It was in ruins, the hinges still attached to the frame while the door was smashed on the floor.
She stepped over it, looking around the apartment.
The couch was overturned, as was the recliner. A red substance was spattered on both the balcony window and on the wall.
There were a pair of sneakers sticking out from behind the couch.
Arya tried not to panic, going closer to investigate.
Nori lay on his back, a stake in his chest. It bounced erratically in time to his labored breathing.
Haru lay still underneath him.
Arya quickly moved to Nori's side, carefully removing the stake and pushing energy into him, healing the wound closed. When she was finally done with him, she checked Haru over.
He had a wound on his scalp, still sluggishly bleeding.
She worked on healing him up, closing her eyes to really focus the energy.
Tomoya stood fidgeting, his finger close to the trigger of his pistol as he kept watch.
After a long while, she moved away from Haru and looked up at Tomoya, "We need to find my brothers."
He scowled. "They're not here. Signs of a struggle and I found this." He handed her Ryusei's crystal, a gold substance coating it.
She took it carefully and tried to think, "Did the Ota's do this? Or someone else?"
"I don't think the Otas would have done this without orders. I'm guessing a troll who thinks they've just won the war."
"Alright.. So where do trolls go? Where would they take them?"
"Any abandoned mines nearby?"
"One, I think."
"Bingo." He holstered his pistol, then looked at her grimly. "Be prepared to bring only Shouma home."
She nodded slowly, "Should we leave them?" She motioned to Nori and Haru, "Or put them in our car?"
"I'll call Toshi to come get them." He sent a text message quickly before removing a dark cube from his jacket. He pressed a series of spots, then herded Arya into the hall as he placed it on the ruins of the door.
"What is that?"
"A protective ward. We use it when we sleep somewhere unfamiliar. It mounts a barrier that only wizards or hunters can disable. Let's go."
Arya nodded, going to the elevator. She closed her eyes as she waited for it to appear.
"I'm sorry about Ryusei." Tomoya watched the lights blink on the elevator.
"We won't know for sure until we get there."
"Arya." His voice was soft. "That gold substance? It's Fae blood."
"I figured as much," she sighed.
"It only turns that color when the wound is severe.."
She took a deep breath, trying not to start crying. She looked away, wiping at the tears that did appear.
Tomoya silently wrapped his arms around her as they waited.
The elevator finally arrived and it quickly took them downstairs. She headed to the car, climbing in and waiting.
He slipped inside. "Remember what I said about your temper? Feel free to let loose the minute I get them safe."
She nodded, "Alright.. what kills trolls?"
"I've always had good luck with C4. For you? Electricity will do nicely."
She nodded again. "Okay."
Tomoya went silent, his eyes distant.
She focused on the road. After a while, they appeared at a mine entrance.
"I'll go into a side tunnel and find your brothers. I'll call, let it ring three times, then hang up when they're safe."
"Alright," she entered the mine, sneaking her way to look around for any trolls.
Several heavyset creatures, green skin glinting under the lights, were guarding a tunnel a few feet away. They were conversing loud enough for her to hear.
"Does Lothan really believe she'll come?"
"She's Fae. 20 kuras she abandons them. They don't have much loyalty to their own kind."
"She's the Queen though. 50 kuras she brings an army down on us."
The second one laughed. "You're on."
Arya growled, wanting to attack them now but knowing she couldn't. She waited silently.
Her phone vibrated three times, then went silent.
She tried to plan her attack strategy, eventually pulling out her pistol. She began shooting around the corner, hoping to at least injure them slightly.
There were loud shouts of alarm, then creepy laughter.
"The fabled Queen should know our skin can not be penetrated with the human's weapons! Surrender or I kill the wolf!"
Arya froze in confusion.
"Show yourself! Or are you a coward like all the rest of them?"
Arya came out from around the corner, looking around carefully.
A huge troll stood under the lights, Tomoya's limp wolf form in one fist. She glimpsed her brothers lying still behind the creature.
"You're the Queen? You look human." The creature spat incredulously.
"Don't hurt him." She said firmly.
"Or what? You are alone and unarmed. Doubtful you can stop me." He smirked and squeezed, eliciting a weak cry from Tomoya.
Her eyes blazed. Wind began whipping around them before she threw her hand out at him, lightning shooting from her hand into the troll.
He recoiled, snarling with pain. There was a hole burnt into his skin. "You dare challenge me? So be it." He held Tomoya out with one hand, then snapped his spine with the other and threw him aside. "Take me on if you think you can."
Arya growled angrily. The wind around her increased in speed, multiple bolts of lightning shooting out at once from her hand.
The troll yelled as he was hit, his skin turning to ash as he burned. He crumpled to the ground before beginning to blow away.
She turned on the other trolls, shooting electricity into them quickly.
They disintegrated rapidly, ashes blowing in the wind.
She felt an overwhelming amount of anger but no longer had any targets. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before rushing to Tomoya's side. She forced energy into him at a rapid speed, wind still whipping through the mine.
It slowed slightly the more she calmed down but seeing how bad Tomoya was made her angry all over again.
"Save..your….brothers." He struggled to speak, gasping desperately for air as he shook under her hands. "For..get…" His eyes went dim, staring into the distance.
She continued to push the pink light, it soon surrounding him entirely. She focused hard, wanting to do everything she could to save him.
A soft blue light joined it.
She looked up to see where it was coming from.
Shouma had a hand extended towards them, sitting up against the wall. His other arm lay protectively over Ryusei's form.
"How is he?" She asked of Ryusei.
Shouma shook his head, tears beginning to fall. He intensified his light, giving a small smile as Tomoya inhaled sharply. Then the light winked out and he slumped over Ryusei and didn't move.
She checked Tomoya over one last time to make sure he was alright before moving to her brothers' sides. She checked them over carefully.
Shouma's hair was beginning to shine in the light, blood turning gold from a serious head wound.
Ryusei lay still, a wound in his chest brightly shining.
Arya focused her light into both of them, the wind whipping as her anger still raged on. She forced the energy as fast as she could, refusing to give up on them.
Shouma blinked his eyes open. "Arya?"
"What?" She looked up, meeting his eyes.
"I'm glad we found you. It was nice being a family.."
"It has been nice. But I'm not letting you go. Just rest.."
He gave her a fleeting smile before closing his eyes.
"Arya?" Hitoshi's voice echoed in the tunnel. "Toya?"
She continued to force the light into them, both of them glowing with her pink light. She began feeling weak again but continued on anyway. The wind began to die down as her energy drained.
"TOYA!" Hitoshi knelt and checked his partner over quickly before seeing Arya.
He called for Daigo as he raced to her side. "You've got to stop, Arya."
She shook her head, "I need to save them."
Daigo gently moved her hands before calling forth his own power. Red light enveloped all three Fae and began to glow.
The wind finally ceased as Arya closed her eyes.
"Did we make it in time?" Hitoshi watched worriedly.
Daigo nodded as he continued pouring power into them. After five minutes, he lowered his hands and leaned wearily against Hitoshi. "They need rest, but they will recover."