Disclaimer: Same ol' same ol'. No Esca, sad me.
Author's Note: Dah duh! The fourteenth chapter! I honesty get no pleasure of announcing these… I just like seeing everyone's wonderment about what this will hold. Just kidding. So read!
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 Fourteen: Loyalty is DisloyalIt was cold. That was all she knew. It was cold and she was sick of listening to the arguing of the blonde man besides her. Hours had past since they had escaped the Dark Star base and the battle that had ensued. At first she had thought Scott to just be confused but now his strange attitude was beginning to wear on her nerves.
Kat resettled herself against the moss-eaten log that she was using as a pillow and looked at the fire. About half an hour ago she had been able to convince Coran to build them a fire and now she was happy she had. The temperature had dropped twenty degrees proving the night to be cold and unfavorable towards humans, which was just her luck. For they were now stuck out in the cold forest with no blankets, no shelter and no way of getting back to Coran's cabin.
"Oh, shut up will you?" Coran said icily to Scott. He had been complaining and trying to escape for about five hours now. Scott gave Coran a glare for he was currently gagged and became silent. "Finally," Kat muttered and turned to look at the young assassin. "Giving up on your beauty rest?" Coran sneered.
"You would too if you were stuck in the night with two men, not far apart in age."
Coran rolled his good eye. "Are you saying I'm going to be your baby's father?"
Kat snorted and sat up. "Whatever Coran." A moment of silence passed between the two as they looked at Scott, struggling to sit up. "So, what do you think caused the sudden attitude change? He seemed so willing to leave and now he's a-"
"Jack-ass."
"I was going to use better wording but that will do."
Coran shrugged. "That Era person was doing something to him. After that he seemed to want to stay with the Dark Stars."
"That's strange," Kat frowned. "You say after Era did something to him?"
"Not something. She was just staring at him and when I broke their eye contact Scott here," he jerked his thumb at Scott. "Got all, "I want to go back!""
Kat's eyes fell onto Scott as she stared at him. There was something not right. It was like the feeling she had earlier was gone and now she wanted to push him away. She was disgusted with him. For some reason she had the worst urge to reach out and strangle the man. Had she felt like this all night?
The cold wind had numbed her limbs and her mind. She shivered and pulled her meager shirt closer to her, wrapping her arms around her self. Why was she feeling like this? If only she could get a little warmer she would be able to figure it out…
Suddenly she felt something warm around her. Looking up, she found a black coat around her shoulders and a now coatless Coran sitting back down. Apparently she looked confused because Coran answered her silent question. "No good if a Protector died of hypothermia, eh?" He offered casually. Kat smiled and thanked him, returning to her thoughts. The warmth of the coat seemed to jar her brain back into working order because soon she was thinking about why Scott was acting so different.
Era is a telepath-a well known one for that matter. The last file I saw on her was two years ago. She was known for her ability to brainwash people. So, if she was aligned with the Dark Stars and the Dark Stars had Scott, all she had to do was brainwash him and then she would have complete control over both the Dark Stars and this war. A strategic move, but does it make sense?
If I'm Era and I'm with the Dark Stars would I want to take them over or not? Era is very gentle in nature and it's hard to believe that she would want to rule the world. Yet we never know. She is strong and quiet, the usual keys to someone with a master plan, but to rule you would need a second in command. Would she be able to get someone she could trust? She could brainwash someone…
No, it doesn't work. Era doesn't have the right motive. She wouldn't brainwash Scott for her own purposes. What if someone ordered her to brainwash him for them? Make him loyal to the Dark Stars. It makes sense but for some reason it doesn't feel right… Kat looked up at Coran. "I think Era has brainwashed him," she said quietly.
"For who?"
"I don't know."
"Undo it and find out then."
Part of Kat wanted to yell at him for giving her an order but she let it slide. He was, after all, helping her out. Redeeming a favor, she told herself. "I can't," she admitted. "I have power over the shadows in people's minds. I can use that to manipulate them but I can't take them over or undo things. I'm not a telepath."
Coran snorted, in disgust or failure Kat wasn't sure. Leaning back against the log again she looked at the man that was to save Gaea. However, right then, he looked more like a lost soul then a savior.
A couple more days of harsh traveling and a not-too-happy prisoner made the two very tired and extremely testy. There were a couple times when Kat thought that either Coran or she would kill Scott. How could one man put so much stress on two trained soldiers?
It was the third day of traveling and the three had made camp in a part of a forest that was starting to look familiar. It was on this day that the whole game changed. Coran had run off to look for food leaving Kat to watch Scott. That ended shortly when Kat had given up on chasing him around the campsite and had just knocked him out. Sighing and sitting down, she shook her head. When they got back to Coran's cabin…
A branch snapped from somewhere to her right. Kat's head shot up and she stood, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Her eyes quickly scanned the clearing for a figure. Had they been followed? For a minute her heart jumped in fear but that relief quickly replaced the fear as the form of Nicole quickly took from in the darkness. "Expecting someone?" Nicole asked with a small smile as she saw the state her friend was in. "No, not really. You scared me girl," Kat replied, hugging her friend. Nicole returned the embrace and when they let go punched Kat in the arm. "Ow, what was that for?" Kat demanded, rubbing her arm.
"For totally disappearing on us! Where the hell did you go?" Nicole replied hotly.
"I got some help and went and retrieved the Second."
"The Second?"
Kat motioned over to the slumped over figure. "There he is. He's been brainwashed by the Dark Stars."
"He was with the Dark Stars?!"
"Yeah, Coran and I-"
"Coran? As in Coran Duskblade?!"
"Jeez, get a grip. Yes. I called in a favor and he's helping me. He knew where Scott was and we went and got him."
"Oh my God, Kat, now I'm going to have to report this to Alex and you'll really be dead! You know she loves those retrieving missions." Nicole smiled, showing that all anger had been forgotten. Kat laughed lightly. It's been a long time since she last laughed, Nicole thought.
"Well, tell me, why are you out searching for me?"
Nicole sighed and took a seat. Kat followed suit. It was never good when Nicole had to sit to deliver news. "Kat, I was searching for you to fill you in on what's been going on in the Vione since you left. It's not good news I'm afraid."
"What's going on?"
"Kalirice has put out a warrant on you, Kat. It's Class A, Type Three and she's informed everyone to look for you. I went back and changed it to Class B, Type One."
"But she can't put out a warrant without Dilandau's permission!" Kat cried incredulously.
"He was with her when she put it out," Nicole said sadly. "He agreed to it, Kat."
Kat's voice was very soft now. "Why?"
"Because Kalirice is now Second in Command of the Dragon Slayers. She's replaced you, in more then one way. Kat, Dilandau has been sleeping with her."
Those words sent Kat's world crashing. Dilandau was with someone else? He had put out a search warrant for her? A Class A search warrant, the highest one… the dead or alive warrant. Why?
Her mind began to spin like some sick ride in an amusement park. She could feel her grip on reality slipping as her mind worked to understand. Her emotions spike like a result of a drug and suddenly she felt empty, so empty and cold. She couldn't believe it.
The world spun faster and faster as memories began to play back at lightning speed. She had known she was losing him… but to Kalirice? How could it have happened? Without her knowing… had she been gone that long? No, no she hadn't. Why?
The question plagued her. What was she to do? She was suffocating now. Suffocating in the truth. It was new for her-so new. Outside she could hear Nicole saying something but it was lost on her. What to do?
Anger flared up in her like a wounded beast. World still spinning she stood up and words formed in her mouth, unwanted and unchecked by her mind. "Nicole, I want you to disappear. Leave the Vione and don't tell anyone where you're going. Cover your tracks and flee. Find somewhere safe and stay there until I call you. Retain total radio silence no matter what," she said, the words spilling from her mouth like a waterfall.
Nicole stared at Kat with surprise. What? "Kat, what are you saying?"
"You need to leave Nicole before they find you!"
"I can't, Kat, and you know that. You've already left and if I leave it will just be Alex. I can't do that Kat."
"You have too." Kat's voice suddenly became cold.
Nicole stood now, anger starting to flare up in her. What was Kat thinking? She and Alex had stood back and let her do her thing until now and now was when they needed to stand together. Like they used to. "No, Kat, I will not. We need to stand together not separate. We need to be a team-we need to be friends-now and stand together."
"We can't, Nicole. If we do we'll all die! It is better like this. Hide yourself and stay hidden, Nicole, unless you want to get caught."
"We need to stand together!" Nicole yelled. "There are things you need to do together-"
"And there are things you need to do alone! This is one of them!" Kat bellowed.
Nicole stood, shocked, at the anger in Kat's eyes. She had never seen her like this. Her anger turned suddenly and she just stood there, knowing, perfectly well, what would happen. There was no way to convince her. Kat had changed in her years here on Gaea. She had changed and now she stood, fully formed, in front of Nicole. And Nicole was acting like this was the first.
She turned away and started walking, not for hiding, but for the Vione. "I will not hide, Kat. No matter what you say this is something you need to do as a team. You used to think that once before but you've changed. You've changed for the worst."
With those words said she disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind a broken Kat.
Author's Note: Oh! The change is noticed! I was seriously wondering when that would happen… now it has! So how'd you all enjoy the chapter? I bet your wondering what will happen to the Protectors now. Well, review and you'll find out!
~The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat~
~~ShadowKat~~