Sorry about the long wait… computer was stuffing up but get it whilst it's hot!

Disclaimer: Yada, yada, I am not C.S. Lewis

Across the Worlds

Chapter 28: Faces from the distant past

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"So what's the plan?" Elias asked.

"We charge in, kill things, rescue them, don't get killed and get out," Susan snapped in staccato fashion.

Susan was furious. The mere thought of slavery was abhorrent to her. Even the idea of imprisoning someone was terrible but to just go and sell them for profit…

Susan gritted her teeth.

She was a Narnian, no matter her birthplace, and to any Narnians be they beasts, centaurs, dryads or humans there was nothing more important than freedom (especially if you factor in the 1000 years of slavery under Jadis's brutal regime). All Narnians were wild at heart and to them the caging of anyone for any reason was almost incomprehensible.

But this, this slave auction was beyond that. To just sell someone, to sell them off to the highest bidder as if they were meat or a yard of cloth, that was a crime that could not go unpunished.

The general and strategist inside her knew this was a stupid idea, attacking a whole crowd with just four people but the queen and the human inside of her raged at the injustice happening before her. She could not stand idly by.

Susan turned to the others and they nodded at her, ready to go into battle. She gripped her bow with white-knuckled fingers.

"Only attack those who fight back,' she said in a clear calm voice.

She raised her bow, put arrow to string and aimed it carefully at the redheaded man leading the slave auction.

"Come on!" the man urged the crowd feeding the frenzy, "I have ten tanks of water! Surely you can do better than that!"

With a cry, she let go of the bowstring. It sprung forwards with an audible twang and the arrow lanced through the startled crowd and ripped deep into the man's shoulder.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Peter and Caspian stared at each other, completely stunned.

"Caspian?" one of the riders asked unsteadily.

"Do we kill the intruders?" a cold voice demanded.

That seemed to snap Caspian out of his shock and he instantly shook his head, his eyes still dazed.

"No!" he commanded, "NO! These are friends of mine…"

"Well, friends might be taking it a bit far," Peter smirked.

Caspian laughed. Behind Peter Jason was frowning, something resonating in his mind.

"Caspian," the Seeker whispered to himself, testing the name, "Caspian…"

Siobhan shifted out of her bear form as the riders all started in surprise. The Ursine princess glared at Caspian, hands on hips, ignoring the riders' disbelieving stares.

"What is this place?" she demanded, indicating the land around them, "What happened here?"

Caspian opened his mouth to talk but a flash of movement froze him in his tracks.

"BAM!"

The Telmarine was sent sprawling as Jason's power surged forwards slamming the man down into the ground. Jason slowly lowered his arm, a satisfied smirk on his face.

"JASON!" Peter roared, furious.

"CASPIAN!" the riders shifted and sunlight glinted off metal as an array of rifles and knifes were instantly pointed at the Seeker.

"What the hell?!" Peter spat, his face flushed, "What are you playing at?"

"Caspian right?" Jason said calmly ignoring the weapons pointed straight at him.

Caspian slowly got up, his face contorted into a scowl.

"I could have you executed," his voice was winter cold but Jason didn't even blink.

"What was that about?" David demanded.

Jason uttered one single word.

"Susan."

Caspian froze, his eyes bulging at the name. Peter was slightly unnerved to see a wild joy suffuse the king's dark eyes. Caspian opened his mouth to speak but no noise came out. He swallowed before trying again.

"She… she's here?" Caspian asked, disbelieving, "She's… she's here?"

His lips twitched ever so subtly forwards but Peter and Jason both noticed, their eyes narrowing.

"Why did you attack him?" one of the riders demanded, a slender female judging by the hug of her leather jacket, "What right…"

"He hurt someone close to my heart," Jason scowled, "She went through hell because of him!"

Caspian flushed, both shamed and furious. He drew himself to his full height, a muscle twitching dangerously in his cheek.

"I did no such thing," he hissed, "I would never hurt her. If it was up to me I would have had her stay forever!"

The intensity and the promise in those words took Peter by surprise.

"So do not blame me for what happened," Caspian's voice was husky with emotion, "It was not my wish to have her leave."

Peter felt helpless before his words. He had known about the strength of Susan's feelings for this man, having seen Susan lose her way after leaving Narnia and Caspian behind. And after seeing her smother her soul and sorrows in make-up and silks, it had been easy to paint Caspian as the villain, imagine him as the cold manipulative bastard who had broken his little sister's heart. But now in the face of such anguish, Peter could see Caspian had been hurting just as much as his sister.

The High King grimaced realising he actually (Alsan help him!) felt sorry for the Telmarine.

Caspian glared at Jason daring the Seeker to say another word but Jason merely grunted in response. Peter, not knowing how to even begin dealing with such intense emotions, decided to press onto more urgent priorities.

"Caspian, we need your help," Peter said slowly.

Caspian tore his eyes away from a now silent Jason and turned to Peter. The High King winced realising his next words were going to be the spark that lit the gunpowder.

"Susan's missing," Peter said quietly, "We need to find her."

Caspian's face drained of blood.

"Missing?" he swore beneath his breath, "This is not a good place to be lost in."

Peter and Jason frowned at his words as Caspian remained silent, a dark closed look on his face.

"Sir, we have to move," the female rider spoke up, "Our scanners are detecting large bodies moving in this way."

"The Blooded?" Caspian asked, turning to her.

"Negative," the woman's voice shook, "I think it's the Arachnas."

Caspian's eyes widened as the riders shifted uncomfortably.

"We ride!" Caspian ordered, "Peter, you're with me. Sabra, Desmond and Leonie, take the other three with you."

"What's happening?" Peter demanded, "Blooded? Arachnas? What is all…"

"Not now," Caspian said, cutting him off as Peter glared at him, "Trust me. You do not want to be here when they come."

He literally dragged the High King to his motorbike and quickly both kings mounted the machine, Peter seating awkwardly behind Caspian.

"MOVE!" Caspian ordered.

The riders roared off, the four travellers clinging on for dear life.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"CUTTER!" one of the guards roared as the man fell to his knees roaring in pain.

Cutter grabbed the arrow's shaft and ripped it from his flesh, screaming in fury.

"Who dares?" he roared, "Who dares?!"
"I do," a clear voice scythed through the crowd's cries.

Cutter turned and his eyes narrowed seeing the slender young woman standing at the top of the concrete amphitheatre, silhouetted against the sun's light.

"You just picked the wrong person to mess with!" Cutter spat, "KILL HER! KILL HER NOW!"

One of the guards roared and began charging up the stairs, bowling people left and right.

Susan coolly fired a second arrow and the guard went down, gurgling around the shaft embedded in his throat.

Cutter roared in fury and pulled his gun from his holster, aiming it at the girl.

"HEADS UP!" a second voice bellowed.

Cutter's head snapped upwards just in time to see a small ball descend from the heavens. The slaver frowned wondering what it was.

His question was quickly answered as the smoke orb slammed onto the stage and promptly exploded, thick smoke billowing out in all directions. Cutter sucked in a lungful of the smoke and instantly began wheezing violently, staggering through the smoke as he fought to breath.

Beyond the smoke, most of the slaver buyers had fled but several remained, turning on the queen.

"How dare you!" one immensely muscular man roared, "Do you honestly think you can get away with this?"

"CRACK!"

With a sickening crunch, the man's kneecap was shattered. He fell the ground, screaming with all his might as Inara stepped back, admiring her handiwork.

"Ouch," Inara observed, "That looked like it hurt!"

She ducked as a second man swung at her.

"GO!" she yelled at Susan, "I'll take care of these people!"

Susan flew down the stairs, Zaru bounding beside her as Elias brought up the rear. Arrows went flying as Susan attacked anyone who dared to cross their path.

"Isn't this fun!" Zaru said cheerfully before tackling one man down, tearing into him with fang and teeth.

"Yes," Susan snapped letting loose with another arrow, "Like a walk in the park!"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Peter glanced up as Caspian approached, the current king of Narnia looking highly uncomfortable. Peter mentally sighed knowing what he wanted to talk about.

Two of the bikes' engines had stalled forcing the small group to halt as the riders tinkered with the engines. Now it seems Caspian was taking advantage of the delay to ask about…

"Queen Susan," Caspian said bluntly, stopping just in front of him, "How is she? Is she well?"

The Telmarine looked at Peter pleadingly, begging the oldest Pevensie to answer the questions that had plagued him for almost three years.

His last memory of her had been that unexpected, unforgettable kiss and then she was gone, returned to her own world before he even began to realise how much she'd meant to him. Caspian had tortured himself in his waking hours and in his sleep, memories of that kiss, her smile, the disbelieving grateful look on her face as he rescued her in forest, all of these images and thousands more in between looping endlessly inside his head.

The simple truth was that he needed her, needed her like air or food or water or some other necessity of life. Every day without her, even when surrounded by friends and loyal subjects, had been pure unending agony. And he had to live through all that knowing all along he would never seen her again.

Knowing that she was here and so close to him? It made his heart race and stop at the same time.

"How is she?" Caspian repeated, heart in his throat.

Peter looked at him squarely knowing that against his every wish Caspian and Susan had a bond and if nothing else this man deserved the truth as ugly as it might be.

"She…" Peter sighed, "She was hurting. A lot."

Caspian sucked in a breath, pain stabbing him deep in the gut.

"She got lost," Peter confessed quietly, "She tried to forget about Narnia and Aslan… and you. And I think she would've succeeded if none of this had happened."

When Caspian spoke again, his voice was trembling.

"And now?" he begged.

Peter smiled.

"She's different. Stronger, maturer, a real spitfire," Peter laughed, "If you want to court her…"

Caspian flushed at hearing his desire named so nakedly but Peter merely smirked.

"If you want to court her," he repeated, "I suggest you learn how to duck arrows… fast."

"You don't mind?" Caspian asked incredulously.

In Narnia, Caspian always had the impression that Peter would have gladly impaled him upon Rhindon for merely looking at Susan let alone courting her...

"You know what I learnt Caspian?" Peter smiled sadly, "Susan's a woman now. I'm not going to stand in her way anymore. I trust her to make the right choice but…"

He pointed a warning finger at Caspian, all joke and humour gone from his face. His expression was the cold steely mask he wore to battle.

"If you hurt her, they'll be looking for your body for weeks," he vowed.

Caspian winced and managed to a weak smile as Peter smiled again, silently enjoying the other man's discomfort.

"Besides you still have to get through all of Susan's protectors," he said casually.

Caspian frowned.

"Protectors?"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Zaru roared.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" the leopard spat.

The guard barely stood a chance as the leopard went for his throat, hissing in fury. Susan sat up slowly, gingerly rubbing her bruised cheek.

"You okay?" Elias asked urgently.

"Lucky blow," Susan cursed, standing up.

Both of them winced as one of the slaver buyers went tumbling down the stairs, joints popping out of place, bones breaking as he went. Inara casually stepped over his unconscious body, all the other buyers lying in unconscious heaps behind her.

"Fun group activity," she noted dryly, "Next time can we just shop and squeal over hot guys?"

Susan grimaced, memories of her past life in London floating back into her mind. It was not a period of her life she was proud of. Ruthlessly she shoved those thoughts into the darkest recess of her mind as the smoke hovering around the stage finally cleared revealing Cutter, the slaves and his remaining guards.

"You've got guts," Cutter spat, still coughing slightly, "I will enjoy playing with them!"

"Wow," Zaru observed, "That was mildly intimidating."

Inara cocked her head to the side.

"I don't know those freaky scar tattoos do increase the intimidation factor slightly," she glanced at Susan, "Queenie? Thoughts?"

"I'm shaking in my boots," Susan said dryly.

Cutter flushed, turning a dull crimson as the guards hid their laughter with small coughs. The slaver glared at Susan, raising his rifle threateningly.

"Before I was just going to kill you but now I'm going to hurt you then sell you off as slaves," a nasty smile curled his lips, "I'm pretty sure Madam Rousseau will have some fine customers who will enjoy meeting you two lovely girls."

He raised his gun, his face still contorted in a malicious greedy grin. Susan merely raised an eyebrow.

"You know maybe you should spend less time talking," she suggested helpfully, "It gives your opponents less time to spring a trap."

Cutter blinked in confusion as Susan grinned pointing at something behind him. The slaver whirled around just in time to see Elias, who'd sneaked up behind him, fire his modified crossbow.

The fire orb hit the ground right next to the slaver's foot and detonated, blasting Cutter off his feet in a burst of flames. Susan, Zaru and Inara instantly moved leaping onto the stage as Cutter hit the ground in a smoking heap.

The guards surged forwards, roaring as they swung their heavy clubs around. Susan instantly tossed her bow aside, unsheathing her daggers.

With a roar, the two sides clashed in a flurry of blows and blades.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"So there's some kind of dagger-wielding… uhh… cowboy with magical powers, a scientist, a Narnian leopard and a loudmouth girl who just happens to have magical fighting powers?" Caspian asked faintly.

Peter nodded.

"That pretty much sums it up. There's also Siobhan and David but Aslan didn't choose them, we had to rescue from them the last world," Peter turned sober at the memory of Derrick's crazed last wish and the devastation the Djinn had wrought with those words, "It's complicated."

"And Queen Susan is their leader?" Caspian asked quietly.

Peter nodded, smiling slightly.

"Their loyalty to her is unbreakable," he informed the Telmarine.

Peter winced remembering all the times the companions had sided with Susan against him. As much as he had hated it at the time, he couldn't help but admire the strength of their devotion to his sister.

"So trust me, if you hurt Su, I'll be the least of your worries," Peter gave him a friendly smile with too much teeth, "You'll be bitten, stabbed, snapped in two and blown-up before you can even think to regret it."

Caspian blanched as Peter smirked watching him squirm. The High King turned serious as he looked Caspian squarely in the eye.

"Before you mentioned that Susan is in danger," he said seriously, "How dangerous is this world?"

Caspian sighed and ran one hand through his tousled hair.

"It's complicated," he said in his accented voice, "There's… there's no rulers in this world. No laws. Nothing. There are factions and sects such as this one but others are much more ruthless and less scrupulous. If Queen Susan runs foul of one of those…"

"There's just humans right?" Peter asked suddenly, nightmarish images of the vampires flashing in his head.

He felt sick and nauseous but forced himself to be strong as strange look came over Caspian's face. The Telmarine fidgeted slightly.

"For the most part… yes," Caspian said shortly.

Peter was silent, a closed look on his face as he took in this new bit of information. Finally he shrugged nonchalantly drawing a startled gasp from Caspian who had expected Peter to immediately demand a full-scale search and rescue for his missing sister.

"Well, Su can watch herself. She can handle herself in a fight and knowing her she's probably keeping low at the moment."

"You think?" Caspian asked dubiously.

Peter smiled at him reassuringly even as he prayed that his sister would be fine. The idea of her being in any danger and that he was too far way to help, it set Peter's teeth on edge. But ruthlessly he grabbed hold on his nerves and forced himself to talk because as much as he might hate to admit it Susan no longer needed him to protect her, she could easily handle herself.

"Trust me, the last thing Susan would do is jump into a fight. Until she knows more about this world, she'll stay out of a trouble."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Susan was in deep trouble. The queen cried out as took a kick to the gut and staggered backwards, gasping desperately for breath. The guard leered at her, laughing oafishly as he raised his club ready to finish her off.

Susan looked up, wincing and the guard swung down at her. With a cry, she threw her hand forwards before diving to the side.

The heavy club just missed her, sailing right past her ankle as it smashed into the paved floor, chips of stone flying everywhere.

Susan hit the ground and rolled to a stop before slowly climbing to her feet, glaring at the guard.

"Clunk!"

The club fell from the guard's nerveless hand and he fell to the ground, Susan's thrown dagger embedded deep into his chest. He stared at amazement at Susan, shocked that such a petite girl could defeat him. The guard tried to speak, blood oozing from his lips but died before he could muster a single breath.

Susan ruthlessly shoved down her revulsion and walked towards the downed guard, pulling out her dagger before turning back to the rest of the battle.

Inara was locked in combat with two of the guards, sword flashing as she danced and duelled with two muscular men who easily towered over her by several inches.

"WHAP!"

With a cry, Inara hacked into one of the guard's clubs, shearing it off at the handle. The guard blinked at her piggishly holding the useless handle in his hand, confused at what had just happened.

Inara smirked and struck him across the face with the flat of her blade knocking him out.

"INARA!" Susan yelled, seeing her danger.

Inara turned and the second guard crashed straight into her, throwing her aside by pure brutal force. Inara hit the ground, her sword flying out her hands as the guard swung at her.

Susan cried out and flipped her dagger in her hands ready to bring the man down but Inara was quicker, lashing out and kick his arm away before he could hit her.

The guard roared in fury and swung down again but Zaru pounced on him, latching onto his face as the man let out a muffled roar and staggered away, trying to rip the leopard free.

Susan winced as the guard tripped over his own foot and hit the ground, Zaru still on top of him. Suddenly the man was still as Zaru delicately leapt off him, his mouth blood-stained.

"Watch my back!" Elias yelled.

Susan, Inara and Zaru fell back, protecting the professor as he darted towards the captured slaves.

"Please sir!" one of the girls screamed at him, "You have to free us!"

"Cutter will kill us!" the other slave begged, "If you don't free us, he'll…"

"Shh…" Elias tried to soothe them, "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here."

The remaining guards slammed into the trio guarding his back as Elias studied the iron loop embedded in the stone floor, the origin of the slaves' chains.

"Stand back," he ordered the girls.

Timidly and terrified out of their minds, the girls crawled as far away as the chains allowed as Elias reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass vial. He unscrewed the top and poured the small amount of liquid onto the iron.

Instantly the iron began to sizzle and smoke as the strange substance ate through the metal in record time. Elias smiled in triumph before capping the vial and slipping it back into his pocket.

"Come on!" he urged grabbing onto one of the girl's arms.

The three girls were free but the arms and legs were still shackled, the loose end of the chains rattling as they stood.

"GO!" Elias roared, "MOVE IT!"

Susan ripped her sceptre free from its sheath across her back and swung out, shocking the final two guards with its paralysing energy. She darted across the stage, grabbed her bow and led the charge up the stairs, dark hair flying out behind her.

Elias shepherded the freed girls out of the concrete amphitheatre as Inara and Zaru brought up the real, watching the downed guards carefully.

In a few short minutes they were gone leaving behind smoking craters, shattered stones and the dead and unconscious bodies of Cutter and his men.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"What is this place?" Siobhan demanded.

Caspian slowed his motorbike to a halt and eased himself off the machine, Peter almost falling off it, his muscles protesting against the uncomfortable rocky ride he'd just endured. Grimacing, the High King stood rubbing at his stiff limbs.

"This is our headquarters," Sabra said quietly.

The rider pulled off her helmet revealing her flaming red curls. Dark eyes glanced at Caspian, her leader, some silent message passing between the two.

Caspian gave a small subtle and Sabra grimaced.

Jason looked around and couldn't help but feel impressed. They were standing in the immense foyer of what must have been an extravagant skyscraper, a monolithic structure of iron and steel. But whatever disaster have visited this world had sheared the tower almost at its base, most of the building lying around in twisted scraps of metal and broken concrete but the foundation and first few floors were completely intact.

"Doesn't look safe," David grunted.

"We don't live at the bottom boy," Desmond, a heavily scarred man growled, "This is just the overground."

"Overground?" David repeated.

Sabra hurried over to something that looked completely alien to Jason and Siobhan but David and Peter could see it was an elevator, the heavy metal doors sent into a filthy marble wall.

The redhead opened the metal panel beside the door revealing a confusing array of buttons and switches. Deftly, she began to press and flick them in a long sequence, some of the switches lighting up as the rest of the riders loitered around, completely unimpressed even as the newcomers gaped in surprise.

Finally Sabra stepped back and the metal doors rumbled before sliding open revealing the elevator within.

"After you," Caspian urged.

Jason and Peter glanced at each other before entering the small metal box, David stepping in after them. Siobhan shuddered but followed suit as the riders crammed in after them.

Caspian pressed a button against the wall and the doors sealed shut, the whole elevator rumbling as they began descending down the shaft.

They were instantly plugged into the darkness and Peter started, sweat rolling down his face as he tried to fight his rising panic.

"Not the dark," he muttered trying to master himself, "Anything but the dark!"

Jason glanced at him sharply and Peter sucked in a quick breath, alarmed the Seeker would know his weakness. The High King forced himself to look back at him squarely, his crystal blue eyes betraying none of his terror.

Finally the elevator stopped and the door slid open allowing a cheery yellow light to spill into the cramped confines.

The riders got out first and finally the four travellers from another stepped out of the shaft and into the light.

"What the…" Peter gasped, eyes bulging at the scene in front of him.

Jason blinked in surprise but remained silent as David and Siobhan let out twins cries of shock.

They were standing on a platform that overlooked an immense underground cavern, its expanse stretching out far beyond what the eye could see. But it was the sheer size that had shocked them it was what the cavern contained within.

Towers, buildings and roads were stretched out beyond them, people bustling amongst them going about their daily business. Above on the ceiling, millions of tiny white lights blazed creating the illusion of a sunny day.

It was as though through some fancy of nature an entire city had been sent plummeting deep into the earth, to lie deep in the bowels of the world itself and yet somehow support an entire civilisation and thrive.

Peter, Jason, David and Siobhan were looking at a giant underground city. Caspian smiled at their shock.

"You like?" the Telmarine gave them a smug smile, "Welcome to Persephone."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

The view from the balcony as impressive as it was daunting. Awe-inspiring that such an immense subterranean city, such exquisite engineering could be achieved. Terrifying that a civilisation capable of such greatness could be reduced to this pathetic underground existence as a whole world above had been reduced to ruin by evil wrought by their own hands.

Jason's mind flashed back to the last world and the one rage-crazed wish that had ended it all. The Seeker sighed and pondered on the needless death and destruction that hatred caused.

He stiffed and turned as the door to his utilitarian room swung open. Caspian walked in, somewhat cautiously expecting another assault. Jason raised one eyebrow and waited.

"I want to talk to you," Caspian began.

Jason had a good damn idea what this young man wanted to talk about but he kept up his blank face taking perverse pleasure in the way Caspian fidgeted under his icy gaze.

"About?" Jason asked mildly.

"Do I have to watch my back around you?" Caspian asked without preamble.

The Seeker smiled, a cool lift of the lips that spoke of danger and treachery.

"No," Jason said innocently.

Caspian drew himself to his full height, his shoulders squared.

"If you wish to fight me for Queen Susan's honour we can have it arranged," Caspian said heatedly.

Jason finally reacted, taking a dangerously step forwards, tension thrumming in the room.

"Listen boy," Jason growled back, "Susan doesn't need you fighting for her honour. She is very capable of doing it herself!"

Caspian's eyes flashed.

"Why you hate me?" Caspian spat, "Do you think I wanted her to leave me!"

"No, I dislike you because you just expect her to fall back into your arms like some witless maiden," Jason shot back.

Caspian flushed, his hands going towards the knife hanging at his belt. Jason raised his hands, ready for an attack. Caspian froze, narrowing his eyes, still fuming but knowing enough o back off.

"Susan isn't some innocent girl who's just going to fall for her white knight," Jason said matter-of-factly, "She's a woman. You want her? You have to fight for her!"

Jason watched Caspian carefully, gauging his reaction. Whether the "king" like it or not (Jason relished the thought of Caspian daring to go against him) Susan was under the Seeker's careful eye and protection. Jason wasn't naive enough to believe he could control Susan's choices but he would make damn sure only those worthy enough would even come to her attention.

Caspian's answer was instant, his voice quiet but burning with intensity.

"I will fight a war for her," Caspian vowed.

Jason smiled predatorily even as he inwardly approved the boy's willingness if not his suitability.

"Good," Jason almost snarled, "Let's see if it will be enough for her!"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"Cutter will kill you all," Layla said deadpanned.

"I'd like see him try," Inara said fiercely, "Don't worry girls we'll handle him."

"No you won't," Hari, another of the slaves they'd freed broke in, "He'll you apart and freed you to the Archnas or the Nzambi. You'll never beat him!"

"Well, not with that attitude," Inara scolded.

"Do you have any idea who you are facing?" Layla demanded, "Cutter is one of the Blooded!

"The Blooded?" Elias asked curiously.

The small group was huddled at the base of a once impressive skyscraper, now nothing more than a blackened skeleton of twisted metal and evil shadows.

"One of the largest groups running the Western Lands," Layla said incredulously, "How can you not have heard of them?"

The four companions glanced at each other as the slaves looked at them, suspiciously.

"Distant travellers," Elias said promptly, "Far, far, far away."

"He has a vasty army behind him, am army that will mobilise again us and tear us all apart," Kira, the third girl, said quietly, ashen-faced, "Cutter is not someone you want to tangle with."

"An army?" Susan said sharply, a strange note in her voice.

Inara, Elias and Zaru turned towards her, the queen was staring off into the distance an unreadable expression on her face.

"You mean one like that?" Susan asked flatly, pointing to the west.

They all looked and as one blanched at the sight that greeted them.

Motorbikes trucks and cared, each one black and emblazoned with the symbol of a dagger thrust through a red heart, was charging towards them, dust spraying in their wake.

"Oh cr…" Inara cursed.

The slaves recoiled as though they'd been punched, Layla scowling in fury as Kira burst into tears.

"Oh no! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Hari cried, "They're here!"

Susan glanced at Elias and the scientist instantly understood. He raised his crossbow and instantly set an orb into place.

An fire orb slammed into the side of the one motorbikes and detonated, tossing the rider high up into the air. Elias instantly followed up with a second shot.

The reply was instant and deadly as bullets roared through the air, everyone diving to avoid the rain of red-hot metal.

"NOW!"

Elias, Susan and Inara instantly began hurling orbs into the incoming army, fire and smoke blasting the convoy. It gave them the split second they needed.

"GO!" Susan cried, "RUN!"

Inara pulled the slaves to their feet and glanced at Susan. Susan nodded at her and Inara grimacing knowing what the queen was saying. She was to protect the slaves with her life.

The warrior nodded back, dragging Elias with her as they down the ruined street. Zaru was by her side as Susan followed as behind them the army of the Blooded burst through the smoke in hot pursuit.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"It makes you think doesn't it?"

Siobhan looked up, her eyes wet with tears. Angrily she scrubbed them away and turned away. The Ursine princess was perched on the edge of the roof overlooking the whole city of Persephone.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she demanded.

David took a seat beside her, his eyes focused on the wondrous city all around them.

"Would our people have ended up like this?" the Toran said quietly, "Would our world have ended up like this graveyard if it wasn't…"

"For your father?" the Ursine princess snapped, "Your father butchered my people!"

She glared at him, flames leaping from her eyes as her hands shifted into claws ready rip the boy apart.

"My father killed everyone," David said sadly, "He was so blind he couldn't see that the war would eventually kill us all."

The two once mortal enemies sat together in silence looking at Persephone, a dreary reminder of what remains after a war: ruins and nothingness.

"Do you think… do you think we would've ended up like this?" Siobhan asked suddenly in a small timid voice.

David shrugged sadly.

"Honestly? I don't know…"

"Could we… the war never should've happened," Siobhan punched the floor in frustration, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I can't believe we fell for the tricks from a stupid lamp of all things! Now everyone's just…"

She swallowed thickly.

"Everything's gone," she said flatly, "We are all that's left."

"Just us two," David responded just as quietly.

They sat in silence, each wrapped up in their own grief and despair, taunted by memories and possibilities. Siobhan suddenly leapt to her feet.

"I have to go," she said stonily, her voice trembling, "I just have to…"

She ran off, her sobs floating through the air as David bowed his head, his shoulders trembling as he tried to hold himself together.

Siobhan continued to run from him and her memories as he was left to sit by himself, both of them the last of their kind, completely and utterly alone.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Peter stepped out of the bathroom and into utter darkness. Instantly he froze, his heart smashing against his chest as he peered into the shadows around him, nightmares and fragmented memories swirling violently inside his head.

He slowly forced himself to edge forwards, his hands flailing through the dark trying to find the light switch.

"Hello Pony," a taunting voice sung from the shadows.

Peter froze, his breath catching in his throat. He tried to move, tried to blink, tried to do something but he was completely frozen by fear.

"Missed me?"

A very familiar, very terrifying figure stepped out from the shadows, all coy smiles and winks.

Desiree, the vampire who had tortured him for months on end, smirked at Peter's horrified face. She sashayed over to him as Peter trembled, still rooted to the spot.

"You're… you're dead," he managed to choke out, "You can't be here! Please! You can't…"

"Oh don't worry Pony," Desiree taunted, "Princess is not really here."

She moved to touch him and Peter shuddered violently, memories of the violence and sadism she had visited on him looping in his head. The vampire's fingers passed through him as though she was a mere ghost.

Peter fought to control himself, his heart threatening to give way as he fought down the urge to turn and run.

"What do you want?" he finally managed to get out.

"I'm just whispering on a secret," Desiree grinned at him.

The redhead vampire pointed at him, smirking and suppressing bursts of malicious laughter.

"Poor little Peter King, soon you'll be a useless thing," Desiree chanted, clapping her hands along in a jaunty rhythm, "Poor little Peter King, soon you'll be a useless thing.'
Peter stared at her uncomprehending as Desiree gave one last wave and a wink. And suddenly she was gone.

Peter stood for the longest time, trembling violently, his breathing shallow and fast, his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly, very slowly he began to realise the shadows were gone, the familiar lights of his room had reappeared once more.

Peter took eight shaky steps towards his bed and collapsed onto it, lying down like a broken doll, his eyes blank and unfocused, Desiree's taunting rhyme echoing in his head.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Siobhan collapsed in the hallway, sobs ripping themselves free from her throat as she completely fell apart, shifting in and out of her bear form as she continued to cry out her sorrow and despair.

"There, there…"

She stiffened.

"Siobhan… my little warrior… why so sad?"

Slowly the princess looked up into a face that she loved and hated, admired and detested all in equal parts.

Myron, King of the Ursines, Slayers of the Torans, her father beamed down at her.

"You… I've lost my mind," Siobhan looked up, "I… you… you can't be here!"

"Really?"

Myron reached out with one hand and Siobhan gasped as a rush of heady, undiluted power, the strength of which she had never felt before coursed through her like a river, almost forcing her to change into her full bear form.

Siobhan shuddered and fought to control the strength raging through her, coarse fur slowly melting back into smooth skin.

"What… who are you?"

"I am your father," Myron said sternly, "You think that blasted Toran could kill me? I've changed my daughter. I've… ascended."

Siobhan stared at him, bewildered as Myron sighed in frustration, shaking his head.

"I've been sent here by the powers above to help you… to help our people," Myron told her, "I've seen the future. Our people, the glorious Ursines, can be restored and you, you my daughter have that power. Remember your duty dear one… remember…"

"The survival of the Ursines before all else," Siobhan quoted the rule she had lived by all her life, the rules she had fought and almost died for time and time again, "Sacrifice everything for our survival."

Hope flared into Siobhan's heart and leapt into her eyes as she pushed herself off the floor, sitting up.

"How?" she demanded, "How?"

"Simple," Myron grinned at her, "I'll give you the power and there's only one thing you have to do…"

The Ursine King's eyes seemed to turned completely black as Siobhan shuddered at the force that lurked beneath those dark irises.

"Kill them all."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Susan raced through the narrow alleyway brining up the rear as they continued to run for their lives, the army of the Blooded still in hot pursuit. They had taken as many turns as possible, ducking into little side streets and alleyways where the large trucks and cars couldn't fit but the motorbikes were proving their worth, having almost caught them once and twice already.

With lungs burning and legs cramping, Susan pushed on as the familiar whirring and roar of a motorbike engine echoed down the small laneway towards them.

"QUEENIE! DOWN!" Inara roared.

Susan threw herself to the floor as Inara hefted up a pole from the ground and hurled it like a spear.

The slaves cried out in horror as the rough-make spear tore through the rider's chest and he went down in a spray of blood. The motorbike swerved and buckled and slammed into the wall, body and metal flying everywhere.

Inara swallowed back the urge to vomit at the carnage she had wrought but she shoved her revulsion down.

"It was either him or us," she said into the stunned silence.

The slaves were still gaping at her as Susan climbed to her feet.

"COME ON!" she urged, "HURRY!"

They continued their crazed flight through the labyrinth of streets, the sound of motors echoing everywhere adding to the confusion.

They rounded a corner and stopped seeing three possible paths up ahead.

"Which way?" Elias demanded.

Susan glanced down at Zaru as the leopard sniffed the air desperately.

"I can't tell!" he cried out, "There's no difference between them!"

Susan winced, her blue eyes darting between the three entranced trying to figure out their next move. The sound of roaring motors got louder and louder as she began to panic.

"Su…" Elias began.

Susan blinked and rubbed her eyes.

"Is that…" she began.

"What?" Hari demanded, "What?!"

Susan blinked again and she caught a glimpse of gold and amber fur disappearing down one of the alleyways.

"Aslan," she whispered in awe, "ASLAN!"
"What?!" Zaru barked, "Your majesty…"
"This way!" Susan urged pointing at the direction Aslan had disappeared in, "GO!"
They raced down the alleyway, through alternating sections of light and shadows, the sound of roaring engines echoing in their ears. They charged down a dark tunnel, racing towards the light at the other end and finally burst out of the city's edge and into a long wide field.

"This…" Zaru froze, "… doesn't seem right."

"No," Kira was ghost white, "No…"

"What… who are these… things?" Elias demanded incredulously.

A ragtag band of people stood before their little group but it would've been deceiving to call them humans.

They were monsters, horrifically scarred and deformed. Their skin was strangely patch-worked as though sewn together from the skin of others, huge gaping scars crisscrossing their wiry bodies. Assorted ragged clothing hung from their wiry bodies, smeared with blood and other foul fluids, war paint that instantly struck fear in all their hearts. The monsters' eyes were wide and bloodshot, their teeth filed into filthy blood-caked fangs.

They were carrying weapons, rusty blades and old guns and just to complete the terrifying image they made, all of the creatures had trophies, teeth and bones and skulls of their victims hanging from their necks and wrists in terrible parodies of jewellery.

"What the…"

"Nzambis," Layla said flatly, "We should've just let the Blooded kill us."

"What…"

"Mutated monsters," Hari said quietly, "They are ravenous, vicious beasts. Normal humans drive wild and made by the poisons in the earth. They feed on human flesh. They're going to hunt us down, break out legs and eat us alive."
Inara stared at the slaves in horror.

"Mutant zombies?!" Inara protested incredulously, "Oh come on! I was just kidding!"

The Nzambis let out a defiant roar and raised their weapons to the sky, shaking their fists in fury as lust burned in their eyes.

"Oh no, no, no," Susan whispered.

Roaring, the mutated cannibals charged forwards just as the armies of Blooded exploded out from the city catching the group in the middle of a deadly pincer.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Author's notes: First of all thank you for all your wonderful reviews, I'm just thankful the last world was so well received.

As for this world… yeah, I'm being evil guess the Caspian and Susan reunion is still not here just yet…