"ANDY!" Tet raced into the throne room, a hysterical, bloodstained Kaia in his arms. "She showed up alone.."

Andy rushed to them, looking Kaia over. "Hey, it's alright. Everything will be okay." She looked at Tet, "She just showed up here? Who was with her?"

"Kiba and Ryusei. They were teaching her to paint." Tet's eyes were panicked as he struggled to stay calm. "Is she hurt?"

She looked Kaia over, noticing a few small injuries. She closed her eyes and tried to focus, hoping to heal her. Soon, purple light covered her, the injuries disappearing. "She'll be fine now." She looked at Kaia, hugging her tightly, "Calm down."

"I'm scared.."

"I know honey, but you have nothing to be afraid of right now. You're safe."

Tet gave her a grim look, then knelt beside Kaia. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"Men showed up and they started fighting.." she cried. "One grabbed me but I got away and ran here."

"Do you know what happened to Kiba and Ryusei? Were they hurt?"

She nodded, "I don't know but they were bleeding.."

"Shit. I'm going to find them." Tet headed out of the room.

Andy wanted to go with but knew Kaia needed her. She took the girl and got her in the bath, cleaning the blood off of her.

"KENJI!" Tet's desperate voice rang into the bathroom.

Andy finished drying Kaia before going to find out what happened.

Tet cradled Ryusei, struggling to staunch a hemorrhaging neck wound. There was a covered stretcher a few feet away.

Kenji arrived at a run, his face turning white at the scene. He quickly stretched out his hand, but nothing happened. "It's enspelled! I can't break it!"

Andy moved to Ryusei, holding her hands out and focusing. After a few moments, he started glowing.

When it stopped, he lay unconscious in Tet's arms, the injury gone.

Andy took a deep breath in relief.

Tet rose, holding the boy close. "He needs blood." Kenji watched them go, then turned to look at the stretcher. He slowly moved and uncovered it. He drew back as Kiba was revealed. The warrior had been gutted, blood saturating everything.

Andy gasped as she saw him, tears filling her eyes.

Kenji took a deep breath, extending his hand. The blue light enveloped the body as the Fae focused. After a few minutes, he cried out as a red light traveled up his arm. Both lights winked out as Kenji swayed and blood spilled from his lips. He looked at Andy before falling face first to the floor.

Andy knelt and cradled Kenji. She focused, her light glowing around him. When it faded, she moved him and then went back to Kiba. She focused on trying to heal and revive him. She felt a bit dizzy as she did, but continued, trying to save him.

The wound began to disappear as his chest slowly rose. He gave a series of coughs before resuming normal breathing.

Kenji's eyes cracked open. "Are you alright? The wounds..enspelled with poison.."

"I'm fine, don't worry." She knelt by him, "We need to get you help."

Tet reentered, his eyes going wide. "What happened?"

"Kenji said the wounds were enspelled with poison.."

"They'll be okay, right? Ryu seems to be fine other than the blood loss." He checked Kiba, then motioned for several guards. "Get them both to the infirmary."

A minute later, he was alone with her. "Who do you think did this?"

She shook her head, "I don't know."

He pursed his lips. "Kaia said they tried to grab her, but why? Kidnapping, assassination or just straight up murder?"

Andy frowned, "I don't know, but we should increase security around her.."

He sighed and nodded. "I'll make sure of it. The fact that the weapons were enspelled worries me more. Someone really wanted them dead."

"Yeah.. I don't know what to do. Where would they even get enspelled weapons?"

"A wizard. It would be quite expensive though, just to take out two men and a young girl. There has to be something more to this."

She sighed again, "They probably want to take me out too. If they want to take over the kingdom."

Tet growled. "Over our dead bodies." He took her arm. "I'm not letting you out of my sight unless absolutely necessary. Let's go check on them."

Andy nodded and headed toward the infirmary.

As the two of them disappeared, a shadowy man detached himself from the wall.

"She healed all three of them without any problem. We may have to change our strategy." He murmured into a glowing orb.

An inaudible whispering answered and he bowed. "As you command." He made the orb disappear, then gave an evil smile. "Just wait Queen. Soon all of you will be gone." He headed toward the door with a laugh, then vanished.

Andy stared at the men in the infirmary, worry evident on her face.

The doctor approached slowly. "My Queen."

"How are they?"

"Very weak. The poison remnants have been analyzed. It appears to not only hinder clotting, but destroys blood cells as well. Your gift has neutralized it. But they are in shock and may yet die."

She nodded slowly.

"Andy.." Ryusei blinked at her slowly. "Kaia.."

"Kaia is alright," she assured.

"They killed..I tried to stop them." Tears formed in his eyes.

"Kiba is alive, but both of you had poison in your bodies which you are recovering from. Just rest for now and try not to worry."

He gave her a weak smile before losing consciousness again.

Tet's hands clenched. "When I find who did this…"

Andy sighed, "We need to find them so they don't hurt anyone again."

"I'm going to check the perimeter." He gave her a hurried kiss, then left the infirmary.

As he made his way to the guardhouse, he was waved forward by the man who'd been hiding in the throne room.

"Advisor Markus, I'm in a hurry. What do you need?"

"I heard about the attack on Princess Kaia. Is she alright?" The advisor gave him an ingratiating smile.

"She's fine, but her security is in the infirmary. I am heading out to find the attackers." Tet paused, his eyes narrowing. "Wait a minute, no-" Blood gushed from his lips as Markus plunged a dagger into his chest.

Tet stared at him in realization. "It's you…" He stiffened as the advisor jerked the dagger up violently, then collapsed to the floor.

Markus laughed. "Yes, you neanderthal. It's me." He stepped out of the path of the blood flowing from the wounded man, then turned and disappeared toward the infirmary.

Andy stood, watching them sleep. She prayed they'd be alright.

The door to the infirmary swung open and Markus entered, cleaning the dagger on a cloth. "Queen Andy. How caring you are, watching over the injured like a guardian angel."

Andy looked at him in alarm, backing up. "What do you want?"

"Your life." He smiled ferally. "Four of your men are down and the other two soon will be. Leaving you and the young princess as the only ones in our way."

"Why? What did we do to you?"

"You survived. The throne was supposed to be mine! That's why he sent the plague! You just couldn't die..but that is about to change." He raised an eyebrow as Ryusei stumbled toward them. "And what do you think you can do?"

Ryusei snarled, his countenance suddenly changing. His eyes glowed as well as his hands. He now had pointed ears. With a yell, he sent out a torrent of gold light toward the advisor. He froze as it died out before reaching Markus.

The advisor laughed and muttered something. Suddenly Ryusei flew backward, his head hitting the wall. His eyes registered shock as blood began trickling down his face. He tried to push himself up, but couldn't. His eyes rolled up and he crumpled to the floor.

Markus turned back to Andy. "Now that the annoying half breed is out of the way, you're next."

Andy took a deep breath, looking around for anything she could use as a weapon.

He grinned and began to approach her. The grin disappeared, a terrified look on his face as he burst into flame. He screamed, writhing in agony before disintegrating.

Andy stared in confusion.

"Are you alright?" Kenji came into view, swaying.

She nodded, "Thank you." She went to him and wrapped an arm around him to keep him upright.

"He said four of us were down.. Who's the other one?" He leaned on her as he struggled to breathe.

"I'll go look." She got him into bed before picking Ryusei up and setting him in a bed too. She healed him a few moments to stop his head from bleeding before rushing out of the infirmary.

She froze when she came to Tet. Kneeling beside him with tears in her eyes. She focused on him, trying to heal his injuries and revive him.

"Andy...Markus..he.." Tet coughed harshly.

"I know, it's alright now."

He clung to her, his eyes trying to remain open. "I don't want to leave you.."

"Just rest. I'll be with you when you wake back up." She moved to lift him and carry him to the infirmary.

His eyes were locked on her as they closed. She could feel his pulse fluttering under her fingers.

She placed him in a bed before sitting down beside him. She looked over at the others for a few moments before staring at Tet.

Yamae and Ryon ran in, panic on their faces.

Andy looked at them, "Everything is okay. Where have you been?"

"Fighting to get to you." Ryon winced, hand going to his side and coming away bloody.

Yamae cursed and turned to help, revealing a large slash across his back.

Andy moved to get supplies, working on cleaning them up.

A rush of air swept by her, throwing both of them into the wall. They lay still as it faded away.