Orchid

Wicked Love

I do not want to play the freaking, fragging, hero again, I complain. Stabbing Madam Que Que with Light? How pathethic is that?

Ironic, Amphtrite agrees.

Then why did Airillia hide such a precious stabber for so many years? She could've gone down to Lyca's and stabbed her a while ago.

Yang is balanced with Yin, Orchid, Amphitrite reminds me. Lycaeon herself probably owns such a deadly weapon. But while each side has such a weapon, each side is afraid to use it. That's where you come in, Orchid. We need...a Warrior.

I steady myself and touch the blade with my finger. I don't even know how to use this shiny toy.

It's pretty simple. Lift, thrust. Lift, thrust. Amphitrite mimicks the movement with her hands.

You do it. I hand the blade to her.

It's your weapon, Orchid. Amphitrite pushes it back and stares hard at Malumaquae. I'll distract him. You and Jason attack him.

Why not just get around him? I say, frustrated.

He's very powerful, Orchid. Never underestimate an enemy. Lower your guard, and you get stabbed in the back.

Backstabber, eh? I glare at Madam Que Que, who's elbowing Jason in the ribs hard. Jason is struggling to fight him. Dang. He must be freaking strong.

Amphitrite! Malumaquae sneers. Fight me yourself. Don't push these little kids in! You know I want you and only you.

Fight you? Why would I, darling? Amphitrite swims up to him, fluttering her eyelashes in a sassy pretty-girl way. Flirting? Great!

Malumaquae narrows his beady eyes. So, what's up your sleeve now, Amphitrite?

Nothin'. I just realized that Tsukune is soo much less handsomer than you. And less amusing too! Amphitrite gushes loudly.

I hide the dagger. Luckily, Malumaquae was too engrossed before from fighting Jason that he didn't see it.

You have a daughter with him. Malumaquae's words are pointed. Zetah is her name, yeah?

Ya know what? You two are the cutest couple ever. I move in quickly. Maybe I should be the flower girl. Amphitrite's still young. You could re-marry, right, Amphitrite? I slide my finger on the blade.

Right. His eyes are dazed, but as I prepare the dagger to pierce him with it, he jerks back and pulls out a dagger of his own.

A shiny, black blade, with carved inscriptions on it. But the symbols are gold instead of pearly silver on mine. I blanch.

This must be the Dark blade!

I Darken the Soul, and Destroy it. I flinch as I read it.

Did you not think I was better prepared? That I was a fool? Malumaquae lets his first weapon slide away and strokes the blade lovingly. Lycaeon prepped me for this. She said that Xander told her that his mother owned the Light sword and she would definitely give it to you. He bows mockingly. Now, dear Orchid. You have a choice. He holds up the shiny blade. You could go under this, and become Lycaeon's second princess and the future queen, or I could take you to the torture chambers against your will and have you under her service in pain and agony. You' would've lost your mind if you went through that. She also wants Jason for a prince. I want you, Amphitrite. Together we could destroy Tsukune and rule the Faeries.

Never, Amphitrite says, and shrinks away.

I thought you would say that. Malumaquae advances. I'm so sorry, though. To spare you the pain of my mistress's tortures I will give you a new rebirth. It doesn't hurt, he promises. It feels like...fire through your veins. 

 Like I want damn fire in my veins! Jason yells weakly. He's up and clutching his arm, his face contorted with rage and pain.

 Malumaquae shoves past me, his eyes fixed on Amphitrite, who's screaming as loud as she possibly can. He waves his hand, and I remember his element is Water. I watch in horror as snaking seaweed wraps Amphitrite in a tight, protective vine.  I try to get to her, and so does Jason, but a sweep of Madam Que Que's hand blows us back. Then I watch him, helplessly, lean over entrapped Amphitrite, say a few words to her, and the dagger goes down.

 No! I raise my Light blade over my head. I'll turn her back, Madam Que Que! Did you just...kill her?

 No, darling, Malumaquae purrs as Amphitrite slumps down in a dead faint. He pulls the knife out of her chest, where her heart is supposed to be. It didn't kill her. It just...you know, pierced her wholly good heart. When she wakes, she is mine!

 In horror, I see the place where the dagger went in is not bloody at all. It's just smoldering and black. How dare you! I thrust my mind out at him in rage with Spirit and Jason adds to my furious power. I slam into his mind and like Hero did the first day we met her, knock his mind unconscious. We swim over and together, we use Spirit to shatter his mind. Malumaquae gasps and collapses in a dead heap.

 Is he dead? I whisper.

 Jason fixes his still body with a baleful glare. I think so. I hope he is.

 I open my mouth to speak, but a howl from Amphitrite stops me. She starts convulsing, and slowly she gets up. Her eyes are dark and menacing, and her warm smile has turned into an evil sneer.

 What have you done? Her tone is angry and confused, and dazed, as if she just woke up from a deep sleep. She kneels, her long hair covering the side of her face as she stares at Malumaquae's body. My friend, my mate. How dare you? She reaches for Malumaquae's Dark sword, which was still clasped in his hand, and brandishes it. I will kill you both for destroying my love!

 Amphitrite is truly evil now, I say to Jason. What next?

 I'll trick her, he says grimly. You have to stab her with Light, Orchid. Else she will be like this forever, confused but evil.

 Jason swims behind her, and Amphitrite swings the sword out. It barely misses him and he yelps. Then he grins. Yoo-hoo! He directs her attention so she's facing me, but her head is turned Jason's way. 

 I swallow. If I do this wrong, Jason might turn evil, I think to myself, and set my jaw, readying my stance. I have to stab my Latin teacher in the heart. 

 I charge, holding the dagger in front of me, sneaking on quiet steps so she won't hear me. Yelling a raw-throated call, I stick Light in the blackened area, and pull it out quickly.

 Ahh! Amphitrite screams, and falls to her knees like she did when Malumaquae stabbed her with Darkness, to an unconscious heap.

 What's going on? I hear a young male's voice call.

 Turning around, I meet the eyes of a young man with serious eyes with such pride and royalty in them I can guess who he is.

 This is Tsukune, ruler of the Water Kingdom.