Chapter 21: Silver Strands

"Even as your body betrays you, your mind denies it."

Sara Gruen, "Water for Elephants"

-Faction 3 Tavern-

Kari sat on a wooden chair at a high rise table. Her portion of the plan was currently in swing. By using her ability of persuasion, Kari was to gain as much information on inside plans and what the public knew in general. But so far, the girl hadn't had any luck.

She glanced to her side, smiling at the blonde who was leaning against the wall keeping look out. He smiled back, nodding his head to the right alerting her that she was being approached. Turning to her side, Kari came face to face with a silver-haired man.

She gave him a weak smile, confused as to why someone was approaching her. "Hello, do I know you?" He gave her a smirk, "Not yet… But I think you'd be pleased if you did." She shrunk back in her shoulders, trying to distance herself away from the intruder. There was something about him that made her head scream to run.

Takeru sensed the tension. Shifting his position, he narrowed his eyes. Something about the man at Kari's table was strangely familiar. "Magnus…" Izzy whispered to Takeru from the table he was sitting at. "From faction 1?" Izzy nodded slowly, "What he is doing here, I don't know." The two watched Kari closely, Takeru grabbing a butter knife from a dirty dish bin near the door.

"Takeru… We can't afford to make a scene," Izzy warned, hoping the boy would drop the knife and not have a use for it.

Men and women made their way in and out of the tavern, some intoxicated from the alcohol and others searching for pockets to pick. Kari avoided the eye contact of the man leaning over her. "What brings you here tonight, dear?" His voice was captivating, shivers travelled down her spine. "I just needed something to keep me busy," she shrugged, trying her best to persuade. "Ever since Roul's publishing shut down…"

A smirk tugged at the man's lips. He isn't falling for it… Kari's confidence faltered. "Oh yes. What is that about anyway? I thought Roul was quite successful…" His words snaked around her. "He is… It's just the town seems to be on edge, no balls to attend since our Lord Myotismon visited…" Her voice quivered.

The man ran his finger down her cheek, "Hm…" His eyes flickered to Takeru's, "Your friends aren't doing a great job of staying hidden." Kari blinked. "We will always find you, so long as darkness clings to you…" The man stood, smiling at her as he bid her a goodbye.

Kari stood soon after the man left to the back of the tavern. Quickly, she met Izzy and Takeru at the door, beckoning them to follow her outside. The three hurried down the unlit streets, finding a turn off to collect their thoughts.

"Okay… That was weird…" Kari said, checking their surroundings to make sure they were alone. Izzy leaned his forehead against the cool stone of the building, "Magnus. That was Magnus…" Kari shook her head, "Specifics please. I don't know a Magnus." Izzy turned to face her, "He's one of the rulers from faction 1. They're dangerous. All of us being together again must mean we're close to figuring something out… And they must be threatened…"

Takeru placed a reassuring hand on Kari's shoulder, "Were you able to persuade him?" She shook her head, a defeated expression pressing down on her soft features. "He resisted. It was weird… Almost like I felt him being able to persuade me." The three pondered the idea, pushing it aside for now.

"Well," Izzy sighed, "I guess we just move forward. To the dark palace?" The other two nodded. As they hurried to meet up with the others, Kari couldn't help but feel uneasy over the fact that this Magnus character was able to play with her mind easier than she had ever been able to do to another.

Sam let out a shaky breath, pain racking down his body in bursts. He didn't know what Lillian was doing, but it reminded him of Lanus. Lanus was more of a shock, he thought as the feeling of his muscles pulling apart. "Sam…" A worried Joe whispered from the back of their shared cell, "are you… Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Sam's voice was low and stern, making Joe shrink back agains the cool wall. "Okay, it just seems like you're in a lot of pain," Joe said, "maybe this will help…" He reached out, placing a hand on Sam's shaking shoulder. Sam relaxed for a moment under Joe's touch, finally understanding what he meant by the soothing heal he claimed he possessed.

Joe jerked back, a shock traveling through Sam's body up his own arm. Sam screamed in pain, collapsing to the cold stone ground beneath him. His breathing was shallow as he fell out of consciousness. Joe clenched his arm, a burning sensation left from where he once touched Sam.

"Nuh uh uh…" Lillian was back, unlocking the cell. With a flick of her fingers, Sam awoke. "Stand up." Her voice was cold. Sam clenched his teeth, trying to fight the movement of his body. C'mon Sam, fight back. The dark swirls that covered his neck felt as though they ignited in flames as he tried to fight. She's too strong. Lanus always said the less you fight the less it hurts. Sam gave into the pull, letting his body be used like a puppet. "That's a good assassin," Lillian cooed.

Joe stutters, "Wh-What are you doing to him?" Idiot. Stay quiet! Lillian waved him off, "Doesn't involve you yet. How about you stay here while I give your friend a tour of the palace!" Sam was brought to his feet, a painful hiss escaping his lips. "I won't let you hurt him…" His words were quiet and forced. Lillian rolled her eyes, plucking at her nails out of annoyance.

"I'm not sure if you've noticed Sam, but that's not under your control anymore…" Her silver eyes darted to Joe, making the man jump back. "But no worries. We'll save him for bait." Turning around, Lillian beckoned Sam to follow with her fingers. Sam followed, trying his best to fight with his mind. Fight it. Sora would want that. "Give in… It'll all be easier…" He heard a voice that sounded a lot like Lanus whisper into his mind.

Joe pulled his knees to his chest in a corner of the cell, feeling helpless and useless. I can't believe she took him so easily, he swallowed his panic. Standing, Joe through a rock against the stone wall out of anger.

Taichi walked through the streets, doing his best to keep his head down when pedestrians past by. "Oh! Lord Roul," a giggly voice said behind him. Tai cursed to himself, knowing well who the voice belonged to. Slowly turning around, Tai forced a smile on his face. "Ah. Lani? Is that you?" The woman flirtatiously smiled at him, waving her fingers. "It's been so long since we've talked. The ball right? That was the last time?" Lani said, acting a bit annoyed.

Tai didn't have time for this. "Yeah… Awhile. Hey Lani? I have to go take care of something…" These were not the right words. Lani narrowed her eyes, "What have you gotten tied up in Tyler?" Tai blinked, almost forgetting that most of the faction called him Tyler. "N-Nothing. Just business." She wasn't buying his answer. "How about we discuss this business in a more quiet setting…" Her lips gave him a suggestive smile.

Clearing his throat, Tai gave her his best apologetic smile. "I'm afraid that would have to wait for another time." Lani's brown eyes began to fade to dark swirls, making Tai take a step back. Darkling. "Lani…?" The woman chuckled darkly, her brown hair turning to a deep black. "Oh Tai. You think you can run?" His eyes widened at the mention of his real name.

Backing up a bit faster, Tai bumped into another form. "…Clarissa..?" He nervously chuckled. The woman gave him a disapproving look, her eyes melting to grey swirls. Shit. He tapped into his ability, moving in time to avoid the knife Lani intended to lodge between his ribs. "Let's just talk this out!" Tai said, still trying to calm down the darklings closing in on him. "I didn't mean to not date you guys?" He moved to his right, Clarissa's knife grazing his skin. "It's not like I meant to not date you guys?"

"Shut it." Clarissa hissed, lunging for him again. Tai turned out of the way, just in time to be caught by a tall man. I'm surrounded by girls I lead on, who are now darklings, and now I'm in the arms of a strong man. He laughed to himself before ramming his elbow back into the man's stomach, slipping from his grip. "Sorry buddy, you definitely aren't my type." The male hissed, his silver eyes glaring at the brunette.

"Face it Tai, you're outmatched," Lani smirked. She had a point. Tai could confidently take on two darklings and leave with a few scratches, but strangely enough, a third could easily result in his death. Realizing he had no other choice but to fight, Tai pulled a dagger Sora had given him out from his belt, crouching into a position to jump when attacked.

Clarissa was the first to move. Her knife clanked against Tai's dagger as he twisted out of the way. Quickly, Tai sensed Clarissa's next move, meeting her shoulder with the end of his dagger. The dark blood spilled out, Clarissa staggered back gripping her shoulder. Not a bad start. Tai rolled his shoulder, swiftly ducking out of Lani's jab.

Turning towards the man, Tai squinted to focus and gauge the man's movements. Something isn't right… Tai's thoughts were interrupted by the man ramming into his side. How did he… Tai couldn't read the man's moves, but the man was reading his. He clenched his side, his ribs bruised and his breath gone. Lani chuckled, "All bark and no bight, right Magnus?" The silver-haired man smiled, "that's how they always are." He looked at the girl's, "Don't kill him. We'll need him later." The man disappeared, black fog trailing behind him.

Clarissa chuckled, joining Lani to stand over Tai. "What a shame," she wiped black blood from her chin, "You had such potential. And such a great face. Daddy will be sad to hear 'Lord Roul' is no longer accepting suitors." Tai coughed, clenching his teeth as he moved to stand. "I wouldn't move if I were you…" Lani approached him slowly.

Before she could run her knife across his cheek, a dark figure slammed into her, sending the girl into the wall of the alley. Before Clarissa could react, a dagger slit her throat. The darkling choked on the dark blood the spilled from her neck and lips.

Lani pushed herself to her feet, moving her dislocated shoulder back into place. "You," she raised her knife, smirking at Sora. "Huh. So you're the assassin everyone has been raving about." Sora crouched protectively in front of Tai, two daggers appearing in her palms. "Oh I see." Lani's eyes darted between the two, "that's why you wouldn't date me." Raising her knife, Lani would charge Sora.

Sora moved quick, her dagger already in Lani's ribs. The woman fell to the ground next to the other. "Hm. For some reason I thought she'd put up more of a fight…" Sora shrugged, turning towards Tai. "You okay?" Tai nodded, standing slowly. "Yeah, I'll be fine." He eyed the smirk on Sora's lips. "What is it?" Sora chuckled. "I didn't know Lord Roul was such a… Ladies man." She winked, resulting in a blush from Tai.

"It was just a front," his hands rose defensively, "I… I had to make sure the other houses… Just a few nights…" Sora laughed, "Uh huh. I guess you were good enough to kill for…" She jokingly eyed him, resulting in the deepening of the blush that already covered his face. "If we stay alive long enough, maybe you could find out." Tai's eyes widened the second the words left his lips, his hand brushing through his hair as he took a deep breath.

Sora was silent for a few seconds, a laugh sputtering from her lips as the context of his comment sank in. "Stupid Tai…" He watched her laugh, realizing how beautiful she was when she let her walls down. What's going on with you, Sor. Where do you go when you aren't here? He smiled at her happiness.

Catching her breath, Sora looked up at him. She realized he had been watching her, making it her turn to be the one blushing. "Wh-What is it…" Tai shook his head, reaching out to cup her cheek. Sora let him. "I missed you, Sora…" Sora went to reply, her words interrupted by Tai pressing his lips to hers. "Don't let them get close. It'll only hurt more." The words screamed at her in her mind. She pushed them far back, closing her eyes as she melted into him.

The two pulled apart, Tai the first to break the silence. "Are you sure you're okay?" Sora's walls slowly built back up. Way to go, Tai scolded himself. Sora pulled away from his grasp, giving him an unconvincing smile. "Yep… I'm great. Dark palace?" She turned back to the direction of the palace, looking over her shoulder waiting for Tai to follow. "Yes. The palace." Sora massaged her temples as the female voice coaxed her into the right direction.

Yamato and Mimi walked in silence, "You know I didn't meant to say those…" Yamato shut his mouth as Mimi gave him a look. The woman sighed, "I know… Everyone is just on edge lately. She's been through a lot…" He stopped walking, "and I haven't? If the cousins are in this faction we might as well forget about victory."

"What happened to your passion, Yamato? Your drive to beat what's evil?" Mimi said, stopping to face him. He looked to the ground, "It's not that… They have this connection to something we can't see. I hope you never have to experience what they can do to a mind." His words dripped with ice. Mimi rubbed his arm, giving him a small smile. "I'm sure we'll all be okay. We just can't give up."

Yamato nodded, kissing her softly on the cheek. "I just can't lose you… Anyone… Like I did…" Pulling him along, Mimi replied, "You won't! We've all always been a great team." The two walked in silence, enjoying each other's company.

"Is that…" Yamato pointed to a dark castle, fog circling the iron gates that surrounded it. "Y-Yep… Let's wait for the others…" The two stood off in the shadows.

Kari, Izzy, and Takeru approached the gates, jumping as Mimi whispered to them. "Hey! We're over here…" Izzy nodded, "Now just Tai, Joe, Sam, and Sora?" Yamato nodded. "Hopefully they're all okay…"

Sam coughed, blood dripped down his chin onto the dark tile under his knees. Lillian chuckled, slapping him across the face again. "It hurts, doesn't it…" She teased, "Not giving into the demands." Sam let out a shaky cry as pain shot through his body again. "I'll soon break you…" His body twisted and that's when he broke. The pain is too much… I'm sorry everyone…

His breath shuddered, "I'll stop fighting…" Lillian raised her eyebrow, "What was that? Speak up." Sam let his chin tilt up to look at her, "I'll stop. I'll do what you want just please stop the pain…" Lillian smiled, willing the man to stand. He did. "Excellent…"

*Author's note:

Hi guys! Thank you do much for reading. This chapter was fun to get through. I hope it was just as enjoyable to read! I quickly want to thank erish d' salmon lover. Seriously, thank you so much for your kind reviews! You've inspired me to continue this story at a quicker pace. :)

Happy readings!