Turncoat
By Yami Yue
Chapter Five : Lost Guardian Found
Jade watched as her illusion flew in circles around the park. Her new friend had told her to use her magic to bring his friends to her. At first she didn't think it would work, but within a few minutes two winged figures were flying toward the false Kero. She brought the illusion closer to her. Making him swoop down and land nearby. The two winged figures weren't far behind. Sakura and Yue landed a few feet away from where "Kero" had landed. Sakura gasped when the false sun guardian stepped into the light. He was transparent like a ghost. Even Yue was shaken by the sight of the specter. Syaoran arrived a moment later. He too was visibly shocked at what he thought was the ghost of Kerberos. A second figure stepped into the light. It was Jade. "I take it you're the friends he spoke of." She said nodding toward the apparition. "Yes." Sakura said, not sure how she managed the one word. "Then I have a message from your friend." Jade said as the illusion vanished. "Noooo." Sakura screamed, startling Jade. The girl realized that she had just made a terrible mistake. Tears began to slide down Sakura's cheeks. "Please don't cry." Jade said softly. "That wasn't the real Kerberos. It was just an illusion I created with my magic." She explained. "I had to find you somehow and this is the only way I could think of." "The real Kerberos is alright." "Why should we believe you?" Yue demanded, putting a protective arm around his mistress. Jade sighed. "You have no reason to believe me." She replied. "…but I promised to deliver this message and I'm going to do it weather you like it or not." "Let's just hear her out." Syaoran said. "We haven't got all night." Sakura nodded. "Go ahead." She said. "Kerberos wanted you all to know he is alright for the moment." Jade began. "He also told me to tell the kid to help Yue protect Sakura, even from him." Syaoran smiled. He knew that message had to have been from Kero. The guardian beast hadn't called him kid since the day he returned. The girl wouldn't have known that. "Is that all?" Yue asked. "No." Jade answered handing him Kero's earring. "Kerberos also thinks you may be able to help me as well." "How so?" Yue asked, still wary of the girl. "My sister and I have been cursed, and if it were to be broken, we could rid ourselves of the one that cursed us and has taken your friend captive." Jade answered as she felt a familiar tingle on the back of her neck. She quickly backed away. "I must go now, but I will meet you back here tomorrow." Jade said as she turned to walk away. "Tell the stuffed animal I'll help protect Sakura." Syaoran called to her. Jade turned and nodded, then disappeared into the darkness.
Kero awoke to the sound of footsteps. He knew from the sound they weren't
Jade's. Lena had returned from her rest. Kero folded his wings to his side and
stood to his feet. "I see you've been resting as well." Lena purred as she
entered the room and approached the cage. The guardian beast didn't reply. He
merely watched her with his golden eyes. "Why are you keeping me here?" He
asked, hoping this time he would get an answer. Was it just him she was after
or was she after Sakura? Lena just smiled at him as she stopped in front of the
cage. Silently she reached between the bars to touch him. Kero didn't flinch as
she gently stroked his right cheek, then ran her hand over his shoulder. Her
movements were slow and deliberate. Slowly she ran her other hand over his left
shoulder, then both down to the patch of fur underneath his breastplate. Her
touch was intimate and sensual and it was beginning to frighten Kero all over
again. She saw the look of surprise in his eyes and her smile grew wider. "For
now I intend to find out how you were able to break free of my spell." Lena
said softly as she cupped his right cheek in her hand. "I can't have you
slipping out of my control again, especially if you're to be useful to me."
"How am I to be useful to you?" Kero asked, fighting the urge to shudder under
this madwoman's touch. "You know I won't help you." "Not willingly" Lena
corrected as she released Kero from her grasp. "…but time is running out for
you isn't it?" "It won't be long before your mistress and her companions find
you here and when they do I will be ready for them." She continued. "The young
card mistress has great power and so do her companions, the angel and the young
man with the amber eyes." Kero was beginning to understand. He was not only the
bait to lure Sakura and the others to her, he was the prize as well. "Once I
drain them of their magical power and add it to my own, there is no way you
would be able to break free of my control again." Lena said as she backed away
from the cage. "I considered taking your power as well, but that would be a
waste of such a magnificent beast, especially when you would be more useful as
my guardian." The temptress then turned to leave the room. "Tomorrow night is
the full moon." She said. "…and then my dear you shall be mine." She turned to
give him one last chilling smile and then left the room.
"I've got to find a way to get out of here." Kero thought. "That madwoman isn't bluffing." Suddenly, Kero felt a familiar magical presence. He looked up at the window and there, looking down at him was Yue. Kero's face instantly brightened. "She's sure to know he's here." Kero thought "I can't let him be captured as well." As Yue reached out to touch the window Kero shook his head fiercely. The moon guardian raised his eyebrows as if to ask why. Kero jerked his head toward the entrance of the room trying to tell him his captor could return at any moment. He heard footsteps and quickly stepped back to the back of the cage. Yue ducked out of sight. Jade entered the room with a tray. Her jade green eyes betrayed her weariness just as well as the expression on her face could have. Kero walked up to the front of the massive cage. "Are you alright?" he asked her. She smiled at him. "I'm just a little tired." She said softly as she set the tray down and slid it through the opening near the bottom of the cage. "I hope you're hungry. I brought you something to eat." Kero smiled at her. "Thank you." He said as she slid the tray of food into the cage. "Is there any way you could get me out of this cage?" he asked. Jade sighed. "I wish I could." She said. "The demon would awaken before you could step out of it."
"I got your message to your friends." She informed him. "I was told to tell the stuffed animal that the kid would be happy to help protect Sakura." Kero smiled at that. "Thank you." he said softly. Jade nodded and turned her head slightly as if hearing something." I see the angel has come to visit you." It was Kero's turn to sigh. "He could get caught out there." He said. Jade smiled mischievously at him. "I think I could get your friend in without waking Lena." She said. Suddenly the window opened. "Hurry in angel." Jade called. "I don't want to alert my mistress." Yue quickly entered the room through the window. "I can't tell you how glad I am to see you." Kero said to Yue. "..but you shouldn't have come. I don't want you to be captured like me and Jade here." "Where is your captor?" Yue asked. "I don't know." Kero answered. "Are you alright?" Yue asked. "I'm fine." Kero answered. "There's nothing you can do for me now. Try to help Jade, if you can break the curse on her you may be able to free me. "The lion like sun guardian then laid down, Jade noticed that he began to shiver. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Nothing. I'm just cold." Kero answered. "Can't seem to stay warm in here." Jade paled. "Are you feeling tired?" she asked. "Very." Kero answered, then closed his eyes. "Yue, would you please ask your mistress to meet me in the park tomorrow afternoon?" she requested. Yue nodded. "If we don't figure out how to break the curse by the peak of the full moon tomorrow night, Kerberos will be lost to us forever." Jade said solemnly.
To Be Continued . . .
Will Sakura be able to save her friend in time or will Kero be forever lost? Find out in the next chapter.