Orchid

Yes, I Curse

"You're kidding me, right?' I watch them nervously, and Jenna crosses her fingers. That would mean that she was my sister--my half-sister. 

 I whirl around at my so-called father--who flinches at the sight of my snarling face--and blast a spurt of flame at him. He reels back in terror. Of course. Fire beats Earth. 

 "I'm sorry." Shira hangs her head.

 "You're sorry?" Jenna snarls. "What kind of name is that? Terrarien, Vindtare?" She stares at our supposed father. "You lied to me. You said my last name was Robinson, you--you damn jerk! Yes, I'm talking to you!" 

 Zilon curls his lip. "You weren't a Warrior back then."

 "Warrior?" Hero glares at Jenna. "You're no damn Warrior."

 "Hell no, she's no damn Warrior!" Kyonnes stares at her in horror. 

 "I hear you, girl." Hero's eyes are glowing with rage. "More like a damn asshole."

 "I'm so sorry," Shira repeats, her eyes glowing with pain. "This--I never intended it to come out this way." She tries to move toward me, her arms outstretched, but I jerk away. Inside me is a mess of crazy emotions--shock, rage, and anger--especially at her. 

 "You're sorry?" I quote Jenna. "What kind of effing excuse is that? Your damn bitch of a sister is related to me. News flash. And that sorry excuse of a young woman is my half-sister? No, no, no. Arya was a much better sister than that..." I glance at Hero. "than that asshole can be. I don't fricking care if Arya is Evil's daughter. Hell, I don't care if she's Lucifer's daughter. At least she's honest, not a lying cheat!" I swipe at my burning eyes. "And Vindtare? Terrarien? What kind of name is that?"

 "Vind is a name for wind, and tare is an ancient name stemming from royals," Zilon cuts in. Now he's not only a dumb uncute stranger, he's some light-shavened man who's supposed to be my father.

 I advance on him, intending to cause as much pain as I can that I can possibly inflict with my fists. "You are not my father," I hiss. "For my entire life, my name will be Orchid Evergreen. My sister will be Arya Evergreen, and my brother will be Ross Evergreen. My father will be Oak Evergreen and my mother will be Maple Evergreen. Not ever Zilon Tootoo or Shira Dreadlock! My cousin will be Talor Evergreen, and my aunt will not be some wacko maniac named Lychee. And Jenna will always be my worst enemy, not a sister! So go back to where you fricking started from--Hell."

  Once I finish, my sides are heaving with rage. Hero whistles and claps softly. Solara and Kyonnes join her, smiling.

 Zilon smiles, a grim thin-lipped one. "I don't care, little, little one. I am still your  father, and Shira is still your mother. Jenna is still your sister, and yes, that little Aurora is your sister." He sneers suddenly, looking wickedly evil. "You know what you would be if you weren't mine and Shira's daughter? You would be an absolute nobody, with no powers or sniveling friends to hold your hand and say you're fantastic." He narrows his smoky eyes, his pale creamy skin pulling in tightly around his eyes, the pale creamy skin that I recognize as my own. "Orchid. What kind of name is that? Your name should be Seraphina, the name of your grandmother, my mother."

 Tears burning in my eyes, I turn to Hero, who opens her arms for a hug. I dive deep into them, feeling her warm embrace.

 "Shh. Many elementalists find their own parents rejecting them. Look on the bright side," she says I pull away. "They say the closest to you are often the most distant aliens."

 Kyo looks concerned as she pats my shoulder. "You guys can go ahead," she says coldly as she glances to Zilon. "I'll take care of that jerk full of himself. Say hello to Meatballs for me!" she trills.

 Airillia rushes over. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Orchid." Her voice is deep with agony. "If I had known, I wouldn't had invited Zilon over."

 I sniff, but I know she means well. "Well, it's not your fault." I wipe my face with my sleeve, which is stained with pizza sauce.

 "Take this on your trip to King Tsukune." Airillia presents a gold amulet with a carved green snake on it. "This will protect you from anyone who tries to scry you."

 "Scrying?" I ask, curious. "What's that?"

 "The girl doesn't know what scrying is?" Zilon takes a seat and picks up a cup of something. "What a shame." His chilly blue eyes are hostile and unwelcoming. Shira excuses herself to the bathroom and I swear I hear her weeping.

 "Shut the f up, Zilon," Zuzu mutters from his place at the door.

 "Really." Zilon whirls his head around to face the son of Airillia, who cowers under his gaze. Lowering his head, he stares at Hero. Zilon shakes his head. 

  "Scrying is just basically viewing another person from a mirror or surface of water," Hero explains. 

 "Like stalking?" I savor the idea.

 "Exactly like stalking, my friend." Hero gives an approving nod.

 I calculate it in my head. "But...wouldn't that mean you could see She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named and Xander right now? You could find out their plans!" I insist.

 Persephone snorts. She had been so silent, I forgot she was there. "She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named? Cheeky. Harry Potter much?"

 "You guys read Harry Potter?" Solara makes a face. "That's like so old. Haven't you moved on to Maximum Ride yet?" Annoyed, she goes back to sorting out her split ends.

 "Well, excuse me." Anubis smiles, amused.

 Hero coughs. "Anyway, She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named cannot be seen. One scry can kill you, it takes up too much energy. That is why Volde--excuse me, You-Know-Who, has so many minions' lives to waste."

  "Voldeexcuseme?" Kyonnes snickers as she pets Pink-fox. "Original, Hero, very original."

 "Why, thank you," Hero replies, her voice dripping with sarcasm, and she takes a little bow.

  Airillia tries to hide her laugh in a cough, her dark brown eyes twinkling. "Anyway...yeah."

 Behind her, Anubis sticks out his tongue, his amber-ringed brown eyes amused.

  Soo...yeah.