"You can get up now Miss Vitoria," Krad said as he held onto Dark, his grip getting tighter. Dark winced slightly as he felt Krad's fingernails dig into his skin. Looking over at the still form of Aomi he gasped in shock as she began to stir. Sitting up Aomi looked at him and smirked. He could see immediately that it was not Aomi who now looked at him but Vitoria.
"Did you think your pitiful spell would hold me for long?" She asked sarcastically.
"I'll make a deal with you Dark," Krad said bringing Dark's attention to him. "You for Aomi."
"Dark," Rio broke in quickly. "I want to make the deal but I don't trust him to follow through."
I don't either, Dark agreed.
"Do you think I'd really trust you?" Dark asked Krad.
"No, but I don't see any other choice for you," Krad answered with a smug look on his face.
Rio, just hold on and trust me, Dark warned but before Rio could question Dark he acted.
David arrived at the address Dark had given him. As he was paying the cab driver he saw through the reflection of the window a brilliant flash of light behind the house followed closely by the sound of shattering glass. Turning around quickly he saw two figures with wings shoot through the air. Refusing the change David took off and ran around to the back of the house.
Arriving slightly out of breath David looked up into the sky at the two figures. He immediately recognized Dark but he didn't know who the other person was. Knowing there was nothing he could do he just watched and wondered where Aomi was and if she was all right. Then he heard someone shout his name. Looking up at a balcony he saw Aomi looking down at him waving like she had just read his mind and was reassuring him that she was fine. He started to wave back and shout something but stopped himself. Remembering Aomi's warning and how she had been possessed by something that had tried to kill him made him think twice about trusting her.
"Aomi, how are feeling?" He asked cautiously.
"It's me. It's okay," Aomi assured him.
Not believing her David started to back away.
"Prove it," he shouted up to her. He searched his mind for something that only Aomi could know but he couldn't think of anything. If some spirit inhabits Aomi's body, he thought, then she could possibly see into her memories.
"I can't," she replied as she jumped off the balcony.
David turned to run but was knocked onto the ground with tremendous force that he skidded on the grass. Picking himself off the ground he felt an arm slide around his neck as he was roughly pulled towards Aomi. Putting a knife to his throat she let a low, sinister laugh escape her lips.
"You actually listened to her. I'm impressed," she hissed in his ear. David struggled but her grip was like iron and the more he struggled the more she squeezed. Dragging him around she pushed him forward and looked up into the sky at the flying silhouettes of Dark and Krad.
"Dark!" She yelled out. "Give up! If you don't I'll kill him!"
Dark, having forgotten he had told David to come along, stared down in horror. Looking back and forth between Aomi and Krad his thoughts raced as to what he should do next.
Any ideas? He asked Rio.
"No," Rio said sounding exhausted. Dark's use of his magic was starting to take a toll on Rio. But with Krad not giving him any chances to dodge his attacks he had no choice but to attack in return. Rio didn't want to say what was really on his mind. They had no business dragging David into this mess. He was beginning to think they were better off being captured by Krad for their blunder. But his thoughts switched to his sister wondering what would happen to her if they were captured without exorcising the spirit of Vitoria from her.
"I don't know what we should do," Rio said almost sounding like he was on the brink of tears.
"Don't give up on me now!" Dark shouted out loud. We'll play along but keep you eyes open.
"Okay," Rio agreed.
Dark descended from the sky landing softly a few feet in front of Aomi who held a now semi-conscious David in front of her.
"That's more like it," Vitoria said keeping a close eye on Dark.
"Just let him go and I won't try to get away," Dark said inching closer to Aomi.
"Stop right there!" Vitoria warned. "Don't come any closer." Looking up into the skies for Krad she yelled out, "Hurry up and do your job!"
It was in that split second that Aomi took her eyes off Dark that he attacked. Leaping forward he landed behind Aomi and grabbed her wrist that held the knife and spun her around causing her to loose her grip on David. David fell to the ground and scrambled away gasping for air. Aomi, regaining her footing reached for Dark's arm and grabbing on tight swung him around as she unleashed a force of energy that sent him flying. Dark, unfurling his wings to keep himself from falling, barely managed to dodge a second attack from Aomi.
"Aomi!" Dark shouted. "Aomi, can you hear me?"
"Aomi is gone. Her spirit no longer resides in this body," Vitoria informed Dark with an evil delight.
David after his head had cleared watched in fascination the scene before him. He knew Vitoria had to be lying about Aomi. There was no way Aomi would allow herself to be cast off like that. Looking around he tried to think of what he could do to help. Dark couldn't handle both Aomi and the other creature that was circling overhead. Finding a loose brick from a small wall that surrounded a flowerbed he hefted it and hoped Aomi would forgive him for what he was about to do. Trying to remain inconspicuous he advanced upon Aomi from behind to get a better shot. But before he had a chance to throw the brick to distract Aomi he was knocked to the side by a fluster of white feathers.
"Stay down," Krad told David as he placed a foot on David's chest and applied pressure. David ceased his useless struggles. "Dark, settle down before your friend here gets hurt."
Dark eyeing Krad and Aomi stood frozen with indecision.
"I don't get why Vitoria is working with Krad," Rio said. "It seemed like she had a dislike for men."
I'm sure it's something Kiora must have done. Perhaps placed a spell upon the bracelet, Dark answered. Looking at the bracelet on Aomi's wrist Dark knew if he could remove it then he would only have to deal with Krad. But how can we remove it? He wondered. Did it really need the other half or maybe the spell bound to the bracelet could be broken.
Suddenly inspiration hit Dark and a relieved smile crossed his face.
