Duality Chaos, Book Two of The Chaos Saga

Chapter 25: Hidden Danger

     The lights were fuzzy as she opened her eyes.  Bright.  Too bright.  Why can't she move?  Oh, right, Red has her.  Closing her eyes, she rubbed her forehead.

     "...ridiculous.  Rebecca is one of your long time friends.  You really think she has just been biding her time?"  That was...Yugi's...voice.

     "No one else was in the picture.  Who else could it be?  Unless you are insinuating that Allea made the death mark appear, caused herself to pass out, just because...?"  That was Yami.

     "Please..."  Allea whispered.

     "All we's sayin' is dat we don' know dese people.  Why's ya all so ready to trust?"  Right, Joey.

     Seto's matter of fact voice cut in.  "Because, if she were lying, you, my were friend, would be able to smell her deceit...unless, of course she was Maelstrom.   But, if she was Maelstrom, why would she be here telling you her plans?"

     Silence followed.  Allea cleared her throat, opening her eyes.  "Please...Maelstrom can jump bodies.  That is her speciality.  She uses a host body...her true form was destroyed centuries ago in battle.  Her spirit is like a parasite, it must have a host body.  Your friend...Rebecca...I am sorry, but she is most likely dead."

     Silence greeted this statement.

     "How do we know you are telling da truth?"  She turned her head to Joey.

     "Angels don't lie."  She whimpered.

     Red was trembling with rage, offended they would suggest such a thing, daggers glaring from his eyes.

     Joey and Yugi exchanged glances.  Yugi asked, "How do we know you were really an angel?"

     Ji-Jin spoke up.  "I vouch for her.  She was an angel."  Looking to Red for permission, Red glared.  Ji-Jin backed down, sighing.

     Yami's baritone voice sliced through the air.  "Enough!  I trust Ji-Jin, therefore I trust Allea and Red.  You either have faith in me..." he glared at Yugi, who matched his gaze, "or you leave."

     Tense silence followed.  Finally, Yugi spoke, petulantly.  "Fine.  How can we defeat her?"

     Allea sat up, pushing Red's arms down, so she could move hers.  He tightened them around her waist.
    
     "The host body is as vulnerable as the host body is.  Meaning, if it's human, we can destroy it in any way  humanly possible.  However, even if we can destroy her host body, we haven't won.  We have to find where her original soul is housed.  She wouldn't be so foolish as to transfer her whole soul to one body.  We will not be able to destroy her unless we destroy the host body too.  Only if we destroy both bodies, will her spirit be destroyed, as it will have no where to go."

     "Great, it's flippin' 'arry Potter."  Joey grumbled.

     Allea smiled weakly, still holding her head.  "Sorry, it's not Hollywood.  She can't split her soul into seven.  Only two.  However, all she needs is a touch to transfer that soul." 

     At that, Allea rubbed her head again and Red started to walk out of the room, carrying Allea.  "No, stop."  Red stopped, but looked at her.  "She is within a mile of here...otherwise my mark would not activate.  I cannot leave now."
    
     Ji-Jin looked worried.  "We need to move you all to safety."
    
     Yami smiled.  "No, Ji-Jin, we will stay here."

     "Father!  You must think of your
meito."

     Yami walked over, putting a hand on each shoulder.  "I am.  I have to be true to myself.  What am I if I run?  Haven't I always told you to stand tall, fight for what you believe?  Besides, we need to defeat her, not run from her." 

     Ji-Jin looked down.  Past memories rushed over him.  The slaps.  The hits.  The night his mother died in his arms.  The night his father tried to kill him.   How the vampire saved him.  The cold streets.  The garbage.  The hunger in his belly.  Those warm crimson eyes.  The feeling of belonging.  The feeling of love.  Tortured eyes looked up.  "I will, as always, protect you with my life."

     "Set me down."  Allea said quietly, but forcefully.  Red growled in anger.

     *****************************

     She walked into the club.  Something was...different.  Curiously, she walked up to Honda.  "Hey, Honda, how's it going?  We got any kind of meeting tonight?"

     "Nope, not that I'm aware of.  Want me to check with Yami?"  Smiling, he took a bite of his sandwich.

     "Nah, that's ok.  I need to talk to him anyway."  She smiled and started to head to the office.

     "Wait, let me make sure he's not busy...he had somebody he was meeting wth earlier."  Honda stopped chewing.

      Hey, boss, can Rebecca come up?

     ***************************

     "Wait!"  Red stopped, growling again, giving Yami a look of death as he turned around.  "She's here."

     Red stopped.  Allea whimpered louder, the mark brighter than before.  Ji-Jin slipped blades out of his wrist sheaths.

     Nevemind, Boss, she said she had something to do she forgot about and left.

     Yami looked at everyone.  "She left...said she has something to do."

     Ji-Jin paled.  "She knows."

     *****************************

     Storming out, rage seething, she had caught his scent.  That bastard!  The one that left her for that pathetic little angel!

     She stopped.  Fuck.  That means they know who she is...

     This calls for a change of plans...

     She snapped her fingers, an evil smirk starting on her face.

     *****************************

     "Please, call a meeting.  We have to prepare.  She is more dangerous now.  She knows we are here.  She can smell him if she is within 800 feet of us."

     Yami nodded.  "Tomorrow night...the vampires cannot get here before then."

     Allea nodded.  "I understand.  But we need to hurry."  She looked at Red.  "Please take me to bed, I need to rest."  He picked her up, taking her out of the room.

     *****************************
     Ryou sat, looking at the sleeping form.  Perhaps he should perform...No!  The ritual is forbidden!

     Sighing, he got up, turning his back on Ravyn.  She was getting worse.  He had to make a decision...turning, he sighed, looking at Ravyn for several minutes.  He risked Ravyn and Serenity if he did it.  He risked Ravyn and Serenity if he didn't do it.

     Finally..........

     Okay, I'll do it.  He turned, leaving, to go prepare for the ritual.

     As the door shut, Ravyn's eyes snapped open.