Chapter 37

'You're exhausted Cat, why don't you get some rest and leave sorting through these to me and Covo?' Ahna shot her a weak smile.

'But I wanna keep helping,' she shook her head.

'I know you do Cat, but I agree with Ahna,' Covo placed a hand on her shoulder, 'you need sleep.'

'But I wanna help and I really don't think I could sleep right now anyway.'

Ahna and Covo exchanged a look, but said nothing. There were a few minutes of prolonged silence.

'Do you think they'll still have to punish Jay?' Ahna's voice was quiet. 'I mean, they know why he did all this now so...'

'No they don't,' Catilin cut her off, 'they don't know, not really.'

'But... he was trying to help.'

'He did it for a good reason. He was trying to save the cousins, right? That's a good reason, so how could they punish him for it.'

'Just because the reason is good, doesn't mean the method is,' Catilin sighed. 'Octan had me punish Jay's father for a good reason, but his method was bad. He still got punished, remember?'

'Yeah, I know,' she lowered her gaze. 'Well at least he has a brief reprieve.'

'Huh?'

'I don't think they'll punish him until Mokuba and Serenity are back to normal; just in case none of this works and their forced to ask him for the cure.'

'She's got a point,' Covo nodded.

'But that could make it all worse, I don't want to wait forever to find out,' Catilin's lower lip wobbled. 'I don't want to lose him. I don't.'

'I know you don't,' Ahna placed a hand on her shoulder. 'But at least this reprieve gives us a chance to find a way of letting him off completely.'

'But... what if he doesn't want to be?'

'How can he not?'

'He didn't have to use hiet braysta's sister, but he did. He used her sister because he knew he wouldn't be forgiven, no matter what the reason. He wants to be punished. Maybe not punished and go away forever, but he wants to be punished somehow.'

'But why?'

'I don't know. I want to know, but he's talking in nursery rhymes so I can't figure it all out. And I just...' her eyes began to brim with tears, 'I just wish I knew.'

'You really should go to bed Cat. You look so tired right now.'

'But I don't wanna.'

They returned to their work in silence for a few moments, but it was clear none of them were really concentrating on it anymore. There was something hanging in the air; something all of them were thinking about, but none of them had the nerve to ask. Suddenly Crovell jumped from his crib to his mother's lap and placed one of his alphabet blocks down on the table in front of him.

'Three,' he squeaked happily.

'Hey baby Crovell, what you got there?' Catilin grinned as she leant towards him. 'Uh... hey Ahna, can babies spell?'

'Not normally. Why?'

'It's a K. He has a K with him. K for Kaiba.'

'Why is it that infant insists on constantly being the smartest one in the room,' Covo rolled his eyes.

'Because he usually is,' Ahna sighed before biting her lip. 'I wonder if Kaiba's okay; I mean, none of us have heard from them yet.'

'That's what I keep wondering,' Covo pressed his lips together. 'I mean, we know Mai and Téa are okay... well as okay as you can be after everything they've been through, but...' he cut himself off. 'Who'd have even thought all three of them were pregnant.'

'I... err... I had my suspicions,' Ahna averted her gaze. 'But... err... but only because Mai confided in me that she thought she might have been.'

'And you didn't think to share that information because…?'

'Because what sounds dumber; I think Mai was kidnapped because she thinks she might be pregnant, or I think Mai, Téa and Kaiba were all kidnapped because…'

'Okay, okay,' he rolled his eyes again, 'point taken. And, to be honest, I don't think any of us would have believed you anyway.'

The dark scent they'd been tracking since their hunt began was closer now and hungrily they stalked their way towards it. It didn't matter how much they'd fed that night, it seemed the only thing which would satisfy them was the source of that power. The trail led them into the gloom of a cavernous basement. Their prey, immobilised and gift wrapped in chains, waited silently for them at one end. Moving quickly towards it, she knelt down and began to feed.

Patiently he waited for his mate to finish feeding so that he might get a turn. That's how they worked. She'd start and he'd finish. Suddenly she yelped loudly and leapt back. Concerned his eyes went to their prey, who glared at them with a look of cold, dark anger. In its hand was a dangerous looking creature with a long, sharp tail, eight spindling legs and two swiping claws. In his former life he knew the name for creatures such as this, but not anymore. Now all it was to him was a fearful, metallic smelling beast, which had hurt his mate.

A deep growl rose in his throat, but his prey simply laughed and allowed the strange creature to scurry towards them. Quickly he exchanged a fearful glance with his mate, who indicated they should leave. Without hesitation both darted towards the outside world. But even as they made their way back towards their nest, they knew their hunger would never be satisfied until they'd finished feeding on the dark power they'd sensed. The only problem was that metallic beast; until they could rid their prey of its eight-legged protector, they would have to wait.

Cursing under her breath, she quickly fished the key out of her pocket and undid the chains binding her to the wall. The Veronsen might have only just begun its feeding, but she'd taken enough out of her for the golden scorpion on her right bicep to detach itself. Fortunately this turned out to be a good thing; in its search for a new living power source the scorpion had stung the female and eventually frightened them both off. Unfortunately it would take her a few days to recover enough power to reattach it and that meant putting her plan on hold. Well not hold exactly. All three brats had been born, which meant the awakening had taken place. But she would have to wait to create her army. And she would certainly have to wait until she could attempt to kill any of the newly born infants.

Staggering out of the basement, she blinked blindly at the brightness of the day. The Veronsen had taken more out of her than she initially thought, but that didn't matter; a few days of rest and she'd be well enough to continue what she'd started. Arriving back at the flat she'd been living in since her new life began; she took a quick glance in the mirror. Tristan had done quite a number on her face, although the bruising wasn't as painful as it looked. Briefly she wondered if she should get him arrested for beating a woman, but was too tired to give it any real consideration.

'You really shouldn't have left them alone last night,' the sound of his voice made her jump.

'I thought I told you I didn't want anything more to do with you,' she glared at him. 'I don't need a partner.'

'Don't you think it's that stubborn attitude which allowed you to lose the brats in the first place?' He folded his arms. 'We could have been watching them in shift.'

'Why would I want to share any of the glory with you?'

'Your stubborn pride was always such a problem,' he shook his head.

'Stop talking like you know me. You don't even know the first thing about me.'

'I know the real reason you didn't return last night when you should have was because your mind was in conflict,' he grabbed hold of her arm. 'It's a conflict I know only too well. A conflict which can only occur between a parasite and its host. I know who you are because I know the parasite you are. And someday soon you will remember who I am and the importance I have to you.'

'I am not a parasite. I have no idea what you're talking about and I don't give a damn who you think you are to me. I want you out now.'

'Suit yourself,' he shrugged as he slowly began to fade from view, 'but one day you will change your mind and when that day comes I will be right there waiting for you.'

For a few long seconds after he left she found herself glaring in disgust at the space he'd formally occupied. She then repeatedly checked to make sure the doors and windows were securely fastened, before climbing wearily into bed. Suddenly a few days off felt like a very good idea. And whilst she rested, they could worry about what she might do next.