Chapter 18
                ~Extraction Complete, Samita: The Ultimate Weapon!

     Something tight burned against my wrists and ankles as I squirmed as much as I could to wiggle out of the chains.

"Come now my nephew......just co-operate, it won't hurt as much if you don't."

"Why are you doing this!"

      I admit, I am scared out of my mind. I frantically tried to grasped the cuffs so I could just burn enough to fit my wrist through, I still had power, I have a chance to escape no? I struggled against the chance, pulling on them with such power, you'd only recieve if you were in my position.

"Power, Control.......to start a War my dear nephew. Samita here possess the power of the council, immortal if you will......She's indestructible. Now all that's needed is Winter.'

'But you haven't yet to possess Vladimir.'

"Oh yes I have, but since he's a immortal creature he revived......why do you think Drake died."

     Horror struck me. He chuckled.

"Preperation's are complete, commence operation."

     A green shield covered at least nine to ten staues circling around me.

     Nero stood behind a machine and I just pulled the chains from my wrist. I bolted forward but bounced back. I groaned and noticed a dark circle on the ground.

"NO!"

"Dark circle rise to level two, commence power drainage!"

     The light grew brighter and I blocked my eyes. A ringing in my ear sent me to my knees in pain.

DREN! Winter shouted.

     I clasped my hands over my ears.

"Winter! Run!"

I cannot Dren! You are the only vessel now, my resistance is futile and puts you in a terrible dilemma! She answered sadly, and with a hint of horror.

     I groaned in pain and fell into the ground and curled up in a fetal position.

"KENNETH!!!!"

     I cried.

"Come on! We don't have much time!"

       Inferno shouted over Aerial's wind. Aquarius jumped out of the water like a dolphin and plunged back into it.......Aquamarine was running on top. Jade travelled through the forest on the back of a wolf. Snow rode on Torch with Inferno. Carrie ran through the words faster then eveyone else.

"Inferno, I'm loosing him!"

       Inferno didn't want to admit it, but he was loosing connect with his son as well. He bit his bottom lip and gripped tightly onto Torch's firey feathers.

Ouch! Inferno get a hold of yourself! Torch shouted.

"I cannot...........can you not remember the pain? Torch......you were weakened too much it took you my son's enitre life to recover...... I almost died! I cannot let Dren go through that."

I understand Inferno........  Torch spoke, defeated.

"Inferno! Straight ahead! I can feel Nero's aura!"

      Inferno nodded and kicked the side of Torch.

I'm not a horse Inferno...... Torch muttered cruelly under his breath.

"Dren.......hold on my boy."

"Damn kid.......he has more spunk then I thought. Dark Circle rise to level three.....commence power recieving."

       I cried out and Winter cried.

"WINTER!"

Dren.......I'm so sorry...... She whispered......I felt her starting to leave me.

"No.......Winter...don't go.....you're all I have left from mom.....WINTER NO!"

      But the end of my plea, it turned to a scream from pain. I slowly looked to Samita who lied in the bed and was glowing blue.....Nero was giving her Winter.

"Dark circle, rise to level four........open the gate of pain. Commence"

      Then it struck me like a bullet to the skull. I grabbed my head and cried out while stumbling back.

Dren....... Winter whispered, as weak as myself. 

      I could barely hear her over my cries of terror. Samita stirred and Nero soothed her by stroking her hair.

"There there Samita......the pain will not hurt you. You'll be complete soon."  He then looked to me. "Dark Circle rise to level five........extraction of the creature commence."

Dren.........I'm sorry........ Winter spoke silently, like she was fading. Her powers wer forced out of me, the pain was too much but I couldn't get a sound out.

"Finally......Darkos I bring you forth, obtain Winter!"

"Winter........"  I mumbled through pain  "Fight for yourself.....last long enough for me to gain enough power to be your vessel once more."

Dren.......what if you cannot? I-----  She began, my small weak chuckled silenced her.

"Come on Winter.......do you not know me? I'm the son of the ice mage and the fire mage and the vessel to you.......I'm not letting you go......not for long......"

       I fell backwards. Winter completely leaving me.......as well as the power she had stored in my body......the pain was almost unbearble, I was surprised i was still alive.

"The pain............too......much."

"Dren!"

        The whole council  stared in shock just in time to see Dren collaspe on the ground, not moving and possibly not breathing. Inferno stared  with wide eyes and ran to him.

"Dren!"

        He called out while kneeling next to him and taking his arm, searching rapidly for a pulse.

"No.....no this cannot be happening.....Dren no....."

       Inferno brought Dren close to him and rocked back and forth a little. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he sniffed while smudging the tears from his eyes. Jade stood behind him and shook her head.

"I'm sorry Inferno.....the extraction was different then ours. Nero never wanted him alive, he feared Dren and wanted him out of the picture....."

       Dren stirs in Inferno's arms shocked both of them. Dren groaned and opened his eyes in slits. Inferno pushed his black hair from his face and rested his hand on his cheek.

"Ken----"

"Dren, when is this going to work? Call me dad, it's not going to kill you."

"Dad.........Winter.....I messed up. I got caught and she was taken from me."

        I felt my eyes widen as Inferno held me close in a hug, pullng his closer and resting his head on my shoulder.

"Right now, I don't care about Winter.......i'm just glad you're alive."

"Samita......where is she?"

        Our eyes searched the building for her. My eyes paused at Nero who was growling.

"How are you alive...."

"She was passed onto me......it sure hurt like hell...." Still does, I thought  "But the extraction cannot kill me."

"No matter.......Darkos, tame Winter! Samita must be completed."

       A sickening thought struck me.

"We have to destroy Samita......."

"What do you mean?"

"Nero going to use her to start a war........the council's powers will be washed with blood if we do not do something quick."

      I heard something growl and I looked up to see a tiger in the room and Darkos trying to tame it. Winter told me she could change her form. She was fighting strong and stalling for time, she was doing what I told her to do.

"Good job Winter."

       I escaped Kenneth's arms and stood, I squeezed the crystal and brought my hand back, the beautifull forged double-edged scythe. I stabbed it to the ground in order to gain balance.

"Dren, you cannot fight."

"This is my fault! I have to fix it."

"Well, you're not doing it alone."

     I smiled and then gasped in pain as my body exploded with more pain.

Dren! Winter shouted. She then cried out on her own. My gaze looked at her as she took for of a human and fell to the ground. She dispersed into glowing blue and went to the wrong person, I could tell she wanted to tell me sorry once more. Nero chuckled.

"Masked Council, I pronounce you your new enemy, Samita: The Ultimate Creature."