A week later…

"Man, did you hear the rumors?"

"What rumors?"

"They say Arliss Lockehart is trying to make a brand new dorm, run entirely by student."

"Why would he want to do that."

"I heard that he got in a fight with Dr. Crowler and decided to move out of the Blue Dorm and start his own. Apparently, Crowler has a thing for him…"

"This isn't another one of those 'Dr. Crowler is a pedophile' rumors, is it? Because I've heard enough 'Prof. Banner is screwing his cat' rumors…what is with everyone and the sex rumors?"

"I don't know about that, but I heard he's already recruiting people. You remember Vanessa? Or should I call her Nessa? Anyway, she's part of the new dorm."

"Is that why they wear those purple coats?"

"I bet so! Hey, I wonder what the dorm name is?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know…all the dorms are named after the Egyptian God Cards. There are no more…so what will they call the new dorm?"

"Except for the Blitzkrieg Silver Elite Dorm. That was named after the Blitzkrieg Commander. Maybe Arliss will pick another monster like that?"

"I hear that Samantha Ciro joined the dorm too…and Candace Misawa."

"Isn't she going by Cassandra now?"

"Yea…man, a dorm made up of almost all woman? How do I sign up?"

"ask Hayden…I heard he joined too."

"Well duh…what else did you expect…"

"Quiet." The gang of Ras turned to see Hayden standing behind them, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed as he glared down at them. "Spread more lies? I suggest you lads leave…"

"And if we don't?"

"Shut up!" Another Ra hissed. "You want to duel Arliss? The guy wiped the floor with his proctor. And if this guy is with Arliss…"

"Fine…we'll go." The Ra said, the group standing up and quickly making their way out of the cafeteria. Hayden sat down where they had been sitting, sighing as he looked about the near empty eating area.

'Always been alone before, haven't I?' He thought sadly. 'Granted, use to be because no one wanted to be around me…now it's because everyone is afraid I'll go tattle to my new 'best bud' Arliss, and they will all have to face him. God, their more afraid of duelin' that lad then they are of duelin' me. If that ain't pathetic.'

Hayden sighed, rubbing his forehead. 'I've become a joke. People won't talk to me because of who I am dating, and the only reason Arliss hasn't slit my throat is because he wants to use me as a pawn in his sick little game. And my girlfriend doesn't seem to mind the fact that her and her entire family are actin' like villains from a bad Bond movie!'

Pulling out his deck, he looked over his cards carefully. 'Been a long time since I've used you guys, huh? I don't think I've even dueled since I took on Candace.' He paused, thinking things over. 'Come to think of it…I haven't done a lot of things I normally do. No RPGs, no internet surfing…the last few weeks have all been about Cassandra.' Nodding to himself, Hayden stood up and marched out of the cafeteria. 'I think it's time I got back to basics.'

&&&

"Sy, would you mind calming down for a moment? Your making the bed wiggle."

Syrus looked down at his hand, which was gripping the rail of Jaden's bed. His entire arm was shaking hard, and he had to force his muscles to still.

"Sorry Jay…it's just…"

"I know Sy, I know…don't worry about it, though. Tonight we are going back to the castle and we are getting your brother and Dr. Crowler back."

"I know we will." Syrus said. 'Because I'm going to make sure of it…'

"Hey, how are you feeling Jaden?" Alexis asked, entering the room. "I have some guests that want to say hello." Opening the door wider, she allowed Souta, Johnny and Hector to enter.

"Hey guys!" Jaden said with a grin as his fellow slifers entered the room. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Sí, amigo." Hector said, sitting down next to Johnny, holding the duelist's hand. "We have been looking for you for quite some time…we began to think you were ditching us!"

"Nah, man, just been up to my neck in things."

"Should have known." Souta said. "Wouldn't have anything to do with the rumors of shadow riders, would it?"

"Shadow Riders…what shadow riders?" Jaden asked with a weak laugh.

"Yea, like that is totally believable." Johnny snarked. "Cut the crap, Jaden. We all have heard how you and the spit-fire here are trying to save the world."

"Spit-fire?" Alexis asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Do not mind him, chica." Hector said. "Mi novio prefers to spout off without thinking."

"I am who I am." Johnny said with a shrug.

"But at least admit that we have encountered a lot of strange new duelists." Souta said. "Like the guy that put you in the hospital…or the vampire lady everyone is talking about. And then there is the angels."

"Angels?" Alexis, Syrus and Jaden asked together.

"Sí, ángeles. There are two, a hombre and a mujer. They wait by the docks, the Ra Yellow ones? They switch at times, the hombre and the mujer. And if you duel them and win, they give you rare cards."

"Has anyone beaten them yet?" Alexis asked.

"No. But if you loss, they do not take your cards. Sometimes, they even give you a common card for your trouble. Or, so I have heard."

Jaden frowned. "And what makes you think they are angels?"

"They supposable talk to the gods." Johnny said. "And they have a heavenly glow. According to the rumors."

"Well, I think we should go challenge them to a duel!" Syrus said, leaping up from his seat and heading towards the door. Alexis and Jaden exchanged a look before leaping up, Jaden hurrying to pull on his clothing over his pjs.

"No offense Sy…but are you feeling ok?" Alexis asked.

"What do you mean, Alexis?"

The girl frowned. "Just not use to seeing you race off to duel someone."

"Yea, you usually like to run away from duels, not towards them." Jaden said.

Syrus grew serious. "I need to do this…those angels is offering rare cards, guys. One of those cards…they might help…they might…"

Alexis laid a hand on Syrus' shoulder, stilling his progress. "We are going to get Zane back, Syrus."

"I know we are…because I'm going to do it." The slifer red duelist said sternly, shaking off the hand and heading outside.

"Suppose we should follow him?" Alexis asked.

"Can't hurt…need to keep him out of trouble."

"Hey guys…" Chumley said, jogging towards them. "Where are you guys off in such a hurry?"

"We're trying to catch up to Syrus. He's going to challenge someone to a duel. He wants to get some new cards so he can challenge the vampire that is stalking the academy." Alexis said.

"oh." Chumley said. "Really, what are you doing?"

&&&

Nessa stared at the closed door, wondering if she had some latent x-ray vision power that would kick on if she just worked hard enough at seeing through something. Unfortunately, all she could see was the wood that made up the door, and not what was going on behind it.

It had been a week since Samantha Ciro had shown up at their doorstep, wanting to help them take down Alexis. A week since Nessa and Arliss had privately meet with the girl and discussed what they wanted to do. A week since Arliss had told Nessa to go get Samantha a glass of water, only to return and find her gone and for the first time a room in the mansion she was forbidden to enter.

It was the forbidden part that had her head spinning.

Arliss had never closed himself off to her, except on two occasions. The first being when she had asked what his endgame was. All he would say was that it would be within the year, and they would become the strongest duelists in the world. When pressed for more, Arliss had resorted to the evil game of kissing her neck until she couldn't think straight.

She had managed to piece together some of it. His endgame involved each of them, and their own talents. With Arliss, it was his mind. With Cassandra, it was her mechanical skills that were repairing the machines that sat in the caves below them. Arliss had stressed to Cass that they needed to be working very soon. And with herself, it was her art skills. Arliss had been asking her opinion on all sorts of drawings, asking her to draw strange creatures and warriors and gadgets at times, then hurry off with them. And she knew that Mayday and Arlen played a key role.

That was the second time Arliss had locked her out of his mind: The identities of Arlen and Mayday were hidden. He had told her, when she asked where they were, that they were deep undercover…and that she had met them in passing.

She had her guesses. Arlen was a teacher, she knew that. He was too old to be a student…Nessa, Cassandra and Arliss barely could pass for 16 now. The shadow realm magic had aged them to their 18s, and their bodies showed it. Arlen, being almost 20, would have reached his peak of aging by now, looking 24 years old, give or take. With the influx of new faculty, it would be easy for Arlen to sneak in…

'Then there is Mayday. Who knows who he is?' She thought. 'Could be anyone…could be Johnny, or Hector, or Souta, or Hayden or any of the new students. Hell, he could be as old as Arlen and be one of the teachers too. Stilton and Milo both seem off…'

"Wot ya doin', mum?" Cassandra asked, her duster fluttering slightly as she walked towards her adopted mother. "Did the door make ya mad, mum?"

"No…Arliss is in there with Samantha."

"screwing?"

"WHAT?" Nessa shouted.

"Wot…I just assumed…"

"No they are not screwing!" Nessa shouted. She turned towards the door, glaring at the wood. "At least they better not be!"

"Since when can I screw without making a sound?" Arliss shouted back. "I'm trying to finish up in here…would you tone it down?"

"'e don't sound none to 'appy." Nessa said.

"He's doing something in there with Samantha…something he doesn't want us to know about…and so help me, if you say screwing…" Nessa warned, cutting her daughter off.

"Alright, mum, alright!" Cass laughed. "I am sure we will find out what da is doing soon enough. For now, we should busy ourselves."

Nessa raised an eyebrow. "We? Seems I'm the only one without a man…where is Hayden?"

Cassandra grew quiet. "He…wanted to go spend some time by himself…he doesn't like to play Kingdom Hearts with me watching, I tend to yell to much…it distracts him, you know…"

"He told you to buzz off and give him space, huh?"

"…yea." She finally said, looking off in space. "I mean, wot's up wit that, mum? Why 'e need time away from me?"

"Well, you have to admit…you have been spending a lot of time together. Everyone needs time apart. What is that horrible line? 'Separation makes the heart grow fonder.'?

Cassandra frowned, kicking at the wood trim. "Don't mean I've ta like it."

"Besides…I think Hayden's a little freaked out, what with your father deciding to make him a rare hunter and all."

"Yea…'e didn't seem 'appy about that."

Nessa shrugged as she moved away from the door, leaving Arliss to do as he wished with Samantha Ciro. "Can't imagine he would be…Hayden isn't like us, Cassandra. He hasn't suffered the crushing embarrassment and pain that we have." She paused, coming to a decision. "I scanned his mind."

"…wot?"

Nessa smiled sadly. "You really think your father was the only one worried about you? He might have used his powers to stalked Hayden, but I used them to look deep into his heart and mind. And what I saw…well, maybe there is a reason your father felt he could be a good rare hunter. Your father…he doesn't have my powers, but he can sure read people."

"Wot did ya see, mum?" Cass asked.

"Hayden is confused when it comes to power."

"'uh?"

"What do you know about Hayden's mother, Cassandra?"

"Not much…'e said 'e stayed with 'er over Christmas break…'e doesn't like his da much…"

"No wonder…Cassandra, Hayden's mother is dead."

Cassandra's eyes grew wide, staring in horror at her mother. "That…that can't be true."

"It is…I saw his memories…Cassandra, he stayed in a graveyard during Christmas break. Everyday…he would just sit there."

"But…"

"His father killed her." Nessa said. "Hayden's mom. He got drunk one night and hit her…Hayden tried to stop him, but he ended up with a broken nose for his efforts." Cassandra trembled, remembering the one time she had asked about his nose, assuming he had just been in a fight. "Hayden doesn't know what the feel, Cassandra. On one hand, he thinks if he had been stronger, he could have saved his mother's life. He could have restrained his father…hit him back.

"But he also fears power. Liam McGregor, Hayden's father, is the town mayor…the police looked the other way after the murder. They called it unintentional, an accident. Hayden has seen the dark side of power, and he knows how easy it can corrupt.

"He has no idea what he wants: To have power, or shun it. And until he decides, he will be torn apart."

"Ain't there nothin' we can do?" Cass asked.

"Give him time, Cassandra. Give him time."

&&&

"It's up ahead." Alexis said, leading the gang through the forest.

"Are you sure?" Chumley asked.

"Positive…Syrus, how could you think that to get to the docks you needed to go through the woods?"

"I thought it was a short cut." Syrus said sheepishly.

"A shortcut…going away from the water?"

"Would you let it go?" Syrus whined.

Jaden turned his head, listening carefully. "I hear something…I think we're here!" Hurrying through the brush, the group stormed through the forest and out onto the small section of grass that made the boarder between the forest and the beach. And that is when they heard it.

"Vesti la giubba, e la faccia in farina. La gente paga, e rider vuole qua."

"Do you hear that?" Alexis hissed. "Someone is singing!"

"E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina, ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!"

"Not very well." Jaden said, confused. "Can't understand a word of that goobley gook."

"Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto; in una smorfia il singhiozzo il dolor, Ah!"

Alexis sighed. "It's Opera…it's coming from up ahead." The gang hurried along the sand, following the singing until they came upon the singer. He was dressed in a black suit and redress shirt, singing passionately as a woman in a white dress watched on, joy written upon her face. "I think…I think those are the angels!"

"Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto!"

"Great, they only speak angelese." Chumley muttered.

"Italian." Alexis corrected.

"Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!" The man sang, his voice growing quiet as the waves lapped at his shows.

"Oh Marco…you sing Pagliacci so well." The woman said softly. "They must be mad for not including you in last years performace."

"I believe it is my fault, Vera." Marco said with a chuckle. "I did just beat the head of the troupe's lover in a duel…he is jealous and foolish. Let them have their fat fool sing the part…he shamed them all."

"That he did…but look now, Marco. We have guests, special guests indeed."

"Uh…hello there." Jaden said sheepishly, giving a small wave. "This is going to sound strange…but are you the angels everyone is talking about?"

"Sì, we are them, Signor Yuki."

"Oh, well that's…wait, you know our names?"

Vera chuckled. "We have a great interest in you. All of you…Syrus, Chumley…Alexis was an unexpected but she is welcome none-the-less."

"When you say…take an interest…" Alexis asked.

"Just wanted to place a face with the doll." Marco said with a friendly smile. "It is hard to tell the family resemblance, what with comparing clothe to flesh…but I see it, Signor Truesdale…I see it."

"What?" Syrus whispered. "What did you say?"

"You…you two are Shadow riders?" Alexis asked in growing horror.

Marco spat on the ground. "Do not insult us. We are Dueling Assassins, hired to eliminate duelists in such horrific defeats…they never duel again." He frowned. "Camula…she has…how you say…own way, of doing things. We told her to make sure that her opponents, they never dueled again. And well, she had her own ways of doing that."

"Your…you're the one that sent Camula after Prof. Crowler and Zane?" Chumley stammered.

"We sent her after Zane. Crowler was just a bonus." Vera chuckled.

Alexis narrowed her eyes in anger. "You're in control of the Shadow Riders?"

"We are merely in charge of the ground forces." Vera said.

"You're the ones…my brother…Zane…" Alexis trembled, charging forward in a dead run. "YOU BASTARDS!" The rest of her friends could only watch on as Alexis spirited towards the two Italians, fist raised. She shifted to her side, zeroing in on Vera, only to be snapped back by Marco's hand. The man shoved her forward, raising his right hand and smacking her down.

"No one…" He snarled, kicking her hard in the gut. "touches my Vera." He looked up at Jaden, his entire being transformed in that moment. The jovial, charming man was replaced by a dark, violent creature; primal and deadly. He glared from under his brow, a feral grin on his face. "You wonder…how can I hurt this woman? How I can claim to be an angel, and yet strike her down? I am an angel…but I am not one of your saints."

Jaden took a step forward, only to freeze as Vera pulled a Browning High Power 9mm semi-automatic handgun and pointed it right at him. "I would think before doing such a thing, Signor Yuki." She waved the barrel at Alexis' form. "Now pick her up, and let us get down business."

&&&

"Would you girls join me in the livin' room? I want ta show you my pet project."

Cassandra and Nessa both looked up from their own pet projects: Nessa painting a demonic looking warrior descending from some clouds, Cassandra working on part of a circuit board. Neither were sure exactly why Arliss wanted these things, and they were beginning to suspect he was just giving them busy work. But, for whatever the reason, they continued.

Setting her brushes aside, Nessa removed her painting coat and slipped on her duster, moving gracefully out of work room and towards the living room. Cassandra arrived a few minutes later, having shed her overhauls and put back on her super small hot pants and belly-baring tee with purple coat.

Taking their seats on the couch, the two watched as Arliss strode in, obviously pleased with himself. A smile adorned his face, and his body language screamed 'cocky'. Standing before them, he gave them each a quick look before addressing them.

"I know both of you have been wonderin' what I have been doin' in that room this here last week. In fact, I know because I could hear both ya talkin' about it this afternoon!" The girls had the decency to look away. "Well, I figured it was time I let you both in on the end result." Turned his head, he looked over at the darkened hallway behind him. "Sammy, you mind comin' out?"

Samantha Ciro strolled into the room, her body rigid and tight as she walked towards Arliss' side. Her body was unchanged, a surprise for the girls. They had expected Arliss to be working his shadow realm magic on her, making her like them. But Samantha was the same as she had been a week ago, body wise.

As for dress, that was one area was she was different. She wore a pair of painted on leather pants and a shredded blouse that barely covered her breasts. Her feet were covered by a pair of stylish purple boots. And her hands, on them were leather gauntlets, the ends tipped with razor sharp metal, a mock version of her harpies' own claws.

Standing next to Arliss, her arms folded over her chest, the girls could only stare into Samantha's eyes, the most telling change. Where once there had been light and an inner fie there was only a glassy stare. All signs of intelligence….gone.

"You…you erased her mind." Nessa whispered.

"She'll do whatever we command her too. Right now, her only focus is our protection. But if I told her to kill the prime minister of The United Republic of New Funkistan, she would be out of here and finding a gun."

"But…why da?" Cassandra asked. "We know she's a spy…but why this?"

Arliss frowned. "It had to be done…all part of the plan."

"The plan?" Nessa asked.

"I have been building to this moment for over a year. Arranging all the pieces to bring about my endgame: My dear Nessa, my darlin' daughter Cassandra, and now Samantha Ciro. With you three, we are only missing two final pieces. And they are close at hand. Within one month, I shall begin my final plan, and we will become all powerful."

"But…what are your final pieces?"

Arliss chuckled. "The first should be obvious…I mean, he's the only other rare hunter I've brought into the group."

"'ayden?" Cassandra asked in shock. "He's…"

"I planned from the beginning of this school year to bring Hayden into the hunters. I just never assumed you, my darlin', would fall in love with him. A plus, I must admit. With his loyalty to you, it will make it harder to refuse us."

Cassandra frowned. With what her mother had told her…it didn't sit well in her stomach that her father might see her boyfriend as a means to an end.

Or that he only saw her as one.

In the next moment, Arliss was kneeling next to her, stroking her cheek. "None f that, darlin'. Yea, I planned to bring Hayden in…but doesn't mean that I would treat him any different then I do you. I don't make the same mistakes of Marik…I know you must make a family. And that is what I am doin' here. Sammy…she's something different. Understand that."

"I do, da." Cassandra said.

"Arliss." Nessa said. "Who is the other piece?" The other person that will lead to the endgame?"

Arliss frowned. "The last obstacle. I need only duel one person, and with a defeat, bring this school to their knees." He glanced over at Samantha. "Alexander Milo."

Next Time on G/X: Hunters- Syrus begins his duel with Vera, hoping that a win will mean gaining the card needed to defeat Camula. And he is willing to do what it takes, bringing out his Ambulance Rescueroid to finish the Italian duelist off. But when Vera activates the spell card The Rise of Rome, it will be all Syrus can do to survive.

Author's Note: A one week delay so I could make sure I got the duel perfect. Also, the song Marco sings is from the famous opera Pagliaccio. You might know it as the song Sideshow Bob sang on the Simpsons when they went to Italy.