--===Marcus's Power (16 of 16)===--
 
-===Marcus' Power===-
 
-=by Matrix=-
 
-=Chapter Sixteen=-
 
Marcus Williams was not a stupid boy. It took a little over two hours before
he would allow these new Knights into the house. The reason being, he wanted
his Knights, and himself, to do a complete mental scan on them before he let
them in. Needless to say, he found out they were indeed telling the truth.
 
This girl Kamren, she sparked a great fascination in him. She was by far, the
deadliest Knight he had encountered as of yet. Marcus had preformed the mental
scan on her himself. What he found out was a little surprising. It appeared
the Knights of KALIB were having a civil war of their own. So, Kamren was not
there for charity. She was there to help.... And to be helped. She wanted
something in return.
 
And that 'something' was something that Marcus was ready to agree to, that is,
if she helped him defeat The Zone. Kamren had a brother. He went by the name
of Damen. And from what Marcus read from the scan he did on Kamren, this Damen
was bad news. He was the power hungry type. He was sort of like the Knights in
New Mexico. Damen believed that the Knights should rule the world.
 
But that was not the part that worried Marcus. The part that worried Marcus
was the fact that Damen had taken just as many Knights to New Mexico as his
sister brought to him. Damen wanted an alliance with the Knights in New
Mexico. That worried Marcus.... That worried him a lot. Because he knew that
the war would be all that bigger. 

It took hours to get the Kamren's Knights settled down into base. The
tournament was delayed, of course. Delayed, but not canceled. Shain thought it
would be wise to show Marcus' Knights that he was more than capable of leading
them. Marcus saw merit in the idea.... But he was leery of it since he knew
that it would delay the conversation he wanted with Kamren. And he very much
wanted that.... 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was a large court yard in the back of the immense mansion that Shain
owned. Marcus was one of the many Knights standing there, waiting for the
tournament to begin. His sword was held loosely in his hand, still sheathed,
as he watched potential opponents behind his mirror plated shades.
 
Marcus would have told himself that this was senseless. But he knew better. He
knew that some of the Knights, that he was to lead, did have their
reservations about following an unknown. 'I guess I can't really blame them .
. . Not everyone believes there is truth in the prophecy . . . ' he thought as
he stood with apt attention.
 
It was then that he caught the sight of a familiar face out of the corner of
his eye. "So, you going to show these bums how to use a sword?" Jesse said,
her sword was jutting out over her shoulder and her shades were lowered
somewhat. Since it was night time, she didn't really have a need for them, but
like Marcus, she liked having them on anyway.
 
"One can hope," Marcus replied, his voice low and his attention still apt.
 
"You really need to relax, Marcus," she started with a chuckle. "I talked to
Shain and he is the best with a blade on this base. I think his exact words
were 'I hope they don't piss him off.' So, relax, you'll be fine, my love,"
she said this with a small wink.
 
"I hope you're right, Jess . . . I really do," Marcus said as he watched Shain
step into the center of the crowd. "We'll soon find out," he added, listening
to what Shain was saying.
 
Shain stepped into the middle of the crowd, his head up and his chest out, and
he looked like a picture of a born leader as he spoke. "As you know, this
competition is a little different than the others. The Son of Dakrin himself
has decided to grace us with his presence on this one," Shain knew, without
seeing Marcus' eyes, that the 'Son of Dakrin' was rolling his eyes.
 
Shain proceeded in his small speech. "I know that a lot of you look at this as
a test, instead of a regular tournament. Think of it what you will, but the
point is, The Son of Dakrin IS competing. So, give him your best if you are
drawn to go up against him. That's about all I have to say, form the ring and
let's get on with this," he finished and walked to a chair that was meant for
the judges of the tournament. There were three others besides him.
 
There was a follower that went by the name of Kristi that drew the names from
the large bowl. Before the tournament, they had all signed their name and put
it into the bowl. Who a competitor went up against was purely by chance. The
girl, who was quite beautiful, walked up to the bowl with smooth grace.
 
Her voice rang out very clearly among the Knights, after she took two slips of
paper out of the bowl. "First up in the tournament . . . Kait Mitchell and
Darnel Hawkins!" She said, and just as quietly as she came in, she took her
seat beside the bowl.
 
"He hasn't got a chance, Kait's going to rip that boy a new one," Someone
whispered in Marcus' ear. 

Marcus turned to see Mouse standing at his side, looking very beautiful, and
smiling as she watched Kait enter the fighting circle. "You think so
short-stuff? Yeah, me too," Marcus replied as he watched Kait unsheathe her
sword with the grace of a jungle cat. She made a twirling motion with it and
gave her opponent a predatory look. 

'Ok, big-boy, let's see what ya got' she thought as she raised her kinetics.
Her opponent was about three inches taller than she was, and outweighed her
plenty. He was a red-head. Kait knew who he was and never really cared for
him. He, on more than one occasion, had said that females had no business
being Blade Runners. Let alone Commanders. 'Well, let's see ya put your money
where your mouth is!' She thought with a wicked smile.
 
Shain's voice boomed. "LET IT BEGIN!" The object of the tournament was to
disarm your opponent and get the person into a position where there was no
doubt that they would die under normal circumstances. It was supposed to be
harmless, but all too often, someone got cut. Not seriously of course, but
injured just the same. 

When the words boomed in Kait's ears, she flew into attack, coming down with a
vertical slash that Darnel almost could not block . . . But he did, barely.
Kait was fairly certain he would block that easily, if he hadn't, it would
have been a death blow. 'Ok Kait, slow down before you kill his dumb ass' she
thought wryly.
 
"Ok you bitch, if that's how you want it, that's how you're gonna get it!"
Darnel said in a voice that was just loud enough for Kait to hear. 

Darnel then went on a complicated attack of his own. Or at least, HE thought
it was complicated. Kait blocked the over head strike and a strike that was
aimed at her mid-section. What Darnel did not know, was the fact that Kait was
just playing with him. She was making him think that he was going fast enough
that she could not get in her own attack. 

"Amateur," she said in a low voice. And that little comment sparked a note of
doubt in Darnel's face. 

But, apparently, doubt was not enough to stop Darnel's efforts. He redoubled
them and through his mightiest over-head strike, using all of his strength.
Kait merely side-stepped and let the blade take its course. In fact, she
helped it along with her own blade, pushing it to the ground with speed that
would make lightning jealous. 

Her blade was against his for no more than a second. Kait raised it with equal
speed and pressed the edge of the razor sharp instrument against Darnel's
throat. "I bet this is embarrassing, getting your ass kicked by a girl and
all," she said smugly. She pressed the edge harder making Darnel go up on his
tiptoes as she was waited for Shain's voice.
 
"Round to Kait Mitchell!" Shain said loudly and if one didn't know better,
there was a touch of pride in his voice. After all, he did hand-pick her to be
the Commander of the Blade Runner unit.
 
Kait lowered her shades and gave Darnel a small sarcastic wink before heading
in Marcus and Mouse's direction. It wasn't that long of a walk. Mouse held a
look of proudness about her that made Kait feel warmth inside. Marcus was
chuckling a little bit.
 
"What took you so long?" Marcus said playfully.
 
"I wanted to teach him not to get a big head . . . I never did like him, my
lord."
 
Mouse ran up and gave Kait a tight hug. "I think ya did a wonderful job," she
whispered. The fact that Mouse hugged her did not embarrass Kait. It was the
fact that she started blushing in front of her Lord that embarrassed her.
 
Marcus wasn't jealous of the affection that Mouse was showing Kait. In fact,
he was quite amused. *<'I hope that works out.'>* He sent the thought to
Jesse. She only smiled. Then he spoke out loud. "Why Kait, you look good in
pink," Then laughed as he watched her blush an even deeper color of pink.
 
"Leave the poor girl alone Marcus!" Jesse said and laughed with him.
 
Marcus quit laughing as he saw the girl that drew the names was about to
speak. "Marcus Williams and John Tyler!" She said clearly.
 
Jesse turned and looked at Marcus. "I know you can kick his ass, and you know
you can kick his ass. But that isn't the point. What this crowd wants to see
is how FAST you can do it," Jesse said in a low voice.
 
"Fast and clean, huh?"
 
"Yeah, that's right," she said, leaning in and giving him a light kiss on the
lips.
 
That's when Kait spoke up. "I know your opponent, my Lord. He does not believe
in you. He wants to prove his case, so he'll come in fast and hard," 

"Thanks for the heads-up Kait," he started, then turned back to Jesse. "Well,
hear I go. Wish me luck,"
 
"Just get your ass out there and show them what the Son of Dakrin can do!" She
replied and shoved him towards the circle, but it was playfully.
 
Marcus unsheathed his sword before he entered the circle. He held the blade in
his hand, acutely aware of his weight and how natural it felt there. He held
at his side as he approached his opponent though. "Fast and clean, fast and
clean" he mumbled to himself. He felt his spirit start to burn with the
pleasure of battle when he stood, looking at his opponent.
 
Marcus was aware of the fact that John was raising his Kinetics. But it amused
him when John spoke. "I'm going to expose you for the farce you are," he said
in a low voice.
 
Marcus just took on a coy look before he spoke. "Well, that's going to hurt
you a lot more than it will me," he replied with deadly calmness and watched a
moment of doubt pass in John's face. But it didn't last long, his conviction
still remained. Out of the corner of his eye saw Kamren, Daughter of Kalib,
standing on the balcony. Apparently she wanted to watch as well.
 
"LET IT BEGIN!" Shain boomed again.
 
One thing was for sure . . . It was quick. John came in with a jabbing strike,
intending to run Marcus through. But he hit nothing but air. Marcus did not
even use his sword to block, he simply moved, moved faster than John's eye
could detect.
 
After Marcus was behind John, he kicked his legs out from under him. John had
a look of pure shock sketched across his face when he hit the ground. The
shock increased when Marcus drove his sword into the ground, not but an inch
from John's head. "If you've learned one thing from this, learn the rule of
NEVER underestimating an opponent," he whispered to John. 'And how long did it
take YOU to learn that Marcus?' His thoughts added.
 
John was as pale as a ghost. He had never seen anyone move that fast. Marcus
kept his eyes on John and nothing else. The crowd was dead silent. Marcus did
not know that John was in the top ten of the best, but he was in for a bigger
surprise than that. John's shades had fallen off when he hit the ground and
Marcus read nothing but fear in them. 

"Round to Son of Dakrin!" Shain boomed.
 
That was when Marcus stood up from his kneeling position and looked at the
crowed in utter surprise. All of them, every single one of them were....
Kneeling. Kneeling with their heads bowed and swords drove into the ground.
Shain was the only one standing, but even he kneeled after saying who won.
 
*<'Well done, Son of Dakrin'>* a voice whispered in his mind. It was the voice
of Kamren. He looked at the balcony to see the Daughter of Kalib nodding with
approval. 

Marcus nodded back at her, and then heard another voice. It was Jesse. *<'You
should say something'>* the voice said.
 
'Yeah, I guess I should . . . But what?' Then it came to him. Even though it
felt a little odd leading all of the people around him, he said what he said
next. "You may rise," His voice was high, but firm, like that of a leader.
Marcus watched as they came to their feet. Marcus felt the immense
responsibility fall on his shoulders. It felt like a ton.
 
"Some of you doubted me before . . . But by the look on your faces now, I see
that doubt has vanished. I AM The Son of Dakrin. I know this as surely as I
know the night sky above us is black. And I am hear to lead you in a war. A
war where blood could run like a river. It will be the blood of the Dark
Knights and some of it . . . Will be ours. I have thought about this war day
and night since I have arrived here.
 
I have reached the conclusion that this war is inevitable. I say 'this' war .
. . But there are two of them coming. What the Knights in New Mexico are doing
is wrong. They think they are better than the rest of man-kind . . . They are
partly right. We're faster, stronger and have a lot of abilities they do not.
But our soul is no brighter than the Normals.
 
These Knights are holding an entire town captive. That is WRONG. I know what
you're thinking. What gives us the right to judge? I mean, we own Followers
just the same as they do. The difference, my fellow Knights, is that we stay
out of the public's eye . . . And we follow a code of honor that is completely
lost upon them. We will NOT tolerate such behavior. Ignorance is curable . . .
Stupidity can, and will be, FATAL! That is all!" Marcus almost shouted. Then
he brought his feet together and slammed his fist over his heart, bowing his
own head.
 
Every Knight on the field followed suit. Even Kamren, on the balcony, followed
suit. After seeing this, Marcus started back toward the mansion. He could hear
the whispering of his name on the way into the mansion. Thoughts of what he
had just said were running through his head. And he knew in his heart, he
meant every damn word.
 
He knew that Jesse was following him but he did not turn around. His heart was
racing. The knowledge, and the fact of the war, was taking its toll on him.
But this was not fear, no, this was something else. This was exhilaration.
'Have we gotten to the point we can give speeches and lead armies, Marcus?
Little different than two weeks ago, huh?' He thought wryly.
 
The house was dead quiet since everybody was outside. He relished the
quietness. Well, there was one noise, the sound of Jesse's foot steps behind
him. But that was ok, because he wanted to talk to her anyway. He just wanted
to wait until he got to his room to do so. 'Now, Marcus, are you sure
'talking' is the only thing on your mind?' he thought with a wicked smile.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three hours later, Jesse fell off the top of Marcus completely exhausted from
one of their more 'carnal' activities. "Jesus Marcus, what the hell got into
you??" She asked with a throaty chuckle.
 
"You'd laugh if I told you," 

"No, I won't. Promise."
 
Marcus looked at her for a moment. Taking in her beauty, stroking her face
lightly with his fingers. "I think this whole 'leading' thing is growing on
me. I mean, I would have never thought that I could say that stuff out there.
And I meant it. I really, really meant it. It was like . . ."
 
"Like you were the Son of Dakrin," Jesse stated. It was not a question. She
knew him too much for that.
 
"Exactly," 

"Make no mistake, Love, the entire Shadow Knight nation will learn this too,"
she whispered.
 
"Speaking of which," Marcus said and got out of bed. He began to put on his
clothes in a quick, but not too quick, manor. "I have to go talk to Kamren. We
have some things to discuss," he said as he slipped on the last item, his
shirt. He did not bother to button it.
 
"Like what?"
 
"Like, how we're going to alline our forces. We ARE going to war ASAP," he
said with conviction. Marcus knew that he was going back on his word with the
Dark Knights, but he also knew that they might not be worth of being honorable
with. The look of shock on Jesse's face said the statement blind-sided her.
 
"Are you sure, Marcus?"
 
"Yeah, I'm at the top of my game right now . . . And I want to fight that way.
If the Dark Knights bitch . . . Fuck'em if they can't take a joke," Then he
leaned down and gave Jesse a light kiss on the lips. "I'll be back,"
 
"I'll be waiting," she said with a wink.
 
Marcus gave her a smile and walked out the door. He was a bit surprised at
what he saw when he walked into the hallway. There were two Knights, standing
stalk still with discipline. They were standing on either side of the door.
When they saw him, they both placed their fist over their heart and bowed
their heads.
 
"So, what are you boys doing here?" Marcus asked, but he was pretty sure as to
the answer.
 
"Commander Mitchell assigned us as your guards, my Lord," the one on the left
said with a voice that held great pride. Marcus guessed the guy was actually
proud to pull this duty.
 
"Is that so?" It was not really a question, but the guards nodded anyway.
'Kait, you little minx, I'm going to have to have a talk with you' he thought
wryly. "I'll see you boys later . . . For now, why don't you guard Jesse?"
Marcus asked.
 
"That would be fine, my Lord," They both said in unison. It was all Marcus
could do not to laugh. But he pulled it off and gave them a nod, starting his
way down the hall.
 
Since Kamren was the Daughter of Kalib, Marcus and Shain both thought that it
would be all right for her to sleep in the main house. So her room was not
that far away from his. In fact, only about twenty yards from his. Shain and
him picked the room personally. It was one of the more lavish rooms in the
mansion.
 
It had a huge bed and a big window with a balcony that a person could walk out
onto. 'So, Marcus, just how do you broach the subject of war to a beautiful
blonde, hmmm?' he thought with a small chuckle. He wasn't for certain that he
should feel excited at the prospect of going to war. But, Gods help him, he
was.
 
When he arrived at the large oak door, it suddenly opened. Kamren stood there
in an oversized t-shirt. That was, no doubt, what she slept in. Her pale blue
eyes took in the sight of him as he stood in the doorway. "I've been expecting
you," she said with somewhat of a smug smile.
 
"You have, have you?" Marcus made his way across the room and to a large desk
that was in a corner. He took his seat with grace, his face showing nothing
but curiosity. "I want to know just what kind of role you want to play in
this,"
 
"For your little war here? I'll back you up fully. This small war does not
concern me . . . The one in New Mexico is quite different, though. You will be
fighting MY people, and I'm not bragging, but they are a little better with a
blade than those of yours . . . With the exception of you, that is," Kamren
said, her voice was like velvet.
 
Then before Marcus could reply, Kamren spoke again. "The only person I've seen
move that fast is . . . Damen, my brother. Him and myself, that is," she added
coyly. "Even with your skill with a blade, Son of Dakrin, you haven't saw true
war yet. But judging from your little speech, which gave me tingles by the
way, you've got a grasp on the concept," she said, awaiting Marcus' reply.
 
"It's going to be bloody. With our forces combined, we have about 150 Knights,
give or take. Before you got here, we were about even. Some of them might die
in the battle over New Orleans . . . But I don't expect a high casualty rate
with them. New Mexico does, though. Your brother bothers me . . . How good are
his forces?" Marcus asked with apt curiosity. 

"My brother, my brother is the most dangerous son-of-a-bitch I've ever met.
Those that follow him are as good as my men . . . Most of them are better than
yours. Marcus, you must know that we are facing three-to-one odds on this.
That battle IS going to be a river of blood," she replied in a low voice and
with a grim face.
 
Marcus nodded. "Lets take care of New Orleans first . . . Then we'll worry
about New Mexico. Don't get me wrong, though. I consider New Mexico the most
important. That's part of the reason I'm here,"
 
"What do you mean?"
 
Marcus stood and started to pace a little. He always thought that he thought
better on his feet. "What I mean is, I want to get the problem with New
Orleans over with ASAP. That way, we can focus all of our attention on New
Mexico, on The Zone," he said, still pacing.
 
"How fast is ASAP?" Kamren asked, a coy smile playing on her lips.
 
"How fast can YOU be ready?" He asked, stopping dead in his tracks. His face
was very serious.
 
"Have you ever heard the saying 'Cut off the head and the body will die'?"
Kamren asked, her facial appearance just as serious as Marcus'.
 
"Yeah . . . What are you getting at?" Marcus asked, his curiosity was being
quirked. 

"Just how brave are you, Son of Dakrin?" She asked, moving herself only a few
feet away from him.
 
"You're boring me, get to the fuckin' point," Marcus said, he didn't feel that
his bravery should be an issue. 

"I say, me and you, go to The Zone in New Orleans and completely annihilate
High Council. There's only what? Ten of them? You and I could do that easily.
Cut off the head and the body dies," she said softly.
 
Marcus was quiet for a long moment. He knew that the idea had merit. It would
allow them to avoid a war if it worked and . . . If it didn't, that was just
ten dead Dark Knights. That was worth something, right? 'It would have to be
covert and no could know. I still would have to include Kait though. She knows
where there base is . . . Plus it would be good to have her watch my back . .
.' his thoughts told him. 

Kamren waited patiently, she knew Marcus was giving the idea serious thought.
And judging from the way he looked when he walked in, Marcus was a bit
restless. 'I think that he'll go for it' she thought.
 
"Fuck it, let's do it. I'm bored anyway. When do we go?" Marcus asked, a coy
smile was on his lips. He thought that he already knew the answer to that
particular question.
 
"No time like the present," she said with an equally coy smile. "Do you know
where the base is?"
 
"Nope, but I know someone who does. You get dressed, I'll go get her. I'll
meet you in front of your door," Marcus said as he started to make his exit.
But not before he saw a look on Kamren's face that matched his own.
Anticipation. 

After he made it back out into the hallway, he noticed that the guards were
still guarding Jesse, just as he instructed. 'If she finds out I did that,
she'll ring my neck,' he thought with a chuckle. 

It was a short walk to Kait's room. Her door was open a crack and the lights
were off. Marcus gently wrapped his knuckles against the wood of the door. No
answer. Marcus knocked again, a bit louder this time. It had the same result.
'I wonder where the hell . . . Na, she wouldn't be there, or would she? Well,
it don't hurt to look,' he thought.
 
Marcus then started his way a bit further down the hall. His objective . . .
Mouse's room. Her door was cracked as well. But Marcus could hear steady
breathing on the inside. Breathing that Marcus recognized as Mouse's. He
cracked the door further and stuck his head in. That was when he saw a very
cute sight. Mouse being cradled by Kait. Mouse was in her sleeping shirt but
Kait was fully dressed. He smiled at the sight. 

The look on Kait's face reminded Marcus of a kid being caught with her hand in
the cookie jar. He decided to talk with telepathy so as not to wake Mouse.
*<'Relax. I don't mind you looking out for her . . . You make a cute couple'>*
The thought said, and if Kait could see Marcus' eyes, she would see them
twinkling at that moment. *<'That's not why I'm here though. Could you meet me
outside? Try not to wake up short-stuff'>* Marcus' thoughts said.
 
*<'Yes my Lord'>* Kait's thoughts sent and her head nodded.
 
Marcus removed his head from the room and he leaned against the hall wall,
while he waited patiently. Kait was coming out of the room in under a minute,
she shut the door quietly as she exited the room. "Did you need something, my
Lord?" She asked. 'Boy, am I'm glad he's ok with me and Mouse' she thought
with a sigh.
 
"Yeah, I need your skills, Blade Runner," Marcus said with charm.
 
Kait beamed at his tone of voice and the fact that he needed her for
something. "Can ya be a little more specific, my Lord?" She asked in a low
voice.
 
"You, me and Kamren are going to wipe out the Dark Knights' High Council, and
we're going to do it tonight, or should I say, this morning," It was three 'O
Clock in the morning. Marcus was not exactly surprised that Kait's entire face
lit up with anticipation. "But remember, this is covert, no one can know. Not
even Mouse. I'm not even telling Jesse. If they found out, they would just
want to come,"
 
"Understood, my Lord. I'm ready when you are . . . Wait, I have maps of their
base in my room. She shot down the hall way and into her room with more speed
than any normal could have. She came out with a circular tube that had maps in
it. "Ok, now I'm ready, my Lord," She said.
 
Marcus watched as Kamren came out of her room, she had a sword on her back and
one in her hand. When she reached Marcus she said "I figured you would want to
leave your woman here . . . So, I'm gonna let you borrow one of my swords so
you don't have to go back to your room and explain," she said with a wink. 

Marcus nodded in gratitude. "All right, let's get the show on the road. We
have ten targets to acquire, and I aim to kill every fuckin' one of them,"
Marcus said in a dark voice. Marcus was still quite a bit mad about what they
did to Mouse.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They took the black Mustang when they left. Kamren was riding in front and
Kait rode in the back, giving directions when needed. Marcus talked to Kait
most of the way there. He found out that all of the High Council had their own
mansion, and they all slept on the top floor. There was for guards on the
outside and three on the inside. Marcus did not figure they were very bright
with that kind of security. Kait knew all of this from scouting missions and
inside information, that is, before the insider got killed.
 
Marcus and Kait came up with the plan that they would take out the guards at
the south entrance and go through the window behind the balcony. That would
put them inside a bed room, and from there they would spread out. Search and
destroy was the plan.
 
Marcus pulled to a stop about a mile from the mansion. "You girls ready?" He
asked, already opening the door.
 
"Yeah," they both said in unison as Kamren opened her door and got out. "Nice
night for a walk, my Lord," Kait said wryly as she stepped out of the car.
 
"You're right about that Kait, you're right about that," He turned and looked
at the woods they would have to cut through to get to their destination. "All
right, let's get going,"
 
The hike through the woods might have made a normal person a bit nervous. But
since Knights had extraordinary night vision, it was no problem at all. They
all moved through the woods with supernatural speed. Marcus and Kamren could
not go their fastest though, for the reason that they would leave Kait behind.
So they went as fast as Kait was able.
 
They made it to the boundaries of the mansion in under two minutes. The trees
slowed them down a lot. The south entrance, and the balcony they wanted on,
were in view about two hundred yards away. As Kait said, there were two guards
blocking that entrance. They were in heated debate about a football game they
had watched earlier.
 
*<'They have the discipline of a goat'>* Kamren's thought to Marcus, watching
him give a silent chuckle. *<'Do you want to take them or should I?'>* 

*<'Why can't I take them, my Lord?'>* Kait asked.
 
*<'No offense Kait, but you're not fast enough. We need to take them out
before they can send a message to the other guards . . . I'll do it.'>* Marcus
said and Kait and Kamren both nodded in agreement. 

Marcus focused on his targets. 'Fast and clean, Marcus' he thought to himself.
He drew his sword with smooth, silent grace, never taking his eyes off his
enemy. 'Fast and clean, Marcus' he thought to himself again. 

Marcus took off with the speed of a bullet, the sword in hand. His targets
never knew what hit them. He cleared the two hundred yards faster than a
normal eye could see. The first one had his back to Marcus. Marcus rammed the
sword through, piercing the heart and pulled it out, doing a spin and bringing
it across the second man's neck before he could even think anything. It all
happened in under two seconds.
 
It happened so fast in fact, that both of them hit the ground at the same
time. Marcus did not particularly care for this method of killing, but he knew
it was the only option at the moment. It was no more than the space of a
single breath before Kait and Kamren were beside him. He looked at Kamren and
she nodded, looking at him appraisingly. Kait sort of had a look of awe.
 
Marcus looked up at the balcony, that was about thirty feet up, then back at
Kait and Kamren. *<'Ready?'>* he asked both of them. They both nodded and
followed Marcus as he used his Kinetics to make himself float up to the
balcony. Well, actually it was faster than 'floating', it was more like
shooting. They all landed on the balcony safely. 

The window was open, all Marcus could think of was how their security sucked.
But then he realized that a lock would not keep a Knight out, they're
telekinetic. The all walked slowly into the bedroom, their footsteps so light
they could not be heard at all. It was there, about five feet from them that
Marcus noticed their first sleeping target. 

*<'Let me take him, my Lord. We can split up here'>* Kait said.
 
Kamren and Marcus merely nodded and made their way for the bedroom door.
Marcus heard the slice of a sword going through the air and connecting with
flesh, but did not turn back. Marcus walked out into the dark hallway. He
motioned for Kamren to go one way and he took off the opposite way. She nodded
and did as he asked.
 
Marcus made it to a door of another bedroom and opened it quietly. There he
saw another sleeping form. A middle-aged man. It made him sick to do things
this way, but this would save the lives of a lot of Knights. It was the
alternative to war. He flipped his sword so that he was holding it with the
hilt skyward.
 
He grabbed hold of the handle of the sword with both hands, raising it above
his head. He watched the even breathing of the Knight on the bed for only a
second, then brought his sword down with great power, effectively driving it
through the Knights right, killing him instantly. The Knight hardly moved when
the sword drove through. Marcus watched the blood pour for only a second
before he left to find another.
 
It took only minutes. The three of them met back in the center of the hall. "I
eliminated the rest of the guards," Kamren said flatly. Her sword was dripping
with blood. "How many did you guys get? I got three High Council members," she
added.
 
"I got three too," Kait piped in.
 
"I got three as well . . . Where's the fourth?" Marcus asked. 

Then, like out of a bad dream, he watched the fourth rise behind Kait. Blade
in hand . . .