Chapter 59

Kaiba's words sparked an almost instant reaction in Mokuba and Serenity; both of who leapt headlong into an attack. But this was what they'd been preparing for and SK made no short work of flinging one of his vials at them and hoping it worked. It smoked and appeared to stun Serenity for a moment, but that was all. Instantly his hand reached for another one, but before he could draw it someone grabbed hold of his hand. To his amazement it was Kisara, who quickly pulled him out of the way. She was just in time too, as half a second later smoke rose up from a freshly charred circle on the ground. Too stunned to say anything, he simply watched as Kisara sent a vial flying in Ni's direction.

'Too slow Kyriacou,' Ni swiftly dodged her attack.

'Funny, I was going to say the same thing back to you,' she half smirked, before once again pulling SK out of the way of an oncoming attack.

Feeling as though he'd be humiliated if he didn't prove he could take care of himself, he pulled the vial he'd been reaching for out of his pouch and resumed his own attack against Mokuba and Serenity. For him only two things were imperative; the first was that he didn't harm the innocent Helen or launch an attack against Ni directly and the second was that he incapacitated the two Veronsen without causing permanent damage to either one. And for the second one to work he knew he had to make sure he was the one to take them down, because he wasn't sure the others could be trusted.

Still his near miss had made him more alert and he was having a hard time focusing on the movement of the Veronsen, without keeping constant tabs on Ni. He might have had his own reasons for not being able to attack him, but right then and there he was wishing he could and claim later he didn't. Still, with that option not available to him, all he could really do was hope Ni decided one of the others was a much more interesting prey. If not…

Somehow he managed to dodge another direct attack, this time without anyone's assistance. Feeling somewhat pleased with himself, he made a note not to brag about it later. After all, the time was swiftly approaching for the biggest change of his life and he couldn't afford to have anything tarnish his future reputation…

'SK quick while you have an opening,' Tristan snapped his attention back towards the battle. 'SK…' he indicated towards something.

Allowing his gaze to track the line he spotted exactly what Tristan was on about. There was a break in the opposing side's defences, just big enough to allow one of them to run through and find the kids. It didn't take much for SK to realise he was the closest one to it, but if he left there would be nowhere there to make sure Mokuba and Serenity made it out of this situation alive. Then again if he didn't leave he might well have lost the only chance his cousin had at getting the kids back and he couldn't allow that to happen either.

Taking a deep breath, SK took off in the direction of the gap, somehow making it through just as an energy based attack grazed across the back of his shoulder blades. He then ran, without hesitation, through the tight network of back alleys, hoping something would eventually guide him to the right place. Just as he was about to stop and try to logically reassess the situation, something in the sky above him caught his attention. Looking up he spotted a crumbling gargoyle, endlessly circling above one of the less derelict looking cottages. It didn't take a genius to recognise it as Taylor's handy work and his latent Daiosen senses told him he should trust his charge's gift and take the chance the gargoyle had done the locating for him.

Swiftly he reached the small building the gargoyle was circling and made his way inside. A quick inspection of the kitchen let him know exactly who was staying there. Exhilarated by this, he began exploring the rest of the place, eventually coming across a locked door.

'CiCi, Damon, you in there,' everything in him hoped beyond hope they were.

For a few long, tense moments there was not even so much as a squeak of reply. Then something which sounded like movement alleviated the fear SK had of the room being empty.

'CiCi, Damon, it's me, SK, I'm here to rescue you. Do you know where the key to this door is?'

'No,' CiCi's voice sounded through the door, 'I think they keep it with them.'

'SK, SK,' Damon squeaked excitedly, 'you found us, you found us. Is Ulk Seto there too?'

'He's nearby,' SK reassured him, 'you'll both be able to see him just as soon as I find a way of getting you out of here.'

'Can't you just ram the door?' CiCi suggested.

'The hinges are on the wrong side for that,' SK shook his head. 'But if I can find something to work with, I might be able to take the door off of them and get you out that way.'

'I guess that's worth a try, but I don't know where they keep anything here. We've never been allowed to leave this room.'

'I understand,' he pulled himself back from the door. 'You two hold tight, I'll be right back.'

Quickly he ransacked the house looking for something… anything that would get the job done. Eventually he managed to find an old Philips head screwdriver with the handle missing. Grabbing a thick cloth to make it less painful on his hands, he made his way back to where they were being kept and started work on the door.

'Ulk Seto and Ulk Tristan are fighting for us, aren't they?' CiCi's voice breathed through the door to him. 'That's why you're here and not them.'

'You certainly take after your uncle for smarts,' SK kept his voice as low as hers.

'Thank you,' he could almost her the slim smile pulling its way across her lips. 'I want to make him and Tristan proud of me. Proud enough of me to have me as their daughter.'

'They already are,' he assured her, as he continued to toil away. 'They love you and your brother a lot CiCi.'

'And we love them a lot too,' Damon's voice squeaked out again. 'Lots and lots and lots and lots.'

'He's right,' CiCi almost laughed a little as she said it, 'and we've missed them lots too, haven't we little hateling?'

SK couldn't help but feel mildly surprised at the level of affection in CiCi's voice as she spoke to her brother. It was hard to believe she was the same girl who, just over a week before, hated the little one with murderous intent.

'Don't worry you two,' SK frowned in concentration as he finally managed to loosen the first screw, 'just seven more of these to go.'

'Thank you SK.'

'For what?'

'For saving us,' CiCi's voice was low again, 'and for letting us know that we were missed.'

'You didn't think you were?'

'No, I knew we were, but…'

'It's nice to be told,' he finished for her.

'Yes,' she agreed. 'it's very nice to be told.'