Myrandel sat against the wall of the main room, the prophecy Kevin had spoken in his hand. Myrandel himself was staring at the celing, eyes half closed. He looked up at a soft noise near the door.
�Tooya?� The redhead nodded, stepping into the room. Myrandel gave him a tired smile. �What is it?� he asked. Tooya�s emerald eyes narrowed to piercing slits.
�I�d like to go with you to find the next Guardian,� he stated firmly. Myrandel raised an eyebrow.
�I don�t mind if you come but��
�Myrandel, you need to rest,� the redhead told him. Myrandel sighed.
�Tooya, I�m fine.�
�Your appearance suggests otherwise,� the half-blood stated flatly. Myrandel winced.
�I can handle it,� he muttered stubbornly. Tooya knelt beside him.
�Listen, I know where Anne is,� he told the elder half-blood. Myrandel�s violet-blue eyes flew wide in surprise.
�What? How?� he exclaimed.
�I don�t know, but I can sense her,� Tooya explained. �Let me handle this. Able or no, you are in no condition to continue the search on your own.� Myrandel sighed and nodded, finally relenting.
�Alright,� he said. �But be careful.�
A few days later found Tooya, Cassandra and Aria standing at the base of a small hill. The dead grass blew in the dry wind, sending shivers up their spines.
�Can you sense her?� Tooya asked. The death guardian nodded.
�I can, faintly. I�ll admit your tracking abilities are impressive Hunter,� she told him with a smile. Tooya�s eyes narrowed in confusion.
�Hunter?� Cassandra shrugged in response. Above them in the hill, the mouth to a deep cave loomed.
�If I had known we were going into a cave I would have suggested bringing Anna along,� the death guardian muttered. The fire guardian had stayed behind at Myrandel�s request. The half-blood had wanted to ask her about the sword she had somehow bonded to. Aria tapped Cassandra�s shoulder, an excited light in her child-like sapphire eyes. The girl had transformed before they arrived, though her added height did nothing for her child-like demeanor.
�Come on,� she urged. �Anne�s waiting for us!� Cassandra smiled and nodded to Tooya.
�Let�s go,� she murmured. Tooya smiled slightly and followed Cass and Aria up the hill. The inside of the cave was dark and damp, and they could hear droplets of water falling from the stone celing. Aria shivered, clinging to Cassandra�s robe. Cass glanced around the cave, her blue-gray eyes narrowed. A felling of dread struck her. �I�ll wait here and guard the entrance while you go ahead,� she told them. �Something doesn�t feel right.� Tooya nodded.
�Alright,� he answered and took Aria by the hand, leading the young blond into the depths of the cave. None of them noticed the pair of malicious violet eyes glinting above them in the darkness.
Aria clung almost nostalgically tight to Tooya�s arm as they walked through the darkness of the deep cavern. Drips of water and their soft footsteps were the only sound echoing through the shrouding darkness. Tooya stopped. The sounds of fluttering wings and a low cackle joined the falling water.
�Who�s there?� the half-blood demanded.
�Turn back mortals,� an unknown voice hissed. �That is, if you value your fragile lives.� Tooya�s eyes narrowed as the voice cackled again. Aria clung closer to him, fear radiating from her large sapphire eyes. Tooya reached for his sword, clicking it out of its sheath and preparing to draw. The shadows surrounding them rippled and circled them, closing them into a small-enclosed area. Tooya glared at the shadows. Something didn�t want them here.
�What do you want?� Aria whimpered, clutching Tooya�s arm so tightly he was loosing circulation in his hand.
�Last chance!� Tooya froze. The voice was almost caring the tone a mischievous child. It was sing-songy and mocking, like a malicious ten-year-old.
�Aria,� he whispered to the terrified blond. She looked up at him with wide eyes. �Use your flute.� She nodded hesitantly and pulled out the silver instrument, placing it to her lips. She played a few notes, watching the shadows apprehensively. There was a sudden pop, a yelp, and a furious flutter of tiny wings. Tooya reached out towards the sound and pulled a tiny, fairy-like creature into the dim light by its thin collar. The tiny creature beat it�s little black bat wings furiously, wild blond hair flying about its face. The spirit stopped struggling and settled for glaring at his captor with fuming smoky-violet eyes, tiny fangs bared.
�Let me go!� he yelped. Tooya hissed under his breath when the small creature dug his sharp little fangs into the half-blood�s finger.
�What do you want with us?� the redhead asked, rubbing his sore and bleeding finger. The tiny shadow sprite crossed his arms and glared angrily at the two.
�You�re trespassing. Now go away!� he snapped. Aria poked her head out from behind Tooya and looked up at the spirit. The sprite tilted his head, watching the girl carefully.
�We�re looking for the Guardian of Darkness. Can you help us?� she asked innocently. The spirit froze, then glared daggers at her.
�What the hell do you want with her? You�re not welcome here, now go before I sic my friends on you!� he snarled. Behind him, the flutter and chattering of thousands of bats could be easily heard. Aria clutched her flute tighter, glancing at Tooya for reassurance. Suddenly she found the tiny sprite right on her shoulder, inspecting her flute. He dropped from her shoulder, his eyes wide with confusion. The bat noises faded in the background.
�You�re the Guardian of Spirit aren�t you,� he stated. Aria nodded dumbly. The spirit tilted his head, looking her over. �If you seek the Guardian, I will guide you but�� He glared at Tooya. �I don not trust your friend.� Aria smiled at him.
�This is Tooya. He�s a friend of mine. He�s helped me since Balthas took over the Earth, so please, he�s nice. He won�t hurt you,� she told him. Then she tilted her head. As if to prove her point, Tooya sheathed his sword. �Hey, what�s your name anyway?� The spirit gave her a wary look.
�Malhin,� he answered, before turning his piercing violet eyes on Tooya. �Very well, Guardian. I will lead you and your� friend� to my mistress.� A soft, recognizable chuckle echoed behind the sprite.
�I knew you�d come through Malhin,� Than cackled, appearing beside him in a cloud of crimson mist. Malhin glared at the Soul Gatherer but said nothing in return. Than nodded to Aria, her hood falling a little further over her face. �My mistress awaits your return Lady Spirit. Please be quick,� she said, before vanishing again. Malhin shook his head and rolled his tiny eyes.
�Damn Soul Gatherer,� he muttered before gesturing to Aria and Tooya. �This way,� he said, and with a flutter of his little bat-like wings, he took off into the cave. In time they came to a wide cavern settled within the cave�s depths. Tooya glanced around. The magical signature here was almost overpowering. They were close. In the center of the surprisingly smooth walled cave, a transparent black crystal in the shape of a coffin waited.
Inside floated a woman with long dark hair. Wisps of midnight fabric clung to her body and floated in serenely in the space around her. Aria approached the coffin and laid a pale hand on it. Instead of shattering outward, it turned opaque, then quietly became a whirling mist which dissipated into the darkness around them. Anne stood upright in the center of the thick black fog, her eyes closed. She blinked them open slowly, deep brown orbs taking in her surroundings. She tilted her head with a soft smirk.
�Hello Aria,� she said with a devilish gleam I her eye. Malhin fluttered over to her and settled on her shoulder with a wide grin. �Have you been tormenting poor innocent trespassers again?� Anne asked him. Malhin smirked and nodded.
�What else would I do?� he asked. Anne grinned while Aria stared at her.
�Anne? Were you conscious in there?� she asked. Anne shrugged.
�Sort of. More like a dream state. I could see through Malhin�s eyes but nothing else,� she answered. Tooya smiled slightly and stepped forward.
�We should get going,� he said. �Cassandra is waiting for us.� Anne nodded.
�Might as well not keep her waiting too long,� she said with a smirk and followed the two towards the opening of the cave. Malhin chuckled..
�Now that I�m free, I guess I have someone to find,� he muttered, and disappeared in a cloud of thick black smoke.
Starlit blue eyes fluttered open, squinting slightly in the gentle light. She felt warm and safe, relaxed even. Sparkling light glinted off red/gold highlights in near midnight hair that curled and floated around her pale, freckled face. She sat up and took in her surroundings. Brilliant crystal light fluctuated with pale color, surrounding her and protecting the small figure from the cold darkness beyond.
Before her, floating serenely, the blue-green marble of Earth hung as if on an invisible string. A frown creased her face, anger at the tainted power marring the serene beauty building in her eyes. The crystal of light protecting her flared brightly in response.
Caitlin gazed at the celestial beauty around her, a soft smile on her lips. Her face took on a defiant expression as she gazed again at the Earth.
�Balthas will pay for what he has done,� she hissed, anger flaring in her eyes. �Darkness has returned, and now it�s my turn.� In a flash of silver light she, along with the bright crystal surrounding her, disappeared from the serenity of space.
Tooya and Aria led Anne out of the deep cave, meandering around obstacles created by stalagmites and stalactites. Anne shielded her eyes as they walked into the dim light of the shrouded sun, blinking rabidly to clear her vision. Tooya also squinted as Aria ran down to Cassandra at the base of the hill. As Anne started to follow, she tripped over a small stone and would have gone tumbling down the hill if Tooya had not caught her. The brunette blushed slightly as he helped her back to her feet.
�Thanks,� she mumbled. Tooya just smiled and helped her down the rest of the hill, as her vision was still a little blurry from the light. Cassandra smirked as the approached. She raised her hands and clapped twice smartly.
�Smooth Anne, very smooth,� she quipped. Anne blushed brightly and glared at the mischievous death guardian.
�Shut up,� she hissed.
�But you two are so cute!�
�SHUT UP!� Anne lashed out at the blue-eyed guardian. Tooya smiled at the young woman�s outburst. The long sleep they had changed none of these girls, at least not outwardly. They still appeared as the innocent young women he had met and sworn to help protect ten years ago. A slight pain in his chest made the redhead wince. Again? he thought. What�s wrong with me? He looked up to see the three girls gazing at him worriedly.
�Are you ok?� Aria asked him. Tooya nodded.
�I�m fine,� he told them with a reassuring smile. Anne squinted at him. He�s hiding something she thought. Suddenly Tooya felt a stabbing pain in his chest, far stronger than any he had felt before and he doubled over, biting back a moan of pain. Anne knelt beside him, using her strength to support his body as her eyes betrayed her anxiety.
�What�s wrong?� she asked, panic slightly evident in her voice. Tooya winced and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the pain.
�Pain� in my chest� don�t� know�� he said between gasps. Anne wrapped her arms around him and looked up at Cassandra.
�We need to get to a healer or a doctor or something. Now,� she told her. Cassandra nodded.
�Rhodry is back at the base,� she murmured, scythe materializing in her hands. Scarlet mist whirled around them, transporting them through the realms of the dead and into the underground hideaway. Anna looked up in shock at their sudden appearance.
�Anne? What happened?� she asked. Anne glanced apprehensively at Tooya.
�He just collapsed. Pain in his chest,� she told the fire guardian. Aria had already dashed off to find Rhodry. Both he and Myrandel entered the room at a half run, identical worried expressions in their eyes. Rhodry knelt beside Tooya, placing a hand on the redhead�s forehead.
�He has a fever. Let�s get him laid down,� the healer said. He glanced at Anne as the dark-eyed guardian helped Tooya to a half-stand. �You all right?� he asked, beckoning her to follow him down the hall. Anne nodded in response. With Myrandel�s help, they made their way into the room Tooya and Kevin had been sharing. Kevin looked up from the yellowed book her was reading, small, thin-rimed glasses balancing precariously on his nose. He stood up suddenly, book falling from his lap.
�What happened?� he asked, wide-eyed. The young psychic could feel something very wrong radiating from his half-blood friend. While Anne explained what had happened again, Myrandel and Rhodry helped Tooya onto his makeshift bed. Rhodry closed his eyes, one hand on the redhead�s forehead, a slight greenish glow emanating from his palm. He jumped back suddenly, wincing at the flash of pain in his head.
�Damn it! What is this?!� he hissed. Anne glanced at him.
�What�s wrong?� she asked. Rhodry shook his head.
�I can�t heal this! It�s too strong! It doesn�t even feel like a normal illness. When did you start feeling like this Tooya?� he demanded. Tooya winced.
�After we found the swords,� he murmured.
�And you didn�t tell me!� the healer growled. Anne smacked Rhodry over the head.
�Be nice.� Rhodry frowned, gazing at Tooya with concerned eyes.
�Tooya, I think you should stay here until we know what�s wrong with you. If I can�t fix it�� Tooya nodded.
�Alright,� he said. He didn�t think he could move anyway. Rhodry nodded. Kevin�s frown grew darker. What ever was wrong with Tooya wasn�t a physical affliction, he could tell that much� but what would make his senses whirl with unnamed fear like this? IT almost felt like� a spell. No, I would have sensed it when we were gathering the swords� wouldn�t I? Who could perform a spell that subtle? Not Balthas surely. He�s strong, but he�s not that clever. I�ll have to watch Tooya carefully, he thought.
Myrandel watched the silent exchanges in the group carefully from the door where he had settled himself. He too could sense the strange tainted force hovering over Tooya and melding with his aura. Why does this power feel familiar? he wondered. It�s not Balthas, but� The half-blood bit his lip. Something about this power frightened him. And he didn�t understand why. It had a malice to it, a cunning hatred that seemed to have clung just beneath the surface of Tooya�s skin and wrapped around his soul, smothering it. Cassandra knelt beside the half-blood, a worried look on her face.
�Myrandel?� she asked him quietly. He looked up, shocked out of his thoughts. �Are you alright?� Myrandel shook his head and nodded to the door. Cassandra nodded in answer and stood, walking out of the room and waiting for him to follow.
Anne noted their exit and made a mental note to ask Cass what was going on later. For now, Tooya needed her help more. Cassandra gave Myrandel a stern look when they had found themselves a quiet place in the earthen hall, her blue-gray eyes almost silver with whirling emotions.
�Myrandel, what�s wrong?� she asked him. Myrandel shrugged, his violet-blue eyes shinning with suppressed fear.
�I don�t know,� he answered the death guardian. Cassandra raised her eyebrow. It wasn�t like Myrandel to not understand his own fears. Myrandel exhaled sharply. �I felt something from the spell that�s harming Tooya, something familiar. I don�t know why I�m afraid of it, but I am. It�s as if I my self have felt worse from the same being that cast that spell. I know it wasn�t Balthas, but who else could it be?� Cassandra nodded sympathetically.
�What ever it is, Balthas or not, we�re going to have to be very careful about Tooya. There�s no telling what this curse will do to him,� she said. Myrandel nodded in agreement.
�We should keep him confined to the base. I know I�m not in any shape to go on revival missions right now, and Rhodry should stay here to look after Tooya and Kevin��
�What�s wrong with Kevin?� Cass interrupted.
�Power overuse. He�s just exhausted,� Myrandel answered. �Anyway, Joe or Jason should go with you guys as back up.�
�Alright,� Cassandra agreed. �But first we need to find out where the others are.� Myrandel smirked and slipped a hand into his pocket.
�Rhodry helped me with these a bit. These are the general coordinates where with think Abby and Marina are,� he told the death guardian. Cassandra�s eyes flew wide.
�Marina�� she murmured. Myrandel nodded and handed her the crumpled piece of paper.
�Be careful,� he told the young woman. �Balthas� goons aren�t going to stand by and watch much longer.� A deadly smirk appeared on Cassandra�s face.
�Good��
Caitlin found herself in a desolate world, devoid of most life and any sort of recognizable landmark. Great she thought to herself. I would get lost the moment I returned wouldn�t I. With a huff, the light guardian sat herself down on a small boulder nearby and put her chin in her hands, thinking to herself.
�How am I going to get out of this one?� she wondered aloud.
�Lady?� A timid voice near her ear made Caitlin nearly jump out of her skin. She leapt to her feet, blue-gray eyes wide, only to come face to face with a pair of pale violet eyes that gazed up at her with timid curiosity. Caitlin stepped back, carefully examining the tiny figure before her.
It was a sprite of some sort, a sprite with white hair falling down to his waist that was tied back in a low ponytail and pale violet eyes like tiny amethysts. The creature himself was very pale, giving it an almost ethereal look, a look that was only enhanced by the pair of tiny white feathered wings protruding from it�s back. Caitlin shook her head.
�Who� what are you?� she asked, her face plainly betraying her confusion. The spirit smiled, an innocent, almost child-like smile that still held an unusual amount of wisdom.
�My name is Renian,� he said. �I�m a light spirit.� Caitlin nodded dumbly.
�So I guessed,� she muttered. �Um� if you don�t mind me asking. Why are you here?� Renian shrugged and fluttered over to the light guardian�s shoulder, where he settled and looked up into her eyes.
�I was supposed to protect your sleeping place until one of your guardian companions awakened you, but for some reason you awoke on your own,� he replied, obviously slightly annoyed with the change in plan.
�Hm,� Caitlin replied. �Well, I guess now that you�ve been relieved of your duty that you can just go home, right?� she asked. Renian�s eyes went wide, then softened into a despairing look.
�I don�t know how to get home,� he answered sadly. �You were supposed to be found by your friends. The guardian of spirit was the one who was supposed to show me the way home.� Caitlin sighed and nodded.
�Well, I guess then you�ll have to come with me. We�re both lost and I�m sure we�ll find Aria and the others eventually. We�ll probably have a better chance with two of us,� she mused. Renian nodded.
�Alright. Thank you lady.�
Anne found Cassandra some time later after Tooya had fallen into a fitful sleep. The death guardian was leaning against the wall, staring of into space. At her side lay the soul sword Hope, which she would now and then brush her hand against as she drifted in her thoughts.
�Cass?� Anne asked her. The younger guardian snapped her head up, startled out of her revelry. She smiled sadly when she spotted Anne.
�You alright?� she asked. Anne nodded and sat down beside her.
�I�m fine,� she answered. �Kind of a shock to come back to this isn�t it.� Cassandra nodded.
�It�s as if the world died while we were gone,� she murmured. Anne nodded in agreement and looked down at the sword by Cassandra�s side. She brushed the blade lightly, jerking her hand back at the shock it gave her.
�What is this?� she asked. Cassandra shrugged.
�It�s a Jin Soul Sword, a soul sword of virtue,� she told the dark guardian. �I�m pretty sure this one is supposed to belong to my sister.� Anne nodded absently, her eyes wandering over the silver blade. She frowned when she saw the symbol at the top.
�Hey Cass. What language is that mark in?� she wondered. Cassandra looked down and shrugged.
�I don�t know. I can read it for some reason, but I don�t recognize the language,� she said.
�It�s Ancient Celestial,� a somewhat fatigued voice answered from the doorway. Rhodry was leaning against the wooden supports, a tired smile on his face.
�How�s Tooya doing?� Cassandra asked him. Rhodry shrugged and sighed, sliding down to sit beside the two guardians.
�Honestly? Not well. Kevin�s watching him now. I don�t have a clue what�s wrong with him,� he answered, his voice betraying his frustration. Cass sighed and patted the discouraged half-blood on the shoulder.
�We�ll figure this out Rhodry, don�t worry,� she told him. Anne nodded in agreement, though her own thoughts were less hopeful.
�I just hate not being able to do anything, you know?� Rhodry told them. �I�m not much of a fighter myself, my healing ability is the only thing that really makes me worth having around.�
�Rhodry?� Anne�s eyebrow was raised slightly. �Shut up.� Rhodry blinked at the dark-eyed brunette. He frowned and leaned back against the wall.
�It�s hard not to get discouraged these days,� he murmured. �Even now with some of you reawakened, we don�t know what�s coming.� Anne nodded.
�Good point, but have a little faith in us will you? We�re not helpless. Plus, this time Balthas won�t be taking us by surprise so easily,� she answered him, a mischievous light in her eyes. Rhodry gave a wry smile.
�I hope you�re right.� he answered. �It�s just that� I don�t know.� The half-blood buried his face in his hand with a deep sigh. �Something about that spell, curse, what ever it is� something about it scared me. Something about it made me feel like��
�Like what?� Cass asked. Rhodry stared out at the wall across from them.
�Like I was dying. It felt like I had lost complete control. It hurt,� he answered. �And something in that power felt familiar, and dangerous. It was almost like another presence I met a long time ago but don�t remember.� Cassandra froze. That was almost exactly what Myrandel had told her earlier. Her eyes narrowed as she digested that information. Was it possible that they were facing an enemy more powerful than just Balthas? No, a demon would have come out in the open by now if it were trying to attack them. Demons just weren�t that subtle. It had to be someone under Balthas� control.
Anne watched Cassandra�s reaction carefully. She too had felt something� odd about what ever was harming Tooya. It didn�t exactly feel familiar to her, more� different.
�Well, I guess I should go talk to either Jason or Joe,� Cassandra said, standing. She waved a piece of crumpled paper in front of them. �Thanks for the help on this one. We have to plan our next move.� Rhodry grinned and nodded to her, noting the piece of paper in her hand.
�No problem,� he answered, and stood as well. �I should get back to Tooya. Kevin can�t keep watching him all that long in the state he�s in.� Cassandra nodded to him as the half-blood stood and walked out of the room.
�Hey Cass,� Anne murmured. The death guardian looked down at the still seated dark guardian.
�Yeah?� she asked.
�I�m coming with you on this mission,� Anne replied. Cassandra nodded.
�Alright.�
In the darkness of Balthas� fortress, a pair of mismatched eyes gleamed, twinkling in the shadows as the shrouded being watched Balthas from behind his throne. Everything was going according to plan. And soon� soon he would have his revenge�
Author�s notes: Yes! Another chapter done ^_^ Me happy. So, can you guess who the �real� bad guy is? ^_~
-Cat