Alecie woke with a moan, slowly opening her eyes. She looked around to survey her surroundings.

"I'm in my room at the palace in Skybax City." She thought recognizing her bed and familiar decorations. "But how did I get here?" she asked sitting up.

"What happened?" she asked when she suddenly remembered.
"Joren!" she said.

"I see you're awake." Joren said from a shadowed corner. Alecie's eyes saddened.

"Oh no, you're being mind controlled as well." Alecie had figured out that the red mark on the side of the enemy cloudrunners neck was the symbol of whatever was controlling them.

"On the contrary." Joren said as he tilted his head to show her his unmarked neck. Alecie's eyes turned from sadness to anger.

"You traitor!" She shouted at him as she lunged at him. Joren easily blocked her fists as she tried desperately to hit him.

"You're working for them of your own free will!" she said angrily as he pushed her back onto the bed. Alecie landed with a glare as Joren smirked.

"Yes, I am. And now that you're awake, I can go and complete the next phase of the plan."

"And what would that be?" she asked trying to find out as much information as she could. Joren shook his finger.

"Sorry, Princess, but that is for me to know and you to find out." He said as he walked toward the door.

"Oh and don't even try to escape." He said as he opened the door. "There are guards outside of every door and window, so you stand no chance of being able to get out. And if you leave this room, I can't guarantee your safety. And as long as you cooperate your little Ronin friend will also remain unharmed. " He said as a warning as he left. Alecie threw a pillow at the closed door as she crossed her arms and stared out the window.

"Rowen."  

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I should have been watching her better!" Rowen said angrily to himself as he pounded his fist into the table. "It's all my fault."

"Calm down Rowen, we'll get her back." Ryo said as he looked at him. Rowen turned angry eyes to Ryo.

"You wouldn't be saying that if they took Sakura." He pointed out. Ryo said nothing, he was right. He would have still been out there looking for her.  A while after Joren had taken Alecie; the enemy cloudrunners suddenly stopped their fighting and retreated.  The group then moved inside of a building to discuss what to do next.

"Does any one have any idea of why they took her?" a general asked.

"Probably to force the king to do as they say." Cale answered.

"Maybe if we find out where they took her." Sage suggested.

"They could be anywhere." Dais said.

"I knew I should have made her go back to the palace." Rowen muttered.

"You and I both know that she wouldn't have gone." King Tallas said sadly. "She would have just circled back and returned and then we wouldn't even know she was missing."

Rowen turned to face the king with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry your majesty." He said. "It was all my fault that she got captured." The king placed a hand on Rowen's shoulder.

"I know you tried your best to protect my daughter, and for that I thank you." Rowen smiled as the others thought about where Joren might have taken her.

"There must be someway we can find out where they took Alecie." Rowen said.

"How about asking the person who took her?" came a voice from the corner. The entire room whirled around to face the owner of the voice as Joren stepped into the room. Rowen glared as he rushed up and grabbed the man by the collar, pinning him against the wall.

"Where is she!" he demanded to know. Joren smiled in spite of his position.

"If you don't let me go, you'll never find out." He threatened as Rowen reluctantly set him back on his feet. Joren took his sweet time dusting himself off as Rowen glared daggers.

"All right, I let you go now tell me what you did with Alecie!" Rowen said fighting to control his urge to strangle the man.

"If you follow me. I will take you to her." He said. The Ronins looked at him with distrust.

"Why should we believe you?" Anubis questioned.

"What other choice do you have? You can either follow me or not it's up to you, but if you don't then what chance do you have of finding her on your own?" he pointed out with an evil grin. The Ronins and cloudrunners gathered together in a circle.

"I say we follow him." Rowen said. "What other choice do we have?"

"What do you think King Tallas?" Ryo asked. King Tallas thought for a moment.

"Let us do as he says for now. What do we have to lose?" King Tallas straighten up after giving his answer.

"Fine! We will follow you."

"But if you don't take us to her, so help me I'll…" Rowen began but Joren cut him off.

"Relax lover boy. I'll take you to her, but under one condition. Only the Ronins and the King may come."