ShadowSong [Book 1 & 2: Complete] [NaNoWriMo16/17]

Chapter 89 - Trade

Week 3 Vote Goal #3: 210

Olivia stopped moving.

The twins stood just inside the golden, arched entrance to the Core chamber with Naomi blindfolded and bound at the wrists. She still wore her version of the Starsong dress, and though the dress had several new tears and rips, she appeared otherwise unharmed.

Both twins were dressed for a fight, armed with two Lightblasters and a wide variety of blades with wicked edges. Their corrupted fragments gleamed--Aya's on her forehead, Alma's at the base of her throat--in their frames of golden metal.

Alma stood straight-backed, holding Naomi by the elbow as Aya lifted her Lightblaster a little higher, cocking her hip out to the side like she'd been standing there bored for the last ten minutes.

"How about you call off your little lover bird, Shadowheart, and we can have a little discussion about how things are going to go, hmm?" said Aya. She ran her tongue over her top lip with a dangerous smile, twisting the end of her hair around her pinky. "Or, alternatively, I get to have a little... fun with your friend here."

Olivia clutched the focuser a little tighter in her palm. "Don't hurt--"

"Olivia?" Naomi called out, her head darting about like she was trying to make out any shape she could through the blindfold. "Olivia, if it's you, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry for what I did before. Just please--tell them to let me go! They thought I was you, and I kept telling them I wasn't but--"

Aya pressed the Lightblaster in her hand against the side of Naomi's head, just enough for her to be able to feel the barrel against her forehead. Naomi whimpered and leaned away, only to be shoved back upright by Alma.

"Yes," said Aya. "It was rather annoying. I had so many little plans for you, dear Olivia, but it appears that our most beloved brother led us astray. I'll be having a discussion with him later about what happens when you ruin my plans, but for now..." She tapped the Lightblaster against Naomi's shoulder, who shrieked and pulled away. Once more, Alma forced her back to her feet. "She's still a civilian, and we just wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her, would we?"

Beside Olivia, Cryo had noticed the twins. He placed his back to Olivia, one wing on either side of her as he attempted to keep an eye on both Ella and the twins. Ella had stopped firing in favour of stalking towards him, closing the distance to a few metres before she stopped, five spirit heads on her back writhing and ready.

"Hello, lover bird," said Aya with a wink. "Remember me? You have no idea how excited I was when the Serpent laid us in your path. If you weren't off limits, you might not be so tempting, but I've always wanted things that I can't ha--"

Aya cut off, scowling at her sister. Alma's eyes narrowed as silence passed between them until finally, Aya looked away, rolling her eyes with a pout.

Alma lifted her chin towards Ella. "Hydra, where is the aurorastone?"

Ella gestured towards Olivia. "Banshee gave it to her before she went dim. Apparently Olivia knows how to use it."

Olivia took a step closer to Cryo, just enough so he could hear her whisper. "Any ideas?"

Cryo hesitated, then gave his head the slightest shake.

"I thought we told you not to toy with them," said Alma, sounding more like she was disciplining a two year old. "You were given instructions to secure the objective quickly and through any means necessary. You should have already summoned your Hydra aspect and ended this."

"Gee, really, wow, why didn't I think of that?" said Ella, folding her arms. "I tried that already. The damn thing isn't listening or answering my call, but I don't need it. I can finish this perfectly fine on my own."