Orchid

I'm Selfish, that's What

Unfortunately, the more time that passes, the more I believe it.

Those curved eyebrows that linger on Airilia are on Xander. And so are the high cheekbones.

 "But you're like really young," I tell her. "How can you have a child?"

 Airilia's cheeks redden. "I'm flattered, but you're confusing appearance with age. I am way older than a...what?....16-year-old. So yes, Xander Jackson is a troubling young man." The flames flicker. "When he was but a youngling, he expressed great interest in brawls and violence, often being a the center at it. I gave him his first sword at like six years old, but at fifteen, he defected to the dark side. I loved him so much, my heart ached when he abandoned me."

 "I'm so sorry," I whisper to her.

 Airilia gives me a pained smile. "Love is both a blessing and a curse. The day Xander left, he gave his brother and I a full apology note on why he decided to switch sides."

 "His brother?"

 "Zuzuni."

 Hero rolls her eyes. "Enough talk already. Time to work." She pulls out a crumpled piece of paper out from her back jeans pocket and opens it up. "I'm still missing Jason and Lucy. I bet Xander is hungering to slit their throats right now."

 "Lucy?" I nearly scream. 

 "Yeah. The note from Shira says it. See?" Hero shoves the paper in front of my face, and I see it's true. "Lucy Fitzgerald" is scrawled on the bottom of the list in black marker with a drawing of a blade of grass next to her. "Apparently she's an Earth elementalist."

 "You mean another lover of Xander." I cross my arms and scowl. "Xander even promised her a date."

 The color in Hero's face leeches out until her face is pale and bone-white. "Oh, hell. He's going to bury a knife in her chest or something if he takes her to an alley and promises to make out with her. We gotta stop his plan before he gets his hands on Lucy."

 I raise my eyebrows. "We're going back to Earth?"

 Hero grins, tucking her hair behind her ears. "What are you talking about? There's no we. It's you. You're going alone. Besides, Xander wants you alive, and so does Lycaeon. Now that they know I'm not the only Warrior, they'll kill me for sure. In the past, it might've been different because I was the only one. But I've crossed them way too many times. I bet they're just dying to kill me. So no, I'm not going."

 "I just wish they'll mind their own damn lives and get outta mine," I say through gritted teeth.

 Hero gazes at me sadly. "Sorry, Orchid. Fate is fate. But first, before you go, we have to scan you for Lycaeon traits." She gestures at Airilia.

 Airilia shrugs apologetically. "Sorry. I have to do it all the time. Just close your eyes and relax."

 I do what she says and a fresh gust of wind seems to blow through my body and inspect every part of it. My heart feels light and airy as it beats. My ears feel light. I clench my jaw. I hate this. I hate being looked at. It's like a slug crawling through my systems.

 Finally I get my privacy back. I open my eyes. "So, what's my freaking result?" I would've preferred going straight to Earth and confronting Xander without doing this.

 Airilia's expression is confused. "That was perplexing." She motions to Hero and whispers in her ear. I still catch some things, though. "--thought...the Orchid....shouldn't have anything...."

 I wait impatiently, shoving my hands into my pockets and finding I don't have pockets. Hero mutters some encouraging words to Airilia to tell me.

 "Usually, Warriors don't have any bad traits," she says, and coughs lightly. "That's what makes them more powerful than the others. But I found one lurking in your heart. It's very small, but if left there without exercise, it will eventually grow bigger."

 "Well, what is it?" I swallow, trying to force my impatience back.

 Hero delivers it. "Orchid, in the prophecy it says you have to sacrifice. But this trait will set us back. Anything else would've been better for the future of Vidalia."

 "What is it?"

 "Orchid," Airilia says. 

 Hero finishes for her. "Selfishness is in you."