Link Luvr – I couldn't review chap 3 when I read it…now I can yay! And you can have Albie if you want him…I'll stick with the lovely Lee Chaolan ahhh….ahem where was I? Oh yes…r/r thank you for your review x

Dila Zirk – Thank you! Couldn't fit the hypo in, decided that Cervantes may as well just die…but he managed to get Soul Calibur into the works so he wasn't completely pointless. Ah young innocent Will…going to have to bring the family into it again LOL! I just thought of something yay! (Runs off to make mental note on ending) x

Ephraim-kun – I hope so too lol! Think I did ok…that's jinxed me now hasn't it (Shrugs) oh well. Thank you for your review, much appreciated. x

Shadow Wolf – Thank you x

Forensic Photographer – Thank you for your review and for making me think that Lyra has a family back home so they'd be affected too, makes me think about the consequences which has now shaped my ending. See reviews make a difference people! x

Atha Maarit – Thank you too! x

Chapter 10 – Near Miss

Lyra followed Raphael up the stairs, both of them stepping as lightly as humanely possible so they didn't make a sound to alert whoever was above them to their presence. The blood was slippery and a number of times Raphael found himself faltering and Lyra's hand guiding him back to the steps. Each time his only way of thanking her was a swift but silent smile and each time she was far more interested in finding Nightmare than actually noticing his gratitude. He shrugged it off and she continued to follow him until they reached the end of the staircase. It opened up to some kind of ledge, no doubt on the other side of the mountain.

Lyra waited as Raphael looked out at their surroundings. She had been standing a while when she finally pushed past him to see what was taking him so long.

Then she saw it.

Nightmare and Cervantes were locked in a duel. Cervantes had been brought down to just one of his two swords, the latter lying close to where Raphael and Lyra had emerged. Nightmare, although bleeding profusely was unrelenting in his attacks, viciously assaulting the pirate, determined to take the Soul Edge from him.

Raphael pulled Lyra close to him so she didn't run out and confront the warriors as she looked as though she might. Lyra didn't to watch her beloved fight like this, but she was compelled to watch and couldn't bear to look away. Raphael sensed her discomfort and held onto her tighter, trying to be comforting as well as protective.

Nightmare kicked Cervantes heavily in the stomach. They heard Cervantes' groan as the wind was knocked out of his lungs, leaving him vulnerable for that all important second. Nightmare, taking immediate advantage of his opponent's weakness knocked the Soul Edge to the ground and thrust his own sword through the pirate's stomach, defeating him finally.

Lyra smiled as she watched Nightmare drop his own sword and pick up the Soul Edge. He had done what he had set out to do. He had reclaimed the sacred sword and now he would destroy it. He would destroy it and return to his Lyra, they would be together at last.

But…something was wrong. She could see it and Raphael could see it. Nightmare didn't look at them. He didn't acknowledge her, there was no comforting smile, loving embrace, assurances that they could finally be together. Instead the fighter picked up the sword and laughed. But it wasn't Nightmare's fun loving laugh that comforted Lyra when she was depressed. It was a maniacal and demonic laugh.

Raphael's grip on Lyra was released as he took a step forward, shifting his weight so he stood in front of her, ready to draw his rapier as he watched the blond raise the Soul Edge and burst into hysterics of the same demonic laughter. Raphael shouted something that Lyra couldn't discern as he leapt forward, drawing the rapier as he went.

She felt herself, subconsciously moving forward, she couldn't remember wanting to move, but she stepped forward nonetheless, screaming for Raphael to stop as he brought his rapier down on Nightmare. He was far from defenceless though and he raised the Soul Edge to deflect the blow. Lyra was frozen to the spot as Nightmare glared at Raphael, his eyes had lost the warmth she had fallen in love with and were just…empty. There was nothing, nothing but anger and hatred…so this was the evil spirit he had spoken of…but now he had been consumed by it. There was nothing of the old Nightmare, of her Nightmare left. Raphael muttered some French curses as he flung Nightmare back and pointed the rapier at him challenging him to a fight. Lyra watched horrified as Nightmare accepted, not with words but with a savage attack launched at her new companion.

Lyra watched them fight, but noticed something stirring behind her. Turning around she found herself face to face with Cervantes, far from recovered but able to stand at least. His hand grabbed her throat, harshly choking the air from her as he swung her around to face Nightmare and Raphael. Both had stopped fighting and turned to look at the pirate.

She squirmed in his grip, but that only tightened the hold and her breaths continued to become more and more choked as she gasped for what little air she could capture, her head feeling strangely light. She felt Cervantes' hand move behind her,

"LYRA NO!" Nightmare yelled, lunging forward, much to the surprise of everyone, especially Cervantes who had expected Raphael to be the one to attempt a rescue. She didn't see what happened though, when Nightmare lunged forward, the lack of air hit her and she slipped, peacefully into darkness.

Lyra bolted upright, gasping for breath, grasping frantically at her throat as she tried to remove an imaginary hand from it. Something moved, quickly beside her and she felt Raphael's arms come around her, "It's alright," he assured her, trying to calm her, "You're alright, you're safe."

Slowly her breathing returned to normal and she relaxed. She was lying beside a fire, a red, velvet sheet covering her. They were in the pirate's cave again, Raphael must have prepared the fire and scavenged through the surrounding loot to set up a relatively comfortable camp.

"What happened?" She asked, completely aware that the dream she had just awoken from was just a replay of the events that had transpired but a few hours ago.

"You don't remember?" Raphael asked, one eyebrow raised in surprise, "Lyra, you were almost killed. I thought you had been killed. The way Cervantes strangled you, you just passed out, I thought you were dead!"

Despite shaking from her dream, Lyra still managed to retain her sense of humour and replied, "Oh Raphael, I didn't know you cared so much for me!"

Raphael rolled his eyes, "Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I want you dead, Lyra. Now, are you alright, does it hurt anywhere?" Lyra checked herself over and finally shook her head. Her throat was throbbing but it was nothing to be concerned about. "Good," Raphael murmured, turning to the fire. He poured something into a golden cup and pushed it into Lyra's hands, "Drink, it'll help," he assured her. Pouring something else for himself.

"It isn't poison is it?" she joked, noticing he wasn't drinking the same thingas her. Raphael laughed,

"I just saved your life, I wouldn't have wasted my time if I wanted to kill you myself," he replied. She shrugged and drank the hot drink, finding it did restore her something marvellous, sending fire through her body regenerating and revitalising.

"So what happened?" she asked, "After I passed out, I mean."

Raphael sighed, "Nightmare went mad, not insane mad but angry mad. He beat Cervantes to a pulp for what he did to you, he didn't need the Soul Edge. For a moment, the Nightmare you came for was apparent. Then when he had killed Cervantes he just got up, took the Soul Edge and left."

"Left?" Lyra asked, the shock was apparent on her face.

"He'll probably be on his way to the nearest town," he muttered, poking the fire as he spoke, "Then after he destroys that he'll move on to the next and the next and so on."

"But why?" Lyra gasped, unable to accept that Nightmare was capable of such things.

"Because that's what the Soul Edge will make him do. He's not in control. Rest assured that we can catch up to him and if he thinks I'll let him destroy the town I live in he is sorely mistaken…" Raphael broke off, muttering something about Amy while returning to the fire. Lyra was sitting up, clutching the sheet to her,

"You mean to kill him?" she mumbled, looking away. Raphael laughed loudly,

"Either I kill him or let him kill my daughter, what do you think I'm going to do?"

Lyra nodded sympathetically but protested nonetheless, "Raphael, the sword hasn't taken him completely. I know it. If it had then he wouldn't have tried to save me."

"Awww, so you think the power of love will prevail?" Raphael replied sarcastically. Lyra glared back at him, "Listen, I don't care if you love him or if he loves you. If he threatens Amy then I will not hesitate to kill him," he looked Lyra over and added, "and if you stand between us I'll kill you too."

"It won't come to that," Lyra assured him as soon as the words were out of his mouth. "I know it won't."

Raphael shrugged, packing his things up, "Are you alright to move?" he asked, as if the conversation they just had had never taken place. Lyra considered herself but realised that there was nothing seriously wrong and she accepted his hand to help herself stand. She swayed on the spot for a moment while she tried to regain her balance. She was slightly disorientated but nothing else.

Raphael sheathed his rapier and picked up another sword. Lyra looked confused, he had only brought the one sword with him. Then she realised this was the sword that had been lying at her feet when they had emerged in the upper cavern.

"What's this?" she asked, running her hand over the smooth surface, feeling the sword tingle beneath her touch.

"Soul Calibur," Raphael replied, half interested as he paid more attention to leaving the cave, "It's the opposite to Soul Edge…I don't understand how Cervantes could wield them both but…he's dead now so it doesn't matter."

Lyra followed Raphael out of the cave. As soon as they were out, Raphael smirked. Lyra followed his look with her eyes to see a trail of blood flecked out on the path before them, "He's injured," Raphael said, triumphantly, "He's going to be easier to find than I thought. Come on," he gestured to Lyra, "He won't have gone far."

TBC