Shintaro could only watch as Ozai shrank beneath Brethren's grip, his right hand scrabbling at Brethren's wrist and his other hand pressed against the wall for support. Though Shintaro wanted terribly to rush to Ozai's aid, he knew that it would not end well if he got in Brethren's way. Whatever rivalry ran between these two men, it was deep and fierce, which meant that nothing would stop Brethren from getting what he wanted from Ozai. Shintaro remained shamefully near the wall that he'd almost backed into when Brethren had passed, watching as Ozai struggled for air against Brethren's tight hold. 

"Hey, let him go," Amy's shocked and angry voice commanded from Shintaro's right, and he turned with an alarmed look, warning her to keep her mouth shut or things wouldn't turn out well. 

If Amy noticed the look, she paid it no mind. She slowly stepped toward Brethren, her right hand hovering over one of the pouches on her belt (which surprised Shintaro that it was still there). "I'm talking to you, Dark Boy," she said in a firmer tone. "Drop him, now." 

Ozai's terrified eyes darted to her, and even he seemed to be telling her to back down now. Both of his hands were clutching Brethren's wrist now, and his face was reddening with the effort to breathe. 

Brethren slowly, dangerously slid his gaze to Amy, who was a few strides away from him now. Shintaro had seen that look way too many times - the slow turn of the head, the deadly warning beneath the red eyes. He knew the message all too well, and he would not let Amy become the final straw that snapped Brethren's anger.  

Just before Brethren struck, Shintaro careened forward as fast as his legs could carry him and snatched Amy's wrist without stopping. His momentum made her teeter sideways with him, tipping back on her heels as she scrambled to regain her footing. Shintaro sharply skidded to the side before he crashed into the wall, bending his arm and pulling Amy close so she wouldn't slam back-first into the wall. 

Shintaro slammed to a halt, and Amy dug her heels into the floor to stop herself from sliding into him. Shintaro released her wrist, which was beginning to turn red from where he'd grabbed her harshly. He felt bad about it, but he knew that it was much better than what would have become of her if he hadn't snatched her away. 

"What the heck, Shin-" Amy started with annoyed anger, but she stopped when she turned to where she'd been standing a moment before. 

Buried in the floor and crackling with Dark electricity, was a large Dark blade. It wasn't crafted well enough to be an actual, tactical weapon - it had points jutting out of either end, with curved, sharp edges on the sides. It was a sloppily made Dark weapon that would have cut clean through Amy if she had been there any longer. 

Brethren was standing in the middle of the hallway now, leaning forward slightly with one hand hovering in front of him and almost humming with Dark Magic. His eyes were still narrowed in subsiding rage, but one corner of his mouth was turned up as he fixed his cold, red eyes on Shintaro. 

"I figured you would do something like that, boy," he spat at Shintaro, straightening his spine and pressing his closed fists against his hips. "I never thought you'd pledge your loyalty to anyone after losing so many of your friends and family." 

Shintaro buried the sharp flinch that threatened to jolt his body, holding his breath against the anguish that was bubbling up in his chest. Brethren was excellent at hitting one's sensitive spots, but Shintaro would not let him have the joy of knowing that he'd struck home. 

Instead of responding or even acknowledging that Brethren had spoken, Shintaro lowered his gaze to Ozai. He was on the floor now, leaning his back against the wall behind him and pressing a hand against his neck gingerly. He was shaking from head to toe, his other hand clenched into a trembling fist against the floor under him. He had his eyes shut tightly as if he could block out the rest of the world by closing them, and his chest was heaving as he gasped. 

"Are you alright, Ozai?" Falte called over to him almost tentatively, and Shintaro knew that if he could, Falte would be kneeling beside Ozai to check on him. But Brethren's gaze was holding him in place, so he could only ask from afar. 

"Fine," Ozai answered, too quickly for Shintaro to be convinced. He clamped his mouth closed after speaking, his jaw flexing as he grit his teeth. 

"Boy," Brethren suddenly said roughly, his eyes darting to someone behind Shintaro. "Here, now." He snapped his fingers and pointing to the spot in front of him impatiently, the amused smile leaving his face. 

To Shintaro's surprise, Kai shuffled past with his head lowered and silently took his spot to Brethren's right, keeping his gaze on the floor. His hands were clenched into fists as if he wanted to resist but couldn't bring himself to.

Shintaro wasn't sure if he was glad that Kai hadn't resisted or if he was angry that Kai was taking orders from Brethren like a dog. 

"Cynthia," Brethren addressed the woman who was standing a few feet away from where Kai had stopped when he'd spotted them. "Take them away. I will deal with them later, when I don't feel like murdering each and every one of them." He waved his hand dismissively at the rest of the Darks, who had remained to watch the squabble between Brethren and Ozai. 

Brethren turned toward the stairwell and Kai turned with him, sending a ripple of shock through Falte and the others. Shintaro merely watched sadly as Kai walked obediently beside Brethren, then disappearing as they rounded the corner. 

Kai must hate that, Shintaro realized solemnly. After doing being under Thorn for so long, Kai probably didn't like the idea of being ordered around by yet another Dark.

Shintaro remembered suddenly that Thorn was with them, and turning to look over his shoulder at him, he wondered what Thorn was thinking at the moment. If he really was against the Darks now, was he sorry for imprisoning and hurting Kai? 

Because the only facial features Thorn had were eyes, Shintaro couldn't read his face. He was staring at the doorway where Kai had disappeared, but Shintaro couldn't tell what emotion was hidden in his red eyes. 

"You heard him," Cynthia said to the group, and everyone turned their eyes to her. "I am to take you to where you will stay. I can't tell you that it will be comfortable, but you probably won't be there for very long." 

She gave Shintaro another well-hidden meaningful look, and then she turned around and continued leading them down the long hallway. Ruby and an exhausted-looking Zeke followed first, with a frowning Moon on their heels. Abby, looking crushed, moved to Shintaro's side and slipped her hand into his for comfort. Linda, who looked more angry than defeated, marched after Moon, obviously not caring for her injured eye. Falte turned the opposite direction and gently touched Ozai's shoulder, startling him; but after a few moments, Falte and Ozai were walking after Linda and Gabriel, who had moved to her side. Amy and Rachel, with Nanami in tow, started after Falte and Ozai; but Nanami threw a worried and nervous look over her shoulder up at Shintaro. 

"It's alright, Abby," Shintaro said softly, walking forward and causing her to match his strides as best as she could. "He'll be alright." He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and she nodded her head without saying anything. 

Shintaro realized that Thorn was trailing in the back, his red eyes on the floor in front of him as he walked. His hands were folded delicately in front of him, but they were clenched tightly in a way that made Shintaro wonder if his suspicions had been right. The shadowy flames around Thorn's body were whirling, vanishing, and reappearing with a fiery quickness. Shintaro wasn't sure what that indicated, but it was obvious that Thorn wasn't happy. 

Holding back a snort of doubt - doubt that Thorn was angry with himself for seeing Kai again and realizing how wrong he'd been for hurting Kai - Shintaro turned to watch where he was going. Abby noticed his frown and squeezed his hand again, but he didn't look down at her. 

As they walked, Shintaro's rage against Brethren and the other Darks built up in his chest, turning into a boiling fury. He was angry that he'd led Brethren escape so easily, that he'd let Brethren take Kai away so easily, that he hadn't been able to put him back yet, and that no matter what Shintaro did, he was always under Brethren. 

Shintaro began to realize just how right Cynthia had been. 

They were not staying there for very long. 

~

Two chapters in one day!!! 

This makes me really happy, as it always does. 

It makes me feel so accomplished and IM SO HAPPY!!!

Thank you all for reading!! I still can't believe I'm already finished with this book... 

I can't tell if it's going to be longer or shorter than the other two books...

Well, even if it is..

WHATEVER.

P3ac3!!!~~~~