"Get your filthy hands off me!"

I heard her long before I saw her. I cut my skimmer's engine and left it as Snipe's cry of pain echoed through the surrounding, sun-lit forest. The crack of wood over his thick skull met my ears. It brought a smile to my face.

"They're failures," Master Cyclonis had hissed as she stood at her dark machine that morning. "We took Terra Amythia days ago and yet Snipe and even Ravess are unable to capture the one person I need from it. You, go. Secure the girl and bring her back. Alive, Dark Ace."

Readying my weapon I strolled through the brush. High above, smoke billowed over the canopy where some buildings of the town still smouldered as they slowly turned to ash. The young and useful had already been rounded up and brought back to be put to work and begin training as talons. A few still remained in hiding on the terra along with the girl Cyclonis desired. A second cry of pain. I scowled at Snipe's insolence.

"If I may, Master." Bowing, I peaked at Cyclonis as she halted her work. "What's so special about this girl that a terra only known for useless jewels had to be invaded? Does she possess something?"

The young Master's giggle echoed through the cavernous room. "Oh, it's something she possess, alright. A power that rivals you, Ace. Even me. And I will Harness it. I won't allow another dark ruler to rise."

Another dark ruler. I came to a clearing with Snipe passed out amongst tall grasses that had been trampled and scorched with uprooted tree roots scoring the ground in various directions. Ravess' violin, with broken strings, lay next to her brother's battered, dirty body. I scanned the trees and sky. Nothing. Turning I checked the forest behind me before releasing a long, exhausted sigh. Shaking my head I strode past the burley, useless man to pass through the clearing and follow the trail of trampled grass into the forest on the other side. Another dark ruler?

The expression I must've made had Cyclonis turning on her seat to face me as she assured, "This world will be mine, Dark Ace. Make no mistake. I'm merely going to create another asset for us. Bring the girl back and we'll let her acclimatize to her new home. After a few days under your close watch - and no food or water - her spirit shall surely break and she will be mine."

"Who is this girl, Master?"

She waved me off. "Just some princess. Don't underestimate her as Snipe did, Ace. She's cunning. Intelligent. Gorgeous."

Cyclonis smiled. "My sources tell me she's an animal. Beautiful, and deadly."

"She sounds like my kind of woman. Consider her captured, Master Cyclonis."

"We'll see, Dark Ace. Now, go. I'm sure you'll find her easily enough."

A dainty, red handprint caught my eye. Bright and dripping against the white bark of a tree, I stepped closer. Dabbing my finger in the thick, red liquid I brushed it through my fingers before lifting my hand to my face. She'd been injured. Badly. A wound with that much blood would surely kill Cyclonis' target if left untreated. I stepped faster. Following not only the trampled grass, but also random handprints left behind on the branches and trunks grasped for support.

"Dammit, Snipe," I growled under my breath as the handprints grew indistinguishable.

I started jogging. Branches were broken. Blood prints became thick smears. Drips of blood speckled long blades of grass around more distinguishable footprints in softer ground where it appeared someone had fell. The blue of the sky appeared at the edge of the terra as I stopped to examine the spot. Placing my hand against the ground I found a thick patch of blood soaking the soil.

"Where did you go?"

Raising my head I glanced to my right followed by my left for any other signs. The trail stopped there. Could she have been picked up by another talon? She lost a lot of blood. In her weak state she could have went over the edge of the terra.

Raising myself to my feet I sighed. I had to at least find the body to prove I came for her. I wiped my hand over my thigh to rid it of the drying blood when the soft sound of sweeping fabric came from behind me. I turned. I glimpsed the branch and ducked too late. The force sent me flying. Landing hard in the dirt.

"I suppose I should be thanking you," a breathless, cold voice spoke. "You drones may have destroyed the terra, but you saved me from a fate far worse than death."

Groaning, I rolled to my knees, grasping my blade and activating the crystal. When I stood I froze at the sight of my prey. A gorgeous woman. No older than I, in a long dress sweeping behind her with a transparent, lace bodice. Black as night. Torn and shredded. The long lace sleeves had ripped showing the pale skin of her arms that it clung to while she held her hands tensely at her side.

Her face captured my eyes. Dark, golden hair fell in long waves from pins as her amethyst eyes shone. Glaring with hate. With strength. She held her head high as she stared down at me despite my stature above her. Framing her shoulders and the gown, what remained of a veil trailed behind her after being wrapped around her neck. Drops of blood dripped from it.

"So," I asked glancing at her hands stained red before scanning the rest of her body. "You fooled me. I'd never expect anyone to go to such gruesome measures just to fail in getting away from me."

A hint of a smile graced her delicate lips. She pressed her hand to her chest as her eyes captured mine.

"I'm sorry," she breathed as her smile disappeared.

Her eyes grew wide and exhausted as she hung her head. "I'm injured. I didn't know what to do."

Deactivating my weapon I tossed it back into its holster on my back. I stepped forward. She shied away with fearful eyes.

"Your wiles may have fooled Snipe but you'll find I'm much less gullible. Now, are you going to make this easy, or hard? I don't think your pretty dress will appreciate anymore damage and bride or not you're coming with me."

She backed herself up against a tree. She pulled her arms close to herself. Gripped a branch in fear as her eyes glistened with tears. She shook her head.

"Please." Her amethyst eyes gazed into mine pleadingly. "Cyclonis doesn't need anymore servants and I'm just a nobody. No one will miss me or attack you looking for me. I just want to get away from here and you'll never see me again."

I stepped closer. Taking her arm she flinched under my touch. She trembled.

"Perfect," I assured with a grin. "Away from here is exactly where I'm going to take you."

Her trembling stopped. The heat of her arm travelled beckoningly into my hand and when she raised her head, her eyes shone with defiance as a coy smile appeared on her face. She smelled of earth, the forest and flowers.

"You men are all the same."

Her hand slammed against my chest. My heart skipped as I clutched it before a mass of leaves swept between us. The branch struck. I hit the ground as a flare of black material swept into the darkness of the forest. Flipping back to my feet I watched as the tree we'd stood beneath returned to its natural position. The branch rose high into the air revealing the woman running as fast as she could into the shadows. Gritting my teeth I pursued.