Chapter 11 (Streaks)

They grinned at each other as they powered down to their sub armor in the nether realm. Kat stepped up to the mirror in their room and began to brush her short blond hair. She watched her own sassy green eyes studying herself in the mirror, and noticed something strange. The beginning of two blue-ish streaks showed near the top of her head. The blue reminded her of the color of her armor, and there was silver mixed in it, too. Turning, she saw that Irene and Alexis had also discovered streaks in their hair. Alexis had pink and silver against her long brown hair, and Irene's black ponytail had been invaded by streaks of Green and silver.

"What the heck?"

"Must be because of the armors."

"Cool."

Chapter 12 (Getting Close)

Rene walked into the local gym wearing a dark green, silk blouse and acid washed blue jeans. This was the place where Alexis had been watching Kento earlier in the week. There she found Cye, working out with the exercise equipment. Using the dynasty power to slightly move a piece of equipment in her path, she walked across and tripped over it, falling into Cye's lap. Cye dropped the weights he was lifting and blushed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so clumsy." Rene smiled bashfully, a lock of green and silver hair falling in her face.

"That… that's okay." Cye blushed even more. A little red crept into Rene's cheeks as she got off of his lap. Cye stood as well.

"I guess I'd better be going." Rene turned and started to walk away but Cye caught her arm.

"What's your name?" He asked, Rene smiled again. In the back of her mind she laughed at how well her plan actually worked.

"My… my name? It's Rene. I really have to go now." She pulled her arm from Cye and walked away. Cye just stood starring as she left.

*

Katy watched Rowen from behind a tree. She wore a gray T-shirt with white wings wrapping around the sides and cream shorts that hung just above her knees. He was just sitting there, leaning against a tree, reading a rather large bound book. She smiled and put her plan into action.

She quietly walked over and stood beside him, reading over his shoulder until he noticed she was there. When he finally did look up, she smiled politely.

"Hi! You looked so interested in that book that I had to come over and see what you were reading." She shrugged and pulled her fingers through the blue and silver streaks in her blond hair.

"It's a book on Greek Mythology." He said, smiling slightly.

"Cool. Mind if I read too?" Without waiting for an answer, she slid down and leaned up against Rowen, pretending to read the large book. For a moment she thought he was going to argue, but then he settled down and continued to read.

*

Alex looked through the window of the sword shop at Sage. He was looking at a rack of Nodachi's. She entered the store and walked around, pretending to look at another rack of daggers. Slowly she made her way to where Sage was standing. When both of them went for the same sword, their hands touched and jerked back quickly.

Alex blushed slightly and smiled when Sage's head jerked to finally notice that someone was standing next to him. He stared for a second and Alex blushed even more as a lock of pale pink and silver hair fell in her face and she pushed it back.

"You have excellent taste in swords." He said kindly.

"I've been collecting them ever since I started taking Kendo lessons." She smiled triumphantly.

"Then you're an experienced swordswoman?"
"Since I was 7 years old."

"How about a dual? There's a small dojo in the back."

"All right." On their way back, both tested and picked up practice swords.

Alex pulled her hair back into a quick braid, took off the white-denim jacket from over a pale pink T-shirt and took her position opposite of Sage.

Sage made the first move and Alex parried it elegantly, taking her strike at him as she moved out of the way. Sage dodged and the two swords clashed. Alex turned a complete circle out of the way and went to attack Sage again. Sage successfully dodged that attack too and their swords once again clashed. The two stood looking into each others eyes and Alex became entranced. Something about his eyes brought something up from the depths of her soul and made her feel… amazing.

Sage took this chance and knocked the sword from her hands. Alex snapped awake and stood lost for a moment, before bowing to Sage. He bowed back, ever polite.

"You have beaten me in an honorable match. I guess I'm out ofpractice." She started to walk out the door.

"Wait, what's your name?" Sage asked.

"It's Alex." She went to open the door but paused as a wave of dizziness overcame her. Alex put her hand on her forehead.

"Are you okay?" Sage walked up to her.

"I… I don't know..." He caught her as she fainted.

Chapter 13 (Emerging Feelings)

Alex opened her eyes groggily, blinking to clear them. It was hard at first to tell who's face was hovering above her, but then she realized it was him.

"Are you okay?" Sage asked gently.

"Where am I?"

"Still at the sword shop. Here I bought this for you." Sage smiled and helped Alex sit up. He handed the sword to her, the one they had been looking at earlier. Alex looked into his eyes again, and she felt something strange. Flashes of images appeared in her minds eye. She shook her head to clear it and got up.
"I… I have to go." She took the sword and hurried out of the room. Once She was far enough away she transported to her quarters in the dynasty.

Alexis took one step and collapsed to her knees clenching her stomach. She felt her soul trying to force out the demon within. Moments later Irene and Kat walked into the room.

"Alexis." Kat needn't say more. Alexis forced herself off the cold stone floor and followed behind the two girls in their sub-armors. Before reaching the throne room, Alexis summoned her sub-armor as well. The trio entered the throne room.

"You disappoint me Alexis. You fight what I have so adamantly given you. Why is this?" Bademon stared her down.

"I am sorry Master. I do not mean to be so ungrateful for the gifts you have given to me. It will not happen again" A bolt of light struck out from Bademon, hitting her painfully in the chest. Alexis fell to her knees in pain. It overwhelmed her, she groaned, but she would not scream.

"Irene, Kat, you two are dismissed. I have some unfinished business with Alexis." Bademon sneered. Alexis felt the scream that she kept down come closer and closer to the surface. Finally, as the two girls left, she let out a shrill shriek of pain.

"Why does Alexis still fight the dynasty? Her games are starting to get really annoying." Irene said angrily. "She's going to be killed at this rate!" her voice sounding almost concerned.

"Who knows, and why would you be so concerned if Alexis were to die?" Kat paused before continuing, "Bademon has given her so much. She should be thankful for everything he's given her." Kat replied.

Alexis fell on the floor of the same dark, dank cell as before. "Please Master, don't lock me in here again, please please!" She cried. Something hard and metal hit her and she screamed as blood trickled down her back under the pale pink t- shirt. The metal thing hit her again. "AHHHHH!!!!"

A halo of pale pink and silver began to surround Alexis. Growing stronger as the spirit left her body and her wrists and ankles were bound. The spirits were not strong enough to keep her under control, so they would have to use a spell. Until then the torture would continue. Alexis would not soon forget the pain that came down upon a betrayer of the Dynasty.

Kat and Irene heard the screams from their comrade all through the night. Sometimes the screams would be more muffled and quiet, others loud and shrill. How much more would Alexis be able to handle before giving up and letting herself die? She was too stubborn for that, she'd never give up.

"When will she stop screaming? Didn't her mother ever tell her that night time was supposed to be sleepy time?" Kat complained as the clock struck twelve midnight.

"When Bademon decides to stop torturing her. How would you like to be hit, repeatedly, with your own sword." Irene replied hollowly, wincing every time she heard a scream.

(Alexis will you shut up already. Didn't anyone ever tell you it was unlady like to scream out loud? Besides some of us are trying to sleep!) Kat gave Alexis this little message through telepathic link, and, as expected, recieved no reply, only more screams as the torturers continued the onslaught against Alexis.

Unlike Kat, Irene couldn't sleep. The screaming kept waking her up. At first she had found it annoying but it had started to scare her. She slipped out into the hallway in her green nightgown and walked over to one of the castle's windows. She wondered why she had never noticed how small the windows were, hardly shedding any light.

She didn't know why the screaming of Alexis bothered her so much. It had been easy to ignore her when she was with someone else, but by herself…Well Alexis was a traitor wasn't she?

And why was she fighting the Ronin Warriors? Because they were the enemy. They were cruel abominations who would lead the world to ruin, takeover, or that's what Bademon had said anyway.

"But that boy's eyes didn't seem wicked…" Irene said wistfully. She was trying to remember something, but she didn't know what it was. Like this little voice in the back of her head was trying to tell her something, but it was being muffled. Some haze of black… being strangled. "A cloud of black mist in my mind." she shakily whispered. Suddenly a rush of pain seared through her, and Irene fell to her knees. She was burning, a flash of red went through her eyes and then it was gone. Agony quivered through her body, but she didn't make a sound. After all, true Warlordesses didn't scream outloud.

Chapter 14 (Questions)

Rowen, Kento, Ryo, and Sage sat around the living room with a small fire in the fireplace while Cye cooked dinner. Sage was starring into the fire deep in thought, Rowen tried to finish reading his book on Greek Mythology, Kento sat cramming a large sandwich into his mouth, and Ryo lay spread out sleeping on the couch.

Cye put some fried chicken in a frying pan for the fish free sushi he was making. He tried to make his thoughts relax as he enjoyed his favorite hobby.

That girl, she said her name was Rene. Something felt strange about her. I hope I'm wrong but I could almost swear I felt a touch of dynasty power when she touched me. He blushed a little as he remembered the cute, shy look on her face when she had tripped into him. And then there are those new Warlordesses. They're strong, incredibly so. I'm worried. He left his thoughts to attend to the chicken.

Kento finished his pre-supper sandwich.

I wonder who these new Warlordesses could be. Man I hope Cye hurries up with dinner I'm starving. How could a couple of girls be so strong? Cye man, you better hurry up before I'm reduced to a pile of shriveled up skin. What about the girls Sage, Rowen, and Cye talked about? Who are they?

Rowen read the same word over and over as his mind slowly wandered. Katy, that was her name Katy. Who is she? Something about her reminded me of something that I can't quiet put my finger on. Why am I so suspicious? She was cute... that look on her face when we talked.

Ryo heard that threatening laugh of the Warlordesses from their first meeting. He didn't like reliving this event in his dreams but he couldn't wake up. His mind wouldn't let him wake up.

Sage continued to stare into the blaze of fire. Alex, her smile I wonder… where she went to? She's a very good swordswoman, why did she disappear all of a sudden? Sage's eyes glazed over in thought. He wanted to see that girl again…

Chapter 15 (Katy's anger)

She ran her fingers along the row of books keeping her eyes keenly on the blue haired boy engrossed in another rather large book. She had been watching him for several minutes now in Herald's bookstore. She began to pull a book from the shelf, so as not to seem suspicious. Unfortunately, the shelf was crammed tightly, and as she pulled the book out, other books tumbled out with it. She quickly knelt down and tried to pick them up, but the one on bottom slipped and she dropped them all again.

"Need some help?" Asked a voice beside her. She looked up startled to see him standing next to her! She froze. "You're the one from the park! Katy, right?" Rowen bent down next to her and helped her pick up the books she had dropped. She resisted correcting him on her name, remembering that he only knew her code name.

"Uh, thanks." She stammered as they fit the books on the shelf.

"Anything you looking for?" He asked. He didn't seem to suspect anything. She thought of the first name of a book she could remember.

"Greek Mythology." She said, then realized that was what he had been reading, and blushed.

"Would you like to borrow mine? I'm done with it."

"No, that's OK." She ignored the bell of the door opening, until she heard Irene's voice.

"Everything alright, Katy?" Her voice seemed to sneer, but she detected a tired tone behind it. She whirled around.

"Fine, Rene! Why, don't you have someone else to bug?"

"You're blushing!" Kat could have punched that sneer off her face. Instead she grabbed her by the arm and walked toward the door, spinning her around and dragging her in the process.

"Come on!" They stepped out the door, around the corner, and into the alley where they disappeared back to the nether realm.

(Nether realm)

"Let's spar!" Yelled Kat, her sub-armor appearing.

"Angry?" Taunted Irene as she dodged punches.

"You could say that. I thought you were always on my side!" She attacked hard and fast.

"I am! But I don't like you flirting with the enemy!" She yelled as she dodged and kicked.

"FLIRTING! Look who's talking! You were found last night by a window in the hall way, mumbling about Cye!"

"You watch your mouth!" gritted Irene. She jabbed at Kat's head and followed through with a kick at her stomach. Kat avoided the first attack but was caught by the kick as she charged her shoulder into Irene's chest. They both landed hard on the floor, gasping. They glared at each other, Irene teleported away. Kat stayed on the floor, thinking.