TMNT - Worlds Change

Twenty Six

Venus POV
"V, what is wrong?" I sighed at Leo's repeated question. "Come on. What is it? You've been acting like this ever since Atlas came around." He grabbed my hand and pulled me in front of him. I looked down. "Tell me, Venus."

"I can't, Leo. At least not here." I looked down. Suddenly, I was being lightly dragged along. "Leo, where are we going?" He pulled me along out of the hall and into his room. I glanced around for a moment. On the far side, a tapestry hung. It was a large yin and yang, both intricate and beautiful. Each piece looked hand woven, a story within each line of the yin and mirrored in the yang. Leo gently moved the edge of the floor length to show a small hallway, hidden completely. I followed him down the hall to a small room, that looked like he had spent hours here, meditating or relaxing away from his brothers.

"Only two other people know about this place. No one would hear us here." He waved me to the cushions piled in one corner and took a seat opposite. Sitting, I sighed, wondering where to begin.

"Alright. But you have to understand, some of this I kept secret from everyone, except Athena." He nodded and I closed my eyes. "It all started when we were what you would call 13..."

"Again!" I gasped for air as I repeated the form again for Father. Atlas did the same beside me. The two of us had special training with Master Dante and Father, separate from my sisters. When we completed the sequence, we turned and bowed to Father. He turned to Master Dante. "Your training has done them well, but they are still not as skilled as I need them to be. I feel they need the influence of the turtles master." I listened cautiously. I was ready to fight them.

"They are not yet prepared for some of the upper level forms. They need more time, not higher instruction." Dante stepped back.

"We are running out of time. While it takes them months, the Turtles are finding more and more ways to be a thorn in my side. They will soon need to have another round of growth treatment, in which they will develop to a physical and mental age of 16, barely a year younger than the turtles current mutation age. I want them capable to defeat them by then. It seems, however, they will need some extra motivation."

"Growth treatment? Well how old does that make you actually?" I blushed at Leo's question.

"Ever heard of 'never asking a lady her age?" He opened his mouth and closed it.

"Good point. But how would he make Dante more like Splin... Oh." It seemed to dawn on him what I meant.

"Yeah."

"Girls, come close. I must speak with you quickly." We all crowded around Dante. I assumed it was about the conversation he'd had with Father earlier. "When you see me after today, I will be... changed. I am doing this to protect you. You must protect each other, always."

"But what about Atlas? Shouldn't we care for him too?" Bellona looked at Dante with wide eyes. She had a light blush on her cheeks.

"Your sisters are your first priority. Atlas can them come after."

"No way. Bellona had a crush on Atlas? Bellona?" Leo half grinned at me. I shook my head. His smile quickly dropped.

"She was head over heels for him. It was her first love. And all he wanted was to take advantage."

"Come on, Bella. Let's go somewhere Alone." I heard from around the corner.

"I don't know Atlas, what if we get caught? What if we do something wrong?" She seemed hesitant.

"It's not wrong if it's love, is it?" He played his charisma well. She giggled, but I stepped out from around the corner. Atlas looked up at me.

"Atlas, can I talk to you a minute? Privately?" I glared at him. Bellona rolled her eyes and he walked with me. Once we were out of Bellona's ear shot, he pulled me into a closet and pressed me against the wall.

"I didn't realize you were the jealous type, V. Doesn't seem like yours style." I shoved him away and held my katana beneath his throat.

"I'm not. I was telling you to stay away from Bellona."
"And why is that?"
"Because, I know you aren't going somewhere 'Alone' to have tea and cookies. Do you think I'm stupid?" He grinned at me.

"No. I know you're not. But Bellona is, and you can't tell her what to do." He pushed my blade away lightly, caressing my chin before I could jerk my head away. He walked out.

"So he's played Bellona. But wouldn't Bellona know?" Leo seemed puzzled. I shook my head.

"I never told her. She always tried to figure out why he was taken away." I hung my head.

"Father, I'm concerned about Atlas. He has been acting strange recently. Forward even." He turned to look at me.

"Forward? How so?" I told him of what happened with Bellona and his advances toward me. "I will see to it at once. And do not worry. I won't tell Bellona a word."

"And then he vanished. This is the first time I have seen him since then. I assume Shredder put him in a slowed growth treatment and let him develop over time. And now the Táobīng has returned."

"That's why you were so worried about Bellona, and so concerned about trusting him. You think Shredder is using him to get to us." I nodded at him. He seemed to mull over everything.

"Well you got one thing right." A third voice came from the room. I rose, drawing my katanas.

Leo POV

"Venus, wait!" I caught her wrists. "Relax. I know her. This is-

"Karai. I know who she is. She works for him." She growled.

"V, look at me. Look at me!" She slowly pulled her eyes to me. I don't know what she say there, but she pulled back and lower her weapons. I turned slowly to Karai. "I thought you said you wouldn't come back here again."

"You were in danger. You know I can't leave you defenseless." I sighed, feeling Venus' look.

"Maybe next time, the front door? Ask for me? Or send me a message and I will meet you." She looked over my shoulder at Venus and glanced away. I tried to look at her without the feelings I once had.

"Atlas is a threat. He's a spy, and a danger to your brothers, through her sisters. I'll keep my eyes out for anything I can do to help you. Venus?" I felt the warmth of Venus at my shoulder. " Good choice out of the four. You two seem perfect for each other." And with that Karai took to a ventilation tube and disappeared. I sighed. I turned to Venus.

"I promise I can explain that." She crossed her arms at me. I felt the heat on my cheek, her jealous scowl kind of terrify and at the same time adorable.