Ivy trailed behind the princess, staring at her strange heels that elevated the little jump in her step. She was undoubtedly a pretty creature. Yet there remained the unsettling feeling that she was out of place.
"I must say, you're awfully composed for someone so...opinionated." Anya turned, realizing Ivy was staring at her bare shoulders.
Ironic.
"I didn't use to be," Ivy shrugged. "Not sure what I am now."
All that came to mind was Lila's protector. It didn't take a Psion to see that. But in a way, Anya respected it. There was something admirable about devotion to something small and seemingly meaningless compared to the grand platitudes her father spoke of.
By then, the heiress had warmed up to her as well as could be expected within reason. She no longer dragged her own feet quite as much.
"Well then," Anya sighed as she stepped onto the staircase leading into her ship. "It's been a pleasure, Ivy."
The princess offered up her tail, a gesture Ivy could understand well enough. If she were any less drunk, then the idea of kissing the strange appendage would be absurd. But the time for sanity had long since passed.
"The pleasure is all mine," she cringed, placing her thin fingers beneath the stem of Anya's tail before giving it a peck. "I'll see you again." Ivy made sure to twist her words into honesty.
Tasted like berries.
"May your fortune be everlasting in the trials to come. As for me," the princess rolled her shoulders. "I shan't be amazed if no danger finds me at all. Protection can sometimes feel like a curse."
Ivy's mind stuttered, a cold presence crawling down her spine. She believed it to be the Mimic at first. But to her disbelief, the ominous aura had been protruding from the black walls surrounding Anya's tiny frame. Only now had it chosen to reveal itself at the end of her trip.
And the end of Yrix's protective gaze.
A loud, grating sound screamed through the walls as two clumps of spindled energy dropped down to the floor like teardrops. What emerged beyond the sparkle of sickly purple and yellow was beyond Ivy's comprehension. But that alone was a telltale sign.
The Harrow.
Different from before.
But unmistakable in appearance.
There were two of the creatures, tall and faceless as they crowded around Anya like protective shells. Unlike the Harrow Ivy had faced in Rena's dream, the new pair was far bulkier and less feminine in appearance. But she could never forget the strange writing that appeared on every member of the twisted race. It didn't matter what shape they took.
It was wrong.
The two Harrow turned to leave alongside Anya before hesitating, one of them shooting a glance at the heiress. It looked down at Ivy with emotions she couldn't read. But there was indeed an impression made on the creature.
"Oh, I was hoping they'd appear a little later," Anya rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Ivy. My father is...just a little paranoid. He made these for me some years ago after his research went well."
"Made?" Ivy backed away, her hands trembling as she stared into the anvil-like face of the Harrow who paused to look at her. "I...I should leave."
"Farewell," the princess waved.
Ivy held back the urge to curse, waiting impatiently for the pearl-like ship to seal itself and rid her of the Harrow's presence. But the door mechanism couldn't be any slower. And whether she went it or not, the heiress had more than enough time to feel a wretched sense of kinship with the Harrow.
They noticed as well.
Cocking their heads like birds before dispersing beyond the smooth surface of the ship's exterior.
Ivy thought she could feel a voice in her head. A foreign language, unwritten and indecipherable to her fragile mind. Though she much preferred the mystery over the crushing revelation that these creatures, despite their alien appearance, smelled just like the Mimic.
Both in and out of her mindscape.
"No," Ivy shook her head. "My father wouldn't."
She stomped her heels into the dirt, ignoring the dust and wind that billowed out from Anya's ship as it began ascending into the clouds.
Lila.
"Where are you?" The heiress grunted.
She knew forgetting the matter was impossible. But at the very least, Ivy could keep her discovery to herself. Lila need not worry about another burden.
- - - - - - - - - -
They had fought before. Only, it was never real. The other incursions were merely simulations of the ordeal they all knew was coming.
"I wanted to apologize," Sonera frowned, struggling to move her legs off the workbench. "I shouldn't have hurt you."
"That's not what hurts," Lunae hissed, blowing at her own tail as if to prove a point. "I forgive you. I understand your regret. But you'll do it again. I know you."
"I didn't ask for you to peer into my mind!" Sonera bit back. "You know everything about me! What do I know about you?!"
Her voice was grating and exhausted, no doubt caused by the strain her lungs had endured. Lunae wasn't exactly doing well either. They were both fighting like patients out of a coma.
"What do I know about me!" Lunae jolted forward, causing Sonera's head to hit the desk. "The real me! Without all the baggage of my race!"
"So let me help you."
"You can't if you're dead! I know it's what you want!"
Sonera snapped her face away from Lunae, refusing to look her in the eye. She hated it when someone pretended to read her, when in truth, the book was open the whole time.
"I won't perish here," Sonera muttered. "Not till Yrix is dead. You'll be free of her. Free to escape this place with Lila and Ivy. I know you love them."
Lunae shook her head. "Free to do what? Mourn you? What am I supposed to tell Lila? I know you feel for her!"
It was a pointless exchange. The Psions had made it abundantly clear who their primary partners would be. That was the way bonds were shared. Yet it seemed Lunae wished to tease the concept all the same.
"Stop...just stop," Sonera held her eyes shut. "Stop reading me. Stop holding me here. I couldn't save him. But I can save you."
"Three wouldn't-."
Lunae didn't get far; her voice split in two as a mechanical hand found her throat. The tables had turned.
Literally.
Sonera and Lunae fell to the ground, wrestling with each other as the princess gasped for breath.
"Stop telling me how to love you!" Sonera snarled. "All of you! All the same!"
She intended to incapacitate her partner without much of a fight. But the princess wouldn't relent, using her remaining Psionic strength to push Sonera away. The assassin released a weak grunt as she hit the wall.
"No," Lunae whimpered. "I...I don't want to hurt you."
Strangely enough, her markings didn't flicker.
"You already did." Sonera wiped her mouth.
Yrix was standing outside, having observed both the tea party and the fight without a care in the world. She wouldn't intervene. No amount of chicanery would halt her idea of progress.
"You don't mean that!" Lunae scrambled onto her knees. "Just let me fix you!"
"That's not what you fell in love with," the assassin lamented. "Right?"
Sonera could feel her body lurch forward as a Psionic grasp took hold of her. Lunae clambered onto the girl, planting herself on top of Sonera's back as she reached for her wrists.
"Ugh!" Sonera struggled. "S-mmh..."
Her arms were draped over the princess's bare knees, stretching her lower back into a horrible bend as a pair of hands began to smother her face. It appeared the stipulations of violence did not apply to Lunae's partner.
"Just go to sleep," Lunae whispered. "I can...I will make this right."
"Mmmgh!"
Sonera flailed about as much as her limited pose would allow, exhaling through her nose before a series of tendrils began to block it out. Lunae was using her tail to great effect. And despite her resilience, Sonera was forced to open her mouth.
Two fingers wormed their way into the corners of her mouth just as soon as she tried to breathe, pulling Sonera's lips apart like fishhooks. Lunae's plan was almost complete. All that was left was to insert her tail and force a Psionic connection.
From there, she could completely dominate Sonera's mind.
Just like she had with Lila.
"I'm sorry," Lunae grimaced at the sight of Sonera's frantic eyes. "It'll be over soon."
But just as soon as her tail slipped in, the assassin managed to bite down hard.
"Ah!" Lunae retreated.
Sonera took the opportunity to free her left arm, tugging on Lunae's hair and sending her toppling onto the ground. However, little more could be done without escalation.
"Huck!" Lunae kicked at the floor, trying in vain to pry Sonera's metal arms off her as the assassin began to put her into a chokehold. "Nngh!"
"This ends now," Sonera grunted. "You will give me back my power. Just know that I...I still feel for you."
Lunae's tongue slithered out of her mouth, writhing about in search of air as her eyes began to roll. She wanted to avoid further use of force if at all possible. But she was losing.
Her tail shimmered with Psionic energy as it prepared to strike.
"This isn't over," she whispered into Sonera's mind. "You don't seem to understand."
I can't let you interfere.