Hey Guys!  Sorry I made the last chappie so short, but I typed it up at school.  So how did you like the answers?  If you have anymore, I'd be glad to answer them…

Kassidy opened her eyes with a start.  Looking around, she could see she was in her room, at Grace's.  She sat up slowly, and noticed a wrap a round her waist.  It was wrapped quite a few times by the look of it.  That's when she noticed that she was naked and even though no one else was around, she grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around her body. 

            Moving her legs to the side of the bed, she sat for a few minutes, thinking.  How did they get out of the sewer…?  She had blacked out before she could find out who had found them.  And Marik…what about him?  Where was he?

            Gently standing up, Kassidy walked quietly into her bathroom and stared at her reflection.  She could see a bandage on her forehead.  Moving her hand up, she touched it.  It didn't hurt to bad and the bleeding had slowed down.  Nodding to herself, she turned and went back to her room. 

            Going through her closet, Kassidy found a pair of jeans and a whit tank top.  It didn't take her long to get dressed.  She felt a chill race down her spine, so she threw on a red hoody too.

            When she got to the living room, she found Michael and Jason sleeping.  The only person awake was Kaiba, and he didn't look thrilled.  She sat across from him at the table and had a cup of coffee.  The two just stared at each other.  Kassidy had so many questions, but was too tired to ask any.

            "How's your head?"  Kassidy shrugged at this question and nodded.  This was her way of saying okay.  "Okay, well what about your side…or will I get the same response?"  Kaiba asked with a crooked grin.  Kassidy smiled.

            "I've been better."

            "Well you lost a lot of blood." He told her.  Her smile broadened and she took a sip of coffee.

            "Careful Kaiba…you almost sound human."  She told him.  Kaiba set his coffee down and leaned forward. 

            "So here come the sarcastic remarks…okay…hit me with your best shot Henderson." He told her, leaning back in his chair.  She shook her head.

            "Rain Check?  I'm just not up to it right now…" She told him.

            "So, Henderson's lost her touch?"  Kaiba taunted.  Kassidy shook her head again and leaned back in her chair.

            "Nope, I'm just brewin' some up as we speak, I'm saving them for next time we decide to challenge each other." 

            Kaiba stood and put his cup in the sink.  Kassidy did the dame and turned back to Kaiba.  "Jesse?" 

            "She's sleeping in Michael's room."  He told her.  Nodding she looked at her watch.  4:46 am.  Wow.  Kaiba really got up early.  Kassidy walked down the hall to Michael's room and opened the door to a sleeping little girl. 

"Kass…" Grace whispered. "He's gunna use Jesse's blood. Her blood is your blood…don't you see? If he can't get you, he'll get the next best thing…"

"What? What are you talking about?" Kassidy asked confused.

"The Anstice Desdemona ritual. He needs the blood of a slayer…"

"Jesse isn't one though…"

"Yes, but her blood flows like yours…she's exactly like you…"

"No Grace, she's not…we have different fathers, it's different. She can't have it." Kassidy told her.

"She is in your shadow…your image."

            Kassidy kept replaying Grace's last words in her mind.  Poor kid.  Kassidy had figured she'd been through hell and back; at least she looked it. She would remember that time in the torture room for the rest of her life.  Kassidy did want to run away, did want to hide, but not this time.  For Grace's and everyone else's sake she wouldn't run away from her problems.  She'd face them head on.

            Suddenly, there was a roar from the workout room.  Kassidy closed Michael's door quickly and headed that way.  She stopped dead in her tracks at the site.  Jason had Marik chained to the wall and was pouring holy water all over him. 

            "Oh I'm sorry...that's not what you meant when you asked for water…" Jason sneered.  Marik was in full demon form.  His red muscles looked about ready to burst open.  His veins were out and his hair was tipped fire red.  She noticed his black eyes staring straight up at Jason with hate, his claws ripping at the floor.  "What was that," Jason asked, "oh!  More?  Okay…" Jason poured a whole new bucket on Marik.  He was now sopping wet and steaming.  The holy water was working like acid, eating at his flesh.

            Jason lifted up another pail of holy water and smiled.  Kassidy wanted to throw up.  It was a really disgusting site, and if this was the way demons were tortured, she'd let them all go free.  Jason splashed the holy water on Marik and Marik growled and yowled with pain.  Jason picked up a dagger and twirled it in his hands.

            "Kassidy doesn't want me to kill you, so as long as you stay alive through this, we'll be okay.  Now…where to slice you open first…hmmm, how about here!" Jason yelled and put a gash in Marik's stomach.  Marik's fists clenched and he shook with rage.  He hands couldn't get free.  Jason shook his head and smiled.  "No, no…how about here!"  And in a split second, Marik's arms were cut.  Jason picked up a pail of holy water and glared at Marik.  "You miserable worthless piece of junk.  I don't know what she saw in you, but once this hits your face, she won't see it anymore."

            Kassidy ran up and flung her arms around Marik and held his head to her chest.  He had just enough arm room to wrap his arms around her waist (which hurt tremendously).  The water came flying and splashed her back, and his arms.  Kassidy closed her eyes and felt Marik dig his claws into her spine.  Tears came from her eyes at the pain, but she sucked her breath in as she heard him howl. 

            When he finished, the room was dead silent.  Kassidy opened her eyes and peered down into Marik's pitch black eyes.  They weren't cruel or vulgar; they were mysterious, like the day she first met him, only she hadn't known he was a demon.  And even now, she could see right through them…to his very soul.  She stared into his eyes for what seemed like an eternity, before they turned beautiful lavender.  Her hands kept his head held tight her as she stared at him.  His body changed back to human form.  It had burns and cuts all over it, except for his striking face.  It was as handsome as ever. 

            "Kassidy?  What are you doing up?" He asked in a whisper.  Kassidy let him go and smiled.

            "I just woke up."  Then turning, she looked at Jason, who was dumbfounded.  Glaring at him, she punched his face and he flew back.  She turned back to Marik and undid the chains on his wrists.  Marik stood, and wobbled.  Kassidy put his arm around her shoulder and helped him to a chair.  "Are you okay?" 

            "I'll be fine." He growled as he looked at Jason.  Jason groaned and sat up.  Kassidy turned her face and glared at him once again.  "How are you feeling?"  Kassidy turned back to him and cocked her eyebrow.

            "How would you feel if you got slashed in the side?"  Looking down at his stomach, she saw the dagger slash.  "Oh wait, you have."  She turned away and walked over to Jason, helping him up and dragging him out the door.

            "What the hell were you doing?"  She asked him quickly.  He punched her face and she went flying back against the wall, then he grabbed her neck and held tight to it. 

            "Don't ever hit me again Kassidy, or you will sorely pay."  He told her strictly.  She pulled her hand back and moved to slap him, but he caught her hand and her lips with his own.  Kassidy didn't respond at all.  She didn't struggle, or fail her arms about, but stood stiff with rage.  When he did pull back, he received a glare, and a knee to the groin.

            "To hell with you Jason." She said and walked off as he doubled over.  Going back to Marik, she helped him cover his cuts.  "How in the world did they get you chained up like this?"   Marik studied her as she put the bandages on him.  Her hands on his skin made him feel reassured and secure.  She was going to defend him till the end of the world, even if he did hurt her.  He didn't disserve her, at and means.

            "Now what's the plan of action?"  He asked her.  Kassidy looked up at him and shrugged.

            "You mean, now that we have Jesse and Zev and…I don't know." 

            "Well, we still need to get Halcyon."  Marik said quickly.  Kassidy sent him a look he couldn't read.

            "We?"  She asked.  Marik nodded and stood.  "Marik, I don't know if I can take being around you that long…you do things to me that just…"

            "Don't shun me away Kassidy.  At least let me help."  Marik said.  Kassidy looked him over.  He could see she wasn't sure what to do.  "Listen, I'll help and then leave you alone forever!  I swear, but I'm not leaving until I'm sure your okay."  He put his hand on her arm, but she shrugged it off and nodded, and then walked out. 

            "Kassidy!"  Jesse ran up to her and held her tight.  Kassidy was in shock as she looked down at the ten-year-old girl.  Jesse held her tight and looked up at her.

            "You're supposed to be in bed."  Kassidy told her.  Jesse shrugged and smiled.

            "I feel better!  Really I do!  Please can I come out and be with you guys?  Please?"  Jesse's weak eyes were pleading.  Kassidy knew what this was about.  Her sister didn't want to be alone.

            "Where is Zev?"  Kassidy asked her.  Jesse pointed to Kassidy's room.  He must've been in there when she woke up, she just didn't know he was.  She looked in her room and saw him sleeping in his castle.  Smiling, she grabbed her sister's hand and walked into the living room.  Kaiba looked up questionably.

            "What is she doing out of bed?"  He asked Kassidy quickly.  Kassidy yawned and sat down. 

            "She was awake and wanted to come out. I'm not going to stop her."  She told him.  Jesse sat next to her sister.  Kaiba looked at his watch and stood.

            "I better be getting home."  He told them.  Kassidy stood too.

            "Why?"

            "Because I have my own sibling to look after and he'll be awake in about two hours."  He told them and put his jacket on.  Kassidy opened the door for him and watched him leave.

            "Where's he going?"  Michael had just woken up. 

            "To take care of his brother."  Kassidy said and closed the door.  So Kaiba did have someone else to care for, someone that made him complete.

            "You don't think he'll tell anyone, do you?"  Michael asked standing up.

            "I'm sure, from all I've learned about Kaiba, which isn't very much, he can keep a secret." She told him and sat down.  There was a little bit of silence, until Michael asked how she was feeling.  Kassidy gave him the same answer as she did Kaiba and he stayed silent, only because he couldn't decide if that was an answer or a groan or what.  She looked back at him seriously. "Marik is going to help us with Halcyon."

            "I figured he would."  Michael told her.  Kassidy had seen changes from when Michael had first come and how he was now.  He had grown wiser.  He almost reminded her of Grace at times.  When he first came, he wanted to kill Marik, now he was defending him.  It was so bizarre but wonderful at the same time.  She just wished he could have been that way before Marik changed.

            "Do you really think it's a smart idea?"

            "Well, if he wants to help, we can't stop him, you know that."  He told her.  Kassidy shook her head, still not sure if she should believe what Marik had said back at the sewer. 

            "So you believe him?  Just like that?"  She asked.  Michael smiled.

            "Don't you?  You were the one defending him." 

            "Well, I…I don't know.  Should I?"  She asked him.

            "That is for you to decide, not me."  He told her.  She stared into nothing and blinked every once in a while.  Michael was right.  It was her decision.  She believed him…at least she thought she believed him. She hoped she would be able to know when the time was right, because if not, it would get her and the others killed.       

So here's this chapter…okay, now to answer some questions.

Blackfire*101 asked: Is anyone at this point going to die? I'm not sure yet…it all depends on my imagination and where it takes me.  I don't really plan my stories out, I go along with whatever I write and then do changes and keep going.  It more like pops up in my head at the last minute what I want to happen. ^.^

Blackfire*101 also asked: Did you have to make it (the last chapter) so short?  I did that last chapter at school and was in a big hurry.  You can't really type much at school, and I had to answer your questions.  I promise not to make my other chapters as short as that one though.  It was short, but I couldn't think of anything else to write and I also had to do my work, but thanks for your review anyway.

DarkFlareKitsune asked: How old are you? I'll be turning 15 in March.  Thanks for the complement! I love to write!

KANDYKANE asked: So where do you live (not trying to stalk you)? I sure hope your not one of those Internet predators.  Lol.  I live in Alaska.  And right now it's really, really cold!   

Mariks-girll asked: So how many more chapters do you think you have left?  That I'm not sure of yet…I might end up taking a surprise turn somewhere.