The Life of Livana Garmadon

September 5th, 2023

"I'm feeling better." Fang looked down at his elbow, "I mean, the bruise hasn't faded that much, but still. I'm not shaking like crazy underneath the blankets, so,"

"That's good." I examined a corner of the dirt wall and then looked over at Fang, "Does that corner look a bit loose to you?"

Fang squinted at it before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but it doesn't."

"Ughhh, I'm hallucinating now too. Great." I put my head in my hands and then let out a sigh, "I'm glad that you're feeling better though. I'm glad Morro actually managed to get you the tea."

"Did you throw a pebble at him yesterday?" Fang asked me, amused.

"You were lucid enough to remember that?" I chuckled, "Yes, I did throw a pebble at him yesterday. I said, and I quote, 'it was the only thing throwable'. I still stand by that fact."

"I love that." Fang snorted and stretched. "I can't believe that Morro brought the tea. I thought that he was supposed to be our enemy."

"Yeah, but they want us alive." I pointed out.

"Or maybe you scared him really badly." Fang gently nudged my shoulder with his fist, "I mean, I heard you, you know. You sounded pretty commanding."

I tossed my short hair over my shoulder, "Well, I can be if I want to."

Suddenly, the door opened and Rattlesnake looked over at me with a grin, "Boss wanted to meet you. Heard of that little roundabout trip that you made Morro do. Oh! And they also heard about that little tea exchange between you two." Rattlesnake pointed at me and then Morro.

From behind Rattlesnake, Morro stood with his hands clasped behind his back. But then his eyes met mine and he flinched, looking away.

My body heated. I knew it. I knew that I shouldn't have let Morro give me that tea, forced or not. Now I was in trouble and it was all Morro's fault.

Why am I not surprised? A voice drawled sarcastically in my head.

Shut up. I shot back mentally as I stood up.

"Where are you taking her?" Fang asked, standing up as well, "Is it away from here or somewhere in your underground hideout?"

"Relax, trooper. It's still underground. We can't bear to separate the lovers now, can we, Morro?" Rattlesnake nudged Morro and something like pain flashed briefly across his face before his expression became neutral and cold once more.

"Don't make things weird and let's just get the job done already." Morro walked over to me and then grabbed my elbow, the one I got a shot on. I flinched and he noticed. Mouthing a "sorry" under his breath, he took my other elbow and then looked over at me.

"Here are the shackles." Rattlesnake handed Morro a pair of chains.

"No need for that." Morro looked down at me, "She'll come willingly. Right, Livana?" His grip tightened on my elbow, as if I owed him a favor and he needed it now.

Even though I wanted to lash out, to hurt Morro and kill Rattlesnake with all my soul, my physical body couldn't take it. I stumbled, Morro holding me upright, and then nodded. "Yeah... Yeah, I will."

-:-:-:-:-

I've seen darkness before. Real darkness, where you can't see your fingers, even if you hold them right in front of your face. But this darkness... it was as if light never existed at all. Shadows wisped at the edges of my vision, but no light to contradict them. This was true darkness, the darkness that must have filled my father, the darkness that took over Ninjago so many times.