Arliss looked Mayday over, carefully lifting one wing, then another. He walked around her, lifting her hands and inspecting her talons, then tapped her jaw to get her to open her mouth.
"That's my wife, baby brother, not a horse." Arlen complained from where he sat, arms folded over his chest.
The Rare Hunters had returned to the yacht, Vera in tow, to find Lexie waiting for them, obviously nervous. She'd told them Arlen and Mayday had just flown in and needed to talk to them.
Flown being the key word.
"Interestin'." Arliss said as he inspected Mayday. "Its similar to the fusion I undergo with my ninjas to summon the Ninja Hunter…but this is almost…engrained in your cells. Your true form…" He stepped back, eyes flashing as the image of the Strike Ninja appeared around him, before he transformed into the ninja hunter. "Mine is like stepping into a costume…by yours is deeper." He transformed back.
Mayday retracted the wings and fangs, accepting a robe from Arlen. After bundling herself up tight, she retreated to the comfort of Arlen's embrace, the Guardian of the Hunters murmuring softly to his wife.
Nessa grit her teeth. "Anarchy…the same being that made you in a previously life, Arlen?"
"The same." Arlen said coldly. "Anarchy loves to turn people into his soldiers, transform them into weapons of darkness."
"Uh…ain't that what we do?" Hayden asked. The group looked at him and he held up his hands. "No offense, but last I checked, I didn't have glowing black eyes naturally. And I've seen pictures of Vanessa Fox…"
Nessa snarled. "Finish that and die." She warned.
"Hayden is right, though." Arlen said. "Arliss…did Marik ever explain in his diary where he learned how to perform the dark rebirth?"
Arliss considered this. "He merely said it was from ancient texts…you think that it was from Anarchy?"
"Or one of his generals." Arlen said. "Either way, I know what both feel like…yours is a lot nicer to the body."
"Anarchy implants evil." Mayday said, still a little shaken from the ordeal. Arlen and her dinner had been ruined, as she couldn't force herself to leave his touch for a few moments before panicking. "You just remove conscious, make it easier to do what we want…"
Hayden frowned. "What do ya mean, lass?"
Arliss considered this carefully. "I have no idea if this is the same for you, Hayden, as you got zapped by the shadow realm, not me. Lexie sounds like she experienced a similar thing as us. With me, Arlen, Mayday, Cass and Nessa, I used my power to strength our dark sides enough to make them sentient. Our original selves…call it a soul or humanity; agree to let the dark side run the show, while they just enjoy the benefits. Doesn't hurt their conscious because they blame it on the darkside."
Mayday nodded. "Samantha is definitely like that."
Hayden nodded. "Ya…just feels like something got blasted out of me…I'm not hard core destruction like you guys, but I definitely don't mind letting you guys handle it…maybe I was…merged?"
"Possibly."
Lexie shook her head. "Different for me too. Jaden did the same to me…but he destroyed my original self. I barely have any memories of being Alexis Rhodes. I mean…I know who she was…but it feels like I was born the day Jaden zapped me. There is nothing else there."
"So we have a crazed titan-god after us?" Souta muttered, having finally returned from convincing his sister and Inuyasha that we wasn't insane. "Wonderful."
"Gets worse." Lexie muttered. "The White Society has a bug in their bonnet when it comes to capturing us."
"…a bug in their bonnet?" Missy asked. "Really?"
Lexie gave her the middle finger. "The point is, I was out buying baby clothes, getting a really cute leather coat for Orlando…"
"Wasn't it a girl yesterday…a girl you were naming Dakota?" Dhmitri asked.
"Whatever." Lexie said, "The point is, when I should have been focused on little Maxamis, I get attacked by my stupid white half!"
Arliss frowned. "She hurt ya?"
"Only annoyed."
"Arlen, hold the murder, just torture the bitch."
Arlen took out an IPhone. "Before or after the President of France?"
"Before." Arliss stated. He began to pace. "There's nothing we can do while we are on this boat. Once we reach land, we need to begin making plans to deal with both of our enemies."
"Except Marco." Lexie said.
"Huh?" The rest of them said.
"He's with the White Society, but he is different from then…he's mine to deal with." Lexie stated.
"…fine." Arliss said coldly. "Back to your rooms…and prepare."
&
"My apologies, Lord Sartorious." Alexis said, kneeling before her master. "My corrupted doppelganger managed to surprise me, but it will not happen again."
Sartorious looked at the Tarot card he'd drawn, examining it. "Death." He held it up. "Marco played a role?"
"Without him, my dark half would have destroyed me." Alexis said.
"Is this true, Marco?" Sartorious asked.
"What do the cards tell you?" Marco sneered, leaning against the door jam.
Sartorious frowned. "I would watch your tone, Marco…it is not wise to take such an attitude with me."
Marco never once reacted. "The same can be said of you, Sartorious."
"That is Lord Sartorious!" Chazz said coldly. "You will learn to address him as such…"
Before Chazz could utter another word, Marco was on him, a short blade at younger duelist's throat, pressed hard enough into the flesh to cause blood to ooze onto the metal. Marco leaned in, eyes dark.
"Only the gods and their kin may be called Lord or Lady in my presence. Your master, Sartorious, is a fool that dabbles with powers no mortal should." Marco glared at Sartorious. "And I do not take leave of my senses. I saved this pathetic excuse for a girl…" He glared at Alexis, "when she should have died at the hands of that other…Lexie. I do not ask for honor, but I do ask for respect. I have been shown none…if this continues, I will have to make changes." He threw Chazz into a wall. "Never forget, Sartorious, you live because the gods demand it. I personally would see you die. When they come to their senses, I will kill you."
Sartorious shook his head. "I do not foresee this. And I do not foresee the gods changing their alliance…they are on my side, not yours."
"Sartorious!" Antonio called out, rushing past Marco and falling to his knees. "Vera has been taken by the Rare Hunters!"
Marco chuckled. "It seems the gods do not stand by Vera…and who did she side with, Sartorious…you or me?" Marco made his way towards the door. "I am taking Brutus and retiring to the Holst…my business is on the Academy Island. Do not contact me until I give the ok…I have matters larger then you."
Antonio glared at the boy. "He needs to be taken care of…allow me, my lord."
Sartorious shook his head. "Focus on Vera…she must be returned to us. I will have others deal with Marco."
&
Anarchy roared, throwing his throne across the banquet hall, gaining little joy as it shattered. Viola and Hyper watched on, not sure what to do as their creator raged against his palace.
Adrian leaned towards Sola. "Rough day?"
"Puck was killed by one of our former horsemen…and we lost our newest one."
"…bummer." Adrian said.
"Of course it is a bummer." Anarchy snarled sarcastically. "All my plans are going to pot!" He punched his fist into the floor, creating a massive crater. "So shut your mouth before I rip your jaw off."
"Try it, fool." Adrian said coldly, taking a step forward. Zane remained ready in case his master called upon him, while Sola did her best to restrain Adrian. "Let me go, woman. It is about time some one showed this idiot a thing or two."
"I was around before the first vampire was made, half breed." Anarchy taunted. "It is only by Sola's will that you live."
Adrian's eyes flashed purple. "The same can be said of you, Anarchy."
The titan-god snarled, moving towards his brother-in-law.
"Adrian, that is enough!" Sola said sternly. "Allow my brother to vent."
Adrian nodded. "That I will." He shrugged her away and made his move towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Sola asked, startled by his sudden about-face.
"Earth."
Sola frowned. "You can stay in the palace…"
Adrian laughed darkly. "Oh no, Sola…I will not stay where even my mate treats me second. You made your choice…I'm making mine." He ripped the door from its hinges and threw it aside. "Do not follow me." He said sternly.
"Adrian Kratos!" Sola snapped, rushing to stop him. She backed up when he roared, jaw unhinging and hundreds of large fangs burst from his gums.
"I SAID LET ME BE!" He roared, shoving her aside. He rolled his neck, face returning to normal. "You can stay with your brother…it is clear he is all that matters to you, Solaris." He allowed his wings to burst forth, taking flight away from his mate and her brother.
"Good riddance." Anarchy muttered, just before Sola socked him in the jaw.
"You…jackass!" She cried, tears streaming down her cheeks before she marched to her room. Viola and Hyper merely stared at the two before moving to comfort the saddened goddess.
Zane narrowed his eyes. "I have work to do on Earth, my master…"
"Go." Anarchy whispered. "Leave me to my grief." Zane disappeared in a blast of black flames. "Puck…my boy…I am sorry."
"Don't be too sad, my Lord." Sweet said, twirling his cane as he entered. "There are ways to make you feel better."
Anarchy glanced at his general. "And what is that?"
"First, allow me free reign to attack the Academy…let me make my musical." He leaned in. "And while I prepare…" the demon smirked, "you can attack Arlen where it hurts the most."
Anarchy grinned at that.
&
The moon hung high in the dark night sky, casting a brilliant light on the man known as Arliss Lockehart. He stood at the head of the boat, watching as the ship cut through the shadowy water.
Nessa walked towards him, jacket billowing around him as she moved to wrap her arms around his waste. "Pondering something, my love?" She asked, running a hand along his back.
Arliss stared off into the night. "There is something in the air, Nessa…something dangerous and chaotic."
"What do you sense?" She whispered, leaning in close.
"Change." Arliss said.
"Change?'
"The world is about to change, Nessa. I don't know how…but I feel the strings of transformation being plucked. It won't be long, I don't believe so…soon, very soon…something is nearing."
Nessa kissed the back of his neck. "Come back to bed…we can destroy this change in the morning."
"That's just it…I don't know if this change is for ill or for gain." His accent faded, his wisdom shining through as his eyes went black.
Nessa had long known that Arliss could see things few could…the chosen master of the Diary of Marik, the King of Hunters was blessed with a sight none of them could understand. Nessa grew quiet, daring not to move as Arliss focused on the things the shadow realm whispered to him.
"I see Four Armies of the Stars. The first is of light, but not what others see. Corrupted, tainted light, that blinds instead of illuminates, forcing you on wrong paths instead of showing you the hidden ones. I see another of darkness, their king not yet taking the path of Lucifer, the brightest star fallen to disgrace. And yet another, a band of hunters, at their helm the master of the dark star. The fourth marches behind the moon and the noon sun, a mash of men and monsters. Others I see to in that final battle…the demon born under a foul star now free. The star of this academy thrown away. The blessed star of Romulas' father unites with Gaia's avatar, guards of the dark king's heir. And where is the master of the Palace beyond Twilight Star…where is Destiny's son? Will he choose those he must…the hunt begins…"
"That it does!"
Arliss shook himself from the vision in time to pull Nessa behind him, eyes narrowing.
"You must be Anarchy."
The mad titan-god smirked. "I see my Neo talks of me."
"His name is Arlen, my brother…you will never claim him."
Anarchy cocked his head. "Is that so…is this the part where you say you will use all your power to stop me? I hope so…I prepared for it!"
Arliss and Nessa screamed as chaos magic poured over them, causing their bodies to flash and sizzle. The Strike Ninja and Caius roared in outrage as they were sealed in their cards, black ooze twisting about the two before Anarchy rushed them, gripping each by the throat.
"You will never unite them, fools…my cycle ends now."
And with that, Anarchy threw Nessa and Arliss into the sea.