Now we pick up where the last chapter left off.

I don't own the Persona/Shadow concept.

Chapter 4

The Warrior, the Knight, and the Muse

As the creature shot another fireball, Wes brought up the shield he'd grabbed off a statue to block. The feral red creature ran forward, diving at Wes.

But Wes brought up the shield, let it hit, then used the momentum to flip it over his head. He whirled, hoping to see it hit a wall, but his face fell as the creature flipped itself, landed on the wall with its paws, and shot off and toward him again.

"Alright, then we do this the direct way." Moving the shield, Wes pulled back his arm and slammed his fist into the creature's muzzle, sending it back.

"And this time, stay down, bitch."

Wes walked away, shaking his hand in pain. "Man, that hurt."

As he kept walking, something caught his eye. As he bent down, he saw what looked like several pieces of red hair, severed as if they had been cut off

His eyes widened as he recognized the color. "Sam."

Her long hair flowing behind her, Sam ran down the tunnel, trying to escape the huge black scarab chasing her.

As she ran, she could still feel the spot where the bug had very nearly cut her throat. She managed to dodge, but it caught some of her hair, slicing it off.

Even as she escaped, she could still hear the clicking of its mandibles. She really couldn't tell where it was, but her instincts told her to go left.

Sam kept going at a brisk pace, breathing hard from her run. She stopped, and leaning against the wall, gasping for air. It felt like she'd just run a mile.

"I've got to...find Wes and Jenn-" She stopped as she heard the familiar clicking behind her.

Suddenly no longer tired, Sam took off down the tunnel, simply choosing whatever pathway felt best.

When she turned a corner and ran into a wall of black, she screamed and started pummeling whatever it was.

"Ow! Stop that, already."

Sam stopped at the familiar voice, and slowly looked up to see the familiar blue eyes and silver hair of her best friend. "Wes!" She threw her arms around him, never happier to see him.

"Okay. Glad to see you too."

Slightly embarrassed, Sam pulled back and ran her hand over her hair. "So, um, how are you?" Then she looked down and saw the shield on his arm. "And where did you get that?"

Wes shrugged. "Borrowed it off a statue. Didn't think he'd mind." Then he looked her over, and slid it off his arm, holding it out to her. "But it looks like you might need it more than me right now."

"Thanks, Wes." Sam took the shield and slid it onto her arm. "Little heavy. I'll get used to it." But then she noticed Wes' empty arms. "But what about you?"

Wes held up his fist, his knuckles bruised from his earlier use of it. "I'm gonna rely on my own fists to fight. You just worry about protecting yourself. I'll take the hits."

"Okay, but we need to find Jennifer. She's got to be lost somewhere around here."

Jennifer turned a corner, and leaned against the wall, panting and listening. It was subtle, but she could definitely hear the shuffling sounds of the mummy chasing her.

No matter how fast she ran and how many corners she took, it always seemed to hone in on her and catch up.

Pushing off the wall, Jennifer stumbled along, her legs screaming as she pushed along. As she heard her pursuer behind her, she turned slightly to look.

But doing so caused her to slip on a loose stone, and she felt a pain in her ankle that brought her to an abrupt halt.

The shuffling came to a stop behind her, and the creature moaned.

Steeling herself against her fear, Jennifer slowly turned and pushed herself to her feet, taking her weight on her good leg. "You want me? Well, here I am."

With another groan, the mummy brought up its arm, and brought it down.

But the attack was intercepted as a blue card appeared before her. In a trance, Jennifer took the card in her fingers. "Per...so...na." With a snap, the card shattered, and a female figure emerged before her.

The woman had long flowing black hair, was wearing ancient armor, and had a cloak of white feathers down her back.. With a single slash of her sword, the mummy vanished.

The woman slowly turned to Jennifer, and bowed to one knee, placing a hand on Jennifer's ankle. With a slight glow, the pain faded.

Jennifer looked over the woman in awe. "Who...are you?"

"'I am thou, and thou art I. Thou art the one who opens the door. I am Brunhilda, Chooser of the Slain, and I shall fight with you.'" Brunhilda picked up her sword, and offered it to Jennifer. "'This is the sword Nothung, and it will serve you well.'" As Jennifer took the sword, Brunhilda vanished, and returned to the card.

Jennifer put the card in her pocket and grasped the sword tightly. "I've got to find Sam and Wes. And soon."

Sam pulled Wes to a sudden stop as he was about to round a corner. He looked back at her, confused. "What?"

Sam nodded to the corner. "There are several of those things in there. More than even you could beat."

"How can you tell?"

Sam shook her head, and put a hand to her forehead. "I don't know. I just do. I can feel them there."

"So where do we go, then?"

Sam rubbed her chin, and looked over the wall. Something she saw drew her attention. She went over, and ran her hand over the design of the Egyptian god Horus.

"If I remember what Jenn told me, it should be," Sam pushed in the left eye of Horus, and a door opened in the wall.. "Here."

"How'd you find that?"

"It was something Jennifer had told me about Egyptian tombs. There are secret passages in the walls, and I could feel one over here."

As Wes walked to the door, he heard the familiar growl behind down the hall. Taking only a second to decide, Wes shoved Sam through the door and shut it behind her.

"Wes!"

Wes heard Sam pounding on the other side of the wall. "It's for the best, Sam. Try and find the way out. If I can, I'll catch up with you."

He heard more pounding. "Don't you dare do anything stupid Wesley Michael Rhazar! And stay alive, please."

Turning away, Wes saw the feral beast from earlier poised to pounce at him. Cracking his knuckles, Wes leaned forward, ready to rush the creature. "Hello, beastie."

"Damn, that idiot." Sam turned from the hidden door and jogged down the hall, tightly holding the shield he gave her.

Trusting her instincts, she took several turns, and ran straight into Jennifer, who drew a sword.

With a smile on her face, Jennifer lowered the sword. "Sam, what happened to you? Did you find Wes?"

A tear slid down Sam's cheek. "Yes, but he stayed behind to fight some creature. I tried to stay, but he locked me out. I...I." The weight of everything that had happened caught up with her, and she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

Jennifer dropped her sword and gently took Sam by the shoulders. "Sam, you have to calm down. This isn't the time or place." Jennifer looked around as she heard a clicking sound behind her. "Please, Sam. We have to go."

Out of nowhere, a huge beetle shot around the corner, and headed for them.

Jennifer whirled to her feet, and pulled the card out of her pocket. "Come, Brunhilda." With a snap, the card shattered, and Brunhilda emerged. "Cleave!"

Brunhilda brought her sword down, but when it hit the shell, it bounced off in a shower of sparks.

As the persona faded, Jennifer brought up her sword and charged for the beetle.

Sam sat on her knees, numbly watching Jennifer battle the beetle she had run from earlier. She knew she had to help Jennifer, but she couldn't seem to find the strength.

After another ineffectual strike, Jennifer was knocked aside, and the beetle focused back on her.

"As it charges, dive to the left."

Sam looked around for the source of the voice, but couldn't see anybody. But as the beetle charged, Sam did as instructed and dove to the left, causing the beetle to slam into a wall.

Sam ran for Jennifer, and shook her shoulder. "Come on, Jennifer. I need you for this. I can't do this alone."

"Nor can she. You must do this together."

A blue card like what Jennifer had used appeared in her hand, and Sam got slowly to her feet. "Per...so...na." She tossed the card onto the floor, shattering it.

Before her appeared a tall, tanned woman with curly dark hair, wearing a Greek peplos, and holding a scroll. "I am thou, and thou art I. Thou art the one who opens the door. I am Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry, and I can help aid your allies."

With a groan, Jenifer got to her feet behind her, and her eyes went wide at Calliope. "You got one too?"

Sam nodded, her eyes focusing on the beetle. "I can see its weakness. When it charges, aim for the spot to the left of its mandible."

With a nod, Jennifer pointed her sword, and waited as the beetle turned around. Clicking its mandible, it charged at them.

Poised at the ready, Jennifer pierced the beetle, and watched it vanish. As Calliope vanished, Jennifer dropped her sword and sank to her knees. "That was intense."

Picking up her sword, Jennifer pushed herself to her feet. "Enough rest. We have to find Wes, and fast."

Wes was trapped between a rock and a hard place. Before him was the feral creature. Behind him was the group of creatures Sam had sensed.

Wes held his bleeding arm where the beast had caught him earlier. I've got to finish this soon.

The beast dived at Wes again, but as Wes attempted to block, the beast dived over and landed on his chest, going for his throat.

Wes grabbed the muzzle, holding it inches from his face, and struggled to get a foot under it. Screaming with effort, Wes shoved at it, pushing it off him and rolling to his feet.

"Why won't you die?"

The beast answered with a feral roar, and a fire appeared in its mouth.

A crazy idea hit Wes, and he prepared himself. Running, he grabbed the beast's muzzle and forced it shut.

The fire exploded in the beast's mouth, sending both it and Wes flying back.

Wes smiled slowly, his skin covered in ash. "Got you, you bastard."

A growling sounded behind him, and Wes slowly turned to see a group of shadow creatures, most likely the ones that Sam had sensed, staring at him like a starving man at a steak.

Tired to his bones, Wes struggled to his feet.

"Wes!"

Sam and Jennifer ran up, Sam putting herself in front of him. "Are you okay?"

"Been better." Moving gingerly, Wes put himself in front of Sam. "But I'm going to protect you, even if it means my life."

With a flash, a blue card appeared, revolving in front of him. "Per...so...na."

Wes slammed his fist into the card, and it shattered. Appearing before him was a man wearing medieval armor, wielding a shield and lance. "I am thou, and thou art I Thou art the one who opens the door. I am Lancelot, Bravest of Knights, and I will protect those you care for."

In awe, Wes looked from Lancelot to the assembled shadow creatures. "Time to put you freaks on ice. Mabufu!"

From Lancelot's lance, a fog appeared, and shot to the shadows, encasing them all in ice. With another strike of the lance, they all shattered. "Told ya." Then, exhausted, Wes fell back, and everything went dark.

Now for the three new characters:

Name:Wesley "Wes" Rhazar
Age:16
Eye/Hair Color:Icey Blue/Silver
Location:Los Angeles, CA.
Weapon:Fists
Arcana:The Strength(XI)
Persona:Lancelot, Bravest of Knights

Name:Samantha "Sam" Rose
Age:17
Eye/Hair Color:Hazel/Red
Location:Los Angeles, CA.
Weapon:Shield
Arcana:The Lovers(VI)
Persona:Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry

Name:Jennifer Andrews
Age:15
Eye/Hair Color:Green/Dirty Blonde
Location:Los Angeles, CA.
Weapon:Nothung
Arcana:The Empress(III)
Persona:Brunhilda, Chooser of the Slain

Reviews are most appreciated.