Chapter Two: No Goodbyes, Not Yet

Zhalia

I remember every inch of Sophie's house. From the training room on the first floor to the twenty-something guestrooms on the second and third. Well, maybe not twenty- but there were more than a dozen guestrooms up there. The china room was at the back of the house along with a small garden labyrinth that led to what looked like a mausoleum, which was actually a memorial house for the Casterwill family. Only a Casterwill could enter that house meaning that I had to caution everyone away from it, not knowing what precautions had been put up to protect it. It didn't matter that we broke through the initial defenses, the stronger magic was most likely protecting certain parts of the land and meant death to any that dared trespass.

The rest of yesterday had passed rather quickly. I doubled the security for today and alerted the techs to backtrack any unfamiliar number that called my phone and get a location for me. My notion for added security was disproved by Shauna who said that Vienna was the strongest and safest stronghold second only to the castle at Prague, and if we were to leave it for hours it would withstand an army with no problem. I didn't object and never continued the argument with her, I did my job of reporting a threat and possible breach. Though later in the evening, I went around her and added extra security that is to be taken from the logs the hour that we arrive back in Vienna.

That part of my job was done, and I had no qualms early this morning when Rassimov, twenty Suits, and I boarded an Organization jet and flew to Venice. A part of me dreaded the trip, but I promised myself to not even go near the vicinity of Dante's house even though a squad had been sent there to see if the wards were still up and impenetrable. Last time they were... something about a warding so strong that it could only be broken by the caster from within the residence itself.

Once we reached the ground transport, the rest of the group rode in cars while I- not wanting to be anywhere in a tight and closed environment with Rassimov, Shauna, and Wind- had already rented a private car myself prior to our trip. It wasn't uncommon for me to be in a different car, in fact I suggested I be in one after Shauna and I got into a verbal argument over who would better run point on a mission. Rassimov was rather reluctant on but Shauna was all too happy, insisting she arrange my transport, but there would be no way in hell I would take anything she offered me.

I arrived first on scene first after those who had broken the wards were just leaving. Though Dante's house was warded with so much Foundation spells, Sophie's on the other hand wasn't, it only had a few powerful spells and several agents needed to master break spells in order to get through such a large warding field. It had taken the group at least five days of endless countermagics and bind breaks along with a couple of energy sustaining relics for the group to weaken the Casterwill shield to the point where someone could shatter the shield with a barrage of strong Forceblasts. Once through the perimeter ward, the house itself had been empty and unwarded leaving it open for us to enter easily.

I waited for a moment as everyone spread out and mentally kept track of where everyone was. I watched as Suits trashed and smashed the china, stole equipment from the training room, and tore apart the bedrooms looking for whatever they were hoping to find. I knew Rassimov and others were in the basement probably locating the vault room and for those who I couldn't directly, I assumed they were most likely patrolling the area and taking notes of the manor itself. The one thing I knew for certain was that no one was allowed into Sophie's room. Once it was found, it wasn't trashed on my orders, much to Rassimov's disapproval. But since that was the only thing I asked for, he said I could have it my way.

Truthfully, I was hoping for some souvenirs to take back with me, maybe even something to give as a pick-me-up to the princess and maybe hope that it would say that I apologize for separating her and Lok. Though really, nothing short of me dying for her would probably say "I'm Sorry".

I wasn't surprised to open the door and find a neat and organized room. The colors were very... her. Shades of purple and furniture as white and pristine as one could buy. Her desk was rather large for the corner that it was in and even had a small bookshelf at the top probably for the textbooks she used in school. I almost envied how perfect everything looked.

No wonder she's a bit prissy when it comes to things.

I looked over to a bookshelf that had everything but books on it. On most of the shelves there were carefully picked pictures that were custom framed. I easily found one I recognized. It was one that Tersely had taken when we arrived at the Foundation headquarters, when Lok had to present Thor's hammer to a relic review council. We were all there. Dante and Montehue were besides Lok, helping to hold up the hammer. I was at the door holding it open and Sophie had the other door when Tersely said, "Guys, over here." We all looked over and were blinded by a bright light from his digital camera. Luckily, the boys didn't drop the hammer, but they did have to pause and Tersely had to guide them because there were spots in their eyes. Whatever additions Tersely had made to the tech in that camera, were not welcome.

I shook my head of the memory and moved on to a different picture. Here, Lok and Sophie had fallen asleep on the couch. I took the picture hoping to embarrass Sophie, but Dante had been one step ahead of me and developed the picture before deleting it and handing it to Sophie when she woke. I was surprised she framed it. But then again, barely anyone was allowed in her room except LeBlanche and the maid who made sure everything was in order when Sophie was away.

My fingers skidded across the frozen memories until I noticed that a shelf was dedicated solely to albums. I pulled on the book whose binding was blank, but on the cover was written, 'Candids'. I was actually curious at what kind of candid shots were caught in here.

Maybe some embarrassing photos?

I smiled as I opened the album and saw the first photo was of Lok except he was hanging upside down from the monkey bars that Dante had installed in the gym. It was actually meant to build endurance and upper body strength when not being used for fun.

I laughed as I read the caption: He's exactly what he acts like…

She had even decorated the page too with sketches of trees and of bananas and even a cartoon monkey in the corner of the page.

I went through pictures of Lok, Dante, and other moments on our other missions. There was one picture where Lok was firing a Boltflare at Dante, but judging on the time stamp on the bottom, I knew that was pretty early into his training. Actually, thinking back, I think this was the picture of the Boltflare that singed the side of Dante's hair. Come to think of it, that does explain why Dante went through a really odd hairstyle change over the summer with it cut slightly shorter to the point where it made him slightly younger looking.

I chuckled to myself when I flipped to a picture that showed the moment when I had pinned Dante to the ground, reaching for a key that was in one hand. We had had a playful fight when he refused to give me the key to the locker that had all of our cellular devices. Because we were in a prime headquarters building, it meant that all cellular were locked away before entering the main complex. I wanted to leave early without waiting for the others, but he wouldn't let me... then we got into a small spar. We laughed every time we caught the other open or caught a weak point. Eventually, I tripped and pinned him down.

I couldn't resist reading the caption of the photo in Sophie's handwriting that read: Two adults? Ha! One adult and a crushing school girl.

Uh-huh, sure, Sophie. I rolled my eyes and shrugged as I flipped the page and saw that there was a caption in one slot but no picture. I saw that Lok's handwriting had written the caption: If ever there was an X-rated moment in his house.

The plastic sleeve that had held the picture had been torn and the rest of the pictures were too boring to be noted, but that picture- I wonder what they had been talking about. X-rated? Between whom? It couldn't have been between Dante and me, could it? Then again, he was the only one that owned a house on the team... and I-

"Zhalia, what are you doing?" came a voice that echoed in the room. I straightened with the book in my hands. There was a Suit at the door, I think her name was Christine. And I could tell she was suspicious. "What's with the book?" Yep... definitely, suspicious.

"The girl's been in withdrawal." I said definitively, "We needed something to get her morale up before Klaus can start his tests again with her."

Christine nodded as she walked off, but she came back a moment. "Rassimov wants you in the library as soon as you're done... reminiscing." she said and I noticed that the latter of her statement was tinged with humor which I let pass, if not very reluctantly.

Before I left, I reviewed the rest of Sophie's room, looking for something, anything that could provide a clue to where the others had gone. Perhaps, her guardian duo had left a message for Sophie just in case she escaped and was able to reach her Manor. I reached out with my magic, to try and get a feeling that could connect to something. But there nothing. Not a glimmer of magic anywhere in the room. But, it was when I was grabbing the album and slipping the pictures out of its frames that I noticed it.

At the corner of her room, I spotted a trash can that looked so out of place with the rest of the decorations and styles in the room. Yes, I may be looking into things because why would someone care about the style of a trashcan, but Sophie was very particular with her sense of style and didn't seem like one to let even such a small detail of her room go. I knelt down and noticed that what caught the sunlight and my attention from afar were white gauze strips. Gauze that was stained brown. I took a moment to investigate it and when I got tilted the can towards me, I saw several glass pieces shining at the bottom of the can with pictures of me in some of the frames. Santiago losing his cool perhaps? But why would he then ditch his bandages in Sophie's trash? The brown stains were definitely blood... but judging from whatever was in the can it wasn't that much. I dismissed it as trivial, after all, I knew Santiago had a thing for Sophie thus maybe he was in her room looking for something of hers to take with them for her before they evacuated. Perhaps he had cut himself throwing out the glass or something-

"Zhalia?!" I heard Rassimov's call from the library which was on the same floor.

I ditched the bandages and tucked the album under my arm before speed-walking into the library. Once I entered I saw pages strewn everywhere and old books scattered all over the ground. Not going to lie, a part of me hurt to see Sophie's library trashed and torn knowing how long it took her family to collect some of the books. Hell, even I would withdraw into this place just to write on one of the old writing desks that were kept empty for anyone's use or read one of the old books from the collection. I liked libraries.

In the trash that was being kicked aside, I saw a collection of literature classics strewn all over the floor, it's bindings separate from most of its pages. Tomes of Casterwill family heritage had been ripped to shreds, as well. I watched as more Suits tore more books knowing they were doing it just for the hell of it. Amidst all the ripping and the mess, I turned off that sadness and suddenly that feeling of loss evaporated and like them I was unfazed by what was happening.

Feeling no emotion only ensured me that I wasn't caring for them, that truly- I didn't really care at the end of the day.

Liar.

Rassimov threw me an angry and irritated glare as I approached, his eyes locked onto the prize I had in my arms. "And what is that?"

"I'm hoping to get the Casterwill girl out of her withdrawal. Klaus has no use for her in that state." I reiterated flatly and he wore annoyed scowl on his face at that answer. Personally, I didn't really care.

"I hope this gift-giving isn't going to be frequent." His accent made this statement more threatening than it actually was.

"You'll kill the girl eventually, why not alleviate her conditions for a while? There's no harm done."

That seemed to make him accept the issue begrudgingly. "Very true." he muttered just loud enough for me to pick up.

The two words were enough to assure me of Sophie's fate and though a disquieting feeling flooded through me, I quickly changed subject, "Why are they tearing the library apart, sir?" I asked as I surveyed the destruction.

"The Casterwills were wielders of Light magic." Rassimov said in a matter-of-fact voice. I rolled my eyes. It didn't really answer my question.

"No shit." I mumbled, but if he heard me, he made no indication and instead walked over to a part of the library I never bothered to go to. The shelves were so full of such large leather tomes that they looked too old to be of any interesting use and I assumed they were just more Casterwill legacy books.

"They had enchanted tomes of magic with spells that we don't even know of." Rassimov continued to explain, "They were here," his fingers brushed against the edge of the shelf and he inspected it as if finding a clue, "but someone's been here before us and had emptied these out.

"The Tomes of Light and those of Dark are both missing."

"Dark and Light?" I asked. "But every Seeker uses the same spells."

It was common knowledge that the Organization was known for using certain kind of spells and that the Foundation had their own set as well. For instance, Mindsight and Augurfrost belonged to the Organization spell pool while Nimblefire and Honorguard were typically Foundation used spells. But as far as common knowledge applied, there was no distinction between Light or Dark magic. People have been led to believe that the magic Seekers used was neutral, after all both Organization and Foundation agents were able to use each others' spells if they could master it. However, that mastery took an understanding of the way the spell alters the area around you and others, in addition to how your energy is changed because of it. That was why it was very difficult to master spells.

I, who've mastered and used spells both spell pools, haven't felt anything that's led me to believe that magic was polarized. However, if there were any proof to what he was saying, Rassimov was probably talking about the more unique spells he used, ones I've seen on rare occasions. I can only assume they're Blood Spiral spells... or in this case, dark magic in its purer form.

"Yes, spells used now are typically neutral." I watched as his eyes looked over the shelves, he seemed so lost in the fact that the books were so close... had been in his reach. But they were now gone. "But dark magic spells are unique and dangerous. Only those of the Blood Spiral can use such magic. Because only we can understand what it takes to say such words, to cause such pain." he said, confirming my conclusions. He walked over to one of the shelves and ran his hand across one particular empty shelf, the dust pattern showed that large tomes had once rested there. "We know what it takes to truly harness dark magic.

"But Casterwill, in his great wisdom," he said the statement rather disdainfully, "thought to contain the Nullifiers' magic after he had defeated them. He raided many of the temples and structures and stole tomes of magic, burning most except for those of the darkest that had wards placed around them, making sure no one of the Light could destroy them... ensuring its survival. He locked these away with his family... until almost all forgot they truly existed. "

"So, you want the books for the Professor?" I asked confused, "But without Tao and the Amulet of Will, the Professor will-"

"Everyone knows that the Professor will die and that I will take his place. And you- you will take mine." he said rather inaudibly as he put a hand on my shoulder. I struggled not to shudder at the fact that he was so close and showing me attention like this. "I need the tomes of magic to bring the Organization to its fullest potential. Then, I can bring about my true goal. The goal the Professor promised me I would achieve."

"World domination?" I asked, trying to hide my laugh.

"Is there anything else?" Rassimov asked, almost too seriously for my liking. "Yes, many have tried."

"But all have failed." I pointed out.

"Playing devil's advocate, are we?" Rassimov asked with a rare smile indicating he found something intriguing. I shrugged in reply and allowed him to continue. "Yes, Zhalia, all those that have tried have failed, but they were mere ordinary mortals. We are Seekers, we possess magic- And thanks to you, our greatest opposition has been eliminated."

"You're welcome." I merely said as I looked out the window at the men loading the cars with what they had recovered.

"You know, I didn't believe you could do it." Rassimov mused, a rare moment for him. And I knew why. We were the sole people left in the library. I turned to him, questioning him but not aloud, "Take down Dante Vale, I mean. I never believed you could have done it.

"I thought you would betray us. So much time with him- and those touchy teenagers- I believed that they would get into your head. Turn you against us with their good nature and their- altruism." he shook his head disgusted before he laughed, "You must be more cold than I thought."

"That's a very flattering compliment." I said sarcastically, backing away slowly. But a Suit came up to the doorway, as if sent to report.

"Sir, there's no magic tomes here or in the vault we recovered downstairs." he stated, stiffly. I noticed from the way that he held himself that he was bracing for an attack, or some sort of verbal assault.

"Santiago and LeBlanche must have taken things before they left." I offered, cutting into whatever was coming. "They are alive after all."

Rassimov scowled. "They would've flown to the States. It's the only country where the Foundation remains strong." He turned to look at me. "Your trip to the US might be sooner than we thought." He placed a hand on my shoulder reassuringly again, before heading out as if to look elsewhere for something.

I nodded as he walked out. Once he was out of view, I shivered and shook the disgust that threatened to explode in me. His voice and that glint in his eyes when he spoke to me... it has changed in the past couple of days and it wasn't something that settled well with me.

I didn't wait for anyone's approval to leave, so I told a Suit I would head to the plane, and headed out, awaiting no word or permission or to hear someone objecting.

However, as I walked out the door my cell phone rang once again. Before I picked up, I noticed that it was a private number.

I wonder.

In the corner of my screen I saw an icon that meant it was being tracked. That was good.

"Hello?" I asked, quickly thinking of things to say in order to keep the person on the line long enough.

"Hey, Zhalia." This voice I recognized easily. It was distinctly bearing a heavy Irish accent.

"Scarlet?" I asked dubiously as I unconsciously found myself looking around the area, wondering if she could see me... if she were watching. When I could spot nothing in the distance, I looked around and in places where a camera could be hidden. Maybe she was the reason the shelves were empty. Maybe her and whatever team she was able to assemble had taken the tomes themselves or aided LeBlanche and Santiago in their evacuation.

"Of course. Well, who else would it be." she said simply, leaving me to keep the conversation going.

"Who called yesterday?" I asked.

"Oh, him? An old friend of mine. Wanted him to give you a message from me." she answered before she got blunt. "Look, Zhalia, no doubt you've begun to track this call-"

"I know that you're calling from the States. I don't need a large overseas charge on my cell bill to prove it." I said as I tossed the album in the car.

Damn, why did the track take so fucking long?! Her voice was already annoying me just because it brought up memories of that Ireland mission. Rather, the mission was- okay... she was the one who was irritating!

"Dante told me, once, that you were smart." she said, but I couldn't exactly decipher what she meant by that.

I snorted. "You only need common sense and knowledge of a map." I said rather acerbically, "The US is the only haven for Foundation refugees."

I heard her laugh. "Oh, Zhalia- that's not what I meant."

What the hell did she mean by that?

"Unless you just wanted someone new to hear you talk stupid, there must be some reason you called." I snapped.

"A friendly talk, why?" she asked, feigning innocence. "Oh, by the way, I should tell you- there are rarely any of us left in Europe. Those who are there have been memory wiped. You can waste your resources looking for us, but after those first dozen houses, you'll see what I mean."

"I'm not in charge of the assignments," I answered, turning the key in the ignition. "But I will be leading the hunt for the rest of you in the States."

"That," she paused, "is exactly what I wanted to hear."

It wasn't exactly compromising news to me, and besides, I want them to know that I'm coming. I want them to know that I would drive them into oblivion, into hiding so far and so deep so as to never be found. Though that wasn't actually my job, it was what I needed to do. With eliminating our opposition, even if I'm not directly killing them, that was the only way to prove myself. Trusted to the point where I'm given the chance to learn all-powerful spells. Gain enough power to maybe stop some bloodshed... that was worth it, right?

So, what? Technically, I was lying and I didn't want to hunt them. But I wasn't going to exactly tell Scarlet the truth.

She was silent, as if waiting for me to say something. But when I didn't, she mocked, "You'll never find us. Happy hunting, Zhalia."

That phrase again. Does everyone like using it?

The line went dead and I immediately looked to the icon on my phone to see if it had tracked her. But it was beeping and glowing red, not the affirmative green I had hoped for. I cursed under my breath when I read the results. The track only confirmed it was the States but didn't get me a location.

On the other hand, that phone call sounded entirely stupid. Why the hell would Scarlet call, go into a pointless conversation, and then feed me such useless information only to learn that I would be in the States to look for them? I mulled over it for a second. My arrival wasn't such a big deal. It was no treasured piece of information.

I shook my head. There was no point to let something like that get into my head if it had no point, I needed to focus my attention elsewhere. I slipped into the car and drove off. Maybe Scarlet was just playing along with someone- the mysterious caller from yesterday... maybe, they were playing at something. I just didn't know what... yet.

0o0

The trip back to Vienna went by fast, mostly due to the fact that I ignored everyone and sat in the back of the plane. No one bothered me, much to my surprise, and I was dropped off at Vienna while the others continued on to Prague. Before I knew it, I was walking down to the holding cells again with a gift and a promise kept.

The metal door slid back and I saw Sophie meditating, this time facing the doorway. Usually, she always turned away. But it was nice to see her meditating, again.

"Soph-" I started before adding 'ie' when she looked up at me with daggers in her eyes. "I got you something from your place."

She remained on the floor with her legs crossed while Cherit flew over to the deposit slide and took the album along with the sketchpad and pencils I had attached with a string to it. He stopped to fly in front of the glass right in front of me.

"Whose side are you really on, Zhalia?" he asked, taking me aback.

"What do you think?!" I shot out, realizing a moment after I spoke that I was sounding too harsh. "If I wasn't with them, you all would be out of here by now."

"Well, thank you for your kindness." Cherit said with a smile, as he flew with the album and handed it to Sophie, who accepted it gracefully.

He himself flew into the corner with pencils and the sketchbook. I watched him for a moment before I turned my attention back to Sophie. I saw in her eyes that she wanted to ask me questions, but her pride wouldn't let her ask.

"They're safe, you know." I answered, assuming her mental question as I leaned to the side of the glass and watched as she flipped through the pages, taking out the stray photos that I had nabbed from the frames. She didn't need to know about the smashed photos of me, so I didn't mention it. "Santiago and LeBlanche were gone. They and most of your Foundation friends in the area have fled. In fact, I think most of them in this country- hell, this part of the world are gone."

Suddenly, I was reminded of Tersely.

"Well, almost. By the way, you'll be having a cell mate." I added, and she looked up, for once bright and hopeful. I knew she wanted me to say it would be Lok and I enjoyed the chance I had to crush that hope almost too much, as if retribution for all those times I took that temper of hers. "It's Tersely."

Her eyes dulled, but I guessed that somewhere inside, she was happy that there would be someone else with her. Her reaction wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it would have to do.

"Rassimov was interested in the tomes of Dark and Light magic." I said, both looking for a reaction and just plain rambling.

I mean, I was kinda lonely despite my new status. People had tried to befriend me, but when I tried to oppose any decision they made, they'd give me space. I was intimidating, and they weren't going to stand up against me. So, I decided against talking to others and chose to talk to Sophie, Lok, and Cherit whenever I could if they weren't being hostile. Sometimes, I'd have a one-sided conversation with Cherit which was mostly me listening and him telling me another one of his stories. Sometimes, listening was nice, too. But it was lonely... and that loneliness got to me on occasion.

Sophie tensed and her eyes froze on a picture, but I could tell that it wasn't the picture that made her nervous. I continued on carefully watching her expressions.

"He said that he and the Blood Spiral specialized in Dark magic. It's too bad he couldn't find any of the books, really. He seemed angry, but it looks like Santiago and LeBlanche made away with them. We suspect they went to the States."

The tension in Sophie's shoulders disappeared and she looked up at me, her green eyes questioning and dubious.

"You're lying." she stated simply as she closed the album and got off the floor. She tucked the album in the corner of her bed and lay down, ignoring my presence completely.

"I'm not." I said, picking myself off the wall and walking closer to her side of the room... on the other side of the glass that was.

"Santiago and LeBlanche didn't take the books." she replied and turned her back to me. I turned to Cherit who shrugged, confused as I was.

"No one else could have done it." I told her as I thought to myself of Scarlet and the others, but I didn't want to mention that help was still somewhere and get those hopes of hers too high. "The house was unwarded, so they must have left in a hurry. Took everything they knew was important with them."

She sat upright and stared at me as if waiting for me to give up my bluff and tell her something else. But the thing is, I didn't understand why she was doing it, so I stared her coolly in the eyes.

"Oh," she said as she resumed lying down. "Yes, they must have left ahead." she agreed. "I guess without a Casterwill to regularly uphold the spells, they can break through it with some emergency countermeasures or something."

A Casterwill was needed to take the books? Is that why she was so surprised? But if she was needed then... who the hell took the damn books?

Then, I thought of what she said, emergency countermeasures... maybe? Was she lying?

I waited for her to say something, but she was quiet. There was an awkward silence between the two of us for a bit. I couldn't tell whether or not she was just saying words to throw me off. But it did confirm one thing I was wrong about... LeBlanche and Santiago hadn't taken the tomes.

But her words didn't eliminate Scarlet and whoever of her group that had been keeping tabs on me. For a moment, I wanted to continue pushing the subject, try to get some information... but when I looked at her. I felt sorry for her again.

It was easy to feel annoyed and distant when not fully paying attention to her but when I took the time- mentally compared her to how she was to what she looks like now... all I felt was guilt. And I didn't push the subject, instead switching to something trivial.

"Sophie?" I finally asked, my mind drifting back to my time in her house. "There was a picture missing in your album, and I was wondering-"

"You and Dante." she whispered simply as if anticipating I would ask, knowing that I had looked through the album, "Montehue caught it when he was visiting us in Italy in July. That hot summer day when we all decided to take a break. He was hoping to use it against Dante for something, but Lok and I stole the camera and printed it before we deleted it."

And put it in an album. Why, though?

"Sounds familiar." I mumbled, but she never heard it. Louder I asked, "Why didn't you show us?"

I believed I knew what moment Montehue had caught and I tried hard not to blush.

I found myself backed up against the table, my hand wrapped tightly around the cord that held his amulet.

"C'mon, Zhalia." he said as he came up to me and reached for my hand, but I was up on the counter and extended my arm out of his reach.

"I can't believe you're still going to work!" I berated him, as he reached again, but I held my hand back. He could simply use a spell to get it from me, but he was playing along.

"Evil never sleeps." he simply stated. I rolled my eyes at that.

"Where'd you steal that line from? Spiderman?" I asked with a light laugh.

"You didn't need to know." Sophie answered, taking me out of the memory and placing me back in that hallway with her behind plasti-glass and stuck in a cell. "Can you- go?"

That shocked me, the tone of her voice, and I stared at her for a moment, at a temporary loss of words. I didn't know whether or not to talk to her or say something else...

"Please." she whispered.

I did as she asked, and walked away without a word as the memory continued to roll through my head.

"C'mon, Zhalia," he said as he reached for Solwing but once again I leaned out and this time twisted my body to further keep it away. I wasn't done with this game.

"We don't need a scout. It's called a break remember? You know, a one day vacation- the day you don't have to be a professional." I argued when he relented and braced himself against the table which wasn't all that very high.

I had easily hopped on to it in order slide just a tad bit away from him. He sighed and I turned to meet his gaze with a playful smile. He laughed in response to my antics before he hung his head in mock defeat. But then, I saw a change in his body language almost like a ripple went through him. Then, I noticed his gaze swept over me, looking at... all of me.

It was then that I realized that I had been lying on the table in front of him wearing nothing but the ocean colored bikini and he was wearing nothing but jeans. And I-

"Snap out of it." I whispered to myself as I placed my hand on the wall feeling cold steel under my finger tips and shook my head. I needed to ground myself not throw my mind back in time.

I need fresh air.

I was heading to the elevators, but as I turned to the exit Klaus intercepted me. Technically, I almost crashed into him.

"Ah, Zhalia," he smiled, happy to see me. "We need to discuss a few things. Meet me in my lab later, but right now, I need you to make sure the Lambert boy's isn't too terribly damaged, and I need you get Ms. Casterwill out of her cell. Locate her a new observatory room, too. Without that pestering Titan." he said before he turned to head in the other direction, without any response from me.

I just nodded, though I knew he was gone. "Sure."

I only heard Lambert... room... Casterwill... new room.

New room?

I paused as I turned to ask him what he meant by observatory room because I knew that meant experimentation. He wasn't actually going to try to make his harvesting device work... was he? I rushed to follow him down the hallway but when I turned the corner I couldn't see him. I stopped to see if I could hear something... anything. But he had turned too many corners for me to follow. Now, I was only left with my task.

And it didn't bode well for anyone.

If both of them were put into the laboratory together... it just wasn't good for them, period. It meant their time was going to come to an end. He would kill Sophie with the harvesting machine and then probably just use Lok as a guinea pig for his strength enhancers until the kid's heart would give up... soon after that indomitable will of his goes out like a light the moment she died.

It was a death sentence

One thing at a time. I needed to focus.

Klaus's experiments wouldn't start for another three days since he had to report his initial findings tomorrow in Prague and then propose his experimental design. Because Sophie was such a valued source of power, his science would have to sure... and knowing Klaus his science would be definite. That meant that Sophie had three days left.

I needed a little bit more time to think, to not overreact and act rashly.

I would go check up on Lok, see how he is. If he's in a condition to fight by tomorrow then just maybe he can do this without me having to lift a finger. The very least I could do was give him words... maybe information- yes. I'll do just that, that way there would be no way to trace it back to me. I fight with them, but most likely I'll allow Cherit to hit me with something- yes... this'll work.

To be honest, I didn't want these kids to die underground as lab rats. Anyone else, but not them. I'd rather they die in a fight than strapped to a metal table or pumped full of drugs. No... I'll try to help if I can, make sure there are no goodbyes, not yet.