Disclaimer: Trust me, if I owned Esca by now, y'all would know.
Author's Note: Alright, so here's chapter nine! Hope y'all like the plot twist!
Sisters till the End
This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!
Chapter Nine: Warrant Plan
The months went by and things were starting to turn ugly. Everyone on Gaea knew of the Second's arrival and now there was a ravage manhunt out for him, each country with its own agenda for the legend. Nicole had not found Scott but Alex had been successful in locating Ti and now the little Naii was under their protection. Kat had asked around and found that Austuria and Freid had combined their forces to defend against supposed attacks from Fanellia and Zaibach. They also had armies out searching for Scott, only not to kill him but to take his life. The Second was a threat to the two small countries and they wanted him dead.
Dilandau had apparently heard of this news for he was sending out troops to recruit the best and the brightest of assassins and rogues. However, he was not the only one looking for extra forces. Kalirice, Commander of the Star Dragons, the second division of the Dragon Slayers, had suddenly become Dilandau's Second in Command, putting Kat down to soldier level and knocking her even farther away from her all ready distant husband. Kat had never liked Kalirice, there was something about her that made her want to kill the woman, something that made her senses go off. This only proved as a warning bell. For Kat had noticed that Kalirice was also gathering assassins of her own.
Pent up emotions ran through the Protectors like the blood through their veins. Nicole was pregnant, Alex was trying to be a mother and a heroine, and Kat had been kicked out of the Vione. She had been discharged from Zaibach and now left her two friends to suffer Dilandau's wrath alone. The stress and energy and time that they all put into trying to find Scott was enormous and all were getting fed up with no progress.
Nicole leaned back in her chair and put a hand over her stomach, thinking. Soon she would grow, holding another's life inside her, responsible for it, and soon she would be a mother. Wow, I'm actually pregnant, she thought, still not quite able to absorb the information. It was so strange. She, Nicole, was pregnant. "Too bad Kat isn't around," she muttered, looking at the screen. They had lost touch with the leader of the Protectors a week ago and had not been able to find her. "She would love this."
Suddenly the door opened behind her and she heard a pair of footsteps enter. She stood and saluted as Dilandau and Kalirice walked into her room, arm in arm. The pair had been sharing a room and obviously indulging in activities for they had never been apart. Kalirice would always look at Dilandau in a sickening way-something about her was off. Dilandau seemed to not mind at all. Just as he never minded when Kat was around, she thought angrily. How could he hurt her like this? "Nicole," Kalirice purred, looking at her. Nicole's heart jumped and she suddenly became cold. Why was she feeling like this? "Put out a search warrant for your friend, Katrina."
Nicole's insides dropped. A search warrant? For Kat? No… "Uhm, excuse me, ma'am," she said, trying to keep her voice even. "I need Lord Dilandau's permission to put out a warrant."
"Do as Kalirice says, Nicole," Dilandau shouted. Nicole flinched and turned to her consol, quickly typing something in. There was a small beep and confirmation of the warrant flashed through the screens. "Make it Class A, Type Three," Kalirice grinned. Nicole hesitated. Class A? That was dead or alive! Type three was the most extreme case! Why was Kalirice after Kat? She could feel Dilandau's eyes boring into her, ready to snap at her, ready to eat her alive. She had to obey… didn't she? Her priorities were torn between her friend and her husband.
"Very well," she muttered, typing in something. Kalirice laughed. "Very good choice, Nicole. Make sure you get a team on it right away," she said as she sauntered out of the room, Dilandau hot on her heels. Tears sprang to Nicole's eyes as she paused in her typing. Kat… she had just failed her best friend. She had left Kalirice have her way and now Kat was to be captured… No, she said, opening her eyes. Kalirice is evil and I can't let Kat go down alone! Without thinking she changed the warrant type and ran from the room.
She was barely feet from the room when she ran into Chesta in the hall. Falling back, she looked up at her husband who looked worried. "What's the matter?" He asked, picking her up. Nicole's heart was still beating fast, her stomach dropping like a stone. She needed to contact Kat! She knew what she had to do. Grabbing Chesta's arm, she led him down the hall, whispering urgently. "Dilandau just put out a search warrant for Kat Class A and Type Three. Only I changed it to Class B and Type One."
"But that's-"
"I know. I need to contact Kat. Get Miguel and meet me on the ground in fifteen minutes-we have to find her!"
Chesta only had time to nod before Nicole ran off in search of Alex. They didn't have much time.
Kat laid flat on her back her head tilted back and her eyes closed. She could hear the breathing of another nearby as she rested. However she did not care for she knew nothing would happen to her, not while she was here.
She was in a small hut on the edge of a forest belonging to an assassin by the name of Coran Duskblade, or better known throughout the assassin world as Deadeye. He was a deadly assassin worthy of all the tales and horrors his name has brought upon people. Never really seen, his identity lives as sort of a shadow in stories and many folktales sprouted because of him. He was a pricey professional but worth every penny.
In the dead of night she had shown up on his doorstep calling in an old favor. They had met one summer night in Austuria while she was on a mission and had found the young assassin cornered in an ally, almost killed by a lucky soldier before she interfered. Much to Coran's dislike he had accepted the help of the Protector. To save his pride Kat had said that he owed her one favor and tonight she was calling it in.
Opening her eyes she looked at the man sitting across from her. He was only nineteen but his expressions betrayed his age. He was much more skilled then anyone. Standing at five foot eight and very lean with black hair falling into his eyes, he was quite a sight for sore eyes. One eye was dark blue and the other was a milky white for he was blind in his right eye but that did not handicap him. Possessing the ability to see better then anyone in the dark, move like a shadow, listen like a wolf and strike like a snake he was the ultimate in the business. "Did I ever tell you that you're a sight for sore eyes?" She asked.
Coran snorted. "When I first opened the door."
"Of course."
"You haven't told me why you're here."
Kat sat up and looked at him. "Dilandau kicked me out of the Dragon Slayers and of the Vione. I need a place to stay and someone I can trust. You willing to accept?"
"I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!" He roared. Kat rolled her eyes-she knew he had sporadic mood swings. "No, you really don't."
Coran laughed and folded his arms across his chest. "Have you heard anything about the Second?" She questioned, flipping onto her side to look at him.
"Oh, that guy that arrived from the Mystic Moon?" Kat nodded. "Yeah I heard about him. The Dark Stars picked him up a while ago; I witnessed it. That Zorya Belok person practically disowned him. She's wandering around here like a lost puppy. I think she's rethinking her choice."
"The Dark Stars?"
"You haven't heard of them?"
"Don't answer a question with another question. Who are they?"
Coran's eyes became dark and his voice hateful. "They're a group of radicals lead by some Zaibach failed experiment who thinks that the world is impure and wants everyone dead except his little group. Though that isn't what he tells his followers. Says he wants peace for everyone. More like peace for himself."
Kat raised an eyebrow at him. "They have the Second."
"Believe it."
"We have to get him out of there."
"Is this part of the favor?"
"Believe it."
Coran looked at her, a smug look coming across his face. "I'm game."
"Then let's get started."
Kat stood up as Coran darted towards a chest next to him. He pulled open the lid to reveal all of Kat's dreams and nightmares. Weapons of all sorts laid in front of her; swords short and long and foreign, throwing knives, bows, arrows, crossbows, kais, chumknucks, daggers, sharp stakes, maces, throwing axes and small metal box. An insane grin lighted up her face as she stared at the weapons. There were all kinds and a minimum of five each. This was like her dream, having access to this sort of weaponry, and her nightmare, to see this many kinds of weaponry. Her eyes danced over the weapons.
Coran stood and walked over to a large cabinet and swung open the doors. Kat looked up and her eyes widened even more. Inside the cabinet hung scythes, staffs, battle-axes, and spears. He stood there and wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Like what you see?" He asked. "Yeah, the weapons, not you," Kat said.
"Oh I'm hurt!"
"I know."
Coran glared at her. "Well then Miss Leader, what should we be packing?"
Kat rolled back on her heels and crossed her arms. He was showing his cocky side. "I don't know Coran," she said sarcastically. "You're the expert assassin."
A cocky smile popped up on his face and he started picking up weapons with lightning speed. "Glad you finally came to your senses," he said and within five minutes they were ready to go. Coran threw Kat a small pack as he walked out and behind his house, coming out in a minute's time with two dark colored horses bridled but no saddle. Kat raised an eyebrow.
"We'll travel faster if we don't have to worry about equipment," Coran said hotly as he thrust the reins at Kat. She took them and mounted. "What about that Zorya?" She asked.
Coran snarled. Okay, Kat thought as she followed him, another mood swing. I just hope that this Zorya doesn't get any ideas.
From the shadows Zorya watched as the Protector and Coran rode off. So they were going to save Scott, hm? I'll just have to tag along, she thought as she crept out from the bushes where she was hiding. After all, I do have that promise to keep.
Author's Note: Du du duh! Don't you just love that twist? Don't worry I promise things will change again! Also, for those of you who are wondering, if you haven't been placed in a chapter yet but have been selected, you'll get in there! I just have to place you in the right chapter or else it'll throw the delicate balance of the story off! (Hah, like there is a balance-I'm making it up as a go thanks to my muse!) Anyways, review people!
~The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat~
~~ShadowKat~~