Orchid

What Really Happened?

"What are you talking about, Xander?" I demand. "What do you mean about love?"

 Xander's face contorts with disdain as he swings his blade forward in mock confusion. 

 "Nira really loved you, you know," I spit at him, angry he had betrayed my elf friend. 

 "So what? Their stupid queen Kc was taken by the oh-so-good elves and replaced with a changeling," Xander says, a sneer on his face. "All they do is comb their hair and boast how pretty they are."

 "Kc was replaced by a changeling? I thought those were only stories!" Hero gasps. She looks over her shoulder for the help of Kyo and the others, but they're too focused on Solara.

 "You loser," Xander scoffs. "You think that lousy coward Powerrmaster was the enemy?" He reaches out and snatches Hero's chin with a hand. "Look at me, you f-ing imbecile! I am the enemy."

 Hero stares calmly back at his angered blue eyes, and in one motion swats his hand away. "Don't you dare touch me."

 "Really, little girl?" Xander laughs, but uncertainty colors his voice.

 "Xander Jackson." I look up at the cold, fathomless eyes that hold no kindness or affection in them, just a deep-pitted emotion of anger, rage, darkness, and hatred. "Where is the boy that held my hand a long time ago?"

 Xander flinches, he knows what I'm talking about, though you readers don't, but his jaw hardens. "That was when we were kids."

 "You used to hang by my house, gazing at me." Tears engulf my eyes. "Where did that boy go?"

 I'm looking out of the window, and I see him. He gazes back at me, hazel eyes filled with affection as he makes his way across my lawn, quietly sneaking so my parents won't notice him in the back yard. I open up the window and tell him I'm alone, that my sister and brother aren't talking to me, and his hand touches mine. I slip outside of the window and I lean into him. But then he has to leave me and I slip back in, holding back tears.

 I knew Xander from when I was a kid...but this memory sends me reeling, brought back from the top of my mind. When his eyes were hazel, not icy blue like they are now. I think he said he lived in an orphanage, but I never really had a confirmation. I've so long forgotten it and the foreign eye color...it's him. Now I remember. And he clearly remembers it too.

 "I--" Xander breaks off, his eyes coloring in recognition, but then his jaw slackens again and his eyes turn cold and unreflective again. "I serve Lycaeon. I care nothing about love. The ice that my mistress has given me, the power, has made me forgotten all about that night. You're a nothing, a zero, Orchid. I would be happy to kill you over and over again without any mercy."

 He's gone. The boy I had just remembered is gone, just like his hazel eyes have faded to a deep and angry blue. My heart sinks. 

 "Well, better run." Xander swipes a hand through his hair. "My mistress is calling." His eyes narrow. "But this isn't over, Orchid Evergreen. I will not rest until Vidalia is dead."

 "I'd like to see you try," I call, and summon flames to my hand and throw it at him. He recoils in shock and speeds away on the air, running like a frightened child.

 "You are such a coward! Speak for yourself!" Hero calls.

 "What's going on?" Persephone joins us by the window, and stares hard at Xander's departing form. "Oh, is that Alexander?"

 "You mean the one and only evil Xander?" I say dryly. "Welcome to Vidalia, Persephone." Hero chuckles.

 "Solara's awake!" Kyo yelps.

 "Sol?" Hero rushes to her friend anxiously, clasping her hands tightly.

 "Ugh..." Solara grunts. I sigh in relief. 

 "What the hell just happened?" Solara murmurs, pushing herself up with her forearms. "Who the hell are you?" She squints at Anubis and the jackals, and blanches in fear. "Those are jackals, creatures of death!"

 'Not if they're controlled right." Anubis sets his jaw grimly and whistles to his animals. They sit still, shaking out their fur and licking their ragged claws.

 "You got betrayed by your boyfriend," Hero tells her gently, massaging her shoulders.

 "I thought I was hallucinating." Solara frowns. "He'd never do such a thing!"

 "Here we go." Kyo slaps her palm against her forehead. "Denial, saying na da."

 "I'm afraid so, your Highness." Hero's voice is teasing and low.

 "Don't you dare call me your Highness!" Solara hisses at her. She gingerly touches her back. "Now that I think of it, yeah, he was pricking around at me. Is he dead?"

 "No. But he's going to be gone for a while."

 A slow smile creeps over the Earth Ruler's face. "I'd like that. Peace and quiet, for some time."

 I crouch down. "Um, guys, let's get to business. Xander is back."

 "Xander?" Solara repeats. "Like that guy who was mooning over Nira like she was the prettiest girl in the world? The guy who saved her life?'

 "Yes and yes," I say. "But before that he was evil, but now he's evil again."

 "That," Kyo says in a hushed voice, "really really sucks."

 "He tried murdering my friends a lot of times," I say softly. "He's just...too insane now to talk sense into."

 "Like Lyca." Persephone's green eyes flash with disgust. "Why can't we just sit down and talk peace? I hate to watch my flowers die." She slides an arm around her boyfriend, who's been almost silent the whole time.

 "I don't think Lycaeon could ever process that," Kyo says. "She only wants power, fashion, and darkness."

 "Very true," Hero comments. "Where should we go next?"

 "I hate to go to his kingdom," Solara says, squinching her eyes shut, "but we all agree we need to meet with Tsukune, leader of the water elementalists."

 "Gah. Count me out." Kyo shakes her head. "Make a quick stop at Airillia's and drop me off."

 "I want to check on Jenna. Make sure she hasn't turned," I add.

 "Yeah." Hero floats gently up, using her Air powers, and I follow suit. Sol starts doing her creepy Earth power thing where she melts into the ground, and Persephone follows. Anubis's form wavers and he rises too.

 "You're Air?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

 He grins, winking. "Shadow is part of the air and the sky."

 Kyo shrugs, petting Pink-fox. "I'll use fire-travel, where you will yourself into a place with flames. Duh! Airillia does have a fireplace!" She scoops the fox in her arms and her form flickers with reddish flames.

 I swoop through the air, feeling the wind blow through my hair and enjoying the breeze. I close my eyes and imagine a Vidalia without any evil in it. How long could this joy ever last with such dangerous forces to deal with?