in which the bad people of the season are finally met
Kaitlyn hadn’t spoken to Umi since the other day."Kaitlyn…" Umi started, but Kaitlyn pursed her lips and looked away. Umi, who was still recovering from a scathing by THEM, sighed mentally. "Kaitlyn, please."
"No." she said stubbornly. "Not until you apologize."
"Dammit," Umi thought to himself. He hated apologizing.
"Do it," an ominous voice echoed throughout his mind.
"Do I have to?" Umi whined, twitching.
"Yes."
"And what if I don’t?" Umi said, obstinate. A shock sparked through his tiny body.
"Oww! Okay, okay, no need to get violent, yeesh." He grumbled.
Kaitlyn was curled up on her bedspread, with the remote control to the television at the foot of her bed held tightly in one hand. The other hand was behind her head, helping support her as she propped herself up against her pillows. Her deep blue eyes were hard, her eyebrows were drawn downwards, and her mouth was set in a thin line.
"Kaitlyn…" Umi said again. "Kaitlyn, I’m… ergh…" he paused, swimming to one side of his fishbowl and back again, agitated. "I’m… suh.. suh… sorry. I’m sorry," he said, sighing as he spoke.
"No, you’re not. You’re just trying to avoid being punished by THEM again," Kaitlyn said, her expression remaining.
"Well, yeah, that’s true."
"UMI!" Kaitlyn said, frowning and turning off the television.
"Whaat?" Umi said, retreating to the far end of his bowl. "What did I say?"
"You’re not supposed to admit that you didn’t mean it!" she said, her lower lip trembling.
"Oh, come on, don’t start crying… what do you want me to do, lie to you?"
"Yes!" she said, tears welling up in her eyes and spilling onto her cheeks. "Don’t you care about anything besides yourself?"
"Not at the moment, no," Umi replied.
"Ohhhh!" Kaitlyn flopped onto her stomach, burying her face in her pillow. "Umi, you’re impossible. Is it really so hard to just be nice?" She raised her head, brushing tears away from her bright red cheeks, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, Kaitlyn… get yourself a tissue, tears don’t become such a pretty face," Umi said, sighing.
Kaitlyn blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. Go and get yourself a tissue. I’d get one for you, but as you can see I’m not exactly anatomically equipped to do that," he said, sounding exasperated. The corners of Kaitlyn’s mouth pulled up as she smiled.
"You just complimented me," she said happily, sliding off her bed to get a glass of water. "You can be nice."
"What? Compliment? What are you talking about?" Umi said, his thoughts turning from exasperated to frustrated.
Kaitlyn took a gulp of water before moving to where Umi’s fishbowl sat.
"You called me pretty." She said, uncapping the bottle of fish food that stood next to his bowl.
"Yeah, so? You are. Big deal," Umi grumbled, as he darted to snap up the fish flakes that fell from the bottle Kaitlyn held.
Kaitlyn’s tapped the glass of his bowl. "You just don’t want to admit it."
"What-ever," Umi said, eliciting a giggle from Kaitlyn.
"Oh, well…" he thought to himself. "At least she’s back to normal."
*
Jada tossed her largest suitcase onto her bed, thinking about how well her family how well her family her impromptu disappearance. They hadn't so much as asked where she'd gone, not even after picking her up from the airport.
"I suppose that’s THEM’s doing or whatever," Jada muttered, crashing onto her bed. Moments later a furry creature dropped down onto her face. Alarmed, she grabbed at it, and it jumped quickly onto her shoulder, winding its tail around her neck, purring loudly.
"Miss me?"
"Uh! Fuu!" she said, grasping at the mass of fur.
"Ah, ah, ah, don’t make me have to get violent," Fuu said, grinning toothily.
"I thought we left you back in the Negaverse!" she snapped, yanking him unceremoniously off her neck and holding him out in front of her.
"Nope," Fuu answered, continuing to grin wildly. "I followed you and hid in Kaitlyn's carry on luggage until we got off the plane. Then I hid in your car, and up until a minute ago I was hiding on your ceiling. I am a master of ninja stealth, you know.
Jada tossed him onto her bed, grumbling.
"I suppose you want to stay with me or something, right?" she said, glaring at Fuu as he shrieked upon hitting her comforter.
"You are such a wuss," she said, before he could answer.
"I’m not a wuss," he replied, sniffing. "I’m sensitive."
"That’s just a nice way of saying ‘I’m a wuss,’ " Jada said. "I guess I’ll just tell my parents you’re a new species of ferret or something."
"You’re going to keep me?" he said brightly, his tail perking up.
"Well, I’m certainly not going to go drop you off at the animal shelter," she answered. "They’d probably put you to sleep on sight."
"I can already tell that this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship," Fuu said, crawling onto Jada’s pillow.
"Ha-ha," Jada said, rolling her eyes at him and closing her suitcase. She plucked him up off her pillow, shaking him.
"Come on. We’re all going to Kaitlyn’s for a meeting, and since you’re involved in all this, you get to come, too."*
The ice in Kaitlyn’s cup clinked against the glass as she set it on the table.
"You’re probably wondering why I asked you all here," Kaitlyn said, looking around her kitchen table at the faces of the three people (and one furball) sitting there.
"I just thought, since, you know, we’re all in this senshi thing together, we might as well get to know each other better," She paused, looking at Etienne and blushing a little.
"Well… at least we girls need to know each other better."
Kiera raised an eyebrow and Jada smirked.
"Kiera and I already know each other… and from the way you’re blushing, it seems like you and Etienne got better acquainted, as well."
"Wh-what?" Kaitlyn said, as both her and Etienne’s faces turned scarlet.
Jada chuckled. "No need to be ashamed."
"We simply ran into each other in the park and took a walk together. That’s all," Etienne frowned, glaring at Jada.
"Hey, whatever you say, Negaboy," Jada said, leaning back in her chair. "It’s not my place to judge."
"Jada," Kiera said, rolling her eyes.
"It’s true!" Kaitlyn said hotly. "All we did was take a walk."
"Yes," Etienne said, narrowing his eyes. "And don't call me Negaboy."
"Sure, Negaboy," Jada grinned.
Kaitlyn sighed, exasperated.
"Anyway," she said. "Let’s start with introductions. My name is Kaitlyn Sinclair. I’m seventeen years old, my parents died in a mysterious accident, and—"
"She likes to read vampire novels." Umi said, from his fishbowl in the center of the table.
"How did you know that?!" Kaitlyn said, the blush returning to her cheeks.
"You left one on your bureau one time. I read the back of it while you were sleeping."
"That’s none of your business!" she said, tapping the glass of his bowl and causing his body to jerk away involuntarily.
"I'm going to get whiplash from that someday," he grumbled. "Besides, what am I supposed to do? Being stuck in this body is boring."
Kaitlyn frowned. "Hmph."
"I’m Jada Lucia. I have a normal family—my mom’s a doctor and my dad’s a lawyer, and I have a little sister, as you all know," Jada said, petting Fuu a little.
"I have no relevant information to impart," Kiera murmured. Kaitlyn blinked.
"Don’t mind her, Kaitlyn," Jada said, rolling her eyes. "I’ve been her best friend for years and I still don’t know what her parents do, besides socialize."
Kiera's lips turned down in irritation, but she didn't dignify Jada with a response.
"I don’t really have much to tell, either," Etienne said. He shrugged a little.
"Well, pfft," Kaitlyn made a face.
"Ahem… I hate to interrupt this stimulating conversation, but according to THEM, the reports of people being attacked by monsters in this town have suddenly taken a rapid increase," Umi said.
"You make it sound as if people get attacked by monsters here all the time," Jada said.
"Well, considering the weirdness factor of this place, I wouldn’t be surprised… Anyway, keep a look out. If there’s an enemy, it’s your job to fight it," Umi said.
"Sir, yes sir," Jada answered, rolling her eyes. "So, fearless leader, does this conclude today’s meeting?" she said, looking at Kaitlyn.
"Um, sure… I guess so," Kaitlyn said, feeling dissatisifed.
"Then I shall take my leave," Kiera said, pushing her chair back and standing. "Good afternoon, everyone."
"Heh--guess I’ll let you two have some quality time," Jada snickered a little as she stood up, as well, walking towards the door with Fuu in tow. Kaitlyn’s cheeks colored again.
"Jada!" she said, digging her fingernails into the wood of the table.
"Heh heh heh… just kidding… See you later, fearless leader."
The door shut with a soft click, leaving Kaitlyn and Etienne remaining at the table. Etienne drummed his long fingers against the table’s smooth surface, biting his lip.
"I suppose… I should go, too," he said slowly, starting to rise.
"You don’t have to," Kaitlyn started, but he was already out the door. Kaitlyn sighed.
"You guys are so weird," Umi said.
"We’re weird? I think the pot’s calling the kettle black, Mister Telepathic Fish," Kaitlyn answered, sticking out her tongue.
"At least I wouldn’t act like a total fool around the person I’m in love with," Umi snapped, annoyed.
"I’m not in love with him!" Kaitlyn cried. "I barely know him!"
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," Umi said.
"Umi," Kaitlyn spoke in a warning tone.
"Alright, alright… yeesh, calm down. It’s not my fault you’re in denial."
Kaitlyn buried her face in her hands.
"What would you know about it?" she sniffed, her voice muffled. "Have you ever loved anyone? Ever?"
Umi didn’t answer for a few minutes, saying finally, "That’s none of your business."
Kaitlyn looked up, her blue eyes narrowed. She stood, speaking darkly as she left. "That’s what I thought."
Umi felt a tug at his heart as he watched Kaitlyn storm away.
"Well…" he thought to himself, suddenly sullen. "That wasn’t very nice."
*
Xin swallowed thickly as he watched Sikari from a distance. He struggled to keep from closing his eyes as he saw the red-haired man extract an animus crystal from the girl in front of him. The crystal glittered beautifully in the fading sunlight, but Sikari’s face twisted in disgust when he saw that the shard was not inside it. He grabbed the crystal and threw it on the ground. The girl crumpled as the crystal shattered, its iridescent pieces sprinkling the warm pavement. Xin winced. Sikari held out his hand, and a few moments later, a red bauble appeared, hovering just above his palm. A cold glow emanated from the spherical item as it enlarged and formed into the shape of a creature that was just taller than the average human. It opened its red almond eyes and unsheathed its claws—long, knifelike digits that curved to a sharp point. A slow grin spread on its blue-skinned face as he looked down at the girl’s prostrate form, revealing a mouth that contained row after row of tiny, daggerlike teeth. The creature glanced at Sikari, who returned with a nod of assent. Xin’s eyes widened as the creature tore into the girl, its sharp claws soon stained with crimson.
"I.. I can’t watch this," he whispered, covering his face with his hands as the sound of fabric and skin ripping apart rang in his ears.
"You’re so weak, Xin," Sikari said boredly, his tall form fading into existence behind the green-haired man. Xin swallowed again, wringing his hands.
"Why… why do we have to kill them? Why can’t we just.. return the animus crystal if the shard’s not there? Killing doesn’t seem necessary," he said, downcast.
"Well, that would just take the fun right out of my job, wouldn’t it?" Sikari said, grinning.
"Sikari… she… she was just a little girl," Xin said, closing his eyes.
"Grow a spine and get over it," Sikari snapped. "Humans are humans, no matter their gender or age. They’re all going to die someday, anyway. I’ve got to report to Riordan. See you later, weakling," he said, as his body fizzled out.
Xin watched him go, sighing.
"I still don’t see why we have to kill people," he murmured as he went to his room, flopping down on his bed.
"Xin."
Xin glanced up, seeing Aegis’ imposing figure standing on his threshold.
"Xin," he said again, his voice deep and calm, "You must understand that everything we do is for the benefit of our purpose, despite what Sikari may lead you to believe."
"Then tell me why it’s necessary to kill them… tell me why we can’t just see if what we’re looking for is there and move on," Xin said, looking into Aegis’ placid dark blue eyes.
"Already there is increased suspicion because of the number of murders that have been occurring recently—most of which have been committed by us. But you must understand that if we did not do what we did, if they were allowed to live—surely they would tell others of their encounter and then we and our cause would soon be unveiled. You must understand, Xin. It is either us or it is them. Riordan would not order us to work this way if it was not in our best interests. It is the only way."
"I…I understand," Xin said, although his stomach was churning and his hands were still clasped together, his fingers trembling nervously. Aegis's eyes were gentle, but resolute.
"Good," he said quietly, turning away. Xin held his breath until he could no longer hear the echo of Aegis’ footsteps.
"Murders committed by us," he whispered, laying his head on his pillow, his long, pale green hair spilling onto the white satin. "Us…" he repeated, his fingers curling. He felt sick as he realized that, in allowing Sikari to kill the girl and his creature to finish the job, he could also be held responsible for her death, and the deaths of all the others that had been killed so far.
"It is the only way," Aegis’ words reminded him. Xin squeezed his shut, pulling his pillow close and pressing his face into it, thinking. "I know… I know it’s the only way… but still…"
"I’m sorry…"
*
Kaitlyn scuttled out of her Chemistry class, the sound of the bell still ringing in her ears. School had always been a necessary evil for her. She didn’t like it, but she knew that the only way she was getting into a place of higher education was on scholarship, so she had to keep her grades up. Kaitlyn pressed against the cold metal of the high school’s indigo painted lockers, trying to avoid being swallowed by the swarming throng of pushing and yelling students that coursed through the halls. She managed to reach the glass double doors at the front of the lobby, using her free hand (the other being laden with schoolbooks) to push the door open and slip through, stepping into the dim light of the overcast afternoon.
"Pretty dreary day, isn’t it?" Jada said, causing Kaitlyn to jump a little as she turned to see her friend standing behind her.
"Don’t sneak up on me like that," Kaitlyn breathed, clutching her books to her chest.
"Gee, someone’s awfully paranoid… you think the enemy is going to come out from the school and attack you?" Jada rolled her eyes.
"You don’t think they’re in this school?" Kaitlyn said, nibbling her lip as she remembered her first encounters with Etienne.
"Of course not. What would they want here?" Lani’s voice joined the conversation.
"Th-they?"
Kaitlyn glanced at the lanky, thin boy with pale green hair standing next to Lani.
"Beats me, Nikolas," Lani said cheerfully. Nikolas. The name registered as familiar in Kaitlyn’s mind, and she remembered the boy from yesterday. His dark green eyes darted from side to side nervously, and Kaitlyn noticed that his fingers were visibly trembling.
"Are you alright?" Kaitlyn asked, blinking.
"Um? Oh.. yes.. yes, I’m fine… I’m.. I’m just waiting for some people," he said, smiling anxiously.
"And those people would be us."
Kaitlyn looked up to see a red-haired boy standing behind Nikolas, his hand on the smaller boy’s shoulder, flanked by a taller boy with indigo blue hair and half-closed eyes.
"Come on, Nicky," the red haired boy said, a slight sneer in his deep, throaty voice. Nikolas’s eyes widened a little as the other boy dug his fingers into the bone of his shoulder. He quickly stepped away from Lani and the others, beads of perspiration breaking out on his forehead.
"Right.. right.. um.. I’ll.. see you tomorrow, Lani," Nikolas said, as the red haired boy took hold of his wrist and pulled him away.
"That was decidedly odd," Azura said, as she and Roan walked up to join the group.
"I bet they’re going off to smoke or something of that nature… that tall one, him, yes. Him. He always looks drugged to me, with those half-closed eyes… don’t you think so? I think so," Roan grinned.
"Perhaps we should follow them and find out… from the way your friend was acting, Lani, it didn’t seem like they were going off to do anything that held entirely good intentions," Kiera murmured as she stood a few feet away from the others, watching Nikolas and his friends disappear around the side of the school.
"Umm.. aren’t there like, a bunch of dark alleys and stuff back there?" Lani said nervously. "And who were you talking about earlier, anyway?" Kiera turned to Lani, her red eyes glittering slightly, answering before Kaitlyn could speak.
"Nothing for you to be concerned with. You are not expected to join us. I was thinking more along the lines of Kaitlyn, Jada, and myself," she said, her gaze not straying from Lani’s nervous face.
"I wanna come tooooo…." Roan said, her voice raising a few octaves. "I’ve always wanted to hurt that little red haired creature," her voice lowered back down to a hiss, and she began to rub her hands together eagerly. "If they were participating in activity that was against the mundane laws of this society, then I would have an excellent excuse for beating him into a bloody pulp… yes?"
Azura shook her head.
"What’d he do to her?" Jada whispered. Azura coughed. Roan grabbed Jada by the shoulders, shaking her a little.
"He performed the most drastic of infractions upon my person and I have sworn to kill him in an extremely slow and painful manner someday. I would have done it right here and now, but, you see, there would have been witnesses and I’m not quite ready to dispose of everyone in this pathetic school just yet.""Eep," Jada blinked, squirming under Roan’s strong grip.
"He hit on her," Lani made a face.
"Do not MENTION his insolent folly!" Roan cried, glaring at Lani, who held up her hands and shrank back.
"Wretched red-haired creature… death is almost too good for him…almost."
"Umm, if we’re going to go after them, now would probably be a good time," Kaitlyn said, looking around at the empty campus.
"Ah, yes. Right, then," Roan released Jada and darted off in the direction that Nikolas and his friends had gone, calling behind her. "Come on, minions! We must capture the infidels!"
*
"I hate the dark, I hate the dark, I hate the dark…" Xin thought to himself over and over as he, Sikari, and Aegis traipsed through the damp, mildewy network of alleyways that ran through the older residential district next to Vinton High.
"Damnit, Xin, would you calm down? I can practically feel your fingers trembling," Sikari growled, yanking on Xin’s wrist a little.
"Ow… sorry…" Xin muttered.
"Villains aren’t supposed to be afraid of the dark," Sikari grumbled. "They’re supposed to embrace it. Embrace it, Xin, not see it and want a goddamn nightlight."
"I know… I know…" Xin sighed. "Why do we have to go this way, anyway? Why can’t we walk on the sidewalk like everyone else?"
"It’s more dramatic this way," Sikari answered in a ‘duh’ sort of voice, rolling his eyes.
"Oh," Xin said.
"Stop right there!"
Sikari stopped suddenly, causing Xin to stumble as he let go of the smaller boy’s hand. Aegis paused, glancing back, the calm, half-asleep look on his face remaining. The three stood still as their pursuers stepped forward, revealing themselves to be the girls Xin had been talking to earlier. Sikari pinched a bit of Xin’s white skin.
"Your little friends followed us!" he spat, digging his sharp nails into Xin’s flesh. Pain jolted up Xin’s arm, and his eyes squeezed shut as he gave a little cry of anguish.
"What’re you guys doing back here?" the white haired one said, her aqua eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"We’re going home… not that it’s any of your business," Sikari said, not relaxing his grip on Xin’s arm.
"Through a dark alley?" the white haired girl said, raising an eyebrow. Before Sikari could answer, another of the group spoke.
"Ah! We have found the infidels! Infidels! Hand over the red haired creature so that I might tear his still beating heart from his chest!" she hissed, her orange (and red-orange, respectively) eyes shining.
Aegis’s half-open eyes brightened a little.
"Red haired creature?" he said, sounding amused.
"Um.. damn it," Sikari said, looking at Roan.
"Do you know her?" Aegis asked, his eyes fully open.
"Die!" Roan cried, zipping towards Sikari and wrapping her hands around his throat. "I shall squeeze the life from your pathetic body, evil creature!"
"Gack!" Sikari struggled, clawing at Roan’s arms and trying to push her away from him.
"Roan!" Kaitlyn cried. "Put him down, he hasn’t done anything!"
Roan hissed and dropped Sikari, smiling as his face contorted with pain upon hitting the ground.
"Psychopath," he growled, raising his middle finger. "Step off."
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner!" Roan cried, reaching for him again. Jada grabbed Roan’s wrist, pulling her back.
"Why do you restrain me?!" Roan glared at her captor, yanking her arm away easily.
"Can we all just relax, please?" Kaitlyn said pleadingly.
"Yes, let’s all calm down," Azura said, taking Roan’s hand gently.
"I don’t know, I think this is pretty funny," Lani grinned.
"Calm down?! You’re the ones that followed us!" Sikari snapped, jumping to his feet.
"Pl-please.. let’s j-just go," Xin stammered. Sikari open his mouth to contradict his companion, when suddenly he stopped.
"Yes… yes, come on, Nikolas," he said softly, standing. "Let’s go home now. You know how your mother worries about you."
Xin swallowed thickly. "He’s planning something." Xin thought, wringing his hands as he saw Sikari exchange looks with Aegis.
"Hey! We’re not done with you yet!" Jada cried.
"Too bad… see you later, girls," Sikari said, waving his hand in a manner of dismissal as he and the other boys quickly disappeared into the darkness.
"They are definitely up to something," Jada said, balling her hand into a fist.
"Wait a second, Jada," Kaitlyn said. "Maybe they really were just going home. I mean, maybe going through these alleys is a shortcut for them or something. Why don’t we just give them the benefit of the doubt?"
"I shall give nothing to that red haired creature except death! Lots of death," Roan hissed, already running after them. "He shall not escape my grasp again!"
"Roan!" Azura called, chasing after her friend, followed closely by Jada. The others looked at each other and sighed.
"I suppose we shall have to go after them," Kiera said, as she and Kaitlyn started walking.
"Aww, man…" Lani mumbled, watching as the figures of her two friends were swallowed by the shadows of the alley. She stood, rooted to her place on the ground for a few moments as her fear battled her loyalty. Unfortunately, loyalty won out, so shoved her hands into her pockets and walked into the dark, her hands trembling against the fabric of her jeans.
*
"This will be wonderful," Sikari said, as he stood in full regalia with Xin and Aegis. The three’s uniforms consisted of shirts that matched their hair color covered with silver breastplates, completed with a pair of black pants and metal tipped black boots. Aegis also had a cape inlaid with purple velvet to show his higher level of power, something which annoyed Sikari to no end. But he put aside his petty jealousies for now—something far sweeter was at hand. He could almost taste the metallic scent of their blood on his lips, could almost hear their beautiful screams. He closed his eyes as he pictured the girls being torn apart, their angelic cries of pain and the scent of death and blood permeating the air. How lovely it would be.
"Relax, Sikari… after all, what if one of them holds a shard?" Aegis said. "This is why you are at the level you are… you are too impulsive. As well, we cannot simply create a small massacre, as I’m sure you were thinking of. We must be discreet."
Sikari’s thoughts of the girls’ beautiful pain dissipated, and he glowered at Aegis, his annoyance furthering when he heard Xin’s sigh of relief.
"We will frighten them, yes. But we will not kill them. Not yet," Aegis said. He paused, hearing the hard echo of hurried footsteps pounding against pavement. "Let’s go…I do believe that is our cue."
*
"Dammit… I think we lost them," Jada snapped her fingers, stopping at an intersection of four alleyways.
"Little girls shouldn’t be hanging out in dark alleys," a voice spoke from the shadowy depths. "All sorts of bad things could happen to them."
"Huh?! Who said that?! Who’s there?!" Beads of perspiration formed on Jada’s tanned skin as she turned her head from side to side, her eyes narrowed. Roan growled.
"Show yourself, he who dares refer to me as little girl!" she hissed.
"Certainly," the owner of the voice stepped forward, revealing himself to be a tall man in about his mid-twenties, with short, fiery red hair and crimson eyes, his mouth drawn back in a wicked smirk, showing off his fang-like teeth. He was flanked by two others, a smaller man with pale green hair and dark green eyes, and another, the tallest, with indigo coloring and a placid smile on his pale face, a cape fluttering behind him.
"Hi!" the green haired one said, smiling. The red haired one glared back at him, causing the smaller man to shrink back.
"Who are you?" Azura asked, as she and the others appeared, having finally caught up with their friends. Unnatural light flooded the alley, and Sikari grinned as the expressions on the girls’ faces changed from curious to terrified. Lani inhaled quickly, stepping back as her nervous fear heightened.
"We have to transform," Kaitlyn hissed to Kiera.
"But we cannot risk the others discovering our identities!" Kiera said, gritting her teeth.
"Damn! Watch out, you guys!" Jada cried, as a metallic bauble shimmered into view over the red haired man’s hand. "What the hell is that?!"
A creature that vaguely resembled a mutant ant emerged from inside the bauble, sending out a high pitched scream as it raised its armor clad incisors.
"I’m Sikari.. and this is one of my little pets, Mantis," He said, gesturing to the creature.
"I’m Xin," the green haired one said, stepping forward and tossing a metallic green bauble into the air. "Don’t worry, this won’t hurt much." He smiled happily as the bauble burst, a shower of sparkling beams enveloping all the girls.
"Ahh… what’s going on?!" A powerful force wracked their insides, and they all fell to their knees as their animus crystals emerged from within them, shimmering brightly.
"Oh… they’re so beautiful," Xin said, reaching to touch Lani’s, enthralled.
"They shine so brightly… the brightest I’ve ever seen… but…none of them have shards," Aegis frowned. Xin retracted his hand when he looked up to see Lani, the one who had been so kind to him, her face filled with pain and terror, her entire body shaking. He bit his lip, moving away, his eyes widening as he saw the others in similar states.
"They don’t have shards," Sikari said, licking his lips. "Take them, Mantis!" he cried.
"No!" Xin cried, in unison with Aegis’ softer word of dissent. Xin clapped his hands together and the light faded, the soul crystals dissolving back into the bodies of their owners and his bauble returning to his hand. The group crumpled, six bodies lying still on the cold cement. Mantis howled.
"Return him to your bauble, Sikari." Aegis said, his icy voice threatening. Sikari’s fists clenched, but he obeyed. "I hope you have satisfied yourself. Let us remove ourselves before they wake up."
"Are we… just going to leave them here?" Xin said, glancing at the girls’ prostrate forms.
"Yes… soon they will awaken, though they will have no memory of their shards being removed… seeing as how we were in a dark alley, we could be lucky and they may assume they were attacked. Either way, this is not the last we have seen of them—now that they have been exposed to our faces, we must not allow any of them to live for much longer. But that can be taken care of later. For now, we shall go," Aegis said, his form fizzling out.
Xin looked back at their victims one last time before nodding a little and following after Aegis. Sikari smirked, plotting as he left the scene. Perhaps he would soon have his visions fulfilled, after all
...end
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