Author's Note: Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews. It helped motivate me to get this chapter out sooner than I had originally planned.

Chapter 7

"You have a destination far beyond where you find yourself standing today."

- Guy Finley

Saya stared at Nathan in confusion as her bright red eyes faded back to brown. She crossed her arms and furrowed her brow as she waited for an answer.

Nathan had his left hand on his hip as he smirked over at Saya. "The answer is quite simple, really." He touched the index finger of his right hand to the thumb of his left and the thumb on his right hand to the index finger on his left to form a rectangle. He closed his left eye and moved the rectangle so that the only thing in it was Saya. "Can you not figure it out for yourself? Tell me something, my dear Saya... did you not notice anything funny about the way I 'died' that night?"

Saya stared at Nathan as she mentally brought herself back to the night she killed Diva.

"Now that Diva is dead, I no longer have a reason to be her Chevalier. Saya, won't you kill me? If I live on, you will not be able to make your wish come true. Isn't that right Haji? Come on... if you have pity on me, please send me along."

Saya took the sword from Nathan with a look of determination in her eyes. She sliced her thumb at the hilt of her sword, waiting until the grooves were drenched with her blood.

Nathan dramatically backed up and threw his arms out to the side. "Nathan Mahler shall end here!" he cried.

As Saya began to run towards Nathan, he looked at her and said, "Good girl."

Saya quickly slashed her sword upwards, effectively slicing through Nathan.

He looked at her and said, "Thank you." Then he collapsed backwards.

Saya's eyes widened after recalling the memory. She looked over at Nathan in an accusatory manner. "You... your body didn't crystallize! I didn't really notice it back then. I was so preoccupied at the time, thinking about... the promise between me and Haji."

The left corner of Nathan's mouth curled upwards. "Very good, Saya."

He sighed. "It was quite a dramatic finish, don't you think?"

Saya narrowed her eyes at him. "So you still haven't explained how you were able to survive. Your body should have crystallized once my blood came into contact with yours. What are you? Are you really Diva's chevalier?"

Nathan loosely waved his right hand at Saya. "Well, obviously not anymore. But I am indeed a chevalier. I'll put it this way, Saya. It was my choice to become Diva's chevalier, and mine alone. When she first granted me with her blood, it was a symbol that I had become her chevalier. A symbol, Saya. Nothing more. Just as you 'killing' me had been a symbol that I was no longer Diva's chevalier. Understand?"

Saya continued to stare at Nathan. "A symbol? What do you mean?"

She paused for a minute. Suddenly she gasped as a thought came to her. "You couldn't possibly be... you mean, you were my mother's chevalier?"

Nathan smiled and clapped his hands together in delight. "Wonderful, Saya! I knew you would figure it out."

Kai's mouth dropped open. "What?! Are you serious?"

David stepped forward. "Nathan. If it is really as you say, and you were a chevalier to the mother of Saya and Diva, then can you tell us how their mother died?"

Nathan looked over at David. "Oh, I wish I could tell you how she died. But unfortunately, I do not have the answer."

David looked doubtful. "If you were truly her chevalier, how is it that you do not know the circumstances surrounding her death? And why did you not stay to take care of both Saya and Diva after she died?"

Nathan shrugged. "I had to leave her for a few days and when I came back, she was gone. I looked for her everywhere, but I just couldn't find her. I did not know for sure that she had died until I learned of Diva and Saya. I would have taken care of them if I had known their whereabouts," he said dismissively.

Saya stepped towards Nathan and Solomon. "Now I understand. Since you were the chevalier of my mother, my blood has no effect on you!"

She hesitated before turning to the rest of the group. "But I still don't understand... why did you wake me? What is going on?"

"Saya," said David, "Let's go back home. We can explain everything to you on the way."

"Home?" Saya repeated.

David smiled. "Yes, the house where Julia and I live with our son."

Saya smiled back and nodded. "Okay. But I want to know everything, David. And I do mean everything."

"I promise that we will tell you everything we know," said David, as he pulled out his cell phone. "I'm going to call Julia to let her know that everyone is alright."

While David talked to Julia, Solomon slowly walked up to Saya as Haji narrowed his eyes and Kai shifted uncomfortably. He reached out and pulled Saya into his arms. God, he had wanted to do this as soon as he had set eyes on her. But it had not been feasible in the midst of battle. It felt so good to hold her in his arms once again. Her eyes widened as he pulled back far enough to touch his right hand to her cheek.

Solomon smiled and slightly tilted his head to the side. "Saya. It is... good to see you. I wish I could stay with you, but Nathan and I have somewhere that we must go to now."

He reluctantly released her. "But I will be back for you, Saya."

Haji stepped in front of her. "Saya will not be going anywhere with you."

Solomon shook his head as he began to walk back towards Nathan. "I do not believe that decision is yours to make, Haji."

"Solomon!" cried Saya stepping forward.

But they were already gone.

Saya felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked behind her and was met with Kai's smiling face. Saya smiled back up at Kai and covered his hand with her own.

"Everyone, it is time to head back. Let's go," said Lewis, as he watched David hang up with Julia.

Van Argeno sat in his office, still in shock over Solomon's appearance. What was going on? If Solomon had survived, where had he been all of these years? Why had Solomon turned against him? Argeno supposed it was because he had taken over Solomon's position as CEO, initially, and now because he was the head of Cinq Flèches. This could be a problem.

And did the Red Shield know of his plans? He narrowed his eyes as he idly tapped his index finger on the surface of his desk. There was no other explanation. He could not think of a single reason the Red Shield could possibly have had for waking Saya unless they had known about his plans and wanted to wake her before he had had the chance.

There had been times when Argeno had wondered if trusting Collins had been a smart move. While it was true that Collins had already betrayed the Red Shield, it was also true that, as someone who had already betrayed his allies once, it was not so far-fetched that he would do so again. Yes, he should have seen it more clearly before. The Red Shield must have made an offer that an egotistical, self-serving Collins simply could not refuse.

Not that there was anything wrong with those attributes.

Argeno's lips peeled back to form an evil grin. It was just too bad that he had given Collins some false information, just in case something like this were to happen. He could use this to his advantage.

Nothing would stand in his way. He would see his plans through, no matter what. He would prove to the world that he was smarter and more powerful than Amshel had ever been. He would see the goal of Cinq Flèches through the way Amshel had not been able to. He would have his revenge on those stupid Americans who had left him in the Metropolitan Opera House to die. He began to laugh at the thought. Yes, everyone would see.

He couldn't wait.

A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he said.

The door opened, and Collins walked in.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

Argeno smiled. "Why yes I certainly did, Collins. Are you not wondering why I have not brought Saya back wis me?"

Collins felt a line of sweat drip down his back. "Of course I was, sir. Was there a change in plans?"

His nervousness increased as he noticed the hard glint in Argeno's eyes.

"Yes, zere has definitely been a change in plans." Argeno snapped his fingers as a trio of Corpse Corps members appeared in his office.

Collins tugged at his shirt collar and backed up towards the door to Argeno's office.

"Where do you sink you are going, Collins? Did you not hear me when I said zere was a change in plans?"

Collins looked fearful. "Perhaps you could tell me some other time, sir. I should be going."

He heard three distinct whooshing sounds as the trio of Corpse Corps members moved to block his path to the door. "Well, I suppose I do have some time to listen now," said Collins, as his eyes darted around, fruitlessly trying to find another means of escape.

"Zat's more like it. So, do you have any idea as to why we were unable to bring Saya back wis us today?"

Collins shook his head.

Argeno sighed. "I really do hate liars, Collins. Curiously enough, when I arrived at Saya's tomb, imagine my surprise when I saw zat Saya had already been awakened... by ze Red Shield. I am quite confident zat you are as surprised as I am, right Collins?"

"Yes, sir. That is very shocking news indeed."

Argeno narrowed his eyes. "For someone who is shocked, you are acting quite nervous. You are sweating profusely and your pupils are dilated. Why is it zat you are so nervous?"

"I am not nervous, sir."

"Do you remember what I said before, Collins? I do not like liars. Well, it is of no consequence. You have served your purpose. I will not have to worry about you lying to me anymore."

Collins swallowed in fear. He could distinctly hear and feel every beat of his heart, which was currently pounding like a jackhammer. "Served my purpose? But sir-"

"Yes, zat is correct." Argeno snapped his fingers again, and the Corpse Corps began to close in on Collins, their swords raised.

Collins eyes widened as he attempted to evade the Corpse Corps.

"I am quite sorry to have to end our relationship zis way, Collins. But you see, I cannot have a traitor working for me."

Collins looked over at Argeno, a look of pure panic on his face.

"Yes, zat's right Collins. I know zat you betrayed me. You told ze Red Shield all about my plans. But I sink zis could end up working out for ze best. I wish I could explain why to you." Argeno shrugged.

"But zere would really be no point as you are no longer going to be wis us. It has been a pleasure working wis you, Professor Collins. It really is such a shame zat you will never receive any recognition for all of your hard work studying ze chiropterans. Everysing you have accomplished was all for naught. How incredibly sad."

The Corpse Corps member who was currently closest to Collins raised his sword back further before slicing it through Collins' chest. Collins screamed as his blood splattered the door to Argeno's office.