Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 121: Justice Versus Revenge

"Look who's here. My prodigal daughter returns!" Agape exclaimed with sarcasm when Sigi and I entered her office.

Great. That would be a lovely Sunday afternoon in Amanita's basement. I was about to enjoy her sarcasm as a main course with a side dish of pride.

Agape was seated in her office chair and had left her mirror glasses on her desk. She had a defiant pose and attitude, and a carefree smile.

"I'm definitely not a prodigal daughter... or your daughter," I replied seriously. "In fact, never mention that word to me ever again."

"Wow, you hurt me! Harsh words coming from a pacifist." I found her act of mockery insulting, but I had to remain strong. I could not fall prey to that kind of mood.

"Don't mock me," I answered as calmly and seriously as I could. "I don't mean to be rude, but if you need to take your medication, do so now. But I'm not gonna treat you any differently on account of your medical condition. You don't deserve my kindness, but you still deserve my understanding. That's what I'm here to do, actually: reach an understanding."

"And you needed Sigi as a bodyguard to come here and say these things to me?" she asked while pointing at him in our general direction.

"I want you to look at him in the eyes and see how much he doesn't admire you anymore," I told her sternly. "And to wonder why that is so."

"I'm not a delicate little flower which will wither in the face of disappointment, Daphne," she replied in an imposing tone of voice. "And speaking of bodyguards, Apollo's came here last night looking for you. They had orders to take you to Apollo. They didn't find you here, obviously. You should thank me. I created a fake data feed about your whereabouts which popped up on their phones' screens, showing them that you were constantly riding a motorbike randomly in the streets of Thalis. They didn't enter the premises. I sent them on a wild goose chase."

"I thank you for that, but let's face it. You only did it to cover your own arse," I concluded with a frown. "If I had gotten caught, Apollo would open up my brain and realise that I'm a rebel. I would die, but you'd be next."

"True." Her defiance was skyrocketing. I didn't want that, but that was who she was. "I know that, like I also knew you'd come back and try to act like you're the better person. That's why I decided to use you as a weapon against Apollo."

"What?!" I exclaimed, baffled.

"After sending his bodyguards on a wild goose chase, I notified your death, Daphne." She chuckled with naughtiness. "I made him relive the death of his beloved one. I bet he's devastated by the dreadful news!"

She was openly enjoying the situation because she was causing great emotional harm to her enemy. Deserved or not, I didn't believe that was the right way to face an opponent. I was frowning at her with anger.

"What?! Don't look at me like that, Daphne!" she complained, even though her comment reeked of insincerity. "You can also take advantage of this. Now he's not gonna chase you around anymore. You won't get any more presents or a brain transplant, just like you wanted."

"This is insane, Agape. You can't keep using people like this!" I complained.

Then, she slammed her hands on the chair's arms and said: "I can, and I will." Her harsh stare bore into my eyes, attempting to scorch my soul with their thirst for power and blood. She wanted to make me cower, but I couldn't afford that.

"Listen, Agape," I said, telling myself I had to remain strong. "I've got a few things to tell you. First, I don't accept getting expelled."

"Suck it up," she replied as if she didn't care.