Argh! I wasn't planning on revealing this chapter to anyone just yet, but things are heating up. I want you to know about it! Oooh! I love this fight so much. It is not the big KABOOM that I have planned for you all, but it's a touch of a tease.

Guilt Trip

Katja was prowling. She'd seen the fairies disappear into this swamp, but she didn't know just where they had gone to after that. Currently, her body stood amidst the bog's haze. As a master assassin, this was the perfect element to be in for her ambush. If she just knew where the fairies had gotten off to, she could easily dispose of them in the mushy swamp. Then, she could grab her prize, a prize Hollis had foolishly allowed to get away from him.

He was a damned idiot, but his idiocy had been to her and Sven's benefit. With Adamine Terra AKA Erianna Lancet under their control, Gatlin would release them from this accursed kingdom. Their mother's death would not be in vain.

With so much haze in the area, Katja didn't feel the need to keep her face covered. Carefully, she removed the niqab that covered everything from the top of her nose down. The cloth had been something that her mother had worn. Although it had once been worn for their religious practice, the Poison Siblings now sported the cloth for the benefit that came with hiding your face from the enemy. It always helped when no one knew the identity of their assassin, so she and Sven covered their faces when filling out contracts for their master.

Also, the extra cloth she wore assisted in keeping people from coming into contact with her poisonous skin. There wasn't a human alive that could touch her body. As a child, Katja had been fed small amounts of poison. As she aged, the amount of poison increased. Her body had formed an immunity, but her skin was now poisonous to the touch. She could kill, paralyze, or put to sleep anyone with just a touch depending on the type of magic she chose to use with her Poison Skin. It was a curse that kept her from coming into contact with anyone, but it was a curse needed to prevent Gatlin from laying hands on her.

She shifted in the cypress tree. Her gauntlet covered hands skimmed across the rough bark. There'd been many times that Katja and Sven had stalked in places just like this. The siblings hunted their prey for miles, for days, and they never quit until they'd taken their target. Out of all of Exile, they were the most notorious.

The Crimson Phoenix was famed for his destruction. The Heavy Metal Soldier was famous for his oversized blade. The Dark Haze was renowned for his ability to send an entire city into a fog. The Poison Siblings had their stealth. Each member of Exile had their talents, but out of them all Katja and Sven owned the title of assassins.

The sharp claws that tipped each one of Kat's fingers tapped lightly on the hard bark. She could have waited here forever. She had that kind of patience, but when her prey slipped from what looked like the swamp itself, Katja let a grin slide across her rosy red lips. "Got ya."

Her prey was stealthy. Princess Erianna had her eyes peeled for any hunters lurking in the darkness and haze, but as Katja stalked overhead, the dragon slayer would have never expected a sky bound predator.

She examined her prey. Erianna had a leather backpack strapped against her back. She wore combat boots that maneuvered her through the sludge of the bog. Her attire had changed from a ball gown to a pair of camo cargo pants and a loose slung black tank top. In her hair was the camo bandana she was famous for. Katja noticed with curiosity that the slayer even had a leather whip attached to a belt that hung off her curvy hips. Erianna had left prepared. The question was what was she leaving from?

Kat leaped from one tree branch to another in order to catch up to the hustling slayer. As soon as Katja thought she had the woman in her sights, she did something to surprise her assassin. Up ahead, crocodiles lazed in the swamp. They rested their bodies languidly and awaited their meal. Before Adamine could get within chomping distance, she slipped that leather whip from her hips to wrap it around a tree branch. Like a professional Tarzan, the princess of Lancet landed perfectly on the other side of the bog.

Erianna was rumored to be a powerful, strategic woman from all her contacts in Fiore, but to see it in person was another thing entirely. For all Katja knew, the slayer just may have escaped Hollis instead of him letting her go.

Either way, Adamine or Erianna or whatever the hell her alias was would be in Lance tonight. Her wedding would be within the week, and Kat had a ship to catch.

Stealthily, Kat slipped her niqab back to cover her face. With just her hazel eyes glistening above the fabric, she launched from the cypress. Her arm drew back for the first attack. Her magic let poison leak from the pores of her skin and out from the tiny holes in the tips of her gauntlets.

She looked like she was going to get a clean shot of Adamine's back when the woman roundhouse kicked her into the next century. One second Adamine hadn't even been paying attention. The next second Katja was getting sent into the future by the powerful thrust of an adamantine leg.

Her back snapped hard against one of the massive trees, but before she could become croc dinner, Kat drilled her gauntlets into the tree. Her booted feet rested solidly against the trunk as she snickered, "You're more attentive than you appear, your highness."

"And you're less stealthy than you're rumored to be, Poisoneva," Adamine greeted with the use of Katja's earned name.

Kat was Poisoneva and Sven was Poisonidan. Both of their names played from the poison ivy that their magic was said to originate from. How kind of the princess to remember their titles.

"I was ordered to subdue not kill. Had the order been different, you would already be foaming at the mouth from my claws." Katja raised her hand up, flaunting the black metal usually kept hidden by her cloak.

Adamine just smiled. It was a surprisingly sad smile. Kat wouldn't have expected her to have so much melancholy in those big, emerald eyes, but she did. Did she know what the payment for her retrieval was?

"If I wasn't already promised to another, I would let you catch me, but I have a hot date tonight. Can't be late for that," Adamine responded with a snarky charm.

Katja just smirked. "Your Phoenix's wings have been clipped. Surrender to me now, and I won't paralyze you with my abilities." Actually, Katja's threat was half-assed. Although Sven was a master of his trade, without Katja by his side he was weaker. Sven might not have rendered Hollis useless, but Kat was sure he had been stalled well enough.

Adamine tapped on her wrist like she was mentioning a clock. "Like I said, 'Hot Date'. I'll have to pass on the whole surrendering business, but we can make this quick." Her shoulders rolled, and the next thing Katja knew she was hanging her backpack on a low resting branch.

Once that was out of the way, Katja recognized Adam's battle position. She stood with her shoulders squared and her feet shoulder width apart. Well, if the dragon wanted to do things the old fashioned way…

Kat stripped herself of her cloak. Beneath the black shroud was tight fitting clothing. Her feet were encompassed in black, leather boots, and a dark purple sash flowed down from one hip. Across her left arm were matching purple bands.

Kat didn't even let the other woman get a warning. Her body moved in a lightning quick blur as her leg came crashing down towards Adamine's shoulder.

Immediately, the woman threw her hands up. Adamantine claws dug into Katja's leg, catching the blow. It was like Adamine knew not to sink her claws deeply into the fabric of Katja's pants to reveal her poisonous skin.

What. A. Bummer.

Hastily, Katja shifted her hips. Her free foot launched upwards in a spiral, and she flung herself out of Adamine's hands while thrusting her foot into the woman's face.

Head launching sharply to the left, Adamine let loose a burst of saliva before lunging back in. Her claws grew and sharpened. The mighty talons thrust outwards to slice a gauntlet covered fist away from her stomach.

The girl was good. Katja could tell it in the fire of her eyes. They were twin flames when Adamine landed a fist against Kat's face. She could be as good as she wanted though, but all Kat needed was a single touch. Then, it would all be over.

"Viper's Fangs," Katja demanded of her magic. Poison slipped from her skin like sweat, and she used the excess to drip into a reservoir at the base of her palm. As soon as Adamine was in range, she thrust her spiked fist out. The poison released and launched away like a powder, but Adamine was quick.

She snatched Kat's cloak up from the ground and shielded the blow by having it catch in the material. She didn't stop her defense there, though. The woman turned her defense into an attack.

Wrapping the material around Kat's forearm, Adamine snagged a hold of the woman. Her combat boots slipped underneath her, and as she fell Adamine announced, "Adamine Kiss." Her forehead snapped back for a head butt that should have split Kat's skull wide open.

Stars danced in her vision even when she caught herself. Yes, Adamine was good. Too good.

Katja let out a sharp hiss of pain when blood slithered down the side of her nose. The woman's adamantine skull had cracked skin.

Clawed fingers grabbed onto Adamine's leg, and she threw the woman on her ass. The two tumbled onto the ground. Limbs went flying as this fight got into a competition of who could punch who the hardest.

Kat's arms moved in a blur of blocking and attacking. The two were a beautiful mix of assault and defense as they rolled in the mud. "Roar of the Adamantine Dragon!" Adamine howled. Her lips sucked in the air then released it.

Katja's head should have been blown off her shoulders had she not ducked. Her hand sunk around Adamine's throat. She shoved her head into the swamp. The loud scuffle drew the attention of the crocs. All around they moved from the moist ground and into the murky waters.

Eyes studied a collection of bubbles making their ways closer to the brawling women, and Katja was thrust back. Adamine leaped from the water like a vengeful demon. Her fangs had lengthened, and her skin had turned to adamant. With claws digging into Katja's biceps, Adamine pronounced, "Stone Pillar Heavenwards!"

Katja's lips parted in shock as she and Adamine were launched into the cypress trees. Out of the threat of crocodilian fangs, the two leaped back into the branches.

Purple haze wafted around Katja's body from the sweat dripped along either side of her face. Her sweat was purple. Her tears were purple. It was an effect of the poison magic, and it made for a powerful attack. Katja commanded, "Purple Haze!"

The poison of her body boiled. It went from liquid to gas form, filling the air with a toxic effect. The poison was to be inhaled. Once in the system, it would cause the body to numb starting in the mouth and eyes until you went blind and tasteless. Then, it would eat away at your body until you were nothing but a paralyzed heap ready to be sent to Gatlin's new castle.

It was time to end this, and Katja knew she had to do it fast before Hollis showed up to ruin the fun.

Feminine grunts of exertion had Hollis's golden eyes narrowing. It was nearing midnight. Perhaps, Katja had found Adamine by now. Well, didn't that just completely suck. Not only was his left leg useless, but now he had to contend with defeating Kat then hauling Adamine's likely paralyzed body back to the ship. And, he had to do it within the hour.

Already, Hollis's right arm was beginning the early stages of paralysis. He could hardly use it, hardly bend it. He wouldn't be able to use it, and he knew that meant Cinder's right wing was disabled. Still, he would have to use it.

"Cinder, out," he directed the phoenix. Red arose from his tattoo, but it was far from the deep crimson that got him his name. Cinder's flaming body flickered on the bottom left and top right. She likely only had an hour left in her. "I need to get to them," he explained.

The phoenix let out a strained caw before attaching her vibrant wings to his back. Flames smoldered across his bare back, and he was hefted weakly from the ground. As soon as he entered the swampy battlefield, Hollis was nearly blown back by the amount of poison in the air.

Purple Haze filled the air. It wafted around his body and already added to the paralysis inside of his body. Hastily, he covered his body in flames to burn the poison. It wouldn't do much, but at least it would delay the effects.

Gold eyes squinted in the thick haze, and after a moment, Hollis caught sight of Adamine and Kat. The dragon slayer was pinioned to the spot by Katja's claws. Her hands clenched tightly to the poison bearer's forearm, but the question was huge. How do you defeat an enemy whose skin you can't touch?

Hollis knew how.

"Tattoo Magic: Phoenix's Burning Talons!" His hand shot out, a magic circle dancing at his fingertips. The crimson glowed powerfully, and as flames collected around him, Hollis loosed twin blasts of flame.

Katja's hazel eyes widened at the sudden attack, but Adamine just beamed. Her entire body shot to adamant. Sinking her claws into the fabric of Katja's ninja inspired attire, Adamine allowed herself to be bathed in flame.

While the flames burned away any impurities on Adamine's diamond hard skin and made her body shimmer even more, Katja's skin had the opposite effect. The poison she was emitting was burned off, evaporating instantly. Hollis and Cinder's flames created a hole in the haze, and he used that entrance to throw a flaming fist into Kat's face.

Even weakened, his blow sent stars dancing in Kat's vision. His breaths panted heavily when she went tumbling to the swamp, and he couldn't help his wobbling legs from going to one knee in front of Adamine.

"Are you… okay?" he panted.

"Better than you, but I can't feel my face. How long do I have?"

"Probably three hours. We have to get into the open ocean before Kat comes back. I have a little more than forty minutes before I'm down for the count." His body fell to his hands and knees when Cinder could no longer support her phoenix flames. "I hate to ask, but can you fly me to the ship?"

Adamine gave a nod. Her hands were still claws, ready for Katja in case she showed up. On her knees she moved over. When she placed one hand around Hollis's shoulders, readying for flight, a blast of poison shot her straight from below.

She let loose a roar, more animal than human, and howled, "Chakra Release: Third Eye!"

Hollis didn't have time to question it. If he hadn't seen it before, he would have likely fallen into her arms at the horns sprouting from her skull.

Adamine didn't even hesitate. As soon as Katja appeared on the tree limb, she rammed her horns backwards into Katja's body. The woman gushed blood, but Adamine didn't have time to keep going. She snapped, "Chakra Release: Heart!"

A pair of angelic looking wings burst from her back. They shred holes into the fabric of her black tank top, and instead of feathers, Adamine sported feathered scales that were diamond hard. She gave a spiraling slash of those wings to run across Katja's poisonous skin before diving off.

"Can she fly?" Adamine asked the man she carried.

"No. She can't. She would either have to track us through the trees or the swamp. Also, her attacks are indirect. Most are effect based like the move Purple Haze," he weakly explained, ashamed at himself for being so lacking in the face of an enemy. "If you get far enough away, you should be able to escape her. Besides, she can't lay traps because I took out her brother, Sven. He was tied up to an evergreen last time I saw him."

"Perfect," Adamine mentioned. Her large wings flapped one hard time, and she peered behind her for Katja.

The woman was following, but she was cursing with every inch Adamine put between them. Just to knock her even further off their trail, Adamine demanded, "Roar of the Adamantine Dragon!" She flipped backwards in the air and launched a mighty roar in the direction of their trailing assassin.

Katja let out a shrill scream of pure aggravation and just a dash of pain when her body was plastered against a tree.

Confidant that they'd lost her, Adamine flipped back over.

Even in his time of complete lameness, Hollis mentioned, "Remind me to never get on your bad side."

The slayer smirked. "Don't worry, Hollis. You aren't on my People Whose Ass I Need to Hand to Them List."

"Baby, there's a lot of things that I wouldn't mind you doing to my ass, but kicking it is not one of them." He cast a glance to the horizon and scowled. The moon was high overhead, and instead of summoning any feeling of relief, it just drew guilt from his body. Adamine was about to become a slave at the hands of Gatlin, and it was all his fault. Damn this country and damn Gatlin. The last thing Hollis wanted to do was ruin this powerful slayer. Talk about a guilt trip.

Oh, man. We almost get to meet Gatlin and go through with the wedding B.S. I couldn't care less about Gatlin, but that Wall is about to come tumbling down! We're about to get Eren and Levi from Attack on Titan up in this thang.

I hope you all are enjoying this story as much as I am.

As always, I give you my highest thanks. You are truthfully my inspiration, and I'm really grateful to you all.

(Insert bit about hoping you will review me)