"W-What did y-you just say?" Trey stuttered, his gaze constantly changing from Vetrix to Penelope.
"She's your mother Trey," Vetrix repeated. He shifted uncomfortably and nodded in confirmation when the pink-haired boy gave him a look of suspicion.
Trey continued to stare at Vetrix for a moment longer before his gaze retreated to Penelope. She looked up shamefully, tears gradually forming in her eyes.
"Something strange happened that day, Trey. Vector took me here the very next day after you and your sister were born." Penelope walked a little closer to the cage. Trey blinked.
"Why? Why'd he take you?"
"I don't know exactly, but I have bits and pieces. Something about Amelia being different in...powers? And in her past? I don't know what he meant by that, but I'm not sure I'd like to know."
"Can you tell me what you do know?"
Penelope sighed and nodded. "Sure. What I know is that Amelia apparently has been alive before. I was all, what? So when I asked Vector he said something about a dragon that could swap souls? That confused me more!"
"Dragon?" Vetrix asked.
Penelope nodded. "Yes, dragon. I dunno, he didn't go into great detail on it. But apparently this dragon switches souls to ones it finds 'worthy' of its powers. And it did this to Amelia? I don't know I got confused half-way through it."
With a raised eyebrow, Trey gazed right into Penelope's golden eyes. He was confused as well, but he was slowly figuring it out. From what he'd just been told, his sister had a life before this one...? Because of a dragon? That sounded kinda like the way the Barians had been humans before now.
But dragons didn't exist anymore. How could it be possible?
"Huh...strange," Trey said, staring at nothing in particular.
"It is strange Trey." Penelope nodded and and simply shrugged. "And I have the feeling Amelia will be here sooner then you think."
XxXxXxXx
"She was a sweet woman that cared deeply for the people around her. Penelope was well known as an artist and people got along with her well. It was like she was the most popular person on the planet, which is why everyone knew about her mysterious disappearance."
Amelia listened closely as Durbe spoke. She was interested to know what he had to say. Amelia's emerald eyes shook wildly as she inched closer to him.
"How did she disappear? Exactly, I mean."
"Vector stole her. Your father tried to stop him, but he just couldn't. Neither could I. That's why you never knew her, Amelia."
"I see..." Amelia sighed with frustration. This was all so confusing. Why would Vector capture her mother? For bait to draw her nearer?
The pink-haired girl stood and stretched herself. She was not in the mood to think of Vector. Horrible memories suddenly came flying back to her.
"Grrrrr..." Amelia stared back at Durbe and helped him to stand, then just stared into his eyes. They were always the things to calm her down, oddly enough. For Amelia, there was just something about her friend's eyes that chilled her angry senses.
The bright light that appeared behind Durbe made Amelia shriek and shield her eyes. Durbe spun around and held her close with one arm, blocking the light with the other. When Vector came through, Amelia went wide-eyed.
"Awww, you two look so cute," Vector mused in a fake happy tone. He would be smirking if he were in his human form.
"Just leave us alone Vector! And let my family go!" Amelia grabbed a sword from its spot and tried to jerk out of Durbe's grasp so she could attack. The gray-haired Barian held her back as she struggled. Vector snickered.
"But as adorable as you might be, I'm still going to take you down." Vector sent a beam flying towards the duo. Amelia's sword hit the ground with a clatter as she shoved Durbe out of the way, flying into the air from the impact of the blast.
With a thud, Amelia hit the ground. She moaned and tried to get up. Vector flashed up to her and grabbed her by the shirt collar, hoisted her in the air and somehow freezing her.
"Arrgh! Let me go! Let me go!" Amelia screamed it, trying to squirm our of the grip. She couldn't. Whatever Vector had done to her was working, for she was paralyzed. No way she'd get down from this.
"Whatever you say." Vector threw Amelia to his right forcefully. Since she couldn't feel her body, Amelia had no choice but to land right on Durbe.
"Argh...damn it Vector." Durbe sat up and held a stiff Amelia in his arms. The pink-haired girl would be trembling if she wasn't paralyzed at the moment. Vector grabbed Amelia and hoisted Durbe in the air as well. When he had both of them frozen, he flashed away, satisfied with what he'd just done.
Perfect! Now that I have them locked up my plan will fall in motion and not fail this time! Vector thought, internally smirking. He tossed his now tied captives against the wall. Amelia's backpack was gone, as were her swords and shotgun.
"No! No my weapons! Give me back...my..weapons..." Amelia was outcold instantly. Durbe gasped and looked out of the corner of his eye, considering the fact he still couldn't move. When he saw Alit, Girag, and Mizael appear, he scowled and closed his eyes.
Alit stared at Vector with wide eyes. "Are you insane? You kidnapped Durbe as well?"
"Maybe I'm a little insane. But who cares? He's turned against us."
"Gone soft, has he?" Girag stared at Durbe with a gaze that seemed to say, "What the hell is wrong with you?" as he walked away. Mizael snickered and turned to Vector. Alit did the same. Both Barians were thinking a single identical thought.
Vector may have a plan that would work for once.
"So what's the next step?" Alit asked.
"Simple," Vector replied. "We lock Amelia up until she's dead, and do the same to that traitor."
