sustisama: Thanks! I thought that little suspense with Rowen and Sage would give a little scare. I looked at the drawing of Kalen and I think you did a good job. Can't wait to see more. Are you planning to draw Ryo as Ryo or Ryo as Sawyer?

Guest: Thank you kindly! Yeah. I can't remember where the inspiration came from for the guys to go bad, but it's been working out awesome. I think this story will be record-holder for number of chapters by the time I'm done. As for figuring it out, we'll see if it's Rowen. I'll keep up the good work if you keep on reviewing.

WARNING: There's an intense moment later in the chapter. This part was so intense it gave me the shivers. You have been warned. Enjoy reading!

CHAPTER TWENTY

"I don't like it."

The Council and Sawyer sat in the ceremonial room within the Hidden City. Silver sat by Sawyer's side. Kalen stood in the center of their circle like many times before.

"There's very little that can be done right now," Griffin advised.

"Bullshit!"

Everyone's gaze snapped to the youngest of the group. Kai immediately turned red and mumbled an apology. Kalen accepted the apology.

"You're frustrated, Kai. It's okay. We all are," Kalen said.

Kai started to speak, but Kalen held up her hand. He closed his mouth and leaned back in his chair.

"We're frustrated because they're quiet. The warlords have a plan and for the first time, we don't know what that plan is. In the past, it was bicker, bicker, bicker, I'm going to take your armor, and Master Talpa rules," Kalen continued.

He couldn't help it. Kalen had been so sarcastic when she said it and it had been so honest. Sawyer bent over forwards laughing. It was not quiet and he did not even attempt to smother it.

"Ha Ha you just described Ha Ha Ha them Ha Ha to a tee!"

The others shared the laugh with him which made him feel a little better about laughing. They all settled down gradually. However, a sudden thought sobered Sawyer up in a heartbeat. His head snapped up as he stared at Kalen in horror.

"Saw, what is it?" Kalen asked, sensing something was amiss.

"What about Anubis?" he asked.

Kalen frowned.

"What about the bastard?"

Sawyer's eyebrows shot up in surprise and Kai's jaw dropped. The rest of the Council didn't seem at all surprised.

"What? I've called him that to his face lots of times. He knows what he is," Kalen remarked.

Sawyer shook his head but let the issue go in favor of bringing up his question.

"Anubis once served in the place of the Ancient One. Does he know where all the Ancient locations are?" Sawyer asked.

Surprisingly, it was Griffin who spoke.

"Thankfully, no. While the Ancient One was recovering from using almost all of his energy to open the bridge, I met with Anubis. We would always meet at a neutral place. We never met in any of the Ancient locations," Griffin explained.

Sawyer sat back with a sigh. That had been a small cause for alarm with him. But then another question came to light.

"What happened with Anubis? The last time I saw him he had been separated from Mia and Yuli," Sawyer responded.

Kalen held back a sigh. It was old history, but it was important for Sawyer to know of the past.

"Talpa truly thought that Anubis had betrayed him. So he sent the warlords out to take care of him. Anubis sensed their presence and sent Mia and Yuli away with White Blaze for 'protection.' They faked a fight until the trio was well away. Then Anubis ducked out of the final fight [1]."

The story continued on from Kalen to Griffin.

"In the chaos, the Staff returned to the Ancient One. We assumed he had perished in battle. It wasn't until after the ambush on you that we discovered he was still alive. The warlords – Anubis, Dais, Sekhmet and Cale – have known Kalen and I are for many years. They knew we were Ancients, but not that we were on the Council. Not until the seal was placed," Griffin explained.

Then it jumped back to Kalen.

"They've come across us over our travels through the Nether Realm. They didn't believe us to be members of the Ancient Council so there was no need to inform the other warriors about us. Not until I tried to deceive Cye. Then it became necessary," Kalen finished.

Sawyer mulled over this information silently before asking a new question.

"How did the others become immortal? The ex-ronins?" Sawyer asked.

He was surprised by the Council's reaction. The sitting members grew completely silent and wouldn't make eye contact with him. Griffin, in particular, stood up and walked over to stand by an open window. He grasped his hands in front of him while taking a deep breath. Kalen's face looked serious as she stepped closer to him.

"It's not something we discuss, Sawyer. It's a ritual of unspeakable horrors. Just know that a lot of innocent blood is spilled," Kalen murmured to him.

Sawyer made a mental note to himself not to ask that particular question again. Given their reactions, the knowledge obviously pained the Ancients.

"What could the warlords be up to?" Sawyer asked, immediately changing the subject.

Selena was the one to answer him.

"We don't have any ideas, Sawyer. We believe that there is a grand plan they have come up with and that they are executing it in parts. Just like when they attacked the mortals after Kalen was with the Zuri's," Selena answered.

"The wurst part is dat we dunno what da end result is. Before, dey wanted all da armors. But now who knows?" Tobi added.

Sawyer nodded in agreement. It was hard. Even if they knew or suspected he (Ryo) was alive, they probably wouldn't go after his armor. This was mostly due to the fact that Sage had seen to its physical destruction.

The Council soon ended their meeting in favor of other things. The members split up between the underground city and the condo. Kalen and Sawyer along with Silver stayed behind in the Hidden City. Kalen and Sawyer walked around the city holding hands while Silver ran around.

When they came around a corner with Silver a bit behind them, Sawyer twirled Kalen around and into his arms. He pulled her in and dropped his mouth down to hers. Kalen looped her arms up around his shoulders as his wound around her waist. They shared a long kiss, one that was sappy and similar to those in the movies. One mouth would open and come to a close over the other mouth then they would trade off.

Kalen took him off guard when she drew his bottom lip into her mouth. She sucked on it and

nipped it before drawing back. Sawyer moved his hands to Kalen's hips where he hoisted her

onto the small ledge attached to the column behind her. She leaned her back against the column, separating from their connection.

Sawyer stepped forward to stand between her legs as he initiated another kiss. With Kalen hoisted up, they were now eye level. She slid a hand up to take his glasses off, fold them, and slide them into his pocket. Now she was free to slide a hand into his hair.

Sawyer moaned into the kiss. His ears were sometimes sensitive and Kalen's hand had slid right over the top where it was most sensitive. They kissed for a little longer until Silver made a sound that was suspiciously close to a cough.

The two separated with a little space between them before looking down and to the corner. Silver was sitting there with his head lowered and a paw covering his eyes. The Ancient could have sworn the canine was smirking.

"How'd you know my ears were sensitive?" Sawyer murmured.

Kalen smirked.

"I've learned a few tricks over the last few hundred years," Kalen chuckled.

Sawyer shared the chuckle. He took a step closer and gently eased Kalen's head to the side to deepen their next kiss. Another whine forced them apart again. Kalen chuckled as she hopped down with Sawyer's help.

"Do you…do you think we're taking things too fast?" Sawyer asked, showing a little insecurity.

Kalen took a step closer to press a small kiss on his nose.

"I believe we're doing fine, Saw. Truthfully, I subscribe to the belief that I should live today as if tomorrow will never come. It's helped me to thrive and survive all these years," Kalen answered. "But we can slow down if you want."

Sawyer knew Kalen would slow things down if he asked. Deep down, he knew that wasn't what he wanted. So much time had been lost for him and Mia. He wasn't about to make the same mistake with Kalen. Being with her made him feel good, happy, and wanted.

Sawyer brought two fingers under Kalen's chin and lifted her head so he could kiss her again. When they separated, they were both smiling.

"I think we'll be okay," Sawyer murmured back to her.

"Me too."

/…/

The dirt path was almost invisible with the thick layer of fog covering from her knees down. Kalen walked down the path hesitantly. What was most unusual was that her mysterious deck of cards wasn't attached at her waist.

She froze in the middle of the path when she heard a lone howl sing through the air.

"Who's there?" she called out.

No response came. She continued on the path until she came to the end where she stood underneath an oak tree. She started to pass it when someone suddenly grabbed her from behind.

Kalen tried to scream, but a hand holding a wet cloth covered her open mouth. She was out in a second.

She woke up several minutes later. Kalen was chained by her arms to a damp, cold wall. Her arms were held up on either side of her head. The chains were wrapped tightly so she could do very little in terms of movement. Because of how the chains were, she was forced to stand with her back straight against the wall.

She shivered uncontrollably. The cold, wet feeling seeped into the back of the thin jacket she wore. She tried moving but she couldn't find any slack in the chains.

"You're welcome to try, but you won't be going anywhere," a familiar voice told her as a figure stepped out of the shadow.

Kalen lifted her head with her eyes alight with fierce determination.

"Cye," she spat.

Cye snickered as he approached his prey. The only light was from a lit torch hanging diagonally above them. He leaned his body forward with his hands touching the wall between Kalen's hands and her head.

"What's the matter, Kay? I thought you would have missed me," he said with a fake pout.

Kalen glared.

"It was like missing a cavity. The memory is there, but the cavity is never missed," she whispered.

He stepped even closer until there was just a sliver of space between them. She tried to turn her head away but Cye's hand shot out to grab her chin. He kept her squarely in place while facing him. His fingernails dug in hard, sure to leave bruises later. Kalen barely held back a wince.

"That's not very nice, love. Given your situation, I should think you'd like to be a little…nicer."

He loosened his grip which allowed Kalen to open her mouth to tell him off. Except she never got that far.

Cye crossed the remaining distance, pressed his body forcefully against her, and sealed his mouth over hers. Kalen had just enough time to close her mouth as Cye's mouth smashed painfully against hers. Her bottom lip split open and the taste of blood flooded her mouth. Yet she refused to open her mouth.

Cye backed off, releasing Kalen's mouth. Kalen took a breath right before Cye made a second attempt. This time, she was ready for him. She retaliated and bit down hard on his bottom lip.

When he jerked his head back from her, Kalen was pleased to see his bottom lip bleeding. The pleasant feeling of having one upped her ex lasted all of five seconds. Cye, who had never been particularly violent before, took her by complete surprise.

Kalen cried out when the back of her head erupted in severe pain. She could feel something trickling down the back of her neck that she knew wasn't from the wall. Cye grasped the hair above her ear harshly and jerked her head up so she was looking up into his burning gaze.

"You will not do that again. Understand?" he growled angrily.

With tears in her eyes, all Kalen could do was nod her head. This time, when his mouth pressed against hers, she didn't fight him. She only protested when his body pushed hers further into the wall. He moved his mouth on to ear to whisper.

"What? What is it? What's wrong, Kalen?" he asked, in a falsely concerning voice of a lover.

Kalen choked back a sob. She swallowed before speaking. She murmured so quiet that Cye couldn't hear her, even with how close he was.

"Say it. Say it again, Kay. I can't hear you, love."

"Get…off. You're…*gasp*…h-hurting me."

Cye's deep laugh in her ear caused her body to wrack with shivers.

"Your people are dead. The Council is dead. The Empath…is dead. Even your precious little mortal is dead. You have nothing left to fight for."

Kalen looked down and saw the deep coloring of blood staining Cye's clothes. The reality of his words rang true. Something inside her broke as she slumped against the wall and allowed the sorrow to seep in.

She wrapped her arms around herself when the chains were suddenly taken away. Cye took her in his arms and cradled her head under his chin. He listened to her sobs as if they were an orchestra. He offered no words or gestures of comfort. He only cackled evilly. His laughter shook in his chest, jostling Kalen as she continued to sob into his blood-soaked shirt.

/…/

"Have a good dream?"

Cye opened his eyes and looked up into the curious gaze of Dais. He smirked as he stood from his meditation spot.

"The best kind," he answered with a chuckle.

/…/

Kalen's eyes shot open as she sat straight up. She was sitting up on the couch in the condo. The sky was beginning to darken outside with the setting sun. Kalen shook her head as she violently flung the comforter off her. She stood up with a snarl.

"That man is sick."

Kalen stormed into the kitchen and snagged Selena by the arm. She offered no explanation to Sawyer or Griffin as she dragged the other woman to her room. She slammed the door none too gently and locked it. She whipped around to face Selena.

"Kalen, you seem troubled. What's wrong?" Selena asked, as she sat down in the chair at Kalen's desk.

Kalen turned around away from her locked door and grimaced.

"I had a blended dream. It was Cye."

Selena brought her hands up to her mouth and gasped.

"How is that possible?" Selena asked.

Kalen shrugged and threw her arms up.

"I don't know exactly and frankly I don't care. I need your help," Kalen answered.

Selena nodded. "I'll do what I can to help."

Kalen smiled and patted her friend on the arm.

"I'm thinking a dream catcher should do the trick," Selena suggested. "But I'll need a little bit of your snow leopard fur."

Kalen agreed. She shifted to her snow leopard fur and allowed Selena to carefully snip some fur off. Then she transformed back to assist Selena. Selena stepped through a door to the Hidden City via Kalen's shower to retrieve a few things.

Kalen used the power of the cards to weave the web while Selena used some fresh snake skin and her brand of Mind Healing magic to make the band. When the band was done, the two women placed the web in the middle of the band and bound the web to it. Woven into the web was a few small stones. On the three band strings hanging down at the bottom, Selena weaved some beads and the tuffs of fur.

With that now done, Selena blessed the dream catcher and hung it above Kalen's bed. Kalen lay down on her bed with a groan. Selena placed a hand on her forehead and forced her hand to glow a light blue.

"Be at peace, my friend. Let the images leave this brilliant mind. Let the power of the catcher prevent the blending of the two minds."

Kalen closed her eyes and let her body sag into the bed. She rolled over on her side when Selena removed her hand. She trusted Selena to help Griffin explain to Sawyer what was going on.

Selena unlocked the door and quietly closed it behind her as she left. Selena found the men eating in the kitchen. Griffin looked up as he felt the emotions rolling off her. He held his hand out and she took it.

"You are troubled, my love. What is wrong?" Griffin asked.

"Kalen had a blended dream," Selena told him quietly.

Sawyer looked up. He had never heard of such a dream. He wondered what a blended dream was.

"Was it Cye?" Griffin asked.

Selena nodded as she leaned into his side. Griffin placed an arm around her waist before turning to speak to Sawyer.

"Have you ever heard of a blended dream, Sawyer?" Griffin asked.

Sawyer shook his head. Griffin sighed.

"A blended dream is a dream melded from the minds of two people. It occurs from a connection made between the two. It can involve the use of blood or a mental or relationship connection. The user that brings the other person into the dream has most of the control in the dream," Griffin explained.

Sawyer knit his eyebrows together before they drew up in realization. Sawyer glanced over their heads to the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

"That's what you meant by Cye. He created the blended dream Kalen had?" Sawyer questioned.

Selena mumbled, "More like a nightmare." Griffin nodded in agreement of what both of them said.

"Why hasn't he done it before now?" Sawyer asked.

"A false sense of security, I believe. With the recent attacks and your survival, I believe Cye chose now to be the prime time to mess with Kalen," Griffin answered.

"She should be fine now," Selena added.

She explained to Sawyer about the making of the dream catcher and the short Mind Healing session.

"I can get how the Mind Healing works, but will the dream catcher really work?" Sawyer inquired.

Selena told him that they did, especially when created with the help of a Mind Healer. That made Sawyer feel better that the dream catcher would do some good.

If Cye founds out about me and Kalen, then everything is going to hit the fan at the same time, Sawyer thought. And that will be a mess no one will want to clean up.

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY

[1] I do NOT have Kayura in this. You'll find out later why. For now, know that the four were still in on everything.

Ha Ha So I totally just edited and finished this chapter while watching the Kids Choice Awards. Even at 25, it is tradition for me to sit and watch these. They are still awesome! Although I could have done without seeing that horrible wrecking ball in the open ceremony song. Blech!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the new chapter and will leave me LOTS of reviews!