I sit down next to the fire trying to keep James calm. I would rather travel to where we are suppose to go but I know James. Instead of allowing the problems to grow, we will just humor them. Hugo stands behind Lomie as Cameron starts to make soup. Elizabeth looks at me as I start to feel chills go down from my spine. I shift uncomfortably as I notice James calm down slightly. I look at Lomie and then at Hugo. “So… are you two actually twins?” Lomie pauses and laughs at me.

“Me and Hugo? Of course not. I found him wandering deep within the forest one day and he hasn’t left my side.” Hugo looks into the forest for a second and then back at Lomie. “That was a couple of years ago and now we are the best of friends.” He smirks looking at Elizabeth who looks annoyed at the stare. Cameron starts to pass around the around the soup in bowls. I take my bowl and start to eat it. I have to give it to Cameron. He does know how to cook soup.

“So if I understand this correctly, basically Hugo and Elizabeth show off their skills and Lomie steals from people?” Elizabeth frowns turning away to eat her soup. Cameron pauses and sighs.

“Unfortunately yes. Where we came from originally, we use to just do shows and people paid us. Now we can’t take any risks.” I look confused as he studies the fire. “What happened last year changed a lot of people.” James looks over at him.

“What happened last year? A lot of us this far West didn’t hear a lot. All we know that the military fell that’s it.” Lomie starts to laugh for a second.

“Oh yea. The military was almost destroyed by a demon. Monsters walked the land. It was going to shit. Last time we heard some lord or something took total control of the military.” James rolls his eyes.

“Demons aren’t real.” We notice that they don’t say anything for a second and James continues. “They made the Church of the Brothers at fault.” Elizabeth pauses and looks back at James confused. Cameron stands up going back for more soup. Lomie starts to laugh again.

“Good. Maybe they will stop trying to knock off all us mages.”

“Not all of them are bad.” I say slightly glaring at him. Elizabeth looks back away as Cameron offers more soup to everyone. Cameron stops in front of us and sits down.

“So.. We haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I am Cameron.” He points to everyone naming them. “And who might you two be?” James frowns annoyed at them.

“I am James. She is Ash.” I huff slightly at James holding my hand out to Cameron.

“My name is Ashley. Nice to meet you.” Cameron takes my hand and shakes it.

“A lady. Well I am glad we ran into each other.” He lets go of my hand. “So did you follow us all the way here for the needle or were you heading this way?” I pause for a second.

“Um… yes and no. I think we were heading this way anyway.” James looks at him slightly annoyed.

“We are heading to Chord. It’s our home town.” I pause slightly looking at him. I have to keep reminding him that we aren’t staying at home for long. Cameron makes a face for a second and holds up a small pouch. He tosses it to James. James catches it looking confused. “What’s this?”

“That is causing you so much trouble.” James smiles counting his newly obtained money. Cameron smiles happily looking at me.

“I think we can help each other out.” I look at Cameron already excepting something like this.

“Oh really. How?’ Cameron stands up offering me more food.

“We need a new act and I think you would be perfect.” James starts to laugh for a second.

“Fat chance I would join this poor excuse of a circus.” Lomie appears behind us.

“Think about it boy. All you have to do is a little magic and poof you get money. Not a bad deal.” Cameron shoots Lomie a look.

“I was thinking more of protection. The way you are heading is dangerous and we happen to be heading that way.” James snorts at the comment but I become concerned.

“How dangerous?” Lomie reappears next to Hugo. Cameron slightly smirks.

“Apparently a few bandits gangs and a Monster has been roaming that area. I just think it would benefit all of us to work together. You travel with us and we all protect each other.” James rolls his eyes and looks at me.

“I can handle..” He stops as he looks at me. I am clenching his shirt looking really worried. He sighs and looks at Cameron.

“Fine.” Cameron smiles happy.

“Excellent. In the morning, we will assign you eachother roles and practice together.

“... I’m sorry James..” He turns to me with a smile on his face. He is trying to hide his annoyance with me. He pats my head as he shakes his head.

“It’s fine Ash. Come on and let's go to bed.” He messes up my hair as he goes over to Cameron. I frown trying to fix my hair. Cameron shows James where we will be sleeping. I follow them as I notice Elizabeth staring at me. I get chills down my spine but shake it them off. James lays down and gives me the blanket. I give him a weird look but he soon asleep. I poke him a few times to see if he is still asleep. While he is asleep, I look at his hand and see the wound finally healing. I sigh looking at him.

“Please stop being so dangerous. You might think no one cares about you.. but I do.” He shifts slightly and I feel my cheeks get warm. I quickly cover myself in the blanket and pretend to sleep. As I start to feel myself drift away, the weird feeling returns. I try to fight it but I get swept away in it.

I walk through my winter home smirking from another successful hunt. Those trolls never stood a chance. I head over to one of my favorite hot springs. Once there, I undress fully entering the water. My muscles slowly begin to relax as I close my eyes enjoying the heat. After a moment, I look into the water to study this new body. It’s somewhat annoying always trying to get use to a new set of facial features. I stand up stretching my body out as I hear a branch snaps behind me. I pretend not to hear for a moment before the person stumbles into view. I rush from the water pinning the man to the ground.

“Who dares approach me?” I say through clenched teeth.

“I didn’t know you would miss me that much..” I pause confused and look at the man. He looks similar but his hair is far to light and skin too dark. The man has a full light blonde bread. I get off him glaring at him and slowly circle him.

“Who are you?” He sits up obviously checking me out. I stomp causing a small crater to form. He looks up at my face standing up.

“Alexander.” I pause frowning for a second remembering all those months ago.

“You didn’t..” I quickly look around and slowly smirk realizing that he failed. “I knew you couldn’t do it. At least you have the guts to come back and tell me.” He shakes his head smiling.

“Actually I did it. I am now the most dangerous beast in all of the lands.” I slowly start to chuckle turning it into a full laugh. I hold my sides as they begin to hurt. He waits for me to stop. “Maybe you need to put on some clothes. It would be a shame for someone to come see your perfect body.” I stop punching him into a tree. He hits it with a loud crack. “I think you might have broken a rib..” I angrily smile.

“Good.” I walk back to the springs putting back on my clothes. I walk back over to him as he stands up holding his ribs. “Explain to me how you are the most dangerous beast in all of the lands.” He looks at me.

“I trapped the old one.” I pause giving him an annoyed look.

“Are you an idiot? One-I don’t believe you. Secondly told you to bring the head of it to me. You failed.” He shakes his head no.

“What happens when the most dangerous beat in all the lands dies or leaves? Who takes it place? The thing that caused it to leave right?” I frown.

“Yes but..” He cuts me off.

“That would mean that the most dangerous beast in all the lands would be the thing that caused that beast to disappear. Which would be me.” He smiles happy at me thinking he won. I glare at him working through his logic.

“Yes but..” He cuts me off again.

“The way of the monsters states..” I cut him off angrily.

“Okay fine! But that doesn’t mean you actually did it.” He leans against the tree smiling.

“You are the God of the Northern Mountains. Just feel or whatever you can do to see if I am lying.” I shift my shoulders staring at him.

“Go ahead and say that you are the most dangerous beast in all the lands.” He smiles happy.

“I am the most dangerous beast in all the lands.” I walk over to him trapping him between my hands. I begin to sniff his body. I lick his neck slowly realize that he isn’t lying. Impossible. Humans always give off scents to show that they are lying. I look at him and his face is somewhat red. I slowly step back filling fear slowly creep in.

“Impossible..” He smiles happy realizing that I know the truth. I slowly see an aura around him. Something I would have never picked up before.

“See I told you. So now our deal?” I frown realizing my words are binding. I swallow my fear as a low deep growl comes from my chest. I take my frustrations out on a nearby tree. I try to cover for the fact that I do feel some fear for this man.

“What do you want?” I glare at him angrily. He shrugs and holds out his hand.

“I want you to come with me.” I pause confused looking at him.

“Explain.”

“I just want you to travel with me for a while.” I glare at him. This idiot is passing up so many things for just for me to travel with him. I slowly take his hand and shake it.

“... Deal. But this is a huge waste of our deal.” He smirks and he lets go.

“I don’t think so.. Ready to start?” I pause looking a little surprised.

“I guess? But I have a question.. How did you know it was me?” He looks at me for a second rubbing his beard shrugging.

“I can always tell when it’s you.”

I slowly wake up when I feel one of my shackles being taken off. I slowly lift my head seeing one of my brothers.

“We are using you my Sister.” I have barely strength left to fight back.

“Leave me… alone…” I say as he takes off the rest of my shackles. I fall to the ground and try to slowly crawl to the door. He picks me up and carries me from the room. Once out of the room, I feel my normal connection to Lupa. However, I feel another connection this time. I try to grasp onto Lupa’s connection but something is preventing me from doing it. I am brought outside when I fall back to unconscious.