Descent

Old Enemies

Piama 

I can see the bright colours of Lady Lu's caravans in the near distance. And there, silhouetted in the dying shades of sunset red, is Lu herself, packing a tent into the largest of the parked caravans. 
Kalina, Elian and I stop walking.

"Should we talk to her?" I ask Kalina.

"No. She betrayed us once before. Nothing is stopping her from doing it again." Kalina doesn't look at me, keeping her eyes on Lu's figure. 
Then Lu begins to walk in our direction.

"Hide!" Elian hisses. We jump behind nearby bushes.

"I know you left her."
Lu's voice calls out in the sunset, ringing out into the trees.
"I can see it in my cards."

Kalina steps out from the bush and marches towards Lu. She puts her hands around her throat.

"Did your cards tell you how you would die?" Kalina growls. 

I can hear Lu struggling for breath, her feet off the ground. She paws at Kalina's hands, her face turning an alarming shade of purple. I don't look away. Lu deserves to die.

"Stop!" Elian's voice calls, and Kalina drops Lu in surprise. She gasps for breath, clutching her throat.

"What?" Kalina practically yells.

Elian doesn't flinch. 
"I think she knows where Axl is."

Kalina looks down at Lu, who is still gasping for breath. She grabs her arm and pulls her up. Her purple dress is tattered and dirtied, and her thick black eyeliner has been smudged.

"Is this true? Do you know where she
is?" Kalina demands. "Tell me!" 

Lu raises her hands, a show of peace.
"She's... She's been trapped in the mirror..."

Kalina lets go of Lu, and Lu stumbles back.

"What mirror? What goddamn mirror? What the hell are you talking about?" Kalina yells. Lu is hunched back, her shoulders small and her eyes almost teary. Kalina draws her katana and points it at Lu. Lu squeaks in fear, and she covers her head with her hands. Kalina's katana is sharp and long, the steel shining in the fading light.

"Kal!" I finally speak. Elian, Kalina and Lu all look at me.
"I think she means the mirror of the Soul Soother." 

Kalina groans and Elian looks like he's in deep thought. Lu looks at Kalina's katana warily.

"Seriously? This shit? That's what's gonna save Axl?" 

I look at Kalina funny, and so does Elian. Elian speaks up first.

"You want to...save Axl?" He says incredulously.

Kalina's face turns red. 
"Yeah, I guess," she mumbles. 

I giggle. Kalina's face gets redder as she glared at me.

"Look, she's a valuable member of the team! She knows the Sky Witch better than any of us..."

I can feel my face darken at the mention of Axl's relationship with the Sky Witch. Kalima looks back to Lu, who is trying to walk away unnoticed. She grabs her by the collar.

"Oh no you don't," Kalina growls.

"What do you want from me?" Lu pleads.

Kalina stared her down, and I swear I see Lu shrink even more.
"You're gonna tell us where the mirror is." 

Lu nods her head quickly, and points to the graveyard up the other side of the path. 

"You'll find a grave there, and you only have to chant the proper incantation!" 

"Then what?" Elian inquires. "And how do we know it's the right graveyard?" 

Lu takes a gulp of air.
"Every graveyard out here has one grave that can be used as a portal to the Soul Soother. If you want, I can say the incantation for you... Just please don't kill me," the last part coming out as a whisper.

Kalina lets her go and pushes her into the path leading to the graveyard.

"Walk," she says, and jabs the katana in Lu's direction for good measure. Lu whimpers, and begins to walk, Kalina beside her, and Elian and I trailing close behind. As we need the graveyard, the landscape becomes more desolate. The night is falling quickly, and the grass is dried and dead. Bits of wood are strewn around, cracking under our feet. I look at

Elian, who is staring at Kalina and Lu up ahead.

"Do you think we'll save her?" I ask him quietly. He looks at me, steely resolve in his eyes 

"Yes," he replies. "You're very invested in saving her. She betrayed you, and you still want to save her."

"I left her behind, Elian. That was wrong." 

Elian sighs, and then lets out a heavy
breath.

"Have you thought about the wedding at all?" He asks me.

I've completely forgotten we're betrothed.

"Well, no, I haven't really, I mean--" I stammer. He holds his hand up, a silent signal for me to stop talking.

"I know you love her," he says quietly.

"What?" I practically yell. Lu and Kalina look back at us, and then Kalina has her katana towards Lu, who squeals and quickens her pace.

Elian looks at me.
"Our marriage was never to be for love. I understand, Piama. If we find her, and if she loves you too, you should be with her. I understand."

I'm so overcome with emotion that I leap up and wrap my arms around Elian, who after a moment, returns the gesture. I hear someone clear their throat. I pull away from Elian to see Kalina standing impatiently, her katana pointed lazily at Lu. She gestured towards a graveyard, which is filled with dried yellow grass and cracked gravestones.

"We're here."