She froze, eyes wide as she stared at Kimi. "PUCK!" She shouted for him, staring, horrified at Kimi.

Puck came running.

Kimis expression didnt change, but her voice turned mocking. "'So you have a choice now, my dear. Come back for the scepter, or run home and try to stop Ash. Youd better hurry. Hes probably halfway to the bayou by now. One more thing!'" she added. Robot Kimi gave them an empty smile. "'I want you to remember, this is not a game, Claire Chase. If you think you can waltz into my lair and try to take what is mine without repercussions, youd best think again. People will get hurt because of you.'" Kimi stepped forward and narrowed her eyes. "'Do not screw with me, child. Let this be a little reminder of what can happen when you play with the big girls.'"

Kimi spasmed, spine arching back, mouth open in a silent scream as she twitched and thrashed. A moment later, Nelson did the same, limbs jerking wildly, before they both collapsed to the floor.

"I'm going to Lousiana." She says, running up to her room and grabbing her sword. She runs back down, fumbling with her belt as she began cursing under her breath.

Leanansidhe breezed through the doorway, her face a porcelain mask, eyes glowing green. "If there is one thing Ive learned about humans, its that they become absolutely unreasonable when it comes to family." She sniffed and waved her hand. "So go, darling. Rescue your mother and father and brother and get it over with. My door will still be open when you come back. If were still alive, that is."

"PRINCESS!" Ironhorse bashed the door open, skidding to a halt in the middle of the room, breathing hard. "ARE YOU HURT? WHAT HAS HAPPENED?"

"Virus sent Ash after my family. I'm heading to Lousiana. She moved the scepter." She mutters.

"WHAT ABOUT THE SCEPTER?" he continued. "WE MUST RETRIEVE IT BEFORE VIRUS HAS IT MOVED. SHE IS VULNURABLE NOW AND WILL NOT BE EXPECTING US. NOW IS THE TIME TO ATTACK."

"A quaint idea," the cat mused, leaping onto the table, "and exactly what Virus is hoping for. We must have scared her quite a bit for her to react so dramatically. If we abandon the mission now, we might never find her again."

"Hes right." Puck nodded, ignoring Ironhorses scowl. "We have to split up. Ironhorse, you stay here with Grim. Keep looking for the scepter and Virus. Claire and I will go after Ash. Well be back as soon as we can."

"I DO NOT LIKE LEAVING YOU ALONE, PRINCESS." Ironhorse raised his head in a proud, stubborn manner. "I SWORE I WOULD PROTECT YOU."

"I know Ironhorse but hes right, we'll have to split up. Quite likely a plan of hers but I dont have any choice." She says.

He blew smoke from his nostrils like a furious bull and turned away. "AS YOU WISH, PRINCESS."

Puck glanced at Leanansidhe. "Dont suppose you have any trods to Louisiana from here, do you, Lea?"

"Theres one to New Orleans," Leanansidhe replied, looking thoughtful. "I just adore Mardi Gras, darling, though Mab tends to hog the spotlight every year. Typical of her."

"Thats too far away. The Briars." Puck snapped his fingers. "We can go through the Briars. That will take us there quickly."

Leanansidhe blinked. "What makes you think there is a trod to the girls house through the Briars, dove?"

Puck snorted. "Lea, I know you. You cant stand to be out of the loop, remember? You must have a trod that goes to Claires house from the Briars, even though you cant use it. I know youd want keep an eye on Oberons daughter. What kind of gossip would you miss out on, otherwise?"

Leanansidhe pursed her lips as if shed swallowed something sour. "You caught me there, darling. Though you dont hesitate to rub salt in the wound, do you? I suppose I can let you use that trod, but you owe me a favor later, darling." Leanansidhe sniffed and puffed her cigarette. "I feel I should charge something for letting you in on my greatest secret. Especially since I have no interest in the girls family. Such a boring lot, except the little boy--he has potential."

"Thank you." She says.

Leanansidhe snapped her fingers, and Skrae the piskie fluttered down from the ceiling. "Take them to the basement trod," she ordered, "and guide them to the right door. Go." Skrae bobbed once and zipped to Claire's shoulder, hiding in her hair. "I will continue to have my spies monitor SciCorp," Leanansidhe said. "See if they can discern where Virus is moving it to. You should get going, darling."