Twisted Wonderland 2

Tensions Escalating

Leona and Jamil step out of the room and walk down the next flight of stairs. Leona carries the heavy spear, having it rest against his shoulder.

"Leona," Jamil gives the lion a false smile. "Please allow me to carry the spear."

"I'm good."

"But I really don't think-"

"Look, we have no idea when another heavyweight might strike." Leona sneers. "I'm not leavin' our trump card in your hands."

"But even you must be fatigued after that last battle." Jamil argues. "Allow me to-"

Leona whirls around, glaring and his ears flat against his head. "Okay, Seriously, knock it off! Do I have to spell it out for you? BUTT OUT."

Jamil glares back. "I was just trying to be considerate!"

Screeches causes the boys to stop. Glancing further down the stairs, a group of phantoms crawl up the stairs.

"A bunch of Phantoms are coming our way." Jamil throws a glare Leona's way. "Maybe if you hadn't shouted just now."

"Can it." Leona growls. "You better be ready, 'cause I'm not coverin' you this time."

The phantoms lunge at the boys. Leona and Jamil fend them off with blasts of magic but the phantoms seem to only be attacking Jamil, quickly leaving him overwhelmed.

"We keep beating them back, but they just keep swarming us-" Jamil winces and clutches his arm that was injured. Jamil takes a step back, eyes wide in disbelief. "Are they targeting where I got injured?"

The phantoms cackles with glee as they swarm Jamil.

"You little cretin." Jamil fires a few shots at them. "Stay back!"

Leona glances back at Jamil, seeing him getting backed into a corner by the phantoms. The lion scoffs. Magic swirls around Leona and with a wave of his hand, the magic is sent out in a wave. Hitting the phantoms and causing their glass vial heads to shatter. Jamil lets out a breath and leans against the wall.

"Would you look at that?" Leona sneers. "I said I wasn't gonna cover you, but you were so pathetic I couldn't help myself. Yeah, that's me. A real softie. Don't feel like you gotta hold back the tears of gratitude."

"If this is anyone's fault, it's-" Jamil takes in a deep breath, shaking his head. "actually, never mind. Excuses are unbecoming. Thank you for that. I'll formulate a plan to ensure I'm more useful next time."

Leona sighs, running a hand through his hair. "That ain't gonna help. I warned you about bein' arrogant. You still don't seem to get it, so lemme lay it out for you. You're not being thoughtful or careful. You're just bein' pushy."

"You think I'm pushy?" Jamil exclaims.

"Do you really think you need to do all this when you're with ME?" Leona scoffs. "That you're good enough to cover me? You must think pretty highly of yourself considerin' you're just a vice housewarden."

Jamil folds his arms. "Well, all right, Maybe I don't have as much leadership experience as you. But still-"

"But STILL?" Leona barks out a laugh. "Funny. Okay, I'm gonna take a stab at what you're thinkin' right now. 'I've just never gotten a chance to shine. No one's ever given me a real evaluation, or else it'd be clear I'm better than everyone else.' And so you always look down on those around you. It's pathetic."

"As if you have any room to talk." Jamil glares at the lion. "You look down on people more than anyone else on campus."

Leona smirks. "Sure I do. But see, I AM better than you."