Disclaimer: Yay for non-profit, crappy story-telling!

Thanks so much to MMRoxx who likes Nick! Yay for doing something right! It's funny because I use Nick in all my stories and she never changes that much. Only in this story, she isn't happy-go-lucky. But she is deranged and crazy! Yay fro the deranged and crazy and completely messed-up! Hooray! Anyway, to the story. Yay for over-reacting at the end!

Chapter Six: Crossing Fire

The water knight paced outside the Lord's chambers. His mind was troubled, filled with concern and doubt and dread. Something was rotten in the state of Dragoon.

"Calm yourself, Rune, or you'll ruin the tile," Lykoulean joked. "Tell me why my water knight is so upset all of a sudden."

Rune went to open his mouth, to tell the Lord everything he suspected about the new threat approaching, but he found himself unable to do so. Lord Lykoulean had spoken highly of the girl when they had been introduced.

"I'd like you all to welcome the newest member of the Dragon Tribe," he had said three days ago when the Lord had brought forth the blond girl. "I trust you all know how to treat her to a good time."

How could he…No, this wasn't the time to think of petty disputes that MIGHT occur. The peace of the kingdom was more important than the housekeeping of one girl and the Lord should know it.

"What is it?" Lykoulean asked, slightly more concerned.

"I…think there's more to this Nick-girl," Rune said, unable to word his concerns otherwise. "She seemed to…KNOW things. About me, about Thatz, even about Rath, whom I don't believe she's even met yet. I think she knows more than she's letting on."

Lykoulean was silent for a moment. "Or she knows more than even she knows."

"I'm sorry?" Rune asked, confused.

Lykoulean shook his head. "I mean, she might know more than she thinks she knows. Perhaps Nadil has spoken to her of us after all."

"Your Highness, if she should know these personal matters, than she was planted. We were meant to find her."

"Perhaps…"

The elf shook his head. "What are we to do, then?"

Lykoulean looked to the knight after a long while. "That is the question, isn't it?"

"Hey Nick," Thatz said as he jumped the half-wall the blond was sitting on, "You like games, right?"

"Um, okay," she said setting down her doll that Lilolla had given her.

"Okay," he smiled. "Now, all you have to do is…" He began laying out the genius of his plan. The place was too uptight these days. Everyone needed to "cool off". "Do you understand?"

"I, uh, think I do," she said.

"Good girl, now let's get started before he gets here." Thatz rubbed his hands together. This was good, even for him.

After everything was set, Thatz led the girl behind a pair of bushes, far enough away to conceal them but close enough for them to see.

"Um, Mr. Thatz?" Nick asked. "Is this…Wrong?"

"Nah," the thief said with a smile. "It's only fun 'n games. He'll understand."

"Who'll understand?"

"Rath. Quiet! He's coming!"

A few moments later, a dark-haired man came around the corner wearing a dark trench coat. Just as he stepped past the first doorway, his foot slipped from underneath him. Papers would've flee everywhere and he'd have been sprawled on his back had he not have had excellent reaction time and stopped his fall almost before it had begun. He looked to the bushes with dark eyes.

"There are plenty of injury around here, Thatz, without you playing your mindless tricks," Tetheus said without seeming phased. "Miss Nick, I believe you are to report to your room to have your bandages cleaned."

"Sorry, Mister Tetheus!" Nick said spring up, a look of fear on her face.

"Get down," Thatz said pulling on Nick's dress, "He doesn't know we're here!"

"But-!" The girl was pulled down, cutting her off. Tetheus sighed inside and continued on his way.

"Is he up yet?" Lykoulean asked the nurse. He stood outside Kaistern's room, where the officer lay recovering from critical wounds.

"He's awake, yes," the nurse answered, "but no where near being able to be 'up'."

The Lord nodded and opened the door. The white-haired officer tried to sit up but had to settle with a "Good day, my Lord" instead.

"How are you feeling?" Lykoulean asked taking a seat by his bedside.

"I've felt better but I can't complain." The officer smiled. "I need to pay more attention to Tetheus' fighting classes."

Lykoulean smiled as well, for a moment, before his face went serious. "Who was the demon?"

Kaistern sighed. "One of Nadil's. Called himself Krakkin or something of the sort. I'm not sure but I suspect he's behind the city-slaughter."

Lykoulean closed his eyes to the headache that was approaching. The demon was still out there and there could be another incident.

"Impossible," a young voice said from the doorway. They both turned to see Nick, eyes glaring at the officer. "I killed Krakkin myself."

Kaistern gaped in awe but Lykoulean was able to speak. "That demon, was he behind the attack on the city we found you in?"

"He killed all those people, yes. But I killed him when he finished. I didn't want to go back."

"Go back to Nadil?" The girl was silent. "Go back to the Demon Lord?"

"I…was scared…of my punishment…" Nick looked down.

Lykoulean rose. "Why were you to be punished, Nick."

She was silent, trying to figure out why she was telling them this. She needed to run and they would never let her if she told them everything. But she found herself speaking anyway. "I wouldn't kill anymore. I…They…" She felt dizzy, as if speaking of the events was making her ill. She stumbled, accidentally knocking over the vase of flowers on the table in the hall. She watched as the glass splintered and broke as it fell against the floor.

You've said too much. Run. Now!>

She took off down the hall, kicking off the annoying shoes as she went. Faster. Faster. Lidan had told her to run and she wouldn't stop until-

Crash.

Her breath came out in short gasps, her body in shock of what had just happened. Across from her, on the floor as well, was a boy with crimson locks. A touch of white dangled just out of his eyes. He starred at her.

"What the h?" Rath asked, confused. Who had he run into? He was just about to jump the last castle gate when he was suddenly thrown to the ground. Now he was looking into the eyes of some girl with golden hair and no shoes. "Who the h are you?"

"Uh, um…" The girl shook her head. What had she been doing? Running? Yes, because she had said something. What had she said? "Nick. I'm Nick. I'm, uh, new?"

"So you're the chick we found," Rath said rubbing his head. "Jeez, give some warning next time, will you?"

"I'm sorry," Nick said. "I was running…from something."

Rath looked back but saw nothing. Shaking his head, he looked back to the girl. "Come on," he said, picking her up from the ground.

"But-" The boy smiled, stopping her. His eyes shone mysteriously.

"But what? We're breaking out."

Yay for completion! Okay, I'll stop. I'll give ten points to anyone who can come up with a name for the city that was destroyed. My brain hurts too much. Much love on Valentine's Day or whatever holiday's coming up (I don't even know anymore).

TBC...