Disclaimer: I do not own the song 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' by Good Charlotte.

Chapter Three: Forsaken

Always see it on t.v.
Or read it in the magazines
Celebrities who want sympathy
All they do is piss and moan
Inside the rolling stone
Talkin' about how hard life can be

"Position A, secured."

"Position B, secured."

"Roger that. C secured."

"Then let's head'im on in," Streak stated through her intercom and then turned to her squad. "Kyo and Hayate, you guys go and get rid of the security systems. Make sure that you don't trip any sensors or this will be a lot harder. Jerok, you keep an eye out for Kashid. If he comes back earlier than expected, tell me immediately. Rei, you stick right by me and don't even think about wandering off."

I'd like to see them spend a week
Livin' life out on the street
I don't think they would survive
If they could spend a day or two
Walkin' in someone else's shoes
I think they'd stumble and they'd fall
They would fall... (fall)

The squad nodded their understanding and Streak flicked her wrist sharply, sending everyone but Rei to their appointed destinations. "What are we going to do?" Rei asked curiously, peering from their spot in some nearby trees.

"We're going to wait until Kyo and Hayate disable the security systems and then head in to the main room while the other three squads loot the three treasure vaults," Streak explained, crouching in her spot and carefully watching the huge building that was Kashid's home. Guards littered the area, but they were all oblivious to the experiences bandits running around the area.

Rei remained well hidden in the leaves of the tree they were in, watching Streak. The younger girl loved how the shinobi female handled everything with a quick, cool head, executing things with precision and accuracy. Rei really looked up to her, and this being her first big mission, she was sure to learn a lot.

Lifestyles of the rich and the famous
They're always complainin'
Always complainin'...
If money is such a problem
Well they've got mansions
Think we should rob them

"Security systems off," Kyo's voice informed over the intercom in Streak's hand.

"Good, now head to squad A to help with the first vault," Streak commanded and shut off the link. "Now, we go in." Rei nodded and both of the females leapt out of the tree and made their way towards the entrance. Two guards stood positioned at it, unmoving but watchful.

"Why don't you take care of the first two?" Streak asked, turning to Rei. Rei practically choked and looked at Streak like she had lost her mind. "There's only two of them and I'm sure you're capable enough to handle them. Now, decide the best option."

Rei's mind raced as she weighed possibilities. These guards weren't their enemy yet, and they were very vulnerable. It would be cowardly to attack them, but if she didn't throw them out right away, they could scream. Grabbing something from her pouch, Rei pulled out a vile of purplish liquid and threw it right in front of the guards. There was a small 'clink' sound before a gas erupted from the vile and clouded the guards' area. Within seconds, the gas cleared to reveal that the guards had passed out.

"Nice choice," Streak smiled, ruffling Rei's hair. "You just need to make it a bit faster next time and you'll be a real elite-rank bandit." Rei returned the smile and the two bandits headed into the building.

Well did you know when you were famous you could kill your wife
And there's no such thing as 25 to life
As long as you've got the cash, to pay for Cochran
And did you know if you were caught and you were smokin' crack
McDonalds wouldn't even wanna take you back
You could always just run for mayor of D.C.

They raced through the hallway, turning corners with agility but caution. Most of the guards would be gone, but there was no such thing as being too careful when you were looting a man like this. Everything was covered in shadows, as the building had next to no windows. From the outside, it was actually pretty shapeless and plain looking; a giant steel fortress that was square and rather boring to look at. But the inside was a whole different story.

It was like a maze in the massive building. If Rei hadn't studied the map for almost two hours, she would in no doubt be lost. Luckily, she had taken extra time the night before to prepare by studying a stolen map of the building and sharpening her blade. They only had a little farther to go, and it looked like she wouldn't need her knife after all.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous
We'll take your clothes, cash, cars and homes just stop complainin'

"Here," Streak whispered, her statement short and quiet. Both of the thieves slid to a stop before an elaborate door, decorated with crystals, precious metals, and intricate designs inlaid with flowing light energy.

"The work of the Khiianshaea…" Rei breathed quietly, almost silently. "The energy is their magic they use to ward off magic spells. It would be nearly impossible to break through this door using magic."

"I'm proud that you've been studying up on your homework finally," Streak smirked, causing Rei to blush somewhat sheepishly. It had taken Streak months to finally get Rei to actually study and do her written homework. "We don't need magic to get inside. We have this."

Streak held up a card that was inscripted with an odd text. "We hacked the code from Kashid's database and put it one this card. We should be able to get inside without much of a problem." Rei nodded in awe, watching as Streak placed the card inside the door and it beeped.

The big doors slowly slid open, revealing a large and lushly decorated room. The room was almost ten times more extravagant than the doors, and it was the only place in the whole building that seemed to have windows. Rei hadn't know she was holding her breath until she exhaled quite loudly. "Whoa…" was all she could say.

"Let's hurry and find the Crescent quickly, okay?" Streak ordered before moving towards a large desk over to the right. Rei nodded and quickly started searching for the reason they had come here.

The Crescent was a ruby-colored crystal necklace in the shape of a moon. It was rumored to have the power to grant its user access to some of the greatest treasures on Benith. The most prominently sought for treasure was the Oracle, supposed a treasure that could tell anyone anything. Anything about the past, present, or future.

After ten minutes, Rei was starting to become exasperated. They had searched high and low and it wasn't anywhere in sight. Suddenly, a crimson glint caught Rei's keen eyes and she went over to the wall. The wall had been decorated lavishly with rubies and gemstones of all kinds, shapes, and sizes, but one stone was out of place in the pattern. While most of the pattern was made of stars, diamonds, and sun shapes, this one was a moon shape.

"Streak! I think I found it!" Rei announced excitedly, walking over to the crescent shaped ruby and looking at it. It sure looked like what they were searching for. "Is this it?"

Streak reached her and peered over Rei's shoulder. "I believe so…for such a high-priced item…this sure isn't guarded very well…"

"Then let's get it and go," Rei replied, pulling the Crescent out.

"Rei! Wait!" Streak shouted, trying to stop Rei but it was already too late. Rei stood before Streak with the crystal necklace in her hand, blinking in confusion. Without warning, a beam of energy struck Streak in the back. It ran through her stomach and towards Rei, who tried to dodge, but took it in the arm.

"Streak!!" Rei shouted, watching as her master winced in pain and clutched her stomach. "Streak! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!" Rei heard a click and she looked behind Streak to see a rather fat man holding a gun. "What the hell?!" Rei snarled, jumping in front of Streak with her eyes gleaming.

"What a coincidence…" the man practically purred. "The leader of the Crimson Bandits in my own household. What an honor."

"Rashid…" Streak growled, cringing. She was loosing blood and fast. Both of them needed to get out of here quickly. "Rei…let's--" Streak stopped short as she saw the young girl before her shimmering with a crimson aura, her eyes narrowed into slits.

"What have you done, the lowest of the low?! You sunk beneath my contempt, you have not even a name! You dare hurt my master?!" The burning aura suddenly erupted into a roaring flame of crimson. Rei's eyes glowed with a crimson that shined as brightly as the bloody red Crescent.

Behind Kashid, the other bandits suddenly rushed up in an attempt to help, only to be blown back suddenly by a strong wind that rushed from inside the room. Everyone present watched as something tore itself from Rei's back, spraying blood across the room. Almost as soon as it had begun, the wind died down to reveal Rei with a single wing, dripping with blood. Her fingernails, more like claws, were longer, and when she bared her teeth, her canines had grown longer in a fang-like fashion.

"Die, BASTARD!!" Almost in a blur, Rei was on Kashid and tearing him apart. There wasn't anyone for him to even relatively fight back as he was torn apart piece by piece. All he could do was scream in agony and helplessness.

"Mercy! Please have mercy on this soul!!" Kashid screamed, causing Rei to stop and stand silently in front of him. Her claws were covered in his blood, as were her clothing, and face.

"Why should I have mercy on the soul of a man who has killed so many?" Rei seethed, her fangs bared viciously. It was like Streak and the other bandits weren't even there.

"I will repent! I will stop!!" the man cried back, struggling to move back from the one-winged creature before him. Rei advanced, her crimson eyes glinting before she disappeared. The man felt something shove itself forcibly through his stomach, coming out the back and breaking through his spine. Blood started to gurgle up his throat, threatening to choke him before he died of bloodloss. "What…are…you…"

"I'm an angel from hell…" Rei whispered so that only the man could hear before he slumped to the floor, dead. Rei pulled her hand out and examined the blood before it dawned her. She had just killed someone. A person begging for her forgiveness.

"I…" Rei turned to Streak, her eyes wide with fear and realization. Her master only stared back, surprise in her dark brown eyes. "I…didn't mean to kill him! I swear!" Rei started to walk back towards Streak when she heard the sounds of swords come unsheathed. She bared her fangs and looked back to see who it was only to see her fellow bandits and to realize what she was doing.

"Stay away from Streak you beast!!" one of the bandits shouted, shoving his blade forward at her. Rei leapt back and landed gracefully and lightly on the head of a dragon statue near the wall of the room. Her upper body was covered in shadows, but her cat-like crimson eyes gleamed like they were rubies reflecting the light. Her wing unfurled and she hissed, scaring some of the bandits back.

Two of the thieves rushed forward to help Streak, who struggled weakly. "We can't leave her here…she saved me…" Streak responded, but her attempts were ignored as she was drug out. Rei growled in a low tone, trying to follow, but a few bandits rose their swords and kept her back.

"We will spare you…but never come back monster." With that, the last of the bandits rushed out and left Rei in the cold and dark room. Lightning flashed outside through the windows, lighting up Rei's downcast expression and her cold eyes looking down at the dead body of the man lying on the floor.

Never come back, monster.

By the time Rei had gotten out of the building, it was already pouring. At least it would wash away the blood covering her body. But it would never wash away her sins…She had killed man that night. With her own two hands.

Monster…

What was she? What were these damned appendages doing here? Was she really a monster? Was she too dangerous? What the hell was going on!?

Rei's wing unfurled in her sudden burst and she drove her fist into the ground, cracking the cement on the streets and putting a depression into the ground. Rain and her own tears soon filled up the hole. She was dangerous. Withdrawing her hand, Rei shook with anger, sadness, and frustration.

To her left, she could see the entrance to the ground leading to the Crimson Bandit's base. It was a japanese-styled place, so the gate looked slightly old-fashioned and foreboding, but it was so familiar, that Rei just yearned to go through the doors and hope that the whole thing was just a dream. A horrible nightmare that would go away when the fingers of dawn spread across the sky.

But the thing attached to her back was a horrible admonishment to what had happened that night. It was a dream, and she couldn't even deny what she had done. Making her feet move, Rei walked away from the place that had been her home since Streak had found her in the Myst forest. The small girl looked strangely dejected walking alone in the rain, her wing almost dragging behind her.

I don't need them… Rei told herself with all the calm she could muster. I am going to become the best bandit on this world. On all the worlds.