• I wake up to the sound of Mayu screaming. I rolled over quickly to see her trashing around. I grabbed her and held her close to my chest.
    “Mayu! Mayu wake up!” She slowly opened her eye's and starred at me as if I just slapped her. She started crying again and buried her face in my chest. I tried to calm her down. It must have been really bad for her to be shaken up like this.
    “Easy now everything is alright you just had a bad dream that's all.” She was trying to calm herself down.
    “B-But it felt so real Carlos. I saw you lying on the ground bleeding to death. And some robbed figure was standing over your body laughing.” I frowned.
    I wasn't exactly thrilled to hear something like that. It seemed like she saw my past through her dreams.

    “Don't worry that's not going to happen.” The door opened and Jason came into the room with his 9mm pistol in hand. He looked around and when she was sure the room was clear he put it away.
    “What's wrong? I thought that dirtbag Ester got in and pounced on her.”
    I laughed.
    “There's no way Ester's getting in here without breaking the spell and if he did I would have felt it.”

    Mayu finally calmed down and went down stairs with Jason while I went to wake up Ember and Chacane. When I got them up we went downstairs Mayu
    and Jason were in the back of the kitchen making breakfast. Chacane and Ember sat down at one of the tables still trying to wake up.
    “So what's on the agenda for today?” Ember said still yawning. I thought it over for a moment.
    “Let me think it over breakfast and I'll let you know.” I went into the kitchen to see how long breakfast would be. Jason was standing by the stove looking amazed.
    “Can you believe the way she's cooking? I couldn't understand what his meaning was.
    “Way she cooks?”
    “Yeah. I mean she asked me to taste the sausage and it tasted so good! I felt like I died and gone to heaven.” I laughed.
    “Nice way of putting it.”
    “Thanks.”

    I went over and kissed Mayu on the cheek. She giggled and looked over and said hi. When breakfast was done Mayu went into one of the room to pick out one of her new outfits to wear. I let the barrier down so Chacane and Ember could go home to change as well. Jason and I were cleaning the dishes in the kitchen.

    “Alright tell me how did you two meet? I mean it couldn't have been no more than a few weeks ago. It hasn't been that long scene I've seen you.” I was silent for the moment while I cautiously chose my words.
    “Tell you the truth bro. I only meet her two days ago.” He starred at me astonished.
    “Are you pulling my leg Carlos?” I shook my head. I could tell he was trying to comprehend what I was telling him.

    “Man you really must have been desperate for a girl mate. I mean not even two days and already you act like she was Raven.”
    “You know she resembles her very well. Hair, smile, eye's,...hell even her personality. It's kinda scary though.” He nodded. He walked over to the doorway and looked around making sure Mayu was still upstairs. When he was sure she was still there he closed the door.

    “Tell me everything bro. And I mean everything no sugar coating it.” I nodded. He had that look on his face that told me that he was deep in thought. I explained everything from my first encounter with her up to last nights incident with Ester. He didn't talk the whole time I spoke. He would nod every now and then understanding.

    When I finished speaking he was still staring at the floor for a few moments before he looked back at me. His face was twisted like he just sucked on a lemon.
    “Hmm....from what I can tell whoever tried to kill her was doing it with magic so there would be no evidence for someone to track him or her.”
    “Can you think of anyone who can do that?” He nodded somberly.
    “There's only two people I know who can create magic that advanced to try and kill someone. One is Ester and the other is...well you know.”

    I didn't need to say his name to know who he was talking about. Then the thought came to me.
    “It couldn't be Ester. He would have recognized her last night.” He shook his head.
    “He was drunk last night remember. He was probably so hammered that he couldn't think straight.” It seemed to fit the bill.
    “But there's no way could have been him. He hasn't been seen in...in.”
    I couldn't finish the sentence.
    “Ten years. The last time he attacked you and Raven.”

    I was trying to keep my temper under control. Every ounce of my body wanted to go hunting for him.
    “Last time he killed Raven and left me for dead. He thought he had finished the job. But he didn't, all he did was leave me alone and broken.” Jason put a hand on my shoulder.
    “It's okay bro. You'll get your chance, you'll get your chance.” I nodded

    We came out of the kitchen and sat at the bar waiting for the girls to come back. Mayu came downstairs in one of her new outfits. She was wearing a green and brown cloth shirt. The shoulders around the sleeves were padded and had what looked to be cufflings that were a much lighter color. The color of her skirt was the same as her sleeves. And around her waist was a leather pouch.

    She look so beautiful and the scent of her skin was burning in my through.
    It took every ounce of my strength not to hurt her. I held my ground not moving in any way that could hurt me more. At the same time Chacane and Ember came through the door.
    “About time you two got back.” Jason said in a sarcastic voice.
    “We haven't been gone that long Jason. Said Ember. He smiled at her.
    “I know I was just teasing you Ember.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

    “So Carlos did you think of something for us to do today?” I could hear the excitement in her voice.
    “How about a party at my place? It can be just us and anyone else we wish to invite.” Everyone seemed to like the idea.
    “Cool! I'll get the snacks! Ember said.
    “I'll get the beer!” Jason interjected.
    “I'll get the music!” Chacane said.
    “And I'll get in the way and make a big mess!” A voice by the door said.

    We all looked over at the door to see Ester standing there. I couldn't stop from groaning.
    “Ester didn't you learn anything from last night?” He put a hand up to stop me.
    “I'm not here to start a fight Carlos. I came to apologize for my actions last night.” I was stunned. Ester apologizing? I knew there was something behind it.
    “Alright Ester. What do you want?” He waved it away.
    “Nothing I was a fool last night and I let my drinking get the better of me.”
    “Yeah right.” Chacane muttered under her breath.
    I sighed. I was in no mood to argue with him this morning. So I had to think of something to end this.
    “Alright Ester you can come with us as long as you don't cause any trouble. Do an I'll Kick you from here to the Suna Desert.

    We went through the rest of the day looking for the supplies for the party. By mid day we had everything we needed for it. On our way to the cabin we meet Chacane's boyfriend Saber and her baby girl Rose and they joined us. We got to the cabin and got a fire going for the food and snacks, we sat around a fire and talked about old times and adventures we've had. Rose was in Mayu's lap laughing and having a blast playing with her.

    The sky started to darken when the party started to wind down.
    Ester stood up with a smile and tired look in his eye's. In his hand was a pint of mead.
    “Well...*hick* this was fun and all but I must be off. I am going home to prepare for the massive hangover that awaits me in the morning.” And with that Ester walked a few paces away from the group and disappeared in a flash of flames. Chacane and Saber stood up as well.
    “Yeah Carlos we should be going too. Little Rose needs her sleep.”
    Just as if on cue little Rose yawned a big O and her eye's started drooping. Chacane walked over and took Rose from Mayu and they walked off and said good bye.
    “Well I better get going too.” Ember Said. “Seeya guys.” She jumped into the trees.
    “Yeah I'll see you later bro-”
    “CARLOS!!!” We rushed to the front of the house and saw Chacane and Saber starring at the front door.
    “What's wrong?” I asked. Chacane pointed towards the door and I looked at it. On the door I saw a scroll on the door with a large knife holding it up. I pulled the knife out of the door and read the message.
    “You may have survived last time boy, but this time I will finish you and the young lass too.” I crumpled up the note and threw the knife into a tree sinking it to the hint.
    “No. This time your going to die you foolish man. I wasn't strong enough to stop you last time. But now I am.”