This is now my only fanfic going so updates should be reasonably quick. Just trying to finish off everything now:D But at least I'm quite liking this story for now...

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy! Everything's about to start reaching the climax:D

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

Chapter 11

Kai pounded on the door leading into the Resistance. His mind was as alert as ever having had to dodge countless foot soldiers who were now patrolling the streets. He didn't understand the reason for it. Surely Kingston must know that they would be safely hidden by now? What good is it for soldiers to be patrolling streets where the threat was already under firm control? Then Kai understood. Of course Kingston knew that. There weren't people patrolling to keep them out. They were patrolling to keep them in. With Ray injured by Kingston's own hand, he would know that they required medical attention; skills that it was very likely none of them had with them being so young and their educations cut short. Kai pounded on the door again, feeling even more frantic.

This time it was answered by Tala who was pale and looked shaken. He looked at Kai with withdrawn eyes and let him in.

"Where's Ray?" Kai asked at once.

"How do you know about him?"

"News travels fast."

"He's in the main room. We don't know what to do."

Kai flicked at him a quick look and saw that he was scared. There was something else there too. Something like guilt. Kai put a hand on his shoulder and went into the main room where the couches had been pushed as far back as possible and the coffee table was propped up against the wall. The various bits and pieces that had once sat on it were scattered across the floor. In the center of the floor Ray lay on a bed made up of cushions, quilts and sheets. His right arm was extended to the side on its own separate bed of towels and sheets. They had tried to wrap it up in sheets to stop the bleeding but Kai could see some blood was still seeping through.

"How you holding up Ray?"

"Just peachy," he replied weakly.

Kai inspected the sheets and frowned. "The bleeding needs to stop now or else Ray will have lost too much blood to recover. How long ago did it happen?"

"Half an hour," Hiro replied.

"Shit. There's no way we can get him to a hospital just now. The streets are littered with foot patrols. They're trying to keep us in just so we can't get help."

"A hospital is too risky," Ray said so quietly they had to lean in to hear him. "If we go there we'll all get arrested before we even make it to the reception desk. Whatever needs done has to be done here."

Kai raked a hand through his hair. "None of us are doctors Ray. We don't know what to do. You've been kept from going into shock so that's a good thing. Just keep awake for now until we think of something."

"Actually there is something we can try," Hiro said. "It's not going to pleasant but its the only thing I can think on. I saw it done in the army. We burn the wound. That's the only way to fuse the blood vessels together and stop the bleeding. After that we need to decide how we're going to replace the blood Ray's lost if its possible at all."

Garnet's face went chalk white so much so she looked like a ghost. "Is there no other way? That just sounds so...extreme. I mean, burn it? Like, with fire? There must be something else we can do."

"Not unless we have a medical room and equipment and Ray's hand which, by the way, that bastard is keeping as a trophy," Kai replied. "What do you think Ray? Can you go through with that? It's going to hurt like a bitch and you'll obviously be handicapped for the rest of your life."

Through gritted teeth, Ray hissed, "just do it." Kai and Hiro looked at each other and nodded.

"Tyson, get the gas lighter from the kitchen. Max and Garnet get as many towels as you can find. Kenny go into the medicine cabinet and bring in the entire box of first aid things." In less than two minutes Hiro had all he needed set in front of him. He soaked a towel in disinfectant and looked to Ray. "Bite down on that towel in your mouth whenever the pain gets to much. It'll help to ease it a little. This is going to sting. The wound has to be cleaned of infection otherwise you could die from septicemia." He carefully began to clean the wound, desperately trying to ignore the hisses of pain from Ray as he did so. After a few more seconds of this they were ready. He picked up the gas lighter and flicked it own. A brilliant blue flame roared from it and he felt a trickled of sweat run down his face. "This is the worst part of it. I can guarantee that you will never feel pain like this in your life. Just keep awake. No matter how much you feel you can't bare it don't go to sleep. If you do there's a good chance you'll never wake up. Kai are you ready with the blanket?"

They had dampened a blanket with water just in case there should be a slip up and a fire had to be put out. Kai held it up. "Ready."

"Alright. Brace yourself, Ray." He slowly held the tip of the flame to Ray's wound and the skin began to sizzle and hiss almost instantly. Ray's screams of pain made his flesh crawl but he kept at it regardless. He risked a glance upwards and saw most of his friends were either looking away or had turned their bodies away altogether. He heard the sound of some one retching in the toilet as the sickly sweet smell of smoldering skin fragranced the room. Once or twice he felt himself gagging. He looked at Ray when his cried of pain began to ease off and saw his eyes begin to close. He called on Kai and Kai gently shook him awake again, ignoring the look of pure hatred from Ray's amber eyes.

Eventually the skin surrounding Ray's wrist was entirely charred black. The bleeding had stopped almost entirely and Hiro knew that given a night's rest it would have stopped altogether. He cleaned it once more with antiseptic and then dressed the wound as gently as he could with bandages.

"Well done Ray," he said gently. "That's it over. Sleep it off now and we'll clean the wound again in the morning."

Max and Tyson carried Ray into his bed while the rest of them gathered up the blood soaked sheets and pillows. Kenny and Garnet carried them into the bathroom where they instantly began to wash them. Max and Tyson joined them shortly afterwards, taking the hint that Tala, Hiro and Kai had discussions to make that would be best to go unheard by them.

Tala lit up a cigarette and took a long draw from it, letting the smoke fill his lungs and calm his nerves down slightly. After a few seconds he let his breath release again, smoky tendrils flowing from his nostrils like the arms of ghosts. Some of the colour had returned to his face but not all. He still looked as if he had been struck down by some illness.

"I thought you quit," Kai said.

"Me too."

There was silence again. "It's not your fault," Kai said. "Don't blame yourself and don't feel guilty. Your plan was flawless and there was nothing you could do. Kingston just caught us all off guard."

"Ray won't see it like that."

"Ray will see it like that. You know Ray. The only person he's going to hold a grudge against is Kingston. As soon as he challenged Kingston like that he must have known he would suffer the consequence. It was both a brave and a stupid thing for him to do. Doesn't matter though. I'm still Goddamn proud of him for doing it. I'm sure Kingston didn't get off lightly. What exactly happened anyway?"

"We were surrounded by Kingston and his guards. I mean completely surrounded. Then Ray spun kicked his face. I swear to God I thought I actually heard his neck snap back. Then Hiro fired down his back defense and we took our chance to get out of there. I don't know how it happened but next thing I knew he'd cut off Ray's hand with his sword. That's when we all sprinted back here. Jesus Christ. The one time I lead the Resistance and it all goes tits up."

"There were more injuries then?"

"Yes and no," Hiro cut in. "They practically mowed down the Resistance. I mean they've taken out half our official members and God knows how many supporters. Plus when the time came to attack a lot of people bowed out. Our numbers have been cut devastatingly and its not all because Kingston's killed them. You should have seen the fear in these people's faces. It was surreal. They completely backed into the crowd so we couldn't even see them."

"In short, the Resistance is down to its last members and majority of them are already in here?" Kai sighed. "That's fucking great. How can we fight a battle with just the eight of us."

"Seven now," Hiro corrected. "I doubt Ray will be ready for action any time soon."

"Well there's only one thing to do. We'll need to get more personal. Wait until the perfect opportunity and then attack. That's our only chance."

"There's only one little flaw in that plan. We have no idea when that'll be. It could be days, months."

Kai shook his head. "I think that's very likely. Kingston will have his pride to nurse for the time being. Until then we get stronger. If its just the seven of us fighting now we'll need to make it one hell of a battle. I want us training every day so that when the time comes it'll make them feel like they're fighting an army."

"Don't you feel you're maybe being a little bit too ambitious?"

Frowning, he looked at Hiro. "What else can we do? We have only two options. We either roll over like they want us to do or keep fighting. Without all the support we once had we need to keep fighting alone. If we're fighting alone we have to be stronger than we could ever imagine."

"Even so, its not the Magnificent Seven here," Hiro chastised. "Look, I don't want to be so pessimistic but I really to think you're aiming too high here. Even if all of us had the strength and skills of a hundred men each Kingston's army will still be able to thwart us easily. Why else do you think its been these little sneak attacks? If we actually had a full out battle they'd kill us before we'd even be able to fire a single shot."

"Well what's your solution then? What would you do?"

Hiro looked at him steadily. "I see we take a shot."

"A shot," Kai repeated, deadpan.

"Yeah. We'll stick to your plan. Build ourselves up, wait for a big event and then, instead of committing suicide by having this big battle, we'll have someone take a shot at Kingston. Pure and simple and the end of our problems. That girl Hilary will be free to reign and the people will fight for her because Brooklyn Kingston's no longer there to fight them."

"Who ever takes that shot would just as well firing it into their own head. They'll never make it away alive and his Drones would take any shot or blow intended for him."

"Do you think his Drones are around him all the time, Kai?" Hiro asked, looking straight at Kai as if there was a plan formulating in his head.

"Well sure. Anytime we've seen him they're-" He cocked his head to the side. "Just what are you planning?"

"It won't be easy."

"What worthwhile thing is?"

Hiro smiled. "True. Well here it goes. We'll attack when Kingston makes an appearance that isn't public. I'm thinking in his own home. He's rich. He's high society. He and Hilary will obviously have to hold an engagement party at some time."

Kai smirked back. "I suppose as one of the most influential people to ever turn up at one of his public displays its only right that we should attend, invitation or not."

"Oh, we'll have invitations. I don't know how yet but we will have them. We'll be in disguise, unrecognisable. That is, until the bullet is fired and Kingston is shot down dead. Then, as Kingston's next of kin, it'll be Hilary who inherits everything. Including the throne."

"I like that plan," Tala said. "But there is the small matter of who plays assassin and how the hell we get out of there. Mystel and Garland won't let us leave alive if they have the chance to take us out."

"I'm taking the shot," Kai said. "It's my duty and its my right."

"I'll be your backup," Hiro said. "He might be able to avoid one shot but he can't avoid two."

"Getting out?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. First of all we'll have to wait around to see when this party will be. Perhaps, Kai, to move things along you could mention the idea to Mariah who could then mention it to Hilary. She's a girl with a good head on her shoulders but a girl nonetheless. What girl would turn down the idea of an extravagant soirée with her as the centre of attention?"

Kai nodded. "That's exactly what we'll do. I'll get on it just now."

Hilary walked around what was to be her new bedroom and found her breath being taken away not only by its magnificence but also by its grandness. Brooklyn had spared no expenses in making her feel comfortable. Her bedroom was even greater than her previous one. The floor was marble with the softest rug she's ever stood on covering the floor around her bed. The bed was a four-poster king sized with so many pillows and cushions she wondered how on earth she was going to be able to find space for her. On each corner of the roof a sculpted angel watched over her. She had a dressing table with a mirror lined in gold, a walk in wardrobe, a sitting area and – her particular favourite – a balcony with views of the vast garden and the patio with a fountain. She stood at the railing and sighed. This was what any girl would dream of having but she felt empty as she admired its splendor.

"Well?" Brooklyn asked. "What do you think?"

She turned to him and smiled, spreading her fingers along the rail. "It's wonderful. A girl couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you."

"And still you seem like there's something missing?"

Kai,she thought listlessly. "It's not that. I just feel terribly for Mariah."

Brooklyn frowned at her. "Your maid?"

"Mmhmm. She's lived in that house just as long as I've lived there which although isn't very long at all it was enough time for one to get attached." Brooklyn raised an eyebrow at her. "And she has a boyfriend. You see, living here, it won't be as easy for her to come and go to see him. She had no family and he's really all she's got."

"If you feel that badly about it then we can come to some kind of arrangement. A day a week off or something like that."

"And Saturday nights!" He looked at her in surprise and she blushed. "Umm she likes to go out with him on Saturday nights. Also, he's sick just now. She's upset about that too because she hasn't been able to see him yet. I'm going to give her a day off tomorrow to go and visit him."

"It seems like the two of you are more than just maid and boss."

"We are," Hilary replied, smiling. "She's my best friend. The only real one I have."

Brooklyn stood beside her at the balcony and looked out. "That's all about to change. You'll start attending balls, meeting with other aristocratic families, society girls. You'll have more friends than you'll know what to do with."

"I didn't mean it like that," she replied laughing. "All I meant was that I care about Mariah. I want her to be happy."

"Where is she just now?"

"Unpacking."

"Does she like her room?"

"I've not spoken to her yet. I'm going to finish off in here and then take a peek."

He kissed her forehead. "I'll leave you to it then. It's such a relief that you're here now. You'll be safer here. Not that you were in danger before but you never know. There're bad people out there Hilary. People who mean to do harm to this set up I've created. That could include you."

Hilary didn't think so. Those 'bad people' Brooklyn spoke of were headed by a man she was in love with. She hated him right now but she did love him. They'd had an argument that was all but she felt terribly about it. It hadn't crossed her mind at the time but now her mind had cleared she realised it was going to be some time before they would ever see each other again. Sneaking in to see her now she was living in the palace would be impossible. Even her going out would evoke suspicion without a good excuse of why she was doing it. She sighed. There was nothing she could do but wait it out and hope that they would meet again. If he didn't move on. She didn't like to think about it but that was very likely. Especially if he thought she was developing feelings for Brooklyn which she wasn't. Not entirely. She just no longer found him contemptible, that was all. It certainly wasn't as serious as he was making out.

She really did hope he would wait for her. It was more than hope. She wished with all her heart even though there wasn't much point to it since soon their fling would have to be called to an end when she was married since then her face will be the most famous in the entire country. She wouldn't be able to go anywhere without being recognized or without escorts accompanying her. Still, were there was a will there had to be a way. Did it really have to end? Brooklyn wouldn't live forever...

The very thought she pushed out her mind. It was such an evil thing to think of. Even if it would mean she and Kai could be together could she really wish the death of another human being? One who was showing her such kindess?

Her tears had stopped flowing. They had long since stopped flowing. Ray would be okay. It was, after all, Ray. Nothing kept him down. Her despair for his situation quickly turned to anger. She wanted to kill Kingston. Strangle him in his sleep with her bare hands. Nothing would bring her greater joy. That sly smile; his devious eyes. Why did Hilary trust him now? He would stab his own mother in the back in order to fulfill his ambitions. As far as she was concerned he'd also never done anything to earn Hilary's trust either. Treating a person with kindness wasn't a reason to trust him. She's heard of hosts who treated their guests with a manner nothing short of servitude before poisoning their drink.

Where had this change in Hilary sparked from? What was going on in her mind? Hilary was nobody's fool. She wasn't devious in any matter of means but something just didn't ring true here. Not for those who knew her and nobody knew her better than Mariah. If she was planning something she should have known about it. That being, of course, that she was planning something. She hoped it was Brooklyn Kingston's death. And she also hoped that Hilary had written her into the plot somehow, no matter how minor a part she played. Anything at all she could do to avenge Ray would be just fine by her.

Her mobile phone began to ring and she quickly answered it for fear her ringtone would be heard. She wasn't sure what Kingston's policy on his serving staff were but she had a feeling it was dramatically less lenient than Hilary was.

"Hello?" She whispered.

"It's Kai."

Her heart beat faster in her chest. Kai only ever called over bad news and only one person could possibly have bad news related to them. "Is it about Ray? Please tell me he's all right."

"I can't tell you that. I can tell you that he's stopped bleeding but obviously he'll never have use of his right hand again. We're going to try and get him a prosthetic one as soon as we can. He's lost a lot of blood but I think he'll recover. It'll be quite touch and go for a while. I think seeing you would help him, too."

"I will as soon as I can. Hilary will no doubt get me permission to leave."

"How is Hilary?"

Mariah smiled softly. "She's fine. Kingston's giving her the entire world, not that she wants it or asks for it."

Kai was silent for a few seconds. "What's going on between those two?"

"Believe me, if I knew I'd tell you. I think Hilary has her own agenda that she's not telling anyone. I don't believe for a second that what she's pretending to feel is genuine but at the same time I don't think its entirely fake. It's so hard to explain. I'm sure it'll all come together before too long."

"I see. Look, I'm just going to get to the point. How would you like a little revenge against Brooklyn Kingston?"

Mariah smirked. "I would like it served cold, please. What's the plan?"

"Assassination. We don't have the resources for much else. We need you to convince Hilary to hold a party. One which we could get invitations too. It'll need to be quite private too so Kingston feels secure enough not to have bodyguards following him all night. Can you do that for me?"

"Consider it done. I'll see you soon, Kai. Take care."

She turned her phone off and immediately ran down the hallway to Hilary's new room. The sooner the plans for this began the sooner she would have her revenge. She was antsy already. She knocked on the door softly and entered, closing the heavy door firmly behind her.

Hilary turned around and smiled softly. "How are you?"

"Better, thanks. Much better. Ray's alright for now."

"Go and see him tomorrow. There'll be nothing for you to do here anyway. Just let me know when you want to go see him after that and I'll arrange it for you."

"Thanks Hilary, but I came here about you."

"Me?" Hilary regarded her with suspicion. She folded her arms and looked at her from the side. "What's this about?"

Mariah smiled, her eagerness showing. "I think that you should do something extravagant. You know, to celebrate – or mourn – moving in here. It's going to get pretty boring after a while, won't it?"

"Well Brooklyn did say he'd teach me to ride..."

"And staying in the same company all the time will have to be dull."

"I wouldn't say that. I love spending time with you."

"And haven't you always said how much you would love to go to one of those balls you see on TV with all the celebrities and the fancy dresses and what not?"

Hilary stopped. "What's brought this idea on?"

Mariah shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm just thinking about how boring I'm going to be around here now. There won't be much to do since your fiancé has an army of servants. I'm just thinking it would be nice to organise something like that. Dress up and what not. Besides, I'm the best party planner this side of the border."

"Actually, I really think that's a good idea." She clasped her hands together. "We should make it a masquerade! I've always wanted to go to one of those!" She pulled Mariah into a hug. "You're a genius! I mean an actual genius. Can you imagine! All the different dresses and meeting all those glamorous people. Planning it as well would be exciting, I'm sure." She grinned widely. "I'm going to go suggest it to Brooklyn now. What will the occasion be?"

"Your engagement, perhaps?"

Hilary quickly left the room in search of Brooklyn, not noticing Mariah's sly smirk when she did so. Her search was quick as she found him in his own bedroom, sitting at his desk and going through papers which were quickly brushed to the side at her presence.

"I have a favour to ask you," Hilary said, smiling shyly. She found that smile tended to get her anything she wanted and as expected, Brooklyn's attention went to her, undivided. "You know how you said I'd get to meet new people an all that. I think we should do it soon. Have a ball in celebration of our engagement. Especially a masquerade. I've always wanted to go to one of those."

She looked to him hopefully as he put his pen to his mouth. "Who would be planning this?"

"Mariah said that she'll probably have a lot of time on her hands so we'll be planning it together. Obviously you'll be in charge of the final guest list since I have no idea who to invite."

Brooklyn had a look at an open book before him that Hilary assumed was his diary. He looked through it and circled a day. "How's next month?"

"Perfect," she assured, smiling warmly. "Just perfect."

Please review!

jellybean-kitty