"Kate..." I heard Frank call my name and I turned and looked at him. "Look, I know it's none of my business..." He continued, "and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But... What just happened?"

"DON'T EVEN...."

"It's... kind of personal... between me and Tellka, Frank." I stuttered out. Tellka's tone had caught me off gaurd.

"Good girl..."

Frank nodded and then turned his attention to something else. I looked over his shoulder to see a little doorway. I suppose he had found it while Tellka and Katt were busy arguing. I could hear him mumbling about something.

"A zenny for your thoughts, Frank." I said quietly. He turned and gave me an odd look.

"Don't you mean 'a penny' Kate?"

A what?

"Beats the heck outta me. Perhaps something from his dimension, don't worry about it."

Okay...

"No..." I began to explain to him. "Zenny is the currency here. Is.. a penny a type of currency back in Lunarvale?" I asked.

"Just a type. We use different types of coins, and paper money as well. Here." I watched as from pulled something from his back pocket and looked through it. He snatched out something that looked like colored paper and gave it to me. I looked at it carefully.

One dollar... Interesting.. I wonder what a 'dollar' is..

"You can keep it Kate." Frank said. I smiled and asked my question again.

"What were you thinking about?"

"About.. What we're going to do, Kate. I wish Tellka didn't dissapear... We could use her help." I looked at Frank curiously.

You hear? He says he needs your help... Tellka, come back.

"Hrmph"

"We'd better get this over with. Ready Kate?" Frank asked me.

"I.. I guess so.." I could feel my uneasyness returning. Now I was wanted Tellka to come back. I knew I could still tak to her, but it would make me feel better to see her there. Tellka...

Frank headed toward the door and I followed when suddenly a noise from behind stopped us.

"Wait up..." I wheeled around at Tellka's voice and felt a smile spread across my face as I saw her coming towards us.

"Tellka?" You came back.....

"I couldn't pass up the chance.. I haven't been in a good fight for a while..."

Sure....

"Really...." Tellka turned to Frank. "I guess you're unsure of your abilities, huh?" She smirked.

I looked at Tellka for a moment and turned to Frank to see his reaction. I wondered why Tellka kept giving him a hard time.

"To be honest with you Tellka..." Frank started, "yes." Tellka gave him an odd look. "You see Tellka... I may have done all this... Fought demons back home... been shot at by Guido's thugs... and now the colliseum... I may look like I can do it all... But deep down, I know I can't. That's why I'm unsure of myself. But you know what... With you and kate with me, and with the help of my Persona..." Frank rubbed Katt's pendant, "I believe that we can stop this guy once and for all."

"And I believe that I could make this guy pay without either of you."

Tellka... NOT NOW...

I looked at Frank for a moment when a noise behind me caught my attention. I turned around and cautiously went to go see what it was. It wasn't untill I finally noticed the slumped figure that every single fur on my body stood on end and I let out a startled scream.

"What? What is it?"

I wanted to answer her but for some reason I couldn't. I know that I have heard it said that fear can paralize you and I think I believe it now. It felt like forever before I managed to get my legs to back up. I thought I heard something behind me, but I wasn't sure untill I ran into what ever it was. I whipped around and let out another startled scream. It took me a second to realize that it was just Tellka and Frank standing behind me. Frank walked up to me and took my hands.

"It's OK... we're here Kate... You'll be all right." He told me in a soothing tone. I nodded and tried to slow my heart down. It was pounding so fast I thought it would pound straight out of my chest.

"What happened?" I heard Tellka ask."

"That.. that... Oh my..." I pointed into the direction of the slumped creature.

Frank looked at Tellka and then down the corridor. "I'll go check it out."

"Oh no you don't, Frank. Not without us." Tellka told him. Frank smiled and started to walk down the hall. Tellka and I followed.

"Oh my GOd..." Frank said as he suddenly rushed forward. I suppose he found what I had seen.

"What is it, Frank?" Tellka asked.

"I found Redwing's servant... Or... his remains..." Frank said as he examined the badly burnt body.

My eyes went wide and I swallowed. I didn't want to go up to get a closer look and instead clung to Tellka's side like a little girl.

"Stay here for a second." Frank said as he rushed into Redwing's room. He came back with what looked like a blanket, and used it to cover the body. I watched him for a moment as he muttered a few prayers.

"May your sould find peace... wherever it may have traveled..." I heard Frank say quietly and he made the sign of a cross. I looked at him for a moment and felt a smile on my lips.

"Why did you do that?" Tellka snapped. "After what he did to Kate..."

"He wasn't responsible for his actions... Redwing made him do it. And when he failed.. I guess this was his punishment."

Tellka stood there and thought about that for a moment, but I could feel in my mind that her emotions did not change.

"I feel no pity for him, even if it was not by his own will to do what he did."

I didn't think you would... But I do.. Suddenly something caught my attention. A quiet noise. I glanced down the hall. There it was again... was it...? "I hear something... music?"

Frank glanced over at me. "I hear it too... violin music?" He asked quietly.

Tellka swerved her ears for a moment and motioned down the hall. Frank and I nodded.

Frank took lead again and we headed down the hall. As we approached the end I could see a door. Frank looked over at me and Tellka.

"You both ready? We know he's in there..." Frank said as he unsheathed his rapier. I nodded slightly, as did Tellka. Frank grabbed the doorknob and, turning it slowly, opened the door. The three of us entered.

I blinked as me eyes grew accustomed to the new light. Inside the room was a fire place, a chair, and Redwing, sitting with his back to us. Redwing was playing a violin and I recognized the music from what I had heard in the hall. I glanced around the walls of the room and my blood ran cold.

Along the walls were various stripped skins. I felt sick suddenly and swallowed. I could feel myself backing up beside Tellka. She seemed a little shocked by this too.

Suppose... suppose one of those is...... is mom......

Then Redwing began to chuckle.

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com