Chapter Seven

The pills still sat on the nightstand as Ace began to drift off. The team had been gone all day. He and Zadavia did a few meditating exercises, but he couldn't get his mind to stop whirling. Now he just wanted sleep, unmedicated sleep. He knew Zadavia was just outside, and that thought comforted him. Though still he felt like something was in there with him, standing right above him and that when he'd open his eyes it'd get him. Shutting his eyes tighter he gripped the blanket, "There's nothing there." He whispered to himself.

His brain didn't believe him. His mind created little noises that eventually caused him to open his eyes. The figure was there again, in the corner red eyes glaring his way. He shut his eyes quickly. It's not real. He thought. Reopening his eyes he looked towards the beast again. It was closer now. The room was darker. He shook his head unable to stop staring back at the thing.

Suddenly it was on top of him, screaming in his ear. "Ah!" He yelled beginning to wrestle with it. It held him down and he kicked wildly trying to get away. "No!"

Zadavia was greeting the team back inside when Lexi's ears perked, "Ace!" She exclaimed. "Something's wrong Zadavia!"

Turning quickly Zadavia raced towards Ace's room finding the door open him in bed tossing and turning. She ran to him and tried to shake him awake. "Ace! Wake up!"

He began struggling against her grip, "Let me go!" He screamed.

Lexi ran in after Zadavia and grabbed her arm, "No! You're not helping!"

Zadavia let go and stared helplessly at the shaking bunny. Lexi crawled into bed beside Ace and held him to her chest whispering something to him. The team peered in as Ace slowly began to wake. He panted heavily grabbing Lexi and trembling against her. "It's okay. It's okay." She repeated. Closing his eyes he tried to catch his breath, his heart racing.

Covering her mouth Zadavia turned towards the team gesturing for them to leave. They all shuffled out of the room and Zadavia followed. "Stay with him, Lexi. I'm going to talk to the team."

Lexi nodded stroking Ace's back. Ace shook his head, "I'm not crazy, I swear."

She squeezed him biting her lip. She didn't know what to think. Tucking her head into his neck she shushed him. He pulled away reopening his eyes and staring at her. "I went and saw Endura, something's haunting me." She waited and he exhaled, "She still somehow has access to her powers even without her wand."

Cocking her head to the side Lexi searched Ace's eyes, "Ace…"

"Where are they keeping the wand, Lex?"

She lowered her eyes, "Ace this isn't going to change anything."

"Where?" He asked louder.

Sighing she looked back up at him, "In the evidence room at police headquarters."

He nodded to himself beginning to devise a plan in his head. "Okay…" Standing he dug through his drawers beginning to get dressed.

Lexi grabbed his arm, "You need to stay in bed."

"No." He pulled his arm away and continued to put on a shirt. "I need to get to that wand."

Lexi stared at him, trying to come up with a way to stop him. He grabbed his sword and turned towards her body blocking the door. They stood looking at each other for a few seconds before Lexi spoke. "I'm coming with you."

Pressing the button to the top floor Ace watched the elevator doors close. He felt his mind going a hundred miles an hour. He didn't have a plan. At least not a real one. He didn't even know what he'd find when those doors opened again. Lexi stood beside him anxiously trying to come up with a plan of her own. She couldn't let Ace steal evidence from the police. Especially with what's been going on lately. Who knows what they'd do. Take him away. Put him in some hospital. No. She promised herself she wouldn't let that happen.

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Ace walked out quickly approaching the service desk. He furrowed his brows finding no one there. As he grew closer, however he noticed the guard passed out on the floor under the desk. His fur stood on end and he felt himself jump on the alert. Drawing his sword he held a hand in front of Lexi, "Wait here."

She pushed his hand down, "No. I'm going with you."

He pursed his lips ready to argue but a creaking snapped his attention back to the entrance to the evidence room. The door was hanging open the hinges broken. He held his sword at the ready inching forward. Lexi stayed close behind him eyeing the area cautiously.

As they entered the lights began flickering. "Come play." A voice whispered. Ace shuttered, but kept his mind set on walking straight. Lexi used her super hearing to listen carefully to their surroundings.

"Someone's here." She whispered to him. Chills ran down Ace's spine and he noticed a shadow dancing around the corner. Suddenly Lexi screamed as something grabbed her and threw her backwards. "Ace!" She cried.

He whirled around finding the red-eyed creature directly behind him. Raising his sword he slashed it at the thing missing at first. It growled at him and he used his laser vision to hit it and knock it backwards. Then jabbing his sword forward again he felt it slice through the creature's body. Grinning he pulled it back and stabbed the creature again. It screeched in his ear and he growled back punching it away. He heard Lexi's scream and his ears perked. "Lexi!" He yelled as the creature crumpled to the ground.

Then he saw her, Endura holding her in a neck lock, her wand at Lexi's throat. Running forward Ace jumped at Endura but something grabbed his leg. He fell to the ground as the creature dragged him backwards, knocking the sword from his hand. Endura pulled Lexi towards the stairs as Ace struggled against the creature. "No!" He kicked at it as it got on top of him, just like his dream. It held him down and began screaming in his ear. It's claws coiled around his neck and he felt his throat burning as the air was cut off from his lungs. Coughing he kicked around desperately trying to get air. The demon's voice came then, "Imagination is a powerful thing, isn't it?"

He growled and shoved his fingers at the creature's red eyes. "Fuck you!" He screamed.

The thing yelled louder squeezing at Ace's neck. This only made him push harder into it's eyes. He felt the creature's grip loosen and quickly kicked it off grabbing his sword and slicing it through the demon. Then it was only a black mist vanishing in moments.

"Ace!" A voice cried.

"Lexi!" He gasped running towards the stairs.

He raced up them and pushed open the door leading to the roof. There Endura stood at the edge threatening to throw Lexi off. "Ace." She growled towards him.

He gripped his sword tightly, "Endura!"

She grinned at him and waved her wand around speaking in a different language. Racing forward Ace dove for Lexi as Endura threw her off the edge. Grabbing her hand Ace pulled her back up and into his arms. She held onto him tightly and whispered to him, "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you."

Kissing her cheek he released her, "Don't worry about that now."

Endura's laugh echoed on the roof and Ace jumped to his feet sword in hand. He stood at the ready, searching for Endura. "So it comes down to this does it now?" Her voice taunted.

He took a breath before replying, "Show yourself, you cowardly witch!"

Her voice grew dark as rain began pouring down, "Oh I'm here, Ace. Trust me."

Suddenly lighting struck Ace's sword from his hand and shot electricity through his body. Yelping he stumbled to the ground. Lexi ran towards him, but was suddenly caught by the red-eyed creature. Reincarnated once again. Ace crawled to his feet and looked up weakly towards Endura floating above him. He clenched his fists as she held her wand towards him, "It's over, Ace."

"Not yet!" His eyes glowed and he shot his laser towards her. She pushed lighting towards him in return and their powers met and he felt himself fighting hard to overpower her. Finally his lasers overpowered the lightning and Endura went flying backwards, falling onto the roof again.

Grabbing his sword he tackled her holding it to her throat. "Now it's over." She chuckled at him and he narrowed his eyes. She suddenly thrust her wand at him and it morphed into a dagger stabbing him in the stomach. He gasped pain filling his chest. She began laughing and kicked him off her. He grabbed the dagger from her and pulled it from his stomach. Blood dripped from his suit and he held the dagger his hands, shaking. It morphed back into her wand and he stared down at it.

"Goodbye, rabbit." She walked towards him raising her hands.

He clutched the wand then quickly backed towards the ledge, "It's bunny!" He corrected breaking the wand over his knee.

She gasped and fell to her knees her hands shaking. "No!" She cried. "What have you done!?" He smiled and broke the wand again. She screamed covering her face. "No!" Light surrounded her and she curled up screaming, until finally she was gone. It really was over.

Catching his breath he dropped to his knees, feeling the pain catching up to him. Growing light headed he placed a hand over his bleeding stomach. "Ace!" Lexi raced towards him wrapping her arm around his shoulder supporting him. He leaned against her shutting his eyes and she layered her hand over his on his stomach. "The team's on their way." He coughed a bit leaning on her shoulder. She held him to her chest and rubbed his back, "Hang in there."