Synemyoa: Sorry if it's taken this long to update this. I wonder if there's still anyone out there reading this? XD I'll try to update again tomorrow. Need to get this done... LOL

A haggard, wizened old woman looked down at Mai, but this wasn't any normal human being. No, quite the opposite. Long, stringy grey hair sprouted from the grandma's scalp like weeds. Her skin was extremely pale and split in places. Eyes of jade, filled with wisdom, power, and hate, burned into Mai. And her hands… they were the same as the hand that had grabbed onto Mai's ankle. If only I had been quicker… But why hasn't she killed me yet?

A growl emitted from the old woman's throat. It echoed across stone cavern that they had fallen into. Is she cackling? Indeed, it was a cackle. Blood was running down the being's hands; it was Mai's blood. Well, that explains why my legs feel numb right now. I don't dare check to see how badly they're injured. Mai scooted away from the woman as much as possible, until her back was crushed against some jagged rocks and wood.

"At least… I caught… you." The granny cackled again. It was such a terrible sound that it sent Mai's heart racing. "Don't worry… I won't… kill… you… yet."

"Then what do you want with me?" Mai croaked. Her throat was unbearably dry.

"I want… you… to bring… me… her. I have… waited… so long… for a new heir… of such… power… to arrive."

"How could I help you with that, when I'm stuck here?"

"She… will… come. She… wants… to protect… you. That is why… you… are still… alive. She saved… you." The old woman's brow furrowed and her mouth twisted in distaste. "Humans… are such… a waste. They… are filth. Filthy… humans…" Her eyes turned from green to yellow and fangs began to protrude from beneath her thin, wrinkled lips. "Vile… creatures…"

Mai's eyes widened as the being came closer. Clawed hands stretched towards her face. Finally, after what seemed like an hour, a single claw touched the middle of her forehead. Searing pain caused Mai to cry out, the nail was carving something on her temple. What's this… I can't see… why can't I see? Red… my vision is full of red… blood? Mai passed out.

Aimi's mother looked panic stricken. Her eyes were frantically darting about the room, as if searching for a way out of the conversation. Sweat began to drip down her brow and her lips were trembling.

"I… only know a little about them. They were made by my ancestors. You see… only… only every 5th generation is a new witch chosen to inherit the clan's powers… so I don't know that much. But my mother told me the symbols are the sign of our Goddess' protection. However, the marks have since been fading since Lady…" she stopped speaking, her mouth left agape. "I mean… I mean since she had stopped the passing of powers. She, our previous leader, had done something terrible… that's all I know." She fisted her hands in her lap, and bit down on her lower lip.

Brown-san looked at the mother with pity, but he could now determine that the problem was deeper than he thought. If a Goddess's powers were connected to this in any way, then they were in great danger. Not to mention one of the wiccan leaders disrupting the transfer… that could definitely have something to do with the problem. If I remember correctly… there was something in the history books about the witches and the church…

Masako went around the back of the house to look for the others. They had yet to return, and she was getting worried about Naru. In her hurry, she tripped on her kimono and fell next to one of the large cherry blossom trees. When she put her hand on the tree to stand up, she felt something warm and sticky clinging to her hand. Slowly, she brought her hand out into the light, and gasped. Her hand was covered in blood. In fact, the tree's trunk was almost totally covered in the stuff.

She noticed a trail on the ground and continued to follow it… until she found a form lying on the ground. Oh no, please don't let it be Naru! Quickly, she knelt down and turned the unconscious person over. It was Mai's bloody face that greeted her.

A scream for help could be heard by all.

Naru, Bou-san, and Lin heard Masako's scream and rushed towards that direction. They were all still shocked by the previous events. Naru had tried to grab a hold of Mai's hand, but he'd failed as the creature pulled her down into the depths of the earth. There had been no way they could have saved her, yet still Naru blamed himself. If only I had gone through last… if only I had grabbed a hold of her quicker. She would still be alive then…

When they arrived at the scene, Naru caught sight of the back of Mai's head. She's safe!He walked over to Masako, not noticing her wide and horrified eyes. Without any hesitance, Naru turned Mai's face towards his and couldn't help but gasp.

Carved into Mai's forehead was the same strange symbol they'd seen on the way into the house and surrounding the symbol was a bloody pentagram.