Orchid

I Meet A Love I Thought I Lost...Oops Too Drama-y

Someone is a traitor.

 As Hero and I cruise along the sky, the amulet whispers to me this message. The first time I heard it, I was so scared out of my mind that I nearly fell a few thousand feet. Luckily, my Air is on my side.

 I glance at Hero fearfully, trying to read her face, but she's far away, soaring in the wind, her hair catching the breeze. She's not a traitor, surely? She's been with me, all this time. But I remember something said, Those who are most close to you are often the most distant aliens.

 Or is that just a famous Eragon quote? I don't know.

 Or is the amulet a liar? I clutch the cold necklace, trying to probe for the answer. Airillia wouldn't give me a worthless thing. 

 "We're almost there." Hero launches herself higher, whooping as she spreads her arms out. 

 "Why didn't we just spirit-travel?" I yell at her.

  Hero glances back and smiles in a cheeky way. "Cause I didn't feel like it."

 By now, I've accepted her answers, mostly sarcastic or cheeky, and I've come to actually like it. 

 "What's Tsukune like?" I catch up to her so I don't have to shout every word. She slows down so I can advance. 

 "Tsukune?" Hero narrows her eyes. "He's Zetah's dad."

 "Really? He's Z's dad? That's...strange. So he's Amphitrite's husband." I roll my eyes.

  "Mate," Hero corrects absentmindedly. "In Vidalia here, we call bonded lovers mates."

 "What, can't stand human words?" I tease lightly.

 "I never really knew why." Hero looks down at her hands. "And we call humans Outsiders."

  "You Vidalians are getting weirder at the second," I comment breezily.

  "I know. We're weird that way." Hero flashes me a smile.

  Someone is a traitor. Someone you trust.

   "Either explain or don't say anything," I say between gritted teeth.

   "Hmm?" Hero lifts her head up.

  "Nothing. This stupid amulet." I watch it glint in the light. It's so annoying, yet it's a gift from Airillia. I wouldn't want to waste anything.

  "It's called Gardien," Hero tells me. 

 "Which basically means..." 

 "Guardian, or watcher angel."

 "Oh. That explains it." I clutch the amulet. "Because it watches over you."

 Her eyes twinkle in approval. "Yes."

 "Isn't that French?" I accuse her.

  "Most of our talismans have names in Latin or French." She turns her eyes away. "Start to land." She points a finger down at a flat area of sand I assume is a deserted beach, looking very desolate and sad. 

  I let the Air loosen for a soft landing. Hero makes herself star-jump as she lands and turns, smiling. 

 "Wow, Hero, soo typical." 

  She shoots me a wry smile. "Don't you know? I'm famous for my poses, on top of being a Supreme Ruler, Eidolon Queen, former Scion Princess...trust me, girl, I'm AWESOEM."

 "Awesoem?" I venture. "Isn't it Awesome?"

  "Nah, GIRLFRAN." Her eyes are bright and determined.

  O...kay. 

  "So if you're queen, am I like Princess, or like Scion Princess, as you mentioned?"

 Hero shakes her head, solemn. "You have to have a spirit quest to Tyria Village before you become a Scion Princess." 

 "Spirit Quest? Native American much?" I stick my tongue out as I take off my shoes like Hero is right now, and my Hello Kitty socks.

"Hello Kitty? Very original." Hero gives a thumbs-up.

 "Why, thanks."

  I feel the sand grains between my toes and I kneel, feeling it slide in my hands. My eyes water. When I was a small girl, I loved building sandcastles with my brother and sister. I sit back in a squat, feeling sick to my stomach. Not any longer. I swallow the lump in my throat as I imagine my Outsider family on Earth, distraught and devastated, especially Ross. That prank he played on me that morning seems like a million years ago.

 "I'm sorry," Hero says softly.

 I wipe at my eyes, trying to cry in front of her. The Great Orchid, weeping for Outsiders. I straighten myself and get up. "Just a flashback," I cough out. "So what do we do now?"

 Hero looks at me calmly and motions for me to get in the water. "You're going alone, Orchid."

 "What? But..." I stare at her in shock.

 "I can't breathe underwater," she confesses. "I lost Water when I was still naive to being a Warrior."

  "Come on!" I groan as I slip into the water. I feel the cool waves at my ankles. "I'm gonna get wet! I don't know a thing!"

 Hero snaps her fingers. "That's exactly why I arranged for another Warrior to come instruct you. He's new, but he knows more than you."

 "Jenna? Really?" Then I comprehend the he. "Zilon? Oh, hell no. I want Kyo to make mincemeat out of him. Tell her she can eat his bones for all I like." I bury my face into my sleeve and look up again.

 "Oh, not him." Hero sounds offended. "I hate him more than you. I meant..."

  Then I see him.

  "No!" I say. "That's even worse!"

  Hero raises an eyebrow. "But he..."

  "Give me a break," I say, stomping deeper into the water and diving in. Anything to get out of his accusing but...loving eyes.