To Love a Theif

By: Helbaworshipper (AKA 'Helb')

Chapter 9

Kayna lay on her bed in anger, that lotis master had been able to fend her off more than even Samuel! Her eyes followed her leader as he seemed to be in thought. "Master Eric, I have shamed you and been too predicting of the lotis master's actions."

"You have no shamed me at all Kayna, this shows his power level at current. He shows no threat to us yet, you have done well." The male placed a hand to her mask and it assured Kayna that things would be all right.

Her eyes nodded at the sickened lotis master as he moved from under his material prison, she walked closer to him. Her mask revealed itself as he looked at her in almost undeniable fear. "Who are you?"

"Maram Master Kayna, I have been sent to kill you. You are what lies between Alice Seno and Master Eric's destiny. You will die to free Alice Seno from her lotis binds." Her delight came as he began to widen his eyes from his shock. She took no chances before she spoke her next word, "Byoma!" The lotis master began to fall back as the fever began to intensify and push him back against bed.

"You won't kill me that easily!" The lotis master rose, even though his fever raged even higher and tried to pull him to the cooling ground. His hands began to move, a lotis word comign into his mind. "Ruta!" A bow began to form within his hand, a bright ruby color adorning it. The arrow he pulled out had a large hook on it as he held it and shook almost with no foundation of strength. She was confident he would drop his bow just as fast as he formed it. Just as she was about to get her theory to work, the arrow flew right into the left side of her stomach.

Lotis Thief headquarters...

The prison felt much better than before as he opened his eyes once again. A much different feel around him as well, it was as if Jiva had come to restore his unneeded worry. "Good morning."

"Did...I hit the Maram Master?"

"Yeah, you did really well. How did it feel?"

"She said her name was Kayna."

"You really heard that!" The female beside him he knew was Mei Lin, but her voice now sounded as if surprised for some reason. She in reaction rose from the stool and ran through the halls for a short period of time before returning. Scipio was with her this time, and he himself looked almost surprised.

"Kyou, are you sure it was Kayna that her name was?"

"Yes, I'm sure Scipio."

"Well, if she's attacking you...then it most certianly means that Darva has his eyes directly on you. There are three Maram Masters that serve Darva directly and see him in his true form. They are known as: Samuel, Shinigami, and Kayna. If you were in fact attacked by Kayna directly, then it means you still have a hold on Alice that he himself cannot break."

"You mean there's still hope?"

"Yes, she's still in there with a light inside to fight with. Have you found what you truly desire?"

"Yes; she's waiting for me in that castle."

Darva's Castle...

Alice's form lay on the couch, a book on a maram word lay open on her chest. Her position was ladylike, and hid underneath her form fitting black dress. That's just the way Eric found her as he began looking the library for his queen. "My qu-" He stopped as he saw her asleep almost peacefully. He moved cautiously through the remaining distance in the library between them. He pulled the book carefully from her fingers and placed it in its place on the shelf. His hands touched her head carefully, it was warmer than he thought it would be. No doubt it was lotis fever that was doing such. He pulled her up slowly as he saw a servant come closer to him.

"Master Eric, Scipio has requested a connection with you."

"I see, allow me to place my future queen into a safe place before I do so."

"He has also requested to see that Alice Seno has been safe."

"Then I shall connect to him in my room, set it up to do so." The servant bowed before leaving the library, and he moved to the hall way. When he arrived at his room, he placed his queen under the covers, putting a special maram treated cloth to lower the lotis fever.

Lotis Thief Headquarters...

Scipio allowed Kyou to sit with him as the set up for the connection was fully placed in. "Do not speak unless I give you permission Kyou." The male nodded before the screen began to show the room he was in. The room was the very bedroom of their enemy, and he could see well that the person inside was not pleased. The male simply remained in his annoyed position. His angry green eyes seemed to peer through Kyou's soul, yet Scipio remained sitting as if nothing was wrong. "Eric, it has been ages since we have last seen face to face."

"Let's just get this over with." His eyes moved towards his hands the lotis master was happy to continue.

"May I see Alice Seno?"

"You may see her to see that's she's safe." He pulled his body off the bed to show the young woman laying down beneath the black silk covers. A maram cloth was over her head, keeping her lotis fever down most likely. Scipio's head turned to Kyou, who was trying to figure out what was wrong for her to be asleep, she began to wake a few minutes later.

"Eric..."

"My queen, you should rest."

"I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright, just go to sleep." The woman nodded with a smile as her eyes shut again, and he returned to blocking her from the lotis master's view. "As you can see, she's safe."

"And I see you won't be handing her back anytime soon."

"Would I hand back someone such as a Neo master? You know me well enough Scipio. As for your ideal world, you may fight to get her back. That is...if she desires to back." The connection broke and Scipio's hand seemed to have been tugging at his own lota mirror.

"What did he mean Scipio?" Kyou was worried, what could Eric have meant by if she desires?

"He's already tainted her with maram, she's under his control..." His head went down as if he had been hit hard in the stomach, he mumbled something before giving a sign to go away. "He never plays fair."