A/N: Gaaa! Such a late update! Sorry… but as always I have an excuse (never leave home without one) Tuesday was my birthday so I and my friends went out partying and I couldn't get around to updating. Then yesterday (Wednesday) ff.net was—how should I say?—down so I couldn't post it until today. And then on Tuesday ff.net was yet again being bitchy and wouldn't let me login on to my account so I couldn't get this posted until today! Sorry!

             Some more news is that Tuesdays aren't really working for me with the postage of the installments so this fic will be updated on Wednesdays from now on. Okie dookie?

            Thank yous: for the sake of getting this posted as fast as I can there will be no replies to reviews, but only a list. Replies to reviewers will start up again in the next installment!

                        Prexistence

                        Maieve

                        Cherie Duarte

                        Krimzon-Yallow026

                        Lunatic Pandora1

                        Spector Von Baron

                        Chris

                        Sekihara Tae (thanks for all the suggestions! It helped a LOT!)

                        Zeo339 (Sig didn't die, he comes back in the end of the game)

                        Era Yachi

                        Lous-Me

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Act Twelve: The Krrez Lands

"Hidden deep within the desert is the door to Curtain of Powers. In it the Goddess sleeps, waiting patiently for her awaken in the final battle."

                        Jak stretched, a soft smile on his lips, and reached out for Keira. He snapped awake and saw that their bed was empty. He used his palms to push himself off from the bed and looked around the room.

            When he saw that she was not present in the room, his first thought was to panic. That something had happened to her, but then he forced himself to calm down. He was Keira's mate, he'd know if something had happened to her.

            So he got up from his bed calmly, ceasing the pitter-patter of his heart and pushed on his clothe. He was surprised that Sala had ordered his clothes to be brought into Keira's room after they were done being washed but he supposed that it was okay to sleep with Keira now that he was her mate.

            Once his belt—the last stitch of clothing he placed on his person—was secure around his waist he turned from the room and hurried down the hall. His stomach growled in hunger and he remembered that he hadn't eaten any of his lunch or dinner yesterday. His stomach was not something to be taken lightly.

            His heavy boots thudded against the floor and he felt slightly apprehensive for some reason. He decided to attribute that fact to Sig and Keira's tension. He tried to shake of the feeling of impending doom but couldn't seem to. Something wasn't going to be right today, he could feel it.

            He entered the Dining Room and was greeted by a chattering Daxter and Tess along with two grumpy sisters. Crea was rubbing her leg, which was sporting a nasty bruise which white magick wouldn't heal, and Nyx was stretching her back like it ached. Jak blinked between them.

            "Owie, my leg!" Crea moaned, her small fingers kneading the large purplish bruise in a vain attempt for an ease of pain.

            "Well," Nyx said indifferently, arching her back, "if you had just gone to bed like I told you then I wouldn't have had to put that sleeping spell on you. But as it was, you didn't have to cast one back at me. Thanks to your stubbornness neither of us got any sleep."

            Crea stuck her tongue out at her sister and glared, "It was natural reaction to counterattack! You shouldn't have put a sleeping spell on me, you big dodo head!"

            "There's a come back." Nyx muttered sarcastically.

            "Darn tuttin!" Crea whooped then stopped abruptly, "HEY! Was that a shot!?"

            "Wow… it only took you ten seconds to figure that out this time." Nyx rested a hand on her hip as a smirk twisted her red lips.

            "NYX!"

            Jak groaned and covered his ears, glaring over at the little child. Just what he needed to start the day. His head was already pounding and Crea's wail had just made it worse. Seeing his angry glare, Crea waved to him.

            Then he blinked as Keira walked, followed by Sig. He opened his mouth to ask what was going on, but Keira wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head into his chest so he figured she didn't want to be asked any questions. Instead, he raised an eyebrow at Sig.

            Sig shrugged and gave Keira's back a small grin, "She's fine, chili pepper, she is her mother's daughter after all. They're born tough." Jak nodded and held Keira tighter. Tough or not, he was here to protect her.

            Keira raised her head and smiled up at him, "I'm a little hungry, Jak." She admitted, "We had quite a workout last night." She said the last part soft enough so only he could hear it.

            Jak grinned and pressed a soft kiss to her mouth, keeping it short because everyone was watching, "Let's feed you then. I know how scary you are when you're hungry." He laughed as Keira playfully hit him.

            Just then Sala walked in with Marisa and Gareth close behind. Jak frowned when he saw their grim faces. A little bell went off in his head that something was not right. He stepped forward and exchanged a glance with Keira.

            "Jak," Sala spoke as she nodded to Marisa and Gareth. She didn't even acknowledge the others, "I need you and everyone else to assemble in the throne room. There's something you must see."

            "What is it?" Keira spoke, but Sala shook her head and turned to face Gareth and Marisa.

            "I cannot say here. Please come to the throne room." She called to them over her shoulder and walked out of the room, her feet chopping against the marble floor. Gareth looked at Keira sympathetically before following. Marisa shivered and flapped from the room as well.

            "I don't have a good feeling about this." Tess admitted to everyone as they stood to obey Sala's orders. Daxter nodded in agreement.

            "Meet in the throne room…" Daxter droned in a bad impersonation of Sala's voice, "Have we ever been invited to the throne room?"

            "Come on, cherries. Let's not keep them waited." Sig said and exited the room. Keira and Jak followed then Tess and Daxter as well.

            Crea looked up at her sister with big, wide eyes, "I have this feeling in my tummy, Nyx. Like a bad thing is coming."

            Nyx smiled and took her sisters hands, "Come on." She urged and Crea shook off her foreboding. She grinned and skipped from the room, dragging Nyx along with her.

            Crea and Nyx caught up with Jak and the others quickly thanks to Crea's demand for speed. Nyx smiled over at Jak amusingly when he looked down at his boots from being uncomfortable.

            Keira reached over and took his large hand in her small one and whispered, "Everything will be okay, Jak. Have faith."

            Jak nodded but found he didn't have a voice. Something made him want to run and take Keira with him. Somehow he knew that what lay in wait in the throne room was nothing good. It something he felt would drag him away from Keira.

            They entered the throne room and Daxter gave a low whistle, "Well, this is nice." He muttered, but everyone else ignored him.

            Sala stood in front of the throne with Marisa and Gareth at either one of her sides. At her feet, looking bloody and broken was a man Jak had never seen before. He spoke to her in a low rasping voice, and Sala's voice became grimmer and grimmer with each word.

            She looked up over at them with a twisted face.

            "Jak," Sala said, "this man is one of the agents we planted in Haven City to keep an eye on things. He wasn't supposed to return to here till the next year."

            Jak stared at her blankly, though the feeling of dread in his stomach hardened. Keira's fingers tightened in his own.

            At Jak's blank stare, Sala explained, "He has told me that he was sent back to the Holy City by Ashlin's commander of the Krimzon Guard—"

            "Torn." Jak said, looking at the bloody man in horror.

            "Yes, Torn. Something has happened in your city, Jak." Sala went on, "Something terrible. The Metal Heads have launched out an all out attack on Haven City. Governor Ashlin has been injured and the Krimzon Guard can't fight all the Metal Heads. They've gotten stronger somehow, faster, smarter. They're overpowering Haven City. Soon it will fall."

            "Torn," Rasped the bloody man, "tracked me down and ordered me to come here. I couldn't say no. As I left I was attacked by a group of Metal Heads who were trying to get into the city. I barely made it out alive but I—I don't know if they got into the city or not. They will soon anyway if they haven't already. The Eco Grid isn't up to full power so it'll be easy to break into the city. Torn told me to tell you that you have to come back and defend your city. He says that it's your duty."

            Jak was moments away from grabbing for his guns and telling everyone he was heading to Haven City. After all, he was a Mar and Haven City was his home. He had always felt the need to defend it… to keep it safe. Now more then ever. His fingers tingled with the urge to start running.

            Then he remembered Keira. He couldn't leave her alone. Wasn't that what always happened with the High Priestess and their lovers? Something drags them apart and then they both die? He couldn't go to Haven City… not when Keira was fighting for her life.

            His hands clenched into helpless fists, dormant at his side. He all but grinded his teeth at the thought of Haven City being defenseless, but he knew he would never leave Keira. If only the Metal Heads hadn't attacked now.

            Keira turned her head and looked at him softly, "Jak…" She whispered.

            Jak didn't even acknowledge at her as he stared into Sala's agent's eyes, "I can't go. I must stay here and protect Keira. That's my mission."

            "But Haven City will surely fall." The agent pressed.

            "I am Keira's guardian!" Jak countered sharply, "My job is to protect her from harm! How can I do that and save Haven City!?" He demanded angrily.

            "Jak, maybe you should go." Sala said softly, exchanging looks with Marisa, "We can hold down the fort here, but your city obviously needs—"

            "NO!" Jak thundered and turned on his heel. Storming from the room, he cried over his shoulder, "I am DONE talking about this."

            "Jak! Wait!" Keira called and ran after him.

            She caught up with him once they were safely away from the hearing range of those in the throne room. She grabbed his arm and he turned to glare at her in annoyance… and rage. She glared at him right back and he couldn't do anything but stop and listen to what she had to say.

            "Jak, I—I," Keira bit her lip. She wanted to be selfish and keep Jak here, to herself, but she knew he would resent her if she did. Sure he would deny it, but she knew it would be there, "I think you should go to—to Haven City."

            "I can't!" Jak snapped and then winced at the hurt look on her face. Softening his voice he repeated, "I can't, Keira. I have to be here with you."

            Keira shook her head and cupped his face, "Jak, I'll be fine here. I have Sala and the others to protect me. I would hate myself knowing that I kept you from protecting your city. You must go… Haven needs you."

            "But what of Erisen!?" Jak demanded heavily, "He'll attack again."

            "We'll fend him off until you get back, O' Wise Guardian." Keira said sarcastically, "Are you forgetting that I can take care of myself? I'll be okay for a few weeks. You have to go and protect Haven City."

            Jak shook his head in protest, "I can't leave you. I'm your guardian." Even to his ears, however, the protest sounded dull.

            "As your High Priestess I'm ordering you to go defend your city." Keira looked at him crossly, hands on her hips, "Or I'll—I'll kick you off my team!"

            He shook his head and brought her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "I'll try to be back as soon as I can. No more then a week. Once I make sure Haven is well defended I'm coming right back to you."

            Keira's hands clenched in his shirt as she nuzzled his chest, "You take all the time you need." She raised her head and gave him a soft smile, "I promise I won't do anything stupid until you get back."

            Jak nodded but pressed, "No more then a week, Keira. Stay out of trouble until then. Okay? Wait until I come back."
            "Promise."

~~**~~

                        "Take these, Jak. They should get you there in a few hours." Sala said, handing Jak the metal flying boots they had used to first enter Haven City, "It will also help you dodge some of the Metal Heads."
            Jak took them and peeled off his own boots before strapping them on, "Thanks, Sala. Take good care of Keira."
            Keira huffed, "I can look after myself." She snapped and Jak gave a weak chuckle. He still wasn't feeling so good about leaving her here alone.

            Daxter stepped closer to Jak and said softly, "This is kinda like one of the few times we're ever apart. Except when you were in prison. It's kinda scary."

            Jak patted Daxter's shoulder reassuringly. He knew it looked odd—him reassuring a much taller man—but Dax needed it, "You'll do fine, Daxter. If a harpy gets to close just do one of those crazy spells of yours and they'll head for the hills."

            Daxter brightened visibly, "Guess your right." He agreed rubbing his thick mane of red spikes, "If I was a harpy I'd be afraid of me, too. I'm frickin awesome!"

            Jak laughed and shook his head, "Whatever you say, Dax. Whatever you say." He turned and stepped towards Sig. Their eyes meet and an unspoken conversation passed through them. Jak's eyes seemed to be saying one thing.

            Keep her safe.

            "Don't worry, chili pepper. She's in good hands." Sig assured him.

            "Men." Keira scuffed to un-listening ear, "I can take care of myself!"

            Gareth handed Jak his Vulcan and Blaster guns, "Though you might need these. In case you run into any flying Metal Heads. I doubt your sword will do much damage to them. It's too heavy to fight with in the sky."

            "Thanks." Jak took the guns and placed them in their holsters. He nodded to Gareth in approval and Gareth returned it. It was a truce of sorts. Both he and Gareth knew they would never become friends—they couldn't after the way they had both acted over Keira—but for her sake they could act civilized around one another.

            "Good luck! Don't let the Nazis get ya down!" Crea said waving her arms frantically. Then she giggled, "Did I say Nazis!? Oops! I meant Metal Heads. I had this weird dream where I was in a movie called Casablanca and we were running from people called Nazis. They weren't very nice…"

            "You have no idea how lucky you are." Nyx said mournfully. Jak shook his head at the both of them.

            Tess reached out and clamped her hands on Keira's shoulders, "You should go say goodbye to Jak." She whispered into her ear.

            Keira watched Jak talk to Nyx and Crea with a sad look on her face. She and Tess had slipped away from the group. Keira mostly so she could watch Jak and Tess for moral support.

            "Why? I'll see him again." Keira asked in mock-confusion.

            "Because if you don't you'll hate yourself." Tess pointed out and gave Keira a light shove. Keira sighed but obeyed Tess's soft spoken order.

            Jak turned as Keira stepped nearer to him. They stood facing each other, like boxers right before the bell rang. Jak spoke her name softly and held out his arms. Keira stepped into them and he closed them around her.

            He pressed a kiss to her hair and repeated, "A week. Nothing stupid."

            Keira nodded, fighting tears, "I know. I know. Just be careful, Jak. The Metal Heads are stronger then they were last time. And tell Ashlin I said hi."

            "I will." Jak promised and broke away from her to press a hasty kiss to her lips. He kept it short, but hot none the less, in fear he wouldn't be able to leave her.

            Jak pulled away from her, looked softly into her eyes one last time, and then took to the sky. He turned in the air and flew away, as fast as he could. The faster he got to Haven City the sooner he could return.

            Crea ran after him waving her arms once more, "Bye Jak! Good luck!" Crea cried, but Jak hardly her head.

            "Why do I have the feeling that we just made a mistake?" Tess whispered softly, watching Jak's outline disappear from view.

            Daxter came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her figure, "I know how you feel, Sweet Cheeks. I got the bad feeling, too." He kissed her hair for reassurance. For her and for himself.

            "Jak will be back soon." Sala said with a small smile, one that was weak and without any truth, "He couldn't stay away from the Holy City even if he wanted, too. Keira's here."

            The young woman in question didn't take her eyes of the sky, even though Jak had disappeared from view, "He will be back and until then we have to train. We have to be strong enough to take on Erisen when Jak returns."

            She turned and headed back to the palace, her face pale and her body stiff, "Come on." She told her guardians and they obeyed.

~~**~~

                        Jak growled at the Metal Heads below him and they returned the growl. He aimed his Vulcan and used up the last two rounds on five Metal Heads. He replaced his Vulcan gun in its holster across from the empty Blaster gun.

            Now all he had left was Virgae-Mors sword and he doubted he'd get low enough to attack the Metal Heads. All he could now was ignore them and make it to Haven City. At least he had taken out at least a hundred Metal Heads… but somehow he doubted he had even placed a dent in their numbers.

            "Damnit." Jak cursed through gritted teeth, "Alright, alright, Jak, calm down. You won't help anyone by losing your cool." He unclenched his fists.

            Haven City was now a looming silhouette against the setting sun. He had differently made time. It hadn't even taken him a day to reach Haven City. That was a good sign.

            Finally he flew over Haven City herself. He noted that there was a lot more Krimzon Guards patrolling the streets and he guessed Torn had increased the numbers to keep the Metal Heads from entering the city.

            He turned and made a V-line for the palace. It still loomed at the center of the city but since the defeat of Baron Praxis it had lost its ugly demeanor. Even to Jak—who had once been a prisoner in the very palace— it looked more welcoming now that Ashlin was the governor of Haven.

            He dropped in front of the large, double-doors leading to the palace. The Krimzon Guard didn't pay him any mind—they had seen him enter the palace to talk to Torn many times—and there were no civilians on the streets due to the Metal Head threat.

            He flashed his Palace Security Pass to the small computer on the left side of the doors and the large doors slid open. Jak stepped in and the doors slammed shut behind him. He continued on to where he knew he could meet Torn. The throne room.

            Torn was in the throne room as Jak suspected. His back was to him and Jak could see Torn's clasped hands. He was staring down at Haven City, a look of grim defeat mirroring in the glass in front of him. Jak stepped closer and Torn's eyes rose to meet his through the glass.

            "Jak," Torn called, barely able to hide he surprise in his voice, "I didn't think you'd come. Or you'd only send Sala's agent back to tell me to piss off."

            "It was tempting." Jak admitted, coming up to his side, "But Keira said I had to go. So here I am."

            Torn nodded and then said, "We're in deep shit here, Jak."

            The blonde hero's face twisted and he nodded grimly, "I know. I saw it. There are more Metal Heads outside the city then I've ever seen."

            "I know. I have the Guard monitoring the Metal Heads movement daily. They seem to be preparing for a preemptive strike. The Eco Grid are still weak from the previous Metal Head assault and it will still take some time to get them up to full power. We have to slow down the Metal Heads' attack." Torn said in his hardest commander voice.

            Jak nodded in understanding and then looked around the room, "Where is Ashlin?" He wondered to Torn.

            The side of the redhead's cheek twitched, "Didn't that agent tell you?" Torn snapped, "She's been injured."

            "He told me that." Jak admitted then added, "But I thought that Ashlin would be healed by now. What with Samos around."

            Torn shook his head, "No, she's not healed yet and she won't be for a long time. After Samos healed her we found the poison in her bloodstream."

            He almost gasped but managed to keep it in. He remembered being poisoned as well and almost dying from it, "Will she… is she… okay?" He said softly, knowing Torn's feelings for her and not wanting to get on his bad side.

            The Krimzon Guard leader nodded, "We got lucky. There was only minimal poison in her blood. Samos was able to extract it from her system with his Green Eco. Unfortunately, almost everyone is resistant to Green Eco and Ashlin's body went into shock because of the eco in her system. She'll okay, but she won't be awake for a few days."

            "Take me to her." Jak ordered. Ashlin was his friend and had saved his hide many times when they had been fighting Baron Praxis. He had the uppermost respect for her. Fighting her own father because she knew it had been the right thing for her precious city.

            Torn nodded and said softly, his voice betraying his anger and fear, "Follow me." He turned and walked into a long corridor on the side of the room.

            They walked down the narrow corridor of the sleeping cambers for anyone with residence in the palace. Jak almost smirked. Now that he been to the Holy City, it was obvious that the earliest creators of the palace had based it on Sala's own palace. The shape was near identical.

            They walked a flight of winding stairs and came to a large, red door. Torn removed a gold key from pocket and placed it in the matching gold doorknob. He turned and watched Jak's eyebrows raise in question.

            "After news of Ashlin's attack reached the city, there had been some attempts on her life by former supporters of Praxis." Torn explained, "We needed to keep her safe and in her weakened condition locked up was the only way."

            "She won't like it." Jak pointed out as Torn opened the door.

            "I know." Torn countered with a weak chuckle, "Don't you think I know that? I think I know Ashlin better then you. I know her the best."

            Jak stepped into the dark red room and his eyes instantly drawn to the figure resting there. Ashlin looked like a ghost against the deep red of her sheets. Her face was clenched with the extortion it took her body to fight the venom lodged in her veins. The struggle was thick and heavy in the room as well.

            Because there was so much pain and heat and sweat in the room, Jak found he couldn't enter it. He leaned against the threshold and eyed Torn, "How long has she been like this?" He asked, glancing at Ashlin's pale figure.

            "Almost a week." Torn answered, "Samos has been popping in and out to make sure she's healing, but… but it takes so long. So goddamn long for any progress to become appreciable. We have at least another day before she even wakes up for a minute. Samos says it'll take another week for her to be up and about."

            His blonde head titled in its nod, "We'll have to train the Guard more then ever before… and get those Eco Grids working. Those Metal Heads can attack any day and you know what? They'll win. I can't fight that many, Torn."

            "I know. I wasn't expecting you to." Torn retorted calmly, his eyes never wavering in their steady gaze on Ashlin. He seemed locked there, as if some invisible force was driving him to stare at the redhead, "But with you here the people will be more at ease. You're their symbol of hope, Jak. The Golden Boy of Haven City. Now that you're here everyone will have a lot more faith in the city."

            Jak shrugged uncomfortably. He didn't, and never would, enjoy the way the people of Haven City fawned over him. They had labeled him their hero and he was always being pestered. His saving the city had been nothing more then an original need for revenge. But the city had needed a hero and he seemed good enough for the job so they had been willing enough to ignore his roots of the palace's dungeon.

            "Oh, and I think Onin wants to see you. She and Pecker has been going on and going on about some vision. But what else is new? Still talk to them." Torn explained him as he crossed his arms over his shoulder and scowled.

            "I will." Jak snapped, "But first things first. We have to get this city's defenses online. Then we assemble the best of Guard for a special take-down mission outside of Haven City. I will be leading it, of course."

            "You shouldn't ignore Onin and Pecker for to long, though." Torn went on as if Jak hadn't spoken, "They seem to know a lot of things. Whether or not they decide to tell you about is a different story. Still, Onin seems to like you. I'm sure if you ask her nicely she'll tell you what she's seen."

            "I will. Later."

~~**~~

                        ~*~She was standing on a barren wasteland with the sand pelting at her cheeks. As she felt the pain sting her skin and blood began to dribble down her features, she knew she wasn't in one of the Goddess's memories.

            No, this was a vision.

            "This isn't a vision." Came a voice, soft spoken, and then a chuckle, "Well, not exactly."

            She turned and gasped at the woman with her face. The only thing was different… were her eyes. Her eyes were deep sea blue and endless. Like aqua pools that would happily swallow you up and erase you from the world.

            "Mother…" She whispered and stepped forward. The woman with her face smiled and cupped her daughter's cheeks with smooth hands.

            She looked at Keira's features, ran her thumb over them, and seemed to give her approval, "My, you've grown into such a strong woman. A beautiful woman. You have so much of your father in you. His cheeks, his hands, his eyes. My darling Keira… I'm glad you kept that name."

            "Mother…" She whispered again and tears filled her eyes and gargled her mother's image. All at once she fell into the open arms with sobs choking her lungs. A hand ran through her hair to soothe her.

            Kikita Kinover held her daughter like she was still a baby.

            "There, there, darling. Do not cry. Do not be sad. We had a few wonderful years together and that is all a High Priestess can ask for. I just had to… had to see you. See how you've flourished as a High Priestess." Kikita confided to her daughter as she rocked them both, "And you're beautiful. Your man Jak is very lucky to have you. I also wanted to tell you that I approve of him. Even over Gareth of Luxhine."

            Keira broke away from her mother and looked down into her eyes. It amused her slightly to see she was much taller then her mother was. But all at once the slight happiness disappeared, "You're a dream." She spoke the words because she had to. She had to know the truth.

            Kikita nodded, "Yes, I have been passed on for many a years now. Only with the Goddess's help was I able to speak to you in the limbo between the mortal realm and the Curtain of Power. The dream world."

            "Why are you speaking to me?" Keira wondered, "Why now? Why not before? Before I even remembered this place?"

            "Because I couldn't until you had the Virgae-Mors sword. A dead spirit can only talk to and be seen by an immortal or to one that has been touched by an immortal. You and the Goddess had shared bodies so I can speak to you now."

            "What do I need to know?" Keira whispered, looking into her mother's eyes and feeling the dread, "What's going to happen?"

            Kikita pulled away from her daughter fully and scanned the area where they now stood, "Look around you, my darling. What do you see?" With a pale hand to motioned to the desert-like land surrounding them.

            Keira obeyed her mouth. She saw a rolling dust ball and the dunes of sand. There was no sign of any life and off in the distance was nothing more then a plain horizon. The sky was a dull gray. But as her view turned to what lay behind her, her eyes widened. A pair of large black doors loomed in the distance as ominous as the Grim Reaper himself. The towered above all things, as if it was touching the sky. Behind the door was an eerie black light that worked as a shield. Keira knew without think that stepping into the black mist would be fetal to anyone save an immortal.

            "The Krrez Lands." She whispered, raising a hand to her lips in horror.

            Kikita nodded, "Yes, this is where the immortals rest, including the Goddess. She placed all gods here when she realized she was not powerful enough to halt Eris's attacks on the world. She didn't know of Erisen and Erisa. Once she sealed herself and all other gods into the Krrez Lands—along with the cities and people destroyed by Eris's harpy army—she could not leave. She could only watch and wait for someone to gain enough power to free her so she can do battle with Erisen one last time."

            "Me?" Keira asked in surprise.

            "Yes, you. Keira, my darling, you must awaken the goddess. You must wedge open the Krrez Lands doors and awake the sleeping immortals. Only then can Erisen be defeated. Only when the Goddess is awakened can Erisen fall. You must go now and open the doors now, Keira. Before Erisen makes his final attack on the Holy City, an attack that would surly destroy the city. His is maddened with rage and he no longer fears angering the Goddess. He will destroy our Holy City without hesitation. That is why the Goddess must be awakened." Kikita explained.

            "But Jak… he's at Haven City. I—I can't leave without him… and the Virgae-Mors sword, Mother. I can't leave yet." Keira cried to her in horror.

            Kikita grabbed her daughter's shoulders and shook them, "Listen, Keira. The Goddess must be awakened when her power is full, on the day of the full moon. That is in three days' time. If you do not wedge open the doors then Erisen will have won. He will attack before the next full moon. I do wish your young man was here, Keira, but we cannot wait for his return. It will take you two and a half days to reach the Black Doors to the Krrez Lands. You have to do this on your own, do you hear me?"

            A single tear ran down Keira's cheek. She had promised Jak that she wouldn't do any fighting with Erisen—or anything really dangerous for that matter—until he got back. But she knew her mother was not lying and that if she didn't do it now she would fail like her ancestors before her. Then the High Priestess line would end and Erisen would have complete control over the world.

            "Alright." Keira said opening her eyes, "I know what I must do, Mother."

            Kikita smiled and cupped her cheeks, "Be strong, my daughter. You will succeed and bring peace and right everything. This I know." She pressed a kiss to Keira's forehead, "I am pleased to see you one last time."

            Keira reached out for her mother, but Kikita faded into nothing.~*~

                        Keira's eyes opened slowly before they snapped awake. She lunged from her bed and fell out of it. She stripped off her nightgown in a blinding motion and dragged on her day clothes. She hooked her glaive to the sheath on her back and turned from the room.

            On her way out she noted that the sun was low in the sky, proclaiming mid-morning. She knew that her guardians—or the ones remaining—would be up. They could head out immediately. They only had a two days and a half to reach the Krrez Lands before the full moon day.

            As she walked down the hall, she frowned. Her mind whirled with possible explanations of how to open the doors. The one she thought was the best involved explosives and the top of the doors. And by the time she entered the dinning room, the plan was formed completely in her mind.

            She threw open the doors and stepped into the dinning room with sure, confident steps. All of her guardians raised their heads and looked at her. Each one noted the look of grimness on her face.

            "Keira, you got up late today. What's the matter?" Tess inquired from her assigned seat next to Daxter, who also had an uneasy look on his face. There was just something about Keira this morning that made him uneasy.

            Keira ignored Tess and turned to Sala, "Sala, we need to go to the Krrez Lands." She explained.

            Sala blinked and stood in shock, Gareth and Marisa joining her, "Keira, the Krrez Lands? You cannot be serious. They are wrought with harpies. No one who has gone there has come back alive. That place is the very realm of Chaos."
            "It is also the place where the Goddess sleeps. I've had a dream and I know now that we need to awaken the Goddess to stop Erisen. We must awaken the Goddess on the day of the full moon, three days from now. We have to go there, Sala, if we're to stop this war." Keira explained, her eyes burning.

            Sala sat back down and Gareth placed a hand on her shoulder for support. She shrugged it off, "You are sure?" Sala asked in a very unease voice as she pushed away her meal from a sudden loss of appetite.

            "I am positive." Keira answered, "We must open the Black Doors of the Krrez Lands to awaken the sleeping Goddess. Only then will Erisen fall to us. Please, Sala, we must go."

            "What about Jak!?" Daxter cried, "He ain't gonna be too happy to know we've gone there without him. I say we wait."

            "I want to wait, too, Daxter." Keira said with a sad tone heavy in her voice, "But we have to open the doors on the day of the full moon. If we don't then the Goddess won't wake up. We don't have a choice. We must go."

            "I'm with ya, Keira." Sig said, standing, "We gotta put an end to that Erisen bastard!"

            "You mean it's bye-bye Erisen!?" Crea cried gleefully, "We are sooo there! I wanna see him die! DIE! Die, do you hear me? We're going with you, Keira. Right, Nyx?"

            Nyx said nothing. She just frowned into her soup.

            "I'll go, too." Gareth said, "Even though I am not your guardian any longer, Lady Keira, it is my duty to make sure the High Priestess is safe."

            "Do you have plan?" Sala finally spoke up, "Do you have a plan to open the Black Doors, Keira?"

            Keira stood and looked at Marisa, who stood in the background, "Yes, I do."

            Marisa looked over her shoulder, as if thinking Keira was looking at someone else, and then pointed to herself with one trembling finger, "Me?" She asked in surprise and shock.

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                        Oooooh, okay what's Keira planning? Find out in the next chapter! Also find out more about the mysterious origins of Nyx and Crea. Until then please, please, please REVIEW!

            Keywords for Act Thirteen: secret origins, fighting, character death (***gasp***), and DARK JAK. Do I have your attention now?