**********************************************************************

Knights in Peril

This story is part of the 2090 BGC series.

The name Bubblegum Crisis and characters here within are copyright of
Artmic & Youmex and are used without permission. The name Silent
Mobius and associated characters are property of Kia Asamiya and are
used without permission. Other characters and themes within are
copyright of Alexander Gray and are used with permission. This story
and others in this series maybe freely distributed as long as this
header is quoted, the author is referenced, and the contents are not
altered without permission of the author.

With grateful thanks to contributions from Joshua Lowry, Jerico Mele,
David Anez.

**********************************************************************

        *       *       *       *

Chapter One - A Fatal Mistake

Location: Tokyo, Japan (alt)
Time: AD 2032, 7th June, 03:34

    _ONE_
    A voice suddenly shouted through the depths of Katsumi's sleeping
mind and with a startled gasp she jerked awake.
    "What..." she exclaimed wide-eyed as she stared blankly around the
room completely confused as to where she currently was. She blinked a
couple of times and running her hand through her hair tried to
remember what it was that had awoken her in such an abrupt fashion.
    "Someone shouted..." she said struggling to recall what the
already fading dream had been about. "Union... something about
union..." The vanishing memory disappeared altogether and Katsumi
dismissed it as being of no importance. She sank back down onto the
bed and turned to look at the clock next to her - 03:35. Roy was out
working late - yet again. She sighed, and throwing off the bedclothes
she got up and ordered the bedroom lights to come on. She left the
main bedroom and went to check on the sleeping form of her daughter.
The peaceful innocent face of Shay made Katsumi smile as for a moment
she was able to forget the tension that had been building up ever so
slowly over the last few weeks. Katsumi could not even remember the
reason for the latest argument that she and Roy had had. It had been
over some stupid triviality that had exploded out of all proportion
but it was a symptom of what their marriage was slowly becoming, of
the poison that was now infecting it.
    Katsumi's smile slowly died and turning she walked into the
kitchen. She crossed over to the fridge and opening it poured herself
a glass of milk before slumping down into the sofa.
    "You have one new message recorded at 00:12 today," a female voice
suddenly announced as the house computer detected movement within the
main living room and decided somebody was awake.
    "Well, play it then, you stupid machine," Katsumi growled back in
an annoyed tone. Maybe it was Roy with some kind of pathetic excuse
for why he was so late.
    "Hiya Katsumi," Yuki's recorded voice spoke into the room. "Look,
I'm sorry for the lateness of the call but Aru and I just got back in
and as I haven't seen you for a couple of weeks I thought I would pop
over tomorrow morning, if that is okay. I'm nearly at my wits end with
both Sam and Linna and I really need to talk to someone before I start
to go mad. The two of them had another raging argument tonight while
we were out and the results aren't pretty. I'm seriously beginning to
wonder if the two of them are ever going to get back together. Sam
seems to be trying to tiptoe around... Oh, shit..." the voice cut off
as two screaming voices rose faintly in the background. "Shit! They're
at it again! Katsumi... I'll ring you tomorrow... LINNA WIL..." Yuki's
voice cut off as the line went dead.
    Katsumi clenched her hands to her side as she tried to control the
surge of emotions that were passing through her body at the mention of
that name. Sam... She slammed the glass down hard on the sideboard
table causing milk to spill over the top of the glass. Katsumi did not
even notice. Sam... Her breathing was coming faster as the image of
that wonderful face passed over her mind's eye, the way that red
fringe always fell just...
    "No!" Katsumi yelled knocking the glass to the floor in a fit of
childish anger. "Stop it! Stop it!" She forced the image of that
wonderful face from her mind. She had to stop this! She just had to!
This sick obsession was beginning to ruin everything! She had to
control it! Roy was her husband. _He_ was the one she _loved_, not
some girl almost seven years her junior! Not some girl she had been
friends with for almost six years, and especially not some girl who
had made it abundantly clear she was in love with another. Katsumi
knew that this attraction was impossible - she had to kill it! She
just had to! She would not let this... corruption affect the love that
she had for her husband. She already had a horrible feeling that he
suspected something. The way he had been treating her, the arguments,
the late nights... It all made a sick sort of sense if viewed from
that way. She had no other explaination for it. As far as she knew
Roy's job was still secure. He was, after all, working enough
overtime. So what else could it be that made him treat her like he
had? She had gone overboard trying to be the good little wife and
mother, but he was just pushing her away as if she were just some
complete stranger. She hated it! She had done nothing to deserve this
kind of treatment!  Oh, one twisted part of her own dark psyche might
want to, but she _had_ not done anything wrong! So why was Roy
treating her with such contempt? Why? _Why?!_
    "Oh... Horus..." Katsumi moaned as she collapsed slowly back onto
the sofa. Why had this happened? Why had the loving marriage she had
always imagined, always wanted, been corrupted into this... Why...

    Why... Roy looked down at the drink in his hand and with an abrupt
movement swirled the rest of the fiery brew down his throat. Why had
this happened to him? Why had the one woman he had fallen so much in
love with turned into a dyke?
    He shuddered as he remembered about his mother's sister, and the
pain and anguish that she had caused the family. He remembered the
way the rumors had spread around his street, and the way the other
kids had suddenly started treating him as different. He remembered, oh
how he remembered...
    When he had first met Sam and Linna and learnt that they were
lovers, he had been surprised by just how right those two seemed
together. Even a fool could tell that they were madly in love with
each other, so Roy had tried to accept the situation with good grace.
He snorted, he should have bloody known better! That twisted redhead
was just like his aunt - a perverted slut! And now, thanks to her so
was his wife, _his_ wife! That...
    "Give me another!" he ordered the barman holding out his glass.
    The barman came over and looked doubtfully down at the cop, "I
think you have had more than enough..."
    "I said give me another!" Roy snarled and grabbed the man's front.
"Now!"
    "All right, all right," the man said nervously pouring yet more
whiskey into the glass. He backed away as Roy looked blankly down at
the potent brew and began to swirl it around. The barman shook his
head and made a gesture to another man who nodded in response and
walked away to get some help.
    Roy watched as the amber fluid swirled around in the bottom of the
glass. Why? That was the question that had been haunting him for the
last few weeks - why? He could still remembered the look on Katsumi's
face, the way her hands had been holding, no, groping the redhead, the
way... He took another drink. How far had it gone? Sam was an
_extremely_ good-looking girl. The way his work mates had incessantly
bugged him for her details could more than attest to that.
    "Bitches..." he muttered as he wondered how far things had gone
between her and Katsumi? Had that incident at Christmas been a one
off, or had it gone further? Were Katsumi and Sam...
    "Shit!" Roy swore as he downed the contents of the glass in one.
He just knew it! His beloved, haha, wife and that damned redhead were
at it! They were just like his aunt, unable to control their twisted
lusts, unable to... His eyes narrowed as he imagined the two of them,
laughing at him while they... They had probably been lovers before Roy
had even met the violet-eyed woman he had fallen so much in love with
- the sick sluts! Was he not enough of a man for Katsumi? Did she have
to look to that twisted redhead for true satisfaction? Was he just
some little plaything that Katsumi amused herself with while waiting
for that perverted little redhead to gratify her? Was he...
    "Bitches!" he swore as his anger began to flower into a drunken
fury. "Barman! Get me another..."
    "Sorry sir," three largish men suddenly appeared and glared down
at him. "I think it's time you left."
    "Who're you?" Roy growled as swaying slightly he got to his feet.
    "Come on, mate," one of them said. "Time to go, let's not make a
scene of it now."
    "Leave me alone!" Roy exclaimed pushing the man away. "I...
ARRR!!" His voice cut off in pain as one of the men grabbed his arm
and expertly twisted it behind his back.
    "Time to go _mate_," the man repeated as he and the others
"escorted" the struggling form of Roy to the entrance where upon they
threw him out into the side street beyond. "Go home! Sleep it off!"
    "Bastards..." Roy cursed as he picked himself up. What did those
jerks think they were playing at? He swayed as he got to his feet.
"Bastards!" he yelled at the closed door shaking his fist. "Fuckin'...
bitches..."
    Despite his curses the door remained closed so Roy started to look
around to get his bearings. He did not recognize this neighborhood.
In fact, he could not even remember how he had gotten here in the
first place- wherever here was....
    "Ahhh..." he hissed as he scratched his backside and tried to
decide what to do next. Finally, he just chose a direction at random
and started off down it. Most of the events of tonight had just become
one big long blur. The last thing he could clearly remember was his
commander giving him a formal reprimand and a royal bollocking for
making such a screw up of his... Fuck it! Roy no longer cared! So what
if he was suspended for two weeks without pay! The last five weeks had
been hell enough for him anyway. He no longer cared about anything. He
no longer...
    "Hello, handsome," a voice suddenly announced behind him. "You
looking for a good time?"
    "What?" Roy's thoughts came to an abrupt halt as the voice grabbed
his attention. He turned around, "what did you say?"
    The dark haired beauty in a suggestive skirt that left nothing to
the imagination smiled up at him brightly. "I asked if a handsome man
like you was looking for a good time?"
    Roy's alcohol fogged brain took a moment to process what the woman
was suggesting and just who she was. "Good time..." he muttered dumbly
in reply.
    The attractive, violet-eyed, Asian beauty smiled again and came
closer. "That's right handsome," she replied in a sultry voice that
made Roy throb in parts he should not. "How about it?"
    Roy's eyes moved slowly down the attractive figure of the young
woman and he smiled. Her dark hair and violet hued eyes reminded him
of... His smile dropped away as he remembered the obscene expression
of pleasure on Katsumi's face, the way her hands had groped moved down
the slender green-eyed form... Whores! Both of them! Corrupt, sick
whores! They needed a man... a man...
    "Yeah..." Roy smiled straightening up as he imagined himself
'correcting' the two of them. "I'm looking for a good time." He was a
man! Not a lover of twisted dykes!
    "Ahh..." the woman smiled with delight slipping her nubile form
into his arms. "Come on then hunk - let's party."
    "Party!" Roy replied with a stupid grin. He was a man!

    "Ohhh... my head..." Roy groaned as he slowly awakened and the
full impact of last night's activities hit him full on. "Fuck..." He
slowly opened his eyes and scowled as the light sun tried to burn his
eyes out. "Shit..."
    Slowly he sat up and had a good look around him. He was lying
naked in a small but well kept bedroom. The light was streaming in
through a small window and Roy could tell that it was late morning.
The second thing he noticed was that he smelled of alcohol and
"something" else.
    The door to the small room opened and a young attractive woman
clad only in a large tee shirt walked in holding a tray. "Oh good!"
she exclaimed as Roy turned to look at her. "You're awake. Would you
like some breakfast before you go? It's raining like shit outside at
the moment so don't feel like you have to hurry. I ain't going to be
doing any business in this kind of weather."
    Roy could only stare in bewilderment as the young woman came over
and sat down on the bed beside him. Horror slowly went through his
mind as he realized what he must have done last night and what the
extra smell was.
    "I enjoyed last night," the young woman continued as she helped
herself to some toast. "It's not often that I get a real man to play
with. Most of the time it's just a bunch of limp dicked losers, but
not you."
    "Who..." Roy swallowed. "Who are you?"
    "Oh, sorry," the young woman held out her hand. "Name's
Shintoyama, Shintoyama Yoko. And you?"
    "Roy," Roy replied automatically taking Yoko's hand. "Roy...
Deitrich."
    "Yeah," the young woman called Yoko said with a knowing smile. "Of
course it is. Well, Roy Deitrich, what would you like for breakfast?"
    "Ahh... What do you have?" Roy was beginning to recover from his
initial shock and began to relax slightly. Here was someone who
obviously appreciated him, unlike that excuse for a woman who called
herself his wife.
    "Toast, eggs," Yoko replied with a small shrug. "Not much more
than that I'm afraid, but at least it'll wake you up."
    "Ah, right..."
    "This is your first time," Yoko suddenly asked him. "Isn't it?"
    "No! Of course not!" Roy exclaimed going bright red.
    "Not that," Yoko said with a dismissive gesture. "I meant this is
your first time with a hooker. Come on, I'm right aren't I?"
    Roy flushed and the woman laughed in amusement. "And I'll bet
you're married as well," she said with a smile.
    "If that's what you want to call it," Roy said harshly.
    Yoko's eyes widened at the bitter tone. "Your wife sleeping around
with another guy is she?"
    Roy's face grew red with anger. "Another woman," he hissed.
    Yoko whistled in sympathy. "Ouch! I bet that hurt! It's one thing
to know that your woman is finding more satisfaction with another man,
but to find out she thinks you are so dickless that she prefers
another woman..." she shook her head.
    Roy's fist was shaking with barely suppressed emotion as the woman
Yoko continued. "...Never met any of that kind myself, but I can
imagine how hard it must be for you to realize that your wife, the
woman who you love, thinks you are a complete failure as a man..."
    "Shut up!" Roy shouted and jumped up enraged by what the woman was
saying. "Shut up!"
    Yoko looked up at him and frowned. "What's the matter?" she said
in confusion. "You don't need to be angry at me. I don't care what you
are like at home. You paid me well enough last night and personally I
thought you were pretty good."
    Roy took a few deep breaths and tried to get his fury under
control. The woman was right. It was not her that was to blame for his
wife. "Sorry..." he apologized slowly sitting down again.
    "All right," Yoko replied. "Just don't try that again. I'm not
your wife, or the one she is fucking. I'm just the hooker you bought
for the night."
    "Yeah, suppose so," Roy smiled. "Sorry, the last few weeks have
been... difficult."
    Yoko shrugged and handed him a piece of toast. "Well, if you want
to talk about it..."
    "How about something else instead?" Roy interrupted laying a hand
on Yoko's naked thigh. "I've got nowhere to go in a hurry."
    "You got the money?" Yoko raised an eyebrow.
    Roy nodded, "I can pay for your time."
    Yoko smiled, "Okay lover. Let me finish breakfast and then we can
do some business."
    "Good," Roy smiled back reaching up to stroke Yoko's smooth legs.
"I've had enough of bitch loving bitches. I need a real woman for a
change."
    Yoko laughed. "Oh," she said with a strange smile. "I can assure
of one thing, I am more woman than you can ever imagine Roy-san, far,
far more."

    "You don't mind me coming around at such short notice do you,
Katsumi?" Yuki asked her old friend in an apologetic tone. "It's just
that I'm going mad stuck at home with those two. Sam and Linna are
beginning to drive me up the wall - literally."
    "Don't worry," Katsumi said with a smile as she passed Yuki a cup
of coffee. "It's no trouble at all. Besides, I need someone to talk to
as well."
    "Oh?" Yuki raised her eyebrows. "Why? What's up?"
    "You first," Katsumi said sitting down opposite Yuki. "It sounds
as if you have more to get off your chest than I do."
    "That's true," Yuki replied with a sigh. "Horus, those two have
been at each other like rabid dogs after a piece of rotten meat. Day
in and day out, fighting, arguing, shouting. It never seems to end."
    "Why?" Katsumi asked carefully. "What are they fighting about?"
    Yuki shrugged, "I have absolutely no idea. Linna seems to keep
yelling about Sam doing something for her and Sam seems to just keep
saying no. It sort of gets more and more incoherent from that point
on. I'm almost at the stage where I think trying to force Sam to come
back home was a real mistake. Both of them seem to be almost ready to
rip each other apart at the drop of a hat and I can't do anything to
stop it. I hate it, Katsumi, I really hate it. They used to be so much
in love, how can that change to so much hate..."
    Katsumi swallowed as she struggled to keep her face like that of a
concerned friend. "How's Aru coping?" she asked.
    "He hates it," Yuki admitted with a sigh. "We could just about
deal with Linna, but now that Sam is back..." she shook her head
despondently. "If it carries on much longer like this I don't know
what we'll do."
    Katsumi's heart was beginning to beat faster and even though she
was sure her face was flushed she forced herself to sound casual. "If
it's really getting to be that much of a problem why don't you suggest
Sam comes over here for a while. It might just give the two of them
some time to cool off."
    Yuki's eyes widened. "That's a possibility," she said
thoughtfully. "But would Roy mind? It might be for more than just a
few days you know."
    Katsumi shook her head emphatically. "Roy's been working really
late for the last few weeks. So late in fact that I hardly ever see
him much these days. I would be more than glad of Sam's company, I've
been getting lonely without Roy around in the evenings to talk to. And
besides, Shay is extremely fond of her Godmother. It would give them
some time together to bond. Really Yuki, I think it's the best
solution all round. It would give you and Aru some breathing space,
and me some much needed company. We can see how things are after a
couple of weeks or so. At the very least, you and Aru will get some
peace and quiet."
    Yuki considered for a moment and then nodded. "That it would," she
agreed. "And believe me - I need it. But are you really sure you don't
mind, Katsumi? I don't want to..."
    Katsumi smiled widely and with a gesture stopped Yuki dead. "It's
alright," she said almost gleefully. "I would just _love_ to have Sam
- believe me."
    "Then I will suggest it," Yuki said with an answering smile. "And
thank you Katsumi. This is a real help."
    Katsumi did not answer. She just smiled back at Yuki as she slowly
drank the rest of her coffee. Sam...

    "I don't think it's a very good idea, Yuki," Sam said slowly as
she prepared a tray with Linna's diner on it.
    "Why not?" Aru said. "Sounds like a great suggestion to me, and to
be honest, I think the two of you need some time apart."
    "Yes," Yuki agreed passing Aru the vegetables. "It was very kind
of Katsumi to offer in the first place."
    "Yes, I'm sure it was," Sam muttered almost to herself. She had
given up trying to make any sense of the timelines. The Player she was
up against had set up some kind of blockage or static that made her
future sense almost impossible to use. For the moment she was as blind
as any mortal was. If she really made an effort she knew that she
could probably clear that blockage but to do so would send out such a
rush of Power that she might as well just announce to the Council
directly that she was still alive. No, she knew that her opponent was
trying to manipulate events in someway and would just have to go along
with it as best as she could. Samantha, for some reason best known to
herself, had been strangely silent throughout it all so far, and
although Sam could feel her "sister" watching events unfold like some
great ugly spider she...
    "Look, Sam," Yuki said leaning forward with a serious expression
on her face. "I'll be honest with you - Aru and I have had enough. We
need a break. I'm sorry I have to say this, but enough is enough, you
are going - end of story."
    - You will go - Samantha suddenly announced as well.
    "What?" Sam spluttered out loud in her surprise at Samantha's
sudden uncalled for order. "Are you mad?"
    -  Obey me - Samantha said coldly. - I have no time for your
childish concerns. _I_ need information, not your silly arguments -
    "Samantha!" Aru exclaimed angrily. "apologize! Immediately!"
    Sam blinked. Who the hell was Aru talking to?
    "Sam! How dare you..."
    "Oh, shut up fool," Sam said in an annoyed tone and froze both of
the humans where they stood.
    - Just what are you up to Samantha? - she sent angrily. - You have
been getting... -
    - Fool! - Samantha blasted back. - Do you have any idea of the
threat we are currently facing? The Power!? Do you, you _silly_ little
child!? I am trying to protect you! I do not have time to explain
every little detail to someone who is too... - Samantha's anger made
Sam wince with pain.
    - Hey! - Sam sent back. - Watch it sis... That hurts... -
    At Sam's surly tone Samantha's angry voice died away and Sam could
almost sense her changing tact.
    - I'm sorry sis - Samantha apologized in a tone that was
remarkably different from the one she had previously used. - That was
uncalled for. Please Sammy, this is important, I need to know what
this Game is about -
    - I understand that, but why bring Katsumi into this? What is
so... -
    - Do not question me you fool! - Samantha turned on Sam again as
the Corrupter lost her patience. - I need you to obey me - that is
all! Obedience is all you are ever good for anyway! -
    - Go to hell! - Sam yelled back furious at the contempt she could
feel in Samantha's voice.
    - Really... Sammy dearest... - Samantha giggled innately. - Is
that so? -
    Sam frowned, she did not like the sound of that. What was...
    - Annoying was it, Sammy? - Samantha giggled and abruptly Sam was
thrust headlong into a pit of bubbling madness as memories she
_dreaded_ were prodded into life and reached out hungrily for her.

>>>

    >Yes Samanaimethea< He said coming to a stop in front of her and
staring down dispassionately at her face. >Want. My Children are not
Powerful enough to fight. I need stronger children - Spawn of the
purest blood. The Blood of the Race< He took a step forward and
casually ripped the robe from her body with a force that threw her
violently to the hard crystalline floor. Her body cracked painfully at
the impact and the wash of sudden pain jolted some sense back into her
mind.
    "Wh... What are you doing?!" Sam shrieked out in disbelief and
shock as she tried to cover herself with the shreds of her robes.
Desperately she tried to bring her Power to bear, to summon the
Darkness to her and strike back, but a barrier of impossible Power was
separating her from her own strength. She was helpless to do anything
but stand and watch as He came nearer.
    "No..." she whimpered in growing horror as the realization dawned
on her of what He meant by the word Need. "Oh Gods... please... no...
please... Someone... Sophia... Gabriel... Help me... no... PLEASE!
NO!!!"
    The figure of Him loomed impossibly tall over her as He looked
down at the figure sprawled out on the cold crystal floor. His blazing
white eyes took in the long slender white legs, the narrow but
perfectly proportioned slightly flared hips and the small triangle of
blood red hair between them, the narrow waist and the two small but
perfectly formed pert breasts that the girl tried to cover with a thin
boned arm. His eyes flared and Sam was thrown onto her back. Her mind
tried to shut itself down as a way of escaping the horror but His eyes
held her utterly trapped. She could not even blink. Slowly His eyes
traveled over the paralyzed form and then finally moved up to look at
the ethereally delicate and hauntingly attractive face. The panicked
look in the deep emerald eyes, the rosebud lips, that long red hair
that looked so much like a blood red carpet... He smiled  - she was
perfect.
    >You will produce perfect Spawn< He said pleased with His choice.
>It will be difficult but...< He reached down and His form burst into
golden light. >...You will serve my NEED well<

<<<

    - NOO!!! - Sam shrieked in utter horror. - PLEASE SAMANTHA...
SISTER - NO!!! I WILL OBEY!!! PLEASE!! I WILL BE GOOD!! HAVE MERCY!!
PLEASE!! -
    The memories of Him were gone instantly and Samantha giggled
gloatingly amused by Sam's terror. - Remember this my... sister.
Remember just who is the Master -
    Sam did not even hear the Corrupter's mocking voice she was still
utterly freaked out by the memory that Samantha had just playfully
tortured her with. Madness seethed through her mind, and she was lost
under its great weight.
    "I will be happy to go to Katsumi's, Yuki," Samantha said with an
amused smile at Sam's mental torment. "I agree, the two of you need a
break and going to Katsumi's will be no trouble at all. No trouble at
all."

Location: Tokyo, Japan (alt)
Time: AD 2032, 15th June, 09:08

    "Sam!" Katsumi said happily as she opened the door to find both
Yuki and the redhead standing there. "It's been so long!"
    "Yeah," Sam replied cautiously. "Hi."
    "Well, come on," Katsumi smiled grabbing the small suitcase from
Sam's grasp. "Come in, you don't need to stand in the hall all day!"
    "Is Roy in?" Yuki followed Sam into the apartment. "I wanted to
thank him..."
    Katsumi's face dropped slightly for a second and then she forced a
smile. "He's out working on some big case or something. He left me a
message a few days ago that he would be uncontactable for the next
week or so." She looked at Sam, "we have the place all to ourselves."
    "Oh," Sam commented blandly. Somehow this did not exactly surprise
her. Someone was manipulating this whole scenario in such an obvious
fashion that it made her recall her very first impression when this
whole situation started - childishness. It was almost as if the Player
were treating her like a child, or as if the Player itself were a
child. Someone who had a great deal of Power and the knowledge to use
it, but who was simply unconcerned with how they used it. Someone like
her?
    - Interesting idea - Samantha commented in a thoughtful tone. -
I'm impressed, Sammy -
    "Who cares..." Sam muttered to quietly herself as she followed
Katsumi into the kitchen and started to take off her coat. Samantha
was losing...
    - Tell me sis, do you think your little Linna would enjoy falling
victim to a serial rapist? - Samantha suddenly asked with a demented
giggle.
    Sam froze.
    - How about more than one? - Samantha teased. - Do you think your
little pet would enjoy it, Sammy? Do you think you would enjoy it,
picking up the pieces that would remain? -
    Sam floundered and a feeling of sick horror rose in her. She
stumbled as she lost all her coordination.
    - Well sis? - Samantha chuckled as she showed Sam a vivid image of
what the Corrupter was talking about.
    "Sam? Sam... Are you..." Katsumi's face frowned with concern as
her young friend suddenly stumbled and her gorgeous elfin white face
twisted in a look of sick horror. "Sam!" Katsumi exclaimed rushing
forward to catch the girl just before she hit the workbench head on.
"Sam!"
    "Sam!" Yuki rushed over and helped Katsumi half carry, half drag,
the shaking girl over to the sofa.
    "No..." Sam moaned out loud as Samantha continued to merrily tease
her with nightmarish images of her sobbing mortal lover being
repeatedly forced and defiled. "Stop it... please!"
    "Sam!" Katsumi exclaimed worriedly shaking the redhead who seemed
to be completely lost in her own little world. "Snap out of it! Sam...
Please!"
    - Sammy, Sammy - Samantha giggled in mad delight. - You _actually_
care for this mortal that much? Ahhh... What fun! Perhaps this vermin
actually might serve some amusing purpose after all...  -
    "SAM!" Yuki yelled and gritting her teeth slapped the girl hard on
the face. The reaction to the blow was immediate. Sam's green eyes
suddenly focused intensely on Yuki and the look in them was of such
cold contempt and hatred that Yuki almost gasped with shock - that
expression was totally inhuman.
    "Yuki..." Sam blinked and her eyes cleared leaving the brown eyed
woman staring down into her friend's more familiar sea green eyes,
very worried _human_ eyes.
    "Sam! What's going on?" Katsumi said using a hand to pull the
girl's face around to look at her. For a moment she marveled at the
silkiness of the white skin but forced that feeling away as she
focused her attention on her dearest friend. "Are you okay? What just
happened to you?"
    "Sam! For Horus sake - snap out of it!" Yuki exclaimed as the
redhead's eyes seemed to go vacant again.
    With an effort Sam forced the giggling insane sound of Samantha
out of her mind and tried to focus her attention on the two mortals.
"What..." she began and then flashed a smile as she tried to play down
what had just happened. "What are you all looking so worried about?
I'm all right."
    Katsumi's face tightened, the girl was lying again. She had never
been very good at that. "Sam - what the hell just happened to you? You
just completely freaked out on us."
    "Sam," Yuki sat down on the sofa next to the girl. "What are you
trying to hide? What is the matter?"
    "Nothing, nothing," Sam smiled brightly at the two mortals and
stood up. "Really, I'm fine - just very tired. Must be all those long
nights looking after Linna finally catching up on me, that's all." She
added a little _extra_ to the words to ensure they were convinced. She
HAD to determine what Samantha was up to. Was she actually trying to
threaten Linna or was she simply mocking Sam's feelings for the human?
Sam did not know, and that frightened her. Samantha was...
    - Just remember who is in charge sister - Samantha interrupted
Sam's train of thought. - The human means nothing to me, just focus
your attention on what is important and I... -
    - Just leave Linna alone Samantha! - Sam begged. - Please! I will
do whatever you want of me - just leave her alone! -
    - ... -
    - Samantha! -
    Nothing. Sam felt the amused presence of her... sister go back to
the dark place where she usually resided and withdraw from any further
contact. Sam swallowed. What was Saman...
    "Sam?" Katsumi grew more concerned as the bright expression slowly
drained from the redhead's face. Something pretty fundamental was
hurting _her_ young friend and although the redhead was hiding it
unnaturally well Katsumi knew that Linna was the cause. An irrational
surge of bitter hatred flashed through Katsumi's mind focused at
Linna. Why was Sam so obsessed by that spiteful brunette when Katsumi
would joyfully give the girl anything that the redhead ever...
    Stop it! Katsumi raged at herself. You have to control this! She
is a _friend_ - nothing more! And she is too much in love with Linna
to ever consider anyone else.
    "...need sleep," Yuki was saying as Katsumi forced her confused
feelings into a dark corner of her mind and focused back onto what was
going on around her.
    "I'll survive," Sam commented as she tried to ignore the thoughts
that Katsumi was broadcasting as clear as day. What the hell did
Samantha think to gain from this lunac...
    - Sammy... - a voice giggled faintly in the vaults of her mind.
    ...situation, Sam completed with a swallow. Why not just reverse
what this mysterious childish Player had done and return things to
normal? They had dealt with many Players, both Nobles and Others, in
many different ways before but they had always been in control of the
situation. Sam had the distinct feeling that her... sister was almost
unwilling to act, even though...
    - Oh, Sammy - Samantha replied with an annoyed sigh. - Do I have
to explain _everything_? -
    - You are asking me to...  - Sam began to say.
    - Betray Linna? - Samantha finished amused at the very real
discomfort she was causing her weaker self. - A Pawn? Really, Sammy,
maybe it would be better if I did... -
    - Just explain to me why? - Sam sent desperate to stop Samantha
heading down that chain of thought. - What must I do? That's all I
want to know, what shall I do? -
    - Power - Samantha said simply as if that explained everything. -
It has Power that would be useful -
    - Challenge... - Sam whispered in a shocked tone as things
suddenly clicked together. - That's was all this madness is about
isn't it? You want to call Challenge... -
    - Bingo! - Samantha giggled delightedly.
    - You're mad! - Sam shrieked. - You want to call Challenge
against... - Her voice faded away as Samantha got bored and forced Sam
into a silent corner of her own mind.
    "Yes," Samantha agreed smiling cheerfully at Yuki. "I think you're
right, I probably do need some sleep. After all, I am getting tired of
Linna now - right, Katsumi?"

    Linna was bored, frustrated and peevish. The absence of Sam was
like an irritating spot that she could not scratch. The furious
arguments that they both had nearly every day was the only safe
release that Linna had on which she could vent out her rage and
self-hatred on. When she screamed at Sam she felt that she was nearly
alive again. Sam was someone over whom Linna knew she had power. When
Linna said something that was really spiteful she knew that Sam felt
that pain too, that the redhead was someone who could potentially hate
Linna almost as much as Linna hated herself. And no matter what Linna
said or did, that power would always be there. It gave her an almost
perverse joy to know that over one person at least she still had some
control.
    Focusing her will on her nearly paralyzed left hand Linna slowly
poured the drink that Aru had left for her onto the floor and pushed
the glass over to follow it. She smiled at the thought of the anger he
would have when he came back and saw the mess. It would not be as good
as the expression that would have been on Sam's or Yuki's faces, but
at least it was something.
    "Vidcom on," she said and slowly began to flick through the myriad
number of offered channels looking for something that might be
classified as entertainment. She could not understand it. Why had that
stupid redhead refused to heal her? Surely, an Immortal being with the
power to transport herself from world to world would have the power to
heal a simple body malfunction. Damn it! The bitch had bloody well
said that she had! And yet, despite all that, the redhead simply
refused to do it. Kept on prattling on about a price... Fuck it! Linna
did not care! Whatever the price, she would pay it - even if it was
that thing that priests laughingly called her soul! She just could not
stand being like... this... She was a dancer condemned to a living
hell and she would do ANYTHING to get out of it. However, whenever she
tried to explain this to the redhead the bitch did nothing. She just
simply looked away, changed the subject, or tried to babble on about
the "price".
    "I hate her..." Linna whispered loudly into the room, but somehow
the words did not have as much feeling as they once had. They were
becoming more of a ritual mantra than Linna perhaps realized. The
arguments, the words, they were becoming a means to an end, rather
than the goal. It was only the presence of Sam that lent those words
life, only the presence of Sam that made her feel alive again. Without
that presence, the words were dull and devoid of life - just like her.
    "I _hate_ her," Linna repeated again, this time trying to put some
real effort into the words. The result sounded better this time and
she smiled. That felt more like it. That would get a result from the
redhead when she finally came back. Yes, saying those words to Sam's
face would get a reaction all right. Linna congratulated herself and
her smile widened as she imagined Sam's white face flushing red and
those deep expressive eyes growing angry, glittering like fiery
emeralds as they did so. Linna felt her heart flutter with desire as
the image of those deep eyes rolled through her mind. Damn it! Why was
Sam not here?! Linna could not argue with Yuki or Aru - the effect was
just not the same. Sam cared for her, belonged to her. The girl was
able to give Linna the venting board that she so badly needed - anyone
else was useless. And now Sam was gone, gone for over a week. How was
Linna going to hold all that poison bottled up inside of her for a
week without _her_ little redhead to vent it out on?
    "Fuck it!" Linna swore into the empty room. She _needed_ Sam. She
needed the girl to scream at her, she needed the girl to _hate_ her,
she needed _her_ redhead here! Oh Gods, she needed her. Why was she
not here? Why was _her_ Sam not here?!
    Nothing answered her question, and Linna felt the black fury begin
to surge once more. She _NEEDED_ her little redhead and Linna was
stuck here! Stuck here like a useless corpse! Unable to do anything!
Thrown aside like a useless doll. FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! She HATED this!
DAMN SAM! How dare she abandon her post!
    The black rage began to boil and without the presence of HER Sam
to take it out on the fury began to feed on itself, locked into a sick
positive feedback loop. Fury begot fury and rage begot rage. Where was
she?! How DARE _her_ lover leave Linna alone like this!
    FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! The rage burnt like some unholy hellfire within
her and her fist clenched in fury. Where was she?! Why had Sam
abandoned her?! Linna's whole mind was focused on that thought - she
NEEDED her Sam here! Where was the little bitch!?
    Linna's teeth ground in fury and her hands clenched at the red
rage that she felt. DAMN IT! Her left hand smashed down hard onto the
bed. FUCK IT! WHERE WAS SAM? FUCK IT! FUCK IT! FUCK IT! With each
curse her right fist pounded the bed and her fury twisted itself to
new heights. Sam could not leave her behind like this - Linna would
not let her! Her right arm shook with fury and Linna thrust aside the
bedclothes. How DARE that BITCH leave her alone like this! Well, Linna
would show her! She would _personally_ drag the little teenager back
here by the hair if necessary, and then... Oh, yes, then... Linna's
legs twitched as she looked around for her clothes. How DARE Sam leave
her! Well, Linna would bloody well teach her!
    The brunette was almost seeing red by the time she had gotten over
to the wardrobe. The fury was consuming everything and Linna felt
oddly clumsy as she ripped the nightshift from her body and struggled
into a pair of sport pants. She was going to bring that bloody little
redhead back here and SIT on her... On her face... Yes.... and make
the redhead lick... Oh... Definitely... Linna grinned savagely at the
sadistic images bubbling through her mind. Her Sam...
    "Leave me will you?" she hissed cursing as she returned her
attention to slipping on a bra and struggling into a pair of jeans.
"Sammy dearest, when I am finished punishing you - you will need to be
bloody immortal to survive it!" Her initial clumsiness was finally
beginning to fade by the time she had slipped one of Sam's tee shirts
over her head. The fabric pulled slightly as Linna angrily yanked it
down. The faint cinnamon fragrance rising from the material made Linna
even madder. By the Gods! She was going to pound her redhead into the
middle of next week!
    It took a supreme effort, but Linna finally reached the bottom of
the stairs. Her fury helped lend her the strength and the thought of
slapping her Sam around until the girl was begging for mercy focused
her mind like nothing else could. First she would get Sam begging for
mercy and then... Then Linna would personally rip the clothes from her
elfin body and give the redhead a _sorting_ that would leave her
limping for days!
    Linna's face erupted into an evil expression of anticipation as
she slowly went over in her mind what perverted things she was going
to work on that ever so white body. Yes... Sam would be limping all
right! Linna would see to that _personally_.
    Yuki had said Sam was going to be at Katsumi's. Well... Linna
slammed the door shut behind her. She was going to make her lover BEG
_NEVER_ to EVER leave her again!

    Katsumi was uncertain how to react. If she did not know any better
it was almost like Sam was trying to come on to her, except that in
some ways this was not the Sam that she knew. This one was playing
with her suggestively like a cat playing with a mouse. Katsumi noticed
the change in Sam's character and from her odd expressions so did
Yuki, although she said nothing about it.
    "So," Yuki said into one of the many pregnant pauses that had
filled most of the conversation this afternoon. "I thought you said
you were tired?"
    "I was," the strangely acting girl replied brightly. "But I'm not
now."
    "Oh..."
    "In fact," the girl looked at Katsumi and smiled suggestively.
"I'm feeling rather frisky at the moment. How about you Katsumi? Do
you want to Play?"
    "Freww!" Katsumi spluttered into her coffee sending it dribbling
all over her front.
    The redhead giggled at the reaction and Yuki shuddered slightly at
the slightly maniacal sound of it. This was NOT the Sam she knew. This
was...someone.... something else. But of course, that was absurd...
    "Weren't you supposed to be going Yuki?" the redhead turned to
look at her with a mad grin. "Aru must be wondering where you..." Her
voice abruptly cut off and her face shifted as if an inner struggle
were going on. The girl then suddenly bolted to her feet and ran
towards the door shouting - "Linna!"
    "Linna?" Yuki shot a glance at Katsumi. "What is..."
    "SAM!" a furious voice yelled from outside the door as something
heavy pounded against it. "You open this door immediately! Do you hear
me?!"
    "Impossible!" Katsumi exclaimed getting to her feet in disbelief.
This was impossible!
    "Linna!" Sam yelled again pulling the door open. "Linn..."
    SMACK!
    With a scream like an insane wildcat Linna leaped at Sam and
bowled the two of them to the ground. "HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME!" she
screamed out and slapped the girl hard across the face. "YOU ARE MINE!
MINE!"
    Yuki and Katsumi were too shocked to do anything but simply stare
in incredulous disbelief. Linna's yelling caused Rin, who had actually
been sleeping quietly for once, to wake up and start crying for
attention as well. Yuki automatically went over to her baby and tried
to comfort him. The rage filled screams of Linna died away into
sobbing as the woman suddenly seemed to realize just where she was and
how she had come here.
    Katsumi could not believe what was happening. This was impossible!
She could only watch on incredulously as Sam quietly tried to comfort
the hysterically sobbing brunette. She saw the two of them as they
hugged, kissed and laughed at the impossible miracle that had just
occurred and she felt a bitter rage begin to grow.
    "Mine..." she whispered as she recalled what Linna had yelled when
she had first burst into the flat. "You are mine..." The sentiment
behind those words were being expressed as clear as day right now in
front of her. Linna and Sam _were_ Linna AND Sam. From the way the two
of them were acting there could be no doubting that fact, no matter
how much Katsumi might desire it to be otherwise. And yet...
    Katsumi's eyes narrowed as she remembered the flirting way that
Sam had been behaving just 10 minutes before hand. It was completely
the opposite of how she was acting now and Katsumi was utterly
confused as to how Sam felt towards her. Was the true Sam the way she
was acting with Linna now, or was she that other Sam; the girl who had
almost been leading Katsumi on. The two Sams seemed to be almost total
opposites of each other. What signals was Katsumi supposed to go on?
    And did she really care? Katsumi thought as her eyes focused on
the two lovers. She knew what _she_ wanted and that was the most
important thing. No matter how much she might be trying to fight it,
the redhead was working like an insidious virus on Katsumi's very
mind. Roy himself was becoming more distant and colder in his attitude
towards her. He had not even bothered to call her in the last few days
and whether or not that was job related Katsumi found she no longer
cared. Her husband, the man she had originally fallen in love with,
was no longer the same man she was now married to. Roy had been
becoming ever more remote and their arguments had been getting ever
more bitter. Katsumi had almost had enough. Enough of the anger, the
shouting, the arguments. She knew what she wanted. She simply wanted
what everyone wanted - to be loved.
    Once more Katsumi's eyes stared at the two young lovers as they
hugged and whispered tearful apologies for the hateful things they had
done to each other over the last months. She watched Sam hugging Linna
and Linna kissing Sam. That, was what she wanted. She wanted what they
had, and if she had to take it from them... then so be it.
    Samantha smiled as Sam held her vermin lover in a tight embrace.
Soon, it would be soon. And then, finally, she would be free of this
little... nuisance forever.

        *       *       *       *

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Time: AD 2089, 5th April, 05:55

    "It is strange," Samanaimethea commented with a wistful smile on
her face as she cut the freshly baked bread she had just pulled out of
the oven into small slices.
    "What is, Sammy?" Linna said looking up at the wonderful form of
her mate.
    "I do wish you would stop calling me that," Samanaimethea looked
back at her Bonded. "I do have a name you know."
    Linna smiled, "but it sounds so cute. Besides, it's easier to say
'Sammy' than 'Samanaimethea'."
    "Well, how would you like me to start calling you 'Linny'?"
Samanaimethea replied as she placed the freshly cut loaf onto the
breakfast table.
    Linna grinned, "whatever you say - sweetbuns."
    "Humph!" the redhead's inhumanly perfect face scowled in mock
disgust and she returned to laying out breakfast.
    After a few silent moments had passed Linna crossed over to her
mate and ran her hand sensuously down the long plated ponytail that
now served as an attempt to hold the young woman's luxurious hair from
completely spellbinding the only mortal living in the caravan. She
traced the plat slowly down her lover's back with her finger and as
the redhead shivered in delight Linna whispered in her lover's ear,
"What is so strange, my little Samanaimethea?"
    "Hey, stop that," Samanaimethea giggled as Linna tugged at her
hair. "It tickles."
    "What is?" Linna repeated, nibbling on her lover's ever so cute
right ear.
    "Well, just that after all we have been through together,"
Samanaimethea turned around and wrapped her arms around Linna's waist,
"I am back here again - cooking."
    Linna lightly kissed the rosebud lips and chuckled. "Why should
that surprise you love? You are, after all, the only one of us who can
cook, as Priss once quoted to me."
    "Oh, stop that you two," a grumpy looking Priss complained with a
large yawn as she walked into the room. "An old woman like me needs
some sleep, and after the affairs of the last few days that has been
virtually impossible." She was careful to avoid looking at the inhuman
redhead as she did not want to go into gar-gar mode this early in the
morning. It seemed almost to easy for her to simply get dragged into
looking at that inhumanly perfect face and when she did so she
_always_ got completely lost in it. Priss steeled herself and focused
instead on the fresh breakfast that the redhead had already prepared.
It took an effort but she walked over to the small table and sat down
without looking at the dreaded 'Samanaimethea'. Priss dreaded to think
what effect the young "woman" would have when she finally did venture
out into the wider world. The people of Tokyo would go mad, or just
simply be dumbstruck wherever the redhead went. It was unavoidable,
Samanaimethea was just, well, indescribable. Looking at her was like
looking at... Priss paused, she could not even come up with something
she could use as a frame of reference for comparison. How do you
describe the face of... perfection.
    "And 'morning' to you too, Priscilla-chan," Samanaimethea replied
brightly. "And do you want some lemon to sweeten your joyous temper
this morning? Or will sugar do?"
    "Watch your mouth young lady," Priss snapped back. "I deserve some
respect you know."
    "Pardon 'ma'," Samanaimethea giggled and slowly letting go of
Linna turned her attention back to making breakfast.
    "Morning," Mayline said popping into the kitchen and grabbing one
of the freshly made pastries before rushing over to the door. "Sorry
everyone," she said looking back. "I'm running late and I've got to
get to work before the traffic rush starts up in earnest. See you all
tonight." And with that she banged open the door and rushed off
without so much a backward glance.
    "Children, they never appreciate the effort you make,"
Samanaimethea bemoaned with a tragic sigh and passed the plate of
sugary treats to Linna. "Want one?" she asked with a lopsided grin.
    Priss deliberately ignored the giggling that came from the two
Immortals and munched slowly on the heavenly manna that had been
placed out on the table. Gods, she idly thought to herself, even the
woman's cooking has improved. Well, was the next thought that crossed
her mind, what am I doing today? Sam, or Samanaimethea as she now
called herself, had fallen back into her old habit of doing the
housework and Priss and Linna had just about caught up on everything
that had happened to each of them over the last 30 plus years since
they had last met. Priss was unused to company during the day with
Mayline usually out working all the time and the presence of her
old...
    "Would either of you mind if I went shopping today?" Samanaimethea
suddenly stated in a quiet voice that interrupted Priss's chain of
thought.
    "Huh?" Priss said coming up for air.
    "I really need to get out of here for a while," Samanaimethea
repeated. "Being cooped up in here all day is beginning to do my head
in. Oh, I also need to visit Hades sometime tonight. There are things
in progress that I need to stop before..."
    "Are you bloody insane?!" Priss exclaimed sharply turning to stare
at the redhead. "That's a crazy thi... red... insan... Red..." Priss's
voice died away as she caught sight of the redhead's face. "Red..."
    "Oh, Priscilla," Samanaimethea sighed as a large stupid grin came
over the old woman's face.
    Linna burst out laughing and Samanaimethea shot her a dark look.
    "I am not joking, Linna," Samanaimethea said with a serious
expression on her flawlessly white face. "I really do need to get out
of here for a while."
    "With all the trouble we are facing with this Leviathan creature -
you want to go shopping. Is that what you are telling me?" Linna
chuckled. "What more do you want to do, Sammy? Bring Tokyo to a
complete standstill?" she pointed at the stupidly smiling figure of
Priss opposite to emphases her point. "Think, Sammy, think. You are,
um, not exactly inconspicuous these days."
    Samanaimethea flushed but her mouth was set in an expression that
reminded Linna totally of Sam. "I cannot help what I have become, nor
can I continuously run away from a Power like Leviathan. I will be
honest with you Linna, I do not know what I am going to do. What has
happened to me, to us is..." she paused as she tried to find the words
to describe what it was she really felt.
    "Different?" Linna supplied taking Samanaimethea's white face in
her hand and gazing into her Bonded's glorious eyes. She could _feel_
the incomprehensible concepts that Samanaimethea was struggling to
describe. Linna, herself, was still struggling to come to terms with
the... _wholeness_ that came with Bonding. She had not even begun to
understand the changes that she could feel deep down inside herself
that the Bonding process had wrought. They defied her imagination and
for Samanaimethea it was far, far worst.
    Her Bonded was not only having to struggle with the changes of the
Bonding, she was also having to come to terms with _what_ she now was
and just who or what she had now become. For the first time in Ages
beyond Linna's comprehension Samanaimethea was having to deal with
reality as a sane being. Not only that, in the process of becoming
sane Samanaimethea had been transformed - the "teenager" was now a
"young" woman. Samanaimethea had been reborn and was now desperately
trying to find some sort of identity for herself. Linna could only
sense in vague terms the various struggles that her Bonded was
currently going through and of that fact she was very, very, glad.
    Linna looked deep down into Samanaimethea's ever so enchanting
eyes and let all the love and warmth that she felt for her mate flow
down the link between them. Samanaimethea needed to be reminded that
she was not alone anymore. "I will always be here for you love," Linna
whispered as she leaned forward to see the impact that her message of
utter, unconditional love would have on the girl... no, woman, that
Linna had given up everything that she was for.
    "Linna..." Samanaimethea whispered back as her face blushed a rosy
pink and her eyes closed as her lips pursed together waiting for Linna
to take her.
    "Red..." Priss's voice sighed loudly in contentment from beside
them completely breaking the mood of the moment.
    Samanaimethea's lips twitched and her eyes opened. Linna looked at
Samanaimethea and Samanaimethea looked back at Linna and as one they
both sighed.
    "Oh, Priss..."

    "So," Samanaimethea twirled around presenting herself to Priss and
Linna. "How do I look?"
    Linna gave the attractive figure before her a long appraising
stare. The long single plat that tightly bound the luxurious red hair
and the long nondescript brown dress certainly helped but
Samanaimethea still looked like something out of a heavenly dream.
    "Well?" Samanaimethea repeated with a divine smile.
    Priss rapidly turned her head away and looked at Linna. "This just
will not work," she said earnestly. "No matter how much you try. She
is just too... well..." she gestured lost for words.
    Samanaimethea's face fell slightly and Priss forced herself not to
go back into gar-gar mode. "I am trying, Priscilla," the redhead said
pouting slightly.
    "Pull the beri down a bit more," Linna advised hopefully.
    "You mean like this?" Samanaimethea asked pulling the beri down at
an angle so it offset her dazzling eyes and with a glad smile she
struck a pose.
    "Da..." Priss replied with a stupid smile on her face and Linna
buried her head in her hand with an annoyed sigh.
    "Sammy, I think this is going to take a while..." she said and
then looked at her posing lover standing in front of her. Her eyes
followed the graceful full curves as the dress pulled...
    "Argghh!!" Linna jumped forward unable to take anymore and tackled
the giggling figure forcefully to the ground. The hell with it! This
was going to be a _very_ long time...

    "Keep your head down, Sammy," Linna hissed as the party of three
sat down to have lunch.
    "Hai," Samanaimethea commented with a slight smile as she adjusted
the thick lensed glasses that had been Linna's inspired idea to help
solve her rather unique problem. The Power had proven to be of no use
whatsoever. She could no longer use it to either modify her shape or
to shield herself from other's eyes. Why, she had absolutely no idea.
Ever since her... transformation her Power seemed to be changing as
well. Currently, it was still in a state of flux. While she could use
it for some things, the very nature of it seemed to be changing,
almost evolving as if something in her transformation had triggered it
to transform as well. The strength of her Power was still there, but
the very essence of it was changing. What this ultimately meant for
her Samanaimethea had absolutely no idea. All she knew was that it
seemed to be _becoming_ something. The Darkness was still there as
always but so was something else. Something that was... She gave up
with a sigh.
    "What's the big sigh for, Sammy?" Linna asked passing over a menu
to the redhead.
    "Nothing," Samanaimethea replied half-heartedly and turned her
attention to the menu. Even now, she could sense the presence of many
different Powers watching her uncertain as to what the one called the
Corrupter was up to. Her change had confused them almost as much as it
had confused her and for the first time Samanaimethea was truly glad
of the reputation that Samantha had worked so long at building up. If
she was honest with herself, she was not sure if she was up to trying
to fight off a Challenge at the moment. She did not want to think what
would happen if she tried to engage her Power in any serious fashion
when it was in this confused state.
    Linna fortunately was in complete ignorance of the life that she
had now been thrust into. Mayline, Mina, Celeline and the others would
be able to deal with any serious threats but Samanaimethea needed to
get herself sorted out, and quickly. Either that, or Samanaimethea had
to start to call in some very old favors.
    "Are you ready to order, ladies?" a human waitress said coming
over to stand by the table. She smiled politely at the older woman and
the brunette. The third and younger woman, in the most unfashionable
clothes imaginable, seemed to be deliberately looking down and the
waitress wondered why? The young woman had the longest hair that the
waitress had ever seen. She smiled as she wondered what it would be
like to free up those tightly bound glowing silky locks and give them
a through brush? To feel those glossimar strands flow over her arms...
To run her hands....
    Priss looked at Linna. "I assume you are buying," she said.
    "Don't change do you Priss?" Linna smiled at her old friend.
    "That's funny coming from you," Priss shot back with a sniff. "I
have at least aged."
    "Priss," Linna growled warningly.
    "Alright, alright," Priss swallowed and returned to looking at her
menu.
    Linna smiled in silent amusement and then turned to look up at the
silent waitress. "What's good here?" she asked.
    "Long..." the waitress muttered distracted as she was staring at
Samanaimethea. "So long and warm..."
    "Excuse me! I asked what was good here?" Linna repeated louder
trying to get the woman's attention.
    "Red... Ah..." the waitress suddenly looked down at Linna. "Red
food," she said with a dreamy smile on her face. "Food?" she hummed
slightly off key.
    Priss groaned and looked down.
    "That's right," Linna said with a slight smile. "Food. We would
like to have..."
    "Get red food," the waitress said and walked off the wrong way.
    "Oh, wonderful," Priss muttered.
    Linna smiled as she could sense Samanaimethea trying her best to
make herself look as small as possible. She chuckled and got to her
feet. "Don't worry," she said to the blushing young redhead flashing
her a wink. "I'll go and get something from the food counter. Just
don't try and find any new admirers while I'm gone, eh? Otherwise..."
she giggled and left.
    Samanaimethea cringed slightly and looked down at the menu trying
to ignore the dark glance that Priscilla threw at her. Despite the
amusement that Linna might find in her predicament Samanaimethea knew
that her current situation was far from a laughing matter. The visit
to Hades tonight would be of critical importance to her nebulous
plans. Essentially, she had to put a halt to something that Samantha
had invested quite a significant effort in marshalling events to where
they currently were. And now, Samanaimethea had to stop it dead, or at
the very least delay it. Now was not the time for an egged on Michael
to launch into a full blown second Rebellion, not with Leviathan
standing in the wings waiting for such an eruption of chaos.
Samanaimethea had absolutely no intention of trying to deal with both
Him and Leviathan at the same time. Hell, not even Samantha have been
that suicidal.
    The problem, however, was how she could pull off such a stunt.
With her Power being as unstable as it currently was she was not even
certain if she could "convince" Michael et al to give her the time of
day, much less obey her. The only things she had going for her was
that Sophia was hers to control and Michael was, well, subject to
manipulation.
    Sophia... Samanaimethea was disgusted at what Samantha had done to
her old friend, but Samanaimethea could do nothing to undo it now. The
Sophia that Samanaimethea had once known and loved was gone forever
and that, as they say, was that. Samanaimethea had to do what she
could to survive, that was what was all that was important now. It was
not something that made her proud of herself, but beggars could not be
choosers, and at this level she had to Play to win.
    "So," Priscilla said trying to strike up a conversation. "What are
you going to do now?"
    "What do you mean, Priscilla?" Samanaimethea replied carefully
still looking at the menu.
    "You know," Priscilla replied faintly annoyed that the redhead was
not getting straight to the point. "About your current situation."
    Samanaimethea shrugged, "I do not know. Remember, I have only been
alive in the real sense for about a week or so. I am still having
difficulty coming to terms with what has happened to me, and you
expect me to have detailed plans for the future? Really, Priscilla, I
expected better of you than that. If you are looking for an argument
try someone else. I am not in the mood for it today."
    Priscilla sniffed, "I'm just trying to make conversation, nothing
else."
    "Really?" Samanaimethea replied with a raised brow. "Okay, how
about you Priscilla, what are your plans?"
    Priscilla gave a snort. "Plans for what?"
    "Your life," Samanaimethea clarified. "Surely, you must have some
plans?"
    "Don't you know?" Priscilla commented sourly. "I thought you knew
everything, about what life I now have left to me that is."
    Samanaimethea said nothing more. She knew where this was heading,
and did not have either the time or the inclination to get involved.
    "Well?" Priscilla demanded but the redhead still remained silent.
    "Here we go," Linna said placing a tray laden with various hot and
cold items of food down on the table. "Lunch."
    "Thanks..." Priss muttered in a dour tone that made Linna give
Samanaimethea a glance.
    - She still blames me for what Samantha did to her - Samanaimethea
sent as she reached for the tempting glass of orange juice and
sandwiches.
    Linna flashed Priss an understanding look. - I don't blame her -
she replied. - It was a horrible thing to do to someone, forcing them
to be alive and alone for so long -
    - I know - Samanaimethea said as she took a drink. - I know -
    "Coffee or juice?" Linna asked Priss with a crooked smile.
    "How about..."
    "Food," the waitress suddenly said reappearing and placing a large
tray stacked to overfilling with just about everything she could lay
her hands. She smiled at Samanaimethea as if seeking praise. "Red
food," she said again pleased at herself.
    "Oh, brother," Priss said shaking her head as Samanaimethea
started to giggle.
    The waitress frowned. "Not food?" she said. "Then I get red food,"
she smiled brightly again at Samanaimethea before turning and walking
away - a woman with a mission.

    The stench from the old bag woman caused Yumi, Natsumi and their
fellow gaijin trainee Alexi, to take a rapid diversion as the
muttering woman lurched suddenly from an alleyway pushed straight
towards them.
    "Watch it!" Alexi swore as the three young ADP cadets scattered
like pigeons.
    The old woman giggled innately to herself and turned her bleary
and wild looking eyes to stare madly at the young blond woman.
    "Angels," the old woman said lifting what must have once been an
old cybernetic limb to point at the intense youngster. "Pretty
Angels..."
    "Gross!" Natsumi pulled back in disgust at the sight. "Come on
Alexi, let's go."
    "Pretty Angels..." the woman laughed again. "Pulled to pieces by
the night. Killing..."
    Alexi shuddered and the three cadets hurried away as the human
garbage that had once been the bright young ADP officer Mio Amano
giggled insanely after them.
    "Angels... Pretty Lights consumed by the Dark..."
    "That was disgusting!" Natsumi said as the three cadets emerged
from the shortcut that they had taken and back onto a quiet back
street.
    "You've got that right," Yumi agreed emphatically. "Why don't the
authorities do something about people like that?"
    Alexi shook her head and sighed. "In a city this size? It would be
impossible. Just be glad we don't run into people like that more
often."
    "Well, that's the last time I'm taking that short cut," Natsumi
said verminantly as she looked down at her watch. "Come on, we still
have over two hours to kill before we have to return to the office.
Let's go and see those apartments that we listed in the Shukutomi
District. Now that we have our first paycheck it's about time we
started to look for a decent place to stay."
    "You're hoping," Alexi gave a sniff. "We have perhaps enough money
just to put down a deposit, how do you think we are going to manage
the rent, eh?"
    "I'll think of something," Natsumi said with a mysterious smile.
    "You mean you'll try sweet talking them," Yumi grinned and shook
her head as she looked at her attractive older friend.
    "How else?" Natsumi winked.
    Alexi joined her friends in their laughter as they headed towards
the metrobus stop. The three of them had already looked at four
apartments today, and nice though those four had been, they were well
beyond the cadets ability to pay. The next district that they were
heading for was a bit more "downtown" but was certainly cheaper.
    As they approached the place where they were to wait for the
metro, Alexi noted in passing that three figures were already standing
and waiting inline for the bus. Two of them were talking very warmly
to each other and the third was standing off to one side. As the
trainees got closer Alexi could see that the two women who were
talking together had obviously just been on a shopping binge as they
were carrying quite a number of shopping bags between them. The third
and final figure seemed to be unrelated to the two young women as she
was much older and ignoring the other two completely.
    As the friends came even closer to the bus stop Natsumi started to
frown. The body language of the two young women and the way they
seemed to be so close to each other was most... unladylike and
intimate. Her face went slightly red as she saw the brunette's hand
slowly caress the other woman's back in a most familiar, almost
sexual, manner. The three of them halted just short of the bus stop
and gave each other uncomfortable looks. They did not want to be here,
or see this sort of thing.
    The older woman suddenly noticed the appearance of the three
uniformed youngsters and gave each of them a hawk like stare. Natsumi
felt as if the woman was almost automatically weighing up how much of
a threat that these newcomers presented. The woman's eyes were like
cold brown searchlights that scanned each of the three friends,
assessed them, and then dismissed them as being of no relevance
whatsoever.
    Yumi unconsciously sighed with relief as those intense brown eyes
left her. She had almost felt afraid of the woman. There was something
in her face that spoke of a trained killer. The sound of her sigh
caused the other two women to stop talking suddenly and glance over at
them.
    The brunette, Alexi saw, did not view the three girls in quite the
same calculating way as had the older woman. Her sapphire like blue
eyes simply passed over them as if she was just curiously checking out
who they were. Her shorter and oddly dressed companion automatically
followed the movement of her brunette friend and for the first time
the three cadets were able to see the redhead properly.
    Natsumi's heart abruptly stopped and she forgot to breathe as she
stood looking at utter perfection. Alexi, who was standing next to
her, stumbled and fell on her bottom as if she had suddenly lost all
coordination. Yumi just stood still, frozen like a trapped dear as
the completely unimaginable being stared at them.
    "Sammy!" the brunette said sharply to the goddess next to her and
the divine being staring at them turned abruptly away, her long plat
whisking around with the speed of her movement.
    Natsumi's heart started beating at a pace that was reserved for a
mad dash. Her throat was completely dry and her limbs shook. Her mind
was still totally numb at the shock of the impossible sight that she
had just seen. She felt her body being to tense up almost painfully
fast as hot shivers rushed up and down her spine. Desire, lust, rage,
fear and even more confusing emotions surged through her as she went
mad with what she had just seen.
    Alexi just stared blankly as _her_ divine Goddess lost in utter
rhapsody. Here at last was the reason she had been born, the Goddess
that she _had_ to give everything to. This was why she was still a
"girl", the One she had saved _everything_ for...
    Yumi abruptly jerked forward, and with a mad howl grabbed the
young woman and pulled her forcefully into her embrace. Mine...
Mine... was the only thought that played repetitively through her mind
as she clamped onto what was hers like a limpet.
    An unnatural silence followed for a moment before three outraged
voices yelled incoherently and two figures jumped at Yumi.
    "MINE!" Alexi screamed in anger as she tried to pull the goddess
away from Yumi.
    "MINE!" Natsumi hissed and struck out at her oldest friend.
    "NO!!" Linna yelled in rage as her instincts reacted to the
perceived Challenge and the three humans were frozen instantly out of
Time as her Power lashed out. "Samanaimethea is _my_ mate! My Chosen!"
Her eyes glowed blue as the tainted Power hummed like sweet nectar
through her mind. She was victorious! Those who had dared Challenged
her were at her mercy and an unpleasant smile came to her face as she
decided what she would do to those who had sought what was hers and
hers alone. The Power twittered in her mind and Linna....
    "Thanks Linna," Samanaimethea said still stunned by the violence
of the mortals reaction to her presence. The thoughts that had been
going through their minds had been insane. They had been almost ready
to kill each other! Only Linna's quick thinking had stopped things
before they had gotten out of hand. She looked up at Linna who was
still staring down at the entrapped mortals with a strangely fierce
look on her face. "Linna?"
    Linna's expression shifted and she turned to look at the redhead.
The need to protect what was hers dulled as the threat to her
authority had been neutralized. She blinked a few times as she focused
on her mate.
    "Linna?" Samanaimethea repeated as the slightly vague look in her
lover's eyes worried her.
    The brunette abruptly tuned in. "Samanaimethea!" she exclaimed
reaching down to help her beloved up. "Are you okay?"
    Samanaimethea's face broke into a smile and taking Linna's hand
she got agilely to her feet. "I'm fine love."
    Linna looked menacingly down at the human vermin who had dared to
try and harm her beloved. The Power surged again and her smile turned
slightly savage as she prepared to...
    The three humans suddenly vanished and Linna blinked first in
surprise and then in anger. Who had _dared_ to interfere with her
will? She hissed with fury and the air suddenly seemed to chill. Who
had dared...
    Priss stared even harder at the timetables. Ignore, she told
herself. Be small, be safe. Do not bring any attention to yourself at
all. Be nothing. She held her breath and fought down the fear that
threatened to overcome her. Ignore! Do nothing, feel nothing! Priss
had seen Linna like this before and remembered with a shudder the
results it had bought upon Sylia, Mackie... Tokyo...
    "I think this shopping trip was a bad idea on my part,"
Samanaimethea said regretfully.
    "Where are they!?" Linna spun around angrily and demanded of her
mate. "What did you do with them?!" Her angry tone bought a hurt and
surprised look to Samanaimethea's face.
    "I sent them to their next destination, Linna," Samanaimethea said
uncertain why the brunette so was angry with her. "That is all."
    "Why?" Linna demanded.
    Samanaimethea frowned. "Why what, Linna? Why does it matter?"
    "Because your are min..." Linna's sensibilities stopped her mouth
before it ran off on its own again. The look on Samanaimethea's face
told Linna that saying what she had just been about to say was not a
particularly clever thing to do at that moment. "I was worried about
you," she finished weakly. "That's all."
    Samanaimethea gave her a look and then smiled. "I love you," she
said giving Linna an exuberant hung that made the dancer feel like
dancing. Linna pulled _her_ mate to her.
    "I love you too," Linna whispered back possessively. "Oh _my_
Sammy... I love you too..."
    Priss cringed at the tone that Linna used. This was definitely NOT
the Linna she had once known and loved. This was someone, something
else.

    Samanaimethea stood outside of Hades and watched as the crowds
slowly started to build up. It seemed as if the club was even more
popular than when she had last been here. She sighed, and tried to
force herself to relax. The tension of what she had to do here tonight
was beginning to get to her. She took a deep breath and then turned to
look at her "troops" - Linna, Mayline, Celine, Helia, Karine,
Celeline, Cyline and Gilline. Celeline noticed her looks and smiled
shyly back, but then, a moment later, the Enforcer started blushing
furiously and looked hurriedly away. Samanaimethea briefly wondered
what had gotten into the girl, but dismissed it from her mind. She had
more important things to worry about at the moment than Celeline's
blushes.
    "Well," Samanaimethea whispered almost to herself as she adjusted
her dress. "Here goes nothing..."
    "Fun, fun, fun," Karine said lightly. "Into the breach one more
dear friends..."
    "Karine," Helia replied with an annoyed look. "I don't think now
is quite the time for quotations."
    "Et tute de Brut," Celine muttered adjusting her top. "Come on,
let's get this over with."
    "Mother?" Helia said looking over at the strangely silent redhead.
"Are you ready?"
    "Sammy?" Linna gripped her Bonded's hand.
    Samanaimethea closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Go on," she
said in a voice that sounded oddly strained. "I will be along
shortly."
    Linna looked confused and the others mirrored her expression.
"Mother?" Celeline asked in a quietly concerned voice. "Are you all
right?" The Enforcer crossed over to hover worriedly near the redhead.
"You look..."
    "Go," Samanaimethea repeated in a voice that brooked no
disagreement. A voice that was musical perfection - cold, deadly and
calm.
    "Mistress," Helia bowed slightly and although her face still
looked uncertain she and the other Enforcers headed towards the club.
Celeline hesitated and gave Samanaimethea a worried look. She seemed
to be torn between two conflicting desires that...
    "Celeline," Helia called out. "Come one!"
    Celeline looked uncertain for a moment, but after another call
from Helia she turned and went to join the others. Now, only Linna
remained. She stepped forward and pulled the smaller figure into her
embrace.
    "Love," she said looking down at Samanaimethea's tensed up face.
"What..."
    Samanaimethea opened her eyes and Linna gave a startled gasp as
she almost fell backwards at what she saw. Samanaimethea's eyes were
BURNING with POWER. POWER that Linna could not even sense, but POWER
that was far beyond anything she had ever seen her mate use before.
She shuddered as she began to feel very afraid of what was going to
taken place here tonight.
    "Linna..." Samanaimethea said in a voice that was almost painful
to hear. "Help me... in... I cannot hold this... level... for long...
It _burns_ me... Cold... Fire..."
    "Samanaimethea!" Linna grabbed her lover as the redhead stumbled
forward. "Stop this, please! You'll hurt yourself!"
    "Hurry!" Samanaimethea repeated through gritted teeth and Linna,
knowing she had no other choice, helped her mate to straighten up.
Taking Samanaimethea's shaking right hand in her own she slowly led
the young woman towards the entrance of the club.
    At the head of the queue, Helia and the others were staring
hostilely at the five Guardians who were standing watch outside the
door. These Nobles were Enforcers from Michael's own Family, not the
half-breeds that Sophia usually employed for such lowly tasks. Helia
and Celine moved to stand protectively in front of Linna while
Celeline moved to stand in front of Samanaimethea as they pressed
forward towards the five. The humans melted from the path of the nine
young women without even realising they had done so until finally,
Samanaimethea and Linna stood only a few feet away from the inhuman
doormen.
    "Stand aside," Samanaimethea whispered in a voice that was just
loud enough to carry over to the guards. It was a voice that fairly
dripped with authority and age. The Enforcers shuddered with the
strength of command that was carried in that inhuman whisper and
slowly, unwillingly, they stood aside. Linna noticed that
Samanaimethea's grip on her hand was steadily tightening as if the
redhead were in pain and she swallowed. She dreaded to think what her
love must be feeling at this point in time, but she kept her face
straight and calm - just like Samanaimethea's was.
    - Sammy? Are you okay? - she sent on the intimate link between
them.
    - No... - came back the pained reply. - I am _not_ ready to cope
with this kind of thing yet, but it has to be done Linna, it just has
to -
    - Why? - Linna sent as the nine of them moved forward past the
Enforcers and entered the club itself.  - Why the rush now? -
    - Because of Leviathan - came the simple reply. - Everything has
now changed. Samantha would never have accepted that, but I do -
    - Mother - Helia's voice cut in. - Are you really up to this? I
can sense a large number of Nobles present in here. If it comes to
serious conflict... -
    - You worry too much sis - Celine scoffed. - We can take them on
if necessary -
    - No -  Samanaimethea's voice carried to all of them. - The only
one who will take any action is me. I have to show the Council, the
Others, and everyone else, that _I_ am the one they must fear. That_
I_ am the one they must obey. The Nobleborn only respect one thing,
Power -
    - Is that why you are tortur... - Linna suddenly cut herself off
as five figures radiating an obscene amount of Power materialized from
the dance floor and quickly moved to intercept them.
    - And so it begins... - Samanaimethea hissed in pain as she cut
the link between her and Linna and pushed her Bonded gently away. With
an effort born of sheer will she forced the agony of her POWER behind
a wall of utter will. She could NOT show _any_ weaknesses, not now.
    - Samanaimethea! - Linna called, but she met with a totally blank
wall. Her mate had totally withdrawn from all contact. Linna could not
even sense the pain that she knew her beloved was in.
    - Mother! - Celeline exclaimed and almost took a step forward
unwittingly to comfort the redhead but she froze at a cold glance from
Helia.
    - Let Mother deal with this - Helia ordered. - We are NOT Lords,
only she has that rank -
    Linna was not certain what Helia meant by that statement, but the
words had an impact on the other girls and they tried to contain their
instinctive desires to protect _their_ little redhead. Linna took a
deep breath and watched with mounting concern as the five... Lords?
positioned themselves at a respectful distance from their group.
    "Your presence is not welcome here, Samantha De'Naime," a woman
said stepping forward and looking at Samanaimethea with a contemptuous
stare.
    "Is that so, Gillian Maridith?" Samanaimethea replied with a
deceptively warm smile deliberately ignoring the woman. "How amusing
for you."
    The Noble flushed angrily at Samanaimethea words but did not dare
answer back. One of the others chuckled slightly and Samanaimethea
flashed him a mischievous grin. She had to act EXACTLY like Samantha
in this affair or things could get "nasty".
    "It has been too long, Jaric," she said smiling and nodding at the
Noble who had chuckled at Gillian's expense.
    "Indeed, Samantha," Jaric smiled bowing slightly. "It has been
much too long." He looked at Samanaimethea appraisingly and grinned.
"I'm glad to see your tastes have become even more refined with time."
    Samanaimethea smiled at the compliment. "Why, thank you my Lord.
You are too generous as per..."
    "Why are you here, Samantha De'Naime?" another of the figures said
rudely interrupting her. "What are you Playing at?"
    "Tell me, Lord Jaric," Samanaimethea continued. "Who is this
talking monkey? I do not believe I know him."
    "Monkey!?" the figure hissed angrily his eyes flashing with Power.
"How DARE..."
    - BE SILENT! - Jaric commanded giving the Noble a withering stare
that made him step backwards with surprise his mouth hanging open like
a fish out of water.
    "Forgive young Meril, Samantha," the fourth figure said with a
pained look. "He is still... adjusting to his new rank."
    "When you killed the Lord of his Family 40 of this world's years
ago," Jaric put in. "He was forced into a rank he is still not ready
for..."
    "Then if he wishes to survive long enough to complete that
adjustment he had best apologize," Samanaimethea said in a voice soft
with menace. "Or I might think that the Council needs another...
lesson in etiquette."
    A tense silence followed her words and Samanaimethea could sense
the harsh language flowing between the five Nobles. So far, so good.
They believed her bluff.
    - Missstress... Givvess usss thiss one - the twitting insanity of
the Darkness whispered lovingly through her mind making Samanaimethea
shudder at the sick feeling of its touch.
    - Weee willl teach himmm.. -
    - Suck theee warmth frommm himmm -
    - Pleasesss Mistresss... -
    - Feed him to usss... -
    - Feed all of themmm to usss... -
    - Feed... -
    With an effort, Samanaimethea forced her link to the Corrupter's
Power into the dark corner of her mind where she had been trying to
keep it. She DID NOT want to take _that_ option until her own Power
had stabilized. If she used the Darkness in her current state... She
shuddered, she was not sure that _anything_ on this world would
survive that experience...
    Something of the Darkness must have swirled in her eyes because
when Samanaimethea had recovered  from the interruption and turned her
attention back to the Nobles, the one called Meril had gone very pale.
He was shaking slightly as if he had seen something that he did not
comprehend.
    "I am waiting," Samanaimethea said casually. "Or would you and
what remains of your Family like to pay a visit to my hungry little
friends? They seem to want to..."
    "No... please..." the Noble shook his head in horror. "Forgive
me... please, Lady Samantha.... I... Forgive me... I... Mercy... I..."
    "Leave," Samanaimethea said dismissively. "I have things to talk
about that do not involve vermin."
    "Yes... thank you Lady... I..." the Noble called Meril scrambled
off.
    Jaric laughed in amusement. "I see you still know how to inspire
faith in others, Samantha."
    "A gift," the fourth figure said with a wolfish grin.
    "..." Gillian muttered under her breath looking back at the fifth
and final figure who had not yet spoken.
    "Why are you here, Samantha?" he asked with a quiet authority that
caused Jaric and the fourth figure to fall silent. Linna felt a faint
tingle and swallowed slightly as this quiet figure casually halted
Time around them. This slight looking figure was _strong_.
    "To ask Michael to stop, Uriel," Samanaimethea replied with
narrowed eyes.
    "Stop?" Uriel queried. "Why? I thought you were in favor of
this."
    "I changed my mind," Samanaimethea replied knowing that now she
was on dangerous ground.
    "Really?" Uriel said with raised eyebrows. "How amusing for you.
I'm sure that simple fact  changes everything."
    Samanaimethea let the mocking comment go unchallenged and with a
shake of her head  knocked her white beri hat onto the ground. Her
long braided hair cascaded over her right shoulder and Uriel's eyes
wondered unconsciously down over her figure. Samanaimethea saw his
appreciative look and decided to try and play a small hunch.
    "Uriel, please," she said shyly and smiled with a warmth that lit
up her face. The action had an immediate impact on the four Nobles, as
well as Linna and the others. "Let us not fight. I thought we were
still friends."
    "Friends..." Uriel nodded slowly. "We are still friends..."
    "Friends..." Gillian smiled looking at Linna and Helia.
    "Friends," Linna smiled dumbly back.
    "If we are friends can I see Michael?" Samanaimethea asked tilting
her head to one side.
    "Friends," Uriel sighed in contentment.
    "See Michael - pretty please?" Samanaimethea tried to look even
cuter and the others just nodded dumbly. "Oh! Thank you!" she
exclaimed brightly clapping her hands together. She had been right,
somehow her change had an affect on Nobles as well as mortals. Well,
well, well, that was very useful to know.
    "Lord Michael is currently  with Lady Sophia," Uriel said with a
dreamy smile. "Come, my Lady. I will show you the way."
    - Linna! Girls! - Samanaimethea sent on an intimate mode. - WAKE
UP! -
    Linna jerked as if she had suddenly been awakened from a very
pleasant dream.
    "What..." Helia began to say out loud before a furious mental hiss
from Linna made her get with the program and sedately follow behind
the others. Fortunately, her sisters understood almost immediately
what was happening and did not visibly react as, under the
"protection" of Uriel, they all slowly made their way through the
dancing crowds.
    - What did you do to them? - Linna sent to Samanaimethea. - They
look like they are under some sort of enchantment -
    - I am not totally sure - Samanaimethea replied truthfully. - In
fact, I am not even totally convinced that they are affected. It is
possible that they are just playing for time. Uriel is a very old and
Powerful Noble. During the Rebellion, Uriel was simply called 'The
Death' due to the number of Nobles in the Rebellion that he killed. He
was very nearly Michael's equal in Power -
    - Was? - Linna queried as the still smiling Uriel let them from
the crowded dance floor and towards the deeper, more private areas of
the club.
    - He Challenged Samantha - Samanaimethea said simply, still
diverting the majority of her effort into maintaining her wall. - And
even Death cannot encompass the endless hunger of the Darkness... -
    - Mother - Celeline interrupted. - How trustworthy is this
Michael? Will he hurt you if...-
    - Is he an ally or an enemy? Celeine put it simply.
    - A Pawn - Samanaimethea replied. - He is a Pawn that Samantha was
Playing in a very subtle and dangerous Game -
    - In other words he is as dangerous as any of them - Helia
completed.
    - Mother, I'm going to tell our sisters that their help may be...
-
    - No! Gilline! - Samanaimethea cut her off. - We cannot afford to
be seen mobilizing the Family in anyway whatsoever. If we do, then it
might be taken as a sight of weakness and that is something we cannot
have, not now of all times -
    - Appearances and deceptions - Linna smirked remembering a
discussion she and Sam had once had in a completely different world.
    - But surely... -
    - Gilline - Helia sent gently. - Mother is right. Bringing Sylvie,
Relia and the others into this will only make things worst. This is a
time for power by wit, not power by Power -
    - Now is the time to shut up and focus on the situation in hand -
quiet and unassuming Cyline stated coldly. - We are here -
    The amphitheater they had just entered could not have existed
literally within the boundaries of the club Hades. It was _huge_, with
blue veined marble walls and columns, and a floor that was of pure
crystal. Samanaimethea shuddered slightly as she recognized what this
large hall was supposed to be a copy of - the Crystal Court... The
place were He had...
    "Michael is here," Uriel spoke in a soft reverent voice as a being
of blue pulsing energy and a being of pinkish energy slowly descended
towards the floor.
    "And so is Sophia," Samanaimethea whispered almost to herself as
the blue and pinkish forms of the two Nobles slowly resolved
themselves into "human" forms. Her eyes narrowed slightly as the thing
that wore Sophia's flesh nodded its head briefly towards its Mistress
before stepping back behind Michael.
    "Well, Samantha," Michael said looking at the _changed_ form of
the young woman standing in front of him with a _very_ appreciative
stare. "You have changed, haven't you. I... like the new look. Very...
nice." His smile widened as his eyes flashed brightly. "Very nice..."
    Uriel's body tensed as if he were reacting to the words that
Michael had spoken. His eyes glittered angrily and he took a step
towards Samanaimethea. Michael saw the Noble's reaction and his own
face snarled slightly as he glared back at Uriel. Linna's own face
curled at the perceived Challenge and she moved closer to her Bonded
deliberately putting her hand on Samanaimethea's arm to show these
Nobles what was what.
    "Interesting..." Michael said as he looked at Linna and smiled.
"Very interesting..."
    "Michael," Samanaimethea broke in an attempt to turn the topic of
the conversation onto more serious subjects. This effect that she had
caused was useful, but it did tend to be unpredictable and potentially
dangerous as the incident earlier that day had shown. "We need to
talk."
    "Of course, my dearest Samantha, of course," Michael smiled and
reaching out casually pushed Linna aside and took hold of
Samanaimethea's left hand. "Why don't we go somewhere quiet and
discuss it?"
    - Linna! - Samanaimethea sent sharply before her Bonded tried to
rip Michael apart. - Stop it! Please! -
    - MINE! - Linna struggled against the iron hold that Samanaimethea
had on her. - Samanaimethea! Let me go! You are mine! My Bonded! You
BELONG to me! I will not let you... -
    - Yours!? - Samanaimethea exclaimed angrily. - I am no doll,
Linna! I do not belong to you or anyone! -
    - That is not what I meant, Samanaimethea - Linna replied angrily
as well. - You are _mine_, _my_... -
    - I am not yours! His! Or Leviathans! - Samanaimethea hissed back
in a cold tone and turned to Michael.
    "Lady?" Michael said holding out his hand.
    Samanaimethea smiled warmly and took his hand in her own. "Of
course, my Lord."
    - Samanaimethea! - Linna exclaimed suddenly realising what she had
just said in her anger. - I'm sorry! Please... -
    - Mother! - Helia yelled as Samanaimethea and Michael vanished
into two balls of light - one green and one blue. - Come back! -
    "Samanaimethea!" Linna yelled rushing forward trying to reach for
the light that was _her_ beloved. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
    - Blleeeww! - came the childish reply just before the lights
vanished. - So there! -

        *       *       *       *

Location: Celene City
Time: AD 2089, 13th April, 19:05

    Kelly sat numbly stirring her coffee while the human Reece babbled
on about something completely unimportant. She was still in shock. She
could not accept that Sam had just cast her aside like some broken
toy, but there was no denying the truth of it. The connection with her
beloved, the warmth that had come with the _wholeness_ of being Sam's
Consort was gone and in its place was emptiness, cold emptiness. Time
and time again she had tried to _call_ out to _her_ beloved redhead,
to try and find out what she had done to deserve this, but every time
only silence met her pleas. She had even tried to use the Power to
Travel to where ever Sam currently was, but nothing happened. The
Power seemed unable or unwilling to fulfil her demand of it.
    - Reina! Gilline! - Kelly tried for the umpteen time to raise one
of her "sisters", and for the umpteen time the only thing she got back
was silence. It was as if EVERYONE had abandoned her and not just Sam.
- Reina! Please! Answer me!! -
    Silence.
    "Why..." Kelly suddenly said out loud as a tear ran down her
cheek. "What did I do... Sam..."
    Reece frowned as Kelly suddenly broke down and started to sob like
a broken child. "Kelly! What's wrong?!" he exclaimed in concern and
reached across the table to try and comfort the young woman.
    "Leave me alone!" Kelly yelled back pushing the human vermin from
her. The restaurant went deadly quiet as Reece and Kelly became the
center of attention for everyone in the room. Kelly rose shakily to
her feet. She was half caught between anger and bitter sorrow. She
felt the hot streaks of her tears running freely down her face and
with a gasping sob ran from the table. She could not stand this!
She... Sam... Why!?
    "Oh, Kelly..." Reina whispered sadly as the one she had Chosen ran
crying from the room. Her heart ached to follow the young brunette, to
simply just hold her and soothe her tears away  - to let Kelly know
that she _was_ loved... But she did not. Her older sister's orders had
been quite clear. Until Samanaimethea returned no one was to do
anything. Kelly's position in the Family, like Linna's, was unclear.
Too much had happened, too much had changed. Everything was in
confusion, and the best they could do for the moment was to simply
wait and maintain their posts until Mother came back. Personally,
Reina thought the strategy sucked, but that was what Helia had
directed, so that was what Reina had to do. Oh, but it hurt. She
wanted so much to just go after Kelly, to hold her and tell her what
had happened - not that she knew much but...
    Reina stood up from the bar where she had been keeping an eye on
her Chosen. "Fuck, Helia," she swore softly under her breath and
throwing down some money opened her mind.
    - Kelly! Wait! -
    The strong voice of Reina flooding through her mind brought Kelly
to an abrupt halt. She turned and her tearful eyes scanned the foyer
of the hotel. She spotted Reina striding towards her almost
immediately. The young Enforcer was making no effort to hide her
presence at all as she rushed towards her.
    "Reina..." Kelly whispered out loud as the teenager came to a
hesitant stop just in front of her.
    Reina smiled shyly and held out her hand uncertain about how Kelly
would react. "Kelly," she said in what she hoped would be a comforting
voice. "You are not alone... Things... things have been happening..."
    Kelly's face crumpled and she fell into Reina's arms crying like a
lost child. For a moment, Reina was too surprised by the collapse of
Kelly's front to do anything, but then she pulled the one she had
Chosen close into her embrace and tried to comfort the Immortal.
    "Shhh... Kelly... shhh..." Reina whispered gently as she rubbed
the larger woman's back. "Everything will be fine, you'll see...
shhh..."
    How long Reina held Kelly like that she could not say, but finally
the sobs died away into sniffles and hiccups. At length, Reina slowly
pushed Kelly back to an arms distance and then looked deep into the
bloodshot  eyes. "Better now?"  she queried giving a crooked half
grin.
    Kelly hiccuped, and a timid smile was born on her face. Reina's
own smile widened. "That's more like it," she said warmly. "You're far
too pretty to wear such a gloomy expression like that, eh?"
    Kelly smiled sheepishly for a second and then her face fell.
"Sam..." she moaned as the emptiness filled her soul.
    Reina's smile died away at the _longing_ that was in that one
word. Kelly still did not know that Reina even existed. She swallowed
as she fought her own heavy emotions back. "Kelly... I... about...
about Mother... She's..."
    Kelly's eyes widened in a combination of horror and disbelief as
her mind picked up on what Reina was going to say. "No..." she
whispered in shock as she shook her head moaning. "No... It... it
can't be..."
    Reina silently cursed herself for not shielding her mind. "Sam is
gone Kelly," she confirmed as gently as she could. "Both Sam and
Samantha..."
    "Sam... Dead..." Kelly's voice sounded like one of the dead and
she seemed to wilt away in Reina's arms.
    "No," Reina quickly corrected taking a firmer hold on the shaking
Kelly. "Not dead - just... different..."
    "Different..." Kelly repeated looking pale as her mind tried to
absorb all the information she had just taken from Reina's mind. In
her mind's eye she saw the divine looking young woman that was now
called Samanaimethea. Kelly's body quivered with the NEED and emotion
that _her_ beloved's new form generated in her. Oh... Sammy... she
thought awe-struck. You are...
     She saw Linna and Samanaimethea... Linna... Kelly's eyes narrowed
and darkened with unholy rage. Linna...
    "Linna..."
    Reina's eyes widened at the low bestial growl and surge of
Darkness tainted Power that arose suddenly from Kelly.
    "Linna..." Kelly cursed in a voice that was full of rage and
bitter hatred. "That bitch... _dares_ to Challenge me! She _dares_ to
even touch _my_ Sammy... I will _carve_ her..."
    The rest of Kelly's enraged words were abruptly cut off as the
brunette suddenly initiated a Travelling right there and then leaving
Reina holding onto thin air.
    "What the..." Reina's face whitened in horror as she realized what
had just happened and what Kelly's savage words had meant. "Oh
Gods..." she gasped. "What have I done, what have I done..."

        *       *       *       *

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Time: AD 2041, 20th July, 12:34

    Mina listened to what Kelly was telling her with a mixture of both
disbelief and awe. It just seemed so impossible that she had
difficulty accepting it, and from the expressions of their faces so
did Reina, Karine and the others. She almost had to fight the urge to
stand up and call Kelly a liar, but the fact that Mother had endorsed
what Kelly was saying was all that Mina needed to tell them that this
was the truth, no matter how insane it might seem to be.
    "Kelly... May I..." Reina hesitantly held up her hand and it
seemed to Mina that her sister was almost afraid to interrupt the
Noble.
    Kelly stopped her explanation of some of the more technical
aspects of the Power and smiled warmly towards the nervous girl trying
to get her attention. "Yes, Reina? What would you like to ask?"
    Gods... Those eyes... Reina blushed at the inappropriate nature of
the thoughts that Kelly's smile aroused in her. Silly, she told
herself. Now was not the time for...
    "Reina?" Kelly asked again concerned that the girl might be too
frightened to talk.
    Reina's blush deepened and she looked down. The question that she
had tried to ask was now completely lost under a rush of confusion and
emotion that turned her mind to mush. She was lost in the world of
Kelly's eyes and a dreamy smile descended on her face.
    "Ahh..." Mina decided that now was the time to step in. "Kelly,
one thing I am lost on is what, or who exactly is this Family for? You
say that we serve the Family, that the Mistress of this Family is the
reason for our creation. That... is difficult to accept... but fine. I
have not personally experienced this Power that you have talked about
today, but the fact that Helia and others have means that I have to
believe that much at least. However, what confuses me is the why? Why
the Family? Why do we fight other Nobles? What is the purpose of
this... Challenge? This Family feuding that you seem to think is so
important... Why?"
    Kelly considered that question very carefully. Why? Why the
fighting? Why the conflict? Why were the Nobles so... driven? Why the
Families? She remembered when she had asked Sam the same sort of
questions. The redhead had pondered for a moment and then given an
answer that seemed so stupid that Kelly had almost wondered if the
girl had been teasing her, but now she realized just how true Sam's
statement had been.
    "It's just the way we are," Kelly finally replied saying exactly
what Sam had told her. "It is what we do."
    Her answer fell upon silence as each of the girls present nodded
as if what Kelly said made perfect sense. If Kelly had been mortal she
would have been shocked at this but she knew better than that now.
There were times when you just had to accept and move on.
    "You speak of conflict," another sister, Cyline, spoke up. "Just
who exactly are we fighting? How do we know who they are? And how do
we fight back?"
    "Just how does this Challenge operate?" Mina confirmed. "It seems
an ineffective way of taking out your enemies. Surely a better way
must exist."
    Straight to the point, Kelly mused. Conflict. These girls were
Enforcers all right. Everything they did and said spoke of it. The
desire to fight, the calm acceptance of the only seeming purpose of
the Nobles - they were the perfect troopers, exactly as Sam had
created them to be. Kelly took a breath as she tried...
    "The 'Challenge' is the only method allowable by the terms of the
Truce, Minny love," Loria said suddenly popping into existence
alongside Kelly and almost giving her a heart attack.
    "Loria..." Mina's face went into gar-gar mode while everyone else
in the room jumped to their feet in shock.
    "Who the..."
    "Get ready..."
    "Protect Mother..."
    Loria simply stood still and smiled calmly at all the chaos her
entrance had bought. She was far more interested in seeing the
reaction on Mina's wonderfully cute face. The young Enforcer was
simply sitting there, staring at Loria, with her heart shining in her
eyes. Oh Gods, Loria thought to herself, this little Noble girl was
just so... "kawaii"!
    "Loria," Kelly snapped as she got her raging Power under control.
"Why the hell did you have to do that? This is neither the time or the
place for such stupid dramatics!"
    "Peace," Loria said simply, and almost immediately everyone in the
room was sitting back down and looking up expectantly at the black
woman, waiting for her to speak. Everyone that was, except Mina. The
young teenager was still just sitting exactly where she had been when
Loria had first appeared, and from the stupid expression on her face
she was completely lost in a world of her own.
    "Kelly has unfortunately missed out a lot of what is perhaps the
most important information you need to hear," Loria began still
looking in amusement at the dumbstruck form on Mina. "This is not her
fault, but simply because she does not know many of the answers
herself. The history of our kind is long and complicated, and many of
the younger Nobles, like Kelly, do not know that much about it..."
    "Amilee told me more than enough, Loria," Kelly said quietly to
herself with a shudder.
    Loria ignored that statement and continued. "I will not bore you
with all of the details, but it is necessary that you understand
something of the history behind why the Families first came into
existence, and also, why we restrict the more... exuberant nature of
our, um, conflicts through the formalisms of the 'Challenge'."
    Sylia's eyes narrowed slightly as she remembered what Kelly had
once said about the fate that her own world had met at the hands of
one such Challenge. Christ! If the death of an entire world was what
these Nobles called restricted conflict then... God help us...
    "To begin with," Loria started, "most of what I am going to tell
you occurred so long ago that an almost incalculable number of
Universes, no, Multiverses, have passed since they took place. It has
been so long in fact, that many of the Nobles themselves have
forgotten, or no longer even care. Only the Oldest Ones, the most
Powerful of the Noble Lords, experienced that era. For the rest of us,
most of what we know of that time comes to us through bits and pieces
that the majority of us disregard as irrelevant. However, considering
who and what your Mistress is, it is probably necessary that you know
at least something of those times as they will have a major influence
on the lives you will now be living."
    "All of you have probably heard variations of this before, for the
general themes are echoed in many different religions and many
different truths. These creation myths speak about a time of
Beginning, a time when Someone, or Something, caused Everything to
Begin. Usually, these myths state that a Being or Beings caused the
Event that triggered the Beginning, and that Everything that followed
is a result of that Event. Well, these myths tell something of the
truth but not all of it. I will be honest with you, I do not know all
the answers myself but what I do know is this - the Beginning arose
out of an Ending."
    Sylia was as still as a statue as this black Noble spoke. This
moment was everything to her. Here was _Knowledge_. This was what she
would have gladly given up her very soul for and counted it cheap. It
was incredible! Here, before her very eyes, was being revealed some of
the essential truths of existence. Truths she had spend her entire
life searching for, and now, they were being given to her for nothing.
    "Creation, or what is sometimes called the Multiverse, has been
born and destroyed so many times that I would not even begin to try
and hazard a guess at now often it has been. Each of these births and
deaths is called a Cycle, and with each of these Cycles the nature of
the Multiverse changes slightly. It becomes something less and
different than it was before. The original EVERYTHING was called by
some the PrimeVerse, and the Ending of It was the Beginning of
Everything else that followed."
    Kelly sat back and tried to absorb what Loria was saying. Even she
was only vaguely aware of what Loria was talking about and then only
in reference to a few comments that Sam... or Samantha had made in
passing. She did know that the redhead was a survivor of that place
and that knowledge filled her with a sense of the unimaginable Ages
that Loria was trying to convey. Gods... no wonder her little green
eyed lover was insane...
    "Sometime long after this destruction, and long after the Chaos
that followed it, a new Order of Existence arose. At the Apex of this
Order was a Being that was simply called One. It had no other name -
It did not need one. Under this One were the Nobleborn. The One was
their Father, He was the source from which our kind came. He and the
Nobleborn bought a... clarity of purpose to the different Cycles of
the Multiverses. It was He who bought Purpose and Meaning where before
there had been nothing but Chaos and Change. And it was through that
Purpose that finally, the endless turnings of the Cycles slowly began
to build towards Something."
    Loria took a pause and looked out over the blank and confused
faces before her. "Don't try to imagine it," she advised them. "You
can't. The Meaning and Purpose to which I allude is incomprehensible,
even to us. It is simply an expression of the nature of His Will and
those of the greatest of His Children. To Nobles such as us..." Loria
shook her head. "To us, it merely is."
    "But something happened, didn't it?" Sylvie asked quietly.
"Something that changed everything..."
    Loria frowned slightly at the girl's remark but then she nodded.
"Yes, 'something' happened. Some of the Nobles Rebelled against His
rule and the Great Rebellion was born."
    "Rebellion..." Sylia muttered to herself. This was beginning to
sound sickeningly familiar.
    "The War that followed would be impossible for me to describe. It
was a War of utter destruction and madness that touched upon
Everything. Perhaps, it is simply enough to say that even now, after
so many Ages and Cycles since it happened, that echoes of that
Rebellion are still remembered, even by mortal races who did not even
exist when it happened. It is a War whose memory is engraved upon
Creation itself, and as such, will never, ever die."
    "Who won..." Sylvie dared to ask.
    "Won?" Loria grimaced and shook her head. These children did not
even begin to understand...
    "No one won," Kelly put in with the little she knew. "At least,
not technically. His Forces held the upper hand but they could not
completely subdue the Rebellion, and as a result, all that was
achieved was a stalemate. Each side could not defeat the other, not
without unleashing Powers that would lead to another Ending. And so,
finally, a Truce was declared."
    "And on just whose side was Sam in this Rebellion?" Sylia suddenly
said with a sick feeling that she already knew the answer. "And just
_how_ was she involved? With a name like - the Darkness, De'Naime and
the Corrupter - I don't imagine that she was on the side of Right and
Goodness."
    "Right?" Loria snorted at the human's stupidity. "What is Right?
Good and Evil are simply terms of convenience, you should know that,
human. How many have suffered at your hands in the name of what is
'Right'? Leon, for example?"
    Sylia flushed and her eyes grew hard as Loria laughed at her
discomfort.
    "No," Loria confirmed. "Samantha was not on the side of
'Goodness'. In fact, she was one of the main reasons that..." Loria
stopped herself dead. She did not need to say that. "Samantha was a
prime force behind the Rebellion," she said instead. "Sam was...
different then."
    Kelly wondered just what Loria meant by that. The ancient Immortal
was leaving something regarding Sam unsaid, something important. She
tried to raise Loria via a private link but the black Immortal refused
to answer her call and that hurt Kelly. Sam was her lover, her
partner, by what right did Loria have to keep something that important
about her Sam from her?
    "But putting that aside," Loria continued. "A Truce was struck
between the Nobles of the Rebellion and His followers. As part of this
Truce a Council was formed so both sides would have a place to decide
the directions that the Purpose and the Meaning would take. At least,
that was the intention. The reality is that the Council has
degenerated into a pack of infighting Families. A place where both His
Nobles and the Rebellion's Nobles strive for little more than personal
or Family gain. Your enemies are dependent upon the position that the
Lord of the Family takes but potentially everyone is an enemy - only
the Family matters."
    "And what of you?" cunning little Sylvie asked with a frown. "Are
you part of the Family? Or are you an enemy?"
    Loria flashed the brave minx a smile. "Good," she said
approvingly. "Now you are beginning to get the idea."
    "But you did not answer my question," Sylvie replied more boldly
this time.
    "I am not part of your Family," Loria replied calmly. "Not
officially at least."
    "What does that mean?" Karine asked in confusion.
    "Sam and I have an arrangement," Loria said with a mysterious
smile. "And I love and fear her too much to go against it, or her."
    "Love?" Mina suddenly tuned back into reality in with a gasp. "You
love her?"
    Loria smiled, and she and Mina suddenly vanished.
    "Oh, bloody Hell!" Kelly swore as the calmness descended into
chaos. "Why can't Loria control that damned libido of hers!

    "Loria... I think I love you..." an exhausted Mina finally
confessed to the Noble lying opposite her. "I mean, _really_ love
you..." Mina's face went completely red as she tried to look anywhere
except at those liquid golden brown eyes.
    Loria smiled in warm understanding and she reached over to caress
the girl's pale white stomach. "Oh Minny... You have Chosen me,
haven't you, you silly little girl?" she said with a small delighted
sigh.
    "Chosen?" Mina muttered as she slowly began to drown in those
golden pools and her back arched at the sensuous pleasure that Loria's
magical fingers worked on her flesh. "What's... ahhh..."
    Loria shifted, and pulling the young Noble to her gave her a
gentle kiss. "Oh Minny... You don't even understand do you..."
    Mina purred with pleasure as she leaned into Loria's luscious dark
body. "Chosen..." she murmured sleepily as the warmth of Loria's
comforting presence combined with their incredible lovemaking made her
drift off into a musky scent filled dream of forbidden delights.
    Loria sighed as the pale elfin form in her arms started to gently
snooze. "Chosen," she finally acknowledged to the small form dreaming
in her arms. Well, Sam had told her it would happen to her one day,
and as always, that annoying little redhead was right.
    "Chosen," she repeated accepting the word and its associated
responsibility. Perhaps, Llothelianias said to herself as she held the
sleeping girl protectively in her arms, being Chosen would not be so
bad after all.

        *       *       *       *

Location: Tokyo, Japan (alt)
Time: AD 2032, 14th July, 13:08

    "I don't believe it!" Yuki exclaimed as she grabbed Katsumi by the
arms. "You can't mean that! You can't!"
    "I can, and I do," Katsumi confirmed in a cold voice. "And I have
already entered a petition to the courts to ensure that it happens."
    "But why?!" Yuki said incredulously. "I thought you loved him."
    Katsumi shook her head angrily and pulled her arms away from
Yuki's hands. "Not now," she said. "Roy's been fired, did you know
that? I only found out last week myself when Kenji came round trying
to find him. He hasn't been home or to work in over two weeks, and the
last time I saw him I nearly got beaten up for the privilege. Yuki..."
    "That cannot be!" Yuki exclaimed with disbelief. "Roy loves you!
He would never..."
    "Oh, shut up Yuki!" Katsumi swore angrily at her friend. "You
don't know anything! You have absolutely no idea what the last few
weeks have been like for me!" She turned away before her rage
threatened to spill over into violence.
    Yuki was stunned. She could not believe it, Roy and Katsumi were
getting divorced! It was... insane...
    "Yuki! It was incredible!" Linna laughed out excitedly as she came
in through the door and headed for the fridge. "I loved every minute
of it! And guess what, Allan Alexander-san said he would pay me and
Sam twice what he is paying the other instructors. Gods! I don't know
why the hell I didn't try this sooner. It not only gets me back into
shape incredibly fast but also pays for..."
    "Linna!" Yuki said angrily at the inappropriate timing of the
excited woman's entrance.
    Linna's exuberance faded at the withering look she received from
Yuki. "What?" she asked completely confused. "What have I done wrong?"
    "Linna!" Sam's voice called out from the hallway. "I'm sweaty and
having a shower, do you want to join me?"
    Katsumi looked up and flashed Linna a look that made the brunette
wince. What blunder had she pulled now?
    "Linna?" Sam's voice called out again.
    "Go ahead, love," Linna called back. "I'll be along in a moment."
    "Sure?"
    "Sure."
    "Okay..." and the three of them heard Sam trot off upstairs.
    "Okay," Linna said turning to look at Yuki. "What's the problem?
What have I done ?"
    Katsumi got to her feet. "I'm going to the toilet," she announced,
and with another black look at Linna stormed out.
    Linna looked lost. "What have I done?" she asked Yuki again.
    Yuki sighed and shook her head. "Katsumi is getting divorced."
    "What!?" Linna burst out stunned.
    "Yip," Yuki confirmed with another sigh and Linna swore as she
slumped down into the chair where Katsumi had just been seating.
    "Ops..." she said.
    "Yes," Yuki agreed. "Ops."
    Katsumi wiped herself off and flushing the toilet pulled up her
pants and adjusted her dress. Damn Linna! she thought as she went over
to the basin and washed her hands. She unlocked the toilet door and
walked out. The last few weeks had been horrible for her. Not only had
Roy threatened her and called her a whore to her face. He had actually
boasted that he was sleeping with a hooker and that...
    A faint musical voice singing some unknowable tune sounded from
the ajar door opposite and Katsumi could just about make out the faint
sound of a shower being turned on. Katsumi froze as she realized that
it must be Sam taking a shower - the one she had asked Linna to join
her for. Without a conscious decision on her part Katsumi walked
slowly over to the door of what must be Linna and Sam's room and
cautiously pushed it open.
    The room inside was untidy, with various items of discarded
clothes lying haphazardly around on the floor and the double bed being
completely unmade. Katsumi slipped inside and quietly closed the door
behind her. Her attention shifted to the open door at the other end of
the room from which the melodious singing was coming from. Katsumi
briefly wondered what the hell she was doing. This was insane! She
should not be here! She hesitated and then turned to leave. She could
not do this sort of thing to her best friend! She looked down and her
eyes focused on the discarded clothing freshly scattered on the
ground. She saw the sweaty tee shirt, the slender leotard, the slim
cotton sport pants... White pants… White like the skin they must
cover… Katsumi's heart started to beat faster and without thinking she
crossed over to the second door.
    Pausing outside she warily pushed the door open slightly and
looked in. Sam was standing in the shower with her naked back and prim
buttocks facing the door as she was in the middle of washing her short
red hair. Katsumi gasped, awe-struck at the perfect beauty of the
nymph washing in front of her.
    At the sound of the gasp Sam spun around surprised. Katsumi was
treated to a full momentary glance of the girl's simple perfection
before the redhead seemed to realize what the other woman was staring
at and her arms shot up to cover her pert breasts and the small blood
red triangle.
    "Katsumi!" the girl shrieked. "What the fuck do you think you are
doing in here?! Get out! Now!"
    Katsumi just stood entranced by what she was staring at. All
rational thought had departed when she had first walked into the
girl's bedroom.
    "Katsumi!" Sam spluttered and made a mad dash for the towel
hanging on the rail opposite the woman. The redhead's sudden movement
seemed to spark Katsumi into life and before the girl was able to
whisk the towel from the rail Katsumi's hands shot out and grabbed
her. Forcefully she pulled the naked wet girl into her embrace and ran
her hands over the deliciously nubile form. The sensation was
wonderful! Everything that Katsumi had imagined it would be! The skin
was like satin, with not a blemish anywhere that her probing fingers
could find. The slender form was perfectly proportioned with not an
ounce of fat anywhere. Even the redhead's small breasts were springy
and responsive to her touch.
    "Ahhh…" Katsumi moaned as her hand dropped to caress the silky
blood red wet fur and pushed her finger inside the...
    "Let go of me you vermin!" Sam screamed outraged and with a
strength that seemed impossible for her small slender form threw
Katsumi straight out the door. The woman shrieked as she crashed into
the bed and then hit the floor with a loud thud.
    "Mortal human vermin!" Sam screamed furiously from the door as the
woman shook her head trying to clear it. "How _dare_ you touch me!"
    "Sam? Are you all right?!" Linna yelled smashing the door open to
charge in on the insane sight of her wet and naked redhead yelling
sizzling curses at a prone Katsumi. "Sam!"
    Sam's stream of avid curses cut off and the girl ran over to
embrace her lover. "Linna! That... human trash just tried to assault
me!"
    "What?!" Linna voice was flabbergasted. Katsumi?!?
    "Sam!" Yuki burst in. "What the hell is... Katsumi!" Yuki ran over
to help her groaning friend. "What the hell is going on here!"
    "She just fuckin' touched me up!" Sam shrieked still furious.
"That fuckin' human vermin! I'm gonna fuckin' feed her to Tiamat! NO
ONE dares insult me like that and live! I will feed her soul to the
Hordes of Amon and let the Darkness suck on what's left! I..."
    "Sam!" Linna grabbed the Immortal girl and clamped her lips down
on the livid girl's own. Linna did not know what her inhuman lover was
going on about but knowing what Sam was, and more to the point, what
she was capable of Linna DID NOT want to tempt fate. Just for good
measure Linna ran her hands up and down Sam's wet back in the way that
the minx particularly seemed to love. The reaction was almost
immediate. Sam melted into Linna's kiss and pressed her body up
against the brunette in a way that made Linna lose track of coherent
thought. She grabbed the wet and slippery redhead and dragged her over
to the bed where both of them lost sense of everything but each other.
    Yuki did not know what the hell was going on but managed to drag
Katsumi out of the room and into the hallway beyond. Was Sam mad?! Had
Katsumi really just tried to... No! It could not be!
    "Sam..." Katsumi moaned in a way that made Yuki suddenly wonder
who exactly was mad.
    "Katsumi," she began shaking the woman. "What did you just..."
    "She is mine!" Katsumi hissed pushing Yuki away as she groggily
got to her feet and tried to return to the bedroom. "Mine!"
    "Katsumi!" Yuki exclaimed in disbelief and grabbed out at her old
friend. "What the hell..."
    "Mine!" Katsumi snarled and abruptly spinning around punched Yuki
in the stomach causing the young woman to gasp and fall to the floor.
"She is mine!" the snarling woman repeated before storming off towards
the bedroom door.
    Linna barely had a moment to register what was happening when
something very heavy clubbed her on the head and a spinning blackness
threatened to engulfed her.
    "Mine!" Katsumi growled again raising the bedside clock for
another strike against her hatred enemy who held what _belonged_ to
her. "Mine!"
    "Vermin..." a cold voice whispered and Katsumi was thrown against
the bedroom wall with enough force that a sickening snap indicated
that something broke in the process.
    "Vermin," the voice whispered softly again and Katsumi felt the
force pinning her against the wall dramatically. Another faint crack
sounded, and she screamed in agony as a red stream of blood leaked out
her mouth.
    "You wish to Play with me through your puppet do you?" an
inhumanly cold and dead voice whispered throughout the room as the
redhead slowly got to her feet and giggled. Katsumi stared horrified
at the unholy black aura that was radiating like a dark fire from
Sam's ever so white form. She whimpered as the redhead's mad eyes
locked onto hers and the rosebud lips twitched in cruel amusement.
    "Then let's Play..." Sam giggled and her face lit up with an
unholy expression that was enough to make Katsumi sob with fear and
she screamed.
    Katsumi's terrified scream dragged Linna back from the black pit
above which she had been hovering and forced her to open her eyes.
    "KATSUMI!! SAM!! LINNA!!" Yuki shrieked pounding vainly on the
door that seemed to absolutely refuse to budge. "KATSUMI!!"
    Another blood curdling scream joined the first and Yuki panicked.
Throwing herself at the suddenly unopenable door she yelled again and
again for someone, anyone to answer her. "KATSUMI!! SAMMM!!! PLEASE!!"
    A faint mad inhuman giggling began to sound on the other side of
the door and Katsumi screamed insanely yet again. The sound of both
the scream and the giggling caused Yuki to stumble back in horror.
This could not be happening! This could...
    "YAAAAAHHH!!!"
    "Pretty, pretty..."
    "YAAA!!  OHGODOHGODOHHORUS... YAAAHHHH!!!"
    That was enough. Yuki lost it and ran downstairs to call the
police.
    Linna almost felt like screaming in terror herself. She could not
believe what it was she was seeing. The slender form of her lover was
giggling in a way that Linna could only say was utterly demented. She
was also... Linna swallowed hard. Sam was... burning… A cold, pitch
like blackfire surrounded her body and her... black eyes glared
menacingly at the figure pinned against the wall.
    Linna almost wet herself when she saw the inhuman expression on
the... thing's face. It was...
    "Now..." the thing said to Katsumi in a pleasant tone. "Where
shall I send you? To Bael perhaps? No, not him... How about Glasya?
She enjoys little treats like you. Or Mammon? Or Azael?" the face
suddenly turned bestial with sick delight. "I know! I'll let you have
pot luck in Tarterus! Roaming Daemon will just _eat_ you up with
delight!"
    Katsumi started to gibber as the room began to grow cold and dark.
The redheaded thing giggling in front of her had eyes that promised
something far worst than death. Slowly, other _things_ began to appear
in the room, things that twittered and moved just beyond Katsumi's
field of vision. A warm wet liquid poured down her legs as Katsumi
lost all control and began to gibber in mad horror.
    "..." Linna tried to say as she faced the demonic being Sam had
become. Somehow, the brunette managed to stagger to her feet. With a
strength of character that had been forged from facing death many
times before Linna mustered what resolve and bravery she still had
left and called pleadingly out to her... whatever it was that she
loved.
    "Sam..." her voice was so weak and pathetic that it only came out
as a hoarse whisper.
    The demon turned its face and stared coldly at Linna and she
almost started to gibber along with Katsumi. This was NOT Sam...
    "Be silent," the demon said simply and turned its attention back
to its current source of amusement. The redhead raised a hand
dramatically and pointed very slowly at Katsumi. Somehow, Linna knew
that this gesture was simply for the purpose of drawing yet more
horror from the violet-eyed human pinned against the wall. This thing
seemed to be trying to draw as much pain and suffering out of Katsumi
as possible, and everything it did was calculated with that in mind.
    "Sam... Stop it..." Linna's voice sounded slightly stronger this
time as sheer terror lent her some strength.
    The demon ignored her as it gestured again and a single horrible
tone of unnatural music began to swell in the room. At this stage,
Katsumi was completely mad and was screaming in a pitiless voice that
ripped into Linna's very soul.
    "SAM!" Linna screamed and drawing herself up she threw herself
towards the demonic redhead determined to stop what she knew was going
to happen next. However, as soon as she charged towards the redhead
one of those twittering shades of Darkness reacted to her movement and
move