Villen and Kaoru reappeared in a shadowy room where three sheltered beds rested. Machines hummed, the only noise besides the soft breathing coming from two of the three beds. "Well?" He questioned the single man that was pacing the room.

"They'll be awake within the hour." He replied nervously, "They're already coming out of their self induced comas, much like Kaoru did when he had his premonition."

"Wake them now, my sisters have slept long enough..." Kaoru insisted, pulling out his empty syringe, and tossing it into the trash. He felt around, taking Villen's hand. "Take me to my medicine cabinet please..." he asked, tugging on it slightly.

Villen moved over to the medicine cabinet and touched a finger to the metal pad where a lock should be. He released a burst of heat and it slid open soundlessly, "There." He said, "Get what you need."

"Master Villen?" The sleepy voice of Yamiko filtered into the air, "It's been so long since I've heard your voice!" Her bare feet padded across the floor and she threw her arms around Villen and Kaoru's waists.

Kaoru smiled, fumbling through the bottles, marked in brail, and grabbing the one he needed, and a fresh syringe. "So you're awake now big sister.." he mumbled, pulling the cap off the needle, and drawing some of the narcotic into it.

"Yes, well, it's hard to ignore Master Villen's voice when he's in the room." Yamiko said, "Awake only a few minutes and you were already in a battle?" She questioned curiously.

"Well, looks like we're all awake now, hm?" Caraki's voice was flat as she spoke from the foot of her bed.

"It's the reason i awoke before the two of you sister. I had a vision, and went to Master Villen's aid.." Kaoru replied, recapping the syringe, and placing it in the slot on his belt. "Now that we are all awake, we have a problem...Ethan's broken free, and Adrien is going unchecked...not to mention Satul sucsessfully found the artifacts"

"Didn't you foresee Master Villen getting them?" Yamiko questioned, "I don't get how Satul could have overcome that vision."

"Master Villen, do you wish for us to go take care of Satul and get those artifacts back for you?" Caraki questioned.

"I've got somebody on it." Villen shook his head, "Take the time to get ready for the end of our war. I'm willing to bet that those fools will try and band together one last time."

"Who do you have who'll take care of Satul?" Caraki pouted, she had wanted to kill.

"Come now little sister...you don't always need to know the details...but you should know, he would be hard for even myself to kill...so you shouldn't even worry about it." Kaoru muttered, feeling along the desk infront of him, until he came across a collapible walking stick he used to move around, and fight with if needed. "I'm hungry...where's that old man, he needs to cook something."

"Still, I would have liked to see how much weight he could bear before being crushed by the air around him." Caraki replied evenly, "I'm hungry too... it's been what- two years since last we've been about?"

"Something like that." Yamiko replied, "I'd sure like some cakes... Master Villen- where's the kitchen?"

"It's in the lower levels." Villen replied, "I'll have something prepared for you three. For now, relax and get reaccustomed to being awake again."

"That fight was plenty to reaccustom me to being awake. It was quite refreshing too." Kaoru replied, wondering around the room aimlessly. "Can someone please help me get down stairs...I'm hungry.." he whined.

"I'll take you, little brother." Yamiko linked his arm in hers, "Just follow me, and don't drag your feet!"

Kaoru jumped up, "Caraki...help..." he squeaked, unsucsessfully trying to pull away from his older sister.

Caraki allowed her lips to curl up into a smirk and approached Kaoru and Yamiko, "Come now, sister, you shouldn't tease him so." She said smoothly.

"Come now, sweetie, don't ruin the fun!" Yamiko giggled as the three of them left the room.

"What's there to eat today Caraki...last time, Yamiko tricked me and switched all my lables around..." Kaoru grumbled as they walked into the dining area.

"Follow your nose." Caraki said, "Smells like they're making steaks... There's a few different types of sweets sitting out- Master Villen probably called down ahead and threatened to have their heads if they didn't give us exactly what we wanted."

"Why would he have to threaten them for us, I think were more than capable of handling it." Kaoru giggled, as they walked up. "I just want some fruit..."

"There's a bowl of fruits sitting about two feet to the left on the table." Caraki said, "And you know how Master Villen is, he likes to do the threatening himself."

"Mmm, chocolate cake!" Yamiko said happily, piling a plate with sweets.

Kaoru shook his head, fumbling until he felt the bowl of fruit, and brought it to him, popping a grape into his mouth.

"Hey, I'd like a steak- medium rare!" Caraki called into the kitchen, "Make it snappy!"

Kaoru stared blankly out towards the kitchen, laughing when he tripped one of the passing cooks with his cane. "This is going to be a good day...but sisters...after we eat, we need to concentrate on a plan."

"Indeed we do, brother." Caraki accepted her steak and tore into it ravenously, "Those betrayers need to die."

"There are so many of them though...if we catch them together...we can crush them together..." Kaoru mumbled, biting into an apple.

"What fun is it to crush our victims so easily?" Caraki questioned.

"It would be quick and easy... A way to save time and hastle for Master Villen." Yamiko said, enjoying her cakes.

"It would take too long to hunt them down individually...oh and Yamiko, you aren't to go against Adrien. You're gift would be useless against him..either Caraki or myself must fight him, understood?"

Yamiko sighed, "Yeah, yeah... Maybe I'll take out one of his brothers then. Deal a mental blow when I kill them."

"I'll kill anyone that gets in Master Villen's way." Caraki looked up from her steak long enough to say.

"Then my sister, we have alot of enemies...because the millitary is going to start coming in on us as well soon...they have an entire betallion of gifted soldiers...highly trained..." Kaoru muttered, pulling a strawberry from the bowl and smiling. "They should be fun practice for me..." he whispered, plucking the foliage from the berry, and popping it whole into his mouth.

"The three of us can take care of anything." Caraki said firmly, finishing her steak and grabbing an apple from the bowl of fruit.

"Almost anything anyway." Yamiko corrected her, "You seem to have forgotten Master Villen's stories."

"Enlighten me Yamiko.." Kaoru asked, nibbling at another strawberry, sitting almost as if he were staring at her.

"You've forgotten as well?" Yamiko tsked in disappointment, "Those two... The first that Satul snagged and tested his little mind control experiments on... And his twin sister. They're not like anything in this world, especially not when awakened. Master Villen wants them more than anything to be under his control."

"Oh, Avella and Atsuki...but even them together, we'd be a formidible match, though we wouldn't be able to kill them, they wouldn't be able to kill us either..." Kaoru replied,propping his chin on his fist.

"It's true enough that they more than likely wouldn't be able to slay us, but if they team up with the betrayers... Well, let's just say we're screwed." Yamiko said.

Caraki nodded, "So, any ideas on what we're going to do?" She questioned.

"Kill Atsuki...Master Villen may want him alive, but he has no chances of sucsess if they team up with the diserters...kill Atsuki, and his victory is guaranteed..." Kaoru answered, plucking a grape from the bunch in the bowl.

"He wants Atsuki alive, though." Yamiko said, "We can't just go and kill him. Why not recapture him and bring him before Master Villen? I'm sure Master Villen will be able to do something."

"Fine, I'll get him." Kaoru grumbled, standing up and wondering his way towards the stairs. "A little help please..." he growled, whacking one of the passing cooks with his cane, and making them lead him up the stairs and back to Villen.

"Master Villen!" Yamiko called cheerily as they entered the room where Villen's presence was sensed.

"Master Villen, I want to go after Atsuki, and go ahead and bring him back before he has a chance to make contact with Avella, and break your control over her." Kaoru stated bluntly, collapsing the metal cane he used, and placing it in a loop on his belt. "I can go alone, I'm more effecient, and subtle than Yamiko and Caraki anyway...I'll be fine."

"You should do well enough in bringing him back, but Atsuki is not alone right now." Villen said, turning to face them, "Take Caraki with you. Don't worry about killing the others just yet."

"Caraki would only get in my way, She'll be frozen in time too when I make my move...I can handle them alone..." Kaoru protested.

"You're cruel, Kaoru, to think that I haven't improved my skills." Caraki said in mild frustration.

"You can't stop my time abilities...only two I've seen can...Master Villen, and Adrien because of his dimensional gift..." Kaoru replied evenly, turning to leave. "Can you teleport me to him Master?"

"I'm as strong if not better than Adrien!" Caraki said, "When you and big sister went to sleep... Master Villen taught me how to stop your ability from affecting me!"

Kaoru rolled his eyes annoyedly. "Fine, fine you can come with me if you want, just let me fight alone...I suppose I coudl use some help anyway concidering I can't even get out of this god damned room alone!" he growled.

"Don't think that just because you're blind, we can't see your actions." Caraki said, "Now let's go." She growled.

Kaoru grumbled again, feeling along the wall until he came to the stairs, and becan his acent up them. "I know you can see my actions, but can you stop them?" He asked, giggling quietly as they walked.

"Certainly, but it would cause you a great amount of pain." Caraki replied in mild amusement, "Best watch your step, big brother." She walked several steps behind him.

"If you try anything, I won't hesitate to fight back..." Kaoru whispered darkly as he reached the top of the stairs, and left the compound.

"Who said anything about trying to hurt you, big brother?" Caraki replied, "I suppose we'll be heading into the woods... Atsuki's energy signature is somewhere distant up ahead."

Kaoru sighed. "I know...and just so you know...if you get into this fight, I've seen you getting hurt..." he whispered as the ywalked into the forest.

"Pain does not affect me, you should know that by now. I've been needing a fight, let me stretch my legs a little."

"Not pain..injury...but do as you wish, I'll be there to bail you out as always...but just remember, your powers are useless in the shadow realm..." Kaoru warned.

"I know, but what are the odds that one of them will drag me there?" Caraki raised an eyebrow, "And besides that, I'm good with my weapons. So even if I couldn't use my ability... I'm not defenseless."

"The majority of them have shadow abilities...Atsuki, Satul, and Adrien having the most devastating...but there's a new player on teh board...I haven't seen what he can do yet.." Kaoru replied, motioning for her to stop, "He's close..."

"I know this..." Caraki replied, rolling her eyes, "There's only two of them ahead right now. Adrien and Ethan are somewhere else entirely."

"Aedin is elsewhere too...it looks like the other is a light elemental.." Kaoru muttered, fumbling his fingers over his belt, trying to decide what weapon he would use.

"So we're dealing with a light and a dark elemental... If they're not careful, their abilities could clash and make them both useless." Caraki replied.

"I doubt that, now, just stay here until the other makes his move...I'm taking Atsuki now..." Kaoru muttered, grabbing the extedable cane from his belt, and vanishing, reappearing infront of Atsuki, his lips curled back in a smirk, and his useless eyes staring blankly towards the male. "Hello Atsuki."

"He asks too much of me to stay behind." Caraki pouted, making her way towards her brother.

"Kaoru... Why are you here?" Atsuki gazed at him with a frown.

"To bring you back...now you could save yourself the pain of a fight with me...and just come on your own.." Kaoru muttered, flicking his wrist, and extending his metal cane. "Or I can beat you down and still bring you with me."

"I'd sooner die than go back." Atsuki replied, drawing his sword warily.

"I don't suggest you fight me Atsuki...you know what will happen, save yourself the trouble..." Kaoru muttered, walking towards him casually.

"I'd rather not." Atsuki replied, "Stop where you are, Kaoru. You're wasting your own time. I'm not going back, I refuse to do so."

"I don't take orders from you Atsuki...now come willingly, or you have no choice but to fight me.." Kaoru muttered, twirlling his cane around boredly as he continued towards Atsuki. "Caraki, put up a feild so he can't escape please..."

Caraki snapped her fingers boredly, "Done." She muttered.

"I've told you, I'd sooner die than go back there. If we have to fight, then so be it." Atsuki replied.

"Oh but Atsuki, you misunderstand. I don't have to kill you if we fight..." Kaoru muttered, pulling a syringe from his belt. "Now, i'll ask you to come willingly one last time, now that you know you're coming one way or another. If you refuse, don't bother talking anylonger, this is a fight for your life, don't hold back, and attack me with everything you have. Not taht it will do you any good..."

"Stop wasting your breath." Atsuki adjusted his grip on his sword and lifted his arm, shadow spikes shot wildly into the air around him and aimed themselves for Kaoru.

Kaoru danced gracefully around the shadow spikes, weaving and winding around, quickly closing the space between he and Atsuki. "You'll have to do better than that."

"Stop talking, your voice is beginning to annoy me." Atsuki replied simply, and this time he sent several waves of dark energy swirling up to grab at Kaoru's feet.

"So close.." Kaoru whispered, fading in and out of veiw, inbetween the pulses, until he appeared infront of Atsuki, spinning around, and bringing the metal cane he uses towards his face.

A thick wall of shadows sprouted from the ground, blocking the blow. Atsuki stumbled backwards slightly. He was still far from able to fight in top shape, but he'd be damned if he just gave himself up.

"You're weaker than I thought Atsuki.." Kaoru muttered, appearing on the other side of the shadow wall, and thrusting the handle of his cane towards his opponents forehead.

"That won't stop me from fighting you." Atsuki replied, shocking Kaoru's cane aside and swinging his sword at Kaoru's torso.

"You're wrong.." Kaoru whispered, moving closer to Atsuki, and avoiding his blade, driving the syringe into his leg, and pushing the plunger, injecting him with an extremely powerful sedative. "Not even your master could win against me..." he whispered, fading from veiw, and appearing a few feet away, leaving the syring imbedded in his leg.

Atsuki cursed and stumbled backwards, yanking the syringe from his leg and throwing it to the ground, "You never did play fair." He shook his head to ward off the dizzy feeling that was descending upon him and ran forward, sword raised to attack Kaoru at least once more.

"There's no such thing as fair.." Kaoru whispered as a double of him, landed infront of Atsuki from the tree's above, blocking the blade with his cane, and spinning around, striking him with it as well.

"Didn't look like much of a challenge..." Caraki muttered as Atsuki stumbled and fell, "Then again, he was pretty weak to start with today. So... whatever happened to that 'injury' I was supposed to get?"

"You didn't interfeare...and if you'll recall, I didn't say who would hurt you..." Kaoru muttered, waving away his double and walking towards the unconcious Atsuki.

"Tch, yeah, yeah." Caraki shrugged, "Too bad none of the others were here to interfere either... I really would have enjoyed stretching a little." She waved her hand and the field around Kaoru and Atsuki vanished.

'It really wouldn't have mattered, all of my doubles are just as strong as I am...so I really didn't need any help." Kaoru muttered, grabbing ahold of Atsuki's arm, and moving to drag him along. "Do something please...he's to heavy to carry.."

"Wouldn't have needed, help, eh?" Caraki giggled, lightening Atsuki's body for Kaoru.

Kaoru grumbled, lifting up Atsuki and carrying him on his back. "He's...still...heavy..." he groaned. "Can't you...just make him..f-float or something..."

"If I did that, it wouldn't be any fun." Caraki replied, "Besides, right now he ways roughly 30lbs."

"Yay, it's still a pain in my..." Kaoru started, before grumbling and sighing. "I'm small...and I am out of shape as you just saw...he was able to block my attack, on a few occasions.."

"Especially in his weakened state." Caraki shrugged and took another twenty pounds off of Atsuki's weight, "Better?"

Kaoru nodded, readjusting Atsuki on his back, and reaching out, taking Caraki's hand as they walked. "Much, thank you, now can we go back home?"

"Yes, let's get home then, brother." Caraki smiled happily, "Shouldn't take too long."

Kaoru nodded, smiling softly as well. "Master Villen will be pleased..." he whispered, skipping along beside his sister as they returned home.

"He will be very pleased." Caraki replied, "We're out of the woods now... I can see Master Villen's base just ahead."

Kaoru nodded again. "Very well.." he whispered as they continued forward, and walked into the base a few moment's later. "Master Villen!" he called.

"Ah, I see that you've both succeeded." Villen said as he made his way towards them, "Very good."

"I shouldn't have bothered going at all.." Kaoru muttered,dropping Atsuki at Villen's feet. " He wasn't even worth my time.." he grumbled. "He's been injected with a coctail i mixed personally, he'll be awake in an hour or so, but unable to move, or use his gifts for atleast two days. Plenty of time for you to take control over him again."

"Looks like he spent too much time in the shadow realm, probably when he escaped." Villen shrugged, "I'll get him into a cell until he awakens." He waved his hand and Atsuki's form vanished.

"Where's Yamiko, I don't hear her, and she's usually glued to your side when she isn't pestering me..." Kaoru asked, smiling softly when he didn't hear a smart remark from his sister, letting him know she truly wasn't around.

"She's gone after Avella- the girl I sent to take care of Satul..." Villen replied, "I sent her... just in case the possession breaks."

"Yamiko can't fight Avella on her own...Caraki, go assist her." Kaoru muttered, walking to Villen's side.

"Hopefully I'll actually get to fight this time..." Caraki muttered before leaving.

"Do you think I should go with them as well Master Villen?" kaoru asked, fumbling a long strand of his hair inbetween his fingers boredly.

"Not just yet," Villen shook his head, "If they run into trouble, I'll send you."

"Well, what should I do then?" Kaoru asked, "I'm bored, is there someone here that can train with me?"

"Do as you please, but be ready for when I may need you." Villen replied, "I don't think anyone here is strong enough to properly train with you... You'd have to wait until your sisters return."

"I'll train with myself then.." Kaoru muttered as a double of himself formed beside him, and they vanished, appearing in the training room and began fighting with eachother.

---

Thias followed and than held up a hand for silence. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Satul questioned, stopping and listening intently.

"Rumbling..I hear rumbling.." Thias starteds to say, than suddenly he slammed Sutal against the wall and flatened himself to it next to Sutal as several large boulders slammed through the corridor. Thias hissed in pain as one clipped his side.

"You okay?" Satul asked quickly.

"I..think so." He whispered as he tested himself and groaned again. "I think a rib is broken."

"Will you be able to walk?" Satul asked, "We need to get out of he-..." His voice trailed off as his eyes glued themselves upon a familiar figure, "It's not possible... Avella?"

She stood barely ten feet away from the two, a frown delicately turned down the corners of her lips, and her eyes had a strange, glazed over look, "It's time." She murmured in a voice that was nowhere near her own, "Master Villen desires you back, Satul."

Satul blanched, "He-he's overwhelmed her mind!"

A hollow laugh filtered through the air and another girl appeared, Yamiki, "No, you've got it quite backwards." She giggled, "Master Villen had to possess her with another soul, seems she's too strong-willed right now for him to actually control."

Satul narrowed his eyes, "Why are you telling me this?"

Yamiko's gaze sharpened, "I don't like her. I'd much rather kill her... but Master Villen wants her alive. Apparently she and Atsuki... Will change everything for us now. Once we have both, we will be unstopable."

Thias was still for a long while as he gazed at the girl. Something was familiar about her. He had images swirl around his mind as things slid into place. "Avella..." He whispered. He wrapped his arms around her quickly. "Avella.....don't let him control you!"

"I control myself." She replied coldly, shrugging his grasp from her, "Or to say, I control this body for as long as Master Villen wills it."

"Thias, she's possessed, she's not been brainwashed yet." Satul called, "Quickly we need to find a way to destroy the spirit without destroying her..."

"Forgive me." He whispered in her ear as he knocked her out. He scooped her up in his arms. "What do you suggest?" Thias asked a little surprised that Sutal didn't question his actions or familiarity with Avella. He remembered who he was..who he had been.

"I suggest that you release the girl." Caraki dove between the two men.

"What are you doing here?" Yamiko demanded.

"Making sure that you don't fail, sister." Caraki replied coolly, "We've got Atsuki now, just need the girl and Satul and Master Villen's plans will go into play..."

"You won't succeed." Satul replied, balling his hands into fists, "We won't let you take her, and we'll get Atsuki back."

"Oh, but you can try." The two girls giggled.

A protective dome of fire erupted around Thias as he held protectively onto Avella. His voice changed to a strong, commanding and angry one. "I won't let you take the one I love!" Blue fire erupted around his hand as he focused on burning away the spirit that had control of Avella.
The flames around him leapt higher putting a protective ball around Sutal. The fire didn't harm Sutal, Avella, or Thias.

"You fool! You won't get away with keeping them from Master Villen!" Caraki shielded herself and Yamiko from Thias' power, "Just who the hell are you?"

"The one you... love?" Satul murmured to Thias, "You... don't even know her?"

He closed his eyes briefly and his form shifted to its original shape for a moment and than resumed its new shape. "I am the Dark Phoenix. I am your brother, Sutal." He said as he opened his eyes.

"I don't... I don't understand." Satul managed to say.

"Phoenixes are reborn from their ashes...it would seem the same applied to me, only after I saw Avella did I remember." He said feeling a little fatigued. He successfully burned the evil spirit away, but that and maintaining the fire shields was draining him. He held tightly to Avella hoping all would work out.

"So then... you're the phoenix... Not truly my brother, Lanzer?"

"I'm both...If you ever considered me a brother that is." Thias replied softly. Still watching the others for any sign of trouble.

"I-" Satul shook his head, "This is a bit much to take in just yet... I need time to think, I lost my brother and yet... Here you stand now, with the memories and appearance of his..."

"Let's see how much weight you can hold before it crushes your bodies and your barrier." Caraki grinned, her hand held out, the pressure around the three of them grew heavier and heavier.

Thias gritted his teeth. "I thought you needed her? Wouldn't he be angry if you killed her?" He asked as he threw fire at Caraki.

"I don't plan to kill her." Caraki stated, "I can manipulate my powers, crushing you, preserving her body..." She grinned as her barrier absorbed the fire.

A dark look flashed across his face as fire flashed through the area. He appeared with Avella behind Sutal and grabbed him. "We are going now." He whispered in his ear as he made a mock appearance of them several feet away, the flames concealing their true position.

"We'd best hurry," Satul murmured, "This cave is collapsing, remember?"

He nodded and the three of them vanished into the fire.

"We have to report back to Master Villen..." Caraki muttered sourly as they, too, vanished from the collapsing caves.

---

---

Thias, Sutal, and Avella appeared several miles away. Thias slumped to the ground still holding Avella, he felt exhausted, he watched Sutal closely for his reactions.

"I'll secure the perimeter." Satul murmured, "Keep her safe..." He disappeared, leaving his things piled nearby.

Thias sat down and cradled Avella in his lap. Can I even trust you Sutal? Were you ever my brother? He wondered sadly.

Avella moaned softly, her eyelids fluttering open, "What... is that sound?" She murmured, it was a noise that only she could hear, something bell-like coming from Satul's possessions.

"What sound?" Thias asked softly, he was a little uncomfortable as to what her response to his appearance would be. He hoped she would know who he was.

"Bells... they're so loud..." She murmured, pressing her face into his chest as though that would dull the roar in her ears.

He held her protectively. "Where is it coming from?"

"Over there..." Her fingers waved towards Satul's things, thought she didn't move otherwise.

"Wait here." He said as he cautiously searched through Satul's things.

Avella stumbled to his side nonetheless and reached over his shoulder, her fingers quivered as she pulled forth a small dagger, immediately the noise in her ears stopped, everything seemed too quiet... And then the thing melted, vanishing from her grasp. She blinked, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

He put everything else back quickly but accurately and lead her back to where they were setting. "Are you alright?"

"Fine..." she murmured, gazing at her hands, she looked up at him, "Are you who I think you are?" Her voice was soft as her left hand touched his face gently, "Can you be...?"

"I am." He replied holding her gently.

"I was worried..." She managed to say, "That... I'd never be able to see you again..."

"I am here now.." He whispered as he held her close.

"I'm glad..." Her voice was a choked whisper.

He held her close wondering were Sutal was. "What do you remember?"

"Not much." She replied softly.

Thais sighed and kissed her forehead. "I love you...I am glad you're safe."

Satul cleared his throat as he approached them again, "We're safe for the moment." He managed, "I've got traps and other enchantments set up to inform us if anybody approaches..."

Thias nodded and watched his brother carefully. "Ready to answer my questions from earlier?"

"Which questions?" Satul sat down near the pair.

Thias grew quite for a moment. "Do you...care for me as a brother...or was I always a tool?"

"Why would you ever think that I thought of you as a tool?"

"That was the way of things...did you..do you..love me as a brother?"

"Of course I love you as a brother!" Satul replied with a frown, "And by... the way of things, are you indicating all that time that I was... leading our kind to a battle of dominance over the normal humans?"

"You were...unless the whole time you were controlled.."

"From that day, years ago, on the cliffs... I was never myself." Satul managed, "A prisoner in my own flesh."

"I see...I am sorry for the doubt..."Thias said holding Avella closer.

"No, do not apologize, I should have been able to break the spell." Satul murmured, looking away.

"Something as powerful as the spell that was cast over you as a child, that had years to build and develop- strengthen as it held you, that is not something easily broken." Avella replied softly, "I'm sure it was agony, watching what your body did without consent, murder, brainwashing... all of those terrible things that Villen made you do..."

Thias looked down. "And you were controlled...I wasn't..."

"In a sense you were." Satul replied, "You realized the mistake that we were creating before I could... You got out and opposed us, despite the fact that it meant going against your brother."

"But...I wasn't being controlled by magic...I didn't have an excuse." Thias said sadly.

"You were doing what you thought was right at the time." Avella touched his face gently, "That's all that matters... You're helping to bring them down now, to bring justice... Do not be regretful, that sad expression..."

He hugged her close and kissed her. "Thank you.."

Avella held herself close to him, "I don't want to see you... to see anybody hurt by these people anymore. We need to stop them, somehow, we need to..."

Satul glanced away, "We'll stop them."

"Yes we will." Thias said a slight flame in his eyes.

"We won't lose again." Avella said firmly.

"No.But we must find our companion's."

"Most definitely." Avella grew silent.

"Any ideas on where they are?"

"We'll just have to retrace steps until we can locate them or a clue leading to them." Satul replied slowly.

"The thing is...I don't remember that part...I remember the battle...but not where I've been.

"And I've been... away if you recall." Avella murmured.

"That's fine, I know where we've been." Satul replied, "Let's rest now, we'll continue once we've had time to rest."

Thias nodded and wrapped his arms around Avella. "Don't leave me.."

"I don't plan to." She murmured softly.

He laid down with her and closed his eyes, his hands gently stroking her hair.

Avella curled closer to him, sighing as she closed her eyes.


"You two sleep, I will take first watch," Satul said, standing once more.

Thias didn't respond, he was already asleep.

Avella fell to sleep a short while after, leaving Satul to watch over them. He smiled softly as he watched them sleep and was up for the remainder of the night, keeping guard for any signs of trouble.

Thias awoke and sat up. Careful not to wake Avella. "You should rest."

Satul blinked, slightly startled, "Oh my, is it nearing dawn already?" He chuckled to himself, "How are you feeling?"

"Better now rest." Thias replied.

"I suppose a few hours of sleep can't hurt." Satul yawned.

"I will keep watch."

"Alright." Satul leaned against a tree and closed his eyes.

Thias kept watch carefully.

Avella pulled her eyes open with difficulty, she had surely slept for hours but it felt as though she'd only just closed her eyes. A migraine pounded in her head and she touched her temple gently.

Thias gently stroked her hair. "Are you alright?" He whispered in concern

"I-I am just trying to sort through everything." Avella said quietly, "Did I really do those things in the cave?"

"What things?"

"Attack you and Satul..." She said lowly.

He held her close. "Don't blame yourself. You weren't in control of yourself love." he said as he gently kissed her.

"But it was still my body. I should have fought harder..."

He hugged and kissed her gently and lovingly. "Please don't blame yourself. You fought the best you could love."

"What could Villen possibly want with me and my brother?" She asked.

He hugged her gently. "He loves control, he loves power. You and your brother are powerful. He wants to use you."

"I... don't want to lose myself like that again... The thought of hurting anybody that I love... I-I'd rather die." Avella murmured.

He held her close. "I'm here for you. I love you."

She leaned against him silently, allowing her thoughts to clear and his embrace to comfort her.

He stroked her hair gently. He didn't ever want to come that close to losing her again

---

Villen watched with grim satisfaction as the servants burned before him. He was beyond furious, his temper causing flames to spread in the stone room. It was an inferno, "How, how did she break the control?" He demanded, though nobody answered, "She is necessary to further my plans!"

---

Idian sighed in relief as they neared the cave where Risa and Kaya were. "Their here."

"That's a relief..." Aedin whispered, running his fingers through his dark hair. "Now if only I could find Moira and Mastudo again..."

Risa and Kaya looked up a little hopefully when they heard familiar voices. Kaya stood and waited in case it was a trick.