“I’m such a fool… one of the shards was right in front of me and I didn’t even so much as sense it,” Aegis sighed, tapping the thick piece of diamond with his fingernail.

“Well, I didn’t know it was there, either,” Xin said helpfully, inspecting the shard. “It’s awfully pretty, isn’t it?”

“Yes…” Aegis said, slipping it into his pocket. “We must protect it at all costs.”

“Are you going to give it to Riordan?” Xin said.  The two were in a spacious room decorated with antique paintings and furniture.  Gilded wood ran along the room’s perimeter, and intricately patterned rugs with gold tassels rested at their feet.  They were sitting on separate twin beds covered with obscene amounts of pillows and fat, soft comforters.  The sheets were, as far they could tell, made of silk, and when they awoke they had found a tea service on the table next to the door.  The cups were filled with steaming liquid, and a plate of buttered scones had been set next to the teapot.  A card leaned against the pot, with a note on it scripted in feminine handwriting that told them that breakfast was at ten.  Xin was surprised that there hadn’t been little mints beneath their pillows.

“I…” Aegis shook his head. “No..I won’t.  The priestess is correct.  There’s no need for all this death.  I’m ashamed for not realizing it sooner.”

He stopped, as if pondering what he were about to say, and then continued.

“I’m especially sorry for… for involving you…and not protecting you well enough…”

“Don’t be…there really wasn’t anything anyone could have done, I guess…”

“Still…”

Xin cleared his throat.

“Anyway…now that we have a shard, what are you going to do with it?”

“I’m not sure.  I think we ought to search out the other shards, however…if only to keep them from Riordan…” Aegis said, slipping the diamond piece back into his pocket.

“But we’re not going to kill anyone, right?  We’re just going to look and then put it back?” Xin said hopefully.

Aegis smiled, moving over to Xin’s bed and pulling him close.

“Of course.”

“Ahem.  I do so hate to interrupt you tender moment, but madame requests your presence in the dining hall..” a young butler poked his head in, raising an eyebrow at the two men’s embrace.  He left before they could respond, leaving them both feeling chagrined.

“Well, we had better go…she did give us her hospitality, after all.”

“Good of you to join us, sirs,” he said dryly, opening the door. “I hope removing yourselves from your room didn’t prove too draining.”

He bowed, lifting his eyes and watching them through his pale pink locks as they entered.

“Friendly one, isn’t he?” Aegis muttered.

“He has cute hair, though…” Xin said absentmindedly.  Aegis stifled a grumble.  Kiera and her parents sat at the head of a long table in the hall’s center, with two extra settings waiting near them.  Her father had a hard, Russian face, and her mother was petite, with strikingly blue eyes that retained the color of pure ice.

“Who are your friends, Kiera?” her father asked gruffly, eyeing the two men.

“Oh…they’re merely renegades bent on global destruction, father,” she answered emotionlessly, sipping her orange juice.

“Ah.  Lovely.”

“What are their names?” Kiera’s mother spoke slowly, her voice lilting with the accent in her words.

“Um, I’m Aegis Damarius…”

“Xin Nikolai,” Xin said cheerfully, spooning eggs into his mouth.  Aegis sighed, poking his with the prongs of his fork.

“How long will you be staying with us?” she spoke conversationally, without any hint of annoyance at the fact that two strange men were suddenly residing in her house.

“As long as they need to, mother,” Kiera answered.

“It…it should only be for today,” Aegis said hastily. “Thank you for your graciousness.”

Kiera’s eyes turned on him, and he couldn’t help but feel unarmed against her cold, crimson stare.

“It was no trouble.  We have plenty of space.”

Her father patted her on the back.

“She’s such a humanitarian.”

Kiera’s eyes narrowed and she set her fork down.

“I’m finished.”

The grandfather clock behind her sounded off, and her parents pushed their chairs back.

“Time for our work, darling,” her mother said.  “Have a nice day at school.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” her father petted her hair, and then they both turned to leave.  Kiera stood behind her chair until they had gone, a scowl on her face.

“Tomorrow?”  You only see them once a day?” Xin said. "And for hardly any time at all..." he thought.

“Yes,” she answered, pushing her chair in roughly.  “They have a great deal of important work to do.”

She seemed as if there were more she wanted to say, but instead she rubbed her temples, murmuring.

“I must prepare for school.  You may stay in this house, if you like.  I hope you found breakfast satisfactory.”

“It was delicious, thank you!” Xin called after her as she stalked from the room.  The butler ambled over to them and began to pick up the dishes.

“I assume you’ve completed consuming my mistress’s food?” he said, glaring at Xin and Aegis.

“Um, yes…excuse me..what’s your name?” Xin asked.  The butler stopped, his arms laden with their plates.

“Oh, you’re deigning to inquire as to the nature of my name?  How fascinating.  Trying to get personal with the help?”

“Er, no, I just…”

“The mistress and her family call me Xavier,” he cut Xin off, carrying the dishes out.

“I wonder what’s wrong with him,” Xin said.  He shrugged and stood, turning his attention to Aegis. “So…what now?”

“He was captured by Lorima and executed,” one said.  The boy choked, and he coughed violently as tears slid down his cheeks, clutching his chest with one hand.

“No…” he gasped, his voice strangled by sobs.  One of the silhouettes slapped him, knocking him off the bed and onto the cold, stone floor.  The boy sucked in air and trembled, perspiration slicking his hands.

“Stop that,” the silhouette said sharply. “Kings don’t cry.”

A sharp knocking on his door jarred Etienne from his dream, and he awoke with a small gasp.  He relaxed as he realized the sound and climbed out of bed, wondering who could be here so early.  Kaitlyn shifted a little on the bed and he blushed, wondering just how foolish he had been last night.

Aegis and Xin stood in the hallway, and Etienne (who was in his boxers) made a gurgled exclamation at the sight of them.

“Hel-lo, Etienne,” Xin said, his eyes cast noticeably downwards.

“God damnit,” Etienne thought, resisting the urge to wrap his arms around himself protectively.

“We were wondering if you knew where Kaitlyn was,” Aegis coughed.

“She’s in here,” Etienne said throatily.

“What?!” Xin and Aegis cried in unison.  Kaitlyn, her ringlets wild about her face, peered out of Etienne’s door.

“Who’s there…?”

“Pr…priestess,” Aegis stammered. “Even in the morning you look beautiful…”

“Hey, watch it, loverboy,” Etienne snapped as Kaitlyn blushed.

“D…did you..?” Xin asked speculatively.

“No,” Kaitlyn said hastily.  Xin breathed relief, which for some reason caused Etienne to want to pick Kaitlyn up and kiss her passionately right there, but instead he twitched, restraining himself.

“What’s up,” Kaitlyn yawned.

“Well, we thought we should discuss what to do about…everything…” Aegis trailed off as Kaitlyn slung one arm around his shoulders and the other around Xin's.

“Tell you what.  You guys and Etienne discuss, cos I’ve got to go to school.”

“Whyyyy…” Etienne moaned, not wanting to be left alone with either of them.

“It’s Monday, honey,” she said. “See you at three.”

Etienne rubbed his eyes, sighing. “You guys sit down, then.  I’m going to get dressed.”

Riordan’s fingers tangled in his hair, and he felt sickened.  His lips brushed against the back of Sikari’s neck.  Tears of disgust welled inside him, causing him to double over in pain.

“Do you not enjoy your new existence?” Riordan spoke softly, though his grip on Sikari’s arm was like death. “Come on, I know I gave you a new voice box…”

“…no.” Sikari’s usually rough voice was now like nails against sandpaper, choked by the blood he coughed as he spoke. “It…hurts…”

“Maybe you could have avoided this if you hadn’t tried to escape in the first place,” Riordan said easily, squeezing a pressure point on his neck.  Sikari gasped, clawing at the ground.

“Sometimes in life death seems the only way out…but you must understand, Sikari…” Riordan’s nails raked across his back. “With me, there is no way out.  I’m strong enough to break the bonds of death…and as far as you are concerned, I am God.”

“Wh..what do you want me to do…” Sikari whispered.

“Find the shards,” Riordan said.

“Then… what..”

“Then I’ll let you die,” He pushed the smaller boy out onto the mansion’s cobblestone path.  Sikari shuddered, coughing violently.

“How…will..will I.. know…” he stuttered, clutching his throat.  Riordan slid a necklace with an obsidian cross hanging from it over Sikari’s head.

“This artifact was once worn by the prince of an ancient kingdom on Fa’Diel.  The obsidian cross is his symbol.  Contained within in it is the power to sense and see through supernatural phenomena.  It will react and guide you to the presence of a shard,” Riordan explained.  Sikari stroked it, blinking.

“Why didn’t you give me this before…?” he mumbled, blood running from his lip.  Riordan brushed it from his skin, answering vaguely as he licked his fingers.

“I didn’t realize its power until just a few days ago…”

“Oh,” he said, standing there dumbly.  Riordan leaned over and kissed his lips.

“You always were on the slow side… but this time…” he pulled Sikari close, holding him so tightly that he feared his ribcage would shatter. “You mustn't fail me…”

“So it looks like they’ve both defected, then…that only leaves that Riordan guy.  It’s six against one, how hard could it be?” Jada said optimistically.

“Xin made him out to be pretty strong…” Lani said doubtfully, nibbling a sandwich.

“Hah!  No fear!  I bet we could take him,” Roan said, petting the salamander on her shoulder. “Couldn’t we, baby?”

The salamander chittered.

“What is that, anyway?” Azura said, petting the creature carefully.  It chittered and nuzzled her hand.

“Her name is Hikaru.  Isn’t she precious?” Roan offered Hikaru a carrot piece.

“I think it looks like a Pokemon,” Lani said.

“Anyway… I recommend finding these shards those two have been talking about…” Kiera said quietly.

“How do you propose we do that?” Jada asked.

She shrugged. “Beats me.”

“Maybe…maybe Xin and Aegis have a method…” Kaitlyn said. “We know they at least have a way of extracting the crystals…”

“You think we should like join forces or whatever?” Jada said.

“Well…I mean…”

Azura nodded. “I think it’s a good idea.”

Kaitlyn smiled.

“Yes, why not, if they don’t prove useful we can just kill them anway,” Roan kissed Hikaru. “Can’t we, precious?”

“Erm, that’s not what I meant,” Kaitlyn face-faulted.

“How was it having them at your place, Kiera?” Jada said suddenly.

“Fine…” she said. “I don’t think Xavier took well to them, though…”

“Aw, Eugene doesn’t like anybody,” Jada waved her hand.  Kiera’s face flashed annoyance, and she pursed her lips.

“Certainly not when he is referred to by that name.”

“Well it is his first name.  It’s not his fault his dad’s a dork.”

“Jada.”

Kaitlyn coughed. “How about we meet at my apartment after school, seeing as how the bell’s going to ring in a few minutes…”

“Right, right,” Roan threw her lunch bag at a random passerby.

“I might be a little late.  I…I want to stop by Sikari’s grave…” Azura’s voice dropped a few octaves.

“You’re still dwelling on him?” Jada petted Azura’s hand.

“Well…yeah…I…I feel like it’s partly my fault…you know…”

“I don’t think guilting yourself is going to make him feel any better,” Jada said gently.

“Still… I want to pay my respects…just a little longer,” she said, picking at her hands.  The lunch bell rang then, and the cafeteria exploded with the sound of yelling teenagers and seats scuffing the floor.

The group separated as they set out for their fifth period classes, but Azura was surprised to find Kaitlyn walking next to her.

“Oh…hello, Kaitlyn,” Azura said.  Kaitlyn adjusted the weight of her bag to her other shoulder, speaking hesitantly.

“I…I just wanted you to know that I understand and stuff…I really don’t know how to say it without coming off all wishy-washy, though…”

“No,” Azura shook her head. “I thought everyone else thought I was crazy…mourning over him…”

“Well, Jada might,” Kaitlyn said nervously. “She’s, er, not very forgiving…”

Kaitlyn leaned against the door of her classroom, clutching her bag. “But I guess I’m sort of a sap.”

Azura hugged Kaitlyn abruptly, and the other girl smiled.

“Thanks,” she said, and then quickly turned, melting into the crowded hallway.

“You’re welcome…” Kaitlyn murmured after her, a blush forming on her cheeks.

“Hey there,” he said, waving to Charon. “How are ya?”

“Uh…I’m okay,” Charon answered shakily, trying to ignore the collie as it sniffed his clothing.

“Ya live around here?”

“No…no,” Charon stepped aside. “Sorry for blocking the way.”

“No problem, buddy.  Are you sure you’re alright?” the man leaned in closer, causing Charon to pull away instinctively.

“What’s the matter?” the man laughed nervously.

“Nothing…”

“Ah, come on, I ain’t gonna bite, son.” The man put a hand on Charon’s shoulder.  Charon shuddered internally, resisting the desire to slice off the offending hand.

“Um, okay, dude, getting a little friendly over here,” he said, staring at the crease the man’s plump fingers were making in his coat.

“You look like you got in a fight, boy,” the man said.  Charon jerked away violently.

“No offense, but it’s really none of your business.”

“Jeez, I was just tryin’ to help,” the man said, pulling on the collie’s leash. “Come on, Cujo.”

Charon breathed heavily as the two left.  He had a notion to run back to his apartment and away from this strange little world, but he found that something in him was keeping him from moving.  A garish yellow schoolbus pulled up at the driveway nearest to him, its engine moaning and sputtering as it stopped.  Children poured out of it, and one of these, a tiny girl with short white hair and a frog t-shirt, came up to him.

“Jada?” he thought, blinking at the resemblance.

“H’lo,” the girl said. “Are you gonna go see my sister again?”

“Who..who are you?” Charon said, wondering how he had failed to notice Jada’s sibling.

“’M Rana,” she said. “Mama went to get Jada from school. I think they’ll be home soon.  You wanna see her again?”

“I…yes.. did you see me the other night?”

“Yep.  You went right past my window when you jumped from the big tree and made a loud thump.  It woke me up.”

“I’m sorry,” Charon petted her head.

“S’okay.  Do you wanna come in?”

“I don’t know if your mother would appreciate that,” Charon said.

“Naw, it’s okay.  You’re a nice man,” Rana took his hand and began to pull him towards her front door, but before they could get far a car pulled up.

“Charon?” Jada emerged from the vehicle, a backpack hanging precariously from her shoulders.

“Um…hi,” he said, squeezing Rana’s hand involuntarily.  Ms. Lucia peered at him from behind the wheel.

“Who’s this, honey?”

“Oh, he’s just a guy I know,” Jada answered lightly.

“Why is he carrying a scythe…?”

“He’s just a little strange is all,” Jada said.

“He’s a nice man, Mama,” Rana said, hugging Charon’s waist.  He twitched.

“Mmm… I suppose if you say so, darling,” she scrutinized Charon a while longer, her fingertips tapping against her black leather steering wheel.  Finally, she shook her head and restarted the ignition. “I’ll be back later, girls.  Don’t have your friend over too late.”

“Where’s she going?” Charon said nervously.

“Work,” Jada replied. “Come on in.  Let’s talk.”

Fuu darted out as the door opened, jumping onto Jada’s shoulder and snuggling her neck.

“Purrpurrpurr…” he rubbed against her, waving his tail happily until he noticed Charon.

“What’s he doing here,” Fuu said sourly, his tail suddenly rescinding and wrapping itself around his body.

“We’re going to have a happy little chat,” Jada said, throwing her bag on the floor and pulling out a couple of chairs.

“We are?” Charon was becoming unnerved by Jada’s forced cheer.

“Yes we are,” Jada said, her voice suddenly turning harsh. “Let’s start with why the hell you’re stalking me.”

“Yeah!  Mine,” Fuu said, clinging.  Jada flicked his ear.

“I…I don’t know,” he said truthfully.

“How did you know I was Lumina?” she pressed.

“I don’t know,” he answered, wringing his hands.

“Well this isn’t getting us anywhere,” Jada grumbled.

“Sorry,” he said meekly, hugging the scythe close as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“Oh, don’t be like that,” Jada sighed. “Do you want a Coke or something?”

“No…” he murmured. “Jada…”

“Eh?”

Charon’s chest ached.

“Could you come over here…”

Jada stood next to him.

“Yeah?”

Pain seeped through his chest and pounded inside his brain, pushing against his ribcage as he drew in a sharp breath of air.  The person inside him fought to surface.

“H..help,” he choked as he relinquished control.  The scythe slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor as he reached for Jada.

“Lumina,” he said, clutching her.

“You’re doing it again, dude,” Jada breathed, almost strangled by the force of his grip.  Charon pressed his face into her hair, running his fingers through her long, white locks.

“If only you would remember me,” he whispered, kissing her hair.

“R…remember you..?”

“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Fuu jumped onto Charon’s back, digging his claws into the fabric of his coat.

“I hate rodents,” Charon plucked Fuu off, dropping him unceremoniously and causing him to hit the tile with a hearty thump.  Fuu hissed, sinking his teeth into Charon’s hand.

“I’m not a rodent!”

Jada quickly slipped from Charon’s grasp as he cradled his injured hand against his chest, crying out.  Lines of blood trickled down his arm, disappearing into his sleeve.

“I-I’m sorry,” he managed. “I..I don’t know..”

Jada took his hand, administering a band-aid to the wound.

“One of you doesn’t know anything and the other is frikkin psychopath.  Lovely.”

Fuu licked Charon’s blood off his teeth and curled up on the cushion of the nearest chair, grumbling incoherently.  Charon simmered, stroking the band-aid.  He didn’t understand why he turned to emotional jelly around this girl.  Further, he couldn’t fathom why his other self always tried to claw its way into his consciousness when she was around. The ringing of Jada’s doorbell interrupted them, and she set a glass of water before him before going to answer it.

“Have some water, you’ll feel better.  That’s probably Mom at the door…thought it is kind of early...” She trotted up to her house’s entrance, calling hello as she twisted the knob.  The words stuck in her throat when she saw who stood on her threshold.  His spiky, red hair was mussed and stained with traces of blood, and his skin was tinted a sallow, yellow color.  Dead eyes stared at her from within sockets that seemed to have sunk into his face, and his lips were dotted with sprinkles of blood.  The sound of his breathing hung in Jada’s mind as he opened his mouth to speak.

“Hello,” Sikari said simply, his guttural voice scratching against her eardrums.  After this stunning speech, he fell to his knees and promptly collapsed.  Jada stood, shocked, until finally she uttered a few intelligent words.

“Well, damn.”

“They say it takes a lot of pressure to turn a piece of coal into a diamond,” Omnes said.  He was standing at Kaitlyn’s mirror, running one of her brushes through his long, color-shifting hair. “Perhaps we just haven’t applied enough pressure.”

“Whatever, dude.”

“You still don’t care about anyone but yourself, do you?” Omnes snapped, slamming the brush onto the counter of Kaitlyn’s vanity.

“That’s not true…I..I care about Kaitlyn…” Umi mumbled.

“You’re doing a beautiful job of showing it.”

“It’s kind of hard to do anything when you’re in the body of a fish,” Umi answered angrily.

“Perhaps you wouldn’t be in the body of a fish if you weren’t such a selfish jerk,” Omnes returned, slapping his bowl.  Umi cursed.

“Have I ever told you that I hate you?”

“Oh, but I just love you, Jigoku,” Omnes said airily.  “You’re my favorite project.”

“What the fuck,” Umi grumbled.

“Such coarse language, really!” Omnes said brightly.  “My poor, virgin ears.”

Kaitlyn stepped in at that moment, throwing her car keys onto her table and running for her room, almost slamming into Omnes.  He wrapped his arms around her, purring silkily.

“Slow down, baby, we’ve got all night.”

“Eek,” Kaitlyn squirmed.

“Hey, cut that out!” Umi snapped, straining against the glass of his bowl. “Man, you are on crack.”

Omnes raised one eyebrow at Umi and then smirked, cupping his hand beneath Kaitlyn’s chin and kissing her deeply.  He slid his hands down the length of her body as he held the kiss, though his eyes were trained on Umi’s currently convulsing form.

“Let go of her!” he shouted, enraged.  Omnes pushed Kaitlyn onto her bed and loomed over her.

“So, was it good for you?”

She wiped her lips, shaking her head violently.

“I was just kissed by a hermaphrodite!”

“I am not a hermaphrodite,” Omnes hissed.

“Well, you’re not a man, that’s for sure,” she whimpered, crawling to the bathroom.

“Obviously she was so overwhelmed by the wonder of my touch that she can’t properly compliment me,” Omnes huffed.

“What the hell is your problem?!  No one said you could kiss her!  Or put your hands on her or anything…it’s bad enough that she stayed with that drunkard for a night..”

“I think someone’s jealous,” Omnes sang as Kaitlyn re-entered the room.

“Everyone’s going to be here in a few minutes,” she said crankily. “I don’t need to listen to you two bickering.”

“We’re not bickering, darling,” Omnes said. “We’re merely engaging in a spirited discussion.”

“Sure,” Kaitlyn said, going to greet whoever was knocking.  The pounding was desperately fervent, and Kaitlyn opened her door to find Azura on her mat, clutching a rosary and crying in terror.

“Azura!” Kaitlyn pulled her friend inside, embracing her. “What happened?  What’s wrong?”

“S…Sikari,” she stammered. “Not in his grave…cross broken…oh, God..”

“Sh…shh,” Kaitlyn led Azura to a chair and set her down, fetching her a glass of warm milk.

“It’s okay…just tell me what happened,” Kaitlyn said, stroking Azura’s hair.  Omnes wandered in with Umi’s fishbowl, listening as Azura talked.

“I…I was just going to visit Sikari’s grave,” she began, her voice shaky and small,”and when I got there the…the soil had been upturned…his body was gone…and the..the marker for his grave was broken in half…”

“What the hell?!” Umi said. “What kind of crazy bastard would dig up that guy’s grave?!”

“It must have been Riordan,” Kaitlyn said, hugging Azura.  The phone rang as if on cue, and Kaitlyn picked it up, hesitantly speaking first.

“Hello?”

“I think it’s safe to say that we have a problem, Houston,” Jada’s voice came over the line.

“I should say so…Azura’s here crying about Sikari..his grave was robbed, I think…”

“Uh, it’s a little more severe than that, honey…”

“What do you mean?”

“Sikari’s here.  Right now.”

“What?!” Kaitlyn almost screamed into the receiver, causing Azura to stop mid-sob.  Wincing, Kaitlyn said again, softer,

“What?”

“He’s here, man… He, like, passed out on my porch.”

“Dead people can’t pass out on porches!” Kaitlyn cried, her heart beating furiously. “This is so not happening,” she thought.

“Well, obviously he’s not very dead then, is he?!”

“Alright, we’ll be right there…jeez, this is getting so convoluted…” Kaitlyn set the phone on its cradle and helped Azura to her feet.

“Come on, honey.”

“Where are we going?” Azura asked, grasping her milk mug anxiously. “What was that conversation about?”

“I’ll..um.. I’ll tell you when we get there,” Kaitlyn answered gently as she directed Azura out of the apartment.  “We’ve got to go down the hall and get Etienne and them first, though…”

“Have fun, girls!” Omnes waved.

“No, thank you,” Aegis said stiffly.

“Oh..um.. I don’t drink,” Xin said sheepishly. “…do you have any juice?”

“Yeah, sure,” Etienne dragged himself to the fridge, grabbing a carton of orange juice.  He fixed a glass and brought it out, surprised to find Kaitlyn and Azura standing awkardly in his foyer.

“Umm, we have a situation, you guys,” Kaitlyn said.

“Meh?” Etienne handed Xin his glass.

“Er, well, apparently Sikari has a.. um..night of the living dead thing going on…” Kaitlyn began.  Azura started as Xin almost choked on his juice.

“H…he’s alive?!”

“Well, in a manner of speaking…according to Jada…” Kaitlyn twiddled her thumbs.  Azura leaned against Kaitlyn and sobbed.  Kaitlyn petted her hair.

“I think we’d better get over there,” she said, dabbing at Azura’s cheeks with a tissue.

“Wasn’t everyone supposed to c-come here?” Azura asked.

“I’m just working under the assumption that she’s already called everyone else,” Kaitlyn said, smiling weakly. “Come on, I’ll drive.”

“Thank you, priestess,” Aegis said, kissing her hand.  A growl formed in Etienne’s throat, but he suppressed it, instead speaking gruffly.

“I’m coming, too.”

“You three will have to squeeze in the back, though,” Kaitlyn warned.

“No problems with that,” Xin said cheerfully, hooking one arm with Aegis's and the other with Etienne's.

“Something tells me I should have just stayed in bed today,” Etienne thought.

Jada laid a cold compress on Sikari’s head, washing off the dried patches of blood on his lips and face.

“He looks about as good as me,” Charon said, peering at Sikari.

“Poor guy,” Fuu snapped, glaring at Charon, who waved the scythe menacingly in response.

“Jadaaa!” Rana called. “Your friends are here!”

“Send’em in!” Jada yelled back.  Kaitlyn, Roan, Azura and the rest crowded into Jada’s living room.

“This story has way too many characters,” Jada muttered.

“Sikari,” Azura knelt by his side, wrapping her arms around him.  “Can you hear me?”

“Azura..” he mumbled, his eyes opening partway.  His fingers brushed against her cheek, and she kissed his hair.

“Well isn’t this romantic,” Jada said. “If you love him so much, you hold the compress, okay?”

“Sikari,” Xin said, stepping forward.

“Hey, Xin…Aegis… how it’s going…”

“I’m so sorry…”

Sikari waved his hand.

“None of that…none of that…I…I didn’t come here to… have a pity party…”

“Why exactly are you here, then?” Lani ventured.

“To get a shard…” he said, holding up an obsidian cross that had been hanging around his neck.  A black light burst from its center, and Jada heard the sound of Charon’s scream.  The light faded and Charon hit the wooden flooring on his knees, his coat slipping from his shoulders as his animus crystal exploded from his chest.  The other others saw the scars in his flesh, but instead of turning away, they stared, transfixed.  The shard inside his crystal clattered onto the wood and Jada suddenly regained her senses, taking hold of Charon’s crystal and pressing it back into his chest.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many scars in my life,” Kaitlyn said softly.  Charon realized he wasn’t wearing his coat, and his stomach churned at the looks of fascinated disgust he saw on the faces of those around him.

“Charon…” Jada reached for him.

“D…don’t touch me!” he cried, fumbling for his coat. “Don’t even look at me…I can’t bear it..”
Slowly, his thin fingers trembling, he took his scythe’s handle, holding the weapon against him as if it were a security blanket.

“Ah, the second shard..” an unfamiliar voice said, causing Charon to stop and stare at this newcomer.

“Riordan,” Sikari coughed, clutching Azura’s wrist.  Xin quickly hid behind Aegis, making frightened cat-like noises as he did so.

“Transform!” Kaitlyn said, already retrieving her pen.

“Not in my living room!” Jada said, snatching the shard and running out her back door.  The girls transformed and all but Undine and Sikari chased Jada into her yard.  Riordan stepped in front of her, pinning her to the grass and smiling at her wickedly.

“Just give me the shard,” he said quietly, as if ignoring the fact that seven others were standing around him.

“How about no,” she said, kicking him between the legs and springing to her feet as he released her, gasping.

“Nice move,” Sylphid laughed.  Mana sweatdropped as she brought forth her staff.

“Brat,” Riordan appeared behind her, wrapping one hand around her throat, pressing his fingers against her windpipe.

“Don’t try anything with that staff or I’ll crush her..”

“L..Lumina,” Charon said hoarsely.  An image of the past presented itself to him as he watched Lumina struggle for air.  He recalled hearing her screams, and a figure clad in black standing over her, a shadow spell forming in his hands.  He saw himself with his scythe, rushing at the figure…and then all he could see was red.  In a sudden, swift movement he stood, crying, and brought his weapon down, cutting a deep wound in Riordan’s arm.

“S…stay away from Lumina,” he gasped, raising the scythe for another strike.  Riordan hissed, healing the wound quickly. “I will get those shards.”

A sharp pike formed in his open palm, and he drove it into earth beneath him.  The ground shook in response, bringing them all to the grass.  Lumina dropped the shard as her balance shifted, and Riordan caught it, laughing maniacally.

“Oh, sure, rub it in,” Lumina grumbled, smacking her lawn with her palm.

“Jada?” Rana peered out the back door, blinking. “Who are all these people?”

“Get back inside!” Lumina yelled.

“Hello, darling,”  Riordan said, by her side and stroking her hair in an instant. “What’s your name?”

“Rana,” she said, smiling at him. “Who’re you?”

“Rana!  Don’t talk to strangers, damn it!” Lumina said, starting towards them.  Riordan looked at her, his cold eyes fierce.  She stopped, clenching and unclenching her fists, seething.  He tousled Rana’s hair.

“Maybe you should play inside today, Rana…”

“I wanna play with Jada,” she whimpered.

“She’ll be in soon,” he promised, hugging her.  He took her hand, pressing something into it as he kissed her cheek. “Go on inside now…”

“Okay…” she said, turning and going back into the house.

“What the hell?  What did you do to her!” Lumina said frantically.

“I didn’t do anything,” he answered, his eyes lowered. “But if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to be going now…”

“Uh, hello, we’re in the middle of a battle scene here!  Leaving is not permitted!” Lumina said.

“Seeing as how I am the main villain, I am permitted to arbitrarily leave the battle for any purpose, whether it be to save my own skin—which, I assure you, it is not—or merely because I feel like it,” Riordan replied haughtily.

“I think I used that once..cept not in so many words…” Etienne mumbled.  Mana hugged him sheepishly.  Meanwhile, Riordan was returning to Jada’s house, followed closely by the procession of senshi.

“I thought you were leaving, dude,” Lumina grumbled.

“I am.  But I have to take what’s mine first,” Riordan smiled.  Sikari, who had been struggling to converse with Undine, heard the sound of Riordan’s voice and quieted mid-sentence.

“Step aside, child…” Riordan said to Undine.

“Now, Azura,” Sikari whispered. “You’ve got to…”

“Sikari,” she said, her lower lip trembling.

“Please,” he coughed. Undine pressed her open palm against his chest, kissing his bloodstained lips lightly.  The false crystal inside him materialized.

“Thank you…” he breathed, as Riordan’s face contorted in anger.  Sikari kissed Azura’s fingers as the crystal blackened, turning to grains of dust that scattered on his body. “Goodbye…”

Undine choked up as he closed his eyes and transformed into ashes before her.  Riordan cursed and gave her a look that seeped venom.

“Do you know how long it took to make that soul?!” he started to advance on her, but then, catching a glimpse of Rana on the steps, he halted.

“Consider yourself lucky,” he muttered, coalescing out abruptly.  Undine acted as though she hadn’t even heard him, sifting through the ashes and crying as they slid through her fingers.  Her uniform faded as she lamented, and the others changed back as well.

“Um…what just happened?” Lani blinked.

“The big scary man was here but then he left and Azura took out Sikari’s crystal thingy and now he’s apparently become a nice pile of ashes,” Roan nodded.

“And other battle went by in which I didn’t even fight at all,” Kaitlyn sighed heavily. “I’m so useless…”

She sat next to Azura, hugging her. “I..I couldn’t even save him…”

“He wanted to die,” Azura said mournfully. “He said living hurt too much…”

“I’d imagine so, what with all the blood he was coughing up,” Roan said, earning her Azura’s glare. “What?”

Azura hiccuped and swept the ashes into her cupped hand.

“Where’s an urn when you need one, huh?” Jada said gently, proffering her a steel bowl.

“I’m surprised he didn’t say anything about us,” Xin said quietly.

“I’m glad he didn’t,” Aegis said, brushing a lock of Xin’s hair from his face.  Charon sat in the corner, trembling as he hugged his scythe.

“Thanks for the help,” Jada said, touching the top of his head lightly.  He  turned up his face, and she blinked as she saw the tears running down his cheeks.

“Help me,” he said, rocking back and forth.

“With what?”

“To… to be free..”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Jada said, wrapping her arms around him.  He stiffened, but she did not let go.

“The…the other person inside me…I..I have to get rid of him…but I dunno how,” he said pathetically.

“And we call Roan insane,” Lani said dryly.

“I have people inside me,” Roan grinned. “I’m just rather fond of them.”

“I think you guys can go home now,” Jada said crossly.

“Are you staying with us again tonight?” Kiera, who had said nothing throughout the ordeal, asked Aegis and Xin.  Aegis bit his lip.

“I don’t suppose we have an alternative..”

“Fine then.  Come along.”

Jada watched the three of them leave, resisting the urge to ask her friend to stay.  Kiera’s temperament had been even icier than usual lately, and Jada was beginning to wonder if perhaps something was amiss.  Lani left, supporting Azura on one arm, with a bouncing Roan on their heels.  Kaitlyn gazed at Jada and Charon wistfully, as if wishing she knew how to help, but finally she shook her head and said goodbye.  Etienne was sitting on her couch, staring at the obsidian cross Sikari had left in his wake.

“I feel as though this belongs to me,” he said, fingering it.

“So take it and get out, Negaboy,” Jada said, pointing to her door.

“You’re so mean to me,” Etienne sighed, pocketing the necklace.

“Come on, Etienne, I’ll buy you a drink,” Kaitlyn called, and he brightened, hastening out.

“Mama’s going to be home really soon, Jada,” Rana said. “Are we gonna invite mister Charon for dinner?”

“Do you want to?” she asked him.  He nodded slowly.

“But..um… you know… that guy.. he took the shard thing…”

“Yeah, I know…but that’s only one, right?  And I don’t guess he can do much with just one of them…” she sighed. “Anyway.. let’s not think about it right now…help me clean up, okay?”

He smiled a small, hopeful smile.  “Sure…”
 

Well, that's Chapter 11. ^^;; I hope everybody likes it, I spent most of today on it...^^;; Talk to meeee...

Rana wears a frog t-shirt because her name is latin for frog... I amuse myself..^^;;
Riordan also, obviously, doesn't like to fight in front of kids.  He doesn't want to spill blood in front of the chilluns. ^^;  I bet you guys are wondering what he gave her (or you're not and I'm just being pompous).. you'll have to wait for that XD

And..uh.. Xavier is the LAST new character I'm going to introduce in this season.  Promise. =P