Disclaimer: I do not own Huntik

Chapter 4

Sophie POV.

"Okay the coast is clear. My house is just up ahead." Sophie whispered.

The four had spent the last five hours travelling around the ally's and streets of Venice. They didn't want to head straight to Sophie's house encase they were been followed.

"House... Mansion would be the appropriate word." Lok replied looking around for any sign of enemy movement as they crept along in the shadows.

"Hey do you think Dante is looking for us yet?" Den asked from his position behind Lok.

"Maybe... I'm certain that he will be at my house before dawn."

"Mansion." Lok quickly corrected her.

"Right... Okay we are here now. Be careful when we go in though. I haven't had the opportunity to alert LeBlanche that we are coming here, so don't be surprised if when we walk through the door Santiago will try to attack us." Sophie whispered unlocking the door.

"This is so cool; you have your own mansion and body guard!" Den exclaimed.

Once their group was safely inside Sophie turned around to lock the door, she heard a gasp behind her.

"Santiago its only us." Sophie quickly stated turning around to see Santiago's titans pinning down Den and advancing towards Lok.

"My lady? I am very sorry. Please forgive me." Santiago quickly replied calling his titans back to his amulets and helping Den up.

"It's okay Santiago. I am happy to know that you are protecting my..." She glanced over at Lok who was waiting eagerly, ready to correct her wording. "Mansion..."

Lok grinned at her.

"Come on guys, I will show you to the rooms which you can spend the night in." Sophie declared pushing Den down the hallways and up the stairs, with Lok following close behind.

She stopped them outside a vacant room and told Den that he would be staying there when she paused.

"I just realized, none of us have eaten. I will go down to the kitchen and bring something up to your rooms, knowing you boys you will be starving."

"Yes food!" Den exclaimed.

Sophie laughed and started towards the kitchen, glancing over her shoulder she called out to Lok.

"You can stay in your usual room with Cherit."

Lok started to walk towards her. "Cherit will wait in there I will come and help you."

Sophie waited for him to catch up then resumed walking towards the kitchen.

"Sophie."

"Hmm... yes."

"Why did you lock yourself in the library today?"

Sophie walked into the kitchen and started to grab various snacks. "I just wanted to do some reading... You know, it helps me to relax." Sophie finally answered, avoiding his gaze the entire time.

Lok gave her puzzled look then stepped in front of her and put a hand on her shoulder. "You know that you can tell me anything."

Sophie looked up into his eyes. "I know I can. Come on let's go and give these to Den before he loses patience."

Lok sighed and moved out of her way then followed her back towards Den's room.

Before they could even knock on his door Den had opened it, grabbed a pile of food, said thanks than closed the door again.

Lok and Sophie stood outside the closed door, stunned.

"Well he was hungry..."

"You're good at stating the obvious aren't you Lok." Sophie commented starting to walk towards Lok's room, which was located next to her own.

They paused outside the door and Sophie handed the remaining food to Lok.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?"

"No, I don't feel that hungry."

"Says the person who hasn't eaten all day." Lok remarked.

Sophie gave a small smile, "After today's events I don't really have much of an appetite. Night." She walking into her room before Lok had the opportunity to ask any more questions.

Zahlia POV.

She had just returned back to the meeting place where all the Spirals who had been sent out to search for Sophie would return once they had finished their search.

'That's odd... No one else is here.' Zhalia realized looking around for any sign of movement.

Zhalia gasped and spun around as a hand was placed on her shoulder.

Wind and Shauna stood behind her with their dragon-like Titan Shakrit.

"You, Harrison's body guard. Come here." Shauna demanded.

Zhalia slowly approached her, unsure on why they were here.

"Where are the rest of the Spirals who were sent here with you?"

"Umm... I am not sure, I just returned and I was about to look for them myself." Zhalia quickly spoke, not wanting to show any uncertainty to the two powerful leaders of the Bloodspiral Brotherhood.

Wind stared at her critically then made a motion to Shauna.

"Come with us. My brother, Rassimov wishes to speak with you. Don't keep him waiting." Shauna snapped, roughly pushing Zhalia ahead of her and making her jump onto Shakrit.

'Why does Rassimov want to see me?' Zhalia thought. Her gut told her it wasn't going to be good.

Dante POV.

He knew the kids could take care of themselves, but when he had returned back to the safe house there were five unconscious Bloodspirals on the ground outside the window.

There were burn marks which obviously meant there had been a fight and in the library chairs and tables had been broke and turned over.

Lok, Sophie, Den and Cherit had all gone, taking their belongings with them, his to. So at least he knew that they hadn't been captured and taken away.

There was no note saying where they had gone. Which was reassuring that the Bloodspirals wouldn't know where they were.

Dante travelled a good distance away from the safe house encase there were still Bloodspirals lurking around in the shadows.

Finally he stopped to think about his options. It was likely that they would travel to a place and stay there until he found them. The location would have to be safe, and familiar to at least one of the three and him. Lok's dorm wasn't an option because the Organization already knew about that. This left the only location unknown to any of their enemies to be Sophie's house.

It was an hour before sunrise when he appeared outside Sophie's home.

He knocked once and immediately the door was answered by Sophie.

"That was fast."

Sophie smiled sympathetically at him, "I couldn't sleep and had guessed that you would be here before sunrise. How did you like the five unconscious surprises we left at the safe house for you?"

"It was different... Was anyone hurt?"

Sophie shook her head but a look of concern appeared on her face. "No everyone got out uninjured... Dante I'm worried about Zhalia... I was thinking about it when we were coming here last night and... Well what if they followed her there. She might get in trouble."

Dante looked down at Sophie but tried to keep a brave face on. "Don't worry, Zhalia can take care of herself."

This made Sophie appear to look slightly happier.

'I just wish I could be positive about that myself.' Dante thought turning to gaze out a window.