Suntiger: Hey gang, this isn't the last chapter. Wait till the next one.

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Running into the enemy

I was terrified. I mean, who wants to bump into the person who wants them dead? Surprisingly, I wasn't running away. I actually had gained confidence in myself over the time I was here. Strange what aliens can do to you. A loud crash went off in the left direction. I nearly jumped out of my skin, but you know what I did instead? I jumped inside the wall. Not a fun experience, mind you, but it was necessary. My molecules spread out to allow me inside of the solid block.

A few minutes later, something ran by me. The figure stopped moving and time decided to be on my side for once. It was male. A tall scary one to be more precise. Green hair that spiked out, but not at all like Hiei's. Hiei's hair stuck up in the air. This dude's hair was flaring out low. I would nickname him mop head, but now is not the time to be thinking about such things. I watched his head turn to face me as if he could see me in my invisible form. Oceanic eyes glared at me and I could feel the hair on my neck rise.

"Hello, Varia."

Shiest! He knows my name. How does he know my name? Who told him my name! My breath was caught in my throat.

"I know you're there, Panthera. That is the codename they gave you right?" He smirked. My hands started twitching and suddenly I found myself falling out of the wall. I stood before him, solid and very visible. He grinned.

"So nice to see you," He said.

"Let me guess, you're the bad guy," I retorted.

"Only when I want to be," He laughed. My eyes narrowed at him. Flashes of the past murders he committed went across my memory. I was no longer afraid. I tilted my head and smirked.

"Oh, is that so?" I wasn't in control of myself anymore. My inside beast that was forced to come out during the battle with Azura was forming, and she wanted out. I gave him a cocky smile.

"I was hoping to meet up with you," I continued. It was his turn to give me a smile. It wasn't a dangerous one. In fact, it was a flirtatious one.

"Well, it seems you got your wish," He answered. I made a purring sound. The kind that would make guys believe that they have you falling in love with them, but in the woman's mind she's thinking about something else. I was thinking about revenge. He caused Solace pain and he killed Shiva. Why not play with his head for a while?

"I'm so pleased." I was summoning my powers. My black hair was already getting ruby highlights in them. My eyes contained two swirls of color in the iris. Brown was smashing against gold.

"I suppose that this is the form you take while using your spirit energy?" He asked me. I nodded. Ears peaked out of my hair and a tail whipped out.

"Cute," He smirked.

"Glad you approve." I was flirting with the enemy. Can someone please smack some sense back into me? I need to high tail out of here. This is so wrong. I have Hiei for God's sake! Times like these I'm relieved he's not here. He'd be so pissed. Cyrus faced me. He was good looking, but really not my type. I don't see what Solace saw in him. I mean, he has green hair! Cyrus folded his arms.

"Are you trying to play mind games?" Cyrus questioned.

"Aww, I take it that the bad man doesn't want to play with the nice kitty." I made a pitiful yet daring voice. Cyrus chuckled.

"It depends on what kind of playing you have in mind," He said. I grinned.

"Oh, you know what kind I'm playing." I walked around him just like a tiger would walk about its prey until it finally pounces. I so need to be smacked.

Cyrus was standing next to me and I could smell him. Have you tried to smell someone who just took a dump in the bathroom? Yea, and guess what he smelled like? Just like it. We were so close that he was able to put his index finger on my shoulder. He traced small circles on it. I ignored his natural body odor and got a whiff of his other scent. He was in heat.

Just my luck.

"And how far is the kitty planning to play?" I snorted. Either he was desperate enough to believe that I would sleep with him or he left his brain somewhere. However, I was going to take advantage of this.

"I don't know. I kinda like it rough." I bared my fangs.

"Give it a rest, Varia. I know you're a virgin." Cyrus rolled his eyes.

"I maybe a virgin, but I want it rough." Where the hell did I get this much courage? Celosia would have whipped his ass by now. Cyrus was losing his self control. His arms wrapped around my waist.

"How rough?"

My nails grew into sharp claws with pointed tips. I dug them into his skin and tore out some flesh. He cried out in pleasure. My mind was already screaming 'THIS IS SO GROSS! YUCK! GET AWAY FROM ME!'

Still, I was planning on hurting him in every way I could.

"That rough, eh?" I had dug my claw too far into his arm, but he didn't seem to care. I smiled. I lowered my head to his neck and purred. He pushed me away. He was glaring.

"Do you honestly think that I would even consider screwing you!" He shouted, "I know what you're doing, woman!"

"I sure hope so because I'm not the one in heat," I replied.

His face turned several shades of red. I don't think it was from humiliation, but rather anger. He went to grab my throat, but I was already out of range. I was standing on the opposite side of the hallway. I looked at my hand. It was still holding onto the flesh that I had ripped out. Cyrus sprinted towards me. I held up the hand that had his flesh. He came to a sudden stop.

"What are you doing?" He growled.

"Shut up." My voice was cold. I cat-walked toward him with my head tilted.

"Did you honestly believe that I wanted to sleep with you?" I kept my voice chilled with frosted hatred. I played with the flesh between my fingers. He started to scream, but I didn't care. Suddenly all of the hurting that Solace and Shiva suffered back then was inside of me. I felt their rage.

"You have the Gift of the Corpse," He wheezed. I nodded my head.

"So nice of you to notice." I was still toying with the flesh. He yelled every curse word under the sun while I just stood there laughing. How disturbing is this?

Hecate---

"Hey there, Daughter." Hecate smirked. She was expecting her mother to show up sooner or later.

"Mother." Hecate nodded in greeting.

"How long has it been since I last saw you?" Astera stepped into the room. It was the area in which Azura fought against the soul redeemer.

"Twelve thousand years, Mother. I have to wonder how you managed to live." Hecate stood up. Her creator looked exactly the way she remembered. Long purple hair that reached her waist and deep blood red eyes. Her face was a kind one, but Hecate knew that her inventor was no push-over. She could fight and she could win.

"Ah yes, I created a formula to stop my body from aging. After all, I wanted to see you again," Astera said.

"You care too much, Mother," Hecate replied.

"And you don't care enough. However, it seems that you have a strong bond with Varia," Astera smiled.

"She has allowed me to live within her. I know no other human who would permit that to happen. I am thankful to her. Therefore, I will protect her," Hecate answered. Astera nodded.

"I understand."

"Like you always do." The robot's face went back into its usual state. Unreadable and completely emotionless.

Celosia and Shiva---

"Damn it girl! Why did I have to be stuck with you!" The pyromaniac fumed. Shiva stuck out her tongue.

"Because Hecate said so."
"Where's Solace anyways?" Celosia looked around.

"I don't know. Maybe she's with her daughter," Shiva shrugged.

"Lovely. So what do you say? Wanna go destroy something?" Celosia grinned. Shiva glared at her companion.

"What? I'm sorry but I'm bored!" She whined.

"Why don't we just go looking for the others? V-chan might be in danger," Shiva suggested. Celosia frowned.

"All right. Let's go on a search party."

"That won't be necessary." Smoke surrounded the duo in seconds. Shiva chuckled as Celosia remained grinning.

"Do you think they know we're just spirits?" Shiva laughed as two female figures stood in front of them.

"So, we finally get some action Shiva!" Celosia cracked her knuckles.

"Well, aren't you going to introduce yourselves?" Shiva questioned.

"Viper, get rid of them."

"Yes, Venom." The girl named Viper brought out her katana. Venom disappeared into the shadows of the wall.

"This is going to be fun," Celosia said.

Shiva stepped away from the pyromaniac as she prepared for battle. Celosia's hair turned into currents of yellow, orange and red flames. Her eyes glowed crimson. Viper's blade transformed itself into a small serpent and it then begun multiplying. Celosia was surrounded by snakes, but it's not like it bothered her.

"Scorching glare!" All you could see were Celosia's eyes staring into the primary snake.

The rest of the room went black. The serpent hissed in pain and all of them halted. The snakes shrieked as they burnt to ashes. Viper frowned. She didn't know that the spirits had their own powers. Her eyes rolled up into the back of her head and the whiteness of her eyes became green. A small dragon emerged from her forehead.

"Gross," Shiva said in disgust. Celosia shrugged. The dragon dashed onto the floor and after the two. Celosia only kept her gaze on the boa. Whatever happened to the snakes earlier happened to the dragon that was now racing after them. Viper's eyes became normal.

"How could you do that!" Viper seemed pissed.

"Never underestimate the power of the flames!" Celosia laughed. Shiva shook her head. She was letting the pyro have too much fun.

"I hope you weren't crowned the strongest warrior on Cyrus's side because if you are the strongest, then he's in deep shit," Celosia boasted. Viper growled in response. Shiva got up from where she was sitting.

"Hurry up, we have to find V-chan," Shiva told her.

"As you wish." Celosia's hands rose in front of her.

Shiva glared at her. She didn't mean kill her. She just wanted to find her V-chan, but before she could argue with the pyro something caught her eye. Venom was still watching them. For some reason Shiva thought if anyone should die, it should be her. She prayed for it to all end quickly.

"Boiling Disturbance!" Celosia's body radiated heat.

The temperature around her was so intense that Shiva had to back a few feet away. The sweltering temperature swirled off Celosia and onto her arms. The pyro took aim while using her arms for support. She released the energy against Viper. Shiva first heard the screaming and then smelled the aroma of burning body tissue. Not something you would want to smell. She reopened her eyes to see that Viper was now ash and Venom was gone.

Hecate ----

Hecate was having no trouble with dodging her mother's attempt to kill her. She smirked. She knew that her mother had planned to die in this battle, but wanted to go out with a bang. Astera was coming after her with all of her strength. She was going to tire out soon.

"You're not fighting me, Hecate," Astera huffed.

"Why should I? You are weaker than I am," Hecate stated.

"Oh? And this is coming from the person who died," Astera chuckled.

"I am a spirit now, Mother. Back then I was a robot," Hecate informed her.

"I know that. I am not an idiot," Astera glared. Hecate nodded.

"Fight with me, Daughter. I want to die in a honorable way," Astera pleaded. Hecate tilted her head.

"Fine, but just remember that you asked for it," Hecate said.

She lifted her right hand and balled it into a fist. She landed the punch in her mother's gut. Astera crashed into the wall behind her. Hecate waited for her to stand up again.

She could hear her mother coughing. Astera got up on her legs and spat out the blood. She jumped toward the robotic spirit. Hecate raised her left leg. She kicked her mother in the curve of the neck as she was trying to get closer to her. Astera fell down to her knees. Hecate grabbed her by her throat and hauled her up in the air. Astera twitched.

"Do it," She begged.

Hecate closed her eyes in concentration. She was starting to debate with herself whether or not she should kill her. If she didn't, she wouldn't be completed. She tightened her grip on her mother's neck. She caught off the respiratory system. Her creator stopped moving completely. Hecate couldn't even hear her breathing anymore. She dropped the lifeless body onto the floor. She smiled. Finally she was free.

Solace---

Solace smiled as her ex-best friend stepped into the room.

"Long time no see, Solace," Venom greeted.

"Yes, and I enjoyed the time I spent alone," Solace said.

"Understandable." Venom folded her arms. Venom suddenly felt something sharp behind her neck. She smiled.

"Hello, Aponi," Venom whispered. Aponi had her arrow pointed at her enemy's throat. Solace shook her head.

"Put the bow and arrow down, Daughter," Solace gently commanded. Aponi did as she was told.

"Still the goody two-shoes," Venom muttered. Aponi smacked the back of her head. Venom stumbled forward.

"Shut up, you slut!" Aponi was losing her temper. She had bottled up her anger a long time ago and had refused to vent it out. Now, she could do whatever she wanted.

"I am no slut. Cyrus just preferred me." Venom was getting cocky.

"I don't care who he wanted anymore, Nyoka. All I want now is revenge. You will both pay for causing me distress in my early years," Aponi snapped. Solace studied her child. This was the first time she saw a violent streak in her. Solace decided to stay out of this fight. Obviously, her child needed to free some of her anger. Solace had done that a long time ago.

"I have no quarry with you, Virgin," Nyoka teased the young girl.

"But I do." Aponi shot her arrow through Nyoka's chest. The arrow melted in her body. Nyoka chuckled.

"Weapons like those will not harm me, Aponi. The poison within my body will not allow it," Nyoka said. Aponi grinned.

"Well, then I suppose I should do it the old fashion way." Aponi called forth her powers.

Her body shimmered blue as her eyes went cold. Solace tilted her head. It reminded her of Youko Kurama. The way his golden eyes were when they were in battle. Even though she had never seen him in battle, she knew what the fox was capable of.

"Dismantling Energy." Aponi chanted. Invisible winds of energy enveloped Nyoka in a tight space. Some of Nyoka's body parts started to disappear.

"What are you doing!" Nyoka screamed as she noticed her body vanishing. Aponi sighed.

"I am erasing you from existence." Solace watched as Aponi struck Nyoka with punches. Bruises formed on Nyoka's face and chest, but the rest of her was dissolving. Aponi finished Nyoka off.

Azura and Aithne—

"Did you sense that?" Aithne asked the water elemental. Azura nodded.

"That was Lady Aponi's energy storm," Azura replied.

"Should we go check on her instead of looking for Harva?" Aithne was concerned about her lady.

"Yes, besides, Harva should be able to take care of herself," Azura smirked. The two bodyguards followed Aponi's energy signature. Aithne ran directly into another solid form. Harva glared at the two.

"Well, speak of the devil," Azura laughed. Aithne rubbed her head.

"Why must I keep colliding into people?" She groaned.

"Nyoka and Orta are dead," Harva told them. Aithne smiled.

"Well, of course they are," Azura commented, "Cyrus was always the fool to believe he had the strongest warriors on his side."

"I believe that only you and Tala were the strong ones," Aithne said.

"Yes, we were," Harva answered.

"Then he's in deep trouble. Three of his warriors are dead and the other one has changed sides." Azura avoided using the term betrayed.

"Speaking of which, where is Cyrus?" Aithne asked.

"I don't know," Harva remarked.

"We have to go to Aponi." Azura reminded Aithne and the girl agreed.

"I'll take you to her." Harva waved her right hand. A violet portal opened. The three entered it.

Celosia and Shiva---

"V-chan! V-chan where are you!" Shiva yelled. Celosia snorted.

"She's not going to hear you, dummy," Celosia said.

"What did you call me?" Shiva glared.

"You heard me," Celosia retorted. The two stood there fuming at each other. They heard an explosion down the hall and they stopped for the moment. Shiva was the first one to move. Celosia went chasing after the veela child. In a tangled mess, Harva and the other two warriors were laying on the floor.

"What the hell was that!" Azura shouted. It was her first time going through a portal. Aithne laughed as she dusted herself off.

"Relax, Varia must have caused some turbulence and it made the traveling go haywire," Harva answered calmly.

"Have you guys seen Varia?" Celosia questioned the group.

"Nope." Aithne shook her head. Shiva sighed.

"She'll be fine." Hecate exited out of the arena. Solace and Aponi arrived after a short while.

"So no one has seen Varia?" Celosia growled.

"I'm afraid so," Solace said.

"All right, let's go look for her," Azura mumbled.

"I hope she's okay," Shiva prayed.

"She'll be fine. I'd be more worried about Cyrus," Aponi chuckled.

"Harva, how bad are your traveling powers?" Solace asked.

"Not that bad, expect for the landing," Harva replied.

"Then take us to her," Hecate ordered. Harva waved her hand again. The same portal opened and she waited till everyone was inside.

Varia—

I stared at him. Amazingly, he was still alive. He wasn't in good shape though. His body was in a bloody mess. Arms that displayed where the muscles were, legs that showed off the purple veins, one of his ears was missing, and yet he still managed to stand. Aliens never cease to amaze me. I wasn't disturbed by his appearance. In fact, I was enjoying it. Watching him bleed and suffer. All I need now is popcorn. He started laughing. My ears perked up in response.

"I never knew how violent humans are, but you must take the cake. I shall reward you for being the most gruesome fighter I have ever met," He said. I didn't care. I didn't want to be complemented. Right now I wanted to be feared. I was actually starting to adore the smell of blood in the air.

"You're a demon! A hellion!" Cyrus begun to scream again. If Hiei heard him calling me a demon, I think he would be proud. I laughed.

"You even laugh when watching someone else's pain. You are a cruel demon!" Cyrus didn't stop screaming until I clasped my hand around his throat. I grinned menacingly.

"Oh, and I suppose that you weren't a vile person when you murdered your wife. Or when you killed a child." My voice became angry.

"I didn't mean to! Honestly! You must believe me! Nyoka made me do it!" Cyrus shrieked. I watched him try to squirm away from me like a cat playing with a mouse. Scary part was that I loved every moment of it.

"It's always easier to blame someone else for your own sins. Isn't it, Cyrus?" I began to rub my claws against his skin. He whimpered.

"Get away from me!" He yelled. I saw red.

The flesh that I kept with me tingled in my hand as I used it to summon my powers. He was screaming again. His voice was getting hoarse from all the shrieking. I watched his body twist and jerk backward. His vital organs spilled out to the ground. His screaming ceased. I checked on him. He was dead. His lungs were somewhere on the left floor, his stomach on the right of me, his limbs were broken, the bones were missing, and it was a nasty sight. I heard a crash and lifted my head to see what it was. My mind invaders were sprawled out on the opposite side of the room. They were tangled up with Aponi and her crew. I felt something inside me shift. My hair turned back into black. I was gaining back my human side. Celosia stared at the body I was holding.

"What did you do to him?" Aponi's were wide.

"It seems that she turned him inside out. Literally," Azura said. Aithne turned her head to keep herself from smelling the dead body.

"Oh, that is nasty!" Celosia laughed, "But cool."

Leave it to the pyro to say that.

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Suntiger: Not the last chapter! I repeat! Ahah I'm not gonna have enough time to respond to all of the reviews, but those who did you know who you are! And I thank you. It's almost done. Two more chapters. The last one is just an epilogue.

Oh yea, to answer the question. I don't know what I'll be doing after this. Probably going to take a much needed break! Yes, that sounds good. And when I come back from my vacation I will have fresh ideas for a new story.

Thanks for sticking with me this far.