Chapter 5

By: Cat Paws

I carry him most of the way. He tries to help, but is too weak to do much. That poison has done a number on him. I wonder what is happening to Rowen. Can't think of that now. I have to focus on finishing this off first, then we'll deal with Rowen.

About two-thirds of the way to the safe house, he passes out. I bring him in and place him on the floor. I can't make him very comfortable, for I hadn't brought any blankets or such with me. I had left in such a rush that I forgot to bring supplies. How stupid of me.

As I look at Cye, I notice that his hand is clutching something, tightly. I open it up, and find his kanji orb inside. They didn't take his armor, good. I close his hand and place my own over it.

I move my other hand above his body. I pass over him several times, each time pulsing my healing energies into him. He did well by washing away most of the poison. If he did not, I would not be able to go near him. He is learning, I'm glad.

When he is fully healed, I release his hand and sit back. He should be fine once he wakes. As I look at him, a temptation rises in me. I want to go into his mind. I want to see what he has learned. I want to see what he has seen during his time here. It would be so easy for me to do this. Just slip in unnoticed and wonder around for a bit before slipping out, again.

But, no. Not without his awareness and full approval. Such an invasion of one's privacy is unacceptable. I must not do that to my comrade and partner.

I swore, once that I had learned of my ability, that I would not violate anyone in such a way. Doing that would only cause fear and hatred. Things that I don't want amongst my friends. I have already caused enough friction by keeping my own secrets.

The movement of Cye draws my attention to his direction. I smile and say, "How are you feeling?"

He takes a deep breath, then responds, "Much better, thank you. Did you heal me?"

"You did that on your own. I only helped."

"Stop with your false modesty. You did something to me, to my mind."

"What do you mean?" I am truly puzzled by this. Could he be blaming me for his awakening strengths and power? I had no hand in that. I only helped to heal his injuries and restore some of his lost strength. I did nothing that would change his mind. I look at him, confused.

"You know what I mean. You can read my thoughts. You must have done something to my head."

"No, I did not. I did nothing. You did that on your own."

"What have I done?" He looks so confused. I can't have him this way if we are to face this evil. We both have to be in complete control of ourselves. I could help him, I think. Well at least untangle all the feedback that he is getting.

"Why do I hear these voices?" I look back at him. "I heard them before, but not this loud or continuous. They keep saying 'He's the one!', 'He can hear us.', 'Let me talk to him.', 'I'll be your friend.' Then I see these things, these visions, that I know aren't mine, but they seem so real. They wont stop."

"You can hear them because you can speak to the dead. Only you can make them shut up. They'll jabber your ear off if you let them. You see those visions because they want you to see them. They are the strongest memories of the spirit that is in your mind at the time. Some times you'll see them, some times you wont. It depends on the spirit."

"How do you know this?"

"A little something I came across on our last visit to the Neither Realm. It was a legend that tells about two warriors, kind of like ourselves, who have to face off against an enchantress named Ocatan who comes from a white crystal."

"I heard that name before. In a vision, when I was locked up. I was a solider. I was mad that two warriors hadn't showed up to fight against... Ocatan, I believe."

"The first battle, wow."

"Would you be quiet?! You'd think they never talked to anyone before."

"They haven't. Not in a long time, anyway. Just block them out."

"How?" He looks at me with pleading eyes. This is way too much for him all at once.

"Think 'wall' around your mind. That should work for now. At least until you have more control. Which, by the way, you have to have real soon because our enemy is calling, loud and clear."

"What!?" Panic washed over him. "Are you saying that whole crystal, evil thing is real? That we are those two warriors?"

"A little hard to believe, but yes." I can see that he is very over whelmed. Not good, but there is nothing that will make this any easier. Quite the challenge in deed.

Then, what seems to be out of no where, he asks, "You're telepathic?" I'm caught by surprise by his asking. I blink a few times and let a chuckle escape my lips. He takes my reaction strangely and leans forward. He wrinkles his face in concentration. "Well, are you going to answer me? Another thing, how did you get here, anyway? I thought only those of the Dynasty could make portals to the Neither Realm."

I make myself comfortable and say, "First off, yes I am telepathic. A little talent of mine that I discovered thanks to my father. Second, my real father was a Demon General for Talpa. So, I have Dynasty blood in me, enabling me to open portals to this place."

"Your father was a Demon General?"

"Yes, he was."

"Is he still around?"

"No." I look down, remembering what had happened. I had killed him with my own hands. He was on the verge of mass hysteria. He wanted to use me as his vessel to purify the world from fools like Talpa. Somewhere along the way his ideas had became twisted. He lost it, and locked himself in a dark prison inside his mind.

I distorted his physical body, but he soon attacked me with his spirit. He crashed into my head and tried to possess me, but I was stronger than he thought. I was able to summon the powers of the Ronin Armors and my then awakening abilities. It was enough to free him from his mental prison. Now, his soul is somewhere in the other worlds at peace.

Seeing that this brought back memories, good and bad, for me, Cye squirmed a little, wanting to change the subject. "Do you know why I hear the dead? Is there some reason why we are the way we are?"

"Ocatan has many minions at her disposal. They come from all the worlds, living and dead. They attack on all levels, mentally and physically. To make it a more fair fight, we also have to have our strengths." He has also made himself comfortable, waiting for me to continue. Here we go.

"We balance each other out. Your abilities are to commune with the dead. You must be open to that side of her attack. You can also use your water power to wash away her poisons and venom. Besides her brought forces, she is highly toxic. Your connection to the water makes you somewhat immune to her venom."

"What about you?"

"I speak to the living. I anticipate her moves and those of the living half of her force. With my healing ability, I finish the job that you started when you remove the poison from a victim. I insure their recovery and survival. However, I can't go anywhere near a person who is infected without becoming poisoned myself. A down fall, I know."

"So, I'll be doing most of the contact work when we actually go to face Ocatan? I think that I can handle her." He looks at me with a smirk on his face. There is a hint of mockery there, as well.

I answer with one of my own. "I'm not going to let you have all the fun. I'll be there, even if it kills me."