…Fang Empress…" The words slipped from his mouth.

"Excellent!" the woman purred throwing her hands in the air with delight. "Now, who are your friends?" Fang Empress gazed over the group.

"Don’t touch them…" Trios said through his teeth.

"Don’t you worry dear Trios, I couldn’t even if I wanted to…" Fang Empress chuckled. "I want you to begin training immediately."

"Training for what?" Trios asked confused.

She cackled amused. "Don’t try to pretend you don’t know, you know perfectly well… If you can remember me you must remember what your purpose is."

"But I don’t remember anything about my purpose" Trios replied looking down a little saddened by the fact.

"Oh no usual being knows there purpose, you should be happy you know yours…" Fang Empress snapped and then turned abruptly to a flight of stairs. "I will be leaving you temporarily, it seems something has come up…" With that announcement she made her ways up the stairs hastily.

"What was that all about?" Trios mumbled turning his attention back to Misuchi and the others.

Parisia began to slowly rise up from her slumber and looked wearily at Trios. "Wha…What is going on?"

"I don’t know" Trios replied looking down at Misuchi. "Are they dead?"

Parisia crawled over next to Misuchi and felt her pulse. "No, she’s alive." Parisia went on checking Huru and Saria’s pulses and when she finished announce they were both fine.

"How do we wake them up?" Trios asked still staring down at Misuchi.

"I don’t know" Parisia said shrugging.

/Wait a while, they’ll come along…/

"Huru?" Parisia spoke out load. "Are you awake?"

/No, my body is not awakening. I think I may have died. Did you check my pulse?/

"Yes I did…"

/And I was alive?/

"That’s right."

/I wonder why my body is not responding. Am I under a spell?/

"I don’t know. Why would you be under a spell? What sort of spell puts someone to sleep and not let them wake up?"

/You just answered your own question, a sleeping spell./

"Oh yes… A sleeping spell" Parisia repeated feeling a bit stupid. "So how do I take the spell off you?"

/Saria is the only one in the group that can do that. Her voice can awaken me, yours however can not./

"Why?"

/You don’t control magic with your voice as she does./

"But I do! I command the magic with my voice."

/That’s wrong, your mind is what’s controlling the magic. You focus on the powers to use them./

"Okay!" Trios shouted angrily. "I want to know what you and Huru are saying!"

* * * *

Dekca silently made his way around the motel room. Where did they go? I know they were staying here…

"I can’t find them anywhere Dekca" Velvet said as she sat on the bed.

"I can’t even smell their blood. They must be far… How could I let myself lose sight of her so easily? I will find her…"

"I’m sure you will sir, but can we eat first?" Velvet pouted as she flipped on her back on the bed and leaned her head over the side looking at Dekca upside down.

"No, we find her first" Dekca sighed as he started for the window.

"Your becoming quite boring Dekca, all you ever want to do is chase after that boring girl…" Velvet whined as she slid off the bed.

"Do as you like, but I am leaving" Dekca said uncaringly as he exited through the window.

"Wait! I’ll come!" Velvet called out, hastily following him.

* * * *

"Where’s the money!?" Misuchi jerked up from her slumber to look Trios strait in the eyes.

"Rise and shine, sunshine!" Trios laughed.

Misuchi grunted as she scratched at her scalp. "Where are we?"

"I don’t know…" Trios raised his eyebrows expressing his confusion as well.

"Great…" Misuchi groaned.

"You’re the last one to get up" Trios smiled.

"Lovely, now get out of my face" Misuchi rolled her eyes as she pushed Trios aside. "So how long have we been here?"

"We guess about two days since Trios woke up" Saria replied. "A guard has been bringing food down to us, we…well actually I left food for you." Saria smiled pleasantly handing Misuchi a slice of bread.

"Thanks…Saria!" Misuchi said as she took the bread from Saria, glaring at the others.

"Hey we were hungry!" Parisia pleaded in her defense.

"Yeah, whatever" Misuchi muttered under her breath as she practically inhaled her slice of bread.

"So what do we do now?" Trios asked. "We’ve all woken up…"

"We wait and see what this person wants with us" Saria explained.

"What?!" Misuchi yelped. "You mean you plan on staying here?!"

"We have no choice…" Parisia answered.

"Yeah!" Trios added.

"We can break out of this place easy!" Misuchi declared confidently. "Right Saria?"

"No."

"Yeah, Saria and I have… WHAT?" Misuchi’s mouth gaped open at Saria’s answer. "What do you mean no?"

"There is no way we can break through this prison. Magic doesn’t seem to do a thing and neither does brute strength" Saria explained.

"Damn it! This sucks!" Misuchi growled.

"Yes, it does" Trios agreed.

"So all we are going to do is sit here? We’re not going to do ANYTHING?" Misuchi whined.

"That’s correct, as we’ve said before there is nothing we CAN do" Saria replied.

"This will be fun…" Misuchi stated sarcastically.

"Awe, you have all awakened" Fang Empress seemed to float down the stairs as she spoke soothingly, her beautiful hair dragging behind her.

"She’s back…" Trios announced as he watched the woman near him.

"Who the hell are you?" Misuchi raised an eyebrow.

"Why I am Fang Empress" she smiled kindly as she came to the prison cell.

"AN EMPRESS?" Misuchi shouted surprised.

"Yes, I suspect you know what one is then" Fang Empress’s sweet smile became wider.

"Of course! Holy hell! You’re… Oh my gods!" Misuchi’s eyes were almost too wide for her face.

"No, no. I’m not a god, but as close as one can be" Fang Empress chuckled. "So Trios, have you decided if you want to continue playing your little memory lose game?"

Trios narrowed his eyes. "It’s no game!"

Fang Empress sighed. "Very well. Oh yes, you other prisoners may go free."

"We can?" Parisia’s eyes filled with happiness.

"What do you mean other? Do you mean to tell us that Trios is to stay here?" Saria asked not becoming as thrilled as the rest of the group had.

"That is correct Miss Saria" Fang Empress nodded.

"How did you know my name?" Saria narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"I know all of your names. It makes no difference how…"

"Well we ain’t going with out Trios!" Misuchi snapped as she stood up from the hay-covered bottom of the cell.

"Very well, stay here and die if you wish. Makes no difference to me" Fang Empress shrugged.

"Wipe that smile of your face! We aren’t planning on letting you keep Trios, you ugly bitch!" Misuchi’s fists tightened.

Fang Empress laughed. "Are you threatening me?"

"That’s right! Bring it on!" Misuchi snarled beckoning Fang Empress with her hands.

"Isn’t that what you said to the demon Velvet?"

Misuchi’s eyes narrowed, as she became more angered. "That was different! This time I’ll win! And face it honey, your no Velvet!"

"I should hope not. I have no time for this" Fang Empress stated and with that Misuchi, Parisia, Huru, and Saria vanished.

* * * *

"Damn it!" Misuchi roared as she pounded the ground.

"It seems she has teleported us here…" Saria declared as she looked around their new surroundings. They were now on a hill covered with luscious green grass and fields stretched out as far as the eyes could see.

"Where are we?" Parisia asked as she staggered around the hill.

/A field just outside of Yochee. I’ve been here before, if we head in the direction of that large oak over there we can make it to Yochee in about two hours./

"Hey, guys. Huru says that if we head towards the oak over there we could make it to Yochee in about two hours" Parisia repeated Huru’s message.

"Oh?" Saria turned to look at Parisia, "then that is the way we will go."

"But what about Trios?" Misuchi squeaked.

"We can’t help him here, we’ll make it to town and decide how we can help him there" Saria suggested as she patted Misuchi’s back.

"Alright Saria…" Misuchi gave in and began to walk with Saria.

* * * *

"See Dekca, all that worrying and we found them" Velvet giggled as she squatted down beside Dekca on the tree branch just outside the motel room.

"Yes…" Dekca narrowed his eyes looking into farther into the room. "Where did the big one go?"

"Trios? Oh, I don’t like that one! He hurt me!" Velvet whimpered.

"Yes, but where is he?" Dekca bit at his bottom lip. "Has he been killed?"

"What does it matter to you?" Velvet snorted.

"Parisia will have to go through that whole grieving process again, and that’s dull. I’d have to wait even longer than I do now" Dekca explained as he began to stand up on the branch.

"Humans are so stupid, yet so entertaining!" Velvet chuckled as she followed Dekca and jumped down from the tree.

* * * *

Parisia woke up panting heavily and dripping in sweat. She turned to look at Huru who slept on the floor beside hers and to the other king size bed that Saria and Misuchi had slept in.

"Are you alright?" Misuchi asked looking at Parisia like she was insane. She was folding a towel up and standing at the end of Parisia’s bed, near the door.

Parisia took a moment to figure out it was only a dream and then answered. "Yeah, yeah I’m fine."

"Bad dream?" Saria assumed as she still sat in bed.

"Yeah, you could say it was umm bad" Parisia shook her feelings away and sat up from her bed.

/It hurt didn’t it?/

"What?" Parisia looked to Huru.

/When he bit you…it hurt?/

Parisia gasped realizing he must have known what she dreamt about. "Umm, well yeah…sort of."

Huru raised an eyebrow. /Remember how much it hurts next time you see him and you wont feel so overpowered by his charms./

Parisia nodded her head.

"What’s he saying?" Misuchi asked as she looked down at Huru.

"Uh nothing. He just asked if my dream was uh scary" Parisia lied.

Misuchi shrugged and left the room to go and wash up.

"Do you think Misuchi loves Trios?" Saria suddenly questioned, her face looking sincere.

"Well yeah sure" Parisia giggled falling back on her bed.

"Oh…" Saria sighed looking back at the door. "How interesting, her being sensitive for another."

"Yeah, I guess. We all feel that way sometimes" Parisia smiled most likely her mind on Dekca.

Huru looked at Parisia annoyed with her thoughts. /He’s going to kill you, you do know that, don’t you?/

Parisia huffed not caring to answer his question.

"Is there something the matter?" Saria asked sounding concerned.

"Oh… No I’m fine!" Parisia replied cheerfully hopping back up from the bed.

"Alright then" Saria sat up from her bed. "We should probably get ready to move onward. See if anyone knows where we can find the Fang Empress."

"Do you think she intends on harming Trios?" Parisia gulped.

"Nah. I’m not sure what she wants from him, but I don’t think she has kept him alive this long just to kill him."

"Yeah, I guess you’re right" Parisia agreed feeling a little relieved.

* * * *

"Come now Trios, don’t you want this world to be better?" Fang Empress sighed as she paced up and down outside his prison.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that us, as beasts, the world would be better. The Goddess of the Fang, Feathers and Scales wishes to grant our world a better one for us. Don’t you want that for our kind?" Fang Empress leaned closer to the cage. "Would it not be enjoyable for you?"

"I am not a beast!" Trios crossed his arms. "I’m only a beast when the moon is full."

Fang Empress cackled. "Tell yourself those lies if you want. I can see the real you though, as so can the rest of the beasts. They laugh at you, trying to pose as a human. You are just like that other girl."

"What other girl?" Trios narrowed his eyes.

"That one that was so brave as to stand up to me" Fang Empress took a moment to replay the incident through her mind.

"What are you talking about? She’s a human" Trios scoffed.

Fang Empress burst out with laughter once again. "Foolish you are. She is nothing more that a cross breed, a mutt. A bitch who was born to a foolish mother Cloud Sphinx and a father who was under a love spell!"

"Don’t you talk about her like that!" Trios snarled throwing himself up against the bars of his cage.

"Ah! Now that is the spirit!" Fang Empress clapped.

Trios continued to send his body slamming into the side of the cage as his rage grew with every cackle Fang Empress laughed.

* * * *

"So you know everything I know?" Parisia asked staring at Huru.

/That is correct./

"Why is that?" Parisia questioned after a moment to herself.

/I am connecting to you. The light that shines in you is mine, I am connected with your spirit, your life./

"Wow… If I die, do you die?"

/No, my life will go on, but a large part of me will be missing. You and I are almost one now./

Parisia’s eyes widened. "So we are literally soul-mates?"

/You could say that I suppose./

"Wow… So your magic lies within light?"

/Well not entirely. My magic lies within Life itself. I absorb energy from the earth and use it to control light. If there was no life on this planet I could not survive, because my true power comes from the soul of this planet./

Well that’s a little corny… Parisia snorted at her thoughts.

/I heard that./

"Oh sorry!" Parisia rapidly apologized.

/That’s all right, I have gotten used to it… After a while of hearing your mind’s ruckus all day it begins to all turn into a bunch of background noises for me./

"Well still…It’s still weird for me to have to deal with the idea someone else is hearing all my most intimate thoughts."

/I wouldn’t worry too much, I can’t speak./

"True…" Parisia nodded her head.

"Back!" Saria called as she entered the motel room. "Where’s Misuchi?"

"She went out to get some ‘back up items’, as she says" Parisia answered.

* * * *

Trios had heard of a Cloud Sphinx before, a beast that coaxed male victims to her through scent, not always by choice but by season. Trios sat in his cage silently with his thoughts as Fang Empress continuing her pacing up and down…up and down…up and down…

"Stop it!" Trios growled through gritted teeth.

Fang Empress stopped in her place and nodded her head. "Very well. Now tell me… Do you remember?"

"No! I DON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING!" Trios screamed angrily. "Stop asking me that!"

"Hmm, what a pity. Very well then, we will have to start from scratch" Fang Empress slowly opened the prison door.

Trios’s eyes bulged at her stupidity before he charged at her.

Fang Empress threw her head back with laughter as she vanished into air.

Trios rapidly searched the room with his eyes. "Where are you, witch?!"

"Oh, Trios, go and leave. Just TRY to escape…" Fang Empress went on with her annoying laughter.

Trios shrugged. "Watch me!" Running up the stairs he came upon the top of a huge castle. Trios stopped himself right before he ran off the side of the huge brick home and looked over the edge. He gasped as he saw violent waves crash against the castle and almost wondered how the castle stayed standing.

Slowly Trios turned to see Fang Empress standing before him with her hand extended. "Come Trios, you have no choice but stay here." Her smile was almost maternal, but Trios knew better. Something about her made him want to cry and scream out in rage at the same time.

* * * *

"So where are we heading?" Parisia asked as stumbled over a log in the path.

/Watch where you are going./

"We’re going to Kuchin, its only a few hours from here" Saria answered as she walked along the path with ease, using her staff to make her way over fallen trees.

"I KNOW!" Parisia snapped at Huru.

Misuchi turned to view at Parisia. "Chill out…"

"No, I didn’t mean… Oh never mind. So what is Kuchin like?" Parisia tripped over yet another fallen tree.

"It’s sort of nice, for a demon town" Misuchi shrugged.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DEMONS?" Parisia gasped.

"Hey, it’s alright. These demons are the peaceful kinds, the ones that don’t want to be bothered by humans, and they are hardly powerful" Misuchi explained casually.

"I don’t like the idea of us going to a town filled with Demons…" Parisia replied nervously.

/I do not like the idea myself./

"Huru doesn’t like the idea either!" Parisia called out.

"Who cares, if Saria says that’s the next town, that’s the one we are going to… We can’t be too picky or we won’t find Trios, understand?" Misuchi snapped.

/We can not reveal my true identity, as an Angelic a Demon is a true enemy and there will be a fight positively./

"Okay, We can’t tell them that Huru’s an Angelic" Parisia declared.

"I know" Saria answered nodding her head.

Parisia gasped before a hand covered her mouth and pulled her into the bushes. She was ready to let loose a scream but stopped as she recognized Dekca. "Dekca?" she whispered.

Dekca grinned. "The one and only."

"You aren’t going to turn into a big guy with black hair now, are you?" Parisia asked nervously.

Dekca raised an eyebrow. "Umm no."

"So why did you pull me into the bushes like that?" Parisia placed her hands on her hips.

"I need to talk to you for a minute or two. Trios is gone?"

"Yeah… Why?"

"Where is he?"

"I don’t know… He was sort of kidnapped with the rest of us by some Fang Empress lady and uh she let us go."

"Fang Empress?" Dekca’s mouth fell open. "What the hell… Why would she want Trios?"

"We don’t know and neither does he." Parisia thought for a moment. "Dekca, do you know where the Fang Empress’s temple is?"

Dekca shook his head has he scoffed slight. "No way, I’m not getting involved with the Fang Empress."

Parisia gritted her teeth. "Come on Dekca, I promise this will be the ONLY time I will ever ask for your help." When Parisia sighed as Dekca once again refused, shaking his head. "Alright listen, DEMON, I am a High Priestess of Gie and I ORDER you to TELL ME!"

Dekca snorted. "Don’t think so…"

Parisia exhaled. "Fine… Wait…" A smile spread across her face as an idea came over her. She swallowed. "Dekca…" Parisia slowly moved her arms around his neck and leaned herself up against his chest, looking strait into his eyes.

Dekca’s eyes widened and a smirk crossed his face. "Yes?"

"Please…" Parisia stared at his lustfully through her long black eyelashes.

Dekca’s smirk grew. "Please what?"

"Please tell me where we can find the Fang Empress’s temple" Parisia twisted her finger at the hair that slightly grew down to his neck sending shivers to shoot up and down his spine.

Dekca slide his hands around Parisia’s waist as he pressed his face forewords. His lips brushed up against hers as he spoke. "You can find it…" Dekca moved his hands upwards and pushes her face to his, locking lips with her. He drew himself back and spoke once again. "You’ll find it on the waters of the Unicorns, the lake of the Beauty" with that he once again advanced for her lips but Parisia abruptly pulled away.

"Thanks for the information Dekca!" Parisia pecked his cheek.

Dekca growled deep in his throat. "Damn it… I fell right into that one…" Dekca shrugged it off and grinned watching Parisia stepped out of the brush.

Parisia pushed through the bushes and found her way out only to come face to chest with Huru. She looked up at his face, a scornful frown upon it.

/Dekca?/

"Yes… I found where the temple is though!" Parisia said nodding her head happily hoping he wouldn’t be angry.

/Great…/

Parisia sighed seeing that he wouldn’t state he was upset over the matter. He was an Angelic, and they never were the types to discuss their feelings, unless they believed they had no other choice.

"What are you guys doing back here?" Misuchi yelled as she ran towards them on the path. "Saria and I didn’t even notice you two were missing till now. What are you guys doing back here?"

"We were just uh getting some information from another traveler that was in the forest along the path" Parisia lied.

"Oh? Did you find any useful information?" Misuchi demanded as she crossed her arms.

"Yes we did. The temple is on the waters of the Unicorns."

"Water of the Unicorns?!" Misuchi cried. "That’s like days away from here! Damn it!"

/She’s incorrect. The water of the Unicorns is only a day from here if we start for it now and avoid Kuchin./

Parisia repeated Huru’s statement to Misuchi.

"Well we HAVE to stop in Kuchin… We need some supplies" Misuchi huffed, her arms still crossed.

"What sort of supplies?"

"Well we need to find a good Spell Keeper for one!" Misuchi shouted. "Do you honestly think we’ll stand a chance against Fang Empress without some more powerful spells?" Misuchi rolled her eyes.

"Oh… Yes, that’s true. Is there any way I can help?" Parisia volunteered.

"Uh, not that I can think of. We’ll just find someone to rob on the way and we’ll be good" Misuchi shrugged and began to walk ahead once again.

Parisia opened her mouth to protest but Huru gave her a look that disapproved of her thoughts.

* * * *

"I saw what happened" Velvet stated as she came up behind Dekca.

"Oh?" Dekca turned to regard Velvet.

"Do you need me to calm you?" Velvet purred as she wrapped her arms around his waist and snapped her jaws at him.

Dekca smiled at the gesture. "I can handle it."

"Thought you could" Velvet giggled as she released her hold on him. She looked down spotting a cat. "Oh a kitty!" Velvet squealed happily.

The cat called out a "meow" and then began to trot away.

Velvet licked her lips hungrily as she watched the cat prance away. "Come kitty…"

Dekca stopped Velvet from following the cat by extended his hand out bringing her to a halt. "Leave it be, we have work to do."

"But I’m hungry!" Velvet pouted as she stomped her feet.

"Feed later, we have things to do" Dekca answered as his eyes followed the cats trail. His hand gently smoothed its way over Velvet’s chin forcing her to look his way before he brought his arm back to his side. "Remember, we have work to do."

Velvet sighed in disappointment. "Yeah… Okay…"

* * * *

"Where were you all?" Saria asked as Misuchi, Huru and Parisia rushed to her side.

"We found out where Fang Empress’s temple is" Parisia replied as she gasped for breath.

"Oh?" Saria nodded her head. "Good."

"The temple is located on the Water of the Unicorns" Misuchi explained. "We still should stop in Kuchin to pick up supplies, right?"

"Yes, that’s a good idea. I doubt we could defeat an Empress without some more powerful spells" Saria answered.

"I still don’t like the idea of going to Kuchin…" Parisia grumbled.

"Awe, stop complaining!" Misuchi rolled her eyes. "There’s nothing to worry about! Saria and I have gone there many times, nothing bad has EVER happened."

"Well, I guess we’ll see if this time is the same as those other visits, we’re there" Saria interrupted as she pointed to the town ahead.

Parisia gasped as her eyes viewed a large stone carving of The God of Destruction in front of the gates. "I really, REALLY don’t like this idea…" Parisia’s voice shook as she spoke.

"Oh don’t be such a baby!" Misuchi whined as she patted Parisia’s back while walking by her towards the statue.

"The God of Destruction is a god to be respected not feared" Saria explained as she lay a hand on Parisia’s shoulder and then she smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah…" Parisia nodded weakly.

As the group headed towards the gates the guards moved inwards surrounding the entrance.

"Halt!" a small man with three horns coming from the center of his head shouted, a long pointed tail came from his lower back, shouted.

Saria bowed slightly to the man. "We ask for entrance to your town."

The short guard stroked his chin and inspected the group. "What reason do you have for coming here?"

"Just want to do some trade with your people" Saria answered.

"Hmm…" The tiny man continues to stroke his chin. "Alright, OPEN THE GATES!" he ordered to the other demons.

The gates were easily opened and the group walked in.

Parisia swallowed as she looked over the demon filled community.

"Alright, the Spell Keeper holds shop across town. I want you, Parisia and Huru to go right over there" Saria pointed to a stingy shack. "Bargain for some food, Misuchi and I will meet you back there and join you for our meal, understood?"

"But what do we bargain with?" Parisia asked.

"Anything that you may have on you" Misuchi answered shrugging.

Soon after Misuchi and Saria disappeared into the crowd of demons.

Parisia hesitantly stepped into the shop, gazing over the unfriendly looking demons.

"May I help you?" a gruff voice asked sounding quite annoyed and bored.

"Uh yes!" Parisia turned to look a large barbaric looking woman in the eyes. "We would like to bargain for…uh….uh…"

/Meal./

"A meal." Parisia finished sighing.

The rough voice roared with laughter. "Well you’ve come to the right place, honey! What do you want to bargain with?" The woman revealed her yellow teeth with a horrible grin.

"Um, well… I have a…" Parisia rummaged through her bag. "How about a nice…umm…"

/Offer her something shiny, demons often like things with luster./

"Would you like this fine mirror?" Parisia asked gritting her teeth, she had had the mirror since she was young and cherished the item dearly.

"For a full meal?" the woman raised her eyebrows. "Sure!" The woman snatched the mirror away and looked at herself, she seemed quite pleased with the image of herself. "Go and sit and I’ll be with you in a bit, honey."

"Umm, all right ma’am" Parisia nodded her head finding a seat with Huru.

* * * *

"Hey Saria, take a look at this!" Misuchi snorted as she picked up a bottle of some green liquid and shook it.

Saria narrowed her eyes as she read the bottle. "Hmm, interesting."

"What is it?" Misuchi asked as she looked at the green ooze. "It’s nasty looking."

"Evex blood" Saria simply said.

"Sick, what’s it for?" Misuchi raised an eyebrow her eyes still fixed on the liquid.

"May I help you?" a man-demon from behind the counter asked.

"Ah, yes. You are the Spell Keeper of Kuchin?" Saria took a small bow.

"What a respectful woman, it’s so uncommon for me to receive such beautiful and courteous customers" the man-demon applauded Saria.

"Oh? Well thank you sir" Saria smiled. "I ask for your permission to trade with you sir, for one of your strongest spells."

"What type of spell?"

"Presumably a song spell."

"Song spell? How interesting, I haven’t sold one of those in ages" the man-demon laughed. The man-demon began to bend down and pulled a scroll and a bottle from under the counter. "This, my dear girl, is the strongest song spell that I could imagine, but it is also extremely valuable."

"How valuable?" Saria raised an eyebrow.

"Ew!" Misuchi squealed. "You better not mean…"

"No! No! I didn’t mean that!" the man-demon shouted.

"Oh okay…" Misuchi calmed down once again.

"I’m sorry sir, but we have nothing to trade or pay you with…" Saria closed her eyes.

Misuchi grinned knowing what would come next.

Saria’s voice sang through out the shop, the man-demon’s eyes began to become lazy with sleep and finally he fell to the ground with exhaustion.

Saria smiled and picked the scroll and bottle from the demon-man’s hand. "Sorry again sir, but at least you will have a long rest."

Misuchi chuckled.

* * * *

Parisia picked at the plate of foods that sat in front of her while Huru watched and Saria and Misuchi rapidly ate their meals.

"Parisia, hurry up and finish. We need to leave town as quickly as possible!" Misuchi shouted as she took another huge bite.

Parisia blinked and managed to take a small bite out of her salad.

Misuchi abruptly sat up. "Okay let’s go!"

"Already? But I haven’t finished my meal yet…" Parisia was cut off by a grunt from Misuchi to show she didn’t care.

"Yes, we really should be moving onwards" Saria added also getting up from her seat, Huru following.

Parisia sighed. "Very well… I give up my mirror for nothing…"

As Parisia made her way out of the restaurant, last as usual, but before she could totally emerge from the door she heard a loud "psst" beckoning her to come to them. Parisia turned to see Dekca sitting in one of the booths, in one of his hands her mirror.

"Are you missing something?" He smirked looking at himself in the mirror.

"My mirror!" Parisia shouted happily as she rushed towards him to retrieve it.

"Nah-uh, not until I get something in return" Dekca playfully teased as he placed the mirror behind his back.

"Oh come on! You can’t even see yourself in a mirror!" Parisia whined holding her hand out.

Dekca smirked at the thought. "I know, but I can still keep it. I don’t need a reason."

Parisia snorted angrily. "Give it to me!"

"As I have said before, what do I get?" Dekca grinned bearing his sharp canine teeth.

Parisia growled. "I don’t know! What do you want?"

"That’s all I wanted" Dekca shrugged and threw Parisia the mirror, Parisia stumbling to catch it.

"Huh?" Parisia titled her head in confusion. "What?"

Dekca leaned back in his seat. "Just wanted to see how willing you were to give me what I want."

"Oh! I hate you!" Parisia stomped out of the restaurant in a huff.

Dekca snickered at her.

* * * *

"It’s amazing isn’t it?" Fang Empress swung the small amulet she held in her hand as she sat on her throne.

"What’s amazing?" Trios sighed, sitting in the dark corner of the room.

"Oh that you could forget years of training, of preparation in just a few small years of slavery" Fang Empress seemed amused by the thought.

"So are you going to tell me my past, or am I going to have to listen to your excessive chatter?" Trios coldly asked.

Fang Empress laughed. "I always liked you. Your were always such a snappy boy."

"Well?" Trios snapped not caring to hear her opinions.

Fang Empress smiled. "Alright I will get right to the point. Trios, I have had you since you were a child. When you were born I received you to become the chosen."

"Chosen for what?" Trios raised an eyebrow.

"You’ll understand in time… I’d rather not reveal that so soon. I raised you Trios, you are like a child to me and I have great faith in you to become the victor. Yes, and then this world will be recreated for the better."

"I wish I understood what the hell you were talking about."

"Oh Trios" Fang Empress sighed. "Don’t be so impatient. You will understand all of this in due time, till then you will learn the ways of fighting, the ways of the beast."

"Hell with you, I don’t want to fight, and stop calling me a beast" Trios growled.

"Hmm?" Fang Empress raised an eyebrow confused. "What do you mean? You are a beast…a werewolf, maybe the last of your kind. You don’t wish to represent your race, your relatives?"

"I don’t care anything for the Beast Race, they’re nothing but savages."

Fang Empress gasped. "You are proof that they are not savages! What do you mean by calling your own people savages? They are the most civilized creatures on this damn planet!"

"How’s that?" Trios snorted. "We kill each other for food and survival, just like all the other races. There is nothing special or civilized about any of the races."

"You have lost faith in your own kind; that is truly sad" Fang Empress looked down in shame. "But understand this, you would be fighting for a New World with CIVILIZED beasts, a place of harmony and balance. Is that what you would like?"

"That’s not possible…"

"With the power of the goddess it is" Fang Empress grinned.

Trios looked at her startled and maybe a gleam of hope in his eyes.

* * * *

"That’s it? That small pond?" Misuchi’s mouth dropped open. They had walked on for at least a day now and it was becoming dark. Misuchi and the others looked down from above the small pond, their eyes gazing over a small swampy mess. "That is what we’ve been looking for? I don’t even see a temple!"

"Calm down Misuchi, that’s not the water of the Unicorns…" Saria explained.

"It isn’t? Then where in the hell is it?" Misuchi snapped.

"It’s only a few hours from here. If we follow that small stream it will lead us right to it."

"Are we going to stay and camp here tonight?" Parisia yawned.

"It seems we have too, you look very tired and we should all have much rest before tomorrow. We don’t want to have to confront Fang Empress without all our strength" Saria calmly answered.

"Hey, we don’t have anything to sleep on or anything… Isn’t there a town around here we can stay at?" Misuchi’s eyes filled with hope, she hated camping out.

"Not even close to here. The closest town was Kuchin" Saria replied as she began to lie down on the grassy hill.

"Damn…" Misuchi whined as she plopped down next to Saria.

"Well, this is safe to do, isn’t it? There are no threatening creatures, are there?" Parisia gulped as her eyes searched around for a hideous monster.

"Nothing here, except maybe some common wildlife" Saria yawned as she snuggled up into a ball.

/I’ll stay watch for tonight. I don’t need sleep./

"No Huru, it’s okay. She said there’s nothing out here" Parisia smiled as she slowly lowered herself to the ground.

/There is always the chance that Dekca will show up./

"Oh…" Parisia fought back a giggle, she really didn’t mind if he did show up.

Huru watched as Parisia lay down and sighed with relief when she finally fell asleep. Huru sat down next to Parisia and looked around checking that no one way near. Noticing Parisia shivering, Huru pulled his over jacket off and placed it over her. The tip of his lip curving upward, suspiciously looking like a smile.

/It’s a shame she’s already spoken for…/

Huru looked around, someone was speaking to him through mind… /Who are you, show yourself./

/I have an idea that you know who I am./

/Dekca…/

/That’s correct! Did you figure thought out all by yourself?/

/Stay away from us, we would all be content to see you dead./

/A shame none of you could defeat me, except maybe my dear Parisia./

/She’s not yours./

/Nor is she yours./

/So what do you want?/

/Just to warn you, stay away from MY property. That is all./

* * * *

"Is that one jealous of you Dekca?" Velvet asked as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I don’t know, nor do I care. All that we need to know is that she’s mine and she will remain mine" Dekca replied cracking his neck.

"Do you think that they will win the battle against Fang Empress? It should be such an interesting battle to witness" Velvet giggled.

"If help is needed I will make sure of their victory" Dekca reassured.

"How exciting!" Velvet bit at her knuckle with enthusiasm.

* * * *

The sun was rising above the small pond, the pond reflecting the bright orb creating a beautiful picture. Wind played with Saria’s hair as she stood looking down on the site. Her eyes slowly closed and she began to slowly extend her arms and lean forward towards the edge.

"What are you doing?" Misuchi asked, her hair resembling a rat’s nest.

"Oh just looking at the site below, it’s quite breath taking."

"I thought you were going to jump or something" Misuchi laughed.

Saria smiled.

Parisia yawned as she stretched up and rose from the ground.

"Good you’re up" Misuchi said as she began to wrestle her fingers through her hair.

"We’ll leave in a few minutes, so get ready fast" Saria stated as she walked away from the edge.

"Huru, did you stay up all night?" Parisia turned to look at Huru, who didn’t look the least bit tired.

Huru nodded.

"You are going to be so tired, you sure you want to go with us?" Parisia asked.

/I am capable./

"Okay…" Parisia replied sounding not-too-sure.

* * * *

"Trios, you’re not letting your anger guide you, now are you?" Fang Empress asked as she studied him fighting against the Black Master.

"Yes! Of course I am!" Trios shouted as he panted heavily.

"That won’t do…that won’t do at all" Fang Empress shook her head. "Listen well, though rage may sometimes be helpful to give you energy it’s not the most intelligent way to fight. Think before hitting, do you understand?"

"Whatever" Trios replied.

"No!" Fang Empress snapped. "Not whatever! If you let your anger control you all that it will amount to be is you changing forms! Do you want to use your wolf form when you can’t even control it?!"

Trios exhaled. "Alright, understood."

"Good" Fang Empress smiled, pleased.

* * * *

The team had reached a large lake after several miles of walking.

Parisia dipped her foot into the water and shivered. "This water is cold, are we going to have to swim in it?" She turned to Saria. "I mean I can do it…but…"

"No, we don’t have to swim" Saria chuckled.

"We don’t?" Misuchi sighed with relief.

Saria shook her head. "If this is the water of the Unicorns then we can trade with them for a ride to Fang Empress. That is, if we have something VERY valuable to give them."

"We don’t have anything valuable though" Parisia replied.

"Well then we’ll just ask what they want…" Saria shrugged.

"They better not want me…" Parisia grumbled under her breath obviously her thoughts on Dekca, once again.

/Don’t be so conceited, you’re not THAT great./

Parisia blushed slightly. "That’s not what I meant…"

"Be quiet!" Misuchi hissed. "Did you hear that?"

Saria smiled. "Unicorns."

"What?" Parisia couldn’t even finish her word as her mouth fell open as a large spout of water spurted from the lake.

Misuchi screeched and fell back catching herself on her hands before hitting the ground. "What the hell?!"

As the spray of water began to slowly retreat back into the water a form began to be revealed within the water.

Saria lowered her head in a bow.

"Who the hell is that?" Misuchi gaped at the figure that stood before her.

Saria chuckled. "It is not a ‘who’ you should be asking for, but a ‘what’…" Saria brought her head back up and faced the small creature.

Parisia studied the creature. It resembled a rabbit however instead of it’s body being covered with fur it was scaled. Its aqua colored scales sparkled in the sunlight changing the coloring of the rabbit creature through all the shades of the rainbow. Its’ large black eyes were surrounded by golden eyelashes. The bottom half of the animal was that of a fish’s tail and its paws were flippers.

"What is that, a rabbit fish half breed?" Misuchi snorted.

"Be careful what you say to a Guardian!" Saria snapped fearfully.

Misuchi shut her mouth immediately while Parisia and Huru still stared at the beautiful creature in awe.

/The Guardian of the Waters…/

"Oh great Guardian, may we please cross your beautiful lake, the water of the Unicorns, so that we may make our way to Fang Empress" Saria stood proudly in front of the small creature.

The Guardian purred and wagged its’ back fins playfully, it then dived into the water and reemerged. First, its’ rabbit like head appeared, then it’s body…but now it was changed. Its’ body was that of a scaled woman, but it kept it’s fish like tail.

"What the goddamn hell is going on?" Misuchi yelped trying to make sense of things.

"Be silent Misuchi!" Saria growled under her breath, and once again Misuchi snapped her mouth shut.

"Oh, ones who ask of visiting my waters, what purpose do you serve to Fang Empress?" its voice sounded of 100 different voices of men, woman, and children but the purring sound remained from its’ formally body. The Guardian tilted its head.

"We wish to take back something that was stolen from us. Fang Empress hold’s one of our earth dwellers, a beast."

The Guardian nodded its head. "A valid reason. You are permitted to cross my waters, but I wish to receive gift."

Saria bobbed her head. "We ask of what you wish for Great Guardian."

The Guardian laughed, the laugh sounding almost frightful. "What I wish for? Well I have never been asked that before, no I have not. I wish for the simplicity that you mortals have, yes that I want. But you can not give me that, no you cannot."

Saria shook her head. "Forgive us Guardian."

The Guardian once again laughed. "Ah, it has been long past since the last visit I had from a mortal. My Unicorns keep me company though, that they do. Mortals, I give you free access to my waters, for you have given me the gift of amusement, that you have. My Unicorns will escort you to the temple of Fang Empress, that they will. Yes, yes."

Saria smiled. "Thank you, Guardian, you are ever so generous to us."

"Years pass of my boredom, I wish to see a battle, is that not what you wish for? Fang Empress will crush you, that she will. Be careful, that you should." The Guardian began to disappear into the water once again, this time not to reemerge.

"That was… It was like seeing a God!" shouted Parisia excitedly.

Saria smiled amused. "That was nothing compared to a God."

Misuchi snorted and turned her nose to the sky as to mock Parisia’s ignorance.

"So what do we do now?" Parisia asked.

/We wait for the Unicorns./

"Wait" Saria replied.

As Saria spoke the water began to rise up, the water flooded back down to reveal a large shell and surrounding it Unicorns.

Parisia smiled at the sight. "I have never seen a Unicorn…"

At least twenty Dagons, a half-man, half-fish creature stirred about the shell, their long fish tails splashing and whirling through the water. They were accompanied by at most ten mermaids, the air filled with their gorgeous purrs. At the front of the shell, or what looked like what would be the front, snake-like females, Medusas, held onto ropes that were attached to the shell.

"Is that how we’re getting there?!" Misuchi yelped.

"Yes" Saria smiled starting for the shell.

"How…wonderful" Parisia whispered as she followed Saria.

"I don’t like the water… I was hoping we could fly across or something…" Misuchi pleaded.

"Misuchi, are you coming or not?" Saria raised an eyebrow. "We have no other way across…"

"Can’t you fly us?" Misuchi stomped her feet.

"You expect me to carry all of you to a temple, a temple that I don’t even know where it is?!" Saria cried.

Misuchi grumbled and made her way slowly over to the shell-boat with Huru.

Parisia studied the Unicorns to both her sides. She has heard of Unicorns, the water race… She never would have thought that SHE would ever be seeing one.

"What are you so in awe about?" Misuchi grunted as she crossed her arms.

"All of this! I have never seen a Unicorn… They are said to be one of the most elusive and civilized cultures there is!" Parisia exclaimed gleefully.

Misuchi spat at the thought. "They’re probably the same as you or me, god you’re so stupid!"

Parisia rolled her eyes. "You’re just mad because you don’t like the water!"

"Oh shut up" Misuchi barked as she crossed her arms.

Saria sat back relaxing totally as Huru stayed on full alert scanning the area extensively.

Parisia sighed. She hoped this wouldn’t be a long trip.

* * * *

"Sister, don’t you think you are becoming too attached?"

"What do you mean?" Fang Empress snapped as she turned to look at her sisters.

"Well… We can see how you look at him, remember sister, he could be killed…"

"Be silent! Do you not believe in my capabilities as a teacher?!" Fang Empress growled as she looked at her two fearful sisters.

"No sister, that’s not it… I beg your forgiveness sister, for even speaking those words…"

"Sister of Aqua, Sister of Feather, listen to me well… My feelings toward the boy are not a concern. He is not of my blood, yet he is STILL my son and no son of mine would die so easily! He will be victorious! So keep your selves from worrying! Understood?"

"Understood sister" the two women bowed.

"Good, now if you’ll excuse me, my work is not finished…I must attend to Trios" with that Fang Empress made her way out of the room strutting towards Trios’s room.

Trios sighed as he lay on his bed looking to the ceiling.

"Remember anything yet?" Fang Empress asked as she stepped into the room.

Trios growled. "No…"

"That’s too bad… How are you feeling?" Fang Empress sat on his bed, obviously trying to make small talk.

"…Fine…until you came in"

A look of hurt flashed over Fang Empress’s face. "I see… Well I hope you feel better…I’ll be leaving, be ready for the morning! Your training will continue!"

Trios waved his hand "Yep…great…"

Fang Empress shut the door behind her and leaned against it with an expression of great distress.

"What is it?"

Fang Empress jerked upright with the sound of the thundering voice. "You scared me! Don’t be so sudden!"

"Sorry…" the Black Master lowered his head and weakened the tone of his voice.

"Don’t be sorry! What do you want?"

"You look sad, so Black Master try and make you feel better" the Black Master muttered.

"Ah, well I need no cheering up! So be gone! Oh and be sure to be ready for tomorrow morning, you will continue training with Trios!"

The Black Master grunted in response.

* * * *

"It’s getting dark…" Parisia swallowed fearfully as she scooted over next to Huru.

"I suppose we’ll need to stay the night in one of the Unicorns towns…if they have any…" Saria suggested.

"NO WAY! I hate the water! I’m not getting out of this boat thing!" Misuchi protested.

"Calm down" Saria said coolly as she patted Misuchi’s knee.

"HOW CAN I STAY CALM? I’m not stepping one foot into this water!" Misuchi squealed backing up into the middle of the shell.

"No one said you had too" Saria replied "It’s okay Misuchi…"

"GOOD!" Misuchi sighed with relief.

"So what are we going to do, sleep in this thing?" Parisia asked lightly tapping the shell.

/Most likely./

"I would believe so…" Saria smiled weakly.

/I will stay guard, I don’t trust these…Unicorns./

"No Huru! You didn’t get any sleep the night before…You can’t do that AGAIN!" Parisia pleaded.

Huru shrugged.

"Huru, I advice you not to stay up another night as well. Parisia is right, you’ll be no good to us if you don’t get some sleep", Saria added. "The Unicorns will take care of the watch, don’t worry."

/I’m not going to stop worrying when I know Dekca is around…/

"Oh stop with your obsessive hatred for Dekca!" Parisia hissed. "He’ll leave us alone, so get some freaking sleep!"

Misuchi gaped at Parisia. "You shouted at Huru!" She began to roar with laughter.

"Why is that funny?!" Parisia snapped while placing her hands on her hips.

Misuchi just shook her head with laughter and ignored her.

Parisia snorted and let her self fall back onto Huru’s chest, closing her eyes for sleep.

Huru sighed and began to let him self fall to sleep as the others did so as well.

* * * *

"Looky, looky" Velvet giggled as she looked out onto the water, only being able to see by the moonlight.

"Hmm?" Dekca peered out onto the water and his mouth slightly fell a gap. "What is she doing on him?"

Velvet snickered, "Looks like you have competition!"

Dekca snarled and grabbed Velvet around the neck thrusting her towards him, face to face. "I do not have competition…"

Velvet continued to cackle, though her laugh was a little snuffed out by Dekca’s choking grasp around her throat.

Dekca growled and slowly let go of her throat as he began to smirk. "I have nothing to worry about, I’ve gained her trust completely, she trusts me at least as much she does him! I have the upper hand…."

Velvet chuckled. "So true, how could she resist you? Oh but Dekca, remember…though you may have met her first, he knows her more than you’ll ever…he’s inside her mind…. And as long as his light continues to shine within her, you are just second in her heart" Velvet began to scream with laughter as she fell back, letting her body fall down to the ground below the tree branch which they had been perched on.

Dekca grinned. "Well then…I guess I just wont let him live…"

* * * *

"Prepare the maze…" Fang Empress ordered as she nibbled on a nail with worry.

"Yes sister" the two Sisters bowed.

"And be sure to thank the vampire with a gift… Perhaps the spell?" Fang Empress cocked her head with the thought.

"Wonderful idea, sister!" Sister of Aqua applauded.

"Yes, yes! Just wonderful!" Sister of Feather cheered.

"Good, give him the Spell of Magic that he requested, so that he may use his magic in the Maze. Oh and tell him to stay away from the left side of the Maze. The ground of Dark Hearts…he mustn’t go there, or his power will die" Fang Empress reminded them as she walked away.

"Understood sister."

* * * *

Parisia slowly opened her eyes to find herself on the warm grass of a hill. "What?" Parisia looked around in disbelief. "Hello? Saria? Huru? Misuchi?" She called out, but no answer followed.

She closed her eyes and breathed heavily, she couldn’t feel Huru’s usual presence inside her. "Huru?…" Fear swelled up inside her along with the tears that soon filled her eyes.

*

Saria searched the sandy beach she had found herself upon when she had awakened from her sleep. Misuchi was asleep beside her and she gently shook her.

"What…" Misuchi fluttered her eyes open.

"We’re in the Maze of Fang Feather and Aqua…" Saria replied as she studied her surroundings.

"What the hell is that?" Misuchi grumbled as she brought her self out of her deep sleep.

"The Maze we must go through to reach the Fang Empress and her sisters, Sister of Feather, and Sister of Aqua, the Beast Empresses…"

"You knew about this and you didn’t tell us?!" Misuchi cried.

"Well, I thought it was only of legend, I suppose it would have been better if I had told you anyway, please accept my apology" Saria replied as she helped Misuchi to her feet.

"No prob’, let’s just get out of here" Misuchi sighed as she brushed the sand from her pants.

"Not as simple as that… We must find our way out of here, which is an extremely difficult task. This Maze is also filled with untold horrors."

Misuchi snorted. "I love the way you describe it…this sounds just peachy." Misuchi grumbled sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

"I’m sorry that I must inform you of such unwanted details, but they are for your own good" Saria smiled as she patted Misuchi’s head.

"Yeah I know… Well let’s get started."

*

Huru narrowed his eyes as he looked on at his tropical surroundings. /The Maze of Fang, Feather and Aqua… This will be a challenge, why can’t I find Parisia? Is she dead? I can’t feel her…/

"Huru, I presume?" Velvet purred as she slipped out from under the cover of an overly large leaf.

Huru whipped around to watch as Velvet made her way towards him. Narrowing his eyes he did his best to show his uncertainty of her.

"Oh, I’m not a friend…I’ll be honest with you. Let this be quick, I want to kill you fast so that I may take on my Misuchi" Velvet glowed with happiness as she positioned herself for battle.

Huru deeply inhaled and readied himself for her attack.

"Oh no need to cry dear Parisia"

Parisia spun around to see Dekca leaning up against air. A smug smile crossed his lips and he looked over Parisia extensively.

"Where am I? DID YOU DO THIS? Why can’t I feel Huru, did you kill him!" Parisia snapped, anger burning within her eyes.

Dekca’s smile faded. "I did not kill anyone…"

"Oh really? Then why can’t I feel Huru?" Parisia held her arms tightly around herself defensively.

"You’re in a maze! Light magic doesn’t work here, or any other magic. The only allowance is using your own strengths, your physical and intellectual skills, well unless you’re a god."

"How do I know you’re not just telling me this?" Parisia narrowed her eyes with suspicion.

Dekca scoffed. "Believe what you wish."

Parisia sighed. "Well either way, I really don’t I have a choice but believe you…"

Dekca grinned with confidence. "I knew you’d come around."

"So how do we get out of this Maze? And why are we even here?" Parisia raised an eyebrow.

"Well, the Maze isn’t all that simple" Dekca snickered. "You can’t just walk out of here, you have to find your way out. As for the reason you’re here, you wish to see the Fang Empress, well this is what you have to go through to see such royalty." Dekca waved his hand about presenting the scenery.

"What! If you can’t use magic then HOW are you leaning against nothing?!" Parisia shouted in accusation as she pointed at the sight before her.

Dekca raised an eyebrow, his mouth curving even more upright. "Smart girl you are! This isn’t magic…not my magic. This is part of the Maze, a wall."

Parisia’s eyes widened now realizing the difficulties of the task to exit this maze. "This isn’t a fare game! How are we supposed to find our way out if you can’t even see the walls!"

Dekca shrugged "I guess you just have to learn…"

"And why are YOU here?"

Dekca stood up, taking his weight from the wall. "Unfortunately I was near your boat so I was taken up into the Maze with you all. All Beasts and Unicorns are free from this damned Maze however…"

Parisia pondered for a moment. "I suppose I can believe that…"

Dekca nodded. "Then shall we be on our way?" He bowed, showing her the way through the wall.

*

Misuchi yawned with boredom. "Are we there yet?"

Saria sighed with annoyance. "Oh Misuchi, PLEASE! We’ve been walking for but an hour…it is said to take days to find the end…"

"Well that’s just freaking great!" Misuchi huffed. "So now what do we do? Just keep walking on?! Is this EVER going to end?! I mean really… Are we ever going to see any action, perhaps a monster or SOMETHING!"

"Misuchi! Don’t wish for something of that sort! We’ve been doing well, we don’t need any trouble… We also need to find the others…"

"Oh the gods! I need something to do! THIS IS SO DAMN BORING!"

Saria chuckled. "Misuchi, you amaze me, you never stop complaining…"

"Uh, Saria…"

"Yes?" Saria turned to look on as Misuchi stood in horror of what stood besides her…the Black Master.

"Saria SING!" Misuchi commanded.

"I can’t, I CAN’T USE MAGIC!" Saria cried as she grabbed Misuchi’s arm and pulled her as she began to run for their lives.

"Damn it all! WE’RE GOING TO DIE!" Misuchi squealed as she was pulled along.

The Black Master kept pace with them, his thundering footsteps chasing them through the dark forests of the Maze.

"Misuchi!" Saria pushed her to the side of the path as Saria dove to the opposite side.

The Black Master stopped in its tracks looking side to side, confused of which pray to pursue. The Black Master roared with frustration and decided on the left side, Saria’s side.

*

Huru hissed with pain as Velvet’s claws ripped across his face and then delivered another swipe of her pointed nails for his eyes, fortunately Huru decked in time to miss the clawing of his eyes and was instead left with a few scratch marks across his forehead. Huru curled his fists as he dove down sending his fist up into Velvet’s stomach and souring her into the air. Velvet collapsed on her back but swiftly kicked herself back onto her feet and shielded herself from a blow to the face by Huru. As Huru’s fist came to blow against Velvet’s arm that covered her face defensively, Velvet’s foot found its way to his side bringing him to the ground, with that Velvet jumped onto him, her fist prepared to land a hit to his face with her whole body weight. Before her dangerously enraged knuckle could collide with his face, Huru kicked his leg up, hitting Velvet’s pelvic bone and forcing her to leap forewords instead of down upon him.

Velvet flipped herself before hitting the ground allowing her to land on her feet. She grinned. "Good work Huru, I underestimated you… No wonder the Priestess likes you better than my dear Dekca…"

Huru’s eyes widened but he buried his feelings back down telling himself that this wasn’t the time to think of such things. Huru sat up rapidly shifting his body into a crouching position and then delivering a sweep kick, knocking Velvet to her rear.

Velvet screamed with rage but before she could deliver her next attack Huru had made his way on top of her, his strong hands gripped around her neck. Velvet’s hands, in return, also wrapped there way around Huru’s neck, her nails digging deeply into veins. Huru grunted with pain and hastily retreated back, allowing her to once again get to her feet.

Velvet spat and then wiped her mouth. "Yes you are MUCH better than expected…"

*

Misuchi cursed under her breath and she went on walking in the heated jungle. Her only thoughts lay on the idea of anger towards the damned Maze that she was cursed to continue to roam. She assumed that Saria was safe, she was capable of taking care of herself just as Misuchi was. Though Misuchi always put herself a little above Saria’s standings in survival. After all, Misuchi raised herself in Yochee, capital of the Beasts. That was no easy life that she had lead in the twisted and barbaric town.

"Misuchi…"

A whisper of her name pulled her from her thoughts. She tensed and began to study the sky above her. Lately it seemed her attacks came from above. There was no one in site, so she continued her search.

A hand clasped over Misuchi’s shoulder and twisted her to face the silent soldier.

Misuchi gasped. "You’re here?!"

*

Saria continued to flee from the giant Black Master, her breath now becoming short as the intense running dragged along. Her lungs pleaded for her to stop but the fear kept her moving, her feet hitting the ground with every rapid heartbeat. Finally her body could take no more and she collapsed to the ground in front of the small rocky hill in front of her, her breath slowly coming back to her. The Black Master was not far behind and now had finally caught up to Saria, an unpleasant grin spreading across the Master’s face.

"Stay back!" Saria demanded as she stood up to face the Master.

The Black Master scoffed at her request, crossing his arms over his chest in defiance.

"I warn you Black Master, don't underestimate me!"

"You have no power here Banshee, nor did you in your place" the Black Master mused.

"That is not true! I may be weak in the ways of magic by your standards, and I may be weak in the physical ways as well, however I have the intelligence that dominates over yours!" Saria shouted in triumph.

The Black Masters face scrunched up with anger. "Your death will not be quick stupid one!"

Saria grinned with sureness of her success.

The Black Master stormed towards her.

*

"So how long will it take us to reach the finish, what do you think?" Parisia asked as she walked far behind Dekca, a safe distance in her mind.

"Not too long, I know these paths. I've seen Fang Empress many times in my past" Dekca bragged.

"Oh? What reasons?" Parisia asked somewhat curious.

"Spells, she is a powerful Empress. Fang Empress and I have met on several occasions; she likes me for my powers in the outside world. I tell her of the news of the outside while she gives me gifts for the inside, magic."

"I see, then why did you seem so distressed when I asked you were she stayed?" Parisia questioned with sudden suspicion.

"An act, simply put" Dekca chuckled.

"I hate you" Parisia said through her teeth as she crossed her arms.

"Many state their hatred me" Dekca spun around to face the Priestess. "But that doesn't mean a thing. You say one thing and your body tells another. You have as much desire for me as I have for you." Dekca smirked raising his eyebrows, twisting his words into a question.

"If only!" Parisia cried. "I hate you and my body speaks the same!"

Dekca snickered. "Your voice continues to lie, I know you all too well for you to deceive me so easily with just words."

"Stop twisting my words! I speak what I feel!" Parisia replied now becoming angry.

"Ah, anger, I love it. Your anger has just proven my words, if what you spoke was true you would have stayed silent or your words calm." Dekca laughed in victory.

"Oh! I wish for your tongue to be cut off!" Parisia snarled.

"Oh? But what marvelous things I could do with my tongue..." Dekca winked slyly.

Parisia's face glowed with embarrassment. "I do not wish to know such sinful things, demon!"

"Oh, yes, yes you do. You want everything I want maybe even more than I."

Parisia huffed with anger and started up walking again with determination, passing Dekca.

Dekca shrugged and continued his smug grin.

*

Misuchi's mouth hung open with shock as she gazed over her former friend. "Trios..."

Trios smiled. "Yes."

"We came for you! What happened? Are you alright?" Misuchi questioned rapidly.

"I am fine, better than ever. I've learned of my past and I now know what I must do" Trios replied as his smile faded and a more serious expression crossed over his tired face.

"So then lets go, we don't need to finish the maze... Though I do not know how to exit it" Misuchi rubbed her chin with thought.

"You won't be exiting the maze, Misuchi" Trios answered grimly.

"What's wrong with you? You seem... Is something wrong?"

"You have no need to worry" Trios said as he slashed Misuchi's throat with a dagger.

Misuchi clutched at her neck as the hot blood oozed down her fingers; she looked over Trios with disbelief.

"Sorry my love."

*

As the enraged Black Master started at Saria, the only thoughts that could cross Saria's mind caused her to continue her sure smile. As the Black Master neared she swiftly moved away, the Black Master, still charging, continued straight into the pointed rock the Saria's body once hid. The rocks sharp edge easily sliced through his flesh and reappeared through his back smeared with blood. The Black Master gurgled as blood dribbled down his chin.

"It seems you are the one to die Black Master. May you rest in peace" Saria respectably bowed, her voice robbed of a smug tone.

The Black Masters breathing shortly stopped and his life left him. Saria rose up from her bow and began her walk back; she now had to find Misuchi.

*

"My god! Misuchi!" Parisia cried as she leaned over her friend's body. "What happened?"

Dekca looked on, unfazed by the body before his eyes.

"Is she..." Parisia released her desperate sobs, "dead?"

Dekca nodded his head, his lips not expressing his usual conceit.

"No!" Parisia shrieked as she gripped her friend's hand.

"There's nothing we can do here, let us continue the maze" Dekca ordered rather than suggested.

Parisia shook her head in protest as she continued to sob softly.

"Don't refuse! It's for the better! The Dark Hearts will be along any moment to take her body!" Dekca snarled as he grabbed Parisia and forced her to her feet, dragging her with him.

*

Velvet sniffed the air suddenly as Huru rubbed his neck where Velvet had dug her claws in. "There is death in the air! The fiery one!"

Huru looked at Velvet, not in concern, but in question.

"She was my kill! The one who kills my prey will surely pay a price!" Velvet snarled as she retreated from Huru.

Huru did not pursue Velvet; he had no requests for more battle with the insane vampire. He looked at his hand that was now stained with blood as he pondered at what Velvet could have meant and why she would run off when she was so pleased with the blood she gained. Huru shrugged at his thoughts and decided to move on and try to find Parisia.

"Huru?"

He turned to look upon Saria. Saria waved back at him and smiled her usual calm and sure smile.

"Have you seen any of the others?"

Huru shook his head.

"I lost Misuchi when the Black Master attacked us. I haven't seen any of the others. Care to join me in the journey for finding them?"

Huru nodded to agree.

"Alright, let us be on our way then..."

*

Velvet followed the sent of fresh blood right the site. She looked down upon Misuchi's body in rage. "She was my kill!" She snarled again.

In further inspection of the body Velvet slowly outlined the slice on Misuchi's neck, the swipe of the dagger that killed her. Velvet's lip curled up in fury. Velvet thrust her body upwards as she roared in anger at the sky.

"My kill" she repeated over and over again as she looked back down at the body, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes shifting wildly. Without another thought she began to lap the blood from Misuchi's neck. Her eyes closing with content as her tongue delighted in the sweet taste of her obsession's life liquid.

*

"She was my friend" Parisia sniffed as Dekca continued to drag Parisia.

"I know!" He hissed. "But she is dead now! We can't stay by her corpses side because the soul of your friend once lived in that shell!"

Parisia pulled away from Dekca in rage and slapped him across the face. "You! You are the cause of my suffering! If you had never found my damned sleeping self in the forest that night I would have never started this hellish journey! You are the cause! I hate you!"

Dekca's eyes twitched with fire. "You listen..." His hands suddenly clasped around Parisia's thin neck in a strangling hold. He stepped foreword pushing the Priestess backwards as he looked into her now fearful eyes. "I would not, nor could I, cause you pain! I have gone out of my way to keep from harming you, but yet you continue to accuse me of false love and cruel ways! I am a vampire, yes! But do I not have feelings, as do you? You are a selfish Human and yet I still want you! I should HATE YOU!"

Parisia swallowed her fear and narrowed her eyes. "Want and love are two different things, but you wouldn't understand, Demon!"

Dekca snorted and released her from his grasp. "Very well, think as you wish... BUT I will get what I want and deserve now!"

Dekca curled her hair around her fist pulling her head back and biting down on her soft lips in a bloody yet sweet kiss. Parisia gasped, her lips pulling away from his violent teeth and pressing against Dekca's, painting his lips with her blood, which his tongue soon appreciated. Parisia's hand clutched his shoulder as she continued to press her body against his while his arms crushed her waist.

*

Saria silently gazed over Misuchi's body as tears filled her unclear eyes. Her hand covered her opened mouth and her left arm twitched with not shown sorrow.

Huru laid his hand over Saria's shoulder with sympathy for the loss, his face, as usual, not showing one bit of emotion.

Saria finally broke as a loud sob erupted from her mouth; she spun to shove her tear-covered face into his chest.

Velvet looked on with boredom as she watched from an unseen place. Behind one of the overly large leaves she had concealed herself.

*

Parisia stared up at her lover as he held her in his arms. However, the face she had expected be not there, he was unsatisfied. A look of distress crossed his face and Parisia frowned.

She pulled away from him and began to place her clothing on.

Dekca continued to lay on the ground, his facial expression and body unmoving.

"I should not have slept with you" Parisia mumbled. "It was a mistake, I am sorry."

"You’re not sorry" Dekca replied, his eyes blank. "You used me for your relief, your pain is gone now, no need for me. I understand all too perfectly."

Parisia turned to regard Dekca. "That's not the reason I slept with you! I wanted you! It was nothing more than desire..."

"I know" Dekca answered, his expression still startlingly blank. "I know all too well."

Parisia raised her brow with confusion. "Was this not what you wanted?"

Dekca sighed with annoyance and stood up. "I'm not sure what I want anymore" with that he disappeared into the air.

Parisia ignored the voice in the back of her head that told her to be angry because he had told her what she thought to believe was a lie; magic could not be used in the Maze. Instead, Parisia looked down in shame and continued on the path. She wanted to get far away from this adventure.

*

Velvet stepped over Misuchi and straddled her. It had been an hour since Saria and Huru had left and Velvet carefully guarded the body from the Dark Hearts. "Are you awake yet?"

Misuchi's eyes fluttered open. "...Velvet...?"

Velvet grinned and dipped her finger into the little bit of the blood that was left around her neck then sucked it from her finger. "You’re awake, how good." She giggled.

"What the hell? I'm supposed to be dead..." Misuchi looked around bewildered of what was going on. She was too weak to even threaten Velvet as she would usually do, plus her curiosity urged her to ask Velvet the questions that plagued her mind. She knew Velvet was the only one who would know the answers.

"Oh you are not dead. I saved you!" Velvet squealed with delight. "My blood now runs with yours within your veins!"

Misuchi's eyes widened. "WHAT?"

"Oh do not be shocked. You are now a vampire, as am I. I drank your blood and fed you mine so that you may live. So that we may battle again! Once you are well again, my fiery one, we will battle to the death!" Velvet clenched her fist with glee as she grinned bearing her fangs.

Misuchi growled with anger and most of all terror. "You turned me into a Demon! You dare violate my blood with the damned!? YOU DARE INFECT ME WITH THE CURSED BLOOD OF A DEMON? HOW DARE YOU! YOU WICKED BITCH!" Misuchi cried with horror. Misuchi choked back her sorrow and changed it to hatred and anger, as she usually did.

Velvet only cackled and held the weak Misuchi down as she thrust with rage.

Saria walked along side Huru, his arms mostly holding her up. Saria was weak with sadness; she had no will to keep herself walking. A precious part of her life had been stolen and she would not feel anything till that part of her was healed or revenged. Where anger would usually dwell only a strong pain twisted.

Huru gently held her up feeling pity for the loss. He had no attachment to Misuchi, but still felt a merge of emotion that caused him compassion towards his comrade. Angelics tended not to fear nor hate death; instead they excepted it as a daily occurrence. Something that happened constantly and something that should not be noticed so strongly that you would have to feel a dark emotion such as pain or anger.

Saria was suddenly brought to a halt. She looked up to see what interrupted their walk. Standing before them was Trios, his dagger in hand dripping with blood.

"Trios?" Saria coughed as she looked at the bloodied dagger.

Trios nodded and glared at Huru. "I can only kill this one…"

Huru threw Saria behind him and stood strait, eyeing Trios with cold eyes.

Trios lunged at Huru, his dagger thirst for Huru’s blood. Huru stepped to the side avoiding the clumsy attack, Trios growled with rage. Trios began to pant violently, his chest and shoulder’s heaving. Saria and Huru both prepared for what was coming, a transformation. With a hideous snarl Trios’s body ripped with change, his body becoming even larger, his muscles bulging, and his skin becoming covered with hair, no fur.

Huru moved backwards, not sure if he was willing to fight Trios or not. His mind couldn’t help but doubt that this potentially innocent and, well quite stupid, boy could become such a bloodthirsty murderer.

"Why?" Saria’s voice screamed out.

"It is my duty…" Trios replied calmly, his voice now throaty sounding more like a growl of an animal than civilized speech. Once again Trios lunged forward for Huru, his vicious jaws biting down into Huru’s arm. Huru grunted with pain and fell back allowing Trios to slam down on top of him, pinning him to the earth below.

Saria, though knowing she could do nothing to stop the event, threw herself onto Trios and frantically tried to pull him away from Huru.

"Not you!" Trios snarled as he pushed Saria all too easily away.

*

Parisia continued on with her walking, she had now found herself on the beach, not that she actually noticed. Her mind was somewhere far away. The beach’s waves crashing on the shore, the only comfort she could try to loose herself in. Her fists clenched, stiffly stayed to her side. Her teeth kneaded her now sore bottom lip between her upper and lower jaw.

"You’ve given your pureness away to a Demon."

Parisia spun around to face her "guardian angel", the woman she had only seen once before, when she had first seen Huru. Actually, she was the one to claim Huru as her son, though Parisia was sure she was not actually his mother. "Go away…" Parisia mumbled once again turning around to continue on her path.

"The Vampire is a key along with you, trust him and the other, the Light Giver. Kill the one that was once your companion, he is no longer a being to be tolerated among your comrades" the woman announced not the least bit sounding like she cared what state Parisia was in or what she wished for. "Be most careful of the one who’s mind is set on Misuchi, she is the most dangerous of your enemies…she does not think sanely."

"What are you talking about?" Parisia sighed as she glimpsed over her shoulder, but the entity she had known as her guardian angel was no where to be seen. "Figures…"

*

Dekca followed the scent to what he believed to be the cause of the fragrance of newly dropped blood, but instead of grinning like he usually would do in a situation of a fresh kill, he frowned with anger.

"Velvet!"

Velvet turned slowly upwards to see Dekca towering over her. "Yes, Dekca?"

"What the hell are you doing with her?!" Dekca roared as he grabbed Velvet’s neck and forced her to eye level with him bringing her off Misuchi.

Velvet grinned smugly. "You wouldn’t hurt me…"

Dekca snarled and pressed his forehead up against hers allowing him to stare deeply, sincerely and most of all horrifyingly into her eyes. "Would you like to test that?"

Velvet slid from his grip back down to her feet. "I’d rather not, I don’t think I am as stupid as to pick a fight with you…" Velvet mumbled rubbing her neck.

"Now, what the hell are you doing?" Dekca snapped now becoming annoyed he had to repeat his question.

"I was eating" Velvet answered simply.

"Then WHY is she ALIVE?" Dekca growled as he gritted his teeth.

"I also fed her some of my blood…" Velvet hesitantly answered as she avoided eye contact with Dekca’s furious expression.

"What the HELL were you thinking!? You incompetent moron!"

Velvet snapped suddenly jumping up to face Dekca, staring back into his superior eyes. "I know EXACTLY what I am doing!"

Dekca snarled with even more rage as his hand slapped across Velvet’s shocked face. "Watch your tongue Velvet! I made you and I can destroy you!"

Velvet growled deeply and then lowered herself back down to the ground to look on at her now unconscious victim. Misuchi had become unconscious after her initial shock of figuring out she was a vampire. Velvet didn’t deeply care that Misuchi was so unpleased with the transformation, she would grow to except it…if she lived through her battle she planned.

Dekca buried his head in his hands attempting to calm himself down.

"I wanted to fight her…but the big one got to her first. He killed her with a dagger, slashed my fiery one’s throat…but I want MY battle! I want MY kill!" Velvet explained as she one again outlined the scare across Misuchi’s neck.

"Very well, be done with it so we can get the hell out of this damned place! Or better yet bring the bitch with you!"
Velvet grinned, now understanding why her master was so unpleased. "Things did not go well for you with the Priestess?"

Dekca glared at her smug smile. "Be silent! Did you kill the Light Giver?"

"The battle was incomplete" Velvet regrettably answered.

"WHAT? What do you mean? YOU HAVE DONE NOT ONE THING I HAVE ORDERED OF YOU!" Dekca roared frustrated with his underling.

"I will kill him in due time, he should be an easy kill. If I had my magic…" Velvet began.

"Well you don’t! Make yourself useful and kill the bastard! Kill them all for all I care!" Dekca replied in a blind hate.

"As you wish…" Velvet answered, pleased with his allowance.

"If you find the Priestess…don’t kill her…show her the blood of her damned beloved! Let her know that it was I who took him from her! Then bring her to me and let me drink her pure blood and take that worthless soul from her! She’ll become what she most despises!" Dekca laughed sinisterly. "A Demon she will be!"

*

"Sister, you have done a great job with returning his memories!" Sister of Feather cooed as she rubbed her Empress’s shoulders and looked on with her into the waters that revealed Trios’s current doings.

"Too great of a job" Fang Empress whispered.

"What do mean, sister?" Sister of Aqua asked, puzzled.

"I have buried his humanity with his vicious memories…" Fang Empress shook her head with shame.

"But is this not what the Fang Goddess wanted? A warrior that will win the battle for us!" Sister of Aqua went on, thrusting her clenched fist with glory.

"Yes, I have done my job well for the Goddess…"

from her chair.

"Sister?" the two sisters both replied with surprise.

"I have killed his heart! Don’t you see?! How could I do such a thing? The Fang Goddess, be damned! As I am the one to take responsibility for his raising, I will give him back his soul!"

"But sister! If you release him from his memories the beings that we protect will have no one to represent them in the fight that will seal the fate of our planet! You are going to sacrifice our subjects to save ONE half-human?! You would betray our kind?" Sister of Aqua cried with shock.

freeing my dearest treasure from his damned curse of memories!"

"But sister! You’ll…DIE!" Sister of Feather cried as she flung herself around her beloved Empress.

Fang Empress looked upon her stronger Aqua Sister and nodded, then patted her now sobbing sister gently. "If you truly want to serve me you will allow me to do this last wish I have. Sister of Aqua find my dagger…"

she held her sister tighter.

"Feather, you are a far too kind Sister. Be strong like Aqua, I need you to take my place as Empress, for a have no blood child to fill my task. You have just the sort of heart needed for Fang Goddess" Fang Empress calmly replied as she ran her fingers through Sister of Feather’s short and soft hair. "Now be strong Sister of Feather! Get up!"

Sister of Feather slowly released her hold and sniffled pathetically.

"Show no tears over such a traitor as me! Is that understood?!" Fang Empress demanded as she watched Sister of Aqua reenter the room with the dagger limply held at her side.

As Fang Empress took the dagger from her sister’s hand she gave one final look into her loyal families eyes.

*

"He might finish the job for me…" Velvet chuckled under her breath as she watched Trios raise the dagger to stab into Huru’s undefended chest.

"TRIOS!"

Above Trios, in the sky, stood Fang Empress an angered expression burning across her face. All fighting and movement ceased as the looked upon the enraged Empress.

"Unleash your friend!" Fang Empress growled.

Trios narrowed his animal-like eyes and hesitantly let his jaws slip away from Huru’s bloodied arm.

"I have stolen from you something…" Fang Empress slowly stated, her eyes filling with a deep pain. "And I shall give it back!" Fang Empress cried as she brought her ceremonial dagger out in front of her chest with both hands, then plunged it deeply into her stomach.

"MOTHER!" Trios roared as he thrust Huru away from him and jumped below Fang Empress in time to catch her body.

"Trios…with my death I will relieve you of your evil memories and you can be free once again, I’m sorry for being so selfish Trios… I didn’t want you to hate me anymore and I let my self-pitying emotions take over me and force your memories back into you. I love you my sweet child" Fang Empress coughed as she allowed her body to become limp within Trios’s hold.

"I am going to kill these FRIENDS! Would FRIENDS be as wicked as to side with the Sea Goddess or the Sky Goddess?! Would they so easily have betrayed their mother earth and their true companion Fang Goddess?!" Trios growled as his words began to croak with sorrow.

"Forget the Goddesses and their war…" Fang Empress’s voice became weak and without another word she died.

Trios viciously screamed with anger and then abruptly fainted.

Huru and Saria looked on with confusement and disbelief.

"…Is Trios dead?" Saria asked as she wondered to Trios’s side.

Huru followed Saria and stepped over the body then shook his head.

Trios’s body slowly began to shrink back to his human form and a tear leaked from his tightly shut-eye.

"So Fang Empress killed herself to take the spell of evil he had over him?" Saria stated, puzzled and desperately trying to make reason of the situation.

Huru shrugged, obviously also confused.

Velvet smirked with enjoyment of the scene, she loved every moment of the terror, chaos and sorrow in the event that fell before her. Now it was time for her to act, to kill the entertainers…but first she couldn’t resist but to play with them for a little.

"So you’re so blind as not to see that Trios is your enemy still?"

Huru and Saria rapidly turned to see the intruder.

"Are you surprised?" Velvet giggled. "You shouldn’t be… I always come to such exciting scenes of chaos. What fun, what fun!" Velvet squealed with joy as she jumped up and down enthusiastically.

"Be silent!" Saria hissed, her usually calm and understanding had been lost with the death of Misuchi and the heartache that befell over her.

"Oh… You’re not in the mood to play?" Velvet pouted. "What a shame! I am! I have been given the allowance of your deaths! Oh and believe me, I WILL kill you!"

"You’re mistaken!" Parisia interrupted as she came from the opposite side of Velvet’s entrance. "I will kill YOU! You’re the one who killed Misuchi, aren’t you!"

Velvet began to roar with laughter. "I did not kill your friend! Your own slave did! The one who rescued as betrayed you with the death of one of your own!"

"WHAT? You lie!" Parisia shrieked as she began to study her three thought-to-be companions at her side.

"Sadly she is not…" Saria whispered as she looked down upon Trios. "he was put under a spell of wickedness by Fang Empress, but she ended the spell with her life…"

Parisia’s bottom lip began to quiver with both sadness and rage.

Velvet continued with her laughter. "You’re all so stupid! So come! Fight me!"

Parisia glared at Velvet.

"Oh the PRIESTESS will finally fight?!" Velvet cried with shock and glee.

"No she will not!" Saria shouted. "I will! This is for all the pain you had caused Misuchi!"

"But I still cause Misuchi pain till this day…" Velvet smirk widened as she finally spoke the truth she had craved the word since she first had stumbled onto the group.

"What do you mean?" Saria narrowed her eyes with suspicion.

"She lives, banshee! She does not take breath, but she walks and thinks like she always has! My fiery one is the same blood as me now!"

"You…YOU BITCH!" Parisia screamed as she came to the conclusion Velvet had intended for her to come upon.

"Do you want to see her? I have her, she’s weak and can hardly move…I’m waiting for our fight! Oh my fiery one will be such a entertaining opponent!"

"The sun is setting…" Saria said under her breath as she watched the sun begin to sink beneath the horizon.

Huru looked at her confused, why would she care about the sun setting?

"Enough words!" Velvet shrieked with excitement as she rushed towards Huru.

Saria smirked, a smirk that had not ever been seen cross her face before, a cruel twisted smirk. "The sun has set!" she declared as she soared up into the air.

Velvet stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at the crazed Saria.

"THE TIME OF THE SEA GODDESS WILL BEGIN NOW!" Saria went on as she looked down at Parisia. "and you…chosen of the Earth SHALL DIE!"

Parisia’s eyes widened with fear and bewilderment, as did Huru’s.

"But…WHAT IS GOING ON!" Velvet demanded with anger.

"Something beyond you, simple Demon! The battle of the chosen will begin now! I have waited CENTURIES to put an end to this world!" Saria began to cackle with insane happiness.

"…Huh? Why? SARIA!" Parisia shouted with pure confusement.

"Why?" Saria turned to Parisia, her eyes twitching. "WHY? I am the Sea Goddess’s chosen! I AM A SPIRIT OF REVENGE AND I COME TO TAKE DOWN THIS WORLD! The Sea Goddess wishes this world to be no longer shared with your damned Earth and Sky God, your savage creatures and races! When I kill you, chosen of the Earth, the world will flood with my Goddess’s waters of wrath! Too long had my Goddess shared this world with your barbaric humans…demons…creatures…EVERYTHING! And so finally, I will end the ruling of the Humans!"

"But you yourself are a human…" Parisia cried.

Saria chuckled. "I NEVER said I was human, I simply said I was not a demon. I AM A SPIRIT! ENOUGH speech, defend yourself Earth Chosen!"

"Earth Chosen?" Parisia repeated, but before she could even come to ponder about what Saria had said a furious ball of water shot towards her, and she jumped to dodge it.

Before Parisia could bring herself to her feet again Huru had swooped her up into his arms and was rushing away from Saria, Parisia soon noticed Velvet was following their example and was also fleeing.

Saria snorted. "Go and run! Prepare yourself! I want a battle with you, Parisia, that will be worth the gain!"

Huru soon found a small cave that was hidden within the Maze, the Land of the Dark Hearts…a place many tried to avoid.

"What are doing here?" Parisia asked worriedly as she looked around at the markings inside the cave.

"In the Land of the Dark Hearts a God can’t even use their magic" Velvet explained, bored with the fact she was helping her enemies.

"Why are you here?!" Huru replied.

"I can’t let my enemies be defeated by another opponent, now can I? I want to have the joy of killing you myself!" Velvet grinned.

"Then kill us and let it be over with!" Huru replied annoyed.

Velvet raised an eyebrow. "Sadly I can’t, not with the threat of Sea Chosen around, I don’t want to have to deal with such a strong opponent as her! I’ll wait till someone else defeats her…"

"And if she’s not defeated?" Huru remarked, pleased with the thought that Saria could kill Velvet easily.

"Then I will continue to flee…she’s not after me, she’s after you, so I should have nothing to fear… But I still want you as MY prey!"

Parisia suddenly came out of her shock to realize Huru was talking. "HURU!? You can talk!"

Huru nodded. "In the Land of the Dark Hearts, whatever injuries you have are healed for the time you remain in the land."

Parisia nodded. "What are we going to do? Why is Saria after us? I don’t understand what’s going on! Who am I?"

Velvet giggled. "You have forgotten who you are! Why, you are Parisia!"

"Shut your mouth!" Parisia hissed. "Why am I being called Earth Chosen?!"

"Well that’s obviously, the Earth Goddess chose you as her warrior." Velvet rolled her eyes.

"What are you talking about! I’m sick of not understanding my own life! TELL ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER FOR ONCE!" Parisia screeched.

"You have not heard the prophecy made by your own people?" Huru asked.

"What prophecy!?"

"The Battle of the Chosen…" Velvet stated, seeming as if in a trance. "The Battle where the feuding sister Goddesses of Earth, Water and Sky will finally decide on the fate of the planet with a battle between their chosen planet dwellers. It’s pretty obvious, you’re the Earth Chosen and Saria is the Sea Chosen…"

"Does the Sea Goddess possess her?!" Parisia questioned.

"No, the Goddesses are not allowed to interfere" Velvet chuckled. "That is truly Saria who is hunting you down for the kill…" Velvet’s eyes flashes with amusement.

"Stop acting so pleased!" Huru growled as he saw an expression of pain fall over Parisia’s face.

"I don’t want to fight Saria!" Parisia stated as she clenched her fists.

"You have no choice, you kill her, or she kills you. And if you allow yourself to die the seas will devour this whole world! You have no choice but to fight!" Velvet went on with renewed enjoyment in the chaos she was so appreciating to explain.

"Be silent!" Huru snarled as tears began to form in Parisia’s eyes.

"I won’t be silent!" Velvet replied. "Either I tell her or not, she’s going to have to figure it out for herself, the weight of the world is resting on her!"

"So I have no choice but to kill my friend…" Parisia said as she began to walk towards the exit of the cave. "I have no choice but to kill…"

"I’ll do it" Huru declared as he grabbed Parisia’s arm. "I will kill so you don’t have too! I have killed before, it makes no difference if I stain my hands with blood again!"

"Oh brother…" Velvet sighed sarcastically.

"No Huru, I’m the Earth Chosen…I have to do this…" Parisia answered, making certain she wasn’t making eye contact with Huru.

Huru abruptly embraced her with a hug. "Please be careful Parisia…"

Parisia nodded and started outside the cave as Huru watched wanting to rush towards her and save her from her fate.

Velvet once again grinned. "Oh poor Huru, his love for Parisia can’t save her…"

Huru just ignored Velvet’s comment as his eyes never left Parisia.

It began to rain.

*

"Saria, before I fight you…I just want to know one thing. Why? Why are you fighting for the Sea Goddess?" Parisia pleaded as she stared at the floating Saria before her.

Saria narrowed her eyes with anger and without a word her mouth swung upon and her vile yet beautiful voice rang out commanding a large flood of water to rush towards the Priestess.

"Saria! Please! For Misuchi!" Parisia desperately cried.

"Misuchi is no longer a being to put into consideration! She’s now just a Demon, like the rest of you!" Saria roared with rage as her voice screamed to a level so high that even the rain in front of her mouth moved out of the way. The rain once again formed into a thundering spiral and shot towards Parisia.

Parisia thrust her hands together into a prayer and began to chant as a wall of roots formed around her to create a shield.

Saria clenched her teeth. "So you have learned to use your powers as chosen! Good then it seems I will have a fight after all! Fight for your damned planet! Save your world filled with vicious wolves!" Water burst up from the ground under Parisia’s feet sending her out of her root shield and towards the ground, but before she could hit the ground, two arms cushioned her fall.

"Dekca?!" Parisia cried as she looked up at her rescuer.

Dekca nodded and the snarled at Saria. "Don’t touch my property Saria or I’ll tear you apart!"

Saria chuckled. "Do you have even a clue who I am? I am the Sea Chosen, worthless Vampire!"

Dekca’s eyes slightly widened. "Parisia get out of here…I’ll take care of her!"

"No Dekca! I’m the Earth Chosen! Leave before you get hurt!"

Dekca smirked. "I always knew you were special…"

"Look out Dekca!" Parisia warned as another wave of water threatened to crush them.

Dekca jumped to the side, Parisia still safely in his hands and he placed her down.

"Did you hear me, Dekca?! Leave!" Parisia commanded as she pushed Dekca to the side to avoid yet another attack from Saria’s dangerous water spells.

Dekca rolled back up to his feet. "Not a chance!"

Parisia growled with annoyance but before she could take the time to reply another attack was rushing towards her and she lunged back to escape it.

Dekca roared as bat-like wings sprouted from his back. Before Parisia had time to question he had taken flight towards the enraged Saria.

Parisia tried her best to look on and deflect attacks from the waters that relentlessly attacked her, but she found it too hard and had to concentrate on her work to keep herself alive.

Dekca flapped his wings giving himself more power to his fist the readied itself to strike Saria’s face. But before his punch could land, she had created a water shield that repelled Dekca back to the earth below.

"Saria!" a familiar voice added to the wind.

Saria glanced to her side to view the voice’s owner. There stood a very tired looking Misuchi, dried blood still crusted to her neck and some of her clothes and hair.

"Misuchi?!" Saria replied slightly shocked. "I was hoping that you would sleep until the flooding was ended, then you would die without knowing what a monster you have become and maybe not have to see me like this!" Saria shouted shamefully. "But I suppose…" Saria’s eyes went blank. "I’ll have to kill you…"

Misuchi flinched at Saria’s words. "No Saria…"

Saria tilted her head.

"I’ll have to kill you…"

Saria shrugged, her eyes still cold and blank.

While Saria stared at her once partner, Dekca once again was rushing towards her with his claws extended, ready to slit her throat if the change arouse.

Saria growled annoyed and commanded a bullet of water to attack him, once again hitting him back down to the earth below.

As Saria was busy keeping herself protected from Dekca, Misuchi leaped into the air with a new strength and caught Saria around the neck. One arm wrapped around Saria’s neck, while her other hand held her hands behind her back.

"Misuchi!" Parisia replied as she noticed Misuchi had no footing due to the fact she had to hold a levitating Saria. Parisia chanted under her breath and moved her hands according to the prayer and the earth rose to aid Misuchi with earth below her feet.

With one fluid movement Misuchi let her hands slid away from Saria’s and reached into her pocket to retrieve her small sword, without a second thought Misuchi thrust the blade through Saria’s heart and into her own, the sword reappearing through her back.

Parisia gasped with shock. "Misuchi!"

Misuchi coughed, some blood dripping from her mouth. "Good bye Saria…"

Saria smiled, as tears filled her eyes and fell back onto Misuchi, Misuchi allowing her self to slide from the sword and fall back onto the land.

Dekca only stared in awe at the scene, surprised Misuchi took her life with Saria’s.

Parisia once again began to chant, her words sometimes slurred with a sob, the earth come up around the two friends and embraced them, burying them beneath itself.

*

"Misuchi?"

"Yes Saria?"

"I’m sorry…"

"Don’t worry Saria… I still love you with the same love I always have."

"Do you know?"

"Will you tell me?"