“Seems like you like meeting me in my dreams.”

He turned around and faced the familiar wolfsbane and Zen.

He shrugged. “I guess I just can’t get enough of you. But seriously what were you thinking!”

“Don’t read me the riot act! I didn’t know alright? I thought I was fine but the crystal soother did something to Ishevara. She is still not well and will need absolute rest. I will not awake for two days or a month and a half if I’m left here, which Ishevara says would be best since she can rest for a month’s time in two days.”

“I won’t see you for a month and a half!”

“Two days waterboy. For you, it’ll be two days unless you intend to spend the time before war cuddling against me and while that is sweet, that is also wasteful of your time. You need to get a handle on your new abilities for the war.”

“I was training Edline and Marco to teleport elementally. In case of trouble, they could go anywhere else using their elements.”

“Good, keep doing that and we’ll see each other before you know it.”

“Zen, I don’t think these are your dreams. I think this is your mind space, something like what Marco and I have. It isn’t impossible. We are both part travelers and you're stronger than me it seems.”

“Hmm, so you could see my memories here like you saw my rape?”

“Only if you let me.”

“I didn’t want you to see that!”

“You might still have some trouble controlling your mind. I know I did when I first started creating my mind space.”

“Why the wolfsbane garden?

“I guess it represents you most. A dangerous beauty.”

Zen blushed and walked closer til she was an arm’s length from him.

“Tell my brother not to worry. I’ll be out before he takes the antitoxin to the Guerreros. By then I should be fine to do more time shifting. I’ll be encased in my light cocoon so it might look a little weird.”

He opened his arms and she fell into them wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You are so troublesome Zen Amargarita,”

“I know.”

He kissed her softly. She pulled him closer, deepening it. They pulled apart gazing at one another before she grinned and kissed him again then backed off. “For good luck, go!”

“Bye princess,” he waved and disappeared.

“Princess? Hmm, I kind of like it.”

###

Stephan opened his eyes and watched as a cocoon of bright light encased Zen’s sleeping body. So that’s what she meant by a cocoon. Guess I’ll have to wait for the butterfly to come out then.

He stood and reigned in his acid, putting his hands over the cocoon and feeling its silky texture. It was diamond-bright and glowed a pulsing white.

“Sleep well Zen.”

“Whoah! Hey! What is that,” cried Torguga as he came to check on Zen.

“That’s her, recovering from an idiocy she did to herself. I have to talk to Isaias. Is he around?”

“Yeah, boss man is in the lab. I’ll go get him for you.”

“Thanks,” he said, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.

Tortuga hurried to the lab and got Isaias just as Stephan stepped back into the main corridor.

“What’s up Pirate boy?” he said walking over.

Stephan sighed. “Zen is going to be out for a month and a half at most. She’s in a restorative sleep right now and is covered in some kind of cocoon. Anyway, Ishevara isn’t right and needs to rest so they are out for two days or a month and a half here.”

“But she’s safe? She won’t be harmed or anything?”

“No, just sleep, a deep sleep.”

Isaias sighed and patted Stephan on the back. “Thanks, man. I’ll have Tortuga drive you down to Carmelo’s then. Unless you know about poisons?”

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“Nope, but Kiera should be done with her research. I’ll ask her to come down here. She’ll probably bring Layna and Senka. Those three are glued at the hips these days.”

“I’ll be glad for Layna, another scientist but what could Senka possibly do around here?”

“Knowing him? He’ll train your men in something.”

Isaias smirked. “They could use some remedial form of boot camp for this war. As you can guess, under Luis some have become complacent. Not lazy per se but complacent. I need to train them up and Senka could be just what we need right now.”

“I’ll get them then. Have any acid on you?”

“Tons, why?”

“I need a little to try something. You might want to stand back though.”

Isaias nodded, bringing him some acid. He watched as his water became a blazing inferno as Stephan dipped his fingers in the acid. It was like water to him. Smirking, he saluted and disappeared.

Isaias grinned. He wasn’t the only one with new abilities it seemed. He got back to the lab trusting his sister would be alright.

###

Garrette looked as his Legion of fighters was assembled. He had worked tirelessly for many years to get what he truly wanted. Now he would seize the day. Carpe Diem. He looked over to his youngest commander. He had risen to his position in five short years but he was the best at what he did. Ruthless.

“Are you sure you can handle this Ricardo?”

“Yes, my liege. What happened was five years past. I have no bonds with them anymore.”

“Very well you and Yolinda will command the Legion 1,000 men and women at your disposal.”

“Tell me what scared you that day Ricardo?”

“Sir! A thirteen-year-old was haphazardly playing with an innocent life! A little bird had fallen from its roost and died. She had been sympathetic and with her new powers revived the bird but then I saw it! The way she absorbed its soul to get stronger over and over! I knew then what had happened to Yuresa. The little monster had killed her sister and absorbed her power to gain more strength when she was younger. I alone saw the monster she would become! My child! I knew then she had to be destroyed. I managed to trap those abilities deep within her but if the crystal reacts to her I didn’t do a well enough job. Her Galactical powers are beyond destructive.”

“And the boy?”

“He never showed signs of power but my own shadow elemental abilities, but they are twins. It could be that his are just taking later to form.”

“I see. Well your brother is alive as well and back with your family”

“A family of traitors, except for my son, they all turned their backs on me.”

“If we could capture your son and erase his memories of the others...would that suit you?”

“Yes sir!”

“Very well then I’ll give the order not to harm Isaias.”

Ricardo smiled. “Thank you sir. What is your will?”

“Bring me the girl alive and in one piece. We need to get the crystal. After that, she is to be used as a breeding stock for a new army. Her genes are impeccable.”

Ricardo grinned. “As you wish my liege.”

###

D’Angelo’s dark eyes took in his forces marshaling and moving to and from the airplanes. They were going to meet Cecile’s forces and plan a strategy for Bernado and Carmelo. They were aware that both Bernado and Carmelo had better-trained forces. Part of Vasquez’s deal was to trade training secrets with one another and to trade troops to be trained in different terrains and cultures. Looks like that deal went down the drain with this war. Then again it isn’t Don Vasquez’s war. It’s that snake’s war. Why am I even trusting a woman who put her own husband in a coma and is keeping him there?

He crossed his arms and thought of Zen then shrugged. Men had gone to war for women before. He turned to the window and kept watching his army load the planes. The weapons and heavy artillery would be flown a few hours after them.

“What are you doing D’Angelo? I demand you stop this at once!”

D’Angelo sighed and turned to his father. He was a balding man impeccably dressed, in a wheelchair. What could he do?

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that father. You want the crystal don’t you?”

“Not at the cost of my men! Leave it be. We can get it somehow else. We just have to be sneaky, that's all.”

D’Angelo ran his hand through his shoulder-length hair and noted its length. “Father the crystal is protected by two Dons. I’m afraid war is the only possible outcome. Cecile has joined her forces to mine.”

“Cecile? What happened to Kiko?”

“He was hospitalized. She assures me this is what he wanted as well.”

“As long as I’ve known Kiko he has never voted for violence of this caliber. This is her machination at hand. You better pull back before Vasquez wakes and finds himself in the middle of a war he didn’t sanction.”

“There’s no chance of that happening,” muttered D’Angelo as he walked from the window to grab his coat.

“D’Angelo! Son, pull back!”

“It’s too late for that dad. The first plane just left.”

###

Cecile took Kiko’s hand.

“Mi amor lo ago por nosotros. Entiendeme por favor.”(My love I do it for us. Please understand me.)

“Abuela? Abuelo va a estar bien?” (Grandma? Is grandpa going to be alright?)

Cecile looked into the green eyes of her granddaughter and nodded. “Va despertar pronto, lo veras.”( He’s going to awaken soon. You’ll see.)

Mariposa nodded and climbed to sit by her grandpa’s side. She kissed his cheek “Que te mejoren los angelitos, abuelito!” May the angels heal you, Grandpa!)

Cecil smiled and picked up her granddaughter from the bed.“Vamos, tengo muchas cosas por hacer.” (Come on, I have many things to do.)

They left the hospital and Cecil was commed.

“El primer avión llegará en una hora,”(The first plane arrives in one hour) D’Angelo said.

Cecile smiled. “De acuerdo.”(Good)

Ahora si descarada, me las vas a pagar! (Now you wretched girl, you are finally going to pay)