Erza wasn't giving up on her idea to test the extent of Zeke's ability. She decided to just spring it on him at some point. Curiosity may have killed the proverbial cat, but Erza knew the rest of the phrase--the part nobody seemed to remember--'...and satisfaction brought it back.' She figured that's why cats had nine lives to begin with, and she was only on her first.

With a canary-eating grin, she trudged after her shambling men into the crevice. She heard Zeke's confession and discounted it as either untrue or an accident. From what she'd seen in the week she'd known him, he would never hurt his sisters on purpose. He often put himself in harm's way just to save them from a bit of discomfort. A man like that could not possibly kill his sibling.

Of course, that's what everyone said about her father...

She shook the thought away, reminding herself of Zeke's humanity. The Madness wouldn't turn him into a raging psychopath. He was human. He didn't have the Madness in him.

"He's a good man, that Zeke," Vladimir murmured behind her. She glanced over her shoulder careful not to bobble the litter they carried.

"You could do worse; that's all I'm saying," he said with a shrug.

"I don't have time for such nonsense," she said, turning back to watch where she walked. It would just be her luck to smack into a wall.

"You're drawn to him. You feel the sizzle in your blood, don't you?" Vladimir said, his voice low.

Erza's step faltered. She resisted the desperate urge to rub the spot over her heart when she glimpsed Zeke's broad back. Forcing herself forward, she shot a dark and embarrassed glance back at Vladimir.

"What do you know of it?" she asked quietly; curiosity overcoming her embarrassment.

"I saw my father and mother react to each other the way you and Zeke do," Vladimir replied, side-stepping a short stalagmite. His tone turned soft and wistful. "They said it was something only the Qikan felt and only for their mate. I don't really know the details, but they said that those who feel it in their blood will have a happy marriage and strong children. They could have been romanticizing it for the child I was, but I never saw them argue. Theirs was a joyful union."

"So, what, our perfect mates are chosen for us by fate?" Erza spat. She heard the disgust dripping from her own tone. Good. That's exactly how I feel about this 'love' bullshit. She thought bitterly.

"Do you ever wonder why we are named for animals?" Vladimir queried.

She had wondered and had never been given a satisfactory answer to her questions. She nodded silently but didn't turn. She didn't know if she could watch his face as he spoke about that myth called 'love.'

"Because for us, some things are pure instinct, and animals trust their instincts for a reason. Now, I'm not one to promote the humans' 'love-at-first-sight' garbage, but we're different. We aren't human. In disposition, physiology, and mentality, our race is closer to the animal kingdom than humans, so who knows how we are supposed to choose our mates?" he answered.

"First it's Fate, now it's instinct," Erza muttered, darting a glance at the group ahead. She didn't want anyone hearing their conversation. She couldn't live with the shame.

"Yes, I react to Zeke. I'll admit that--but Zeke has never once showed a reaction to me," she hissed back at the intrusive butler.

"You just haven't noticed his reactions. You either weren't there or were asleep. I have to hand it to the boy; he's good at hiding what he's really feeling. Maybe Roderick gave him lessons, and we just didn't know it?" Vladimir said; a smug note entering his voice.

Erza spotted a rock resting on a small rise of stone. After a quick calculation, her foot snapped forward kicking it. The small stone bounced off the wall. She ducked allowing the flying object to sail behind her. She heard it smack into something. The "something" grunted. She craned her neck to view her handiwork.

Vladimir balanced the litter between one hand and his hip. He glared at her as he rubbed at a red bump in the middle of his forehead. She chuckled and returned to their conversation.

"What do you mean, I haven't noticed? I would have noticed if a man found me attractive," she said, feeling better after having performed the small, but rebellious act.

"He worries about you whenever you aren't around. I've seen him do that chest-rub thing, the one you do when you think others aren't looking. Then he stares at his hand as if it belongs to someone else. It's quite amusing," he snickered before continuing.

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"While we were airborne, he took advantage of your generous offer. He asked each of the Warriors and me questions regarding everything under the sun. History in general, our culture, and our roles in history-- but mostly, he asked us about you. He wanted to know your favorite foods, flowers, books, all sorts of bits and bobs. He only requested such information if it pertained to you. He didn't care about the rest of us, and," Vladimir stressed the word, "he would look at you and rub his chest every time you were mentioned. After a while, the guys and I took a bet to see how often we could get him to do it. We still haven't settled it," he finished, petulance coloring his tone.

"Really? Why didn't any of you tell me this before?" Erza demanded, wondering exactly what her warriors had told the scholar about her. She feared what the answer might be. I may need to kick some asses when we get home. I need to re-educate the boys on how to respect my privacy and on how not to share with others, she thought.

"We were busy trying to survive the pace that madwoman set for us," Vladimir said. The words were harsh. However, his voice held amusement, and a large dose of respect for their crystal-tracker.

"Okay, I'll accept that as a viable excuse," she said, wincing at the memory of all the rocks she'd had to empty out of her boots. "So, you think that because Zeke and I react to each other in a physical manner, we should get married, jump in bed, and become mates? Tell me again, how long have we known these people?" Erza was getting annoyed at the never-ending discussion of her loveless life.

"What better way to know a man's character, than to put him in a life-and-death situation, and see how he fares? Will he act the coward and flee, or the traitor and give us to the enemy? Or will he become the hero, grab your hand, and lead you safely through the dangers you face? Then, take into account how he handled himself after the situation ended. Will he become the overbearing protector, the puffed up braggart, or the humble knight?" Vladimir asked; his voice taking on the tones of a feeble old sage.

Erza didn't reply to the ancient butler's sage wisdom. Sometimes, he sounded older than their four-hundred-odd years. At such times, she found him extremely annoying.

"I'm going to say this while your hands are full. Otherwise, you'd skewer me without a bit of hesitation. If you die, what happens to our race? We would scatter and die out without a ruler to lead us," he said.

"I'm not the Regina anymore, and look, nobody's scattered to the four winds," she said, ducking a low point in the cave ceiling.

"The rest of our people probably don't know that yet. Besides, here you are, commanding us, leading us. Kind of like a Regina," Vladimir said.

Erza ignored him. Honestly? She didn't want to retain the title. She was never allowed to be Erza; just the Regina. Four hundred years and she didn't even know what foods she preferred.

"Prue! Emmy! Thank God you're okay!" Zeke cried as Jo raced ahead to embrace her sisters. Erza wondered what it felt like to be hugged like that.

Just like that? Or a little more passionately...by Zeke? Erza froze, searching the room for the owner of the strange voice. The only ones there were members of her party. No one seemed to notice the new voice. They all continued talking and studying the cavern. It's just my imagination, she thought.

Really? I'm finally able to talk to you, and you pass me off as your imagination? Damn. Some twin you are. See if I remember your birthday this year.

Twin? Erza thought, shocked. Could her younger self actually be talking to her?

Duh. Who else would be in your head like this? The woman said.

D-do you have a name? Erza stuttered tentatively. She didn't know if she liked being able to talk to herself.

You can call me Rin. It's so nice to finally talk to you!

Wait, I thought you were around six years old, but you sound older.

I was stuck that way for a long time, but I saw your mate and wanted to make sure he was good enough for you. I started to mature rapidly at that point. I'm only a little younger than you, now, Rin said.

My mate? What are you talking about? Erza asked, annoyed. Why was everyone insisting she have a love life?

No time to explain. The siblings are arguing about something; it sounds important.

Oh, what now? Erza sighed and tuned in to the fighting around her.

"Are you nuts? None of us have had a decent night's sleep in over a week. We're exhausted! Jo's tapped out. I'm close to it from energizing her. Lucius still isn't awake, and we have no idea what's on the other side of that door!" Zeke yelled, gesturing wildly to the large stone slab before them.

"Answers are on the other side, Zeke! For all of us! Don't you want to find the answers?" Prue pleaded, staggering to his side.

Erza inspected the group, catching signs hidden earlier. The women's cheeks were pinched and pale. Faolan rested nearby with his head hanging low as Vladimir and Roderick worked over Lucius. Their movements were slow, stilted. Erza felt the burn in her own muscles and understood their fatigue.

"Zeke is right," she said. "We need to regain our strength. Whatever answers lie beyond that door can wait a day to two. Relax, folks. We aren't going anywhere for a while."

Prue's face fell, not in chagrin, but in disappointment. She didn't argue further, however. One didn't argue when the queen gave an order.