Disclaimer: I don't own it.

In this chapter, Blaise flees for her life.

Run Mouse Run!

The low beating of Chase's heart went faster, knowing that Omi would be coming back with Blaise. He was a little worried about what would happen. He had known Blaise for long enough to know what she was like when she broke out. He had seen her loose control before… it wasn't pretty. The cats' surrounded, hidden from view should Blaise try to run away. He was in the middle of the training floor outside, just listening and waiting for her to come back. His heart was in his throat, his hands shook and his face was set into a deepening frown, but he knew what he had to do. Wuya walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Come on, Chase," she whispered in his ear, "you returned my body to me, now why won't you do something with it?"

Quick as a flash he grabbed her by the neck and flung her to the floor. She used magic to stop her head from hitting the floor so her heels skidded along the stone tiles.

"You think that THIS is the time? Yes I have retuned your body to you, so do something useful with it and guard the place should Blaise arrive!" He snarled at her. She pouted at him, but it didn't work so she walked behind him, checking her nails and fixing her hair.

Just the thought of Wuya like that sent a shiver up his spine. He found her repulsive next to Blaise. Her body was just so pointy and rigid; but Blaise was curvy and supple, you just couldn't compare the two.

He just stared into thin air for a few minutes; Wuya was standing behind him, bored and convinced that Blaise was not coming. Chase could feel it in the air… any second now.

With a loud sucking and then ripping noise the portal materialised in front of them, Blaise strolling out of it, covered in little speckles of red, purple and orange paint, carrying Omi in her arms. Chase jumped slightly. She was wearing her usual sunny smile, her short hair bouncing at every step. He could not have felt more confident than ever. His had a little smile on his face; all doubts and worries just flowed away and were replaced by ambition, a fiery hunger for power.

"What up Chase? Who is this sweet little guy eh?" She rubbed Omi's fluffy head and held him at arms length, admiring his little pink triangle nose and long ears.

"That's Omi." He put it simply, his reptile-like grin showing.

"Oh Om…" Blaise looked into Omi's new cat like eyes and her expression quickly changed from happy to surprised. "OMI?" She dropped him. Omi landed on his feet and hissed and spat at her. Her ran around the sit at Chase's heels.

Blaise just stared in horrified disbelief. "You mean that you-"

"What's the matter, Blaise," Wuya began to taunt her, "thought Chase wasn't like that did you?" She started laughing.

Blaise looked confused. She turned to Chase. "Is this true?"

Chase nodded and looked down at her. She looked disgusted.

"A child Chase! A mere child! A symbol of goodness and purity and you betrayed that!" She shouted at him.

Wuya just laughed at her again. She walked over the Chase and hung onto his arm. "Of course he did you silly girl. Chase wasn't the man you thought he was. Are you Chase?" He didn't flinch or push her away, but he only let Wuya be like this because he wanted to break Blaise up so she would be easier to catch. Blaise watched them and her face fell. The room looked darker and felt colder without her warmth to brighten it up.

"Why am I here? What do you want from me?"

"You are here because you have something that I want. You know what it is, and where it is and I think that you have been hiding it from me for long enough. Tell me where you have put the Vermillion Bracelet!"

"I don't have it, I've told you!" She cried.

"Don't take me for a fool, I knew what the bracelet was when I touched it, I felt it's power! You lie to me!"

Blaise looked down and bit her lip. She looked at her hands and showed him her wrists, indicating that it wasn't there.

"Tell me where it is!"

"I… can't let you have it."

Chase snapped his fingers. The cats came out from their hiding places and squared up, surrounding them in a tight circle waiting for their next command. Omi stood up straight, ready for his next order. The cats around them growled slightly. Blaise flinched and slowly backed away from him. Her face was full of fear and confusion.

Wuya snickered at her terror and ran her right hand along Chase's face. "Aaah naiveté, such is your plight." Blaise couldn't believe it.

"You…" She pointed incredulously at him, "You used me! You sick, twisted evil…" She became lost for words and held her heart with her left hand; her sea blue eyes welled up with tears.

She looked straight into Chase's eyes and the tears streamed down her face. "I did it for you, you know! Not to protect the world, I did it to protect you! I didn't want you to get hurt…" the slightest sob escaped from her lips. "I've seen you get hurt enough at the temple, when the Cranigani monsters escaped from the sea, when we were kidnapped by the Peruvian army, all of that. I never wanted to have to watch while you got hurt again. I did it for you!"

Chase wavered slightly; his own memories rushing back to him.

"But… you just betrayed that. You just used me for a… a bracelet? ALL THESE YEARS! WAS IT ALL JUST A PLOT TO YOU? A SICK TWISTED LIE? ALL FOR A USELESS SOUL TRAPPED IN A BRACELET? WELL FUCK YOU, YOU SELFISH BASTARD!"

She brought her left arm fiercely down and a pillar of fire and smoke erupted at her heels and exploded just as Chase gave the signal to attack.

Blaise used the fire to burst through the front of the cave and out into the valley, her long legs carrying her as far and as fast as she could. Chase and the beasts raced after her, not far behind. Fused with Omi's speed and strength gave him a new edge. He was quickly catching up with her as were a trio of cheetahs and Omi. Wuya flew overhead, firing little balls of green light at Blaise, who easily dodged them. Omi noticed how four legs propelled him much faster now.

They raced into a deep dense forest. Blaise jumped about the trees and hurled balls of fire in every direction, but Chase had the advantage now. He bounded about the trees after her, the cats following in pursuit. She shot straight up and fired a huge ball of fire at them and set half the forest alight. Some of the cats stopped and ran away, letting the rest of them handle it. Blaise made a sharp turn, but Chase grabbed her arm and hurled her into a bunch of trees. They all toppled over her but she quickly recovered and ran over the top of them, jumping from tree to tree with Chase not far behind her. Omi jumped just as she was passing him and locked himself onto her back, his claws sinking into her flesh. She cried out in agony and ripped him off, flinging him at Chase who caught him and set him down on the dense forest floor.

She threw another ball of fire and it caught Chase's left arm. He recoiled for a second and then carried on in his pursuit, the armour on his arm had melted away. Omi ran quickly in front, dodging the trees at every turn and he came to a deep ridge in the earth. He stopped and skidded to a halt, just before the earth opened up. He could see Blaise heading this way. Some of the cats had also stopped, forming a semi-circular ring around the trees and the ridge. Blaise ran and skidded to the ridge, right into the circle of cats. She looked down into the deep ridge, loosing all hope. She looked around, the cats growled at her. If she moved, they moved. She seemed to lose her nerve, just looking quickly around and realising that there were not exits in sight. Her breath was coming in sharp, painful gasps, her chest heaving and her stance faltering. Chase was nowhere to be seen.

She spun around in all directions, searching desperately for a way out. She was too tired to use magic; her sweating brow was crinkled with worry and pain. She could feel Chase in the air, but he was nowhere to be seen. Someone grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with their hand and holding her hands behind her back. She gasped, breathing in strong fumes and then fainting into Chase's arms.

"Boo."