Dance of Lilies

Chapter 4 - Kyuuna's POV

(To be edited and updated with better structure and flow: 27-29.7.21) 

I'm surprised that I'm not dead already. It's very unlike Ursa to kidnap people, let alone let her prey be alive for such a long, tedious time.

I can taste blood in my mouth from the rough handling and the storm throwing me against the ground with force. I think I must have passed out at some point, because it's an evening now that I'm awake again.

I'm tied by my hands with metal, and the shackles are bolted to the floor. It's an old barn, barely standing tall anymore. I try to see outside, to catch a glimpse where I am. Maybe I'm too dumbfounded to feel the fear within.

Ursa and Mimoi walk into the barn just when I'm about to start thinking about escape. They don't look happy, and Ursa especially looks like she's about to punch Mimoi's beautiful face.

"You told me I would get a better price from not killing her. She's the leader of the White Lilies, do you realize how much I get paid to slaughter her?" Ursa scoffs at the end of her sentences and rolls her eyes at Mimoi. Mimio bares her fangs in disgust.

"You agreed to go by my plan. I found someone who'd pay you double the amount you were going to get," Mimoi mumbles and rubs the bright red scratch marks on her face, probably caused by Ursa and her fragile patience.

"Tell me about this someone." Ursa growls, and now the last miniscule amount of respect is completely gone. I've heard it enough times to know she's not far from adding another person on her slaughter list.

"Siruna," Mimoi says, shortly, as if it's explanatory enough. To me, it is, and as Ursa finally glances at my face, she seems to recognize the name too.

The grimage on her face is a mixture of disgust and surprise. It's a confusing reaction, because usually Ursa celebrates everything that causes me to feel mortified.

"You're... going to force her to join the goddess who guards the eternal gates of misery and destruction?" Ursa's tone signals to me that she isn't happy. In fact, for some reason, she seems outraged by Mimoi's decision.

"Underworld is a better term, but yes," Mimoi replies. She runs her fingers through her hair and snaps the electricity from them towards me. I feel an uncomfortable tingle in my body, but it's nothing compared to the shock I'm still feeling from the words.

Siruna. She's been wanting to get her hands on my magic for ages. I'm one of the last plant nightmares who carry the bloodline of moon lilies, an ancient plant that grants us tremendous amounts of healing and destruction magic. Siruna has offered me a place in her court numerous times, to ascend to the coil of a goddess, but I have always turned her down. She's physically not allowed to leave her position or Underworld, so this only makes sense as the only way for Siruna to get another chance at trapping me into her court. I'm horrified that Mimoi would go to those lengths only to hurt Sabi.

"I don't think it's wise to mess with a goddess like her," Ursa says suddenly, and grabs Mimoi's hand out of blue. A spark of electricity flickers between them as Mimoi warns Ursa with her gaze.

"I know what I'm doing," Mimoi says quietly, and I can feel the quiet threat lingering in the air. I'm frozen in tension, the dangerous game happening right in front of me. I'm not sure why Ursa is reluctant, why she's so set on killing me herself.

"I'm not so sure about that," Ursa replies and bares her fangs. Her eyes gleam of battle and menace as she pulls Mimoi closer. "Let's kill her now."

"No," Mimoi growls. She isn't scared of Ursa, instead she looks like she's ready to face her any moment. I take a small step back. Are they going to fight right here and now? Fight to see who gets to cause pain and on whom and on what price? I don't want to be here. I just want Sabi, or Hyryin, or anyone in my family. I want to feel safe again.

The situation gets worse. It's all getting worse.