Lestat fell back on the floor with a thump, panting slightly. Anzu was laying a ways from him, on her stomach with her eyes closed.

He took a moment to compose himself before glaring at her with cat like eyes. "What have you been doing? Tell me why the poison nearly makes up one tenth of your blood? You could poison someone yourself!"

Anzu lifted her head for a second before dropping it with a groan. "Nothing! I haven't been doing anything! You're the one who won't tell me anything."

He gave her a look that obviously meant he knew something but changed his mind. "It's not time for me to reveal that to you. But I can show you what will happen to you if you allow your spirit to falter." He straightened out his robes pushed his sweat matted hair back.

He stood, not even offering her a hand so Anzu was forced to pull herself up. When she finally managed to, he was ignoring her, chanting lowly in a language she didn't understand.

A red pentagram began to form under Lestat's feet. Anzu stared at it transfixed by the way the lines curved and crossed around them. As the last lines connected together a bright red light flared up and then Anzu fell to her knees, screaming in agony.

Pain was everywhere inside her entire being was pounded with sharp stabs of pain. First her tongue felt like it was being stretched to insane lengths. She fisted her hair, her tongue was growing!

An invisible knife cut the insides of her legs, she fell flat as they were healed together, then all the bones snapped at once and began to reconfigure in a foreign shape. She couldn't open her eyes; every time she did the pain seemed to increase.

For an instant, Anzu was at peace, with no pain. That moment shattered when a hot liquid seemedto bepoured completely over her body. It burned into her flesh, smoldering for a moment before hardening over her skin.

Link by link the sections of her back were snapped almost gently and reformed in another way. As the last section reformed the pain ebbed away. Anzu lay on the floor as the pentagram faded with a bright flash of red light.

"Now, stand and look at what awaits you down one path. May I suggest you keep strong?" Anzu hissed at him before clapping her hands over her mouth when the sound came out.

Lestat smirked and held up a mirror, when Anzu saw her image reflecting to her eyes, she hissed and knocked it out of his hands. It shattered into hundreds of pieces. Each one seemed to come to life and surrounded her, forming a clear prison, reflecting her body back at her.

Anzu's once smooth and soft skin was now a scaly brown with bits of green mixed in. Her feminine face seemed genderless and serpentine eyes glared back at her. Her blue eyes were gone and replaced by monstrous solid black ones.

She hissed and a long forked tongue peeked out, shocked, she opened her mouth wide and examined her newly forged fangs with horror. She reached up with her now scaled hands and ran it through her now hard locks of hair. They were braided in some way that was unknown to her and burned slightly.

Nearly ready to burst into tears, she looked down.

Her well toned dancer's body was scaled as well; no longer did she stand on strong legs but a massive tail. This was too much for the girl and she began to sob silently

Tap.

Tap.

Lestat knocked on the girl's prison with a twisted smile. "As you can see, you're not completely lost. You still have your sanity and vision. But sadly, that will vanish soon. Or..."

Anzu looked up, "What?" she tried to say but it came out a low hiss.

"Since I can't get rid of this, I'll change it. Yes! I'll change you into something much more interesting than a Medusa wanna de. Now, to say this won't hurt would be an understatement. Are you ready?"

Anzu looked down at her body, anything would be better than this. She nodded and braced herself.

Lestat nodded and began to chant again, clasping his hand together as the red pentagram slowly began to form again. As the star spread beneath them her body began to change once more.

First her "legs" became two once more in a painful second. Her spine was rearranged once more, but she fell forward one her knees as it configured in an even more painful way. Her feet changed, Anzu tried to turn back and look at the damage but a sudden burst of pain inside her mouth and on her face forced her to scream in pain.

The reptile tongue became normal again but gained a rough texture and her canines lengthened even further than before. Anzu's eyes widened as if someone were pulling on them and then they shrunk slightly.

Her nose began to bleed and she covered it with hands that were beginning to gain claws and stripes. Suddenly she was assaulted with a sharp smells. Anzu screamed loudly but it deepened in mid part.

Lastly, something surged out of her at the end of her tailbone. What ever it was, it waved in the air for several moments before falling against her legs.

The circle closed around the star and with a dull flare, faded.

Lestat walked slowly over to Anzu and offered her a hand. She took it and stood, taking the time to marvel at her new form. The pain was soon replaced by amazement.

She was sill around her normal height of 5'5 but her body had a much better tone. She raised a hand, it was covered with several black stripes that seemed to lace up her arms and go on to her shoulders.

Carefully, Anzu felt inside of her mouth, her four canines were advanced with a new edge. Lastly, Anzu looked back and was shocked to see a tail wagging behind her. A long, brown and faintly striped tail.

Lestat raised a brown as the girl seemed to give into instinct and idiotically chase her tail, giggling madly. He sighed and covered his eyes, This, he thought to himself, is the reincarnation of sweet little Namiko? This must be a mistake, Namiko was never this arrogant. But than again, she never made it to be an adult. He suppressed bitter memories by scolding the girl before him.

"Enough! You've been given this formfor a reason.Stop acting foolish." Instantly she stopped and sat down, tail still wagging in the air. With a harsh look it stopped and fell flat.

Anzu opened her mouth to speak and was surprised when actual words came out. "Jerk." She quickly covered her mouth, "I'm not supposed to be talk!" He raised a brow, "Yes, I made modifications, using the poison to my advantage. But I must be honest with you now, Anzu.

"My name is not Lestat, and I am no vampire, this was merely an act to lure you in. My real name is Dagger-" Anzu interrupted him.

"You're not a vampire! But the eyes and the fangs! Did I mention the creepy laugh?"

He held up a hand for silence, "All an act and well planned magic, if you would let me finish, maybe I can answer your questions!" His eye twitched for a moment before he closed his eyes and continued. "Like yourself, I am…was human, Atlantean to be exact. My brother was king of Atlantis and I was a priest.

"You could say we worshiped a thing called the Circle of Orion. The pentagram that you saw was the circle to be exact. As a priest I had the power to call upon it in dire times; like when a crop failed and the land needed nutrients."

He paused and looked to the side, "But then…A stone called the Orichalcos fell from the Heavens, with it, Atlantis was able to make amazing advancements, but the people forgot the Circle of Orion and began to let their hearts sink into the darkness the stone brought. Even my brother's wife was affected." He looked down at his palms for a moment, debating what to say next.

"Before long, all the priests left the temple. It was only me and my young ward, Namiko." He paused at her name and swallowed painfully.

"Before long, those who were evil on the inside became evil on the outside. They were transformed into monsters. My brother, I expect, lost his sanity soon after his own wife was transformed into a monster and killed another human, and he had no choice but to kill her. The city was in ruins, blood stained the water itself.

"Something died in him that night, when my father Iron Heart, my niece Christ, Namiko and I went to him to convince him to use the circle to cast away the Orichalcos, my brother refused. I saw his eye; one of them had turned green. It was then I knew he was under the stone's control. He then showed us, his army of demonic soldiers.

He said the human race was tainted and needed to be wiped out, he then asked us to join him. I suppose even with his mind clouded by the stone, my brother was still a part of our family. But we refused to join him.

My father led us to a series of stone caves that held what you call Duel Monsters. Together we unleashed them to fight off the beast that my brother summoned, the Great Serpent.

Both sides engaged and fought ferociously, but it ended in a tie. The three great dragons, Helmos, Critias and Timeaeus along with the Serpent were seal away. Sadly, Iron Heart and Christ were as well. I though Namiko was as well, but I was wrong.

After the battle ended in a draw, Atlantis began to sink, I confronted my older brother, to take revenge for Atlantis. It was foolish of me to do so, but I couldn't stop myself. The Circle of Orion fought with me to the best of its ability, but I was too weak. The Seal of Orichalcos was far too strong for me. Just when my brother was about to finish me off, Namiko took the blow that would have killed me."

"Now you die! So long little brother!"

"Master!"

"Namiko! No!"

"She gave me the time I needed to attack my brother. Before I could kill him, he sealed his own being away promising his return. Atlantis sunk, I was sure of my end. The Circle saved my life, by planting me into Namiko's departing soul. I've lain dormant until the right time arouse. Now is that time."

Dagger finished and stared at Anzu mutely.

Anzu stared back before shaking her head, "And you're telling me this…" He slapped his forehead.

"Because you silly girl, YOU are Namiko. You are the true Priest of the Circle of Orion, not me. You are the one that must help the Pharaoh defeat my brother; this cannot be done with out you." Anzu shook her head in disbelief.

"How do I know you're not making all this up, first with the fake name and the fake vampire, how do I know you're not a figment of my dreams?" He stared at her, deadpanned.

"Didn't the slap on the head and the cold prove enough? Would you like another?" He raised his hand and began to chant but she stopped him. "Never mind! I believe you! But can you answer my question? Why this…form. Wasn't Namiko human?"

He nodded, "She was a small child. You saw the form you would take if the Orichalcos had had its way with you." When she nodded he continued. "The serpent is the animal scared to that hell; the tiger is the honorable symbol of the circle. That was why I threatened you when you first came; to be sure this was the girl that would save the world in a way. You called forth the tiger, you fought along side with the tiger and now you are the tiger."

She was silent for a moment, looking down at her hand. "But then, why did you try to get rid of the Orichalcos first instead of changing me into this."

Dagger hung his head, his hair shielding his eyes from her view. "Namiko…was like a daughter to me. I found her drifting in the river one day as a babe. I had thoughts of leaving her at some home but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I kept her and raised her if she was my own. I began to teach her about the Circle. I was every example of a protective father; Namiko never even scarped her knees because I kept such careful watch. No matter what the stakes, I would never let her go through pain of any kind.

"That is why Anzu, even though you are not Namiko, deep within you. Her spirit still dwells. You remind me so much of her, that I wouldn't inflict harm upon you until I knew it was the only way." Anzu guessed that was as close to an apology she would get.

"But," she began, "What about Yuugi and the Pharaoh? Shouldn't they have some kind of incarnation like me?" He shook his head. "The Circle of Orion is much older than then the Pharaoh. It's not his destiny to defeat my brother and the Seal. It's yours. Should he help than I have no complaints. But neither he, nor anyone else should interfere."

Dagger wiped his eyes and looked at her, as if measuring her up, before he reached into his robes and extended a silver pentagram, hooked on a chord. "Take this, it was Namiko's. With this I will be able to talk to you even when you are awake. Now go." He pointed to an empty wall where a door of white light suddenly appeared. "You need to wake up."

Anzu crawled forward and took the necklace, putting it on quickly. As soon as she did, all her doubts seemed to melt away. They stared at each other for a moment until Anzu suddenly hugged him tightly like she would her father. "It's alright, Anzu. I'll always be here. I will see you through this path, even if it leads to ruin." She released him and walked slowly towards the door. Before she stepped through she turned to him.

"I have two questions."

"Ask them."

"Number one, will I look like this when I wake up? Or will I ever look like this again?"

He nodded, "You'll transform when my brother reveals himself."

Anzu nodded and fixed him with determined blue eyes, "When we first met, you said you were the Beast of the Circle of Orion. What did that mean?"

He shook his head and pushed her through the door, "You are in everyway Namiko. I'm no priest any longer, I think of myself as a beast. Now go."

"Wait!" he fixed her with a frown.

"I've answered all your questions."

"But…one last thing."

He rolled his eyes, "Ask."

She observed her fingers carefully, "Why did you pretend to be a vampire? Lestat? Why him?"

Dagger smirked and folded his hands in his robes, "You, you seemed to like those vampire novels, Lestat specifically. I thought it would be amusing."

Her jaw dropped. The nerve of him!

Anzu opened her eyes and looked to the window that was fixed next to the bed Varon had dragged in for her. The sky was still dark, she could hear a dog barking somewhere in the distance and crickets chirping.

She turned her head to the side and was slightly disappointed not to find a tail waving proudly in the air.

Suddenly it hit her like a –no pun intended- fat kid on cake. She had to pee. Bad!

After nearly being strangled by the Choking Covers of doom and dodging the Nightstand of Death, Anzu stumbled to the adjoining bathroom she and Amelda now shared, too bad for her, it was in use.

Anzu whimpered and knocked on the door urgently while doing some form of interpretive dance. A low what came from the other side of the door. "Amelda, I need…you to get out!" Anzu yelled in desperation.

Silence.

"I'm busy…"

"Are your pants down?" Anzu ground out. (This is to you femme )

"What! No but—"

"Then I'm coming in!" Anzu grabbed the handle and began to turn, silly Amelda didn't lock it. With strength that could only come from her mother, she pushed her way in and turned the water on in the sink.

Amelda frowned, "Nice, but I'm still here. Didn't plan that far did you?" Anzu turned on him and shoved him into the shower stall before he could protest and slammed the solid black door shut on him and lodged one of the two chairs against the door. "Anzu! Damnit, let me out!"

She ignored him and proceeded to do what she came for, luckily the running water covered any harp music that she swore was playing when she made it.

After washing her hands, she knocked on the stall door. "Are you ready to be a good boy?" she asked mockingly. No response.

"Amelda?"

She frowned when he didn't answer. She removed the chair and was about to open the door when it flung open on its own and someone grabbed her and turned the water on, pushing her under it.

Anzu sat with her mouth hanging open and cold water cascading down her back. Amelda was smirking, next to her, in the dry area of the stall. "Is Anzu ready to cool off?" he smirked.

She growled and grabbed him by the end of his baggy red shirt and dragged him into the water with her.

They had a mock battle before Amelda managed to pin her down and shut the water off with his foot. By this time, his shirt and sweat pants were drenched and Anzu's shorts and the back of her shirt was wet.

The stayed there, panting for a time before he adverted his eyes and let her up. "Anzu…what I did, back then…I-…what I mean is that—" Anzu put a finger to his lips, stopping any further babbling. She pushed herself up and hugged him tightly, Amelda, stunned, didn't move.

"You don't have to say it." He nodded and stood up, pulling her with him.

"Thank you Anzu, I come to brush my teeth and maybe go out for a good old fashioned five in the morning coffee but I ended up getting a shower." Anzu glared at him and stalked out of the bathroom, dripping on Amelda's rug. He pushed her in the direction of her room. "Go and be ready in five and you can come with me."

Amelda took her to an American dinner down the road. They sat in a booth as a waitress took their orders.

"Just a black coffee with a banana muffin." Amelda said more to himself than the waitress.

Anzu stared at the menu in confusion. Sure! She knew some of the stuff on here but what the crap were chilly fries with a side of hot dog! After debating with herself, she ordered the chilly fries with big chunks of hot dogs mixed in. The waitress looked at her like she was crazy before running(walking) as fast as her high heeled shoes would allow.

Their food arrived, Amelda's coffee and muffin and her order.

Anzu's mouth dropped. These were chilly fries? She expected something…chilly. Wait…chilly…chili! No! she howled mentally. How could I have been so stupid! I hate these things!

Amelda was carefully breaking his muffin in his coffee and stirring quickly. Anzu looked at him strangely, "That's not what you do with a muffin." He looked at her sharply before taking a quick sip. "That's not what you order this early in the morning." He said coolly back.

Anzu glared at him as he took another drink and looked her over, "So, you're suspended?"

She averted her eyes and stuffed a fry in her mouth. "He was asking for it, I told him no."

He looked at her quizzically, "What? What did he want you to do?"

She explained, popping a fry in her mouth for every word to keep her busy.

Amelda frowned, "That is the saddest excuse of behavior I have ever heard off." Besides that time Varon drank cough syrup mixed with tequilas. He thought with amusement. Oh! The fun he had tormenting the boy while he puked up his insides.

Anzu huffed and went back to her food, drowning it in mustard and stabbing it to death with her fork. "I don't care any more, he had it coming. If I didn't do it than someone else would have." She replied sourly. Yes, she knew she was being bratty, but why could he see her side of the story.

He looked at her with a glare, "You know, that may be so, but was hitting him going to solve any of your problems?"

She shook her head and swallowed, "I guess your right. I was being a pain wasn't I?"

He finished his drink and shrugged, "Only during the week."

She laughed before she realized he was making fun of her and kicked him under the table and went back to her food.

Kio: Short I know, but I wanted to get this part out of the way. Dagger's part was much different than what I had in mind but I like this much better. Things will clear up later in the story.

Amazon healer: Thank you!

Yllom21: Yes, Seya needs to be lynched.

MOG: I'm glad you still like it!

Fifilafemme: Actually I can see her doing it. I'm working on a surprise for you that I think you'll love.

Le Diva: I aim to please!

Yami1: Your wish has been granted!

Nightfall2525: I think this chapter answered your question.

Varon's girlfriend: You got the name right.

Bubble Wheel: Yes, that girl loves school. I'll add a little more Tohru later. Sorry! I forgot to mention that Keiko is done with school which explains the reason why she is not worried about it. Yusuke could never drag her away from it. I had the girls vary in age, Naste being the oldest and Anzu the youngest.

You're right; Nikolai will have a bigger part but not all Gary Stu big part. I wouldn't conform!

Saylor Tiamat: Yes! One shot pairing for you! Balloons fall from the ceiling Pick your pony! I mean pairing!

Serenitymoon8: 00 Say what?

Lathanyan: I'm glad!