The triumphant return! Here's the long overdue update that college,colorguard and my ex-boyfriend prevented! I hope y'all like it and please give mereviews! Feedback makes the world go round! TATA!

Kratos looked somewhat curiously at Denise as Ahmond lifted her up into his arms.

"Hold on Denise!" Ahmond said a tear sliding down his cheek. Denise let out another scream.

"We've got to do something!" Anna cried. "She needs help!"

"She's been poisoned," Kratos said softly walking up to Ahmond and Denise. Ahmond backed away.

"Get away!" Ahmond snarled. Kratos merely stood there.

"That attitude won't save her," he said simply. "She's been stabbed with Nimora, a blade poison that causes her to hallucinate terrifying images and boils the blood slowly. It's used by Desian Grand cardinals."

Anna couldn't believe this. Who was this man? How did he know so much about this? There's definitely something not right… but if he saves Denise.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Ahmond spat.

"You'll know if she dies."

"Bastard!"

"Ahmond!" Anna snapped. "Stop it! We have no time to waste." She turned to Kratos and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Can you help her or not?"

Kratos stared back into her beautiful, pleading, brown eyes and saw the despair that lingered there. She was so young; barely eighteen, and she had taken on the full responsibilities of a full-grown leader. But that was to be expected. Her parents had probably all their children trained in combat sooner than trained in walking. She was alone in the world and all she had was her two friends, and a sister that was less than the scum of the earth. If his plan was going to work, then he would have to help Denise. Although he probably would have anyway.

"I'm not sure," Kratos said tearing his eyes away from Anna's. "I need to find the blade that pierced her…"

"What does it look like?" Anna asked searching around on the ground near the spot Denise was found.

"It'll be black instead of silver and have remnants of a dark substance on it…"

"Got it!" Anna cried victoriously thrusting a blade into his hand.

"That's it!" he said. He placed his hand on the blade and closed his eyes, muttering to himself. Suddenly the blade glowed blue.

"Lay her down and find the wound," he said suddenly holding the blade at the ready.

"There," said Ahmond pointing at the bloody gash in her chest. Kratos paused and looked from Anna whose brown eyes were wide and fearful, to Ahmond who had sheer torture in every line of his face.

"I'm sorry Ahmond," Kratos said softly.

"For what?"

Swift as lightning Kratos brought the blade down, leaving a long gash in Ahmond's arm, and before Ahmond could react, Kratos thrust the blade, wet with Ahmond's blood, deep into Denise's wound.

Denise let out an ear-piercing scream, shuddered violently, and lay still, as the Nimora blade vanished in a wisp of smoke.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER!" Ahmond yelled advancing on Kratos.

"…Ahmond?" moaned Denise from the ground holding her head.

"Oh thank goodness she's alright," Anna gasped. Ahmond picked Denise up.

"If you EVER-" he spat but Anna cut him off.

"We are clearly in his debt Ahmond. How about a thank you?"

"Kiss my a-"

"Do not speak to your leader in that tone," said Kratos out of nowhere.

"Let's just get Denise to Asilaj…" Anna said.

"I assure you that the Desians will never again hurt our people…Forcystus and his men will pay!"

Anna ended her speech to gleeful cries of hope and victory as she stood on the elevated platform in the center of Asilaj. Ahmond and 3 other assassins stood as her body guards…Denise was absent as she was recovering in the sick house.

Kratos heard the far off sounds of Anna's speech from his hut in the forest. It was a small hut to house would-be assassins until they passed their initiation. That way, traitors couldn't divulge their secrets.

He had to admit, Anna had an impressive streak of leadership in her… but her lack of maturity showed in her reckless fighting and her continuous habit of falling right into the Desians hands. She needed help and badly.

Kratos strapped on his sword and strode out of the hut. He wasn't fond of sitting around.

Well, he thought, several small victories for me today. I finally caused fear for Forcystus, I've let Cruxis behind, and I've managed to gain the trust of the leader of the Jalisa assassins. Not bad…for a monster.

Kratos sighed. It always came when he was alone. An overwhelming burden of guilt swept over him like a familiar blanket…but no blanket was so heavy, so unwanted, or so bloodstained.

Get a hold of yourself man! He mentally shook himself. What I did two years ago is done and I cannot change it! I've put it behind me! I'm moving on!

But what about those you wronged? said a nasty voice in his head, Have they put it behind them?

No.

Then you will never be free!

"I know!" Kratos shouted in an uncharacteristic display of rage.

"We know you know," said a sly, sarcastic voice from behind Kratos. "Indeed the expanses of your knowledge are unparalleled!"

Kratos spun around drawing his sword.

"Yuan." He said calmly, standing up straight and sheathing his word.

"Kratos." His former best friend and comrade in arms returned.

"You rarely make it a custom to dwell in the world of 'inferior beings'," Kratos said with a nasty spin on the words. "What are you doing here?"

Yuan sneered. "Just thought I'd see where you've been these last few months. Are the rumors of a mysterious mercenary roaming the land, halting Desian executions false?"

Kratos kept his face emotionless. "Stop skirting around the issue. What do you want?"

"I have a message from Lord Yggdrasill." Kratos's stomach twisted with anger.

"I don't care-"

But Yuan spoke over him. "Return to Cruxis now...or die."