Marron led the horse around the back to the empty stable. After talking a while, Ami had asked him the put Caramel in the back. Not that he minded. For some reason, he didn't want to watch her and the sorcerer talking.

After securing the door of its stall, Marron began to fill its trough with hay. But the horse was watching him, even if he didn't notice it. Caramel had seen at this person before, even if he didn't know.

The sorcerer was something he was rather worried about. For some reason, he felt that that man was someone they should all be watching out for. 'Count Katashi? I've heard that name before. But from where? I doubt we've met. I don't recognize him. Then why does his name seem familiar?'

As he was thinking about Count Katashi, another name filled his mind. 'Big Momma? That's odd……………she seems to be connected with part of this. But who is she? Would my 'brother' and the others know her? Would they know the sorcerer?'

After wiping his hands, he went back inside. The front door was still opened, and Ami was still talking with the sorcerer.

"Hey Marron." Marron whipped around to see Carrot, carrying his tank top in one hand. "Who's Ami talking to?"

He said nothing. His attention averted back to the conversation outside.

Carrot sighed, placing his hands on his hips. There seemed to be some distrust coming from this Marron. The Marron he knew would always trust him, even if he was a little untrustworthy. But the way he was now……he was so different than before. Would the brother he knew be able to return if this one didn't trust him?

Slipping on his tank top, he heard a rasp, and looked to see Ami, talking with some guy. He wouldn't have thought much of it, but then he noticed the markings on the guy's forehead.

'A sorcerer?' he thought. 'Here? Usually Sorcerers don't care about parsoners. Why would he be here?'

Then he heard a low growl from directly in front of him. 'Marron?' He slowly took a step forward, standing right beside his little brother. The young Glace's eyes were dark. 'Does he know that guy's a sorcerer?' Carrot wondered. 'Does he remember our assignment?'

Suddenly, Ami sank to the ground. Carrot gasped, and was about to run to her, but was stopped by Marron's arm, held up in front of him. His eyes were focused on the sorcerer, who looked their way with a smirk on his lips. The sorcerer then disappeared in his coach, and horses hoofs were heard trotting away to take the man back to his mansion.

Only then did Marron's arm move down, allowing Carrot to run to her. Kneeling down beside her, Carrot asked gently, "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "No," she said. "No he didn't." But she couldn't stop the sob that escaped her mouth.

Cradling her in his arms, Carrot carried her back into the house, setting her on the couch. "What happened?" Marron sat on her other side, placing his hand on her shoulder, softly squeezing her shoulder. She looked at him, a sad smile on her lips.

"What's going on?" Gateau's voice rang out, startling both the Glace brothers. Behind him, the Misu sisters looked on with curiosity and wonder.

Tears suddenly ran down Ami's cheeks. She couldn't suppress them anymore. Carrot placed his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. She cried into his chest, as he rubbed her back soothingly.

Seemingly hours passed before her sobs diminished into shudders. But he still held onto her.

Finally, she pulled away from him, drying her eyes with her hand. "Thanks, Carrot," she said.

"No problem. But what's wrong? What did that guy say to you?"

Her emerald eyes still had a thin layer of tears. Marron watched her closely, realizing he had seen this before. It was all because of a sorcerer. It broke his heart some to see her that way. But what had the sorcerer done?

"He. . . . ." Ami began, trying to keep from crying again. "He . . . . . . . told me that my brother, Akio. . . . . . . . ."

"What?" Tira asked.

"My brother is dead."

Time seemed to freeze in the air, choking them.

"Dead?" the others echoed.

She nodded. "He said that there was an accident, while my brother was working, and his life was claimed."

"I'm sorry," Carrot said.

"Thanks."

"But it was not an accident, was it?" Marron said abruptly. They all looked at him. "You believe that, don't you, Ami?"

She looked at him, then down at her feet. "No. I know it wasn't an accident. My brother was killed by that man."

"Why do you think that?" Tira wondered.

"He's a sorcerer. An evil, powerful one. This wouldn't be the first time he's killed someone either."

"A sorcerer?" three repeated. Marron looked at them, watching their reaction. Carrot looked down.

"Yes, a sorcerer. I know he killed my brother, just like he did with our parents."

"He killed your parents, too?" Chocolate asked.

"Yes. I never could forgive him, then, and I never will now. Even if he did help bring me into the world."

The only one who really caught that was Marron. "What?" he asked.

Ami looked at him. It appeared that he wasn't supposed to have heard that. "It's true," she said. "The count really did bring me into this world."

"Huh?"

"My brother is only really my half brother. His father wasn't really mine. Mine was…"

"Count Katashi."

"Count Katashi?" the other four repeated.

"Yes. . . . . . . You see, when my adopted dad was away for a while, hunting with my brother, the count came over and. . . . . .took advantage. . . . . .of my mother. That's how I was born. Dad was angry about it, but he took me in and was really nice to me. When the count demanded that I live with him, however, both my parents refused that I stay with him. . . . . ." She closed her eyes tightly. "They were both killed then."

Everyone was silent.

"I was only ten then, and my brother was eighteen. The count was going to kill my brother, then take me in, but decided that I didn't have to live with him if Akio worked for him. But. . . . . . . my brother told me awful stories about Count Katashi's power."

"Like what?" Carrot asked.

"Well. . . . . . . When he kills people, it looks like he doesn't hurt them at all. But he does. I know he does."

The four hunters exchanged looks with each other. Marron continued to watch them.

"I found out that he kills them by turning their hearts into ice, from the inside. He can turn anything into ice, but somehow, he found a way to do it inside a person's body. After freezing their hearts, he would somehow shatter them.

"That's how he killed my parents, and that's how he killed my brother. That's how he always kills people who disobey him." She clenched her fists. "I just wish there was something I could do to stop him."

"Well," Tira said, hesitantly, "he is your father. . . ."

"My father is dead. Right now, I have no father."

"But Ami, if you were really born under him, then you could have magic."

"I know I do. I've used it before. But it would never be strong enough to kill him."

Carrot looked at the other three, who nodded. "Then I guess we should do something about it," he said.

Ami and Marron looked at him while he stood. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"It's our job to punish sorcerers who misuse their powers."

The young girl tilted her head in curiosity. Then it hit her suddenly. "Then, that means…you're the…"

"Sorcerer Hunters," Gateau finished.

'Sorcerer. . . .Hunters. . . . .' The name rolled around in Marron's mind for a while.

Ami stole a quick glance at the younger Glace. "Marron too?" she asked. Carrot nodded.

"We were sent here," Chocolate began, "by the one we work for, Big Momma, of the Stella Church, because she said that an unknown client needed us to get rid of a sorcerer."

'Big Momma. . . . . . Stella Church. . . . . .'

"We were told that he was misusing his powers," Tira continued, "but none of us knows how he was able to kill people."

"Not until now," Gateau added, cracking his knuckles.

Ami smiled. "That was quick."

"What?"

"You said that the person you worked for was called 'Big Momma'? She responds promptly, doesn't she?"

Carrot finally understood. "You're the unknown client, aren't you?"

She nodded once. "You see, a few days ago, while my brother was out hunting, Count Katashi came by, and said that soon I would be living with him before he left. I was afraid for my brother's life, but I wasn't sure how to contact the Sorcerer Hunters. So I talked to some people at the Stella Church."

"Don't worry," Carrot said. "We'll take care of the count for you."

"Thank you."

Marron watched as the others were preparing to go. If he was a part of this group, what would he do?

The answer was not as he had expected, or wanted. "Marron, I think it would be better if you stayed with Ami."

"What?"

"While we're fighting him, you can protect her just in case Count Katashi sends someone to get her."

Marron looked straight into Carrot's eyes, standing up. "That's not the only reason you want me to stay, is it, Brother?" he whispered.

"Never could hide anything from you, Marron. You're right. That isn't the only reason I want you to stay."

"Then, why?"

"Marron, I don't want anything happening to you."

"But. . ."

"You don't remember anything, including how to use your magic. That was your advantage when fighting a sorcerer. But now that you don't know how to use it, there's really nothing you can do to help."

"I am useless, is that what you are saying?"

"Not useless, just. . . . at risk. This may not sound as well as I want it to, but please just stay here, okay? Please?"

Marron saw something there, shining beneath the command and authority in his eyes. He looked away. "All right."

Nodding once, Carrot turned to the others. "Let's go, you guys."

The others nodded, and they all left the small house. Ami watched them leave, then looked at Marron. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yes. I am fine. But for some reason, I cannot help but feel that THEY will not be."

TBC