Chapter 6:: Son of the Black Abyss, Erich
"I don't understand how I'm gonna be ready for this tournament, Bart… We've been practicing for this tournament since Tuesday… the tournament is next Saturday… it's Saturday today and we only have a week left… And I'm still not in the best condition I've ever been in…" Fei murmured and sat down on the sofa.
"You guys had better be ready so you can win and get out of my house." Brad snarled, walking by with a huge load of laundry. "I'm tired of making Karina do your gross slimy clothes."
"My clothes are not slimy." Rico growled.
"Of course yours aren't Rico… and neither are any of the ladies clothes or Citan's… Sigurd counts as a lady… BUT I have problems with certain teenage BOYS." Brad growled and looked at Bart and Fei and glanced at Billy, who was out on the back porch with Karina.
"Hey, don't get mad at ME, dude." Bart mumbled. "Anyway, Fei, you can do it!! You just gotta try harder!!"
"You've already shot me out of a cannon, chased me with gears and had Billy shoot at my feet to 'make me faster'. And I don't understand the need for shooting me out cannons and chasing me with the gears…"
"I was bored." Bart said simply.
"I almost got ran over!" Fei whined.
"Point is you didn't, right? So let us just look back and laugh on it. Here I go. Hahaha…" Bart said and began to laugh.
"…So… You DID talk to him, right?" Billy said quietly.
"Not yet…" Karina looked down. "I'm getting to it." She added before Billy could begin to protest.
Billy shook his head and looked at her. "You have to do it, Karina." He hissed.
"I got it covered." She hastily replied. "Don't worry about it."
"Well, I can't help but worry when I-" He began, but a soft tapping on the porch floor cut him off. Billy turned around and smiled warmly. "Oh… Hey Prim… Didn't notice you were there."
"How are you, Primera?" Karina smiled and knelt down, hugging the smaller girl gently.
Primera looked up at Billy, then at Karina and smiled. She stepped up, took their hands and pulled herself up to look over the railing of the porch. Her eyes looked over the vast back yard.
"Primera told me last night that you and Brad must be rich because your house is so big and you have such a nice backyard…" Billy looked at Karina and grinned. "I can't help but think you are, too…"
"Not really…" Karina said gently, leaning forward onto the wooden railing. "It was paid off before my parents died, so we got to keep this house, and everyone in Cimerion is rather wealthy. We are more of the norm around here. In the north district of Cimerion this is like the guesthouse. Brad built a lot of this here, too, and keeping the garden isn't too hard." She added.
Just then one of Karina's dogs ran up and dropped a Frisbee at Billy's feet. She sat down and wagged her tail happily.
"Bonnie wants you to throw her Frisbee, Billy." Karina smiled.
Billy shrugged, lifted the Frisbee and threw it across the large yard. Bonnie was off like a flash.
"Bonnie is normally with Clyde… I wonder where he-" Karina began, but was cut off by a loud barking. "Oh… Clyde is back barking at the squirrels…" She smiled.
Primera let go of the railing and turned around, smiling warmly at the glass door. She was staring at a small orange striped kitten.
"Pixie likes you, Primera." Karina smiled and opened the door. The tiny kitten stepped out and up to Primera.
The little girl lifted her up into her arms and smiled gingerly.
"Be careful with her, Prim." Billy cautioned. "Kittens aren't very… stable."
Karina giggled and looked at Billy. "I think Primera knows how to hold a kitten, Billy." She said with a teasing tone.
The barking stopped now, and an eerie silence followed.
Billy's hands tensed and he stepped back.
"Billy…" Karina trailed off. She stood up. "Primera… I think you should go inside.." She whispered. The little girl nodded and went inside, the little kitten still in her arms.
"Something's wrong…" He said quietly.
At that moment, Citan stepped out with Jessie.
Jessie tensed and handed Billy his gun belt; his two pistols locked tightly in their leather holsters. "Something's not right, Billy." He said gently.
Bart came out as well. "Yo, what's wrong with you guys?" He asked.
"Chu Chu senses danger!" Chu Chu yelled and landed on Bart.
"Ahh!" Bart shrieked. "…You stupid ball of fluff!" He yelled. "Don't DO that!"
"I don't understand… What's going on…" Karina whispered and looked around. The sky was now darkening and was also taking of an eerie hue. The animals all stopped making their noises, and the birds flew away, as if something had frightened them. The two dogs that were out in the yard were not up on the porch, whimpering and clawing at the door to be let in.
Brad opened the door and stepped out, the dogs taking their chance and running inside as he shut the door. "Why the hell is everything so creepy all of the sudden?" He snapped.
"People are coming. Bad people." Emeralda said. She was perched up on the roof and was looking out into the yard.
"People? Who?" Sierra asked, now joining. "What's going on?" She glanced at Sigurd, who had walked up with her.
"Bart, I'm not gonna take this anymore, and I got Elly to come beat you up and-" Fei said, entering with Elly and Maria, Rico following shortly thereafter. He stopped in the middle of his comment and blinked. "What's wrong?" He asked and glanced at Citan's swords and Billy's guns. Bart always carried his whips, so Fei didn't question that.
Karina stopped and looked around. A slow whistling sound filled their ears.
"Now what the hell is going on?" Brad growled.
Karina leaned forward and began to breathe heavily.
"Ka… Karina?" Billy whispered and wrapped one arm around her so she could have some support. "Are you OK??"
"…Ah… I… ah… Look out!!" She screeched and looked up at the roof.
Thousands of knife-like blades came hurdling out of the sky and landed near the group. It had missed them for Karina's shrill warning had made each of them jump.
"What the--?!" Brad yelled and looked up. "Dammit!" He yelled.
"Emeralda spun around and received the first blow from an invisible foe. She came hurdling down from the roof and landed on the porch.
"Emeralda!" Elly yelled and ran up to her.
"Elly! Get back!" Fei yelled and looked at the roof, straining to find some glimpse of the stranger that attacked.
Billy drew his guns, pushed himself in front of Karina and began to aim where the attacker had been.
Karina shut her eyes, then lifted her hand. "Black Pulse!" She shouted and a large black lightening bold shot from the sky and hit the invisible target.
"Karina?!" Brad shouted. "How did you see that?"
"Ether does not know invisibility." Karina whispered.
A body flickered in and out of invisibility, when it flickered into being a whole. What stood before them didn't seem to be a man, really, but some horribly deformed man robed in a long black cloak. He stood almost eight feet tall and was a wide target.
"Who the hell are you?!" Bart yelled and ripped out his whips.
The man smiled coldly, a smile that could make death itself wince. He said in a creaky voice, "You must remember me, little children." He said coldly.
Fei's ears pricked slightly and he looked up. "Y-You're the one who was piloting that gear…"
Bart glared at him. "The one who tried to destroy my Yggdrasil…"
"Yes… And if that child hadn't stopped me… You would all be turning in your passes to hell right now." He smirked.
"Well, if you ain't Mr. Happy." Brad snarled. "What do you want?"
"Hehe… I'm sure you boys… and ladies… know how strange that little girl you're protecting is, correct?" The man said as a large group of deformed beings appeared behind him.
Billy glared at him and snapped, "You can't have Karina, if that's what you want."
"Billy…" Karina murmured.
"Hehehe… I don't think you'll be able to stop me." He said sourly. He lifted up his hand and shot a pulse of sheer energy at the group.
"Ah!" Billy gasped and dodged the attack with the others.
One of the shadowed creatures jumped from the man's side and attacked Billy, slamming him against the wall. The other creatures did the same with the others.
Karina stepped back and looked at her friends. "Stop it!" She screamed at the man.
The deformed monster continued to laugh coldly, his voice filling Karina's mid and invading it like a parasite.
"Agh…" Karina hissed and stepped back. "S… Sora… H-Ha…" She began and looked at her friends. "Let them go… please…" She murmured.
He continued his snakelike laugh and looked at her. "Want them to be saved? Surrender yourself…"
"I…" Karina trailed off.
"Don't listen to a word he says." A colder, quieter voice whispered. It was so quiet, it was strange anyone could hear it.
"What?!" The man yelled.
A boy, about Karina's size landed in front of Karina and looked at the ground.
"Get him!!" The man yelled and sent a flurry of demons after the small cloaked boy.
"…Death portal." The boy whispered and looked up, his steel gray eyes flashing. A huge pulse of gravity surrounded the demons and made them literally implode.
"…Who… Is that?!" Fei gasped, pushing one of the demons off of him.
A gunshot rang and one of the demons fell back. Billy sat up and breathed, "He… he sounds like the one…"
"From that black gear!" Bart finished.
The boy looked up at the huge deformed man. His cold eyes set on the man like a hawk on it's pray. His lips curled into a sly, evil smile. He whispered something, then lifted his hand.
"Get together and stay against the wall." The boy ordered as the rest of the demons were destroyed like the few before.
Fei backed up with Elly and Emeralda standing beside him. Brad snatched Karina and Billy and pushed them onto the wall. He knelt down and looked up at the boy. The others followed, slowly, keeping their eyes on the small boy.
The young man looked back up at the huge demon and continued to smile at him. "Are you as afraid of me as you were when we first met?" He said coldly.
"I never have been." The man growled.
"Of course you haven't…" He murmured.
"Never could I be afraid of such a small, weak child."
"Oh really? You were begging for mercy when we first fought." The boy snapped. "And I was dumb enough to let you go. Not again, though."
"Hm." The man glared at him.
"The angel doesn't need you hanging off of her like this. You were never in this prophecy, and you never will be. He hired you to capture her and bring her back, correct?" The boy snapped.
"…I will not tell."
"Of course you won't… And I know it is true that he only wants Lady Karina to use up her own power like a battery… He wants to selfishly use her power to own this world… And every other world."
"You know nothing, boy…"
"I know it all." The boy hissed. "In any case… You can't have her. I will protect her. And to you… I am death…" He murmured.
"You… you little son of a bitch!" The man yelled.
"Funny how this son doesn't know what bitch he owes his life to." He smiled. "Ironic, no?"
"Shut up!"
"I see the perspiration." The boy smiled coldly. "Come on."
"Dude…" Bart murmured.
"Shut up…" Sierra growled. "God, I hate you."
"Well, I hate him." Billy growled.
"Yeah, well I hate everyone." Rico snapped.
"See death itself, boy!" The man yelled and jumped in the air.
"I walk with death… He lives within!" The boy shouted and jumped up with the man.
There was a flash of light, and all sound and life seemed to stop.
"Ah…" Karina shut her eyes to avoid the blinding light, as did many of them. Fei, on the other hand, kept his eyes open, and if everyone else had, they would've seen what he saw.
Fei's eyes widened as he saw black wings unfold from the boy's back. The feathers flew lightly around in a wavering motion.
"Ah… ah… uh…?" Fei mouthed and tried to find words.
A sudden flash of energy and a sickening scream filled the air. A cold, numb pain filled Karina's body and she whimpered in pain. The scream reverberated in her mind and she thought she would slip into the scream. She then felt a strong set of warm arms wrap around her as she began to double over.
She opened her eyes, now with the entire group facing her from above. Billy was holding her gently; his eyes full of a tender, loving concern.
Fei spun around as he heard a weak gasp. He stared at the small boy who was standing back on the porch. The other man had fallen to the ground, in a pile of blood and carnage. The boy's face was spattered with blood, as were his clothes. He whispered something weakly, then fell forward.
"Whoa!" Fei chirped, fell forward and caught the small boy.
He felt a presence behind him. Fei turned and saw Elly and Citan.
Citan knelt over the small boy and felt his forehead. He smiled warmly and looked at Fei. "He's exhausted. And wounded slightly." He grinned.
"…Ah…" Karina gasped and grabbed her head, the ringing still resounding through her head.
"Get off, Black!" Brad yelled and pushed Billy away. "You're taking up her breathing room!"
"Brad…" Billy growled.
"Miss Karina, are you all right?" Maria asked hastily.
Rico folded his arms and glared out in the distance. Emeralda and Bart knelt over her, with the same expression as Maria had. Sierra was examining the body with Sigurd and Jessie.
Karina attempted to sit up, but Brad held her down. She glanced sharply at her older brother, then responded slowly, "I… I think I'm OK…"
Meanwhile, sown in the yard where the body lay bloody and gory, Sierra sat up and looked at Sigurd. "It was a high pressure that did this, obviously. He imploded, like the others." She grimaced.
"Sierra…" Sigurd trailed off.
"Hm. Funny how everything can turn from happy to gruesome in just a matter of seconds." She muttered and stood up, dusting off her outfit.
Jessie growled and looked at the body again. "So that kid did all that?" He mused, looking at the small young man Citan was tending to. "Hard to believe."
"Maybe…" Sigurd began, then stopped.
"What?" Sierra asked.
"Maybe he was the one in the black gear after all…" Sigurd finished.
"Black gear? What black gear?" Sierra blinked. "What are you TALKING about, Sigurd?"
"…A black gear with wings like a raven helped us escape from an attack a little while ago." Jessie answered.
"What…?" Sierra mumbled.
"It's a long story… I'll explain it later." Sigurd said slowly.
At that same time, Fei looked up at Citan.
"What should we do with him, Doc?" He said quietly to Citan.
"Perhaps tend to his wounds and let him rest up, and get some information from him, then let him go." Citan murmured.
"Let him go?!" Brad yelled. "That kid might know why those creeps wanted my sister in the first place! I say we keep him and juice him for details while he's weak!"
"…Not everyone believes in your rather primal way of doing things, Brad…" Karina said quietly as Billy helped her up. The young Black helped to support her as she looked face to face with her brother. "He just looks like a little boy… Not a day older than fourteen."
"That kid made those guys turn in on themselves! He's a lot more than some fresh-out-his-mommy kid, and you know it!" Brad snapped.
"Maybe you should listen to Karina." Emeralda whispered.
"She has a point. The young man is very young looking." Maria added.
"I don't trust him, either. Brad's way of doing things may be best." Rico mumbled.
The porch door opened slowly and Primera stepped out, a frightened look on her pale face. She mouthed something and Billy moved over to her.
"It's OK now, Prim." Billy murmured and hugged her tenderly.
Primera pulled away and moved to the young boy in Fei and Citan's care. She looked at him, as if studying or judging him. She knelt down and wiped a little finger's worth of blood off his face. She smiled, looked over at her brother and nodded.
"Prim…" Karina muttered.
Citan stood up and walked over to Brad. "I don't think we need to discuss what we will say to the boy when he awakens. But for now, he needs rest and food, that's obvious." Citan said sternly. "Please."
Brad scoffed and rolled his head in a 'don't care' manner. "Fine." He muttered.
"Very good. Now I'll need a nice warm bed." He began and stood up, with Fei following. He turned back. "We will discuss this event when he wakes up. Until then, you all just rest." He ordered. "Come along, Fei."
"Fine fine." Fei mumbled.
::Twenty minutes later::
"Karina… You feeling OK?" Billy murmured and sat down next to her on the sofa.
"I… I don't know… I guess I'm OK… But…" She trailed off.
"Hmm?" Billy blinked.
"I guess I'm still shaken up…" She whispered. "The… the sight of blood makes me sick."
"Oh… Oh… I'm sorry." Billy muttered.
"Billy… I…" She looked at him and smiled. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Bart walked in and sat down, the usual happy color of his face now drained and tired.
"Don't take bloodshed well, eh Fatima?" Sierra muttered.
"I guess my vacation is over…" He whispered.
"No." Karina said softly. "You all have to go… Someplace else." She said and sat up. "By that attack… and everything else… It's obvious how much bad luck I'm bringing, and you'd be better off without me hanging off your coattails."
"But…" Billy began, but stopped as if he couldn't find the words to continue.
"Billy… I can't… It's my fault you're all involved, so I have to get you out of it." Karina said solemnly.
"Karina… I… I… I can't let you do any of this alone… because I… I…" He whispered, his hands tightening.
Bart looked up, as well as Sierra and Jessie.
Karina just smiled back at Billy with understanding eyes and a warm smile. She mouthed the word 'don't' to him and smiled again.
Elly came down the steps and began to speak slowly and quietly, "The young man is stirring…" She said, but before she could finish, Brad was up the stairs and waiting.
Brad stared at the boy, who was mumbling as his eyes opened slowly. When he opened them, his reflexes immediately activated and he pulled back against the wall with a spring. His eyes were transfixed on the group, calm and aware of his surroundings. He breathing slowed and he glared at them. "Where the hell am I?" He muttered.
"Better question, brat who the hell are YOU?!" Brad yelled.
"None of your business…" The boy muttered back.
"Please, young sir… You saved us… at least tell us your name… Please…" Karina murmured. She smiled weakly at the boy.
"Yeah! Who are you, anyway?!" Bart pulled out his whip.
"My name is... Erich..." He looked down, giving into their 'annoying' questions.
"You are.." Billy stood up.
"The one that saved you all from the Nexiz gear." Erich muttered. "I am a Red Mage, and that is all you need to know..." He flashed his dark gray eyes at Karina.
"You can use black and white ether?" Brad glanced up.
"Yes." Erich turned around. "I thank you for helping me, but I must go.."
"Wait! When I first saw you, you had black wings! Who are you.. Really?" Fei ran up.
"It was an illusion." Erich clenched his fist. "That's all."
"Wings?" Billy glanced back at Fei.
"Yeah! They were real, the feathers!"
"I can assure you the feathers were not real… now give me my clothes, I want to leave." Erich snapped.
"They're in the wash right now. You're wearing some of Brad's clothes from when he was a little boy." Karina smiled.
Bart chuckled a little and Brad leaned forward.
"Meaning you're a tiny little midget, kid."
"What are you talking about!?" Erich pulled back and shoved his fist back.
"You are too short, kid." Brad winked and looked down.
"Brad!" Karina glared at him.
"What?" Brad said innocently.
"Be nice." Karina glowered.
"Fine... You tower over me!" He got on his knees; even still his face was right at Erich's shoulders.
"Hmph!" Erich folded his arms. "I want out of this insane asylum now! And if you know what is good for you, you'll do it quickly!"
"Quiet young man and sit down! You are still wounded and we have questions for you!" Citan barked.
Erich grumbled, obviously knowing that he wasn't getting out without his ether. He glared at the wall. "What do you want to know…?" He muttered.
Citan stepped forward and smiled calmly. "Who was that man and why was he after Karina?" Citan asked.
Erich sighed, "His name was Niixium. He was a reborn man invented in an underground laboratory. His body was fused with nanomachines to make him physically, mentally and magically more powerful that anything." Erich hissed. "He wanted Karina because he was a bounty hunter sent by a man who has been looking for her for some time now."
Karina stepped up. "Who wants me… and why…?"
Erich glared at her, then looked back at the window. "Are you sure you want to know?" He said softly.
Karina gulped, then nodded. "Yes…"
Erich took a breath, then continued, "A man named Lucious Rangar was originally hired to be the man who set up all of the kidnappings for Karina. He sent Niixium once, then sent Miss LeRage over there…"
"How does he…?" Sierra blinked.
"Then sent Niixium again. However, this time that man didn't get away from me…" Erich muttered.
"So you were the boy in the gear!" Karina said gently.
"…I thought someone might finally piece it all together eventually." Erich mumbled.
Brad walked up and grabbed Erich. "Who hired this Lucious dude?"
Erich pulled away with a disgusted air to him and mumbled something, then moved on, "There is an organization that works with the supernatural. They were believed to be radicals and were exiled from their home. They then became one of the most powerful… trading… industries in the world. They still do undercover work on the paranormal and others things of that nature. But now they are working on some file they dug up from ancient ruins of some holy city on some supernatural… or something of that nature… event known as the 'Kuluxx'."
Karina and Billy winced as he finished.
"Kuluxx?" Karina murmured.
"Yes…" Erich sighed and leaned forward. "A day when it is believed all of heaven and earth were created from a single seed of 'Gaia'. That could also debunk the theory of everything being created in a day, however. But it seemed logical at the time because they believed that human and animal evolution was slow, how is it that the Earth, a living thing, wasn't born and matured in the same way? Those were old theories however…" Erich finished.
"But what does it have to do with me??" Karina demanded.
"Agh… The organization wanted you captured because they believed you were one of the keys to their unlocking the truth behind the Kuluxx." Erich sighed.
"What?!" Brad yelled. "What the heck does that mean?!"
Erich looked away. "I don't wish to tell anymore at this time." He said quietly.
"You little punk! You'll talk or…" Brad yelled, but Karina stopped him.
"Brad… he may be tired. Let him rest." She said gently. "Besides… It's late… we should all get some rest." Karina smiled.
"Hmph…" Brad grumbled. "Fine." He turned around and forced his way out of the door, past the others. The group slowly filtered out, leaving Karina in the room.
She turned to leave when Erich said something,
"Are you afraid, Karina?" He whispered.
Karina paused, then said quietly, "Yes… I'm terrified."
He smiled, "You have no idea what else is in store for you…" He said coldly. "Believe the words of a lost soul." He hissed.
"I have hope." Karina said stoutly and exited. "Goodnight, Mr. Erich." She said as she left.
"Hmph. Good riddance to you, Lady Karina." He muttered and looked out the dark window. "Good riddance to you all…" He muttered.
"I don't understand how I'm gonna be ready for this tournament, Bart… We've been practicing for this tournament since Tuesday… the tournament is next Saturday… it's Saturday today and we only have a week left… And I'm still not in the best condition I've ever been in…" Fei murmured and sat down on the sofa.
"You guys had better be ready so you can win and get out of my house." Brad snarled, walking by with a huge load of laundry. "I'm tired of making Karina do your gross slimy clothes."
"My clothes are not slimy." Rico growled.
"Of course yours aren't Rico… and neither are any of the ladies clothes or Citan's… Sigurd counts as a lady… BUT I have problems with certain teenage BOYS." Brad growled and looked at Bart and Fei and glanced at Billy, who was out on the back porch with Karina.
"Hey, don't get mad at ME, dude." Bart mumbled. "Anyway, Fei, you can do it!! You just gotta try harder!!"
"You've already shot me out of a cannon, chased me with gears and had Billy shoot at my feet to 'make me faster'. And I don't understand the need for shooting me out cannons and chasing me with the gears…"
"I was bored." Bart said simply.
"I almost got ran over!" Fei whined.
"Point is you didn't, right? So let us just look back and laugh on it. Here I go. Hahaha…" Bart said and began to laugh.
"…So… You DID talk to him, right?" Billy said quietly.
"Not yet…" Karina looked down. "I'm getting to it." She added before Billy could begin to protest.
Billy shook his head and looked at her. "You have to do it, Karina." He hissed.
"I got it covered." She hastily replied. "Don't worry about it."
"Well, I can't help but worry when I-" He began, but a soft tapping on the porch floor cut him off. Billy turned around and smiled warmly. "Oh… Hey Prim… Didn't notice you were there."
"How are you, Primera?" Karina smiled and knelt down, hugging the smaller girl gently.
Primera looked up at Billy, then at Karina and smiled. She stepped up, took their hands and pulled herself up to look over the railing of the porch. Her eyes looked over the vast back yard.
"Primera told me last night that you and Brad must be rich because your house is so big and you have such a nice backyard…" Billy looked at Karina and grinned. "I can't help but think you are, too…"
"Not really…" Karina said gently, leaning forward onto the wooden railing. "It was paid off before my parents died, so we got to keep this house, and everyone in Cimerion is rather wealthy. We are more of the norm around here. In the north district of Cimerion this is like the guesthouse. Brad built a lot of this here, too, and keeping the garden isn't too hard." She added.
Just then one of Karina's dogs ran up and dropped a Frisbee at Billy's feet. She sat down and wagged her tail happily.
"Bonnie wants you to throw her Frisbee, Billy." Karina smiled.
Billy shrugged, lifted the Frisbee and threw it across the large yard. Bonnie was off like a flash.
"Bonnie is normally with Clyde… I wonder where he-" Karina began, but was cut off by a loud barking. "Oh… Clyde is back barking at the squirrels…" She smiled.
Primera let go of the railing and turned around, smiling warmly at the glass door. She was staring at a small orange striped kitten.
"Pixie likes you, Primera." Karina smiled and opened the door. The tiny kitten stepped out and up to Primera.
The little girl lifted her up into her arms and smiled gingerly.
"Be careful with her, Prim." Billy cautioned. "Kittens aren't very… stable."
Karina giggled and looked at Billy. "I think Primera knows how to hold a kitten, Billy." She said with a teasing tone.
The barking stopped now, and an eerie silence followed.
Billy's hands tensed and he stepped back.
"Billy…" Karina trailed off. She stood up. "Primera… I think you should go inside.." She whispered. The little girl nodded and went inside, the little kitten still in her arms.
"Something's wrong…" He said quietly.
At that moment, Citan stepped out with Jessie.
Jessie tensed and handed Billy his gun belt; his two pistols locked tightly in their leather holsters. "Something's not right, Billy." He said gently.
Bart came out as well. "Yo, what's wrong with you guys?" He asked.
"Chu Chu senses danger!" Chu Chu yelled and landed on Bart.
"Ahh!" Bart shrieked. "…You stupid ball of fluff!" He yelled. "Don't DO that!"
"I don't understand… What's going on…" Karina whispered and looked around. The sky was now darkening and was also taking of an eerie hue. The animals all stopped making their noises, and the birds flew away, as if something had frightened them. The two dogs that were out in the yard were not up on the porch, whimpering and clawing at the door to be let in.
Brad opened the door and stepped out, the dogs taking their chance and running inside as he shut the door. "Why the hell is everything so creepy all of the sudden?" He snapped.
"People are coming. Bad people." Emeralda said. She was perched up on the roof and was looking out into the yard.
"People? Who?" Sierra asked, now joining. "What's going on?" She glanced at Sigurd, who had walked up with her.
"Bart, I'm not gonna take this anymore, and I got Elly to come beat you up and-" Fei said, entering with Elly and Maria, Rico following shortly thereafter. He stopped in the middle of his comment and blinked. "What's wrong?" He asked and glanced at Citan's swords and Billy's guns. Bart always carried his whips, so Fei didn't question that.
Karina stopped and looked around. A slow whistling sound filled their ears.
"Now what the hell is going on?" Brad growled.
Karina leaned forward and began to breathe heavily.
"Ka… Karina?" Billy whispered and wrapped one arm around her so she could have some support. "Are you OK??"
"…Ah… I… ah… Look out!!" She screeched and looked up at the roof.
Thousands of knife-like blades came hurdling out of the sky and landed near the group. It had missed them for Karina's shrill warning had made each of them jump.
"What the--?!" Brad yelled and looked up. "Dammit!" He yelled.
"Emeralda spun around and received the first blow from an invisible foe. She came hurdling down from the roof and landed on the porch.
"Emeralda!" Elly yelled and ran up to her.
"Elly! Get back!" Fei yelled and looked at the roof, straining to find some glimpse of the stranger that attacked.
Billy drew his guns, pushed himself in front of Karina and began to aim where the attacker had been.
Karina shut her eyes, then lifted her hand. "Black Pulse!" She shouted and a large black lightening bold shot from the sky and hit the invisible target.
"Karina?!" Brad shouted. "How did you see that?"
"Ether does not know invisibility." Karina whispered.
A body flickered in and out of invisibility, when it flickered into being a whole. What stood before them didn't seem to be a man, really, but some horribly deformed man robed in a long black cloak. He stood almost eight feet tall and was a wide target.
"Who the hell are you?!" Bart yelled and ripped out his whips.
The man smiled coldly, a smile that could make death itself wince. He said in a creaky voice, "You must remember me, little children." He said coldly.
Fei's ears pricked slightly and he looked up. "Y-You're the one who was piloting that gear…"
Bart glared at him. "The one who tried to destroy my Yggdrasil…"
"Yes… And if that child hadn't stopped me… You would all be turning in your passes to hell right now." He smirked.
"Well, if you ain't Mr. Happy." Brad snarled. "What do you want?"
"Hehe… I'm sure you boys… and ladies… know how strange that little girl you're protecting is, correct?" The man said as a large group of deformed beings appeared behind him.
Billy glared at him and snapped, "You can't have Karina, if that's what you want."
"Billy…" Karina murmured.
"Hehehe… I don't think you'll be able to stop me." He said sourly. He lifted up his hand and shot a pulse of sheer energy at the group.
"Ah!" Billy gasped and dodged the attack with the others.
One of the shadowed creatures jumped from the man's side and attacked Billy, slamming him against the wall. The other creatures did the same with the others.
Karina stepped back and looked at her friends. "Stop it!" She screamed at the man.
The deformed monster continued to laugh coldly, his voice filling Karina's mid and invading it like a parasite.
"Agh…" Karina hissed and stepped back. "S… Sora… H-Ha…" She began and looked at her friends. "Let them go… please…" She murmured.
He continued his snakelike laugh and looked at her. "Want them to be saved? Surrender yourself…"
"I…" Karina trailed off.
"Don't listen to a word he says." A colder, quieter voice whispered. It was so quiet, it was strange anyone could hear it.
"What?!" The man yelled.
A boy, about Karina's size landed in front of Karina and looked at the ground.
"Get him!!" The man yelled and sent a flurry of demons after the small cloaked boy.
"…Death portal." The boy whispered and looked up, his steel gray eyes flashing. A huge pulse of gravity surrounded the demons and made them literally implode.
"…Who… Is that?!" Fei gasped, pushing one of the demons off of him.
A gunshot rang and one of the demons fell back. Billy sat up and breathed, "He… he sounds like the one…"
"From that black gear!" Bart finished.
The boy looked up at the huge deformed man. His cold eyes set on the man like a hawk on it's pray. His lips curled into a sly, evil smile. He whispered something, then lifted his hand.
"Get together and stay against the wall." The boy ordered as the rest of the demons were destroyed like the few before.
Fei backed up with Elly and Emeralda standing beside him. Brad snatched Karina and Billy and pushed them onto the wall. He knelt down and looked up at the boy. The others followed, slowly, keeping their eyes on the small boy.
The young man looked back up at the huge demon and continued to smile at him. "Are you as afraid of me as you were when we first met?" He said coldly.
"I never have been." The man growled.
"Of course you haven't…" He murmured.
"Never could I be afraid of such a small, weak child."
"Oh really? You were begging for mercy when we first fought." The boy snapped. "And I was dumb enough to let you go. Not again, though."
"Hm." The man glared at him.
"The angel doesn't need you hanging off of her like this. You were never in this prophecy, and you never will be. He hired you to capture her and bring her back, correct?" The boy snapped.
"…I will not tell."
"Of course you won't… And I know it is true that he only wants Lady Karina to use up her own power like a battery… He wants to selfishly use her power to own this world… And every other world."
"You know nothing, boy…"
"I know it all." The boy hissed. "In any case… You can't have her. I will protect her. And to you… I am death…" He murmured.
"You… you little son of a bitch!" The man yelled.
"Funny how this son doesn't know what bitch he owes his life to." He smiled. "Ironic, no?"
"Shut up!"
"I see the perspiration." The boy smiled coldly. "Come on."
"Dude…" Bart murmured.
"Shut up…" Sierra growled. "God, I hate you."
"Well, I hate him." Billy growled.
"Yeah, well I hate everyone." Rico snapped.
"See death itself, boy!" The man yelled and jumped in the air.
"I walk with death… He lives within!" The boy shouted and jumped up with the man.
There was a flash of light, and all sound and life seemed to stop.
"Ah…" Karina shut her eyes to avoid the blinding light, as did many of them. Fei, on the other hand, kept his eyes open, and if everyone else had, they would've seen what he saw.
Fei's eyes widened as he saw black wings unfold from the boy's back. The feathers flew lightly around in a wavering motion.
"Ah… ah… uh…?" Fei mouthed and tried to find words.
A sudden flash of energy and a sickening scream filled the air. A cold, numb pain filled Karina's body and she whimpered in pain. The scream reverberated in her mind and she thought she would slip into the scream. She then felt a strong set of warm arms wrap around her as she began to double over.
She opened her eyes, now with the entire group facing her from above. Billy was holding her gently; his eyes full of a tender, loving concern.
Fei spun around as he heard a weak gasp. He stared at the small boy who was standing back on the porch. The other man had fallen to the ground, in a pile of blood and carnage. The boy's face was spattered with blood, as were his clothes. He whispered something weakly, then fell forward.
"Whoa!" Fei chirped, fell forward and caught the small boy.
He felt a presence behind him. Fei turned and saw Elly and Citan.
Citan knelt over the small boy and felt his forehead. He smiled warmly and looked at Fei. "He's exhausted. And wounded slightly." He grinned.
"…Ah…" Karina gasped and grabbed her head, the ringing still resounding through her head.
"Get off, Black!" Brad yelled and pushed Billy away. "You're taking up her breathing room!"
"Brad…" Billy growled.
"Miss Karina, are you all right?" Maria asked hastily.
Rico folded his arms and glared out in the distance. Emeralda and Bart knelt over her, with the same expression as Maria had. Sierra was examining the body with Sigurd and Jessie.
Karina attempted to sit up, but Brad held her down. She glanced sharply at her older brother, then responded slowly, "I… I think I'm OK…"
Meanwhile, sown in the yard where the body lay bloody and gory, Sierra sat up and looked at Sigurd. "It was a high pressure that did this, obviously. He imploded, like the others." She grimaced.
"Sierra…" Sigurd trailed off.
"Hm. Funny how everything can turn from happy to gruesome in just a matter of seconds." She muttered and stood up, dusting off her outfit.
Jessie growled and looked at the body again. "So that kid did all that?" He mused, looking at the small young man Citan was tending to. "Hard to believe."
"Maybe…" Sigurd began, then stopped.
"What?" Sierra asked.
"Maybe he was the one in the black gear after all…" Sigurd finished.
"Black gear? What black gear?" Sierra blinked. "What are you TALKING about, Sigurd?"
"…A black gear with wings like a raven helped us escape from an attack a little while ago." Jessie answered.
"What…?" Sierra mumbled.
"It's a long story… I'll explain it later." Sigurd said slowly.
At that same time, Fei looked up at Citan.
"What should we do with him, Doc?" He said quietly to Citan.
"Perhaps tend to his wounds and let him rest up, and get some information from him, then let him go." Citan murmured.
"Let him go?!" Brad yelled. "That kid might know why those creeps wanted my sister in the first place! I say we keep him and juice him for details while he's weak!"
"…Not everyone believes in your rather primal way of doing things, Brad…" Karina said quietly as Billy helped her up. The young Black helped to support her as she looked face to face with her brother. "He just looks like a little boy… Not a day older than fourteen."
"That kid made those guys turn in on themselves! He's a lot more than some fresh-out-his-mommy kid, and you know it!" Brad snapped.
"Maybe you should listen to Karina." Emeralda whispered.
"She has a point. The young man is very young looking." Maria added.
"I don't trust him, either. Brad's way of doing things may be best." Rico mumbled.
The porch door opened slowly and Primera stepped out, a frightened look on her pale face. She mouthed something and Billy moved over to her.
"It's OK now, Prim." Billy murmured and hugged her tenderly.
Primera pulled away and moved to the young boy in Fei and Citan's care. She looked at him, as if studying or judging him. She knelt down and wiped a little finger's worth of blood off his face. She smiled, looked over at her brother and nodded.
"Prim…" Karina muttered.
Citan stood up and walked over to Brad. "I don't think we need to discuss what we will say to the boy when he awakens. But for now, he needs rest and food, that's obvious." Citan said sternly. "Please."
Brad scoffed and rolled his head in a 'don't care' manner. "Fine." He muttered.
"Very good. Now I'll need a nice warm bed." He began and stood up, with Fei following. He turned back. "We will discuss this event when he wakes up. Until then, you all just rest." He ordered. "Come along, Fei."
"Fine fine." Fei mumbled.
::Twenty minutes later::
"Karina… You feeling OK?" Billy murmured and sat down next to her on the sofa.
"I… I don't know… I guess I'm OK… But…" She trailed off.
"Hmm?" Billy blinked.
"I guess I'm still shaken up…" She whispered. "The… the sight of blood makes me sick."
"Oh… Oh… I'm sorry." Billy muttered.
"Billy… I…" She looked at him and smiled. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Bart walked in and sat down, the usual happy color of his face now drained and tired.
"Don't take bloodshed well, eh Fatima?" Sierra muttered.
"I guess my vacation is over…" He whispered.
"No." Karina said softly. "You all have to go… Someplace else." She said and sat up. "By that attack… and everything else… It's obvious how much bad luck I'm bringing, and you'd be better off without me hanging off your coattails."
"But…" Billy began, but stopped as if he couldn't find the words to continue.
"Billy… I can't… It's my fault you're all involved, so I have to get you out of it." Karina said solemnly.
"Karina… I… I… I can't let you do any of this alone… because I… I…" He whispered, his hands tightening.
Bart looked up, as well as Sierra and Jessie.
Karina just smiled back at Billy with understanding eyes and a warm smile. She mouthed the word 'don't' to him and smiled again.
Elly came down the steps and began to speak slowly and quietly, "The young man is stirring…" She said, but before she could finish, Brad was up the stairs and waiting.
Brad stared at the boy, who was mumbling as his eyes opened slowly. When he opened them, his reflexes immediately activated and he pulled back against the wall with a spring. His eyes were transfixed on the group, calm and aware of his surroundings. He breathing slowed and he glared at them. "Where the hell am I?" He muttered.
"Better question, brat who the hell are YOU?!" Brad yelled.
"None of your business…" The boy muttered back.
"Please, young sir… You saved us… at least tell us your name… Please…" Karina murmured. She smiled weakly at the boy.
"Yeah! Who are you, anyway?!" Bart pulled out his whip.
"My name is... Erich..." He looked down, giving into their 'annoying' questions.
"You are.." Billy stood up.
"The one that saved you all from the Nexiz gear." Erich muttered. "I am a Red Mage, and that is all you need to know..." He flashed his dark gray eyes at Karina.
"You can use black and white ether?" Brad glanced up.
"Yes." Erich turned around. "I thank you for helping me, but I must go.."
"Wait! When I first saw you, you had black wings! Who are you.. Really?" Fei ran up.
"It was an illusion." Erich clenched his fist. "That's all."
"Wings?" Billy glanced back at Fei.
"Yeah! They were real, the feathers!"
"I can assure you the feathers were not real… now give me my clothes, I want to leave." Erich snapped.
"They're in the wash right now. You're wearing some of Brad's clothes from when he was a little boy." Karina smiled.
Bart chuckled a little and Brad leaned forward.
"Meaning you're a tiny little midget, kid."
"What are you talking about!?" Erich pulled back and shoved his fist back.
"You are too short, kid." Brad winked and looked down.
"Brad!" Karina glared at him.
"What?" Brad said innocently.
"Be nice." Karina glowered.
"Fine... You tower over me!" He got on his knees; even still his face was right at Erich's shoulders.
"Hmph!" Erich folded his arms. "I want out of this insane asylum now! And if you know what is good for you, you'll do it quickly!"
"Quiet young man and sit down! You are still wounded and we have questions for you!" Citan barked.
Erich grumbled, obviously knowing that he wasn't getting out without his ether. He glared at the wall. "What do you want to know…?" He muttered.
Citan stepped forward and smiled calmly. "Who was that man and why was he after Karina?" Citan asked.
Erich sighed, "His name was Niixium. He was a reborn man invented in an underground laboratory. His body was fused with nanomachines to make him physically, mentally and magically more powerful that anything." Erich hissed. "He wanted Karina because he was a bounty hunter sent by a man who has been looking for her for some time now."
Karina stepped up. "Who wants me… and why…?"
Erich glared at her, then looked back at the window. "Are you sure you want to know?" He said softly.
Karina gulped, then nodded. "Yes…"
Erich took a breath, then continued, "A man named Lucious Rangar was originally hired to be the man who set up all of the kidnappings for Karina. He sent Niixium once, then sent Miss LeRage over there…"
"How does he…?" Sierra blinked.
"Then sent Niixium again. However, this time that man didn't get away from me…" Erich muttered.
"So you were the boy in the gear!" Karina said gently.
"…I thought someone might finally piece it all together eventually." Erich mumbled.
Brad walked up and grabbed Erich. "Who hired this Lucious dude?"
Erich pulled away with a disgusted air to him and mumbled something, then moved on, "There is an organization that works with the supernatural. They were believed to be radicals and were exiled from their home. They then became one of the most powerful… trading… industries in the world. They still do undercover work on the paranormal and others things of that nature. But now they are working on some file they dug up from ancient ruins of some holy city on some supernatural… or something of that nature… event known as the 'Kuluxx'."
Karina and Billy winced as he finished.
"Kuluxx?" Karina murmured.
"Yes…" Erich sighed and leaned forward. "A day when it is believed all of heaven and earth were created from a single seed of 'Gaia'. That could also debunk the theory of everything being created in a day, however. But it seemed logical at the time because they believed that human and animal evolution was slow, how is it that the Earth, a living thing, wasn't born and matured in the same way? Those were old theories however…" Erich finished.
"But what does it have to do with me??" Karina demanded.
"Agh… The organization wanted you captured because they believed you were one of the keys to their unlocking the truth behind the Kuluxx." Erich sighed.
"What?!" Brad yelled. "What the heck does that mean?!"
Erich looked away. "I don't wish to tell anymore at this time." He said quietly.
"You little punk! You'll talk or…" Brad yelled, but Karina stopped him.
"Brad… he may be tired. Let him rest." She said gently. "Besides… It's late… we should all get some rest." Karina smiled.
"Hmph…" Brad grumbled. "Fine." He turned around and forced his way out of the door, past the others. The group slowly filtered out, leaving Karina in the room.
She turned to leave when Erich said something,
"Are you afraid, Karina?" He whispered.
Karina paused, then said quietly, "Yes… I'm terrified."
He smiled, "You have no idea what else is in store for you…" He said coldly. "Believe the words of a lost soul." He hissed.
"I have hope." Karina said stoutly and exited. "Goodnight, Mr. Erich." She said as she left.
"Hmph. Good riddance to you, Lady Karina." He muttered and looked out the dark window. "Good riddance to you all…" He muttered.