"Ritual!!"
(A damn ritual?! Already?! Now?! Here?!) Kai immediately surrounded himself with jinn energy and held both his arms out, creating an energy barrier.
(Ahh…Kai even knows about the energy barriers that can stop the affects of a ritual! He needs to keep his arms like that in order for it to negate it, but that won't last long…because this is a barrier ritual. His music box…won't be heard from inside here!)
Just then, Kai's energy dropped immediately from Rose's ritual. The energy around Kai vanished and his mucus stopped playing, as he stood alone in the darkness. "My energy is…"
Suddenly, a breeze of dust splashed across Kai's body. Kai quickly covered his mouth and nose, using his eyes to look around. (This gas…it has jinn energy within it! What could this possibly-)
"Form and burst." Rose said as a large root shot from Kai's left shoulder, as his blood came gushing out. (I see. The gas…it contains tiny particles that spawn in and grow from the inside of the victim's body!) Kai watches the Rose's ritual ended. The two stood in front of each other, but Rose now had a wide smile that sent shivers down Kai's spine.
"Heh. Ahahaha!!!"
"What's so funny, Kai? You know…you shoudve just stayed where you were. This is exactly why you'll never be strong enough…to fight him." Rose said as she pointed at Kai. "You're strong, but…you're nowhere near your peak potential. You'll die here….with no one to save you. I want you…to tell me how you feel in this moment."
Kai raised an eyebrow and gave Rose a weird expression. "In this moment…I ain't scared. Not one bit. Death isn't something I fear, Rose. It's not being a strong man…that's my fear! Not being able to improve and grow! Even with death right in front of me, I welcome it with open arms!" Kai yelled out as he took a fighting stance.
"Tsk! Then die!!"
Rose pointed at Kai, as another root shot from inside his body and poked out from the side of his neck.
"About time….PLAY!!!" Kai shouted. His music continued to play, his energy slowly coming back.
(What?! Did he…pause the music when I activated my ritual?! Him doing that caused the affects of my ritual to cancel the thing that made him so powerful out…not work! In that case…I'll kill him right now!)
"Get on with it already, Joey!!" Kai yelled as he charged Rose. Rose looked up to see Joey falling towards her with his right hand pulled back. "Joey-"
Rose avoided the punch that left a crater into the ground. She then pointed at Joey. "No you don't!" Kai yelled as he came up and tried to kick her, but she blocked it with her left arm.
(How can Joey have such strength? No, I see it now! He's using the last ounce of his strength to fight me. In other words, all I have to do is have him tire himself out! And I'll capture him! I'll have Joey!)
Rose pushed the two back and jumped back to create space between them. "Don't let up!" Kai yelled as he and Joey ran at Rose. "Jinn slayer attack-"
Natalia came swinging in and took aim. "Jinn slayer attack: soul shot." A bullet covered in blue energy pierced through Rose's body with ease. Rose halted for a moment and felt…different.
(Soul shot?! Natalia can affect the souls of her opponents?! Another bullet or two like that and I'm screwed! This vessel…it will crumble!)
Rose jumped back once again and quincly studied the situation. (Kai has the most strength and energy here, but thanks to my ritual now inside of everyone…I win. As long as I can keep my distance and watch out for Natalia's shots.)
Kai grabbed Joey by his leg and launched him at Rose. Rose spreaded her arms out and caught Joey, pushing her back with his weight. Kai appeared behind Rose, his energy scorching with heat. Rose used roots to hold Kai's arms back, pinning the man to the ground. Rose focused on Joey, grabbing him by the neck and launching him through the forest.
Rose ran after Joey as Natalia followed closely behind her while jumping tree to tree. "What an annoying….girl you are!" Rose yelled as she pointed at Natalia. A thick root shot from Natalia's inner thigh. Natalia screamed in pain as she fell from the tree. (Her ritual did this?! I thought it only hit Kai, but…I guess the radius of her ritual is further than I expected!)
Natalia fell from the tree and landed hard on the ground. Rose leaped into the air, about to deal the finishing blow. Joey came and tackled Rose to the ground. "Joey!" Natalia yelled as Rose and him began to wrestle. "Rose…stop it!" Joey yelled, pinning both her arms to the ground. "No, you stop it! I need you…I need you to come with me, Joey!!" Rose said as she grabbed him by the throat and began squeezing. "Why…why fight for them?! Kai tried to capture you earlier! How do you have…this much trust in someone?!" Rose asked as Joey freed himself from her grip. Rose kicked Joey in the jaw, knocking him back and down. Rose then slammed her foot onto Joey's shoulder, holding him against the ground.
"ANSWER ME!!" Rose yelled.
"It's…the same way I trusted you, Rose! The…same way." Joey sighed with a shake in his voice, trying to hold back his tears.
(Ahaha! Come here! Let's go out…and get away from this nasty place!)
A child's voice echoed through Rose's head. Rose slapped her head and looked around. "NO!!! I've tried to trust before!! People lie! Are evil!! Trusting someone…only gets you fooled in the end!!" Rose yelled as he energy began to rise and the roots multiplied throughout the area. "It's what made me what I am!! A…a monster!"
Joey stood to his feet, barley able to stand and lifted his head. "You're not…a damn monster. You were tricked by someone you loved and trusted! Making you into a jinn and cursed. I'm sorry that happened, Rose. Even in betrayal and the darkness in life, you've gotta hang on! You've gotta keep on living!! Don't live in this…hate. This…this regret!"
"Tsk…LOOK AT ME!!" Rose yelled, her face disoriented for a moment before snapping back to normal.
"Humans…don't look like this!! It's my fault…for trusting my enemies!! For putting my faith into someone! For clinging to my light in life!! Keep on living?! For what?!"
(Even though my mind is angry…I still…I still have some hope in my heart. That you…truly are a pure light in my darkness, Joey.)
"Rose…" Joey took a step forward and held out his hand. "We can still fix this. Let us stop this and try to figure something out! There's still things we can do to fix this!" Joey begged. "Please…." He said softly.
"Joey…you really are…." Rose pointed at Joey, forcing a massive root to shoot out from his left foot and pierced into his stomach. (I've gotta do this. If I don't, my soul…I'll go to that place of nothingness. The same place you'll go! Maybe…even worse if I don't fulfill my deal!)
(Rose…I…I understand.) Joey thought as he slammed his foot into the ground and used that to burst through the forest with intense speeds. (Joey?) Rose turned her head and was met with Kai's fist. Rose planted her feet into the ground, absorbing the blow. Rose grabbed him by the wrist and launched Kai away. "Gotcha!" Kai yelled.
Rose felt something slicing her skin. She looked down at her ankle to see a small black wire. Rose was pulled and hit her head against the ground while she began being dragged across the ground. (What's the play here? I can kill them, but if I were to unleash all of my roots inside their bodies, I won't even have the strength to walk! To deliver Joey's body!)
Rose sliced her foot off and quincly regenerated it. She jumped up and looked around the dark forest. (Where are they? What's their plan?)
******
"This will get us the win. You can't use that devil form anymore, right?" Kai asked as he wrapped his hands and feet in tape. Joey looked down at his hands as they trembled from fatigue. "Are you sure you can beat her? This plan…I'm…if you fail, she wins, Kai." Joey said as he turned and looked over at Natalia. "I trust Kai with my own soul if it were on the line. Trust him, Joey. This…will give him the power to gain victory over her."
"Ahaha! Count on me, Joey! This…is gonna be a walk in the park!" Kai said as he placed his hand on Joey's head. "Now…move."
******
"JOEY!!!" Rose screamed, her energy flattened the trees. "Where is he?! Did he escape?!" Rose heard a twig snap behind her. "Jeez, you really do have attachment issues." Natalia sighed. Rose spun around to face her, her eyes bright red in the darkness. "Your eyes…they remind me of the stories I've heard about the red eyes. How could he even look at those and not feel uncomfortable?" Natalia asked as she pulled out a pistol.
"Hehe. Can a guy not have taste in a unique woman?" Rose asked, taking a fighting stance with roots forming behind her. "Unique is good, but creepy is something else." Natalia chuckled.
"Tsk! Let's see how much you're talking after I ruin that face!!" Rose slammed her hand into the ground. "Jinn slayer attack: great evolutionary planetary system!!"
Natalia ignored everything happening around her and took aim with one hand. "Jinn slayer attack: Soul bullet…impact!"
Five giant seeds formed in the sky, each containing hundreds of jinns full of powerful energy. Below the seed was multiple massive trees that held them in place, created out of jinn energy. Rose could see the bullet headed towards her. She leaned her head to the left and avoided the bullet.
"Die!" Rose yelled. The seeds bursted open, as it seemingly began to rain jinns that fell from the sky. (I can't see her. The jinns all share the exact same energy as she does! That means these aren't really jinns, but they're mirror versions. She created these guys from her energy…its impressive, honestly….but…I'm not even gonna last 30 seconds against her alone! Hurry up….KAI!!)
******
About 20 seconds had past. Natalia was hit back and hit her head hard against the ground. The massive swarm of jinn surrounded her body, preparing to rip it open. (Kai…where are-)
Suddenly, loud and powerful music echoed through the forest, causing powerful winds and large amounts of jinn energy to flow through the forest.
"Ahahahaha!!! This is better then I thought!!! HARMONY ZOOONE!!!" Kai laughed. Rose spun around, she could see Kai leaning over, taking a running stance. "Here…I…COME!!!!" Kai launched himself through the forest, his leg out and darting towards Rose.
(With that much energy he's going to…)
"You idiot!!!" Rose yelled as she clapped her hands together. "Jinn attack….great shield of blossoming roots!!"
******
Beta looked down at the chaos going on inside the town. Ahana and Malice continued their onslaught, while Rose was fighting the trio in the forest. "This is…so beautiful!" Beta laughed as she noticed a bright light to her left. The bright light turned into a massive nuke cloud, shaking the entire aircraft and almost knocking Beta out.
"Ms. Mighty!" A soldier yelled desperately. "Calm yourself!" Beta said as she turned her attention towards the forest. "Move the craft over that location. I wanna see what's going on with them!"
******
Rose caught Kai's leg as she was being pushed through the forest. Kai pulled his leg back, grabbed Rose by her shirt, and pulled her in to slam his head against hers. (His speed and power….did he….how?!)
Rose slapped Kai off of her and clapped her hands together.
"Spike thorn burst!"
Multiple roots and thorns shot from the inside of Kai's body. (I have to end this…fast!) Kai thought as he immediately copied all of Rose's movements. Rose was now frozen for 13 seconds.
(Now to end it!! I have 13 seconds….13 seconds to wail on her! Her soul…it is a child, like Joey! However, all the lives she's claimed…all the torment she's caused….SHE MUST BE PUT DOWN!!)
Kai was approaching Rose, both his fist glowing with his jinn energy,with enough energy to penetrate Rose's skin and flesh. Rose watched as the man was getting closer and closer.
(Kai….i think I get what he did. He used Joey and copied all of his movements, allowing him to enter all of his zones and take me in with his most powerful one. But…but how did he switch targets?…..oh. I've only heard it in rumors, but if one contains such power in terms of jinn energy, they can do contracts with themselves to change the rules of their jinn ability! What did he sacrifice to gain the ability to contain his zone while also changing the target of his ability?! How did he do it?!) Rose's thought ran wild as Kai was getting closer and closer, having 10 seconds remaining.
(If he can do it, so can I! How?! I have to think fast! What did he….) Rose noticed Kai's muscle tone had decreased only a little. (The flesh is symbolic to the contract. The sacrifice! I…declare that this man…sacrificed parts of his life energy to obtain this new version of his ability. Probably 3 or so years is what he sacrificed. In that case…I shall also…)
"You're finished!!!!" Kai yelled as his fist was only half n he's away from Rose's face. Suddenly, with time still remaining, Rose raised her hand and caught Kai's punch. "What the-"
"You aren't the only one…who knows about vows and contracts." Rose whispered as she punched Kai, cracking his skull in the process and launching him away. As Kai was flying through the forest, his body began to go numb and cold. Nothing else mattered to him, as he began to think about his past.
(You'll never…be strong enough to face me. You damn weak bastard.)
Kai opened his eyes and gritted his teeth as he let out a loud yell. Kai slammed his foot into the ground, his head healing on its own. (She did the same thing I did, but her strength is off the charts!)
"IF I DIE HERE, THEN I HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE A LEGEND AMONGST JINN SLAYERS!!!" (I have to to get stronger to fight him!!)
Rose smacked her lips and pointed at Kai. (This man is amazing. He doesn't even have a damn ritual! In only two months or less, he could easily refine his technique and be a monster! This is someone worth killing! Getting out of my way! Once I kill Kai, Joey will be easy to eliminate. I'll end him…right now!! Thanks to my contract, I can use the affects of my ritual as I please without fatigue!)
Rose noticed Kai had been copying her movements, as all she had to do now was simply…build up her energy and release it to activate the ingrown roots.
"All I need is 0.01 second. That's all I need….to try this out!" Kai laughed as he matched Rose's movement. Rose froze for only a moment, but she could see it happening. In front of her stood Kai, a wide smile across his face as he uttered the words: "infinite loop zone."
Reality itself turned into billions of mirrors that surrounded and mirrored all the movements of Rose. Rose spun around, her energy being drained with every movement, her body freezing after every second, her mind scrambling, not thinking clearly. Rose was…in a dark dot. Not sure what to do or how to react. She was like a drop of water that was now part of the ocean, she simply…just existed inside of this zone.
"Raaauuugghhhh!!!" Kai yelled, delivering the devastating blow that knocked Rose out of the infinite loop zone of his ability. Rose's energy disappeared, her regeneration was also gone. She rolled and hit her head against a tree. She was miles away from her recent location.
Rose's jaw was missing, her arm twisted and mauled, her face had Kai's fist mark imprinted in her skin, and was bleeding from her eyes and mouth.
"H…help. Some….someone, please, help…help me…." Rose whispered as Kai walked towards her.
"That was a rare zone for me to reach. That's overkill for someone like you…sorry." Kai said as he surrounded himself with jinn energy. "Was a good idea. I knew I could place a vow on myself and switch the targets of my mirror jinn ability. I simply had to copy Joey, then put the affects that were on him, and transfer them to you. You caught on to that though, but still, you did great…Rose. You can die…knowing that." Kai charged up his energy, as a bright light formed at the palm of his hand. "Good fight…Rose." Kai said. As Kai was about to deal the finishing blow, someone leaped in between the two. "Kai….don't…not yet…" Joey said as he gasped for air, his body weakened. "Natalia, move Joey out of the way!"
"Kai, just wait-"
"Do you not understand…what it is she's done?! Right now, as we speak…the town os being attacked and I think you already know she's the reason why people can't escape! I'm not asking…I'm telling you. Move. Joey." Kai glared down at the two of them menacingly.
Natalia landed on the ground and just looked in awe. "The two of you are enemies to the jinn slayer core. It won't bother me in the slightest if you were to get caught in this blast, Joey. Hurry up and make your decision-"
Kai felt a powerful presence to his right. He looked over to see Natalia holding a blade tightly in her hands. "I won't let you hurt him, Kai. Joey is…he…."
"WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YALL?!?" Kai pointed at Rose, "THIS….THIS JINN IS KEEPING INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM ESCAPING DEATH!!! Why are you all looking at me like I'm the bad guy?! She's killed before! Lied to people- to you, Joey!! She's here in a mission! A mission that involves you dead!"
(Why…is Joey protecting me? After…after everything I've done and put you through, you still…)
******
You remind me…of the old me.
"Rosalina! The food is ready!" The woman yelled out.
"I'm going to go out again, but I'll be back, mother!" A little girl said as she marched past her mom. The little girl had long black hair, brown eyes, little freckles across her face, perfect white teeth which a bright smile, and she wore an all white pajama set.
"Going with that girl again? I already told you to be careful of her, Rosalina. That girl…she's part of the mighty clan. The great clans who have servant famalies only view them as such. Just tools and servants for their use." Her mother explained. The mother lit a candle on the white wax and handed the silver guard to Rosalina.
"I won't force you to stay away, because I truly have faith that things can change. Just…make sure to be careful, baby."
"Ahaha!! Safari and me are close, mom. Really…I'm not just saying that." Rosalina said with a smile.
Her mother smiled back. "It's really good…to see that beautiful smile across your face. I know it's been hard ever since…they took away your father."
"Yeah…but, you said daddy is in a good place, right?"
"…..y-yeah!"
******
"What's taking her so long? Safari is usually here by now-"
"I'm right behind you silly." A smooth voice whispered. An arm from the darkness reached out and wrapped around Rosalina. "It's really good to see you, Rosie." A girl with long brown hair showed her face. Rosalina jumped with joy before hugging her tightly. "I know it's been a while. It's been hard to…get out. My father can be a real pain in the rear." Safari sighed.
"Your father is the head of the clan. I could only imagine the stress you have to deal with. All that training and stuff." Rosalina looked over and noticed Safari twirling her hair. "Rosie, I have a dream. A dream of claiming something that doesn't belong to me. A dream…where I can control anything and do anything as I please. You see, I believe souly in living for a dream. To kill for a dream. To die for a dream. Tell me, what's your dream, Rosie?"
"You again with that rambling, huh? Hmm…not so sure. I guess, if I had to say it, my dream would be to just…just go with the flow of life. Find a friend, a companion, start a family, and to actually be loved my someone."
"….ahahahaha!!! That's funny!! What…what a silly thing to dream of!!" Safari laughed as she rolled on the ground holding her stomach.
"I like the fact you're laughing." Rosalina chuckled. Safari got off of the dirt ground and walked over towards her, towering over Rosalina. "Why do you say that?"
"If someone laughs at your dreams, that means it's big enough. So, in a way, you believe my dream is crazy because you know yourself that it's hard."
Safari said nothing, only staring down at Rosalina with a smirk on her face. "You're very amusing to me, Rosie. Your dream is very meaningful, but…that's not what I have in mind for you."
"What do you mean?"
Safari gently put her hands underneath Rosalina's chin and pulled her close towards her.
"Rosie…you belong to me. You're even born in one of the servant families. When my father dies, I'll be the one in charge. You'll follow my orders. Do what I want and when I want. Your dreams belong to me, because I control them. I don't want you to go live that dream. I want you…to live for mine. I need you, Rosie. I need you for a better future. You belong…to me."
******
Two days later.
Rosalina walked towards the meeting area. She had brought some fresh fruits and a large towel.
Rosalina's mother watched her disappear into the forest while she looked out from her window. Suddenly, there was a cold chill that went down her spine. Her mother turned her head and walked out of the house. She knocked on her neighbors door. An old man answered it.
"Mr. Brown-"
"Don't call me by that. You know what happens…when we use our real names." Mr. Brown said.
"S-sorry, it's just…hasn't things felt…off?"
"In what way do you mean?"
"Spiritually."
"….indeed. I'm not sure why, but I have reason to believe it's something to do with the clan. Where was your daughter off to anyway?"
"To see her friend-"
"That girl ain't her friend. We know this-"
"I'm aware, but…I like to have faith that a clan family member truly can look at us as equals. Out of all the servant families, we aren't in much contact with the clan at all on this great mountain."
"Hmph! You look more and more like your father every day. Speaking of contact, today is the day. The day of offering."
"That's…that's today?!"
******
"Safari, I've already told you…I don't plan on doing any bull today! You really do suck at listening!!" The boy shouted.
"Lower your tone, Zeke." Safari said in a calm, yet firm voice. "You and Yulda will be just fine. Be more like Rosalina and just…take in what you're about to see." Safari said as she wrapped her arm around Rosalina. "Hey, Rosalina, how is it down here anyway?" Yulda asked, a blond girl from the might clan family.
"Yeah, I wanna know too! I never even heard of you guys on the mountain." Zeke said.
"Umm…it's alright, I guess. A little lonely, but…hopefully one day…never mind."
Safari glared at Rosalina. (What was she going to say?)
"ATTENTION!!!!" A soldier yelled in the distance. The four kids sat up on the tall tree, looking down at the small family residence as fifty soldiers with one man entered. "That's one of the strongest jinn slayers around. Second hand of the mighty clan: Stone." Safari said as she leaned in.
"Residence of the Flock family, come from your houses and kneel!!" A soldier yelled. Hundreds of people emerged from their houses and did as he said. One tall man walked down the long row of people, holding a golden bag.
Stone, one of the strongest jinn slayers of this time, walked behind the man with the golden bag. Stone wore a long cape that covered majority of his outfit. It resembled that of stones, matching well with his black hair, green eyes, and tall 6'4 frame. "There's a lot of y'all now." Stone said softly as the soldiers looked at him.
Stone reached behind him and slammed a very long sword into the ground. "All residents of the Flock servant family…I can tell already, you all have broken one of the small rules we hold dear in the mighty clan. I, Stone…announce that order 12 commence!" Stone picked up his sword. People began running and some even locking themselves in their homes. "DO NOT LET ANYONE ESCAPE!! THIS IS FOR OUR GREAT LEADERS!!"
Everyone watched in shock as Stone and his small army had slaughtered a total of 97 people that night. It was the law. Don't have too many children, depending on your family rank. The Flock family was the same level as Rosalina's family: the Wickers. Some servant families, high in the rankings, will adopt their clan's name, but for famalies like the Flocks…they were nothing but mere trash to the mighty clan.
"What….what did I just watch?" Zeke said with a shake in his voice. Rosalina's body was shaking, her heart thumping out of her chest. "They…we…killed-"
"Relax." Safari whispered into her ear. "What you all saw here today…was simply natural order."
"What?!" Yulda gasped. "What are you saying?! I didn't know the clan did…this!"
Safari glared at Yulda. "Yulda. Shut up."
"Tsk. Listen, I don't know much about the lower famalies, but this is-"
Zeke felt a splash hit against his face. He opened his eyes to see blood on both his hands. Yulda was missing her head, her blood gushing. "Yul…yulda?! SAFARI, WHAT DID YOU-"
Safari slammed her blood colored sword down Zeke's throat, making him choke and pin his head against the tree.
(To survive in this cruel world, we must first learn when to speak and to when to not. It's not being a coward, my daughter, it's about survival.)
Safari sat back down and took a bite out of the watermelon. She wiped the blood on her hand onto Rosalina's face. "That's why I like you, Rosie. You know when to shut up and when to keep talking. You're perfect. You know that, right?"
Safari's words were muffled. Rosalina continued to looked at the blood that was splattered on her clothes. "Yes." She whispered.
"Good girl. You do know…that this is all your fault, right?"
"M-my fault?" Rosalina asked while continuing to shake in fear. "Relaaax. I'm not gonna do anything. I killed these two because, well, they're just…not who I need in my goal. I need them gone. This is a small piece of the puzzle I've been building for so damn long now." Safari sighed. "Your…puzzle?"
"Mhm! I just…hope I can finally feel some sort of sympathy after what I'm about to do. Sorry, Rosie." Safari grabbed Rosalina by the hair and threw her off of the tree. The impact created a loud thud that caught the attention of Stone and his soldiers.
"Move in and investigate!" Stone ordered.
"Sorry, Rosie. This…is for my dream." Safari said as she dumped the bodies around Rosalina and quickly ran away.
A soldier pushed through the burrow and gasped at the sight. "C-COMMANDER!!!!"
******
"PLEASEEE!!! STOP IT!!!" The woman cried. "SILENCE!!! Your daughter killed two relatives of the mighty clan! You also shall face death!" Stone yelled as he slapped her across the face. Stone grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of her own home. Her screams echoed through the night, as Mr. Brown could do nothing but watch in horror. (Someone…anyone! Help…help us-)
Stone tossed the woman on his horse and headed towards the top of the mountain, his small group guiding him safely back to Mighty clan's home.
*****
3 hours later.
Rosalina, who was beaten bloody, missing teeth, blood covering her body, and bruised with swollen parts. Her mother was thrown into the massive stadium. Many members of the mighty family, including the members of the higher level servant families were in attendance. The seats were filled, clapping and screams of joy along with pain and sadness filled the air. In the highest seas in the entire stadium, there sat a man wearing a black hood that covered his face. Below him were five people sitting in golden chairs. Rosalina and her mother had their heads forcefully raised by their hairs. Stone made the two of them look up while the man raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "Rosalina and Kate Wickers of the wicker family. You both have been sentenced to death on the murder of MY bloodline! How dare you kill your masters?!" The man yelled, his jinn energy shaking the entire stadium itself. "Explain yourselves." He added.
The crowd put all their attention on Rosalina and Kate. "I…I didn't do any-"
"Why were you found with their bodies then?! What transpired?!" The man asked.
"I…it wasn't me! It was your daughter! You've gotta believe me!!"
"My daughter?" The man asked. The crowd fell silent, listening to what was coming next. "Is this a joke to you, Wicker?! I have no daughter!"
"The child speaks no lies! Every night almost, she'd go out with a girl who always said was your daughter! You can…you can ask the family, sire!" Kate explained.
"I do not care what your family says, as it will clearly be a lie. Stone, before the sun rises, I want the entirety of the wickers family destroyed. No children left. No women. No man. Not even their damn pets!"
"SHE'S TELLING YOU THE TRUTH SIRE-"
"SILENCE!!! Hang them on poles! Show the mighty clan what it is we do when our own people try to cause harm to our clan!!"
The crowd erupted in cheers of agreement.
******
On the tallest peak of the mountain, where everyone down it could look up and see the bright flames of fire, with Rosalina and Kate tied to poles. The fire was beneath them, as Stone had now finished his announcement to the clan.
"Ngh….Ngh-ah-ah-ah!! Uuuuuggghhhh!!!!" Rose kicked and screamed, trying to free herself from the thick ropes that held her down.
"Rosalina, look at me!!"
"M-mom, I'm…I'm so sorry, I…I shoud've-"
"Hey, hey, it's okay. It's okay. Rosalina, I need you to now show fear. That is what they want. You're stronger than them and me! We were tricked by an entity, not just you! This isn't on you, baby. It's…it's okay…" Kate said before tears ran down her face.
"Any last words, Kate of the Wicker family?" Stone asked as he held his sword at the rope that held her up. Kate looked one last time at her daughter and smiled. "I believe in you. That dream you've always shared, it's beautiful. Hang onto that dream…that light. I love you…Ros-"
Kate was dropped into the flames.
******
5 days later.
Rosalina was still on her pole, hanging from the highest peak of the mountain. On the second day of her being up there, she could see and hear her family being wiped out from the mighty clan's existence. She was the last and remaining Wicker.
She want sure why the clan hadn't killed her. She wish she was gone. She hadn't eaten, drank, had sun burn, and many other issues. Rosalina was on the verge of death. On the fifth night, a familiar face appeared.
Rosalina lifted her head and turned it slowly to the right, her long hair matted together, and covering her eyes.
"You…sure do look terrible, Rosie." Safari chuckled.
"You…"
"Yes. ME!" Safari walked closer towards Rosalina and sniffed. "You stink. Why don't I free you and we go clean you up?"
Rosalina didn't respond, she just kept her head down and looked at the ground. "Don't be like that. I've known you for years and you've never once ignored me. Say what's on your mind." Safari said as she waited. "Say something."
"What are you?"
"What am I? I'm…a human? What kind of foolish question-"
"You aren't the daughter…of the clan's leader. You don't even exist. Yet, I've seen you hang around other kids…kids. That's…how you do it."
"You say that as if I'm not a kid."
"You are not. You're an evil…disgusting thing that I can't even begin to imagine. You shape yourself as a child, but then again, you are physically here. I don't know what you are, but…you aren't human. So answer me. WHAT ARE YOU, SAFARI?!? IS THAT EVEN YOUR NAME?!?"
Safari tilted her head to the left and smirked at Rosalina. "I'm human like you. I am flesh. I am human. It doesn't really matter- your questions. I simply need you for my goal and dream."
"What are you talking about?"
"If I told you…you wouldn't even believe it. There are things someone like you couldn't possibly understand in this world. I am only 16 years old, yet, I simply…can't imagine myself without achieving this goal. If I fail this goal, I won't have control. Anyways, this is goodbye for now. Very soon…you'll be meeting that…monster." Safari sighed as she turned her back and began walking away.
"Safari." Rosalina called out. "Yes, ma'am?"
"I'll show you…no matter how strange or small a dream might seem, it'll always overshadow the ones who are willing to sacrifice everything for their own selfish desires!"
Safari glared at Rosalina and gave her a nod. "I doubt your little dream will lever come true, Rosie. Now, goodbye…."
******
Rose looked up at Joey, her heart racing as Kai was about to move him out of the way. (Joey. Hehe….thank you.)
Rose used all of her remaining strength and pointed to the sky. (Jinn slayer technique: Sprouting transportation!)
A bright red light blinded everyone. Kai immediately healed his eyes and opened them to see Rose…had vanished.
*****
Next chapter: Light beats darkness.