Chapter 11.

'I'm telling you love, we've got to get out of here as fast as possible!' cried a young mother carrying her new born son in her arms. There are some people here who can't be trusted. Please, go with me'ยด
'Honey, you're overreacting. What could possibly happen to us here? Your father takes good care of us and he will take good care of our son.'
'But Voltaire is being manipulated by someone, I'm sure of it. Please love. Trust me this once and leave, together with me. Together with our son.'
'I don't understand you Yrina. I really don't. One moment you're willing to give me all you have for me to go to Russia because your relatives live there, and I have to leave my family in Japan. Now we have a family of our own and you want to leave Russia? Where will you go, Japan? Your father will find us there. Go to another country we don't know the language of? I don't wan to endanger our son's life.'
'I understand that, but staying here might kill us all!' redirected the woman.
'I'd like to know the reasoning behind that.' heard Yrina coming from behind her. She quickly turned and stared at Boris.
'This is a matter between me and my husband, could you please give us some privacy?' she asked politely, yet noticeably agitated.
'For as far I heard this is about the safety in the mansion. You're saying there's something wrong. I need to take care of those problems.' explained the man simply.
'I know that Boris. We just need time to talk alone.' repeated Yrina.

Her husband frowned. He'd never seen her speaking that rude against anyone before.
"Is there really something going on then? I can't imagine her changing that much in such a short amount of time."

'Fine then. I'll leave you two to talk then.' said Boris after a few unnerving seconds of silence.
'Who are you suspecting Yrina?' asked Keiichi.
'No one in particular yet, though i do know something bad will happen, soon.' said Yrina, sounding more desperate with the minute.
'How do you know? Last time I checked you couldn't predict the future.'
'I can't, but I've got someone who keeps an eye on everything around here. I trust her with my life. And if she tells me something is going to happen, I believe her.'
'Who's she?'
'You've probably seen her before. I'll explain later. But please, let us be going. I don't want to stay here any longer.'
'You're not telling Voltaire?'
'I'll write him a letter or so. C'mon. We've got to go.' Said Yrina enthusiastically, pulling her husband with her to their bedroom. On the hallway they met Boris again.

'What's the rush?' asked the man.
'Nothing. Could we pass please?' answered Yrina a bit too quickly for Boris' liking.
'Of course.' he said, letting both grown ups pass. When they had passed him though he signalled to a man clad in a dark cape and Yrina and Keiichi were paralysed.
'W...what is going on?' managed Keiichi to say. 'Why can't we move?'
'Magic.' said someone who's voice wasn't know by Keiichi and Yrina. They tried to turn around but they couldn't.
'Just in time Gideon.' said Boris. 'I'll be needing your help with these two.' he said grinning evilly.
'What do you need me to do?'
'Kill them. But leave their son alive.'
'May I ask why?' asked Gideon smiling evilly.
'Because I'll be needing him.'

'NO!!! Stay away from our son!' screamed Yrina. She tried to break free of the spell and managed to move her hands a little. Not that she could do anything with them though. She decided to try to use her powers to get out of the mess they were in. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the power inside of her. There appeared wounds on her shoulder blades, soon revealing red soft feather wings. In the meantime she was trying to contact her precious friend.

Can you here me pretty? I need your help. Someone has us paralysed, Boris is planning to kill us.

I felt a disturbance, I'm on my way. It won't take long.

Please hurry. I don't know how long we can hold up.

Meanwhile Boris was rendered speechless and Gideon was rubbing out his eyes, not believing what he was seeing.\
Keiichi, who had seen his wife like this only once was also staring, but with other thoughts. "she doesn't like to transform, we're really in a bad situation."

'I told you Gideon.' said Boris grinning. Meanwhile Yrina tried to turn so she would be facing the man who'd paralysed them. Slowly she managed, but she was in a great deal of pain. She saw her friend coming and contacted her again.

Take Kai. I'll fight off Boris and the wizard. Make sure Kai makes it out of here alive. I'm certain he's inherited the phoenixes powers. I might not make it out of this alive. Guard Kai, make sure he won't be killed before his powers awaken.

You know I can't come to him until his powers really have awakened. I can't do much before.

I know, if we die I'll just have to trust Voltaire in this. Now take Kai away from here. I'll be fine.

Dranzer picked Kai from Yrinas embrace, holding the baby by his shoulders. When she was sure she had a firm grip she flew off.
'Don't let that bird get away!' yelled Boris. 'I need that kid!'
'Never!' yelled Yrina, summoning a ball of energy, igniting it with her phoenix powers and directing it at Gideon. She hit, but didn't do much damage. The spell immobilising her and Keiichi was weakened though. Though he couldn't move yet, she could move again. Slowly and with much effort, but she could move again. She summoned another burst of energy again, throwing it in Gideons direction. She missed though, and Gideon countered with an attack of his own.

This went on for a couple of minutes. When Yrina wanted to call for yet another attack she suddenly collapsed.
"Damn, did I use up my energy already?" she wondered. "I've never tried how far I could go...I should've."
Gideon took this opportunity to attack Yrina, using more energy than he'd done before, killing the woman. When the smoke subsided her body was nowhere to be seen. There were only some red feathers falling that indicated something had happened.
'Yrina!' yelled Keiichi. He tried to break free of the paralysing spell but just couldn't manage. Before he realised it another energy ball was thrown at him, and killed him.
Boris smirked. 'Good riddance.'
'What are you planning with that bird and the child?' asked Gideon turning so he would be facing the man.
'If the boy is just like his mother you'd better get rid of him now before his powers awaken. The strength given to that bloodline is always stronger when they're males.' explained the wizard.
'No, I'll be needing him alive. I can always kill him before his powers awaken.' answered Boris. 'I do need to find him now though. Voltaire won't be pleased if he miraculously disappears too.'
'What are you going to tell the old man?'
'I don't know yet. I'll make something up. Find the boy for me, and I'll give you your pay.'

What should I do with you? asked the phoenix, hiding in a tree on the palace grounds, the boy not realising what was going on. He'd never been in a tree before, and he loved it.
Shhh...You've got to keep silent or they'll find us...
Suddenly Dranzer felt something bad. She's...died...That sorcerer is more powerful than i had thought. If I had just been with her I could've protected her. thought Dranzer, blaming herself. Another voice inside her said: If you had been with her the boy might've not survived. Make sure he survives and her sacrifice wasn't in vain.
Kai suddenly started giggling. He'd found a colony of tree-ants who were searching higher ground.
Shhh... I don't know if I can protect you from the sorcerer alone... She said to him.
The boy looked up at Dranzer. He wasn't used to telepathy, but somehow he knew that the pretty bird was talking to him.
'Bir...Birdy!' He said happily.
Dranzer sighed. If you just were a couple of years older...
The phoenix wasn't allowed to finish her thoughts because she was interrupted when she heard Gideon roam through the palace gardens.
He probably has the power to sense where I am, we won't be safe her for long. Let's get you to a safe place first...she added turning to the boy in front of her. He blinked, his hands reaching for the bird as if he knew he was going for a 'flight'.
Only if I knew a safe place...I guess I've got to trust your grandfather then. He is...was the father of your mother... Dranzer didn't remind herself that Voltaire hadn't inherited the phoenix's for a reason.
Forgive me young prince. I'll make it up to you someday...someday.
The phoenix gently grabbed the baby's shoulders and flew back towards the palace, hoping Gideon wouldn't spot them. Just when she thought they were safe inside when she flew into an open window she heard the wizard shouting that he'd find them.
Voltaire...where are you? She tried to feel where the man was, but because of the lack of the inherited powers she could hardly find him.
Found him. Here we go Kai. Enjoy it, for you will not be doing this again. She said a bit sarcastically.
Kai 'goo-ed' and smiled. He was quite enjoying the flight.

Dranzer flew into the room Voltaire was and literally dropped Kai in his lap.
Yrina and Keiichi are dead, take care of Kai please. She said telepathically to the tsar.
'D..dranzer?' asked Voltaire. He'd once seen her when he was younger and his mother had inherited the phoenix powers. 'What happened? Yrina?'
Take care of the boy. I'll be coming back when his powers have awakened. Make sure he won't be hurt. Take good care of him.
'Dranzer, what is going on?'
Too much. Just promise me you'll take care of him
'I promise. But tell me what is going on.'
Meanwhile Dranzer felt her powers decrease. When the 'heirs' were alive she always was at full strength, but now that Yrina was no longer alive, and Kai's powers were still slumbering she was loosing a lot of energy too. "I've got to get out of here. I mustn't die. If I do the complete line will be broken, beyond repair." she thought
Kai must survive. Make sure of it. she said as last and flew off again.

Only a minute later Boris stormed into Voltair's room. 'My lord, have you seen...thank God, he's alive!' he acted when he saw Kai sleep in his grandfathers lap. The flighty had worn the little prince out completely.
'Boris! What is going on?' asked Voltaire.
'Yrina and Keiichi were taking a walk, outside the palace, and were attacked. I do not know by whom, but they...they were killed. When I arrived there... I couldn't find Kai.' explained Boris, pretending to be out of breath. 'I went straight back to the castle, hoping they'd left him in bed, sleeping, but when didn't find him there I went here straight away.'
'Is it true that Yrina and Keiichi are dead? Show me.' said Voltaire.
'Some palace guards are taking their bodies back to the castle, they'll call when they are back. Please, sit down my Lord. You look a little pale.' offered Boris.
'Of course! My daughter just died!'
'I'm sorry my lord. That was very inconsiderate of me.'
'Lord Boris!' called Gideon, entering the room without knocking. 'We've got a problem. There's a tiger attacking. He's already made it inside the castle walls.'

Takao shot up, his breath was ragged.
"What was that? Just a dream? Or..." The bluenette turned around and saw Kai sleeping. Rei had put a barrier on their room before the night so Boris couldn't come in. Kai had been busy all day with planning something. Takao didn't know what, but he did know it had tired the prince greatly.
"The little boy in the dream, it was Kai, I'm certain of it. Was the dream his past?" He let himself fall down again and closed his eyes, thinking. "Does he know?"
'Hmm...Tyson, lay still, I'm trying to get some sleep.' mumbled Kai.
Takao's eyes shot open. 'You were awake? I'm sorry.' he added, looking at the princes back.
'I've been awake the whole night, don't bother apologising. What woke you up?' asked Kai turning on his other side so he would be facing his slave.
'Just a dream.' said Takao quickly.
'One doesn't wake up because of just a dream. Tell me.' said Kai firmly.
'I...it was a bit vague...I saw you as a little boy... And Dranzer...your grandfather and Boris, and...some wizard or sorcerer.'
'How old was I?' asked Kai curious. "He didn't see me after Boris tried to find the secret of the phoenix spirit, did he?"'You were just a toddler. You couldn't even walk on your own yet.'
'What happened?' "I don't remember anything from that time, but that was when my parents...Did he see what happened to them?"
'I...I don't remember.' lied Takao. He wanted to ask Dragoon some things first before telling all the details of his dream. If the dream wasn't a dream but a vision of the past he had to be careful with what he told Kai.
Kai sighed. 'That happens with dreams I guess. Lay down and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be busy.'
'What are we going to do?' asked the teen curious.
'You'll see. Now sleep.'
Takao nodded and turned on his right side, his back facing Kai. "I wish I could just call Dragoon here...I've got to ask Kai about that tomorrow..." he thought before closing his eyes. He fell asleep almost immediately.

Kai on the other hand couldn't sleep at all. "He didn't forget. If he could remember some vague dream about a phoenix and know I was the one he was searching he won't just forget a dream that woke him up. He never wakes up. The prince sighed again and tried to get some rest.

Half way through the night he was still awake and decided to take a small walk. He took on a bathrobe and wanted to leave his room, perhaps to check on Kenny who was sleeping in his own room now, when he suddenly remembered the barrier.
'Better not leave for tonight. I don't trust Boris. He'll do whatever it takes to get rid of me someday.' When he turned to pick a book off a shelve he saw Dranzer sitting in the window.
'Goodnight beautiful.' he said leaving the book be.
Goodnight Master Kai. Having trouble sleeping?
'Yes. Some things are bothering me.'
Boris?
'Also. Tyson woke up earlier tonight because of a dream. He said he didn't remember the dream but I'm not sure. He knew enough to tell me he saw me as a toddler, and that he'd seen my grandfather, Boris and probably Gideon.'
Dranzers amber eyes widened for a split second.
"The dragon has seen what happened that night?" she wondered.
Are you sure he really doesn't know?
'Pretty sure. I told you about the vision he had about me, when I was injured just before he came to me? That was a vague dream according to him, but he recognised me immediately. I don't believe he forgets his dreams that easily.'
Perhaps...
'He also said he saw you in the dream. I don't remember seeing you anytime before my powers started to awaken.' mentioned Kai,
thinking of it deeper.
Your mother also had the phoenix spirit in her, you know that, right?
Kai nodded.
I was there when you were born and a short time afterwards. I...I had to leave when she died. I lost most of my powers because of it, and only after your powers awakened I also was at full strength again.
'But about a year before my powers awakened I did see glimpses of you. Were you nearby?'
Sometimes. I travelled, meeting other spirits, learning more about the human race. It changes you know. Highly annoying for someone who's lived for more than a century already. teased Dranzer.
Kai grinned.
Try to get some sleep Master Kai. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
'I won't sleep, I know that already. Can't you keep my company until the sun rises?'
If you want that, of course Master Kai.

TBC...