Relic Ressurection

Chapter One: Merging at the Oasis

Emon stumbled through the dark catacomb underneath the ruins of Paris, sensing the dark figures behind him. “Doyle, move it! Haven’t you figured out that he’s not here?”
“Of course he isn’t, you foolish whelp!” Doyle pushed him to the ground. “You’re supposed to be the smartest agent in Paso, yet you still fell for this simple tramp.”
Emon grunted as a knife ripped open his shirt, he struggled to pick himself up as blood began to course down his chest. “How could—” He stumbled, barley able to catch the wall.
“How could I help your brother? Easy, he pays a hell of a lot better than the agency.” Doyle grinned, “Now be a good boy, struggle as much as you like but don’t try and run away!”
Emon gasped as cold fingers wrapped around his throat, cutting off his air supply. His mind began to work rapidly, piecing together what he had just learned… his eyes widened as he realized that Enlil had progressed from just playing Cat and Mouse, that Enlil wanted him to suffer more than just mentally. “Let me go!”
“No, no I don’t think I will… but what I’m going to do is hand you over to your brother’s men, and, of course, collect my payment.”
Emon felt his ribs break as he hit the wall, causing him to almost black out. A foot jabbed into his side, “Now, now! We can’t have any of that now can we? Master wouldn’t like that at all.”
“Screw you!” He shouted, blood spraying from his lips.
“Good idea, and while you do that I’ll be sure to do some more damage to your frail little body.” The vampire pushed him against the wall, pinning him. “So, Emon, what do you say we have a little fun?”
Emon’s response was cut short as he was kicked in the groin, “No tongue, unless it’s screaming of course.”
Emon pushed back against the restraining arm, trying to free himself. “I’ll say what ever I want to when I please!”
The vampire stroked his face, “Now, now, I do recall saying no tongue. And I don’t like to be ignored.”
Welts rose on his cheek as the slap echoed through out the catacombs, and his eyes began to cloud and lose focus. “I don’t care… who you are, just leave me the fuck alone.”
“I am Keith, and if it weren’t for all your brother’s posse here you would have been more than thoroughly taken without knowing it.” The vampire hissed.
“So you’re not on of his?” Emon grunted, suddenly finding it hard to breath. “Then why…”
“Aren’t you cute!” Emon felt cold air blowing on his chest, his shirt gone completely. “I have my reasons, but don’t worry I promise I won’t let your brother have all of you.”
“I don’t know…” He felt himself fading. “I don’t…” Something was tickling at the back of his mind.
Keith slung him over his shoulder, “Who DARES interfere!”
“Hello, Keith, been a while.” A voice said from the darkness, Emon’s sight was lost when he fell to the ground.
‘Who ever it is… I hope they help….’ Emon began to cough, spraying the dirt with blood. ‘Because I’m in no condition to try and run.’
“Seth, stay out of this.” Keith hissed, “This boy is mine, and has nothing to do with you.”
“Funny, he doesn’t seem your type.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself Seth, we all know who would win in an outright battle.”
“Except you never play fair.”
“True, but leave and I’ll let you continue your pitiful excuse for an existence.”
“No can do, an old friend of mine called in a favor.”
“Old friend?”
“I’m sure you remember good ol’ Charlie, don’t cha?”
Keith’s face contorted in fear, “What business does he have with this child?”
“I didn’t ask, now hand him over.”
“No.” he turned to face Doyle, “Get rid of this nascence.”
‘Doyle? Doyle can’t do anything… he said it himself…’
“Sure thing Keith,” Doyle growled, leaping towards where Seth’s voice echoed from.
“A werewolf ? How predictable, you should try something new every once and a while.”
‘Werewolf? Damn it… I really walked into this one.’ Emon pushed himself up, weakly rubbing his eyes. ‘I have to find a way to help this Seth person…’
“Trying to get up are we, Emon? No, I don’t think I’ll let you.” Keith nudged his broken ribs, causing him to scream in pain. Keith leaned to look into his face, “You should give up on that hope you have that Seth will help you, he won’t even get near us.”

Ran leaned back in the car seat, “Thanks for the ride Mr. Kawizaki.”
“Oh it’s no problem, unless of course you mind getting it.” Professor Marcos Kawizaki laughed from the driver’s seat. “That’s something you’ll learn, never tell Max you’re walking some where, she’ll insist on giving you a ride.”
“She does this for everyone?” Jordan gasped in the passenger’s seat.
“Of course!” Max giggled, “But my mother did it too, so that’s where I picked it up.”
“You also have to realize, I work at the museum so I can get you boys in for free,” Kawizaki smiled into the rear view mirror. “Just promise me to keep Maxi out of trouble.”
“Oh don’t worry, we can find our own trouble, so she won’t have to get into any of her own.”
“So Iz, what’s up with the get up?” Max asked, indicating his business attire, “You normally don’t dress up to go to work.”
“The son of one of my old partners is coming to town with a new document; I haven’t seen the kid in years.”
“Oh…” she sighed, “That figures!”
“Yes, now you kids go have fun.” Smoothly he pulled the car to a stop.
“Okay Mr. Kawizaki, we will.” Jordan slipped out of the front seat and on to the sidewalk. He and Ran began towards the door.
“I’ll see you later Uncle,” Max kissed her uncle on the forehead before hurrying after the boys.

“Damn it.” Seth cursed, back handing the werewolf. The boy was screaming, and Seth could smell blood in the air, and that defiantly wasn’t good. “Hey boy! Do us both a favor and shut up!”
Teeth dug into his arm and he swung backwards, lunching the wolf against a wall. He didn’t have time for this, he knew that by the time he defeated the werewolf that Keith and the boy would be long gone. He ducked, barely dodging the claws that racked down behind him, “Keith this isn’t something you want to get involved in!”
“My dearest Seth, you have no clue do you? I’m doing exactly what I want. Do you realize that even if you get past Doyle there you still have to get through all these creatures?”
Seth looked around, glancing into the shadows, “I hate to burst your bubble, but it seems your other friends left.”
He felt Keith’s anger flare, then suddenly turn back to nothing again. “Doesn’t matter where they went, and it doesn’t matter what you do. The boy is mine.”
Chills went down his spine, and he turned in time to lunge out of the path of Doyle’s teeth. “People aren’t property, Keith! And I won’t let you get away.”
Doyle growled, settling back on his hind legs. “You don’t have a choice.”
As Doyle leapt forward Seth twisted away from where he stood, and Doyle went flying into one of the tombs. Seth walked slowly towards where Keith stood. “Give up, Keith.”
Keith glared at him and the tunnel feel into silence as they both stood their ground. Wind ruffled their hair, spraying the catacombs with the sent of early morning dew. Keith smiled, “Fine then Seth, I’ll let you win this round… But tomorrow night I want him back.”
Keith faded into the darkness of the tunnels as small rays of sunlight began to play on the stone walls. Seth knelt down next to Emon, turning him onto his side, his breathing was shallow. “You sure don’t look so good right now… Guess Charlie was right, because it does seem that you are in a load of trouble.”
Seth looked around the tunnel, fresh blood stained the wall, and he sighed. “I should get you out of here… Guess I’ll take you back to America, Keith won’t be so likely to follow you back there.”
In his haste Seth didn’t realize that Doyle had vanished, all that was left was a track of bloody foot prints.

Kawizaki lit the candle and leaned back in his wooden chair. “Aton, I never expected to hear from you again.”
“I brought a document I need you to translate.” Aton stood in the shadows, holding the document forward.
“I can’t get drawn into anything... not anymore, and you know that.”
Aton sighed, “I know, Marc… but this is important. The Kisaba is in danger.”
“You wouldn’t have come to me for just that, I’ve known you long enough, more than long enough actually, to know that can’t be it. Plus you could have the people at Paso translate it for you, why come to me?”
“Paso isn’t safe, not since they got a document code-named the Karinka Papers… I needed someone I could trust.”
Kawizaki stole a glance at the documents Aton had handed him, “Then I guess you came to the right place… but this will take me a while to work through.”
“How long?” Aton’s phone began to vibrate in his pocket, Kawizaki paused. “How long Marc?”
“A week at most… I think.”
“Okay.” Aton pulled his phone out and glanced at the screen, “I have to take this.”
As the door closed behind him, Kawizaki began to mumble to himself, “The Karnika Papers… the documents of oblivion. Aton, I wonder what they did to lose your trust.”

“What do you mean Aton’s disappeared! You fools mean you couldn’t keep the eye on a single vampire!” Sholvin ragged, slamming the papers down on the desk. “And he took the documents with him! Find him, now.”
“Sir… I’m not sure if we can, he did teach the agency everything it knows about hunting vampires so he’ll be able to dodge us at every turn!” The agent squirmed in his seat, not daring to meet Sholvin’s gaze. “Can you think of anyone he would go to for translation?”
“Don’t ask me!” Sholvin began to turn dark shades of red, “Find out! Rip out his history before he joined the agency three years ago, I want to know everything!”
An agent entering the room flinched and dropped the folder that he carried, spilling its contents all over the ground. “General… we have a problem.”
“What is it now!”
“Agent Carver is M.I.A… and we’ve lost contact with Doyle, although his G.P.S. is still functioning.”
“HOW COULD YOU LOSE TRACK OF A JUNIOR AGENT?”
The agent opened his mouth to speak, but Sholvin cut him off. “Contact Doyle, and most importantly find me my missing agents! NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!”
As the agents scurried out of the conference room he picked up his phone, quickly he dialed a number, “Yes?”
“Sholvin here, tell the Director that we may have a problem.”
“You want authorization?”
“Yes, I want her to send out the Tracker.”

The hallways expanded in front of them, expanses of ancient artifacts lining their walls; the scent of coffee from a nearby in-door café filled the air. Ran glanced at Max, “So where’d you come from?”
“You mean before this, or where I’ve lived before all the moving around with Iz started?”
“I guess before,” Ran shrugged, ‘Girls, nothing is every simple with them.’
“I lived across the bay from New York City in Newark…. My mother died in the Engulfment.” Max sighed, so pains never vanished and she doubted that one would.
“Oh... sorry for bringing it up.” Ran winced, he hated bringing up the dead. “I lost both my parents a few years ago… and if not for Jordan and Raiju I would have lost it for sure.”
“Raiju?” She asked, ‘I guess it’s my turn to pry.’
“My pet cat, I know it’s weird that I talk of him like a person.”
“Trust me, it is weird, and he does it all the time!” Jordan broke in, handing them both a bottle of water. “I should have never talked him into getting it in the first place.”
“I don’t mind, I sure know that pets and other things, even inanimate objects, are worth talking to… And when we talk to things they tend to take on a humanoid feel to us…”
“Good god! I’m surrounded by freaks!” Jordan laughed.
Ran stumbled backwards, “Oh it hurts! My friend calling me a freak!”
Max began to giggle, she couldn’t help it.
“I just knew that would get a laugh out of you!”
“Well thank you for that laugh, so what do you want to see?”
“We wanted to come here to check out the Vatican City exhibit,” Ran explained. “We have a project due on the former home of the Pope.”
“Actually I can help, we don’t even need to go to the exhibit. My mother did a lot of the research into the former Catholic religion , and she was always interested in the supposed attempt at an exorcism that destroyed the Vatican and Rome .”
“So your mom was an archeologist like your uncle?”
“Yes, but she specialized in religions.”
“No wonder you did so well in Bygone Eras today! You must know your history pretty well!”
“I guess… Listen how about we go meet my Uncle and see if he can give us a ride to the docks.”
“The docks? Why the docks?”
“We live on the island in the Oasis.”
“You live on the island! Do you live in the Corelli Mansion?”
“Jordan, there aren’t any other houses on the island!” Ran exclaimed.
“He’s right you know… but living in the Corelli isn’t as bad as the haunted rumors aren’t true.”

“What do you mean?” Aton questioned, “You can’t come here, it’s too dangerous…. I don’t care… Fine. I’m in Seguin, just get here quick.”
He slammed the phone closed, “Shit. This isn’t good… why does he think I asked him to handle it?”
The sound of approaching foot steps reached his ears as he opened the door, “Marc, I’ll see you later. I think I understand why you don’t want to get drawn in to it, your sister finally died didn’t she?”
“Yes… Zu killed her, and his tracks where covered when New York City was destroyed.”
“Zu… but I thought she banished him?”
“So had I…” Kawizaki looked at the desk, his eyes tearing.
“I appreciate you doing this for me; I’ll drop by on Friday.”
“I’ll try and have it for you… Aton, be careful if you’re going to cross Paso.”
“Don’t worry about that, old man… I know how to take care of myself.” Aton strolled out of the room, glancing down the hallway at the approaching trio before he continued on.

‘That boy can’t help but make friends with the most troublesome of people!’ Raiju sighed, swishing his tail in the wind as he watched the three teenagers board a small boat. ‘Does he not understand what I’ve told him about that island? Guess I have no choice but to follow…’
The cat made his way to the edge of the dock, skillfully he launched himself into the boat before the distance between it and the wooden platform became too great. He wormed his way underneath a tarp, shielding himself from the harsh winds that danced over the lake. ‘I hate this damn lake… why’d he have to put it here in the first place? And why in the hell is he making me watch this troublesome child!’
He stretched watching as the three teens interacted, noting that the boat’s driver failed to utter a word. ‘Hmm… seems I was right to bring myself along on this little joy ride!’
‘Your illusion may be good, but it won’t fool me.’ The driver flinched, ‘Just get them to the island with out harm and I promise I won’t hurt you.’
‘Stay out of this, cat. That is unless you want to get killed.’
‘Can it, I have my duties.’
‘Dealing with me and m’lady surely excides those duties… Although I’m sure even you fear the great Queen Dragana.’
‘What business does she have with these children?’ Raiju hissed, his eyes narrowing till they were slits.
‘Don’t worry, if your boy behaves he won’t get hurt.’
‘You better leave him out of this.’
‘No can do, his fault… He made friends with the bitch’s daughter.’
‘…’ Raiju was at a lose, he knew that Ran had a thing for making friends with trouble, but a friend that was on Dragana’s bad side? That defiantly meant trouble. ‘Tell Dragana she should remember who I work for before making any decisions.’
‘I don’t think even that will sway her, your master doesn’t scare her anymore.’
The ship bumped into the dock, throwing the unsuspecting cat forward a few inches before he caught himself. The driver tipped his hat at the cat, then turned to the teens. “I’ll be back later to drop your Uncle off, need anythin’ Miss Nimue?”
“No, thank you though.” Raiju stirred himself up and out of the fabric, pouncing onto shore.
‘You three watch yourselves, and stick close to me.’
Max’s eyes momentarily widened, as if a talking cat didn’t frighten or surprise her…. But Jordan just gawked at the cat, frozen in place.
“Raiju, what the hell are you doing here?” Ran demanded, glaring at the cat.
‘Watching your back, boy. That driver isn’t human, and his master is even more dangerous.’
“So you’re going to intervene, cat? Bad move!” The driver struck out, lightning dancing from his fingers towards Raiju. The cat planted himself firmly on the ground, taking the full brunt of the attack. Smoke rose from the ground.
‘Is that the best you can do?’ He grinned, and a cat’s grin, although pretty, looks quite evil. ‘You, girl! Do you know a safe place on this island?’
“Don’t call me girl.” Max hissed, “But yes I do.”
‘Is it close by?’
“I don’t appreciate you all ignoring me… I’m tempted to destroy you all where you stand.”
Max turned her glare on the driver, “I doubt you could destroy me… I may just be a kid, but Ma passed on a few tricks.” She flipped her hand forward, clapping her eyes shut, and then she began to whisper. “Dark as night, yet brighter than The Clock , Spirit of the Nether World, come and heed my cry.”
“That was supposed to so something? Girly, look around you, nothing happened.” The driver sneered.
“Oh, I’m sorry! You aren’t skilled enough to see Spirits? Here let me help.” Max twisted her hand, and the dock flared into life. Vague figures that danced around the diver dived towards him, and he began to scream. As soon as he began to scream, his voice stopped and he fell into dust.
‘Interesting.’ Raiju mumbled to himself, ‘Very interesting.’
“What the— How….” Jordan was in utter shock, confusion filling his face.
“Ehh… my mother was an exorcist… And from banishing dangerous Spirits it’s not that far of a leap to being able to summon them to aid others…” Max, glanced at Ran, he shrugged.
“Come on Jordan, deal with it. You’ve seen me do small magic tricks, not much difference between that and this.”
“But… Raiju talked.” Jordan stammered, rubbing his temples with frigged fingers. “This is just a lot to take in…”
‘Sorry to interrupt, but this is no time to lose it and freak out. Girl, you said you knew a safe place? We need to get there fast.’
“Sure, it’s this way.” Max began to walk down a small overgrown path, then stopped. “Is the need for hurrying because there are more creatures here?”
‘For some one your age you are incredibly bright when it comes to these things.’ Raiju’s tail bent underneath his belly, ‘But yes… I don’t know how many more, but he defiantly had allies.’
“Then what are we waiting for?” Jordan grabbed Ran’s arm, “Why don’t we take the boat and leave!”
“Because that would be suicide, its better to find cover, right?”
‘Yes, vampires, not all of them mind but most, can fly. A safe haven here is better than being on a boat in the open.’
“Well then let’s move.” Max moved forward, pushing through the low branches, walking slowly so as not to get too far ahead of the others so that they could follow easily. “But what do these vampires want?”
‘I don’t know… but that driver mentioned something about your mother… But I don’t know what an exorcist could have done to piss off Dragana…’
“Dragana? Why does that name sound so familiar?” Max stumbled, catching herself on a branch. “Why does that…”
“Max?” Ran moved forward and placed his hand on her shoulder, “Max are you okay?”
She fell backwards, her dead weight almost causing Ran to fall to his knees, “Why…” Her mind was going numb, she could barely even remember where she was. “Why…”
‘We had better move…’ Raiju raced forward. ‘Follow, now.”
“Raiju, what’s wrong with Max?” Ran demanded, him and Jordan following behind the cat, Max in their arms.
‘I don’t know… but what ever it is, if I can figure it out, we will deal with it once we find shelter. We can’t stay out in the open much longer, they’ve finally realized we’re here.’

‘Damnit! Enlil said nothing about anyone interfering… it was supposed to be simple, get the boy into the catacombs, then ship him out after I had all I wanted.’ Keith fumed, kicking up dust as he punched the wall.
“Doyle, I thought Paso agents were the best.” He turned to glare at the man, “How could you let Seth get through you and to me? I wasn’t any where near ready to deal with him!”
“Are you blaming this mess on me?” Doyle flung himself from the chair, “You bastard! You’re the one who’s to blame, you had to start there, and you just couldn’t wait to get home could you?”
“By the time I got back there it would have been meaningless to begin. Now, leave me and go to your cage, I have much to think on.”
Keith watched as the werewolf stormed out of the room, his fingers playing with a pendant. ‘I hope you miss this little trinket of yours, Emon, I really do… I can see what Enlil needs you for, I can see why you’re important…and I can’t wait to see you again. You are mine, Emon… I will get you back even if I have to follow you and Seth to the ends of the world. Now… if only I could figure out what connection you have to my old buddy Charlie…’
He bit down on his tongue, and quickly slipped the pendant back into his pocket. He heard the distant dial tone of a phone. ‘So Doyle, still have to keep in contact with your other handlers, eh?’ He picked up the phone on the desk in front of him, ‘Let us see what you have to say to them.’
“Sholvin, I lost him in the catacombs.” Doyle’s voice rasped on the phone, “We got separated when we were attacked… It will take days to search the expanse of this place.”
“I assigned you to him because I knew a veteran agent skilled in your, ahh... specialties should have been able to keep track of him. Do you have any clue of his importance to the agency?”
“Yes, I do… But what if—”
“There is no ‘if’, I want him found yesterday.”
“Right… but what if I should come into contact with… one of them?”
“Well you just better make sure not to.” The line clicked dead.
‘Well, well, Doyle! Seems you’ve been keeping a few things from me, we’ll just have to talk about that when the time is the most convenient… Speaking of convenient, I had better call my informant in Seguin and see how things are folding out on that stage.’

Aimi glared at Dipak, “I thought you said no one would recognize him for what he was, I thought you’d masked his damn aura!”
“If there is fault it is not in my shielding… Whomever it was that foiled the plan had to be a strong magical being, this person even survived a direct blast of lightning.”
“I don’t care. How long will they be able to elude my mother’s minions?”
“I doubt that they will last much longer.”
“Then hurry up and finish it, I want to get this over with before our new… ally arrives.” Aimi began to pace back and forth between rooms, “I want this edge over my mother, and I want it now.”
“Spells as complicated as this take time… And you still need to finish your end of our bargain, if you had done that part sooner this would have gone a lot faster.”
“I’ll get you your little toy, don’t you worry. Now get back to work.”
“You know… I do know one creature that lives in the city that would be more than powerful enough to see through, and break, my illusion.” Dipak smiled, as Aimi stopped her pacing. “He tries to disguise himself as a familiar, and the only reason it works is because his ‘charge’ doesn’t know much about witch craft.”
“Then why haven’t you told me about this creature sooner? He would have made for a powerful ally.”
“He wouldn’t have allied himself with us, in fact he would have figured out how to destroy us.”
“So that’s why you need my help in gaining it, is it?” Aimi smiled to herself, finally she knew the reason he needed her help.
“Yes, he’s why…and if my creatures come in contact with him to soon in their reanimation then they will fall to pieces, his aura alone will destroy them.” Dipak stood, smearing the blood that had clotted over his hands on his white shirt. “Do you even begin to understand what the ramifications of having him on this island would do to the ceremony?”
“I get the picture. All I need to do is get you one thing and the ceremony will go faster, and at the same time I can take care of this creature and appease my so-called Mother by capturing the Hikari’s daughter… Anything I’ve forgotten?”
“I think you covered just about everything… but be careful, what ever or who ever actually eliminated that particular minion wasn’t the ‘familiar,’ so have some one watch your back.”
She turned to glare at him, her eyes glowing a blood shot red, “Who ever said that I was going to be the one handling it? It’s much easier to just have one of the more powerful underlings take care of it.” Aimi stormed off, vanishing into the near by doorway.
“Bitch. Once I get what I want, I’ll be sure to take you out along with that Mother of yours.” Dipak grinned, he leaned back on a tombstone, “Even if I supposedly hand over control, they will always know who their true master is, and heed my call.”

Seth clicked his phone closed, and surveyed the room. He sighed, pulling the blanket onto the boy… It’d been nearly five hours since he’d gotten them out of the catacombs, and the boy had yet to move.
“Kid, you got some serious issues… Hope you wake up soon,” Seth stood up, brushing the dust off of his knees. “I’ll be back in a little while… I have to go get the jet ready for the flight.”
Seth left the room, hurrying through the dark dead forest that surrounded him on all sides, heading for an opening in the ruins where he kept the old Falcon 10. Of course he had modified the old 21st century technology to modern standards, but due to the modifications he had to almost totally rebuild the old jet. But he did love his old plane, back when he was human he built fighter jets for the Rebels during the Allerion Wars , and afterwards he built jets for the United States… that was only a few years though, he’d been tuned three years before the beginning of World War VII . Seth sighed, he couldn’t get lost in the past… He had things he needed to do.
His phone rang, vibrating in his pocket. “Hello?”
“Seth, are you thinking of leaving with my prize? Now I don’t appreciate that.”
“Why don’t you just leave him alone.” Seth scowled, ‘Why does this always happen?’
“Heh, no… I don’t think I will. Since you’re out and about I think I’ll pay your little den a visit and pick up what’s mine.”
‘Damn it!’ Seth turned, the wind blowing full force into his face. “Keith, don’t you dare lay a hand on him, you do and I swear—”
“Swear what? You’ll kill me? You and I both know that would never happen. Now why don’t you be a good boy and just play with your little toy.”
Seth slammed the phone shut, he threw it backwards into the open hatch of the jet, and sprinted off into the woods, not even bothering to follow the path. ‘Come on kid, still be there! God I have the worst of luck…’
The door hung open, ripped off its hinges, his single room house lay in ruins. A paper fluttered into his face, “Shit.”
He didn’t bother watching his back, he knew the letter was just to play up the fact he failed… That was Keith’s style. He read the letter aloud, “Dear Seth, Sorry about the house but it was one wild party. Hope you don’t mind I took back what was mine, don’t bother to come looking you won’t find us. With Hugs and Kisses, Your Dear Friend Keith.”
Seth crumpled up the paper and threw it in frustration. “Fuck you Keith… You just pushed me to far this time. I know you’re still here listening, trying to see your ‘brilliant’ plan unfold. Now mark my word, I am coming for you. I will find you, and this time I won’t let you get away with just a few bruises.”

Max’s hold on everything was slipping, she was barely conscience of the voices around her. Her mind was concentrating on unraveling layers of its own blocks, unlocking darker memories of when she was little… A girl no more than five… Yes, that was it, that’s when she had first heard the name Dragana. She may have heard it before but her mind drew a blank. It was back when she had lived in a small building, more of a tent really, on the outskirts of the remains of the Vatican City. She had been living there for months, alone with her mother and uncle, very lonely for a little girl. She dealt with the lack of human contact well for a toddler, although she could be seen by those with her talking to air at odd hours of the night. She might have actually liked the lonely ruins, she was after all her mother’s daughter… But her whole life suddenly changed when one of her Uncle’s old friends showed up. He told her he was with the Paso Firm, but at the time she had no clue what that was… She remembered hiding in the doorway, listening to the man tell her mother of an approaching danger, her mother growing angrily, and then a woman showing up… The woman seemed nice, so the girl had no problem letting her carry her. But then things turned ugly, her mother and the woman began to fight, and the woman wouldn’t put her down… Things blurred from there, Max’s mind unable to sort through the mist of the past. All she remembered was later she found out the name of the woman, and her mother had told her to never go near here… And then she remembered her mother saying something in the Elderest Tongue…
Max’s eyes snapped open, she surged up from where she lay curled up on the ground. “How long was I out?”
‘A few hours… no more, no less.’ Rauji looked up into her face, pausing a moment before licking her check. ‘I must say you are on serious piece of work…’
“Piece of work?”
‘The energy from that dream of yours rubbed off, luckily Ran wasn’t in here or he’d have seen it all too.’
“You saw it?”
‘And felt it… Although it shouldn’t have given off the energy that it did.’ Rauji looked over his shoulder. ‘Oh… Ran says that Jordan just finished baking some cookies, if you want some.’
“Uh… sure.” Max paused before she left the room, “Did anything happen while I was out?”
‘No… it’s all been silent.’ The cat’s head snapped up, his ears perked. ‘But it looks like things are about to heat up, you stay here I’ll get the boys.’

Enlil rolled out of the bed, glaring as the phone leapt in its cradle, “This had better be good.”
“You never said anything about people interfering, Enlil. I don’t appreciate you failing to mention it.”
“Keith, I have no clue what you’re talking about. Now did you get my brother or not.” Enlil growled.
“I got him, luckily for you Seth is as predictable as always. But you dear sir, you certainly have a problem. My old pal Charlie seems to have an interest in your affairs.”
“Does it matter? He comes between me and what I want he’ll die.”
“That’s the thing… He’s not that easy to destroy, and if he’s into your affairs then you should be worried. Charlie’s not one to skimp on anything he does.”
“Well neither am I, so grow a back bone. I don’t care who this Charlie is or what he can do, Emon belongs to me wither he likes it or not.”
“I just thought I should warn you… Oh and I don’t think your little agent from Paso is trustworthy.”
“I know he isn’t, that is why I hired you as well. Now, good bye.” Enlil slammed the phone back into its cradle. ‘That idiot. Is he really trying to make me worry so much that I won’t be able to mask my presence? Once he brings me my brother I’ll make sure to kill him slowly and painfully, I don’t care if Seth is older than me in respect to being a vampire… He is no where near as powerful as I am.’
He glanced at the clock, and sighing, walked to the closet. ‘Seems its time to move again, towards that damn Oasis.’

Dragana leaned back in the chair. “So things have started moving faster than I fathomed… I never would have thought my dear cousin would end up here. Maybe my warnings weren’t harsh enough. What do you think Professor?”
“He’s doing what’s right… You killing me will do nothing.” Kawizaki hissed, glaring at her. “He’ll never let you find it.”
“You have no clue how… ahh… persuasive I can be.” She looked down at a picture on his desk, “I’m sorry about your loss, how is your niece?”
“She’s beyond your reach… Hikari may have only taught her basic techniques but she’s very good at teaching herself.” Kawizaki clenched his hands into fists. “Hikari bested you when she was a pupil, Nimue won’t have a problem topping that.”
“I don’t doubt that she could have at one point bested Dragana, but no longer. You see she’s raised the stakes of this little game.”
“Zu!” Kawizaki Lunged from his chair, “You bastard!”
“The reaction I expected, do you feel bad that your little band’s effort to destroy me ultimately ended in failure? Your sister may have sealed me while you destroyed the tablets, but she’s dead now. Hee, and as I’ve heard not all of your old allies still ally themselves to good.”
“I may not be as young as I use to be, and I know that I have no way to stop you… But those who remain will hunt you down and destroy you, this time it won’t just be your soul sealed away. You may have been able to kill Ninurta … But we were able to best you in battle, and, although the races may be more against each other more than ever, you will fall again.”
“Marc, you underestimate me. The Kisaba is not the only relic of its kind, simply believed to be the most powerful.” Zu smirked, despite his human appearance his teeth still glistened like the fangs of a dragon, he pulled a pair of jade chopsticks from his sleeve, “And you see, I’ve already found the Shikarit , and with them I shall soon unlock the Carishta …”
“The Shikarit are not the only thing needed to open the Tombs, you know that dragon.”
“Oh, you see I have already gained the last ingredient. Your blood shall serve as both the sacrifices need… I’m just luck that the second of my enemy that I wish to eliminate is both a scholar and a noble warrior.”
“So my fate is to die tonight,” Kawizaki turned his eyes to the emptiness of the window. “I knew this day would come soon… But now this: I swear on my last breathes that you shall fail in your corrupt schemes, even with the Carishta as your tool you will fall before the Hand of Shani .”
Zu laughed as he drew one of his many blades, “Time is not my master.”
Kawizaki’s chest grew red as the skin was shredded by the blade, “Time is only a single finger of the Shani… for the Guardians are many.”
As he fell to the floor limp, Zu whipped his blade. “The Guardians failed to stop me in the beginning, they are no more powerful than they were then.”


AN- I hope you are all enjoying the story... This is 15 pages in, I have more to update but I need to finish the next chapter. as soon as I finish it I will upload it.