An Old Foe Returns.

" Where do you think he'll be?" Evy asked Mariana as they walked down the street.

Mariana went ridged causing her to gasp, and also causing everyone to turn to her.

" What is it?" Evy asked.

Mariana eyes shot open and terror mixed with anger flashed in her eyes.

" He's headed towards the Kasbah on the far side of town…he knows we're coming for him and he's expecting us." Mariana growled and out of the air she pulled out a sword.

Ardeth stared at her and walked over to her. So did Rick.

" Quit gawking at her! We've got bigger problems." Evy scolded.

Both men backed down.

* Thank you Evy.* Mariana thought.

* You're welcome Mariana…be careful.* Evy replied.

Mariana nodded

* You too.*

" I hate it when they do that." Rick complained.

They reached the front of the Kasbah. Rick pulled out his guns, Ardeth drew his sword.

" Lets do this." Rick said as he and Ardeth started walking slowly up to the door.

Evy stood there watching nervously and frightened. Mariana caught it.

* What is it?* Mariana thought

* I…never…saw* Evy replied in her thoughts

* Never saw what?* Mariana asked in thought.

* The rest of my vision…it never came…I don't know how they…or when.* Evy replied back in thought.

* Well, then just be prepared.* Mariana thought back.

* Don't worry, we can protect them…even if it comes to us…taking their place.* Mariana thought.

* Right* Evy replied in thought as she pulled out her sai's and held them defensively as she and Mariana followed Rick and Ardeth.

Rick was the first through the door. He came in pistols aimed, looking around the room. Ardeth came in beside him, very cautiously. Evy came in next, sai's in hand. Mariana was last. Once they were inside, they looked around cautiously. It was dark.

" How bout a little light?" Rick hinted to Mariana, remembering the first battle with Kurai and Mariana's spell.

" Gotcha." Mariana replied throwing out her and instantly a torch hanging on the wall, caught fire.

" That is so creepy." Rick said.

" No one is here." Evy said twirling her sai's.

" No, someone is…we just cant see them." Rick replied.

Just then they heard a noise. They all took a defensive position.

" Mariana…can you sense him" Ardeth asked.

" I'm trying…I cant sense him." Mariana answered.

" Does anyone else think this is a trap?" Rick said in a sarcastic tone.

Evy looked at him, then around the room. She saw something…something that didn't belong.

* Mariana…do you see that?* Evy thought.

* What?* Mariana replied in thought

* Against the wall.* Evy answered in thought…starting to slowly back up.

Mariana looked…her eyes widened. Something was in the wall…was blending in with the wall. Rick had seen Evy start to back up…he looked at her and was about to say something.

" Rick! Ardeth! Duck!" Mariana screamed.

All four of them ducked, just in time to miss a large energy ball coming at them. Mariana had stood up again and had both of her hands out towards Kurai. Her face was one that mimicked her brothers…anger.

" Damn you Kurai!" she screamed and shoved the wall, making him visible to everyone.

Everyone stood up quickly, getting in their in defensive position again.

" So…you have found me…Medji…clever." Kurai said in his dark voice.

Evy shuddered.

" I'm not a Medji anymore, which means I'm free to kill you with out punishment." Mariana said grinning.

" We shall see.." Kurai said looking around at everyone…then his eyes stopped on Evy.

" Well, well. If it isn't the women O'Connell…here again." Kurai said to her, having not yet seen Rick.

Evy looked at him with anger and twirled her sai's still in defense.

" Well, who else is going to stop you?" Evy replied angrily.

" Haha…you are still very brave…and are still growing smarter." Kurai said taking a step forward. Everyone held up their weapons at his very movement. Rick stepped in front of Evy.

" You just don't learn." Rick said angrily.

Kurai's expression changed into anger.

" Well, well, I should have known you would have been here…O'Connell." Kurai said smiling, evilly.

" Yeah, well, you should know by now, that if idiots such as yourself and your brother, try to take over the world, that we are All here to stop you!" Rick answered.

Kurai got angry.

" We shall see." Kurai said and began to walk, examining everyone.

Rick had his guns aimed right at him, following his every step. Ardeth, Mariana and Evy were watching him closely.

" You see, I believe we are both at an advantage, having battled each other before." Kurai said still walking back and forth, Rick still aiming.

" True, but we might just have more of an advantage." Evy said angrily.

" Really? And what might that be? You and your past?" Kurai asked sarcastically.

" No…but you will soon see." Evy replied quickly glancing at Mariana.

" Well, I have an advantage as well…it seems you are missing someone." Kurai said.

" Sorry, everyone who needs to be here is." Ardeth answered, sword in hand.

" Really?" Kurai replied, still grinning.

Evy was trying to figure out what he was talking about. It hit her hard.

" Oh my god…Alex." Evy said just enough fro Rick to hear her.

He turned his head back to her with a disturbed look, then turned back to Kurai.

" Don't you even try it!" Rick said taking the safety off his guns.

Ardeth and Mariana looked at Rick confused.

" It is too late, as we speak, I have…" Kurai started.

" If you finish that's sentence, you will regret it!" Evy yelled almost lunging at him, but Rick stopped her.

" Why?" Kurai asked smiling.

" Because you sent your men alone!" Evy snapped.

" That is not so bad…" Kurai replied.

" Oh, it is when you don't know who you are sending them to!" Evy answered.

Kurai looked at her strongly. All of a sudden, he shot out a ball of energy. Everyone dove out of the way.

Mariana cursed, Kurai had gotten away once again. Rick decided that they should have a little discussion, and so here they were in a meeting again, but they were still in the Kasbah, where Kurai had disappeared.

" Rick, I honestly think that you and Ardeth should stay here…Evy and I can take care of ourselves…" Mariana scolded her older brother.

* Yeah, she's been doing that real good…for the last 3 years.* Rick thought with a smirk. * But, you are my sister, I love you, but you aren't putting my wife in danger without me being there.* he thought.

Rick glared at Mariana, but Evy backed her up.

" Rick, Mariana is right…Alex is in trouble…we need to save him…" Evy said.

Rick sighed and then nodded.

" Alright, but if you need anything Mariana, don't hesitate to uh…do the contact thingy to Ardeth." he reprimanded.

Mariana smiled.

" Alright." she replied.

" Evy, take this." Rick said handing her one of his guns. " Be careful…if I lose…" Rick started.

" I will…just keep your mind on what your doing…not me…you have to remember to stay aware…I don't want my vis…" Evy interrupted.

" I will if you will." Rick said.

Evy smiled and nodded. Then, she and Mariana left.

" Well, we know that was a lie." Ardeth said after the girls were out.

" What?" Rick asked.

" You saying you'll keep your mind on you…you love her too much to not think of her." Ardeth answered.

" Yeah…and it's the same for her." Rick replied.

" That, my friend, is your bond." Ardeth said.

" Yeah. Why do I have a feeling that this is just going to get worse?" Rick asked.

Ardeth shrugged…what he didn't tell Rick, was that he felt the same thing.