The Tale of Tara and Emiko

XXXV-Kailey

"Kailey! You blew our cover! What are you doing?!" Cliff shouts. His voice is so loud I wince. Who knew such a small earpiece could make such a big sound?

"Sorry, Cliff," I mutter. Turning to Tara and Eon, I narrowed my eyes, purple energy surrounding Tara's whip and freezing it in place, inches away from Eon's chest. "Just...stop."

"Who are you?" Eon shouted, aiming her metal hand at me, now in the form of a sleek pistol.

"What are you doing here?" Tara asked at the same time.

"Stop...trying to kill each other. Calm down. Gimme a moment...catch my breath." I bent over, breathing hard. "And stop pointing your weapons at me! I'm trying to help you!"

Tara scoffed. "You appeared out of nowhere and somehow disabled both of our weapons with some sort of magic powers, plus you have dragon wings. How are we supposed to believe you're trying to help us? Who are you? I'm not asking again."

"Kailey Lumin, graduating senior at Crystal Junior High, elemental dragon, inducted member of the Story Spinners and been making worldwide headlines since I was ten, nice to meet you. Could you please not shoot me now?"

"Why are you here? How are you here?" Eon asked.

"I picked up on some weird aura energy radiating from this world. It was supposed to be a quick trip, but I kinda got tangled up in the plot and ran into you. I've been cloaking myself to stay invisible for the past few hours, but (sorry, Cliff) I'm not going to just sit back and watch and do nothing while you brutally murder your sister!" I said, pointing at Tara for the last part.

"What? No, Eon killed my sister!" Tara shouted.

"Eon didn't kill your sister, she is your sister!" I shouted back.

"WHAT?!?" Tara screamed. "Do you know what kind of punishment people who lie to me suffer?"

"She won't have to find out," Eon said softly, deactivating her choker. The muddled colors of her face sharpened into focus.

I was right. It was Emiko.

Tara was, reasonably, in quiet shock.

"....isn't that a bit cliche?" Cliff asked quietly.

I tapped my earpiece. "No one cares, brother dear. Now shut up, I'm gonna try to keep these two alive."

"What happened to you?" Tara asked Eon-no, Emiko, gesturing to her metallic arm and throat.

"Oh, that?" Emiko managed a forced smile. "I showed up at home, alone, without you on our birthday, and for the first time this year our father actually took interest in my existence."

"What happened?" Tara asked carefully.

"He would've sliced my head clean off if the knife wasn't so rusty. But nah, he got bored of sawing at my skin halfway and just threw me off into a radiation ravine to dispose of me. That's how I lost my arm. The Rebellion took me in with the kindness of their heart after some scout found me ringing Death's doorbell."

Tara sucked in a breath, her eyes wide with shock. "That's...terrible."

"What can I say? You always were the favorite child," Emiko replied, shrugging.

Tara suddenly tackled Emiko in a hug, a sob bubbling up from her throat. Emiko hugged her back, smiling, quiet sobs that sounded slightly unnerving yet heartfelt nonetheless.

"Someone's in the west hallway," Cliff said. Huh, I thought I'd turned off my earpiece.

"Thanks," I whispered. Turning to Tara and Emiko, I clapped my hands twice. "Okay, I'm truly sorry about this, but can we break it up? You'll get your chance to have an emotional reunion later, since if you die here that's not gonna happen."