Chapter 26: Retrieving Lost Goods

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"Sire, the wolves picked up a scent heading south." One demon reported in as Seto and Joey searched the western wall.

"Are you sure it's them?" Seto asked, itching to find out the path, but restraining himself.

"It's definitely Rebecca. There are other scents with her, but the wolves didn't recognize them." The demon said. Seto looked at Joey and Joey sighed.

"It's our best shot." He said and Seto nodded. Joey started for the south, but a hand shot out and grabbed him, stopping him in his tracks. He turned back and met Seto's eyes confusedly. Before he could question what he was doing, the entire forest began moving around him. The woods passed at a speed inhuman, and after an hour they stopped suddenly at the banks of a crashing river.

"I was waiting for... Joseph?" Melody started, but her cascading voice trailed off as she noticed the boy with the demon. The watery form molded into her nymphly form and She moved directly to Joey.

"Uh... you must be Melody." He said as she hugged him to her.

"Yes. You look so much like your father." She said warmly.

"I really wish this was the time for this, bu-" Seto started, but Melody turned to him and the waters instantly ceased.

"She's gone to the Dhampires." Melody informed him. His body tensed and his jaw locked. How could she do this? What was she thinking?

"And Rebecca?" Joey asked.

"The wolf girl? Yes and your younger brother." She said, leading the last part to Seto. Joey could see his rage building and grabbed his arm.

"Hey. They've got a reason. I know them, they've gotta have a good reason." He said, trying to calm the Demon lord. It had been so long since he was truly angered. Months, excluding when Malik was killed. She had cured him of his bad temper, and now that she was gone, everything upset him. He wanted his world back. He wanted her back. Now.

"Then lets find out what it is." He said, marching forward. He didn't wait for the waters to part, but Melody moved quickly to make most of his trip across a dry one. Once on the other side Seto took Joey by the shirt and the forest started blurring past again. It took half the day to reach their destination, and when they broke the shadow meld, they were immediately surrounded.

"What's a shadow demon doing in our forest?" One Dhampire said as he circled them.

"And with a filthy dog as well..." Another added. There were six of them, snickering and circling, sizing up the boys.

"We're here for the Nymph." Seto said, not wanting to play games. Joey was growling and tracing their movements with his eyes.

"She came to us. She is ours." Two of them said together.

"She came to the lord, he loves her and keeps her well." One laughed. "She loves him too." She added. Seto narrowed his gaze dangerously.

"Give me my baby sister." Joey demanded. Seto glanced down at him and saw that he was just as pissed.

"Your..." The Dhampire trailed off in disgust. Seto grabbed Joey just in time to stop him from assaulting the Dhampires.

"Listen, You have five seconds before I let him go and watch as he tears each and every one of your heads off. And if you try to fight back, I'll join the fun. Now. Tell me where she is." The demon lord stood intimidatingly, barely holding Joey back as he growled and smiled, playing his part.

"Th-There's six of us and only two of you..." One said, stopping in place.

"Five."

"You really think you can take all of us?" Joey growled and turned a menacing glare on anyone other than Seto who spoke.

"Four."

"You cant be serious."

"Three." A few of them started retreating, making the others angry.

"Get back here you cowards!"

"Two."

"N-No..." Two fled, three were frozen in fear, and one was yelling for them to stand their ground.

"One." Seto released Joey, aimed at the defiant one, and Joey tore through him while his head was turned. The Dhampire didn't even see it coming. Immediately the rest of them ran, traveling in different directions and escaping the clutches of those bent on destroying them. Seto's eyes narrowed and he determined the weakest one, shadow melded, and was on top of him. The Dhampire struck the ground hard and twisted up to see the demon on top of him. Seto raised one hand in the air, readying it to pierce into his back and the Dhampire screamed.

"I'll tell you! I'll take you! Please!" He cried, and Seto smiled. He lifted himself up and tugged the Dhampire to his feet with the quiver on his back. The man shook with fear and cringed as Joey neared him.

"Move." Seto demanded and the Dhampire started forward.

"Not bad little Nymph." Serenity cringed again. Hearing Tristan call her that just didn't feel right. She only ever wanted Seto to call her that. She swung again, and this time, she connected with his shoulder, sending him off balance. She moved quickly to trip him and knocked his leg out from under him. She turned and looked back to him, but he had somehow moved on his other leg and twisted himself upright. "Not yet." He said as the leg she had knocked out from under him used the momentum from her blow, swung around and came down on her.

She was knocked to her knees as she blocked with a cross block. Before she could move again, he closed the distance, grabbing her wrists and bending them behind her. He placed her forearms under her thighs, held under her weight and between her thighs and lower legs. She tried to lean forward and free her arms, but Tristan pushed her back, using a single finger on the center of her chest. She felt a blush creep across her cheeks and turned away in defeat, but before he could let her up, someone tossed him violently aside. Serenity looked up in shock and Seto stood, back to her, glaring venomously at Tristan.

"S-Seto..."

"I'll deal with you in a second." He said, glaring over his shoulder at her. Tristan began to pick himself back up, angered by this sudden invasion, and Seto moved. He was able to take three full strides forward, but something took him from behind.

"Stop!" Serenity screamed. He froze in shock as she grabbed his arm and tripped him, sending him flying backwards. He watched her incredulously as she put him in a front mount. Her knees were tucked into his armpit's limiting the movement in his arms and she pinned his wrists up by his head. "I came here to learn to fight. To learn the ways of the Dhampire. I'm not going to sit on the sideline anymore." Her hands trembled on his as she spoke. He knew at any time he could throw her off, but he let her continue. "I'm not going to be useless anymore!" She yelled, squeezing her eyes shut.

With a flick of the wrists, his arms were free. He bent forward suddenly, pushing her off his chest and onto his lap, and hugged her to him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You... You would say no." She tried to look him in the eyes, but he had pulled her into him and buried her head into his shoulder.

"I would have trained you." He could hear Tristan sneer, but didn't care. She finally managed to push him back and look him in the eyes. Her breathing paused as she fell into them. The blues, dark and deep and full of... sadness. Betrayal. Hurt. She felt her heart cry out, but couldn't... no wouldn't let it happen. She loved him, and she hated that he was hurting... but...

"You don't have time for that. You... You have to lead the armies. You have to take care of your people. You have to-" Serenity's lips were pulled against his in a soft and tender kiss.

"Don't leave me again. Ever." He said against her mouth as the kiss ended. She looked up at him and he stood, lifting her and placing her on her feet. After a brief warm gaze at Serenity he looked past her and glared at Tristan. "And you... You didn't think to inform me of what was going on? What kind of lord are you?" Tristan shrugged nonchalantly.

"I was merely respecting the young lady's wishes." He said smiling at her. "Shall we take this somewhere more private?" He asked, nodding around to the other Dhampires who had been using the sparring rings.

Once inside, the fearful Dhampire from before was taken aside and Tristan spoke with him separately.

"I understand there was a complication in the woods. Though one of my Dhampires was slain, I have been informed of the reasons and feel it was a necessary end. Now that we are clear, I do not appreciate you barging in on my people like this and assaulting me in my own home." Tristan said, finally joining them at the small crude table.

"You'll understand if I was feeling a bit over protective." Seto said, bringing Serenity's seat closer to his own. Tristan smirked and nodded.

"And you, a wolf in my territory..." Tristan seemed to be pondering the notion as he looked Joey up and down.

"Hey, back off. The only one we're at war with is the Human king. We don't have a problem with you." Joey said dismissively. "Wait... Where's Rebecca?" Joey asked popping back up from his laid back attitude.

"The other wolf.. she's... with the Fey." Tristan said cautiously. Seto and Joey looked at each other, then back at Tristan.

"They said they thought they'd be in the way with my training so they went off. We have meals together, but other than that, I don't really see them." Serenity admitted. Seto nodded and rose.

"I guess we'll see them now." He said as the rest of them stood. Tristan took the lead and they followed him to a small house on the outskirts of the city.

"After you, My Lord." Tristan said snidely while moving aside for Seto to enter. He opened the door and could hear a rustling noise. Joey and Serenity glanced at each other confusedly, but Seto continued on. The curtains were thick and blocked most of the sunlight out, but that's how most Dhampire dwellings were. The strange part was there were no candles lit indoors. Mokuba and Rebecca didn't have the low light vision that the Dhampires did, so there was no reason not to have light.

Seto moved into the room with the rustling and everyone heard two shrieks. Immediately Seto reemerged looking relatively upset and leaned against the wall, barring anyone else from entering that room. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, and after a moment Mokuba and Rebecca stumbled out. Serenity blushed and looked aside while Joey wore a huge grin.

"Big brother, I can explain-"

"No need. You're older than you look. Too old for lectures." He said, moving away from the boy. Joey grinned down at Rebecca and she looked away, shuffling her feet below her.

"You, on the other hand, are a little young for this." He said, unable to stop smiling.

"Joey, I do recall a little miss Laura in your past... how old were you?" Serenity said, putting some distance between the two blonde wolves. Joey flushed bright red and turned away.

"That's different, I'm a boy." He said, pouting. Seto's eyes wandered over the two kids before him and he smirked. He felt worlds more comfortable now that the three of them were located and safe.

Now reunited, Seto exchanged a few words with Tristan and they headed back to the castle. Serenity noticed Seto's speed slowing and being uneven. When they stopped at the river he seemed out of breath.

"Seto... Should we walk the rest of the way?" Serenity asked, concerned.

"No. We're almost there." He wanted to get her back in the castle with him, where she belonged. Melody hadn't even emerged from the water before making a sheen of ice for them to cross on. She was quiet, but that didn't stop them all from waving at the river bed and smiling as they passed.

"Seto... This is straining you." She said plainly. He glanced down at her and sighed.

"You go away for three days and now you're taking care of me. Something's wrong." He said, smirking. She smiled as he took her hand and they all walked the rest of the way.

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Hi all! Ok, so... it could have gotten hot for a second there. It might still. Just have to wait for the next chappie.

Read, Review, Enjoy~LOVE