"Augh!" I scream as I try to flag down the idiots. They are either less perceptive than I thought or, more likely, they are ignoring me. "Fuck this! Bionic Eye!" I lock onto the car before letting the bike go. I kick off from the seat, bring my bow up while pulling out a soul arrow, and firing at the tire. I hit my mark—like always—and the car swerved to the left like I planned. Soul and Maka braked hard and had to swerve out of the way of my bike. When everything finally stopped moving and people piled out of the car I pulled my bow back again. "Nobody move!" I bark out.

"What the fuck Goat?!" Black*star shouts. "Tsubaki!"

"Hai!" she transforms into one of her many forms and they brace for an attack. The others follow suit, even Spirit-san.

I growl in distain before firing at the ground and sending out a small shock. Everyone jumps back, except for Stein. He takes the full brunt of the electric attack without complaint. "What part of nobody move is too fucking hard for you idiots?!" I holler. "Death—damn it all straight to the inner ring of hell!" I throw my bow and it disintegrates in thin air. Stein drops Spirit-san causing everyone else to falter.

"What do you want Ramla?" Maka asks coolly.

"The same damn thing you want you brat," I hiss. I pick up and throw a rock at Spirit-san before he could say anything. "What did you say?" I yell at him and Stein. "What did you tell them about me? Mhm?"

"Ram we didn't—" Stein started, but I cut him off.

"Don't lie to me Stein!" I scream. "I just wanted to find Helena! I just wanted to find her and get back to my research, but you—gah!" I throw my hands up in the air. "I'm losing my mind," I say with a humorless chuckle.

"Will someone please explain to me what the hell is going on?!" Kid shouts. I stare at him for a moment before sighing. I hold out my hand and rematerialize my bow and sling it across my shoulders. "I mean honestly Ramla! There is literally nothing about you I understand!" he huffs. "I tried to be your friend and Helena tried desperately to be your friend," I cringe at his words. "Yet it appears you don't want friends! Not to mention you're apparent relationship with Stein-sensei and Spirt-sensei. I mean who are you Ramla?"

"Seriously Goat you got us all kinds of confused. A god like me does not like to be confused!" Black*star puffs out his chest. Before anyone can say something else I feel a familiar zing against my soul.

"Helena?" I breathe out as I turn around.

"You can't ignore us now Ramla!" Maka shouts indignantly.

"Shh! Everyone shut up!" I snap as I focus my scoop in the direction of the zing. "Something is coming…" at my assessment everyone springs into action. Maka and Black*star along with their weapons flank me on the right and Kid and Stein my left. I bring my bow in front before grabbing a soul arrow and notching it. "Brace yourselves."

That portal from the lion's memory opens up a few paces from where my bike lay on its side. What I am assuming is Gillian's right hand walked through it with at least two dozen other lions and lionesses behind him. The right hand prowls forward in a saunter as if he had all the time in the world. I pull my lips back in a feral snarl which causes the whole party to stop midstride. "My, my Gillian was right about you," the right hand purred. His voice was coated in honey and dripping with charm. If he were human he could charm anyone into loving him probably.

"Oh?" I purr back. "All good things I hope."

"Of course," he intones lightly. His tail flicks behind him with a slow grace as he stalks forward a little more. "Unfortunately I do not have time to properly get to know you I am afraid Miss Underling. Time is of the essence you see," he drawls out. "You took something of mine. I would like it back."

"Oh? What on earth could I have taken that belonged to a lion I've never met before?" I say back breezily. Everyone around me was tense and waiting for a strike, but this was a game of chess. That's how Kaluwa has always played her games.

"The Lion Alfred," his tone changed to something darker. A wicked thing stirred in my soul causing me to grin madly. I tilted my head to the side and allowed my arms to spread wide in an attempt to give the pride a false sense of superiority. My soul was crouched down, bidding its time before I would unleash the full force of it.

'Not yet. Not until I have Helena back,' I think as I step closer to the lion. "Doesn't ring a bell," I chirp. With a snarl the pride rises up in a cacophonous noise at my indifference at their fallen brother. "Unless," I cut in. The roaring dies down to a dull ache in the background as they wait for me. "You mean that brain in a jar back at my lab," I bark out in a laugh. A lioness pounces with a heartbroken wail. Before I could kill it someone did the act for me. I turn my head slightly to see that Kid had fired off a shot. 'Tsk meddlesome.'

"You'll regret that you child!" the right hand roared. All the others in the pride jumped at his command and instead of backing up I pull my bow in front of me again.

"I still have a few questions for you," I say as my soul flares up causing my cloak to billow and the hood thrown back. "Get out of my way."


"Get out of my way," Ramla's voice suddenly took on a menacing quality. This girl was a roller coaster of confusing personas and talents. She pulled back that same purple arrow from that dreadful day and took down all of the lions. All of them except for two of them that is, the one she spoke with and a female standing next to him. I was about to take another shot when Stein-sensei held him arm out in front of me.

"Don't interrupt her again Kid," he said smoothly. "Next time she might kill you as well." He looked down at me with a shrug, "wouldn't want to do that paperwork."

"Tell me where the girl is," we heard Ramla say. "I might give you painless deaths if you do."

"You filthy human," the female spat. "Mistress should have killed you when she had the chance!" Faster than can be humanly possibly Ramla had notched another arrow and sent it flying straight into her head. She keeled over in pain, thrashing and screeching as if she was on fire. Not soon enough she stopped moving and disappeared leaving behind her tainted soul. The lion looked unconcerned.

"You," Ramla cajoles. She points her bow at the lion before and smiles. "I know where she lives," her voice was venomous and deadly. The lion reacted strongly to this statement which had no apparent meaning to me or my friends. Maka and Black*star looked just as unnerved by this situation as I felt.

'Can we trust Ramla? Who is she? What is happening…?' too many questions not enough answers.

"Do the Paarl Mountains mean anything to you lion?" Ramla continues. The lion roars and leaps for her head.

"Ramla!" I shout, but Stein-sensei was quicker than me. He grabbed the back of her cloak and yanked her. I didn't even notice him inching his way closer to her let alone into arms reach. They fall backward and the lion lands behind them and closer to us.

"No you don't!" Maka shouts as she lunges for the animal. She made a long swipe and the lion dodged it deftly before dancing back a few feet to our left. Ramla was once again standing between us and the beast.

"We need him alive you idiot!" Ramla shouts. "You!" she points at the lion again.

"Charles," the lion states.

"Charles," she drawls out, tasting the name. "That's a stupid ass name for a lion. I'll give ya one more chance. Where is the girl Charles?" the lion—Charles—tenses with a snarl.

"You'll have to kill me I'll never tell yo—!" he was cut off by an arrow to the head. Like the female he convulses on the ground for a long period of time before keeling over dead.

"Fine," Ramla sighs. "I guess we don't need him alive." She turns her Soul Protect on again and her suit and cloak fade away into the dimming light. Her bow is dissolving in a soft purple light along with the arrow holder on her back. Soon all that is left is Ramla in whatever it is she is wearing under that outfit looking very, very pissed off. We all watch in stunned silence as Stein approaches her and hands her a cigarette.


"Now what?" we hear him ask. Spirit-sensei returned to his human form and stood behind Stein-sensei facing us. Spirit-sensei huffs out a sigh before kicking the dirt.

"This witch is a serious bitch," he grumbles.

"You're tellin' me," Ramla responds. "We gotta go to the Paarl Mountains. Underneath the mountain in the middle is a cave."

"A cave?" Spirit-sensei says exasperated. "You think after all these years she's been hiding out in a Death damned cave?!"

"The Cave of the Unholy," Ramla counters. "It is a forbidden place to just wander. If you are impure, death is a certainty in this cave. No one checked it because of this fact," she snaps. "So yeah a fucking cave Spirit-san."

"How do we get in?" Stein-sensei interjects. "It's not like we are the purest bunch of assholes around."

"Don't lump me in with this pervert," she hisses. Spirit-san bashes his forehead against hers and they start growling at one another.

"Papa…?" Maka says timidly.

"Oh my baby girl! Sweet Maka—daddy is so sorry he couldn't get your friend back!" he suddenly wails. When he moves away suddenly Ramla almost tips forward, but Stein-sensei caught her. All weapons have returned to their human form now and were watching this strange scene play out as well.

"If your idiot daughter hadn't interfered I might have had Helena back by now!" Ramla screams indignantly.

"Hey!" Maka shouts back.

"Maka…Ramla…" a sudden dread fills the air at the voice. "W-Where a-a-are you-you guys?" came the broken voice of Helena. I turn to see everyone staring at Maka who is staring at Ramla who is staring at the sky above us. Her eyes were practically bulging out of her head while her hands fell limp at her side. When I looked up what I saw almost made me sick to my stomach. Helena was being projected on the sky the same way those images earlier were projected. She was chained to a wall with blood coating nearly all of her body.

"Well hello Ramie. It has been oh so long since we've played together," came a new voice. It held a childish quality while managing to send a chill down my spine. I look at Ramla again and she has sunk to her knees, face despaired. "I like this new play thing you've brought me," the voice giggled. "It seems you know where to find it. Come and get it if you dare," the voice purred. Suddenly two catlike green eyes took up the whole projection, "I'll be waiting." With a cackle the image was gone and in its absence a cold dread filled me.

"Ram, Ram!" Stein-sensei was yelling. I looked over to see Ramla was shaking so hard she fell forward and was now on all fours. Liz and Patty stood by my sides as we witnessed another strange site, Ramla threw up. Maka and Soul came up next to us with befuddled expressions. Black*star made a gagging sound while Tsubaki patted his back, they only got as close as we did. Spirit-sensei actually rushed over to Stein-sensei and Ramla, he crouched down and rubbed small circles on her back.

She threw up two more times before unsteadily getting to her feet. Both men took an arm and walked her over to us. A layer of sweat coated her face and body while a chill seemed to permanently run up her spine. Her eyes were half lidded and some of her stomach contents were still dripping from her lips. She looked like hell overall. "Ramla," Tsubaki said softly before pulling out a handkerchief and walking towards her.

"Tsubaki!" Black*star protests. His partner, however, ignores him and moves to wipe Ramla's face. Her glazed eyes seem to look right through Tsubaki but a small nod of her head let us know she was at least conscious.

"We must get back to the lab for now," Stein-sensei orders. "We need food and rest if we plan on being any use to Helena."

No one objected as we all moved back towards the Soul Vehicles. Stein-sensei took Ramla back on the motorcycle she rode up on while Spirit-sensei drove the car, apparently you soul can also fix these things. Soul and Maka took their bike and in a strained silence we all rode back defeated and more confused than ever.


"What are you doing?" the strange boy asks. His blond hair fell in shaggy bangs in front of his bright blue eyes. I cracked one eye open and stared at him in disbelief.

"Didn't I kick your ass earlier?" I intone blandly. He smirks before moving from over me allowing the sun to bask down on my face. He sits down next to me and I don't sit up to meet him, my body was too tired. "You lookin' for another round or something?"

"Nah," he says casually. "Here," he places a tin of water next to my hand. "Thought you might be thirsty."

"I don't need handouts," I snap. He was infuriatingly kind, it was the rumor around the camp and I could see it was true.

"Not a handout," he murmurs. "You're bleeding do you realize?"

"I've been shot so yeah blood is expected," I growl.

"What help patching it up?"

"Could get us in trouble," I sneer at him. Honestly was this boy an idiot?

"Could be a secret?" he offers. He looks down at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I felt a wicked smile slowly spread across my face, infuriatingly kind and infinitely more devious my kind of person.

"Let's have a secret," I cackle as he lifts the glass to my parched lips and we seal our pact.


When I awoke it was slow and the world was unfocused. I sat up slowly to make sure nothing is sore or broken or sprained. When I am satisfied that my body is functioning properly I fling my legs over the side of the bed to stand up. I was still in my battle clothes, but I am too tired to change or care. I throw the door open and walk out into the hallway, it is dim and silent as I stalk out into the lab. I am surprised to find Boss Lady, Stein, and Spirit-san sitting in chairs around the examination table.

A pot of tea was cooling between them as no words were spoken. "This looks like a fun crowd," I cajole. No reaction as they all stare at the pot causing me to consider if I am still dreaming. "Stein?" I approach the man cautiously. He has taken his glasses off and they lay forgotten on the table. I place my hand gingerly on his shoulder and he responds by placing his hand on top of mine.

"You should tell them you know," his voice was rough and low.

"How did they find this place?" I ask instead of responding.

"Maka."

"Well what does that mean?" I reply grumpily.

"She read your research," he responds. I was startled for a moment before I remember that they confronted me about my work earlier and I ended up burning those copies. "You listed this facility on it."

"I did not!" I huffed in annoyance.

"You did on the official copy which is what I photocopied and is what Maka stole from my lab."

"Shit," I mutter. "Haven't I told you to keep that stuff locked up a hundred times?" I look over at Spirit-san and he is content to stare at the pot. "What about you?" I jab him in the head with my foot.

"Ramla," Boss Lady stands up and glides around the table. "You have to go after her you know that, right?"

I run my hands down my face and sigh in exasperation. "Yeah Boss Lady, I know," I give her a look. "Alright well I'm dressed to go out so I'll leave now. I'll be back," I wave at them as I walk towards the door. A chair scraps against the tile floor right before someone grabs my hand and pulls me back.

"Don't go."

"S-Stein?" I stutter. He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me before resting his head on my shoulder. I try to wiggle out from his grasp, but he only holds on tighter.

"Don't go," he says again. I sigh and against my better judgement leaned back into him with a small sigh and sad smile.

"I don't work well with others," I counter. "You know that."

"You can't go alone," Spirit-san finally speaks. Weak morning light starts to leak through the windows along the front of the building. I hear his chair move across the floor and his back pop in a few places before his soft footfalls came up next to me and Stein. The three of us stood there in a strange, yet familiar, silence. "We'll go with you as back up."

"No," a new voice said breaking the stillness. "We'll go and you're going to be our backup," it was Maka.


"I could kill her and eat her soul and not feel a thing," I growl threateningly. Spirit-san doesn't even speak against me, he knew full well that stopping me while in this particular mood is a terrible idea.

"You would feel bad later Ramie," came the sleepy voice of the little witch. She was wearing a ridiculous nightdress that looked like a fluffy snake with her normally well maintained hair was askew upon her head in a ponytail. She rubbed at her eyes as she walked over to Boss Lady and motioned to be picked up.

"Later is not right now," I grit out. Stein knocks me on the head and I hiss at him while stomping on his foot. "You are nowhere near my level of skill, talent, or intellect. None of you know anything about this terrain beyond what you've studied in a book."

"Listen here you—" Maka starts, but I cut her off.

"No you listen," I snap. I shove Stein and Spirit-san out of my way as I turn to look at her. All of her friends were surrounding her, even Kid. A shot of pain rang through my body and reverberated in my bones as I stared them down. "You don't know the first thing about this bitch."

"Then tell us Ramla," Kid saying my name was so unexpected that I faltered in my anger. I closed my eyes for a brief moment before breathing out through my nose. "Tell us something, anything to help get Helena back." He walks around Maka and against the protests made by Liz and Black*star he approaches me. Kid grabs my left hand and looks at the skin before looking up into my eyes. "You're blind eye is showing," he chuckles as a hot blush races across my face.

Knowing that it was too late to hide it I only sigh in embarrassment before laughing lightly. "You know that I hate you right?"

"No way," he laughs. "Can't hate your friends." I clench his hand a little tighter before letting go and moving back towards the table. Stein follows me with Spirit-san in tow as Boss Lady and the little witch move back into Boss Lady's original seat. I prop myself up on the table and rest my feet in Stein's lap as he sits back in his original seat as well. Kid leans against the table next to me while everyone else mills about uncomfortably.

"You can dissect a lion with me, but now you can't even look at me Tsubaki-san?" I ask in slight humor. "And you," I look at Black*star, "you can attack me when my back is turned and have your ass properly handed to you and now you can't even be near me?"

"Listen Goat girl—"

"Ramla," I say stubbornly.

"Whatever," he says flippantly. "The point is that you are a bad guy."

"W-What?" I say suddenly confused. Spirit-san and Stein both tensed up and Boss Lady took a sharp intake of air. "A bad…guy?" that stab of pain shivered down my spine again, but I shook it off. I clear my throat, "right, yes, well…anyways so the bitch."

"Finally!" Black*star says with a throw of his arms. He slumps down on the floor and rests his body weight on his hands.

"The Witch Kaluwa is not a part of the Witch Order that you are all familiar with," I start. "She is a very powerful and very clever witch that resides here in Africa. However, she has a long reach that spans the entire globe. As you all saw with the drug Lion's Claw."

"So she is a Lion Witch?" Maka asks.

"Yes she has an affinity for the African Lion," I answer. "The thing you really need to take away from this is that she does not work for the Witch Order," I say again slower. "She is a free radical. She has been roaming this world without any kind of structure around her since before any of us were born. Her magic is practically depthless and her ability to mess with you is vicious. There is nothing that she will not do to mess with you," a shadow crosses my face.

"What did she do to you Ramla?" Maka asks uncaring, unconcerned.

"Doesn't matter," I respond drily. "What matters is I now know where the bitch lives," a wicked sort of feeling curled in the pit of my stomach. "And I'm going to take her head."