Chapter 7
Well, I think it's pretty obvious I don't own… but I suppose I must say I don't. Also, thank you my reviewers, andysanime, Taniaea, splitheart1120, and RawrCutieKari, thank you all so much for the nice reviews!
Scarlet woke up on a plane. The purse she was in was on Hilary's lap, and she stroked Scarlet's head softly. "Glad you're awake," she said, "Take a look outside." They were sitting by a window, Tyson snoring on their right. Scarlet did so, and saw they were actually over the clouds.
Wow, she thought, I've never been up this high. Have you Dranzer? The phoenix didn't answer. Dranzer? Come on, this isn't funny!
Scarlet, I can't stay with you much longer. We are unraveling. Dranzer sounded weak.
What do you mean? Scarlet asked, panicked, Stay with me at least till Asia!
I can try… but the thing is, we can't be separated, not without the right… I don't know. I think it's an ancient amulet that we used to pull our dark halves away from us. It could separate us fully, but it's been lost to time. She sighed; Scarlet could picture her shaking her head. But you see, if we cannot find it, we will be two bodies with one mind. I do not think you would be able to survive. Scarlet shivered, curling up in the purse again.
Dranzer, what does the amulet look like? She closed her eyes, so that Dranzer could send a better mental image, and saw a quarter sized medallion, made of some sort of silvery, quartz-like stone, covered in black carvings.
It is an ancient separation amulet, very dangerous in the wrong hands. It was lost before the end of the Last Ages. Scarlet knew the Last Ages had been the last century bit-beasts had been able to walk the Earth from what Dranzer had taught her, and that it had been about two thousand years ago. She curled up and slept again, wondering how she could live through life's newest challenge.
With Tala
So bored… Tala thought, Train, train, train… all I do around here. He was walking back to the abbey; it was curfew, and he hadn't seen Alicia all day. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen her since Scarlet had visited. He switched his thoughts to his sister, wondering again what had happened to her. He'd thought she was dead, yet there she had stood, as annoying as ever, her aura still scarlet, still smelling of sandalwood. The peaceful warrior. Scarlet auras normally meant the person was strong willed, while sandalwood was comforting. But what had happened to her? How had she come back from the dead, and with the ability to change her form? Why was her hair black, her eyes silver? He shook his head and continued to the abbey, never registering the plane passing overhead, carrying his sister amongst its passengers. Scarlet, you have to be okay. I found you and lost you again so quickly… be safe.
With Alicia
"Sir?" Alicia asked, "You wanted me?" She poked her head through the door, wondering what it was about this time. Last time it had been about that dog Tala had. Something about an experiment too. She hadn't understood a bit about it, except that if she saw the dog again, she had to report it at once.
"Yes, please do come in," Boris answered, making Alicia shiver. Being the only girl at the abbey wasn't anything to be proud of. The only good thing was that she had a room to herself, but she was automatically branded the weakest blader there (although she wasn't) and was teased often, sometimes worse. She'd led a rough life, but knew that, someday, somehow, she'd get out of there. But since Kai had shunned both Biovolt and Bega, his work had fallen to her. She didn't even know how they were related; only that they were, and she'd always said he was her brother to shut people up. They didn't look anything alike, and didn't think alike either. "You see, I've found a bit of… research for you to do."
"You mean spying," she snapped back, "The answer is no. I'm sick of it." She stood up, only to freeze at Boris's next words.
"And I have a deal for you as well." Slowly she sat back down, her green eyes glittering with suspicion. "You see, if you can carry out your instructions, I will allow you to walk out of here, without being stopped," Alicia stared at him. Her wildest dreams were coming true. "And I will tell you the truth about Kai as well."
"What do you want me to do?" She asked, "Sir?"
"This." And so Boris began to explain his plan.
In Asia
Scarlet didn't wake again until the team, Hilary and Kenny were settled in their respective rooms, and even then Hilary had to shake Scarlet awake. The black shitzu shook her head and opened her eyes. Are we there? She asked Hilary drowsily.
"Yup, you can switch back to being yourself again," Hilary said, giving the dog one last scratch behind her ears before it turned back into Scarlet. She seemed more awake than usual, her silver eyes flashing in the light like freshly minted dimes.
"Where are the others?" She asked, taking in her surroundings with a glance. Dranzer, are you still with me?
Yes, Dranzer replied. But barely.
Hang in there. Scarlet thought, shivering at a chill that wasn't there.
"They're in their rooms, I suppose," Hilary said, "Why?" Scarlet stood up, her scarf hanging at her back like a pair of limp wings.
"I need to talk to Kai. Come with me." She walked out of the room, with Hilary following her. She seemed to know where she needed to go, and they were at one of the rooms in a minute. She knocked and waited for about a minute, but no one appeared to be there. She shrugged and closed her eyes. Kai, where are you?
I'm… It was like a bad phone connection, and Scarlet's mind suddenly went blank.
What?
I said… top floor… 1012… Scarlet shook her head again.
Dranzer, you okay? Scarlet asked, feeling the phoenix's presence fading. She didn't reply, but Scarlet knew that somehow, someway, she would find that amulet. She beckoned for Hilary to follow her, and jogged lightly towards a flight of stairs.
"I'm going to take the stairs because I don't want to be caught on camera, but you can take the elevator if you want," she said, setting off. Hilary looked at the stairs, sighed, and followed Scarlet.
Best know where I'm going. She thought, trying to shake away a feeling of unease she couldn't place. She knew something was wrong with Scarlet, something the girl wasn't telling her, but she wasn't sure what. But it quickly became apparent Scarlet was in pain. She was dragging her left leg a bit, and her breath came in quick gasps. She could just be tired. Hilary thought, but she didn't think so. She was glad when they finally got to wherever Scarlet was headed. Hilary followed her to a door marked 1012, and wondered why the rooms were so far apart. She didn't have time to though, because Scarlet knocked quickly, and the door was opened.
"I need to talk to Kai," she said, "About Dranzer…" It was Kai who had opened the door. He glared at Hilary.
"She's delirious," he spat as a greeting, "What happened to her?" He helped Scarlet in and nodding for her to follow.
"She- I don't know." Hilary said quietly. Why do I have to be here? What am I supposed to say? He's nothing like the others… "She just said she needed to see you."
"Dranzer, tell me what's going on," he said, and a voice that didn't belong to the girl half- conscious on the couch answered:
"The experiment is incomplete. We are unraveling." Scarlet gasped and shook her head.
"I know what I have to do. You will not like it, but I'll live." This time Scarlet was speaking. Kai's eyes widened.
"Scarlet, you can't go back!" He shook her gently.
"Call Voltaire, Kai. I've known who you were the whole time. And try to contact Bega. Ask about an amulet." Hilary stared at Kai, who stared at Scarlet.
You forgot, master, that you and I share thoughts, and I share thoughts with Scarlet. Kai's eyes widened in shock, but he got up and went over to the phone. Numbly, he dialed his grandfather's number. Voltaire picked up on the second ring.
"Yes?"
Kai took a deep breath and forced his voice back to his normal, cold tones. "The experiment is unraveling."
"Ah, I've been wondering about that. We'll send someone to bring it back. If we can figure out what went wrong, we might be able to fix it." He hung up. Kai was shaking from fury. It wasn't every day he formed emotional attachments to people, and it stung to have Scarlet being called 'it'.
"Someone's coming," he muttered, "And I hope its Tala." Tala would be able to get Scarlet to safety somewhere, while he looked for the amulet Dranzer was yelling at him about. A quarter sized, silver medallion, which had been lost to time. Any hints? He asked Dranzer.
"Hotel…" Scarlet coughed. She wasn't doing well, but there was nothing that could be done for her right now. Of that much Kai was sure. The phone rang, and Hilary glanced at it questioningly before Kai went to answer.
"Hello," a soft voice said, "Am I right when I say you are Kai Hiwatari?"
"Who are you?" Kai snapped back.
"No, no," the voice said, "That isn't the question. However, I am willing to put aside names, because I know who you are. And I have what you need."
"What do you mean?" Kai asked.
"You would know, brother." The line went dead. Kai stared at the phone like it had just predicted the day of his death. He shook his head and left. Leaving Hilary to wonder what the heck was going on, and Scarlet… well, Scarlet could have been dead for all anyone knew.
"Kai, wait!" Hilary called, trying to catch up with him.
"Stay with Scarlet," he said, "And stay far away from me." Hilary stopped dead, wondering whether she should feel insulted or not, and Kai ran down the corridor. He took the stairs, hoping that it might give him time to think, to figure out what to do when whoever it was came. He knew it wouldn't take long. Even as he was moving, someone was probably fueling the abbey's helicopter, or maybe the jet. He wondered if it had really been Alicia on the phone. He'd have to check up on her next time he visited the abbey. The dingy, hellhole that was the abbey. Maybe he'd try to get her out. Maybe he'd take a bullet for someone while he was at it. There's no way you'd be able to get someone out of there. What Tala did was near impossible. Leave her where she'll at least be safe. He was so sick of having to sacrifice everyone he'd ever cared about for… God, he didn't even know what! I hate my life. He reached the bottom of the stairs right then, and stepped outside. How…? How had the helicopter gotten here so fast? It couldn't get to here from Russia in that amount of time. But the helicopter wasn't there. Just Bryan, and oh how he loathed Bryan.
"Well, I suppose this isn't what you expected," Bryan said, "But we had to get here fast. Bit-beast travel is so much faster than conventional…" he sighed, "Show me where it is."
"She," Kai snapped, "is called Scarlet." Bryan gave him a strange look, but didn't say anything. Silently Kai led him back to the room where he'd left Scarlet, and… Hilary! Dranzer, tell Hilary to get out of there, now!
Of course… master… The phoenix's thoughts were so faint, they were hardly audible. But he knew she would follow orders. Sure enough, when they got to his room, Hilary was nowhere to be seen. But, neither was Scarlet, at first sight. But when they looked closer, Bryan found a black, bone thin wolf unconscious, halfway to the window. Either Scarlet was a really good actor, or she'd seriously considered suicide.
"Doesn't seem like it- sorry, she, wants anything done for her… but orders are orders." He grabbed Scarlet by the scruff of her neck, and dragged her out, Kai doing his best to try not to injure him. When Bryan had reached the bottom of the stairs, (Kai was considering throttling him) and was outside, he called, "Falborg, come!" Instantly, the falcon bit-beast appeared, and Bryan jumped aboard it like it was a horse. Scarlet was flung behind him like a piece of luggage, if a live wolf could be considered luggage, and the falcon took off. Kai turned, and went back to his room, seething, to be met with an equally seething Hilary.
"Why did you let them take her?" She practically yelled at him, "And what did she mean, 'I've known who you were the whole time?' You can't not tell me!"
"Watch me," he snapped, and shut the door in her face, locking it. He'd hear about that later, he was certain, but he was really beyond caring.
At the Abbey
Alicia paced, carefully counting the steps it took to cross her room. Six steps to get from her door to the small window and six to get back. Of course, she did have a really long stride, so it wasn't really as small as it sounded. I really am his sister. Why did I never know? And why had they locked her in her room? I should have known that part of the deal was bogus. I want to wring Boris's neck! She punched the door, yelping as her fist was encased in splinters. "Oww…" she muttered, yanking her hand out of the door and trying to pull the splinters out. Her knuckles were bloody, and the splinters bled profusely when they were removed, making her wince. She hated blood. It made her queasy. And that was about the point the door opened enough to allow a wolf to be thrown in with a yelp. It was, of course, Scarlet, but she looked quite a bit better. Her fur was glossy, and her eyes had their silver sparkle back. She looked up at Alicia, and the door slammed. Then she padded over to the girl, and stood up on her hind legs, staring into her eyes.
Let me help you. In return, you will help me. I brand myself to you, Alicia Hiwatari. Alicia stumbled backwards at the shock, causing Scarlet to collapse on the floor. She quickly walked over to the wolf, and stroked her head quietly for a few minutes.
"I'll help you, of course," she said, "But what is it you could help me with?"
I can get the splinters out of your hand. And help you get out of here. I am Scarlet, Tala's sister. The phoenix experiment; Dranzer. Call me what you will. She stood up and shook, dust and flecks of blood flying away from her. She'd been 'repaired', as Voltaire had said, but she wasn't leaving anytime soon. She felt a bit sick still, but much better than she had before. Alicia held her hand out to the wolf and Scarlet reassumed her human form. She looked a bit paler than usual, but otherwise fine. "What, did you think Tala's sister was really a wolf?" She laughed, and began pulling the splinters out of Alicia's hand. She winced occasionally, but Scarlet knew what she was doing.
"You're Tala's sister?" Alicia asked, "I didn't know he had any relatives."
"I didn't know Kai had anyone but Voltaire." Scarlet replied, and when she saw Alicia's look of amazement, she said, "It was the way you walked. You both have that regal stride. Just this one little one left…" She dug one last, tiny sliver of wood out of Alicia's hand, and passed her other hand over it. For just a second, their aura's flared, Scarlet's scarlet one, and Alicia's copper one, and the cuts on her hand were healed.
"Wow, cool!" Alicia muttered, "But, can I ask what you meant by 'I brand myself to you'?" Scarlet seemed to find the floor very interesting.
"I am… your bit-beast now. I have branded myself to you as a servant, and you are my mistress. Look, I've got the brand already." She flipped over her hand, and as Alicia watched, Scarlet's flesh burned and the initials 'A-H' appeared on her wrist. "With Kai it was a scarf, but I suppose you've got some sort of reason it appeared here… You don't have to tell me if you don't want." But Alicia flipped over her own wrist, her right one, and Scarlet gasped when she saw the pale, spider-web scars on it.
"It was a few years back, after one of my worst weeks here. I'd been beaten, bullied, I suppose you could even say tortured, and I just wanted it to end. I had stopped caring, I'd broken a piece of glass out of my window, and I'd run the glass across my wrist a few times. Obviously, I didn't get deep enough, and then… then Bryan came in. I'd never seen him so mad, and believe me, he's normally furious." She smiled weakly, and Scarlet rolled her eyes with a 'tell me about it' look. "And well, he stopped me, of course, and…" she shook slightly, and Scarlet signaled she didn't have to continue. "How's Kai?" Alicia asked after a minute.
Scarlet blanched. "I… I don't know…" For the first time in nine years, she had no idea what Kai was thinking, wondering whether or not she'd kiss and kill him. But he was only a friend to her.
You have never felt love? Dranzer's voice was clearer than it had been in ages, but Scarlet took a few minutes to answer.
No Dranzer. You have?
Yes. Dranzer replied, but didn't seem to want to say anything more. But for Scarlet, it clicked. A flash of gold, a burst of flame, a hint of white, an ancient battlefield, a huge roar. Two lovers pitted against each other in battle.
"Was that what…?" She seemed unaware that she'd spoken aloud. She knew Dranzer's love. And she knew why Driger had been so nice to her. Alicia passed a hand in front of her face, and she started.
"Lights out," she muttered, "Do you know where you're sleeping? I've only got the one cot…"
"I'll sleep on the floor," Scarlet replied, "It'll be fine." Dranzer, wolf form please.
Yes, of course. Dranzer replied, and Scarlet was a wolf. She curled up on the floor, right in front of the doorway, and slept. Alicia however, tossed and turned for hours before she got to sleep. When she did, her dreams were filled with confusion and fear. She didn't know it at the time, but the dreams belonged to Dranzer. And they had haunted her brother since he stole the blade and ran away from the abbey. They would come to her until she released Dranzer completely, (which she couldn't) or gave her a new master.
With Brooklyn
In Russia, Brooklyn was sitting on his bed, staring at Zeus. Yesterday had been a normal day, watching the others practice, and skipping practice himself. Oh, and he'd bought some earplugs for when Ming-Ming and the rest of the band were rehearsing. He'd finally found a pair that blocked them out completely, thankfully. He wondered where that one girl was, the one who'd vanished outside of the hotel he was still stuck in. Scarlet, that was her name. You shouldn't trust her. Zeus cautioned, Dranzer is a strange one.
"Do you know about that amulet Mystel has?" Brooklyn asked him.
That thing? It looks like some old charm. Zeus replied. Brooklyn stood up and walked over to the door.
"Why is Dranzer's human form called Scarlet?" He asked the bit-beast.
Hmph! That shows how much you know, Zeus grumbled. You've never heard Dranzer, never seen her true human form, have you? That girl is her vessel. Boris forced them together. Brooklyn unconsciously clenched his fists at Boris's name. The same way we were. Brooklyn sighed. His days with Bega weren't the best he could remember, but they weren't the worst either. Actually, they probably were the best. God, that was depressing.
And back to Scarlet…
Scarlet woke up a few hours later, and asked Dranzer for her human form back. Dranzer willingly obliged, and the girl sat up and stretched. She stood, picked the lock open, and left quietly, leaving Alicia to a now peaceful sleep. Silently, she walked up the corridor, sticking to the shadows. She didn't know where she was going, not really, but her eyes picked up tiny landmarks she'd made for herself when she had lived there. It seemed she was headed for the training arena, the kitchens, or the lab. (Her choice) She hoped she'd get lucky and find the kitchen deserted. Alicia was bone-thin, and Scarlet wasn't going to let her new mistress starve. New mistress… She thought glumly. They planned it to be like that. By 'them' she meant Boris and Voltaire. She found herself at the kitchen door, and tried the knob. It was locked, of course, but she just picked the lock and let herself in. She opened one of the freezers, and helped herself to a small feast, her ripcord/whip turning into a basket. When it was full, she went back to Alicia's room, and went back to sleep. She never did realize she left the kitchen door unlocked…
…Until the next morning. Both girls woke up with a start when someone began pounding on the door, and Scarlet shoved the basket of food under Alicia's bed. "Can either of you cook?" Scarlet and Alicia both recognized the voice.
She rolled her eyes and called back, "What happened to the cook? You know, the one who gets paid to cook?" She glanced at Scarlet and mouthed, 'hide'.
"Fired," the voice called, "Left the kitchen unlocked last night. Now come on, get out of there!" Scarlet switched into her wolf form and bared her teeth.
Dranzer and I don't hide. I fight, Dranzer strategizes. And no one threatens our mistress. She flicked her gaze between the door and Alicia. I'll knock him down, be ready to run. We're getting out of here, and now. Who knows what Voltaire's got planned for me? Alicia nodded, and walked over to the door, wondering why Scarlet was so keen to be gone. The memories, Scarlet thought. The memories… Tala leaving, Kai abandoning me… I never knew you, I don't know why. Alicia opened the door, and Scarlet lunged-straight into Kai. What the hell?
"Scarlet, what the hell?" Kai yelled, "Get off of me!"
"Ooh, Kai, that sounds so dirty," she replied, stepping away from him and switching back to her human form. "And how did you get here?"
"Well," he said, "Where did you go? I've lost complete connection with Dranzer, and yet, I can tell she's still inside of you." Scarlet flipped over her wrist and showed him Alicia's initials branded there.
"This happened. I had no choice." I tiny flame sparked to life in both of her eyes. She blinked, and it was extinguished, but there was no doubt about what had just happened. Dranzer had taken over, even for the briefest moment.
Alicia walked over to Scarlet. "She's right Kai, that sounded so wrong, especially since you're at your sisters room, and…" she glanced over at Scarlet.
"No one knows I'm back, you idiot!" She slapped him, "And no one will know I was here. I'm leaving. And I will do what you never would. Oh, and I was actually right about the face paint, that's just weird." She breezed past him, Alicia following her with an apologetic look at Kai. He grabbed her shoulders, and spun her around to face him. The blue triangles on the left side of his face were smudged.
"Do not let her get too far into control," Kai warned her, "Scarlet is housing Dranzer's dark half, and though Scarlet wouldn't, Black Dranzer will kill you if you are not in control. Don't worry about insulting her. And address her as Dranzer when giving an order."
"Yes sir." Alicia said, "And I suppose you've found all this out in the years you've been ignoring my very existence!" She shoved past him and followed Scarlet. She didn't look back.
AN: Well… somehow this will backfire… and… well, you get the point. So please review! And thanks again to my reviewers so far!
