Loss and Betrayal

Max made her way down the dimly lit tunnel, the sound of the crashing waves on the beach fading the deeper she went. Up ahead, she could hear the periodic faint dripping of water followed by its soft echoes. Rounding the next bend, the daylight faded as it failed to penetrate the darkness a new light drew the young Ahri in, a soft orange flickering light - a fire of some sort.

'Akira, what's wrong?' the young Ahri asked, sensing a little unease from her passenger.

Mild panic setting in, Akira urged her to leave this place. 'I don't... we shouldn't be here.'

Not understanding the issue, Max continued ahead. 'Relax, didn't you say I needed to get out more?'

'Max, please,' Akira begged, sounding uncharacteristically desperate and vulnerable.

The young Ahri wasn't about to turn around now. 'If you're that nervous, you're free to go visit someone else, I won't hold it personally. Besides, I'm here with friends.'

Feeling Akira still present but at least quite for now, Max pressed on. Passing another bend, she entered a huge cavern. Naturally carved jagged stone walls surrounded her, two tunnels opposite each other leading in different directions. Several old-fashioned naked torches dotted around were sufficient to light up the cavern, but did little to light the tunnels. Two thick crooked pillars held up the ceiling, looking like giant arms. Stalactites of various lengths protruding from the ceiling. Water glistened in the torchlight as it trickled down dripping into soft dirt. It felt eerily familiar.

A muffled noise coming from her left caused the young Ahri turn, gasping as her gaze fell on the source of the noise. "What the hell?"

In front of her were Rachel, Kate, and Chloe, all chained to the wall with heavy looking iron locks. Their mouths were taped over with duct tape, its silvery surface glinting in the torchlight. All three of them were trying desperately to tell her something, but all she could hear was muffled sounds.

Without even thinking Max ran over to her friends, ripping the tape of Rachel's mouth causing the young hunter to wince. "Sorry... what the hell's going on?"

"…Sophie, you need to get the hell out of here now," Rachel warned.

"Sure, as soon as I get you guys free," Max stated peeling the tape of Chloe and Kate's mouths as well, then tried fruitlessly to pull at Kate's chains.

"He could come back anytime," Kate added fearfully, her eyes darting around the dimly lit cavern.

"Who?" Max pressed as she looked around for something to get them loose.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Rachel's sword, sheathed and leaning against the wall next to the hunter. Picking it up and unsheathing it, she jammed the blade in between the locks, twisting the blade as she put her weight against the blade causing it to bend. With a loud ping the lock sprung open, the sudden release of pressure causing the young Ahri to stumble. As Kate wriggled free of her restraints, Max got back to her feet holding the now snapped sword, the other half of the blade still wedged firmly in the lock.

"Sophie, take Kate and get the fuck out of here before he comes back," Chloe ordered, not taking no for an answer. "It's him."

The suspense was killing her. "WHO?!"

"That would be me," a familiar voice answered, echoing in the cavern, "glad you could join us for your final class, Sophie."

The cold tone of the voice sent an involuntary shiver down the young Ahri's spine. Swallowing her apprehension, she turned to face the direction where the voice came from. Her blood ran cold as she saw a tall dark-haired figure exit one of the tunnels carrying a large old partially rotten box. She recognized him. Muddied black trousers, and shoes, with an equally muddied white shirt, the sleeves rolled up just below the elbow. A well-kept goatee and a pair of spectacles framing a pair of deep purple eyes giving her a predatory glance.

"Mr. Jefferson!" Max exclaimed, very confused.

'Max, go wolf, grab Kate and run, NOW!' Akira urged, trying to press the young Ahri to move.

Glancing over to Rachel and Chloe, who were still restrained, she shook her head. 'I... I won't leave them.'

The elder Ahri was quiet for a second, her response sounding desperate. 'Please don't make me make you.'

Max felt a little betrayed by that threat. 'You promised me you wouldn't.'

'Max this is differ-' Akira didn't have the chance to finish that sentence.

'NO, AKIRA!' Max screamed in her head. 'I will not leave them behind.'

"It's one of many I have, but you'd know all about that wouldn't you, Sophie," a twisted smirk tugged at his lips, "having different identities."

He roughly placed the old, large box down with a thud, kicking up a plume of old dust and dirt. A faint rattling noise came from inside. Judging by the shape, it was pretty obvious what it was, a coffin, someone's final resting place. A harrowing thought that he could just callously dig up someone's grave then toss it around like he owned it.

"What...what do you want?" Max asked, putting herself between their history teacher and her friends.

Mr Jefferson let out an amused sigh, withdrawing a pistol from his trousers pointing it right at the young Ahri. "Glad you asked actually. Like a lot of people, I want lots of things in life: recognition, a comfortable life, that stone around your neck, to name a few," he replied motioning to Max's necklace with the pistol.

Seeing Max placing her hand protectively over her necklace, Kate stepped forward. "That was her mother's. It's all she has left. You can't."

"And what could you possibly need it for? You already have one, I've seen it," Rachel pointed out, confused.

"Oh, I do," Jefferson responded pulling his own necklace out from his shirt with his free hand, "but I don't want it to wear, although that one does look a little better than this little stone."

"The drugs, Frank's mix up, you're using them to make whatever it is that gives you those freaky eyes," Chloe summarized, eyes slowly filling with understanding.

"Smart girl. Always was impressed by your GPA, especially considering you skip half your lessons. You're right, a stone this size," he motioned to his own around his neck, "will make enough O8 to last me maybe two months. The one around her neck, nearly two years."

"If I give it to you... no fuss, you leave us alone," Max stated, desperate for some peaceful solution. She was tired of fighting for her life.

Jefferson offered a slight grin. "Of course."

"DON'T, he's lying," Kate warned, seeing his deepest, darkest thoughts. There was no way he would be letting any of them go, not now they knew his secret.

Giving her a glare, he dropped all pretenses. "Gah, ya see this is why I always avoided you, Miss Marsh. That annoying little ability of yours. Unlike at school, I can't hide behind all the students... ha, Of course, I can't let you go, you already know too much."

"So you're just gonna kill us, just for a fucking hit," Rachel concluded. "That is so low."

"No, of course not," Jefferson was quick to add, sounding frustrated at his motivations being so quickly labeled. "Not that the reason is gonna do you any good, but I'm actually on the brink of a major discovery. Can't have a bunch of kids messing it up. People might start asking questions."

"What discovery?" Rachel asked trying to buy as much time as possible to come up with... anything.

Just like in his lectures, Jefferson seemed to love the sound of his own voice. "Well, I'm actually surprised you asked, but if I'm going to be honest, then I think it's only fair we're all honest here. Don't you agree, Sophie? Why don't you show your friends what you really are?"

Seeing no reason to hide and with nothing to lose, Max allowed the charm to fade. A shimmer flickering over her appearance as her blonde hair receded to shoulder length brunette, her black ears and twin tails becoming visible as well as the freckles across her face trailing down her neck. Her orb was poised on one of her tails at the ready.

Chloe began laughing manically, shaking her head in disbelief. "You really are stupid... we know what she is, and WHO she is. She's Maxine fucking Caulfield. You really think she kept it from us, dumbass."

"Well, it's just one surprise after another, isn't it? How long's it been? Five years now, to the day if I'm correct. I know I won't forget in a hurry." His face darkened considerably as he stared the young girl down.

"Who… who are you?" Max stuttered, a sinking feeling inside her telling her she already knew.

"Oh, I think you know." Jefferson smiled, rolling up his right sleeve to reveal the perfect coin sized hole just above his elbow. "Little parting gift from that bitch you call a mother. Sorry, called, since she's gone now. I should use the right tense since I'm the teacher here."

Her teeth set on edge, Rachel shot back to hurt his pride. "Shame she missed your heart, but it's such a small target I can't really blame her."

"Oooh, you wound me, Miss Amber," Jefferson mocked, feigning hurt dramatically.

Kate looked at the man before them, his true form. "I'm… I'm inclined to agree. Hunting down the Ahri just for a bunch of stones…"

"You too, Miss Marsh, and here I thought you were the passive type." He sighed, almost sounding disappointed. "I've already told you, it's much more than that."

Rachel frowned at him. "So you keep saying."

Giving a slight nod, Jefferson sat himself down on the end of the old dusty coffin, keeping the gun pointed squarely at Max and Kate. "Well, if you're up for one final lecture, I guess I can't refuse a final request."

This was the chance Rachel had been looking for, to get him talking. "Dunno about everyone else, but I'd at least like to know why I'm about to die"

"And why you killed our parents," Chloe added bitterly.

"Ah yes, your parents." His expression turned distant at the memory, only for a second, like he was reliving every life he had taken in vivid detail. Worse still, enjoying it. "Well, your fathers and your mother Rachel, they were close to someone I was after."

"My mom," Max stated matter-of-factly.

He gave her a smile like a teacher praising a student. "Correct. As for your mother, let's just say she wasn't very talkative."

"Gee, I wonder why..." Chloe snapped sarcastically, "oh, yeah, your killing Ahri."

"That's part of it, although I guess killing that husband of hers didn't do me favors," he shrugged.

"Guess you skipped that lesson, Jeffershit," Rachel muttered under her breath, trying to come up with a way out of this.

Ignoring the outburst, he pressed ahead. "Anyway, I wonder how much attention to detail you've been paying in class. Do you remember a village by the name of Iona?"

"Wolftown," Kate breathed, a flicker of recognition across her face.

'Max, we need to go,' Akira cut in.

Max felt a tug of influence from Akria, clamping down on it as best she could. 'Working on it.'

'Like now,' the elder Ahri insisted.

'I KNOW! If I move, Kate's dead.' She could NOT let that happen.

'Max'

Oblivious to the conversation in Max's head, Jefferson grinned. "Ah, so someone was paying attention. Care to elaborate."

Kate took a deep breath before continuing, "Iona – better known as Wolftown – won't be found on any map. Even historians debate whether it actually existed or not. It was supposed to be the hometown of werewolves. The story goes, five centuries ago, the village was destroyed on a stormy night by a savage beast. Every man woman and child was killed… although no evidence has ever been found. With no village, no culprit and no witnesses... I fail to see what this has to do with anything. It's a myth."

"It's not a myth, not anymore," Jefferson stated, tapping the top of the old dusty coffin. "You see, there was actually a witness. A child that survived. He bore the scars of his attacker till the day he died, and I got to speak to him."

Rachel frowned, doing the math. "If that were true, you'd be over four hundred years old."

He smirked, his ego inflated. "Four hundred and eight to be exact. I know, I don't look it."

"I think I'm gonna puke," Chloe muttered rolling her eyes at his narcissism.

"As I was saying, he described the creature to me. His description was if I recall a little vague, but he was adamant it was a large multi-tailed beast. At first, I thought he was referring to an Ahri, but he was certain it had many more than just two tails, and was using some sort of dark magic, something unnatural," Jefferson explained, clearly loving every second of this mini-lecture.

Rachel was quick to refute his claims. "Sounds like a childhood nightmare. If he was even there, he probably just thought that's what he saw. There's nothing in the Guild archives of anything that can lay waste to a whole village, particularly one-half filled with werewolves."

Jefferson smiled slyly. "Obviously you've not been in the black vault then."

"What's the black vault?" Kate asked, looking at Rachel with a tilted head frowning.

Sensing the bullshit, Rachel replied. "There is no black vault, I think I'd know. I've got ways of getting places I shouldn't."

"Clearly, there are some secrets not even you are privy to, young lady," he added smugly. "As I was saying, in the black vault there are many things. Most are old relics and dusty trinkets, but there is a rather impressive library down there... I would say it's a good read, but you'll never get to see it... sorry."

"That's bullshit."

Sighing, Jefferson ignored the interruption. "Believe what you will. Point is, while I was down there, I came across a few interesting pictures, and some rather curious documents, referring to a many tailed beast – an Ahri like creature. One document in particular even hinted at one being seen leaving the area of Wolftown the day after the assault."

"And you think this... creature actually existed, based on... a myth and an old scribble, and the tale of a senile old man?" Chloe asked, skeptical about the whole thing, as they all were.

Jefferson chuckled. "I admit it does sound a little far-fetched, so I did my own research. I must admit, following a trail over four hundred years old is a little hard. I knew if I was going to get anywhere I'd have to ask around, and the Ahri seemed to be the best place to start. After a while I found one Ahri who had a vague memory of what I was looking for, her name was Joanna."

Unable to keep quiet anymore, Akira once again pleaded for her to leave. 'Max, we really need to get out of here.'

'Trust me, I'm keeping an eye out,' Max assured her passenger. Akira seemed rattled which was worrying, to say the least.

"She confirmed the creature I was looking for existed. She had not only seen, but had spoken to her herself, although she couldn't remember the name." He seemed a little annoyed at that, but continued. "With the trail going cold, I had to take... a slightly more aggressive approach."

"You started killing Ahri," Max surmised, putting as much disgust and disapproval into those four words as she could.

A twisted smile crossed Jefferson's features. "Indeed, although I had a few near misses to start with. Seems Ahri aren't just cute and cuddly. That was until I came across this little drug O8, certainly made things easier. Downside is, it's a little... addictive."

Still confused, Kate pressed for more detail. "I don't get it. Why kill the Ahri, though? What does that achieve?"

"Well, it would seem, according to Joanna, that this particular Ahri liked to look after the other Ahri – a kind of Alpha if you will," he paused for a moment, keeping them in suspense. "The thinking is simple, killing Ahri..."

"Would draw her out," Chloe finished for him.

Glad to see someone following, he nodded. "Exactly, just like a typical werewolf."

Max had to stifle a low growl at the insinuation. "We're NOT werewolves."

He regarded her with an insensitive look, clearly not agreeing. "Is that so? Well, we can just agree to disagree. The upside to this, I got a steady supply of Azurelite stones to feed my little habit. Perfect little operation you could say. I must admit, I still find Ahri a nice challenge, and now they're all in hiding makes the hunt more interesting... that is until you came walking right into my classroom, Max." The way he was looking at her made the young Ahri feel ill to her stomach. "Talk about opportunity."

"You're a monster. Most of those people you've killed never hurt anybody," Kate finally spoke, sounding uncharacteristically angry.

Not threatened, Jefferson continued calmly. "What if I was to prove to you that I'm right? That multi-tailed Ahri actually existed. It would prove that the myth is no myth, but fact. An unprovoked attack on a harmless village full of women and children, all slaughtered with no regret."

"Doesn't justify what you're doing," Rachel retorted bitterly. "It's murder, plain and simple. And even if you COULD prove she existed, you have no idea why it happened."

"True on all counts, except one," Jefferson replied coldly as he got to his feet. "I can prove it, wouldn't be teaching if I couldn't back up my findings." He tapped the dusty coffin with his foot. "Wanna take a guess what's inside?"

Max could feel Akira trying to push herself onto her. Pushing her back, she snapped at the elder Ahri. 'Akira, I KNOW! Stop pushing!'

Rachel swallowed hard. "I'm guessing someone's remains."

Giving a slight nod, Jefferson ripped the half rotten lid off, the four sides falling flat now they're support was removed to reveal an aged humanoid skeleton. Several bits of rotten fabric still clung to various bones, a dozen or so small insects scurrying into hiding. Kate turned away, gasping. The other three girls' gaze fixed on the remains. Down by the legs were dozens and dozens of small bones, held in place loosely by small amounts of remaining fur.

"Six, seven, eight, nine. Nine tails," Chloe mumbled as she counted them off.

"She existed," Rachel breathed, staring at the impossible bones.

Now proving he was right, Jefferson smugly motioned towards the remains like he had won a prize. "You sound surprised."

"Then that means... that Wolftown…" Kate's sentence petered off into silence as the realization hit her.

"It was real. He's telling the truth. The black vault exists," the blonde hunter concluded incredulously.

"I might be many things, but a liar is not one of them," Jefferson said, looking at the lid in his hands, blowing on part of it and rubbing away more dried dirt and dust, "And we have a name gimme a second, my Latin is a little rusty."

Seeing Jefferson muttering something as he tried to work out the faded writing, Max seized her chance. She put herself back in front of Kate, her orb turning a solid black as she prepared to launch it.

"Akira, here lies Akira. Gone, but not forgotten," Jefferson translated confidently.

Max's breath caught in her throat as she tried to process what she just heard. Kate was stunned, staring at the young Ahri with her mouth hanging open. A torrent of emotion erupted from Max: betrayal, deception, anger, pain, hurt, pleading and guilt. So much guilt, too much for one person to bare, hit the young empath like a mental bullet, causing her to double over as tears ran freely down her face.

Chloe couldn't wrap her head around it. There was no way it could be the same Akira, it just couldn't. It didn't add up. Akira had only been around for thirtyish years. Those remains were clearly much much older, a few hundred at least.

Rachel was just as shocked, just as much in disbelief. A quick glance at Kate, who met her gaze giving her a small nod, told her it was true. It was the very same Akira.

'It... it was you,' Max finally realized what all those strange dreams had been about. 'They weren't dreams, but memories. Your memories.'

'Max, I...'

Not giving her the chance, Max launched into an unforgiving rant. 'You murdered everyone. I watched... felt you do it. You WANTED to do it.'

'Max, please,' Akira pleaded, wanting the chance to explain her actions.

'No, you've lied to me all along.' Overwhelming betrayal rocked Max to the very core. Sure, she had never really trusted her passenger, but this…

'Max…'

'That's why you wanted to leave so badly, so I wouldn't find out what you are, what you DID!' Now, Akira's behavior made so much sense. 'All this time, you've been pushing me, pretending to help me, and for what? What was the point? Why are you even here, Akira?'

Sighing, the other Ahri stuck in Max's head replied, 'To right a wrong... so many wrongs. It's so fucking complicated to explain everything. What else was I supposed to do?'

Anger bubbled up as Max spat back. 'You might have started by telling me the truth. How was I ever supposed to trust you when you couldn't tell me this? You're no better than Jefferson. You're the reason my life, my family was destroyed, and you knew. You knew all along what was going on."

Eager to refute her assumptions, Akira quickly corrected her. 'NO, Max, I have NEVER lied about that I had no idea, I swear. You have to believe me.'

'Why should I? Is everything you told me a lie?' Max had little reason to believe Akira before, even less now.

'No.'

'Oh great, so only half of it was.' In some ways, that was worse. 'I want you gone, out of my head, and out of my life. I don't wanna hear from you ever again."

Reamining silent for a moment, Akira replied softly, 'Ok, I'll go, once he is dealt with. You may not believe me, Max, but I intend to keep my promise to your mother.'

'Don't you DARE...' Max cautioned, not wanting to hear this now.

"NO!" Kate screamed as a loud gunshot echoed through the cavern.

The sound snapped Max out of her internal argument, finding Kate now in front of her slightly hunched over clutching her chest as she stumbled backward. The young Ahri instinctively reaching out, catching the empath gently lowering her to the ground.

"KATE!" Rachel screamed. She rattled against her restraints, trying desperately to get free but failing miserably. The only thing she managed to do was hurt herself from all the pulling. Not that she cared now.

Looking down at Kate's chest, just below her left breast, Max noticed thick red liquid seeping through her white blouse. The young blonde's breathing was shallow as she struggled for breath.

"Nonononono," Max blubbed, pressing a hand firmly against the wound trying to fruitlessly to stop the bleeding. "Why, Kate? Why?"

Reaching up, Kate ran a finger down the side of one of Max's ears smiling weakly. "Pretty Ahri," she mumbled before her arm fell weakly to her shoulder.

Max took her hand in her own blood soaked hand, entwining their fingers tightly. "Please, don't die. I... I can't lose anyone else," she cried, her mind going blank not knowing what to do.

"Please, not her," Rachel sobbed, slumped against her binds in defeat as she watched helplessly. She couldn't even be at her side.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," Chloe hissed, tears already running down her cheeks as she strained against her chains, the iron links protesting under the strain but unyielding.

Jefferson shrugged and sighed, "It's always the quiet ones getting in the way. Don't worry, you'll all be joining her so..."

Jefferson's voice was drowned out by an earth shattering explosion as Max's orb slammed him backward through the remains of the coffin and one of the jagged stone columns into the cave wall, kicking up a huge plume of dust, dirt, splintered wood, bone, and rock.

Chloe's eyes went wide at the crater left behind. As the dust cleared, Jefferson couldn't even be seen under the debris. Max's orb turned back to its electric blue as sprung back to one of her tails. The young Ahri eyes hadn't left the dying blondes.

"Re... g... t," Kate's voice was ghostly quiet as several tears ran down her cheeks. Not hearing her clearly, Max leaned in closer as Kate repeated her word. "Re… gret," Kate exhaled one last time as her soft hazel eyes closed.

"No no no," Max muttered as she sobbed into Kates' chest, clutching her dead friend, "I'm so so sorry, Kate, so sorry."

"Kate, NO!" Rachel screamed, now sobbing uncontrollably.

Chloe just sat there watching her best friend hugging the young empath, not believing what her eyes were showing her. She couldn't be gone, it wasn't fair. She didn't deserve this.

'Max... I'm... so, so sorry.' Nothing Akira could say would fix this, and she knew it. Still, she had to try.

Pity was the last thing she wanted now. 'I don't care anymore.'

'Max!'

Putting aside her complicated feelings about her passenger, Max focused on the important issue. 'Answer me one thing, Akira. Can I count on you?'

'Max, you always could. I'm not…' She didn't have the chance to finish.

'He doesn't leave here alive, Akira. Whatever it takes, he's not laying a finger on anyone else. Not Rachel, Chloe or any other Ahri,' Max stated, resolute. Too many people had suffered by his hand.

'Max, I…' Again, she was interrupted.

'Do you hear what I'm saying, Akira? Whatever it takes, I'm willing to pay,' Right now, the only two things in Max's mind were revenge and protecting her friends. 'This isn't about me anymore. No one else is going to suffer because of him. THAT BASTARD DIES!'

On the far side of the cavern, a deep groan emerged as various bits of rubble fell from the freshly made hole, Jefferson staggering out. He straightened himself out as he passed a glance towards the bereaved girls.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Chloe hissed getting to her feet as she again started pulling on her bindings, the coarse iron cuffs cutting into her wrists causing blood to run down her hands over her fingertips, the physical pain ignored.

Jefferson rolled his shoulders, tired of this. "Not from there you're not, you, on the other hand, I've had enough of your backchat."

"No," Max muttered as she lay Kate's body gently down.

"Max!" Chloe gasped, ceasing her struggle against her chains as she looked at the young Ahri's face.

Tears and blood were smeared across her red puffy freckled cheeks. Raw anger permeated her facial features, but her eyes were the most striking. The once deep blue almost completely gone now, replaced by a bright vibrant emerald green, almost glowing, say for the smallest patch of blue nearest the pupil. Max was letting Akira in, far more than she had seen before. Just how far was she willing to go?

She watched as Max carefully took her necklace from around her neck, placing it on Kate's motionless chest and positioning each of the empath's hands over it, careful to keep some contact with it until she was done.

"This is your last day on earth, you asshole," Max voice was hard as steel, every word filled with raw hate, dripping in venom.

Rachel didn't take her eyes off the young empath's body. Grief had all but consumed her as she stared at the lifeless body, a girl she had cherished since they day they met, now forever out of her reach, or maybe not. Maybe she would join her soon, they all would. At least she would get to see her mom and dad again, maybe, if such things existed.

Her train of thought was broken by a deep growl that reverberated and echoed around the cavern, causing her to tear her eyes off Kate. Focusing on Max, she watched her explode into her wolf form, clothing appearing to vaporize at the volatile transformation. Another deep growl echoed around the cavern and down the dark tunnels. Her orb was now a solid black, flicked from tail to tail.

"Max," Rachel muttered as she watched the young Ahri launch herself at Jefferson, who effortlessly sidestepped the attack.

He took a swing as the wolf sailed past, only to find air as the wolf twisted mid-flight to avoid blow. Her black orb slammed into Jefferson, causing him to stumble. Before he could recover, Max was on him, teeth bared snapping viciously at his face as he wrestled to keep the jaws at bay. A swift kick sent the black wolf hurtling through the air, crashing into the soft earth.

Both combatants quickly getting back to their feet. In one swift motion, Jefferson took a small bottle out from his pocket. Instantly, he swallowed one of the small purple pills kept within. a sly grin working its way onto his face.

"Max, be careful," Rachel cautioned, not trusting him to fight fair.

"She doesn't stand a chance now, I'm afraid," Jefferson leered, the grin on his face fading as he watched a second solid black orb appear on Max's un-occupied tail, "Impossible"

"Oooh, fuck yeah. Not grinning now are we, asshole," the blue-haired punk goaded.

"Told you she was holding back on you," Rachel stated, suddenly very aware of the atmosphere in the cavern. The air felt heavy, charged almost, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. "Hey, Chloe."

"I feel it too," Chloe muttered to herself, shivering, "feels freaky as fuck."

"What do you suppose…?" Rachel began to ask.

"Akira, it has to be," she replied. Max is letting Akira take over."

"WHAT?!"

"The green in her eyes," Chloe stated matter-of-factly, "the more of it, the more Akira is in control."

Watching the standoff, Rachel felt a pang of unease. "What happens to Max?"

Chloe swallowed, shaking her head. "I... I don't know"

Before they could say another word, one of the black orbs shot towards Jefferson, closely followed by Max. He dodged out of the way with lightning speed, Max's second orb already hurtling towards his new position as the first returned to its place on one of her tails. Once again, he dodged the incoming missile, the second orb slamming into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave of dust and dirt outwards, like a stone in a lake, before it zipped back.

Unrelenting, the first orb once again hurtling towards him. Jefferson hissed as once again he was forced to reposition, quickly relocating out of the way again as the second orb was sent flying. Seeing an opening while both orbs were airborne he lunged at Max, who narrowly got out of arms reach. Instantaneously, she sent both reclaimed orbs back towards Jefferson. At such close range, he didn't have time to dodge. Both glowing orbs slammed into him, sending him once again careening across the cavern.

Before the orbs had returned, Jefferson was back on his feet, his creepy sly smile plastered on his face. Max leaped towards her orbs, instantly flicking them back towards him the second they touched her tails. Not even attempting to move this time, he allowed the first orb to hit him. It passed right through him, as though it didn't even exist. Clenching his fist, he swung at the second orb.

A stone splitting crack filled the cavern as the orb was sent hurtling back towards Max, slamming into her chest. She yelped in pain as she flew into one of the nearby stalactite formations, another cry escaping her throat as she slammed into the ground. The first orb faded to nothing as the second one returned to its owner's tail, a large visible crack running from top to bottom.

Confused and worried, Rachel's question echoed around the cavern. "What the fuck just happened?"

"One was an illusion, a distraction. He figured it out," Chloe observed helplessly.

Rachel's hazel eyes focused on the broken orb. "I mean the other one, he actually cracked it."

Dusting himself off, Jefferson stood up straight. "That's a new one, I must admit. Next time, you might wanna make sure the fake doesn't actually hit anything. It's a bit of a giveaway. And of course I cracked it. It's only stone after all."

Panting heavily as she got to her feet, Max looked back at the crack in her orb and then back to Jefferson. She allowed her orb to return to its blue state before shifting it back to its solid state, as good as new. The second orb also reappeared on her other tail.

"I must admit, I don't think I've ever had this much fun before." Jefferson simply scoffed, lunging once more at the black wolf.

Max quickly juggled the two black orbs on her tail before launching them both towards Jefferson and springing out the way of his assault. Both parties missed their targets. Jefferson was the first to react, springing after the wolf before she even touched the ground. She barely escaped the vampire's clutches. Again, a high pitched pained yelp echoed through the cavern as Jefferson caught hold of one of Max's tails, slamming her into the ground. He didn't stop, swinging her by the tail through the remaining jagged stone column. This elicited a much weaker cry of pain before he sent her careening across the room. She landed in a heap as a small section of the now unsupported stone roof collapsed on top of her, pinning her to the floor.

"MAX!" Chloe screamed as she watched her friend feebly try to get herself unpinned, then collapsing under the added weight.

Jefferson grinned to himself as he sauntered over to the downed wolf, grabbing her by the scruff of her neck. A small whimper escaped the wolf as he did so. "Tut tut, Max. I would give you an A for effort, but you cheated. As a teacher, I can hardly condone such behavior."

"You can fucking talk, you hypocrite," Chloe snapped hotly. "Why not let me down and give me a try. I'll rip your fucking head off."

Jefferson scoffed, frowning slightly as if considering something. "You know what they say: the best way to kill an Ahri is to kill those closest to her. I think I'll put that to the test" He said, slamming Max's head down into the dirt, eliciting another small yelp as he walked over towards Chloe. When he got there, he grabbed her throat with one hand and squeezing, a vile grin on his lips, "You know, you've always had a way of pissing me off. I think I'm gonna enjoy squeezing the life out of you, like the pathetic bitch you are."

"Leave her alone, asshole," Rachel demanded, although she didn't have much authority in this situation.

To shut her up, he placed his free hand around the young hunter's neck squeezing, causing her to choke almost instantly at the crushing force. "Maybe I should just do you both at the same time. Or I could just have some... fun with you first," he sneered, relaxing his grip around Rachel's, grinning vilely.

"I… I'd rather die," Rachel choked out, scrunching her face up in disgust.

He seemed mildly impressed by her resolve. "Oh, you will, don't worry about that, but first I think we need som..."

A deep long snarl reverberated throughout the cavern, causing the two girls and Jefferson to look over towards Max, who still lay partially buried under the piles of rubble.

"Ah, fuck," Rachel winced as a static shock from the iron chains shocked her. The air felt more energized now than it had minutes ago.

The sound of grinding stone filled the cavern as Max began forcing herself to her feet, even with the extra weight on top of her. The slab of rocks slid off her, air growing thicker by the second. Several small objects dotted around the cavern began glowing a brilliant white, quickly joined by another half a dozen. More small objects joined in the glow, the air now saturated with static.

"What the fuck is this?" Jefferson muttered, releasing his grip around the girls' necks, causing both to gasp for air as they watched the spectacle unfold.

A drawn-out howl erupted from Max, the glowing objects appearing to respond by dimming to a subtler glow, making it easier to see what they were.

"Bones!" Rachel gasped watching as the small pieces of bone began slowly lifting off the dirt.

The broken remains lazily circling in the air, occasionally colliding with each other. It appeared as if they were trying to get into some sort of order. One by one, the small bones zipped towards Max, taking up their place at the base of her tail. Quickly, the others followed suit, connecting to the previous until all the bones were in place.

Seven long bony tails now sat snugly next to Max's original two. Once this ritualistic process was complete, another long howl erupted from her. The thick air felt as though it was sucked towards her as the tails began glowing more brightly. The glow quickly engulfing her own two tails spreading across her whole body witch seemed to grow in size clearly more than foot taller than she was before.

Like a switch had been flipped the air returned to normal. The glow engulfing Max subsided, revealing a now pure white wolf with nine bushy full tails. A bright blue orb now rested gracefully on the central most one. Two completely deep emerald green eyes stared back at the girls, zeroing in on Jefferson. A deep threatening growl vibrated the air around the cavern.

"What the fuck is this?" Jefferson barked, demanding answers.

Chloe swallowed. That wasn't Max anymore. Just how far had she gone? A sinking feeling filled the pit of her stomach as she muttered one name.

"Akira."

I think Jefferson might have pissed Max off, or is there somthing more afoot.

Lets hear your theroies, comments, loves/hates, (Dont hate me too much please)

Eta on the last 4 chapters, one maybe two weeks at most, there in rough now and progress is going well (Got a few personal things to take care of, but thats life)

Till next time

Peace out