Chapt.10. Weakness and Destruction

Ryo rushed out of his bedroom as fast as he could, nearly slamming into Sage and Kento who were also running for Mia's study room. All three boys burst through the door, and saw Mia sitting there safely at her computer, staring wide eyed at the computer screen. All three gave a huge sigh of relief

"Thank goodness," Ryo breathed. "I thought you..."

"Guys, get over and read this!" Mia ordered excitedly. All three gathered around her computer and stared at the screen.

"Another poem?" Kento inquired with disbelief. "Who's it about this time?"

"Kento, just read it!" Mia urged.

Kento sighed in defeat and turned to look at the screen.

Weakness. It comes when you at least expect it. It does not cease to exist. Feelings are hid and grief held within. Anger shows through to hide what one has on the inside.

Destruction. It can be deadly if let loose. Without one to control it, it will overwhelm. It wants what it cannot have. Struggles are met and hardships can be won. It teaches. It rebukes. It reaches out to you. Listen and be wary, for you know not what it can do.

Kento shook his head. "Weird!"

Sage stared at the poem, reading it over and over again. He looked back at Mia. "Mia, do you think you could print this out? I want to show it to Rowen. He'd want to take a look at this."

Mia nodded and set his printer up. As it printed, Mia saw the thoughtful look on Ryo's face, and knew he was thinking about his battle with that warlady. The printer was finished, and she handed the freshly printed page to Sage, and he left the room as quickly as he could.

"Ryo, what's on your mind?" Mia asked.

"When were fighting earlier, I only fought with that one new warlord," Ryo said. "And it turned out to be a girl. This poem's in two parts right? So what if there is another one out there like you mentioned earlier?"

Mia looked back at the screen and reread the poem. Kento was silent, thinking of his best friend, and hoping he was all right. Somehow he doubted that. He looked at Ryo, then at Mia, wishing someone would say something.

"Ryo," Mia said as a thought came to her, "that warlady you fought. What was she like?"

"Well, she seemed very disturbed," Ryo answered.

"Yeah, a psycho chick," Kento broke in. Ryo gave him a look, ad Mia rolled her eyes. Typical Kento.

"Anyway," Ryo continued, "she seemed to have a lot of anger inside, especially when she was fighting me. I fought alot of Dynasty scum, and none of them seem to have that much anger in them. Why do you ask?

"Because she may be the Warlady of Weakness," Mia said. "And I'm betting the second part of this poem speaks of another warlady. The Warlady of Destruction."

Chapt 11. Unexpected Feelings

Kania sat at her little vanity, running a brush through her hair. Though her body was moving, her mind was far from what she was doing. She was in deep thought, thinking of the prisoner downstairs in the dungeon. From some reason she could not help feeling sorry for him. Yes, she was good to cover her feelings up, but she didn't use hatred and anger the way Delia did. Just what was Delia's problem anyway? Just because the boy did not want to eat. He had a reason to be suspicious! He was being held prisoner by his enemies, and would expect that. One thing for sure, the boy wasn't stupid.

But what was it about him that attracted her to him? Granted he was good-looking, there was something more. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She had never felt this way at all before, and didn't know quite what to call it.

Kania lowered her brush and stared vaguely at her reflection.

She wished she could remember her life before she had come to work for Talpa, but she didn't remember much at all. She was sure she had a family once, but she didn't know who they were. She was glad Delia was there with her, even though Delia could be so difficult at times.

Kania sighed softly as she stood up and headed for her bed. As she laid down, she let her thoughts wander, having no explaination for what she was feeling. And it had to with the prisoner.

Sage waited patiently as Rowen read the poem over and over, analyzing each phrase. Rowen was always this way. He liked to take his time reading things carefully before coming up with a direct answer.

Finally Rowen broke away from the poem, and Sage looked up. "Well?"

"There are two of them," Rowen said flatly, as he let his gaze fall onto his darkblue comforter. "Ryo fought with one of them, right? "So I'm betting that the other one helped Sekhmet capture Cye."

Sage's eyes widened. "Do you really think so?" he asked. Rowen nodded and ran a hand through his hair. His thoughts turned to Cye. Even though Cye was absent, he could still feel him. It must be the armor.

Sage backed away toward the door. "I'm going to let the others know about this. Maybe they figured out the same thing you just did."

Rowen nodded, and Sage slipped out. Once he was gone, Rowen laid his head back on the pillow, and wiped a single tear away.

Chapt. 12. A Ghost's Return.

No one was sure they'd be able to sleep. Cye was gone, the Ancient was dead and so was Anubis. Nobody knew where Kayura was. So there was no way they could get into the Dynasty to rescue Cye, even though Ryo was trying to figure that out.

Mia worked constantly at the computer, trying to gain new information about the Dynasty as well Talpa's newest recruits.

Sage and Rowen were both alseep in their beds, and Kento and Ryo had bunked together. White Blaze had decided to bunk with Mia for the night. After earlier, the tiger wasn't sure if anything else wouldn't happen. Better safe than sorry.

The next morning, everyone was up early, including Rowen, which was a surprise. As Kento came into the kitchen he caught Rowen sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal, and jumped back a little. "Whoa!"

Rowen looked up at him through half closed eyes. "What?" he slurred sleepily.

"You must be sick!" Kento exclaimed. "You're never up this early!"

Kento, go away," Rowen muttered as he returned to his cereal.

Kento headed for the fridge. "Can't. Starving." He opened the fridge and took out enough food for three people and began to make his turkey and salami sandwiches.

Sage walked in just then. He was still dressed in his green pajamas. The only thing he had done was brushed his hair. He stared at Rowen in surprise.

Rowen looked up. "What?"

"Alright. Who are you, and what have you done with Rowen?"

Rowen rolled his eyes as Sage headed for the bread that Kento so graciously left out. He put two slices of bread in the toaster and grabbed the butter and a knife.

"Where's Ryo and Mia?" Sage asked, staring calmly at the toaster. His toast popped up and he spread butter on both slices, before taking a bite out of one, and turning around to look at Rowen.

Rowen swallowed the last of his milk. "Ryo is out practicing again. Been out there since I woke up. And Mia is still sleeping.

"Mia's still sleeping!" Kento said in surprise. That was strange. Mia was usually the first one up besides Cye or Sage.

"Kento, shh!" Sage scolded, his eyes drifting upward. Kento turned red and finished off his breakfast. He did not want to wake up Mia with his loud manly voice. The last time he had done that... He refused to think about *that*.

Ryo waved his katanas through the air expertly. He was dressed in his armor, and wanted nothing more than to fuel off his frustration and anger. Kento was trying to hide it, but Ryo had heard him crying softly last night. That was the first time Ryo had ever heard him cry. As for Sage and Rowen, yes they cared about Cye as well. Sage hid his feelings most of the time, and no one was sure exactly why. As for Rowen, he usually let his actions take over his feelings. Body movements speak louder than words. And apparently Rowen was very worried about Cye, because as far as Wildfire was concerned, Strata was never up this early.

"Ryo of the Wildfire."

Ryo dropped both blades on the ground, recognizing that voice. His eyes widended with disbelief, and he slowly turned around, his eyes narrowing at the figure dressed in the monk's clothes, and holding the familiar staff standing before him.

"Anubis?"

Ryo was shocked to see the ex-warlord of Cruelty standing before him. Wasn't Anubis dead? But here he was standing there, dressed like the Ancient, in a black and white robe, and carrying the Staff of the Ancients.

"Say aren't you...?" Ryo began.

"Yes, but I'm alive again. Please don't ask how or why. We must go inside and speak with everyone. This concerns Cye."

Ryo wasted no time. He shed his armor, then his subarmor, and led Anubis inside the mansion. "Hey, guys! Got some news!"

Rowen, Kento, Sage, and even White Blaze came out into the living room. The three boys stopped and stared at the figure standing next to Ryo. Their eyes widened and their mouths hung open.

"A GHOST!" they all screamed.