Chapter 28

'Oh this is fun!' the mistress said from behind the group. Terra turned around. There she was, the woman from the premonition and floating above her in some sort of trance was Loz. She was still tied up but now the ropes were moving, steadily curling tighter and tighter and closer to her throat.'Is this who you're looking for?' She pointed to Loz and smirked. 'Well done. You've found her. Oh and let me introduce myself. I am Lady Phoenix.' She bowed.

'Stop! You're going to kill her!' Mikota screamed. She ran forward, her nunchaku flailing around her head. She aimed a blow for Phoenix's bowed head but, before she could come into contact, she was stopped dead. Phoenix looked up and held out her hand, her palm flat facing Mikota. Slowly, she stood up and closed her fingers into her palm forming a fist. As she did so, Mikota began to scream. The feeling was intense. It was as though her insides were squeezing together and crushing her organs. Her body began to lift from the floor. She was shaking now, every muscle spasming wildly, her eyes rolled back. Kai couldn't watch anymore. He threw himself forward at Phoenix, who immediately put up another hand, this time sending a blast of white light directly into him, sending him flying across the other side of the room, straight into the opposite wall. He collapsed on the floor unable to move. Zack was next. Phoenix threw Mikota straight into him, sending them both across the room where they collided with Kai. Hayden stood back for a second, unsure of what to do. He looked at Terra who shook her head, but he had to protect her. He too flung himself towards Phoenix and he too was thrown back in a surge of light. There was only OKami and Terra left now.

'Your friends are weak, Terra. Why travel with them?'

'Because they are my friends!' Terra argued back. 'I will protect them to the end!'

'Pitiful.' Phoenix replied. Her voice was eerily calm as a smile cracked across her face. 'And this creature?' she pointed to Okami. 'What purpose does a mongrel have to you?'

'I'm more human than you can ever hope to be!' Okami shouted at her.

'Oh my dear dog,' Phoenix turned to him. 'What makes you think I ever want to be human?' Okami stood back stunned. How could she not want to be human? Was she of this world or of another? 'I've had enough of you now anyway.'Phoenix lifted her hand once again. Okami's arm and legs went completely straight. He was powerless to move. 'Let's see what you look like without your fur.' Terra screamed as Okami's fur from his legs and tail began to be ripped from his flesh. He yowled in pain as each clump was torn from his flesh and a pile began to build up on the floor. Once all his hair was gone, Phoenix lifted another hand, catapulting him up to the ceiling, where he was released. Terra couldn't stop it. She watched as his lifeless body came crashing to the ground. Tears began to fall from her eyes onto the floor.

'How could you!' She said clenching her fists.

'Friends are what make you weak, as does mercy. I show no mercy!'

'What are you looking for!' Terra shouted, her fists clenching tighter. Tears of anguish and anger fell down her soft cheeks.

'I thought you would have figured that out by now.' Phoenix replied coyly. 'I want the secret of the Esper's power. I want to become even more powerful than you could ever imagine, and you are going to help me get i've already gained this much power from what i have discovered, imagine how much i could have when i unearth it all!'

'I would never help you!'

'What makes you think I was going to ask?' Phoenix clicked her fingers and chains began to wrap around Terra's body. 'Now that I have you, I can delve into your mind and discover for myself what makes you tick. And as for this girl.' Phoenix clicked her fingers again. The ropes unbound themselves and Loz dropped to the floor. 'You can now watch her die, as with your other friends.' Terra could feel the intense anger welling up inside her. Her fists had tightened so much that her nails were digging into her palms. Blood dripped between her fingers and onto the floor. Her eyes were closed tight. She felt like she was about to explode. Suddenly, everything seemed calm. Her anger had gone. She could see clearly around her, even though her eyes were closed. She looked to the ground where Phoenix was standing. It began to shake uncontrollably, taking Phoenix by surprise. The chains broke from around her sending Terra down gently to the ground. She opened her eyes and looked at her hands. Her skin was glowing a deep red. She held out her hand. A fiery stream spun down her arm forming a ball of fire in her palm. In her other hand, a ball of water formed. She could see her reflection in it. Her eyes were glowing in many different shades and her hair had was burning like fire. Phoenix fell back in shock. She had not expected that her powers were released by her emotions. Terra began to float into the air, guided by the wind. Rocks began to follow her up, circling around her.

'Dont touch her!' Terra said. Her voice echoed around the room. 'Or I will see that you never see the light of another day!'