Chapter 4:

Tno: Hello my fine feathered felines; I hope we are all feeling review able today. And if not, come back when you are. So what little twists and turns do we have for you my darlings…Well I'm afraid you'll just have to read to discover that. And now Clarence, my dear dear old chum. Take your turn and we shall begin our long awaited chapter 4. (And try not to let anything slip although that's usually my fault).

Chapter 4:

He turned and followed Ray out the door leaving the sounds of joy behind. They walked in silence, both knowing what the other was thinking. Kai had smirked inwardly when he'd found out that they would be living with the girls. Ray wouldn't be able to resist being the player he was. Of all his friends Ray was probably the one who knew him best, but it hadn't always been that way…but now…well it was different now. Kai would just have to live with that as he'd done for so long.

Ray wasn't thinking on the same lines as Kai as they got into the car at the end of the drive. There still wasn't any non-plant invaded space in the driveway for them. If Mr. Dickenson couldn't give a good enough explanation for what he'd done then he would pay dearly for what he'd put those girls through.

"How did Kai manage to survive your outburst anyway?" Gwen asked uncertainly. Sid didn't say anything, she too had noticed the wall of flames that had seemed to defend him from her but had refused to question it. Enni would tell them soon enough.

"The thing is…" Enni began. "The fact that our beasts aren't in their blades anymore means that they are actually closer too us than before. Their power can be called up to aid us at our will, but it's not very powerful. Against Ari at her full-blown strength, Kai wouldn't have even lasted two minutes."

"And you know this how?" Ari asked narrowing her eyes suspiciously as he sat next to her his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"I told you I would make sure you'd be ok. So I did my research." He grinned pulling Gwen under his other arm.

"So she could have killed Kai if she had jest let Taranis go?" Sid whispered looking thoughtful.

"She would probably have killed us all considering how close to her we all were." Enni answered quietly sensing Ari shiver.

"Hey where is Kai anyway?" Tyson asked.

"Hopefully under a truck." Ari muttered.

"Hang on, Ray's gone too." Gwen sat forward.

"Can't say I'll miss him either." Ari retorted and jumped away as Enni pinched her. Max frowned in annoyance.

"Great, first we have to deal with Kai disappearing on a regular basis, and now Ray's gone and vanished too." He sighed.

They all sat in silence after that one, what could they do but wait? They eventually started to paint the bedrooms and bathrooms slowly moving upstairs. It would have been helpful if the other two had bee there but no. They had to run off and be all secretive. Where on earth had they gone off to anyway? (Stop thinking dirty, I don't personally really like yaoi stories, no offence to those who do, gay men just don't turn me on, there's something wrong with me).

"Have we found them yet?" The gruff voice said from the dark corner of the room.

"No sir, if they're still in Japan, they're hiding very carefully." The soldier answered.

"And you say the girls are with them now?" The soldier nodded. "Damn, when Voltaire finds out we're all screwed. WHY IN HELL did I tell you to start following the blade breakers." There was the sound of a hand slamming against wood. "You are dismissed." The man in the shadows said angrily. The soldier bowed low and left quickly, fearing for his life considering his boss happens to be one of Russia's most wanted, and the person who probably needs the most anger management therapy out of all the evil black market organization leaders. Voltaire's going to have my head for this. He thought angrily. And the phone rang. Shit, right on time. Couldn't he ever be sick for once? He sighed and answered it slowly. Time to face the music.

Gwen dumped her paintbrush into one of the empty paint cans and slumped into a chair. Max and Tyson were already in the living room, watching TV. The rest would be coming down for a break soon. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, not hearing the front door open. There was a soft rush of air across her face as she began to drift off to sleep.

"Did you miss me?" A familiar voice said softly. Her eyes shot open, hearing Ray speaking so close to her face and opening her eyes to see him that close didn't help either. She jumped in surprise letting out a small shriek as the chair toppled over.

"I'll be happy if I never have to see another drop of white paint again-." Ari was heard coming down the hall and she stopped dead as she entered the living room. "Oh. It's you." She said none to warmly throwing herself on one of the couches.

"Well aren't you glad to see me." Ray's eyebrow rose as he swept Gwen up off the floor. She squirmed making a high-pitched noise as her vaulted her into his arms.

"Ah! Ray! PUT ME DOWN!" She cried and he obliged dumping her on Ari who sat up in painful surprise. That being the moment Sid walked in with Enni. Ray grinned and wrapped his arms around her for a brief moment before disappearing up the stairs.

"What's got him so touchy-feely?" Enni wondered watching him leave.

"Never mind that. Where have you guys been?" Ari snarled. That's when Kai quickly turned around and followed Ray. "Oh, no you don't." She growled and her and her friends gave chase eventually they end up taking the two hostage in he kitchen. Though Kai didn't seem to mind considering he thinks he's all tough and he can keep stuff from them.

"Alright spill." Gwen ordered, and Sid backed her up glaring at Kai who didn't even seem bothered that they were pissed.

"Come on where in all hell were you?" Ari added (more calmly now she's had time to cool off).

"None of your business." Kai grunted in reply (as usual). Ari let out a low animal-like growl that made both boys jump.

"What was that?" Ray asked gripping his chair.

"Just a little motivation." Enni folded his arms "Now talk." The two remained silent. "Come on, you don't know anyone around here, how secretive can this little outing be?" he snapped.

"You aren't gonna like it." Ray shook his head.

"Try us." Sid retorted.

"That I can do." He smirked giving her a meaningful look. Sid rolled her eyes in impatience.

"Don't be a dick head, now tell us where you were."

"I'd rather keep my life." Ray retorted.

"You won't if you keep this up." Ari muttered.

"FINE!" Kai cried and everyone looked at him. "We went to talk to Mr. Dickenson. Happy? Didn't think so." He said angrily and stormed out. Yet again the room fell into a defining silence that threatened to devour them. The girls just looked at Ray.

"I better go clear out the drive way a bit." He mumbled and walked out.

"Well, if anyone needs me you know where to find me." Ari finally stated going up to her room and they all departed. Leaving Max and Tyson to raise their eyebrows at the argumentative group.

Gwen sat on her bead playing a quiet game of chess against Enni when there was a soft knock at her door followed by Ray.

"Uh…I thought I'd…come to explain." He said quietly.

"We'll be in the kitchen, you go get the other two." Gwen said bluntly and he mentally winced at the lack of tone in her voice. He would have preferred it if she'd started screaming at him till he went def. She walked by him as though he were a ghost and Enni followed, not saying a word.

He paused before knocking on Sid's door. When she didn't answer he knew she wouldn't anyway, so he tried the door, finding it unlocked.

"I wanna try and explain why Kai and me, why we went to talk to Mr. Dickenson." Ray said watching her look out the window.

"Don't say his name around me please." Was her only answer?

"Enni and Gwen are already downstairs if you wanna come." She had never seen Ray in such a sheepish way, not even after having studied his past with her friends to try and figure out what connection he had to them. She remained silent and soon heard him leave. Sighing she got up and went downstairs.

Ari had been the one he'd been afraid of speaking too. She'd probably try to bight his head off he thought as he knocked, opening the door. Ari looked up from her desk at Ray, but he wasn't paying any attention what so ever to her. He was much more preoccupied with the gigantic black dog that had been curled up on her bead. As Ray opened the door it raised is massive head bearing its fangs menacingly and growling. He shut the door quickly. When he'd considered the thought of getting his head bitten off he hadn't thought of it happening literally. He raced down to the kitchen and skidded across the floor looking terrified. The three around the table looked at him curiously.

"Why is there a gigantic dog on Ari's bed?" he gasped. And they looked at each other.

"Oh shit!" They muttered when Kai's voice came downstairs.

"I'm going, I'm going. Just keep that THING away from me." He finished walking in, in a very pissy mood. The huge black canine followed him. It certainly wasn't a normal dog by the looks of it. Two small silver horns protruding from the silky fur on its forehead were certainly not normal and it was about the size of a small horse. It also had two wings protruding from its sides (a true sign of it air element that Ari had earlier demonstrated). They looked sort of like bat's wings, only the frame was much more delicate and the space between the branch-like parts was filed with an elegant substance that resembled fine sill that faded form dark blue to a pretty softer blue. The dog folded the wings elegantly to its sides, swishing its three flowing tails and lying on the floor at Ari's feet.

"I see they've met Taranis." Sid smiled slightly. Wait till hey meat Cliodina. She chuckled in her mind at the thought.

"Oh big dog, BIG dog." Gwen quaked scrambling over the table.

"I don't see why you're so cared since you know that he'd never hurt you." Enni shook his head. Quite used to the sight of this great beast in their midst. That's when Max and Tyson had to walk in and almost go through the rough upon laying eyes on Taranis.

"What is that?" Tyson breathed, he practically smelled of fear.

"A little motivation." Gwen quoted Enni smiling. "So go on Ray. You were going to explain something I believe." She almost laughed as she looked at him. His eye riveted on Taranis who closed his eyes sleepily.

"Ari would you mind putting…Taranis back in your-." He began, but as he got up the dog bared a long lethal fang, his throat rumbling and the hairs on his neck rising. Ray sat down slowly trying to decide if Ari would actually let the dog attack him.

"Taranis." She said warningly and leaned against his side. "You were saying Ray?" She had clearly no intention of having Taranis leave.

"If you don't start talking I could always have Sid give her input." Gwen grinned and turned to her friend who purred (literally and scarily).

"O.K…uh…" Ray decided to turn his gaze from the dog that currently appeared to be guarding him. Instead he decided to set eyes on Gwen. "The thing is, we've known Mr. Di-. I mean him for a long time now. Especially me. And we couldn't believe he would do something like that to anyone. So we were going to find out everything he knows about his experiment." Ray's voice slowly became more and more biter as he talked. "So we went to one of those places the BBA sets up for traveling bladders to contact him."

"I wouldn't think they would have one here since they don't have any kind of business." Enni mused.

"There's a small one over in Montreal." Kai said boredly.

"Anyway we waned to know about the uh…side effects related to your…situation." He said very slowly, choosing his words.

"And what did he tell you?" Sid asked she was even starting to hate the sound of the word 'he' knowing whom it represented.

"Nothing, we couldn't reach him." Kai answered casually.

"So what did you do during he other four hours you were away?" Gwen asked. "It doesn't' take over five hours to drive downtown and make a phone call."

"We talked to Kenny and told him everything that's been going on." Ray lied smoothly. "And then we grabbed some food."

"And all this took until three in the afternoon?" Gwen's eyebrow rose inquisitively.

"Ray got lost driving us home." Kai answered. He got up finally and went towards the door. As expected Taranis jumped up angrily. Kai took no notice and the dog leapt in front of him. He looked at Ari, his glare demanding the right to leave. "We've told you everything so let me go." He sneered.

"Are you sure you told us everything?" Sid asked looking at Kai's tense back, her eyes moved along to glance at Ray. The two nodded in silence. "Alright Ari, let them go. Besides Taranis is scaring Gwen." Ari sighed and there was a wind that seemed to blast through the room as the dog melted into the swirling breeze. Ari seemed to breath in and the air surrounded her dissipated seconds later, leaving nothing where the dog had once been.

The boys left, Tyson clinging to Max in fear. Hey they've never really seen a bit beast outside of a battle o.k. It's understandable that their scared when I massive animal with machete teeth happens to feel like devouring them whole.

"Why did you have to go and call him out?" Sid sighed sinking into a kitchen chair.

"He was bored and I was in the mood to scare the living hell out of them." Ari grinned. "Can't say those two didn't deserve it."

"Well they would have asked about them anyway." Gwen agreed. "Besides, Ceridwen's been itching to be let lose. I was tempted to let her when I lost control back in Japan."

"Speaking of which. When's your day Sid?" Ari asked resting her head in her hand. (Aha a new twist my pets, welcome to the world of minor confusion, you might as well start building a summer home since you're going to be visiting this place on several occasions. And there are two more of these stories to go after this one. Mwahahaha).

"I don't know yet." She answered. To be honest, she didn't really want to know when she was supposed to lose control, but how could she lose something she'd never had. It was causing her so much stress. She hadn't slept properly in ages worrying. She just wanted it to be over already.

Gwen couldn't sleep well, there was something bothering her (other than the usual). She lay in a half awake, half dream state. She was aware of movement and sounds. She heard her door open, and sat up, her heart pounding. Max walked in, not waiting for an invitation. He had a strange look in his eyes. His pupils were about the size of pinheads as he moved forward in a surreal kind of way that made Gwen wonder if he were sleepwalking. He lifted his arm slightly, the knife clutched tightly in his fist glinting in the small hints of moonlight from the window.

"You." He half whispered, his tone was low and dangerous. "You took away my Draceil." Gwen's heart skipped a beat and she shifted to stand against the wall looking for a way to escape from him. What had made him start acting this way?

"Max I never meant to…don't be mad…please." Gwen tried to reason with him, trying fruitlessly to conceal the fear that caused her voice to quiver.

"I will NEVER forgive you." He roared and in two steps he'd crossed the room to her, lifting the knife a maniacal look across his face. Gwen screamed and ducked out of the way, barely brushing by as she ran for the door, slamming it behind her. She ran around to Sid's room to find her door open and she choked on her next scream when she looked inside. Sid lay on her back across her bed, a deep gash across her lower abdomen, blood streaking from the hole in her gut. Tyson was sitting calmly beside the corps of her friend playing with his own knife, blood crusted on it's sharp edge. Seeing her, he stood up but she didn't stick around to find out what would happen next, she swung that door shut too and raced up the stairs to the attic. Rushing into Enni's room and breathing heard she collapsed on the floor and crawled over to his bed.

"Enni." She whispered harshly. "Enni we have to get out of here." She said grabbing his hand. She felt her heart stop. His hand was freezing and stiff, she had felt that before. That was the way dead hands felt. She ran her hand up his arm to locate his face but stopped at his throat her fingers accidentally sinking into the moist slice across his artery. She pulled back tears filling her eyes her stomach seemed to flip as she looked at the still form on the bed. There was a noise outside and Gwen threw herself against the wall near the door, looking out into the hall.

The door across the hall was flung open and Ari stumbled out, sporting various severe cuts. She tripped and began to fall but was caught by Kai who had followed her out of her room. Unlike the other two his eyes were perfectly normal and he moved in more realistic way, throwing Ari against the wall and pinning her there.

"Did you find it amusing?" He asked taking his own short sword and dragging it up her side. He smiled sadistically at her agony and stopped the knife just under her ribcage, applying pressure slowly. Blood seeped into her shirt and he bent his head down to her ear. "Did you think it was fun to almost rip me apart?" He asked again.

"STOP!" Ari cried in anguish. "I didn't mean too. We never wanted to. I'm sorry Kai, I'm sorry." Gwen couldn't move, she wanted to reach out to her friend, to help her but her legs were frozen in place.

"To late." Kai sneered his body crushing hers against the wall. She gasped and her hand suddenly found the knife that was already half way into her side. Using whatever dying strength was left in her she pulled it out and turned it on Kai sinking it deep into his own stomach. He stopped for a minute as though to register what had just happened. "You killed me." He whispered in an almost laugh before collapsing on her. That's when Ari seemed to just let go. She was crying as she sank to the floor slipping out from under Kai's dead weight. Gwen was crying too now. What was going on?

It was then that she was aware of the breathing behind her and remembered the one member of the household that had yet to be accounted for. She turned to stare at Ray's cold amber gaze her eyes dropping to the long samurai sword stained in red, probably from when he killed Enni. Ray leaned back casually against the wall as though this was all just another day.

"You know you're the one we all really want to get back at." He smiled, and Gwen shuddered at the chill in his voice making her remember their first encounter in Japan. "But then of coarse Kai wanted to get back at Ari for what she almost did yesterday, and well Sid was the next one to go off wasn't she so we couldn't have her lose control when she found out what we'd done." He was smirking now as Gwen's expression went from fear to rage.

"And Enni?"

"Well I couldn't have him running to your rescue now could I?" He continued to watch her as though waiting for something and she realized what it was that had set the boys off.

"What did Mr. Dickenson tell you?" She choked.

"Enough." He grinned. "It's too bad I have to kill you, we could have had a lot of fun." Gwen felt her hear contract painfully, how had she trusted this guy so easily. He raised his sword, but she didn't even give him the chance to take a step before she forced her legs to move, almost jumping down the stairs, and running for the door. Unfortunately Max appeared from the living room and stood in her way, she swerved to run through the kitchen almost impaling herself on Tyson's knife as he approached her. Gwen turned back to Max, staring into the cobalt blue orbs that no longer held emotion of life.

"Max, it's me, it Gwen." She breathed reaching up to touch his face. "I'm sorry Max, please forgive me…please?" Ray's laugh pierced the air behind her but she tried to ignore it staring into the blue eyes in front of her.

"Are you trying to save yourself by getting through to Max? Really Gwen you're very funny." He chuckled. Max's almost microscopic pupils contracted momentarily and Gwen looked at him with hope but he suddenly turned cold again swiveling her around so fast she felt the world spin. "He can't hear you Gwen. He doesn't want to hear you." Ray said softly as Max grabbed her hair and wrenched her head back. She felt the cold metal of the samurai sword against her deathly pale neck and as Ray's face came into view she closed her eyes, praying for a miracle, anything she would take it. She felt his warm breath on her ear as he leaned forward whispering. "Say hi to them for me."

Gwen felt a sudden burning in her throat and she realized it was her own screaming. She sat bolt upright in bed staring at the white sheets covering her legs and clutching her throat.

"Are you O.K.?" She turned and let out a small shriek when Max put a hand on her shoulder. She jumped away from him and stood on the other side of the bed staring at him with a mixture of fear and confusion. "Uh…Gwen?"

"I'm fine." She answered absently running from the room.

Sid had been writing a work list for Tyson (trust me he needs one, it's Tyson people, he needs help), when Gwen burst into the room. She looked wild with her mismatched pajamas all askew and her hair slightly wisped and messy (but it still looked impeccable, lol sorry Clarence, I just had to add that in, please don't hit me later). She looked around the room her eyes lingering on Tyson's empty hands before turning her attention to Sid.

"Oh good, you're alive, STAY THAT WAY." She said and left. Sid and Tyson exchanged glances before shrugging and resuming their previous occupation.

In the meantime Ari was ransacking her room, looking for her wallet that was buried somewhere under the junk pile on her floor. Her door was open when Ray came to it and he walked in to receive a piece of clothing, which Ari had carelessly tossed over her shoulder, in the face.

"What are you looking for?" He asked brightly.

"None of your business she retorted turning around to see him checking out the small black tank top in his hands. The smirk was unmistakable.

"Why don't you ever wear this?" he grinned as she snatched the top back.

"Don't be such a dickhead, you're worse than Kai." She snapped.

"I heard that." Kai himself said coming around the corner.

"Oh great, what do you want." Ari hissed.

"WE would just like to know a bit about your little-I mean big dog friend there." Ray answered smiling not unkindly. Ari knew that they weren't prying and she should have expected this. But what was she supposed to say. How was she supposed to TELL them about him?

"Taranis…is complicated." She said turning her eyes to the floor. That was the moment when a flash of bond in baby blue P.J.s flew by slamming through the door across the hall and latching itself to Enni.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" Gwen balled squeezing Enni's middle. He sweat dropped and looked over at the other three in Ari's doorway who just shrugged.

"Uh…is everything alright Gwen?" He asked

Gwen suddenly noticed the two other males present and her expression changed to apprehension. "You people don't have any lethal objects on you?" She asked shifting so she was partially hidden behind Enni. Ari pulled out a couple of skeindoos (small Scottish knives). "Not you." Gwen barked as Ari gave her a knowing grin. Kai and Ray shook their heads absently, more worried about shuffling away from the armed female between them.

"O.K. What's wrong, and don't lie." Enni said taking her shoulders sternly and making her look at him.

"Nothing." she assured him.

"And I'm the Queen of England." Tyson's sarcastic tone came to their ears followed be Tyson himself brandishing the list that Sid (who was with him) had finally finished.

"Your majesty." Gwen bowed to him and began to walk away when she felt something like five hands grab her arm.

"That's enough. What's going on?" Sid said sternly.

Tno: Well my little koalas. What did you thing of our little Gwen's dream now? I figured I'd add some gore for the hell of it. And now on to more important matters like the fact that you people have been making my little purple button very lonely. You know the one that says 'submit review'. And because I you have mad the button sad, you have now forced me to be mad at you. I think Clarence should start with the chainsaw threats again. Or I could simply tar and feather every one of you wretched little kinkajous weather or not you have read my story. Mwahahahahaha. And now because I am mad and because you have been to lazy to review, I don't feel like telling you about the contest that Clarence and I were talking about in the last chapter. No adieu and I hope you feel ashamed for making purple button cry. And now Clarence my button savior, I give you the reins.

Clarence: well I guess I'm going to have to threaten you guys with the chainsaw again. Oh well your loss. Review fools! Muhahahahaha