AN:  Well I'm back with the third chapter!  What do y'all think of it so far?  I think I spent like 20 hours just re-editing this (I honestly don't have that much time so thank large amounts of Diet Cherry 7-Up and Diet Coke for the wee morning work and ketchup for the inspiration… don't ask about that one).  Right now my brain is dead so… uh…. R **looks for stupid addition symbol, finds it** R+R+R=Read, Review, and Rave!  Uhgh… too much Diet Coke, right?  **everyone nods** All right, just read okay?  Thanks!   

Disclaimer: Anything beyond this point is MINE.  Okay… so CrimsonFire isn't mine… Dilandau and his Slayers aren't mine… the Escaflowne cast isn't mine… All right, so everything EXCEPT the Protectors and made up Slayers and characters aren't mine!  Don't sue!  But seriously, the characters you don't find in the series are mine so ask before you borrow!

Three Girls

This story is dedicated to the only person I know who has a heart of gold and a talent for the art of story telling.  CrimsonFire my friend, you've been there for me when I've needed you and you're always willing to help me out no matter what situation I'm in.  So this one is redone for you!

Chapter 3: The Right to Information

It's too dark, Kat decided as she sat in a dark room in a plush dark blue chair.  Not only was the room dark but it had darkly painted walls and a dark colored metal floor.  There was nothing in it except for the chair and couch that she, Alex, and Nicole were sitting in and a couple of empty bookshelves.  It was boring and Kat couldn't help but twitch a little as they waited for Dilandau to return with this person they were supposed to talk to.

She looked over at Alex and Nicole, who were sitting in a plush blue couch across from her, each friend staring at each other with unreadable emotions on their faces.  At least, that's what it looked like to anyone who didn't know them-to each other they knew how they were feeling.

When I get my hands on the bastard that changed me, Kat thought, ready to rip some heads off.  But the door sliding open broke off her thoughts.  The three friends watched as a tall, bluish green haired man walked in with Dilandau.  They each gave each other a look-was this guy for real?  The man had stern gray blue eyes and a teardrop tattoo under his right eye.  He wore a long black cape that covered his whole body, which gracefully flowed around him as he walked.

"Mr. Folken, I assume?"  Nicole asked pleasantly.

Alex and Kat had to stifle laughter.  It was just like Nicole to be the polite one in the group.  If it were left to Alex and Kat, they would've probably been killed by now for doing something extremely outrageous.  I guess that's why we have Nicole, to keep our heads level, Alex thought.

"Yes.  I hear that you wanted to see me?"  The man, Folken, asked in an even tone.

"Yeah, it's about your little men… Man… Whoever, here," Kat said, gesturing to Dilandau.  She ignored the scowl she received from him.

"We want to know what you ordered them to do to us," Alex demanded.

Folken looked taken aback for a second as if the mere mention of him ordering Dilandau to do something was a new concept.  But he quickly regained his composure and looked straight at all of them.

"I, Miss, do not order them around.  Dilandau is in charge of his troops and I only give them orders when the Emperor employs me too.  But from what Dilandau tells me about this complaint you have is that you and your sisters have been alone since he had a Slayer drop you off in your cell," he replied calmly.

"But... What about the lights?  The change of clothes?"  Alex asked, totally surprised.

"I have noticed your sudden change of clothes, but I do not know how you got them.  About the lights you mentioned, I have no idea what you are talking about," he answered.

"Kat, you mentioned something about dreams earlier, am I correct?" Nicole asked desperately searching for some explanation.  Kat had been muttering something about "stupid dreams" as they had been walked up to the room.

Kat averted her gaze from Folken, whom she had been glaring at, to Nicole.  "Yes my dear, you are correct in every sense of the word," she said, putting on a fake accent.  It was a joke that they shared with Nicole about her proper vocabulary.  "May I inquire whether you or Alexandra had a particularly… Obtrusive dream with a black cloaked figure, a flame, and a gust of wind followed a voice?"

Nicole giggled.  "Yeah, we did, and since you know what happened, I'm assuming you had one too.  Maybe our dreams have something to do with our sudden change of clothes."

"Makes sense," Alex said, catching Kat's eye.  They knew that that was a reasonable theory.

"Yeah, it does.  But that doesn't make up for the lights.  I still got an ache from those," Kat replied, rubbing her neck.

"Lights?" Folken asked, butting into the conversation.  The girls looked at him, surprised at his sudden impolite intrusion.

"Well, we were sitting in Kat's cell, talking, when suddenly the door was opened.  Three spheres of light came in and attacked.  Two of them attached themselves to Alex's and my neck, and Kat got hit by one," Nicole explained.

"Sure, go for the short and uninteresting version," Alex mumbled, leaning back.  Alex always wanted the more adventurous explanation.

Kat looked thoughtful and Alex noticed.  She wasn't one to miss out on something like that.  She glanced over at Nicole, who had also noticed.  "I will certainly look into the lights.  If that is all-" Folken started, but was cut off.

"Don't leave yet, Folken.  I've got another question for you," Kat said suddenly.

Folken glared at her, like leaving this room was the better option for him and he hated her for forcing him to stay.

"Dilandau said that we're a part of these Dragon Slayers.  Yet we haven't received new quarters, clothes or even been remotely treated like a soldier.  Care to explain?" 

Folken narrowed his eyes and glared at Kat.  "That is for my knowing only," he stated coldly.

Kat arched an eyebrow at this.

Oh no, he's got her attention.  She's got the scent of a challenge, Alex thought. 

"Why is that?  Is there something we should know?  Or are you just ashamed of hiring three girls?"  Kat asked, sitting up straight and putting some irony into her tone.

Nicole and Alex both groaned.  There was no stopping her now.

Folken studied Kat for a second, and then slowly replied.  "The reason is not for you to know, not yet.  We can not allow you to start training until we have a better idea of your pasts."

Kat paled a little at this.

What's wrong with Kat?  I know that she didn't have a happy past, but then neither did Nicole and I don't see Nicole looking pale, Alex thought as she cast a side-glance at Nicole, seeing her friend perfectly calm.  What is Kat hiding?

"All I can do for you now will be to give you three adjoining rooms.  Take that and wait until I decide that I can tell you more information later," Folken said.

Kat had now regained her lost color and stood up.  She wasn't going to back down from this challenge.  She would find out what Folken was hiding, even if it meant she had her life on the line.  No one dug into her past without a good reason.  "Fine with us," she said coldly.  "But I warn you, Folken, don't go messing around in things you can't control.  It'll come back to bite you later." 

She walked over to the door and it opened.  The guards grabbed her along with Alex and Nicole.  They began to drag them outside, back to their cells, but Kat wasn't going to leave like that.  Just before the door closed, Kat popped her head back in. 

"Oh, Folken, here's a tip for you.  Don't mess with me," she said. 

With that she left.

Once Alex, Nicole and Kat were all escorted back to their separate cells, and each had 2 guards for the night, each girl began to wonder.  Why was Kat looking so scared at the mention of pasts?  What's going happen to us?  Alex wondered as she drifted off to sleep.

I wonder why Kat was looking... Er, not so happy when Folken mentioned finding out about our pasts.  I wonder how he's going do it.  When are we going to get new clothes?  I can't stand this outfit anymore!  Nicole wondered right before she fell asleep.

They can't find out about my past, no matter what.  I have to protect Alex and Nicole.  I can't let anything happen to them, not now, and not ever, Kat thought as she drifted off into a very uneasy sleep.