Hey there people, back with another chapter. Hope you like it, this is rated M for mature theme. So please if you are under 18, please read a different story on this site. As always review and tell me what you think. Thanks and here is the story.

Chapter 9: Someone, Help Me!

Help me; have to flea; have to get away; to many feet's; to many hands; Serenity I am sorry; Ella mind buzzed with many thoughts, one racing after the other. Fear gripping her heart as she tried to get used to her new body. She scattered under legs and jumped to the side when someone came too close to her. Hissing at the small hands that tried to pick her up or pull her tail. Ella scrambled into a darken alley where no human lurked; catching her breath. Panting, Ella's cat shaped head peeking out from the alley, her sharp green eyes wandering about trying to get her barren, but it was no use, everything was so big and with her small size it all looked foreign. Ella meowed in despair; praying to the Goddess Selene for help. Tears came to her eyes; matting in her red fur.

"Hey kitty, you lost?" A young girl's voice asked to Ella's right.

Ella hissed in response, lifting her right paw, claws out, ready to attack whoever was there, but Ella stopped mid strike as her eyes landed on a beautiful young woman wearing a black cloak, what caught Ella's eyes; were the young girl's eyes, it was green just like hers, but there was a innocent in them that the kids and adults in Volos didn't have. Ella retracted the claws and meowed again to the stranger.

"I'm not going to hurt you, kitty," The girl cooed; her hand stretched out in caution.

Ella stepped forward; allowing the girl to pick her up.

"Now what is your name kitty?" The girl asked, her white skin, soft and unblemished.

"Meow," was all Ella could say.

"Are you hungry kitty? Would you like something to eat?" The girl asked, as if understanding Ella's meow.

Ella nodded her head and purred from the back of her throat.

"Well then, let's go," The girl said, going further into the alley, out of site.

Two guards followed the girl and the cat, but the strange girl was quick and light footed, taking sharp corners; always staying in the shadows. It took a couple of minutes for the guards to lose sight of the stranger and they cursed; trying to pick up her trail again but it was useless.

"We lost them kitty," The girl whispered to the cat as she watched the guards looking around in vain.

With a chuckle the stranger drew herself into an old house and went out the back before heading down another long street before turning right, back onto the main street, losing themselves within the crowd. The girl held her head up high and walked with confidence, not afraid of the people around her.

The sun was half way across the sky and Ella wondered how long she had been wandering the streets, the last thing she could remember was running out of the palace and hiding in the rose guard that surrounded the castle until morning. It was in the early morning hours that she was able to stow away in one of the servant's baskets as they headed into town. Ella was able to jump out of the basket before the woman noticed her there and now she had been wandering the streets ever since. Night came again and she hid under a tree, curling herself up into a ball, trying to keep warm. It was her second day at being a cat and it was hard trying to scurry away from people's trampling feet and greedy hands of the kids that tried to catch her. Ella snuggled against the girl's cloak, feeling safe at last.

Soon they arrived at a small quant house its roof looked to be in good shape and it windows intact which was unusual in the city of Volos. The woman knocked on the door two times, then counted under her breath to five before knocking on the door two more times. The door swung open and the girl walked into darkness.

Frightened, Ella scurried into the girl's cloak, her claws latching onto the girl's smooth skin as the darkness surrounded them.

"Did anyone follow you?" A man asked from the darkness.

"No, Jupiter, I came alone," The girl answered back.

A match was struck and two candles sitting on the table were lit, showing a man sitting in a chair, his beauty surpassed anything that Ella has ever seen. His golden skin shone in the candle's light, and his deep blue eyes told of much knowledge. His jaw was firm and he had high cheek bones. His blond hair fell to his shoulders. His body lean and muscular, and for a moment Ella could swear that she was seeing a God in human flesh. Through Ella's eyes she could see a white glow around him and he excludes power just by his presence.

"What have you here, Lita?" Jupiter asked his eyes smiling as he looked upon the cat's head sticking out of the Lita's cloak.

"I met a friend, if only she would retract her claws, ouch," Lita laughed, slapping at Ella's paws.

Ella meow an apology before taking her sharp claws out of Lita's skin. Lita smiled and ruffled the cat fur.

"No harm done," Lita assured the cat.

"Do you think it understands what you are saying Lita?" Jupiter laughed.

"Yes I think she does, she seemed lost and I found her crying," Lita said, her eyes sharp on Jupiter.

"Give me the cat for a moment, Lita," Jupiter said, intrigued.

Lita patted the cat one more time before handing her over into Jupiter large hands. Jupiter cuddled the cat within his palms and stared into the cat's eyes.

"My there is much intelligence in her for a mere cat, I wonder if Queen Metalia has been playing with magic again," Jupiter explained, studying the cat. "She has a crescent moon bald spot on her head; that in itself is strange."

"I noticed that too," Lita commented, sitting in the opposite side of the table.

Ella looked up into the kind eyes of Jupiter as he sat her down on the table. He grunted, digging his huge right hand into his cloak pocket; his tongue sticking out in concentration. It took him a minute before he smiled again, pulling out a small clear bottle with a white liquid inside.

"If Queen Metalia is playing tricks again, this here will tell us," Jupiter stated, pouring a bit of the clear liquid into the palm of his right hand.

He held his palm out to Ella and Ella looked at him, tilting her head sideways in confusing.

"Drink, kitty," Jupiter cooed.

Ella timidly moved her head down to his outstretched palm, licking the liquid; her eyes remain on Jupiter's blue ones.

Ella grimaced, the liquid tasted weird, she felt something fizzy on her tongue.

"That stuff is terrible," Ella choked.

"Holy Zeus, she can talk!" Lita shouted, surprised.

Ella stared in shock at Jupiter as he scowled Lita about her language.

"But…how?" Ella stuttered.

"Zeus can turn into any animal he wishes and he has a special potion so he may speak with humans. He has given me some of that potion in case I need it," Jupiter explained. "It only works if the animal was once human."

Ella licked her furry lips; nervous as she watched her two new friends.

"What has befallen you poor child," Lita asked, drawling Ella's attention.

"Child, we are of the same age," Ella chided. "I have to find my friends!"

"Why don't you tell us what has happened, then we might be able to help you," Jupiter advised, leaning back in his chair.

"Okay, my name is Ella and I am a priestess in training of the Goddess Selene. I was traveling with two other priestesses in training, Serenity and Mina," Ella started, "We were to deliver a letter to King Damon of Thessaloniki. We traveled until we met Venus Priestess of Aphrodite and she gave us lodging for the night. She gave us food, shoes and horses."

Jupiter's eyes widened at hearing Venus name mentioned but restrained from saying anything. Ella voiced faltered and she stopped for a bit, after taking a couple deep breaths to control her beating heart, she started again.

"We entered Volos and found the Priests and Priestesses of Hermes tied up and Serenity rushed over to help them with Mina and me behind her. After freeing the Priests and Priestesses we were attack by the people of Volos but we managed to escape with the help of Ami," Ella rushed on.

"That doesn't explain how you got turned into a cat," Lita spoke out.

"I'm getting to that," Ella huffed, "Over come with fear I thought that I could make it back home so I ran when they were fast asleep one night. I knew I should not have left but the fear in me made my feet move and all I wanted was to go back to Pherai and live a humble life, but I was caught by Queen Metalia. I betrayed my Priestesses by telling her everything I knew."

Tears fell from Ella's eyes. Her voice gave out as she spoke of her betrayal and it took her a while before she could speak again and she was glad that Jupiter and Lita kept their silence as she regains control of herself.

"Once I gave her all the information I had she turned me into a cat and marked me with a crescent moon," Ella finished, looking to Jupiter. "Is there a way to turn me back into a human girl?"

"I'm sorry my child, there is nothing I can do," Jupiter sighed.

"But you were able to allow me to speak, there must be something that you can do," Ella shouted, her voice laced with hysteria.

"Its up to you to turn yourself back into a human, I can not help," Jupiter said again, his voice soft, striking into Ella heart, calming her instantly.

"Do you know where your friends are now?" Lita asked.

"Not really, Ami was leading us through Volos by the back roads; we were heading south for the back gates. I been gone for two days now, they might have already left the city," Ella explained.

"Lita, I think they might need our help. I will stay here and keep an eye on Queen Metalia. I want you to take Ella and find the others and help them reached Thessaloniki. There is a temple of Aries outside of the city and you might find help there," Jupiter instructed.

Lita nodded her head and smiled at the cat. "First lets eat and I will pack for our travels, then it's off to search for your friends, okay Ella," Lita assured the cat, ruffling her fur.

True darkness descended on the city of Volos and again the moon did not make her appearance. Lita cloaked in black huddled Ella against her chest as they stow away into the night, keeping to the back streets, avoiding all human interacting as much as possible, luckily for Lita, no eyes followed her.

"We will reach the south gate by early morning as long as we don't bump into any trouble," Lita whispered to Ella.

"I just hope we catch up to them in time?" Ella whispered back.

"Me too," Lita sighed, her eyes watchful.

_00_

High Priestess Alexis sighed watching the sky, hoping a false hope that the moon would return.

"This is the second night that the moon had not made her appearance, I fear for the worst," High Priestess Helen said, her eyes downcast.

High Priestess Alexis sighed again as she sat on the ruff grass, allowing the tiny blades to stab at her skin.

"There is nothing that we can do, I no longer feel the Goddess Selene in my heart, perhaps she is punishing us or rather me," High Priestess Alexis whispered, the wind catching her words, bring it to High Priestess Helen's ears.

"How so?" High Priestess Helen asked, bringing her eyes up from the ground, turning them towards the empty sky.

High Priestess Helen stood behind the knelt High Priestess Alexis, wishing for the moon to return.

"I sent three of our priestess in training to deliver a message to King Damon," High Priestess Alexis sighed.

"Yes I know, but what does that have to do with punishing you?" High Priestess Helen asked.

"It's because…it's because in that letter it's asks the King to choose one of the priestess in training to take as a bride," High Priestess Alexis cried, tears welling in her eyes.

High Priestess Helen gasped in shock. "Why didn't you bring it up with the other High Priestesses?"

"High Priestess Zoe is the only one I confided in when I made that decision," High Priestess Alexis cried.

"Do the girls know what is in the letter?" High Priestess Helen asked, fearing the worst.

"No," High Priestess Alexis sighed, shaking her dark curly hair.

"Then you have brought us our destruction. I pray that the Goddess Selene forgives you for your sins," High Priestess Helen accused, turning her back on the kneeling Priestess; walking away.

High Priestess Alexis sighed again, tears falling from her eyes, heart broken, she stared up into the blacken sky, praying for forgiveness so that the Goddess Selene would shine her light upon her Priestesses once more.

"I am sorry," High Priestess Alexis whispered to the sky.

To overwhelm with grief High Priestess Alexis did not hear the first cries of alarm, nor did she smell the fire on the wind. It was the light that brought her out of her anguish and for a moment she thought that the moon had appeared back in the sky, but when she searched the sky, she only saw small stars, turning around she gasped, seeing fire dance upon the Priestesses' homes. Stumbling to her feet High Priestess Alexis started to run towards the burning buildings. High Priestesses and Priestesses in training alike ran about the fire not sure where to go.

"Priestesses get away from the fire, come to the temple," High Priestess Alexis shouted at the woman who ran by.

With fear in their hearts, they followed their leader over a small hill to the temple of the Goddess Selene only to find men and women in back, armed with swords waiting for them.

High Priestess Alexis stopped in mid run her arms going out to the other priestesses, stopping them in their tracks.

A man in black with a white cape stepped forwards, his sword drawn, pointing its tip at High Priestess Alexis.

"Please, we are but humble servants of the Goddess Selene, please spare us," High Priestess Alexis begged, fear evident in her voice.

"Why, so you can warn King David before we can attack and take over Pherai," the soldier spit out.

"I promise that we will not say anything, we have no weapons to protect ourselves, please spare us," High Priestess Alexis begged again.

The girls behind her whimpered in fright; looking from the guards to their High Priestess, the fire burning brightly behind them and screams were heard upon the wind of the Priestesses who did not make it out of the fire.

"Kill them," the guard ordered; charging High Priestess Alexis, his blade piercing her stomach.

Blood stained her white dress as High Priestess Alexis stared at the guard in shock. She felt her life blood rise into her mouth and dribbled down her chin. She could hear distant screams behind her as her knees buckled beneath her. Pain engulfed her body as the guard pulled out his sword, making her cry out in pain. Trembling white fingers tried to cover the wound but it was no use her blood was pooling around her, with a shaky breaths High Priestess Alexis head hit the ground, dying within second, not seeing what befell her Priestesses.

The Priestesses screamed as they watch their leader die and they scrambled about trying to avoid the swords of their attackers. Men and women rushed at them, their swords swinging high in the air, striking any Priestess within reach; women in grey and white fell, blood soaking their dresses and their screams dying upon their lips.

High Priestess Zoe ran away down the hill, away from the screams, away from the fire, tears streaking down from her eyes. She dared not look back, afraid that someone was following her, her feet faltered catching her dress, arms flared wildly as she fell onto the hard ground, tumbling the rest of the way down the hill. She hit the bottom with a thump, all the air rushing out of her lungs. Sobs raked her body as she stared up the hill, watching the fire rise in the night. Screams echoed in her ears and it froze High Priestess Zoe's heart.

"Why us, we did nothing wrong," High Priestess Zoe cried, trying to get up.

Pain shot up through her right leg and she fell onto the ground once again. Groaning in pain she lifted up her white dress to see blood running down her leg and her ankle was twisted at an odd angle, a bone protruding out of her skin. Crying out in angony, High Priestess Zoe started to crawl along the grass hoping to get to the tall grass before she was found by one of the soldiers.

Laughter entered her ears, freezing her body.

"Thought you could escape," a voice whispered.

Half turning High Priestess Zoe saw a young man no older than twenty years step off the hill, his sword drawn.

"Why us?" High Priestess Zoe asked.

"Because it was our Queen's wish," the guard answered, stalking slowly towards her.

High Priestess Zoe tried to crawl away from the young guard, but she was too slow and the guard stepped on her broken ankle, enticing another scream out of her.

High Priestess Zoe whipped her head around; watching as a cruel smile spread upon the young guard's face.

"Please, don't kill me," High Priestess Zoe whimpered.

The guard relished in the fear in her eyes and an idea popped into his head.

"I will spare your life, only if you will do something for me," The guard said, his eyes darkening.

"Anything," High Priestess Zoe cried, more tears staining her cheeks.

"Give yourself to me and I will let you go," the guard answered, smiling as he spoke.

High Priestess Zoe's eyes widen in fear, she was a High Priestess and was sworn to the Goddess Selene not to give up her virginity.

"No, I can't I sworn to the Goddess Selene that I would not," High Priestess Zoe protested.

"You would give up your life for your Goddess," the guard sneered, leaning over High Priestess Zoe.

High Priestess Zoe's eyes widen at their closeness and she could see the green in his eyes and his black hair cut short into spikes. High cheekbones graced his pale unblemished skin; his smile widened showing yellow-white teeth.

"My Goddess is everything to me, I'd rather be with her in death than with you in life," High Priestess Zoe spat.

Taking her uninjured leg she kicked him in the knee cap making him fall. With new determination High Priestess Zoe painfully stumbled to her feet, catering her right ankle as she tried to stagger away from the guard. Pain shot through her head as fingers enclosed around her short blond hair snapping her head back.

"Did you think you could escape from me," the guard whispered into her ear, sending shivers up and down her spine.

High Priestess Zoe back slammed against the solid body of the guard's; his arm enclosed around her waist.

"I was going to kill you quickly, but I changed my mind, its going to be slow and painful," the guard breathed, his lips against her neck.

High Priestess Zoe shuddered, feeling dread in the pit of her stomach and she tried to struggle out of his grasp, but it was no use he overpowered her with his strong arms that kept her against him.

"Please, just kill me," High Priestess Zoe whimpered, her body trembling.

"Now why would I want to do that, I have not made you scream yet," the guard purred into her ear.

The guard threw her down onto the ground before he pounce on her, making her scream as he tore at her dress, she felt the fabric rip from her body and she prayed to any God and Goddess that would listen, to end her life right now, but the Gods did not hear her plea that night, and she screamed until her voice became raw as the guard violated every part of her body. She could hear his cold grunts as he pushed within her making her cry out with each thrust. After it was done, the guard stood above her, zipping up his pants before planting his sword within her skin, stabbing her in the heart. With one last cry, High Priestess Zoe's blue eyes glazed over in death. The guard smiled down at the dead Priestess before turning and walking back up the hill; the fire was starting to die down.

Here you go, hope you enjoy it and don't forget to review and tell me what you think. As always smile.