Chapter 3.

Leo gasped at Empusae's declaration. She removed her hand and he was finally able to move. He looked behind him at his unconscious family then turned back to her. "Why me?" He demanded.

Empusae walked around him with a leering yet disappointed expression. "I wanted you and your brothers." She told him. "But when I discovered that you were the only one who left to get this…pizza," She shrugged and pointed toward the boxes of pizza, "I had no choice but to poison all of them since my concoction was already created." She again looked him up and down. "Although you are smart, you are certainly not as smart as your brother Donatello." She looked over to the unconscious purple clad turtle whose head was on the table. "And although you are brave and a good fighter, your brother Raphael is much more of a warrior." She looked over to Raph whose head was still leaning against Casey's shoulder. "And you may have wit and charm but your brother Michelangelo is much more creative then you are." Her eyes wandered over to where Mikey was currently unconscious with his head on Donnie's shell. "Let's face it Leonardo," She gave a curt laugh. "You're good but you're better with all your brothers around you."

She turned back to Leo who was looking at her in bewilderment. "If you came here just to be insulting," Leo said but she waved him off.

"I came here to have you and your brothers help me get back to my people." She told him curtly. She looked back at the kitchen clock and grinned devilishly. "You now have nine hours and forty-five minutes to say yes or you can stay here and watch your family, very slowly and very painfully…DIE." She hissed bringing her face very close to his.

Leo leaned himself away from her and stared up at her in anger. "I don't even know you and you barge into my home looking like April, poison my family and demand I help you." He shook his head. "How do I know you're telling me the truth?" He demanded. "What if this is all some sort of trap set up by Shredder and my family is going to die no matter what I do?" He narrowed his eyes at her when she straightened up and started laughing.

"No one commands me!" She told him hotly. "As for your family," She waved at them. "I give you my word that once you help me, I will give you the antidote to save all of them as well as tell you where you can find your beloved April." She again looked at the kitchen clock. "Nine hours and forty minutes."

Leo looked between Empusae and his family. For the first time he felt completely hopeless, not knowing what to do. Help this person or not? He mulled the question over and over in his head as he weighed the pros and cons. But no matter how he looked at the situation, his family was in trouble and he, in the end, did not have a choice. He turned toward the tall woman and looked at her warily. "I help you," He slowly repeated, "You give me what I need to save my family."

Empusae nodded and looked again at the kitchen clock. "Yes, and you now have nine hours and thirty..."

"Okay!" Leo yelled exasperated. He let out an annoyed huff. "Give me the antidote now and I promise, I'll help you."

"You'll help me NOW...THEN...Iwill give you the antidote." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do not fight me on this Leonardo," She told him. "You will not win." She held her hand to him. "Shall we go?"

Leo kept his hands at his sides and looked at her hesitantly, "Where exactly are we going?"

She dropped her hand and began to walk toward the entrance to the kitchen. "To my world, a place deep beneath these sewers," She told him. "To what you mortals would call an underground city," She started walking out of the kitchen and toward the turnstiles. She looked back and watched as Leo slowly and reluctantly began to walk behind her. "There is no need to be cautious of me young turtle." She told him. "As long as you do what you are told then your family, your friends and you will be allowed to have your lives back."

Leo again looked at her warily as he followed her out of the lair and through the tunnels. "You give your word." He clarified once again. "I help you get back to your world and you'll give me the antidote to help my family and friends get rid of the poison and never bother us again?"

Empusae nodded. "That is correct young one." She agreed.

Leo took a deep breath and continued to follow her down the tunnel. "I don't know whether I should trust you or not Empusae….but for the sake of my family I guess I don't have a choice."

She smiled at him. "That is the spirit Leonardo."

Leo put a hand on her arm and forced her to stop and face him. "But let me give you just this one warning." He narrowed his eyes at her and stared intently into her black orbs. "If you try and double cross me, weapons or no weapons, I won't hesitate to find some way to kill you."

Empusae laughed loudly and turned away from him. "You will not kill me." She told him as they continued to walk down the sewer tunnel. "Compared to you, I am a god and nothing you do will harm me." She told him. "But continue to be insolent and I'll make sure your family suffers long after I get what I want."

"I said I will help you and I will but don't underestimate me Empusae," Leo warned again. "I will do whatever it takes to save my family."

Empusae nodded. "Yes, I know you will." She agreed with him. "As will your brothers' which is why I came to you for help," She stopped and regarded him once again. "Just wish I could have all you turtles instead of just one." She mused as they continued.

Leo rolled his eyes and reluctantly continued to follow her. Eventually they came to the Undercity where Leo recognized it to be the place Splinter had fought the Rat King. He swallowed hard and looked at her. "Why are we here?" He demanded in a harsh whisper.

"Far below these sewers is where I was kept entombed and the tunnels below lead to my world," She explained in a dark voice that sent shivers up and down Leo's spine. "I was buried by some evil creatures that attempted to take my powers but failed." She held her hand out to him.

Leo looked at her hand and blinked in uncertainty. "No need to fear me," She assured him. "You take my hand and we will be at the bottom of the void in mere seconds."

But Leo continued to hold back. "How do I know you won't just push me over the edge?"

Now Empusae rolled her eyes at him. "Please Leonardo," She said tiredly. "If I wanted to hurt or kill you, don't you think I would have done that already?"

Leo considered her for a moment before taking her hand. "I suppose you're right." He admitted placing his hand in hers. She nodded in approval then closed her eyes. Leo looked up at her, fear dwelling in his heart as his breath hitched and his body shook lightly. He felt himself begin to pull back as she made her way closer to the edge of the cliff.

Suddenly, without warning, Empusae gripped Leo's hand tightly; he winced in pain as her nails dug deep into his flesh. She pulled him along, inching closer to the edge of the cliff and stepped off. "WAIT!" Leo screamed as they were suddenly plunging into darkness. He closed his eyes and waited for the impact but it never came. Instead, within seconds of closing his eyes, he felt solid ground beneath his feet once more. He opened his eyes and let out a long, shaky breath.