"Princess Lyne." She heard someone call for the second time as she sat by the riverside on a rock. The sun was lazily feeding on the ground and if she guessed right, it was still very early. 

"I'm here." She answered, not looking back.

"Hey. I'm sorry to disturb you, your highness, but I noticed you needed someone to talk to." 

The caller came closer and sat beside her. It was Amber. She wore an ankle-length black gown with a white apron around her waist.

She beamed. "You're right. I'm just down."

"I should have known. You must be going through a lot." Amber added, gesturing towards her waist. "Princess, trying to be strong or striving to be strong isn't going to be evidence of strength. Power is found amid weakness. To be strong is to achieve something at a point when there is no iota of strength. To be bold is to keep moving despite fear." 

"I'm not expecting to be strong overnight." She said honestly and was picturing her child running around the temple with her parents in the ramshackle temple that would eventually be rebuilt after apprehending the Spanish Ninja. She smiled. "I'm trying to be, for my child."

"You'll be strong." Amber sighed, staring at her critically.

"But are you up to the hurdles?"

"I'll manage." She promised. "I've been through up and down, through the toughest times, I'm sure this would be a breeze. Besides, it will be a platform to learn."

"You might get lost in the heat."

"And I'll make the burns my friend." She said. "I've fought a lot of enemies, the Werecats are nothing. By enemies, I mean my siblings."

"You mean, home?" Amber murmured with a smile.

"Are you okay?" Lyne asked as she touched her arm. "Are you sure you won't get into trouble coming here?"

"King Zeidan is usually flexible in his judgment. He won't give me a harsh punishment." They both laughed.

"If there is one thing I want to advise you, it is to listen to everyone and be safe. We need you alive more than any other thing."

"We?"

"Chloe, me, the King, your family, and more importantly, your Mom." Amber rose.

This was something she should have known before that her disobedience would cost a price but was it worth losing the happiness of these people Amber had mentioned? She was scared, really, but she won't let fear overcome her. 

"Amber?"

The woman stopped and looked back. 

"Yes?"

"I'll leave but only after fighting to my satisfaction. I mean, Shelbrooke must be dead by then."

"Whatever it is, Princess, be careful." She smiled. "And lest I forget, once you're healed, let me know. We have to train you."

"I'm not an inch close to healing." She opened up the wound again and showed the woman before her who came closer and placed a hand on it. "What are you doing?"

A green light emanated from her palm, seeping through the wound. It began to burn, right from the inside and she was screaming already before she could decide to ask what was going on. It was biting but then it was soothing later on. 

She was still breathing raggedly when Amber straightened. 

"There." She said gently and Lyne looked down, sweating profusely but something else was dripping. Clean smooth skin with no trace of a wound.

"Amber." She called, scared.

"That's my power. It had lots of history behind it. I was part of the confined Vampires that were just initiated and I used my powers for lots of things. For damage and all sort."

"That..."

"I'll just leave." She went away, leaving her to her thoughts and surprise but now that she is healed, it is the best time to train or to find out more about Maya.

"Amber, wait."

The other woman stopped in her tracks and looked back. Her eyes expectant.

"What is that?" 

"Can you follow me to the temple?"

★★★★★★★★★★

Lyne walked in with Amber falling behind her, with trepidation. She scanned the dark room and stepped in through the hallway, her focus on the altar that had a stream of sunlight beaming through the torn roof. All her actions were done with care. Soon, they got to the altar room, everywhere silent. 

"What are we doing here?" Amber asked quietly, face worrisome.

"To finish what I started." 

"Finish what you...what the heck is going on?" 

"Shhhh!" Lyne shut her up gently, stretching her arm to stop Amber from reacting. "I don't think she is here."

"Who is here? Princess, we've got to go. This place isn't safe for us."

She began to leave when a sword went past her face, which she barely escaped till it struck the wall behind them.

"The fuck is that?"

"I didn't know I've got guests." They heard a confident voice through the enclosed roof and as they looked up, they could see a cloaked figure looking down on them.

"Guests who have come to finish off deals!" Lyne replied sharply.

The Spanish Ninja laughed throatily before jumping down to face them. 

"What kinda deals did we make, mi amigo?" 

Amber arched a brow and Lyne knew she was oblivious of everything going on.

"I just want you to train me using this woman. She killed my mother."

"Oh my god!" The other woman stepped back. 

"I killed your mother because their people were responsible for my son's death!" The purple eyes woman squealed and she could see the pain in her eyes.

"Chloe promised to let you go if you spare my life. Why?"

"Those were lies! Chloe is still after my life. She wants to kill me."

But how? Hadn't Chloe said so in her presence that she had forgiven her? 

"Chloe had forgiven you if though I haven't."

"I don't expect you to, which is why I don't plan to spare your life. But only if you cross my path. However, Chloe is not backing out. She still wants to avenge her sister's death!"

"Hold up!" It was Amber. "Chloe...Princess Lyne's Mom is Chloe's sister?"

"Chloe is my Aunt."

"But how?!"

"It's a long story. But I've got another deal to strike, Spanish Ninja."

"My name is Maya." She proposed, eyes fixed on her.

"Maya, stay away from us as far as you can and you can be assured of being free from Chloe's wrath. The next time we cross paths, it's going to be bloody."

But then, she remembered Zeidan's story about the Onyx's mystery and decided to ask. 

"Maya?" She called and she paused, her cloak sweeping the dirty floor. "I have tons of questions to ask you."

The other woman turned squarely, facing her. "Whatever question you need answers to, ask Chloe."

As she turned to go, Lyne yelled behind her.

"It's about the Onyx!"

As if she had just pricked her most sensitive part, she paused.